Signs of the Apocalypse…or not?

As many of you know, I am not a big fan of trying to predict when Jesus will return.  Scripture tells us that Jesus doesn't even know when exactly it is going to happen.  Therefore I think it is futile to try and pinpoint it. 

I do realize however that Scripture tells us to be vigilant and ready.  In that regard I look for big picture things that I think will be hard to miss to let us know we are getting close.  One of them is the prophesy of the two witnesses who will witness in Jerusalem in defiance of the anti-christ.  I just think that is going to be hard to miss. 

Here is another Scripture I ran across today that I think will be hard to miss. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4(NKJV)

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 

not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Now couple that with the two witnesses who are defying the anti-christ and it is really going to be hard to miss.

This next one actually seems to be starting now.  Have you noticed in the last year or so that there are more and more calls to go to a cashless society?  Isn't that a way to control who can buy and sell and who can't? 

Revelation 13:16-17(NKJV)

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 

and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Right now the beast has not been revealed and this won't happen until he is but it sure seems to be putting the system in place to make it happen.  With cash anyone can trade with anyone else.  You can't control it. 

But what if all transactions have to be electronic like through a debit card.  Are you free to do business with anyone you chose?  You are until whoever controls the system tells you you can't!  It's that simple.

But as I ponder all of these things I realize that being a pre-Trib guy, I won't be around for any of this anyway!  :)