My friend, Doug Cobb, has written a new, enlightening book on the Second Coming of Jesus titled, And Then the End Will Come. This about-to-be-released paperback focuses on the completion of the Great Commission and nine other clues that Jesus is coming soon. Doug is an elder at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and the managing partner of the Finishing Fund, whose mission is to “make disciples of every nation” by the end of 2022. Doug has been a successful businessman, a serious Bible student, and a generous benefactor. He has a heart for missions and has traveled to dangerous areas of the world to share the good news of the gospel.

I really like this book! Doug has spent years researching and studying Bible prophecy. His book, available on amazon.com, is readable, scriptural, and open-minded. He does not attempt to set dates but repeatedly underscores that all signs point to the very soon return of Jesus. Noah knew he lived in the season of the flood and coming judgment. Followers of Christ instinctively sense we live in the season of the Lord’s return. The Bible warns He is coming “like a thief in the night…” but then adds, “that day should not surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). 

Doug makes the case that the return of Christ is at hand—perhaps in the next year or two, perhaps a little later, but surely soon. And he offers practical instruction about what it means to “live holy and godly lives” as we look for the coming of our Lord and King. 

The flyleaf of the book reads, “If you’re discouraged about the craziness you see in the world today, And Then the End Will Come will offer you hope for better things soon to come…things so great that the Bible says no one can imagine how awesome they will be.” 

Admittedly, one of the reasons I like Doug’s book is that I agree with almost everything in it. Many of my peers feel that most prophecy should not be taken literally but is fulfilled figuratively in the church. They see the church as the modern Israel. I respect those who hold that position, and I do not make eschatology a test of fellowship. But I think it is wise to apply the same principle to prophecy as we do to other Scriptures: Literal if possible; figurative if obvious.

Doug’s book deals with 10 signs the Lord’s return may be very soon. One I had not examined much is “the global church is only two or three years away from fulfilling Jesus command to “make disciples of every nation.” And Jesus explicitly tied his return to the completion of that task.  “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). 

Consider some other distinctive prophecies about the last days that have been fulfilled literally in the past century.

Israel becoming a nation in 1948 after being a dead country for 1800 years. “Then he said to me: ‘Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” Therefore prophesy and say to them: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.’” (Ezekiel 37:11-12). 

 The Israeli army recapturing Jerusalem in 1967 in a miraculous six-day war.  Jesus predicted, “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).

The Jewish people being regathered in the Holy Land. “…I will bring my people Israel back from exile. ‘They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God” (Amos 9:14-15).

The book points out the blossoming of Israel’s agriculture as another fulfilled sign. A generation ago, Mark Twain observed that the Holy Land was a totally desolate place, and that is exactly what Scripture predicted people would say. But today, the Israelis are rebuilding and replanting, and the land is blossoming with trees, crops, and vegetation again.

 The proliferation of pornography. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37).  “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). 

The widespread acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage. “But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.  ‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed’” (Luke 17:29-30).

The apostasy of the church and the compromising of the gospel. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3). 

 The cynical spirit toward the second coming. “Above all, you must understand that in the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised?’” (2 Peter 3:3-4a).

These are just a few of the fulfilled prophecies explained in Doug’s book, which indicate that we are living in the last days.  That truth should inspire hope in desperate times, motivate us to holy living, and reignite the fires of evangelism. Read it and be encouraged while you “wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

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