Revelation 11:9-10

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Commentary

This prophecy tells us that in the last days everyone on the earth will have the ability to see the dead bodies of the two witnesses killed in Jerusalem, laying in the street.

People will be able to send gifts to one another.

Notice that with satellite television communications, and with the vast majority of the world’s population having cell phones, this is now possible without a miracle.

Consider the wording is “send gifts” and not “give gifts.” Next day and two-day shipping is one of the greatest areas of growth in just the past few years.

When this was written, it took many months for news to travel across the Roman Empire. Many lands were not known to each other.

Revelation 17:8

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Commentary

Again, the entire world will be able to behold (see) the Antichrist and his resurrection/transition. He is the manifestation of Satan.

Matthew 24:21-22

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Commentary

The Great Tribulation will be beyond any horrors that have preceded it. No matter how bad you think it will be, it will likely be far beyond what you can imagine.

Now that mankind has developed chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, the entire population of the earth would be wiped out, unless the Lord intervenes.

This level of destructiveness would have been un-thought of when Jesus said this.

Zechariah 14:12

And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Commentary

This prophecy reads like a description of the effects of atomic weapons. The ability to melt or vaporize a person while they stand, consuming them away before the body can hit the ground.

Daniel 12:4

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Commentary

Daniel was given the prophecies of the last days. He was told to seal up the book until the time of the end.

We are given a couple of clues indicating what technology will be available in the last days.

Many running to and fro is not just the ability to go from town to town, but the ability to travel from continent to continent, and across those continents quickly. The advent of the jet age has made all of this possible.

The Internet, and massive 4G and 5G networks has caused an explosion in available information made easily accessible. The amount of available information is doubling about every five years.

Think about all of the things that technology has made available, from maps to instant communication, to on the fly language translation. Each of these is just a small piece of this increase in knowledge.

Joel 3:9-14

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Commentary

This prophecy foretells the gathering of the armies of the world in the valley of Jehosaphat.

The ability to gather armies from around the world in the valley is a massive logistical feat, something that could not have happened when this was written.

Revelation 16:14

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Commentary

God will allow supernatural influence to convince the kings of the earth to send their armies to the Mideast.

Revelation 18:11-18

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

Commentary

This passage describes the incredible wealth that will be available in the last days. Note that “the merchants of the earth” would indicate there is worldwide trade in the last days.

When this was written, trade was limited to a few routes.