In the waning years of the twentieth century, questions arise about whether we are living in the last days before Christ's return to establish His Kingdom. Many speculate on the timeline, with some suggesting a few hundred years remain, while others believe it could be within decades or even imminent. Doubts persist about whether world events and the church's condition indicate a distant end, as scoffers and skeptics, as warned by Peter and Jude, attempt to convince God's people that He will not return soon. They argue that global conditions, such as Europe's readiness to challenge the U.S., peace in the Middle East, or the absence of a massive eastern army, suggest normalcy and delay. Within the church, some claim Christ cannot return yet because the gospel has not been preached to all the world, or the church must reunite first. However, Peter cautions that assuming events will progress as always is a mistake, for when God's time arrives, sudden and terrible changes will occur, and we, as His children, must be ready. The term "last days" appears throughout the Bible, first used in Genesis 49:1 where Jacob prophesies about his sons' future before the Messiah's coming. In Isaiah 2:2 and Micah 4:1, the latter days signify the establishment of the Lord's house. In the New Testament, the term is used by Jesus and the apostles to denote various periods, often the general time before Christ's return. Herbert Armstrong pointed to Matthew 24:22 as a key sign of the last days, stating that unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, emphasizing the urgency of the times. A significant sign of the last days is the falling away, or apostasy, a departure from the true faith as described in II Thessalonians 2:10-12. This deception, termed the mystery of lawlessness, promotes the lie that God's law need not be obeyed, a falsehood satan has long perpetuated. Apostles like Paul, Peter, John, James, and Jude warned of this defection, which did occur in the first century and continues to be a concern. In recent times, many have turned from the revealed truths of God, abandoning the faith once delivered. Paul urges believers to stand fast and hold to the traditions taught, reinforcing the need to love and strengthen the truth to be saved. This necessity to hold fast to sound doctrine amidst apostasy adds weight to the signs that these are indeed the last days.