Most Christian faiths believe that these are the “last days,” meaning the final days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which will bring the destruction of the wicked and the ushering in of the “millennium,” one thousand years of perfect peace under the leadership of Christ Himself.  Christ has told us that no man knows the exact hour of His coming:

And they have done unto the Son of Man even as they listed; and he has taken his power on the right hand of his glory, and now reigneth in the heavens, and will reign till he descends on the earth to put all enemies under his feet, which time is nigh at hand—   I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes (Doctrine and Covenants 49:6, 7).

Yet, Christ has also indicated that there would be signs leading up to His coming and that those who are watchful and wait for Him will be able to see and understand those signs:

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;   When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.   So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand (Luke 21:29-31).

Many scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments predict events that will precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has the revelations of modern prophets to give us added information and to confirm that which has been given in the Bible.  Some events have already taken place, and others are yet to come.

When are the Last Days?

The Final Dispensation of Time before the Second Coming is dedicated to preparations needed to prepare the Church for that event, to gather the righteous and call the wicked to repentance.  This dispensation began in 1820 with the First Vision of young Joseph Smith, who was called by Christ to be the first prophet of this, the last dispensation.  In keeping with patterns of old, heavenly messengers restored lost “keys” necessary to lead this dispensation.  In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 110, there is an account of visitations of Moses, who restored the keys of the gathering of Israel; Elijah, who restored the power to seal in heaven what is sealed on earth; and Elias, who restored the “dispensation of the gospel of Abraham.”  John the Baptist had already appeared to restore the Aaronic Priesthood, and Peter, James, and John had already appeared to restore the Melchizedek Priesthood.

The Lord said the following, as the work of sending the restored gospel to the nations commenced:

And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.   And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them (Doctrine and Covenants 1:4, 5).

And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;  For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;  They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall (vs 14-16).

For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.  And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world (vs 35, 36).

Signs of the Times Found in the Bible

1. There will be many false Christs that would lead away many. (Also see Revelation 13:13-14; Joseph Smith 1:22.)
2. False prophets will also arise, the (original) apostles would be killed, and a general apostasy would occur.
3. Worldly knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4).
4. The gospel of Christ in its fulness will be restored (Isaiah 2; 4; 5; 10; 11; 13; 18; 24; 29; 33; 34; 35; 51; 52; 54; 60; 63; 64; 65; 66; Revelation 14:6-8; Doctrine and Covenants 133:36-41).
5. The Church and God’s kingdom will be reestablished (Daniel 2:31-45; Doctrine and Covenants 20; 128:20).
6. The kingdom will roll forth and grow (Daniel 2:44; Moses 7:60-66; Doctrine and Covenants 65; Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14).
7. Two opposing kingdoms, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan, will exist in the last days. The kingdom of Satan utters great blasphemies against Christ. An anti-Christ will hold great power, upheld by the “Beast,” for three and a half years (Revelation 15, 16). There will be a separation of the righteous and the wicked (see Alma 10:23).
8. The kingdom of Satan and the anti-Christ will establish a world monetary system (Revelation 14, 15).
9. Elijah will return (Malachi 3:1-6; Doctrine and Covenants 110).
10. The spirit of Elijah will fill the earth, turning the hearts of the children to their fathers (family history and genealogy work).
11. Iniquity will abound, causing the love of men to wax cold.
12. The Jews will be scattered among all nations; they will again be gathered prior to the Second Coming (Acts 1:6-11; Doctrine and Covenants 110:11; Doctrine and Covenants 133:13).
13. The Ten Lost Tribes will return (Esdras 13:40-47). They will bring scriptures to add the canon of scripture (Doctrine and Covenants 133:26-34).
14. There will be “wars and rumors of wars.”
15. The war of Armageddon will rage for three and a half years (Zechariah 12; 13; 14; Ezekiel 38; 39; Revelation 9; Doctrine and Covenants 29:14-21).
16. Two prophets will prophesy in Jerusalem and protect the city for three and a half years, until they themselves are killed (Doctrine and Covenants 77:15; Revelation 11).
17. Jerusalem would be overcome, leading to the “abomination of desolation.”
18. A tremendous earthquake will change the face of the earth; the Mt. of Olives will cleave, the surviving Jews will escape through the cleft, and Christ will descend to save them from the destroying armies (Ezekiel 38; Zechariah 14:4, 5; Revelation 6:12-17).
19. Christ will destroy Israel’s enemies (Zechariah 14:12, 13).
20. The Jews will recognize Christ and mourn (Zechariah 14:2-6; Doctrine and Covenants 45:48-53).
21. Jerusalem will become a glorious and holy city (2 Nephi 14:2-6, Isaiah).
22. A river of water will flow east and west from the Jerusalem temple mount, healing the Dead Sea.
23. ^{144,000 missionaries, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel, will be called, protected (sealed in their foreheads) and sent forth to attempt one last gathering of the pure of heart (Revelation 7:2-8; 14:1-5; Doctrine and Covenants 77:11).}
24. There will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes.
25. The waves of the sea will roar (Luke 21); the seas shall heave beyond their bounds (Doctrine and Covenants 88:90).
26. First a portion of sea life dies, then all life in the sea dies (Revelation 16:1).
27. There will be a plague of hail (Revelation 11:19; 16:21).
28. There will be a day, a night without darkness, and a day (Zechariah 14:6, 7).
29. There will be signs on earth and in the heavens (Doctrine and Covenants 45:39-42; Joel 2:30-31).
30. The sun will darken, the moon turn to blood, the stars fall (Doctrine and Covenants 29:14; Acts 2:20; Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:33).
31. Voices will be heard from heaven (Revelation 11:15; Doctrine and Covenants 45:48, 49; Doctrine and Covenants 88:92-94). The trump of God will announce the Second Coming. All men will witness it together.
32. Babylon, the “great and abominable church” will fall (1 Nephi 13:5; Doctrine and Covenants 88:94; 29:21; Ezekiel 38; 39; Revelation 17; 18).
33. The wicked will be burned as stubble (Malachi 4; Doctrine and Covenants 29:9-10; 63:34, 54; 101:23-31; 133:63-640).
34. The earth will be cleansed by fire and the wicked consumed (Revelation 18:17, 18, 23, 24).
35. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars shall fall, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
36. The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven.
37. The heavens will open and the Son of Man will appear.  All shall see Him together.
38. A resurrection of the just will occur. The righteous who are living will be caught up to meet Christ in the clouds (Doctrine and Covenants 88:95-98; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Signs of the Times Predicted in Mormon Scripture

1. America will be discovered and settled by Europeans (Ether 2:7-12; 1 Nephi 13:1-19).
2. The American nation will be established with inspired leaders and an inspired constitution (2 Nephi 10:9-19; 3 Nephi 21:4; Doctrine and Covenants 98:4-10; 134; 101:76-80).
3. Additional scripture will come forth, including the Book of Mormon, or “stick of Joseph,” to join the Bible, or “stick of Judah” (Isaiah 29; Ezekiel 37; 2 Nephi 3:12; 2 Nephi 27, 29; 3 Nephi 21; Mormon 8).
4. There will be opposition to the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 29).
5. There will be a restoration of priesthood authority and keys (Doctrine and Covenants 13; 27; 128).
6. The Saints will be persecuted (Doctrine and Covenants 45:18-32).
7. The spirit (of Christ) will be poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28-32; Joseph Smith 2:41).
8. The gospel will be preached to every nation, tongue and kindred (Joseph Smith 1:31; Doctrine and Covenants 133:37).
9. There will be many false churches (Mormon 8:26-41).
10. The Lamanites will blossom as the rose (Doctrine and Covenants 49:24-25).
11. The Jews will begin to believe in Christ (2 Nephi 30:7).
12. Temples will be built all over the world and the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt (Isaiah 2:1-5; Micah 4:1-7; Ezekiel 37; Doctrine and Covenants 133:13; 124:25-42).
13. Zion, the New Jerusalem, will be established on the American continent and will be a place of refuge for the righteous (Articles of Faith, 10).
14. Wars will rage worldwide. There will be wars on the American continent (Doctrinal History of the Church, 3:391; Doctrine and Covenants 45:66-71; 63:33; 97:22-24).
15. Mormon missionaries will be called home. ^[3]
16. The Ten Lost Tribes will return (Esdras 13:40-47). They will bring scriptures to add the canon of scripture (Doctrine and Covenants 133:26-34).
17. The times of the Gentiles (wherein the Gentiles have precedence in receiving the gospel) will be fulfilled (1 Nephi 13:42; Luke 21:24; Doctrine and Covenants 45:24-30; Inspired Version:Luke 21:24-32).
18. There will be a great council at Adam-ondi-Ahman whereat all the prophets will turn their keys of administration over to Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 27:4-14; 116).
19. Disasters and calamities will abound (Doctrine and Covenants 61:4-5, 14-15) and strikes, anarchy, and violence will increase (Doctrine and Covenants 45:26).
20. Iniquity (wickedness) will abound (Joseph Smith 1:30).
21. The Lord will cease to strive with the wicked and will withdraw from them (Doctrine and Covenants 63:32; 1:33).
22. Peace will be taken from the earth (Doctrine and Covenants 1:35).
23. Destroying angels will be released (Doctrine and Covenants 38:12).
24. There will be an “overflowing scourge” to afflict men (Doctrine and Covenants 45:31).
25. The Lord will come “suddenly to His temple” (Malachi 3:1; Doctrine and Covenants 110:1-10).
26. The continents will become connected again—”He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land; And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like it was in the days before it was divided” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:21-24).
27. Absence of rainbows the year of Christ’s coming (Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 340).
28. Men’s hearts shall fail them.

Other prophecies are found in Mormon scripture.  Many in the Book of Mormon pertain to the establishment of America on the land where the book was written.  Many prophecies of Joseph Smith have to do with the going forth of the restored gospel.  The Lord revealed to him:

“The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.” (D&C 65:2.)

Mormons (a nickname for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) often use the term “fulness of the gospel.” Mormons refer to modern times as the dispensation of the fulness of times, referring to the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in full.

Mormon beliefs; Jesus Christ's gospel restored

Mormon beliefs teach that Adam and Eve, the first people to live on the earth, were given the full gospel. They shared it with their children. However, people often found it difficult to live the full gospel, and so, periodically, the fulness of the gospel was replaced with preparatory laws, such as the Law of Moses, to help people progress to a point where they could live the full gospel. In addition, truths were sometimes lost. There have almost always been those who wanted God to change truth to something more pleasing to them, and periodically, those false beliefs became widespread among the people. During these times, God often took away the prophets, which also removed access to God’s word. This was known as apostasy, since the people had chosen to apostatize by ignoring or changing God’s word. However, God never allows apostasy to last forever. Each time, He eventually returns the prophets to the earth, as we see while studying the Bible.

His gospel was first established on the earth beginning with Adam and has been taught in every dispensation through such prophets as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others. Each of these prophets foretold the coming of Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world. Those prophecies have been fulfilled. The Savior did establish His Church. He called His Apostles and established His priesthood. Most importantly, He laid down His life and took it up that all will rise again, thus carrying out the atoning sacrifice. But that was not the end.

After the Savior’s Resurrection, He commissioned His Apostles to lead the Church and administer gospel ordinances. Faithful to this charge, they were persecuted, and some were eventually martyred. As a result, the Lord’s priesthood authority was no longer on earth, and the world fell into spiritual darkness. In the centuries that followed, God’s children had the Light of Christ, could pray, and could feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. But the fulness of the gospel had been lost. There was no one left on earth with the power and authority to lead the Church or perform sacred ordinances such as baptism, conferral of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the saving ordinances of the temple. Almost everyone was denied access to the scriptures, and most people were illiterate (Robert D. Hales, “Preparations for the Restoration and the Second Coming: ‘My Hand Shall Be over Thee’,” Liahona, Nov 2005, 88–92)

The Mormons call this the Great Apostasy. It was very long and very thorough. We can see the impact of this time as we look around us on earth. Even while the apostles were on the earth, apostasy was beginning, and the apostles grieved at losing people and even entire nations through apostasy. Today, as we observe the landscape of our nation, we see hundreds of churches, all teaching different things and most claiming to have the truth. This happened because the truth was lost and people had to try to decide on their own what was true and what wasn’t. Often these choices led to the formation of new Christian churches with new beliefs not found in the Bible or the church as it existed when Christ was on the earth and even directly contradict those teachings. Because God is not a God of confusion, and because truth matters to Him, as we see by the many references to it in the Bible, we know it matters to God what we believe and how we act based on the truth Jesus Christ taught while on the earth.

However, God began to prepare His people for a restoration of prophecy and the fullness of the gospel. Literacy increased and the printing press made it possible for people to read the Bible on their own. Reformations began which challenged the traditions of some long-standing religions.

In the 1700s, a nation was formed which guaranteed freedom of religion. This made it possible for a restoration to occur. Finally, in the 1800s, the world was ready for the restoration to occur. Joseph Smith, a teenager in upstate New York, lived in a time of great excitement over religion. People were anxious to align themselves with a church and many opportunities were given to them to choose one that suited their beliefs. Joseph, his mother, and his siblings attended many of these revivals and churches, but this exploration only confused Joseph. He couldn’t figure out how to tell which of the churches was true.

He turned to the Bible for help. While studying, he found James 1:5-6: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” This verse, believed by many scholars to be the work of the half-brother of Jesus Christ, was, Joseph realized, the key to solving his dilemma. He went into the woods near his home and prayed with faith. God and Jesus appeared to Him and instructed Him not to join any of the churches currently on the earth, since none were entirely correct. Later, when he had grown and matured, an angel named Moroni came to begin tutoring him in preparation for the restoration. Joseph eventually translated a set of ancient records we call the Book of Mormon, which is a companion to the Bible and testifies of its truthfulness. When this was complete, the restoration of the Savior’s gospel could begin.

Today, we live in a time that again has the blessings of prophets to share with us God’s word. While some think God has turned His back on His children forever, Mormons know that just as prophets were needed to prepare God’s people for the first coming of Christ, prophets are just as necessary to prepare us for the second coming. Perhaps the need is even greater, since this return will be made known to all the world.

Our message is unique. We declare to the world that the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. We declare with boldness that the keys of the priesthood have been restored to man, with the power to seal on earth and in the heavens. The saving ordinances pronounced by the Lord as requirements for entering into eternal life with Him can now be performed with binding authority by those who worthily exercise the power of His holy priesthood. We declare to the world that this is the day referred to by biblical prophets as the latter days. It is the final time, before the coming of Jesus Christ to rule and reign over the earth.

We invite all to listen to the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from us. Then you can compare the glorious message with what you may hear from others, and you can determine which is from God and which is from man (L. Tom Perry, “The Message of the Restoration,” Ensign, May 2007, 85–88.)

The fullness of the gospel, then, means that God’s prophets are on the earth, allowing us to sort truth from the teachings of men, and helping us to prepare for the triumphant return of the Savior, and for our own return to God’s presence. We can know for ourselves if this is true, because God has promised us that we can pray to find out, rather than simply trusting man’s word. Just as the brother of Jesus said, if we lack wisdom, God promises to give it to us if we ask in faith, with a sincere desire to know the truth.

Mormons teach that they have the fullness of the gospel found in their own faith. However, James E. Faust, a previous apostle of the Lord, teaches what this means in relationship to other faiths:

We believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of the original Church established by Jesus Christ, which was built “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” 24 It is not a breakoff from any other church.

We believe that the fulness of the gospel of Christ has been restored, but this is no reason for anyone to feel superior in any way toward others of God’s children. Rather, it requires a greater obligation to invoke the essence of the gospel of Christ in our lives—to love, serve, and bless others. Indeed, as the First Presidency stated in 1978, we believe that “the great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.” 25 Thus, we have respect for the sincere religious beliefs of others and appreciate others extending the same courtesy and respect for the tenets we hold dear (James E. Faust, “The Restoration of All Things,” Liahona, May 2006, 61–62, 67–68.”)

The scriptures speak of the Master returning as a “thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is true that no mortal man has known, does now know, or will yet know the precise day of the Lord’s second advent. That is true for prophets and Apostles as well as the rank and file of society and the Church. The Lord did not reveal to Joseph Smith the precise day and time of His coming (Doctrine and Covenants 130:14-17).

Elder M. Russell Ballard, speaking to students at Brigham Young University, observed:

“I am called as one of the Apostles to be a special witness of Christ in these exciting, trying times, and I do not now when He is going to come again. As far as I know, none of my brethren in the Council of the Twelve or even in the First Presidency knows. And I would humbly suggest to you, my young brothers and sisters, that if we do not know, then nobody knows, no matter how compelling their arguments or how reasonable their calculations. I believe when the Lord says ‘no man’ knows, it really means that no man knows. You should be extremely wary of anyone who claims to be an exception to divine decree.”

On the other hand, [Mormons] are promised that if they are in tune with the Spirit, they can know the time and the season. The Apostle Paul chose the descriptive analogy of a pregnant woman about to deliver. She may not know the exact day or hour when the birth is to take place, but one thing she knows for sure: it will be soon. It must be soon! The impressions and feelings and signs within her own body so testify. in that day, surely the Saints of the most High, the members of the body of Jesus Christ, will be pleading for the Lord to deliver the travailing earth, to bring an end to corruption and degradation, to introduce an era of peace and righteousness. And those who give heed to the words of scripture, and especially to the living oracles, will stand as the “children of light, and the children of the day,” those who “are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-5). In a modern revelation the Savior declared: “And again, verily I say unto you, the coming of the Lord draweth nigh and it overtaketh the world as a thief in the night–therefore, gird up your loins, that you many be the children of light and that day shall not overtake you as a thief” (Doctrine and Covenants 106:4-5; emphasis added).

Sperry Symposium Classics, Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, p. 204.

The question comes up occasionally, perhaps because of what is stated in the gospel of Mark: “Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:31-32; emphasis added). the phrase “neither the Son” is not found in Matthew or Luke. Jesus Christ knows all things; He possesses the fulness of the glory and power of the Father (see Doctrine & Covenants 93:16-17). Surely He knows when He will return. if He did not know the exact day or time of His return in glory when the Olivet prophecy was uttered, then certainly after His Resurrection and glorification He came to know. It is worth noting that the Joseph Smith Translation of this verse omits the disputed phrase.

Sperry Symposium Classics, Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, 2004, p. 201.

Jesus Christ came to earth as a mortal being in the meridian of time. He taught the gospel, bestowed divine authority, organized the Church, and suffered and died as an infinite atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He stated that He would come again, would return not as the meek and lowly Nazarene but as the Lord of Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of Armies. Jesus Christ’s Second Coming is thus spoken of as His coming “in glory”-meaning, in His true identity as the God of all creation, the Redeemer and Judge. His Second Coming is described as both great and dreadful-great for those who have been true and faithful and therefore look forward to Jesus Christ’s coming, and dreadful to those who have done despite to the spirit of grace and who therefore hope against hope that He will never return. The Second Coming in glory is in fact “the end of the world,” meaning the end of worldliness, the destruction of the wicked (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:4, 31). At this coming the wicked will be destroyed, the righteous quickened and caught up to meet Him, and the earth transformed from a fallen telestial orb to a terrestrial, paradisaical sphere. We will live and move about among new heavens and new earths. The Second Coming will initiate the millennial reign.

Sperry Symposium Classics, Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004, p. 202.