The Appointed Time Has Come: Are We Awake to It?

“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come.”— Psalm 102:13

The End Times are here. The set time has come—not only for Jerusalem, but for this generation and for the entire world. Just like the shepherds of old, keeping watch over their flock by night, we may be caught unaware. Those men, most likely thinking it was just another cold shift under the stars, were suddenly met with the most stunning interruption in human history.

Luke records it this way:

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them... ‘For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”— Luke 2:9–11

That night, heaven literally opened. Angels—perhaps the original Heaven’s Got Talent winners—broke through the atmosphere and sang to a random group of shepherds. Why them? Why there? Because the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4). It had to happen to someone, somewhere, at some time. And those humble shepherds just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Today, it feels as though we too are sitting on the hillside—just going through life, caught in routine, maybe scrolling through news or sports—while right above us, the heavens are rumbling once again. But this time, it's not a baby coming in a manger. It’s a King returning in glory.

Jesus warned:“You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”— Matthew 16:3

We have grown familiar with the story of Christ’s first coming, maybe too familiar. Christmas carols, nativity scenes, and candlelight services are beautiful, but they can also soften the raw power and prophetic precision of that moment. And now we stand on the edge of another moment—perhaps the moment.

The Signs Are Everywhere

When you're driving from New York to Los Angeles, early signs are sparse. But the closer you get, the more signs you see. Likewise, the prophetic signs have increased dramatically in recent years. Consider:

• Blood Moons and celestial events (Joel 2:31)

• Shemitah cycles and economic shakings

• Technological advances aligning with Revelation 13 systems

• Global birth pains—earthquakes, wars, and famines (Matthew 24)

We expected things to happen instantly—like a fast-food order—but prophecy plays out on God’s timeline. And yet, in the last few years, the signs have come like a buffet, not a snack. Rapid-fire. Layered. Pointing to one thing: Jesus is coming again—not as a suffering servant, but as the conquering King (Revelation 19:11-16).

The Global Picture: Crisis Before Peace

As of early 2025, headlines are full of instability:

• Israeli-Iranian conflict heats up as airstrikes escalate

• Global debt reaches $315 trillion as central banks struggle

• Calls for a global digital currency mount
  

An inverted yield curve—a classic recession indicator—is once again flashing warning signs. Many economists predict a financial crisis followed by war, possibly centered around Israel, which continues to be a burdensome stone for all nations (Zechariah 12:3). Historically, every currency war has led to a hot war. This one may follow the same pattern, possibly within the next 12–18 months.

The outcome? Likely a global reset:

• A digital currency, not decentralized like Bitcoin but government-backed

• A global peace accord, born from desperation

• A false sense of unity, preparing the way for what Scripture calls “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Are You Prepared?

Just as Californians prepare for earthquakes and Gulf residents for hurricanes, we must prepare for what's coming—not in fear, but in wisdom.

Jesus said:“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning… because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”— Luke 12:35, 40

The signs tell us we are approaching the end of the Church Age—what theologians call the "Age of Grace." If Jesus died around 30 A.D., then by 2030, we will have passed 2,000 years since the cross. This may very well coincide with the beginning of a new age—the Messianic Kingdom.

We are not setting dates. We are observing signs.

A Call to Watchfulness

So how are you preparing? Are you storing spiritual oil in your lamp (Matthew 25)? Are you living as a witness to a distracted and digitally overloaded generation? Are you watching and praying, not just posting and scrolling?

The King is coming. And this time, He won’t come quietly. The sky will split (1 Thessalonians 4:16), the nations will tremble (Revelation 6:15-17), and every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7).

My prayer is that you will be ready—not anxious, but awake.Not panicked, but positioned.Not asleep in the field, but like the shepherds—ready to receive the news of heaven.

Let me know how you’re preparing. Do you really believe this generation will witness His return? If so, how should we live?

M. Joseph Hutzler

Eschatologist