Where Are We Now in Bible Prophecy?

The Doomsday Clock is a symbol created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists shortly after World War II to show how close humanity is to “midnight”—the end of the world. It is widely recognized as an indicator of how close mankind is to global catastrophe.

Its initial setting was seven minutes before midnight. In January 2025 it was set at 89 seconds till midnight.

Does the Bible indicate how close we are to “midnight,” as well as give hope about what will happen afterward? Yes, it does!

Let’s look at those biblical indicators.

The Great Tribulation, the last 3½ years of this age

Christ’s disciples asked Him, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answered by listing a series of events to unfold in the last days. The end-time prophecy in Matthew 24 is also found in Mark 13 and Luke 21. When we see the events Christ described coming to pass, we can know the end is near.

Christ makes it clear we can—and should—have a good idea of our proximity to the end of this age. He said, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matthew 24:32-33).

At the same time, Jesus said we cannot pinpoint the exact timing of His return. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32, emphasis added throughout).

After revealing a sequence of major end-time signs, Christ said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:21).

This “great tribulation” is a major prophetic end-time event and is mentioned in many other prophecies throughout the Bible. In brief, they reveal that the Great Tribulation will last 3½ years, culminating with the return of Jesus Christ. (To learn more about this time of great trouble, see the article “Great Tribulation.”)

Since a number of specific events prophesied to occur during the Great Tribulation have not yet happened, we know we are not yet in that final 3½-year period.

What must happen before the Great Tribulation?

Our question then becomes, “How near are we to the start of the Great Tribulation?” To answer, we can look at a number of specific events and dynamics that are prophesied to be in place at the time of the end. These prophecies appear in numerous books in the Bible.

Specifically, the time of the end is when all of the following prophesied circumstances will be in place. Looking at the list below, consider that these dynamics were not present throughout most of human history—or even the first half of the 20th century. But together, they give the picture of a world on the brink of the Great Tribulation. Reading through these identifiers, there now seem to be only a few details yet to materialize before the final 3½ years of this age commence.

• “Many shall run to and fro” (Daniel 12:4): This prophetic trend comes to mind whenever we’re on a crowded road or in a busy airport. There are now over a billion cars around the world, and millions of passengers fly rapidly through the skies every day.
• “Knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4): The last few years have witnessed an explosion of knowledge, manifested in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), self-driving vehicles, wearable technology, cloud computing, 3D printing, quantum computing, instantaneous language translation, advanced robotics and many other jaw-dropping developments.
• The capability for humanity to destroy all life: “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:22). The capacity for humans to destroy all life on the planet did not exist until after 1945, with the advent of the atomic era. Since then, the proliferation of nuclear weapons has made human annihilation possible—multiple times over.
• Increase in famines, disease epidemics and earthquakes: “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7). Luke 21:11 calls them “great” earthquakes. There have been food shortages, pandemics and earthquakes many times throughout human history. But Christ’s specific mention of them in the context of end-time events shows that they will become a much more notable, frequent phenomenon.
• Ability to view an event around the world: Revelation 11:3-11 reveals that shortly before Christ returns, His “two witnesses”—who will testify to the world from Jerusalem for 42 months (3½ years)—will be killed. “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days” (verse 9). For people all around the world to view this, the technology will need to already exist. Not only is this now possible, most of us now see images from other nations daily via satellites and Internet networks.
• An army of 200 million can be fielded: Revelation 9:13-19 describes another event near the end of the 3½ years, during the sixth trumpet. Verse 16 shows that an enormous army will be fielded at that time: “The number of cavalry troops was 200,000,000. I heard how many there were” (International Standard Version). Furthermore, this comes after staggering numbers of humans have already died, as revealed in Revelation 6 through 9. The ability to field such an exceptionally large army was not possible until recent times, when the populations of some nations (such as China and India, for example) or groups of nations grew so dramatically.
• Sacrifices at Jerusalem begin: Daniel 12 points specifically to events at the end of this age (verses 4, 9). Verse 1 calls it the worst time of trouble in human history, which coincides with Christ’s words in Matthew 24:21. How long until all these things are finished? Daniel 12:7 answers that it will be “for a time, times and half a time.” This expression, also mentioned in other prophecies, equates with the final 3½ years (or 1,260 days) before Christ returns.

Verse 11 gives even more details: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety [1,290] days.”

In order for sacrifices to be taken away just before the final 3½ years, they will first need to be started again. At this time, a number of Jews are advocating and preparing for a restoration of the sacrificial system in Jerusalem. Thus far, those efforts have been stymied by both political and civil opposition. However, Bible prophecy makes it clear the day is coming when animal sacrifices will be instituted and then taken away. Read more in our blog post “Does Bible Prophecy Require a Third Temple to Be Built?”

• Jerusalem surrounded by armies: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20). Verse 24 adds that Jerusalem will then come under gentile (non-Israelite) control. Matthew’s account adds the detail that the “abomination of desolation” (connected with the ending of sacrifices) will be part of this takeover of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15).

In Zechariah 12:3, which also refers to Jerusalem in the end times, God says, “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”

If there’s any city on earth that’s in the news almost daily—as a focus of conflict, division, bloodshed and controversy—it’s Jerusalem. It is easy to see how military activity could quickly begin and escalate there at any time. For more about what the Bible reveals regarding Jerusalem, see our article “Jerusalem in Prophecy.”

• Final revival of the Roman Empire: Students of Bible prophecy know that God foretold the rise and fall of four great empires. The fourth was the Roman Empire, and the Bible shows that it would be revived again at the time of the end (Daniel 2:42-44).

The end-time revival of the Roman Empire (which has always been centered in Europe) will be a union of 10 “kings” (or kingdoms or states) who agree to come under the authority of the “beast” spoken of in Revelation 17. “And the ten horns which you saw [in verse 3] are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” (verses 12-13).

These 10 “kings” will not be perfectly unified, but will cooperate to accomplish their mutual goals. This reality is pictured by the 10 toes of the image shown in Daniel 2:42-44. The 10 toes are referred to as “kings” that are together at the end of this age, shortly before God sets up His Kingdom on earth.

Today, multiple voices are encouraging Europe to stand on its own two feet and greatly increase its own military might. And eyes are now turning to Germany, expecting it to take on a greater leadership role. History and prophecy indicate Germany will have a leading role in this future European power.

What are we to do?

Time is short! But most people pay no attention to the Bible and assume that life as we know it will continue securely for many years. Because of this, the Great Tribulation—which Christ said will be the worst time of trouble in man’s history—will catch many completely off guard.

“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38-39).

Therefore what does Jesus Christ tell us—His disciples—to do?

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).

“All these things” constitute a great, terrible storm coming upon mankind. By staying spiritually strong and alert to the signs of the times, you can be protected during the coming prophesied storm. The good news is that following the storm, Christ will return to establish God’s Kingdom—a time of unprecedented tranquility and utopian conditions.

This article focused on the storm. In order to be part of the calm after the storm, learn more about what we should be doing now in our free booklet The Book of Revelation: The Storm Before the Calm.

See also our booklets How to Understand Prophecy, The Middle East in Prophecy and The World to Come: What It Will Be Like.