A Christian ministry based in Texas asserts that the countdown to the apocalypse began over a century ago, identifying the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, as the first tangible sign of Jesus's imminent return. Lamb & Lion Ministries claims this declaration, which expressed British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, along with subsequent events and technological advancements, fulfill biblical prophecies.
The ministry's argument, detailed in an article titled "50 Reasons We Are in the End Times," posits that prior to 1917, there was no singular, measurable sign indicating Christ's return. The Balfour Declaration, issued during World War I, is seen as a pivotal moment.
This declaration is connected to biblical passages such as Isaiah 11:11–12, describing the gathering of Jewish people, and Isaiah 66:7–8, which speaks of a nation being born at once. The subsequent establishment of Israel in 1948 and its capture of East Jerusalem in 1967 are also cited as fulfillments of prophecies like Luke 21:24, referring to Jerusalem being trampled by Gentiles until the "times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
Beyond geopolitical events, the ministry points to other signs it believes indicate the approaching end times. These include increasingly destructive natural disasters, interpreted as "birth pains" mentioned in Matthew 24:8, alongside wars, famines, pestilences, social unrest, and religious upheaval. Societal signs cited include rising violence, lawlessness, materialism, and the persecution of Christians, while spiritual warnings involve false messiahs and occultism.
The ministry also highlights technological advancements as significant indicators. It suggests that computers and digital financial systems could enable the infrastructure for the Antichrist to control global commerce, referencing Revelation 13's prophecy about the "mark of the Beast." Furthermore, the ability for people worldwide to witness events in Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 11, is linked to the advent of television, satellites, and instant global communication. Virtual reality, holograms, and robotics are similarly associated with biblical descriptions of a speaking image of the Beast.
However, these interpretations are disputed, as the biblical texts do not explicitly mention modern technologies like computers or satellites. The ministry ultimately lists 50 alleged signs but does not provide a specific date for the Second Coming, acknowledging the biblical caution in Matthew 24:36 that the day and hour are unknown to anyone but God.