Question: How can we know we're in the Last Days?

Question: I am hearing more and more, lately, that we are surely living in the last of the Last Days. How can we know for certain that time as we know it is winding down, and what should we be doing in our own lives?

Response: People often ask what are some of the signs that would indicate that the end of time as we know it is near. Jesus actually gave us a number of them. In speaking of the events that would precede His Second Coming, He warned of a time of unprecedented destruction that would be so severe that “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved…” (Matthew:24:22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
See All...). Such a statement was a puzzle to past generations: How could the destruction of all life on earth be threatened through bows and arrows, swords and spears, or even the conventional weapons of World War II? Our generation, however, has developed and stockpiled arms unknown in the past and which actually have the potential to destroy all of life on this planet. So we are essentially the first generation for whom this particular prophecy no longer awaits some future development to make it possible.

In the vision of the future given to Him by Christ, the apostle John saw a world ruler controlling the whole earth not only politically and militarily, but economically. No one would be able to buy or sell without Antichrist’s mysterious “666” stamp of approval embedded in his hand or forehead to indicate his loyalty to him (Revelation:13:16-18 [16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
See All...). While past generations took this threat seriously, there was no way that all commerce and banking on earth could be controlled from a central location. Today there is. We have the computers, communications satellites, and worldwide electronic banking networks that make such control feasible. Moreover, everyone knows that it is only a matter of time until such a system will be in place and enforced.

John also saw that the entire world would worship Satan along with the Antichrist: “And they worshiped the dragon [that old serpent the devil, or Satan—(Revelation:12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
See All...)] which gave power unto the beast [Antichrist]; and they worshiped the beast” (Revelation:13:4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
See All...). Such a prophecy would have seemed unbelievable to previous generations, but not so in our day. Hard-core satanism has been called “the fastest-growing subculture among American teens.” Satanists have their own chaplains in the US Armed Forces and are protected under freedom-of-religion laws. The acceleration of satanism worldwide is a phenomenon peculiar to our time making the thought of the world worshiping Satan far more plausible than in past generations.