The Last Generation

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

(Mark 13:37 KJV)
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up
your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
(Luke 21:28 KJV)
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be
fulfilled. (Luke 21:32 KJV)

Should we recognize “the signs of the times” in our day:

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things [the signs described by
Jesus], know that it [the Second Coming] is near, even at the doors.
(Matthew 24:33 KJV) Brackets supplied.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto
you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they
shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day
should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore
let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 KJV)

Though no man knoweth the day nor the hour of His coming, we are
instructed and required to know when it is near. We are further taught
that to disregard His warning, and refuse or neglect to know when His
advent is near, will be as fatal for us as it was for those who lived in the
days of Noah not to know when the flood was coming.
Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 371.

1
The rapid increase in strong earthquakes in recent years according to U.S.
government data:

2
The rapid increase in disasters worldwide – especially since 1980:

And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For
many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead
many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are
not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines
and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the
birth-pangs. (Matthew 24:4-8 RSV)

Jesus is telling us that the prophetic signs preceding the

Second Coming will accelerate just as birth-pangs
accelerate preceding the birth of a child.

3
The economic distresses of the “last generation” were prophesied by Jesus.
The last few years have shown that the financial authorities and governments
of the world seem helpless in solving the financial troubles of the world.

Luke 21:25 – “distress of nations”

From The Hour and the End by Elder Wm. H. Grotheer

"The Distress of Nations" -- Verses 24 and 25 of Luke 21 are closely

associated together. The KJV tends to obscure this close relationship. In both
verses, the English words, "Gentiles" and "nations" are translated from the
same Greek word. Using the word - nations - in each instance, these verses
would read - "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations (εθνων),
until the times of the nations (εθνων) be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in
the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon earth distress of nations
(εθνων), with perplexity." In other words, the ending of "the times of the
Gentiles," or nations is closely associated with "the distress of nations, with
perplexity."

The Greek word for "distress" is ςυνοχη which means "imprisoned, in the
narrows, or straits." The added phrase -- "with perplexity" (εν απορια) --
conveys the picture of nations unable to meet the demands placed upon them
financially, or the inability to solve the monetary stress. (See The
Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament by Moulton & Milligan, both
articles, απορεω & απορια)

It is an interesting fact that the same year which marked the closing period
of the times of the Gentiles - 1967 - is also the year which marked the
beginning of the financial woes of the nations. In a Special Issue (July 4,
1974) of Myers' Finance & Energy, C. V. Myers wrote: [Gordon Tether in
the London Financial Times (June 28, 1974) noted Myers as being "the well-
known Canadian financial expert."] - It has now been established over the
course of the last seven years - since 1967 - that there is nothing in this
world the international monetary authorities can do to stem the advance of
gold, or to stem the collapse of inflation - or to avoid the enormous deflation
- the global liquidity crunch - and the resulting depressions. Don't doubt this.
The monetary morons have demonstrated it to you time and again. Fail! Fail!
Fail!