The headlines seem to be getting darker by the day, war rumors, strange earthquakes, pandemics and global deception. Many see these as isolated crises, but some believe they are connected threads in a prophetic tapestry the Bible laid out thousands of years ago. If the warnings are real, ignoring them could be the most dangerous decision a person ever makes.
Pastor Tom Hughes, speaking on his Tom Hughes Report, compared the devastating July 4, 2025, Texas flood to a much greater and eternal storm he says is rapidly approaching. “It’s not just life or death, but eternal life or death,” Hughes warned. “People need to know about it, and people who do know need to warn others.” Hughes believes the Bible lays out clear signs of the end times, and that they are converging in our lifetime.
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1. Pestilences
Hughes pointed to pandemics as one of the clearest warnings Jesus gave about the last days. He cited COVID-19 as a prophetic marker not only because of its spread but because of “the protocols surrounding it from so-called officials” that reshaped thinking and trained people to “trust whatever the government or science tells them.”
“Jesus said to watch for pestilences, and COVID was a major prophetic event for a few different reasons,” Hughes said (Matt. 24:7; Luke 21:11)
2. Earthquakes in Diverse Places
While earthquakes have occurred throughout history, Hughes noted a marked change in recent decades, with strong quakes striking unexpected locations like Texas and Oklahoma, areas known for tornadoes, not seismic activity. He challenged skeptics who attribute these to fracking, asking how Jesus could have predicted them 2,000 years ago.
“Earthquakes have gotten stronger since the birth of modern Israel in 1948,” Hughes said (Matt. 24:7)
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3. Wars and Rumors of Wars
Wars have always been part of human history, but Hughes stressed that today’s rumors are unique in scale and reach. He cited Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats as an example of a modern “rumor of war” amplified by mass and social media.
“Any of them can send a message to a few friends while a million strangers listen in. No generation spread rumors like this one,” Hughes said (Matt. 24:6).
4. Widespread Deception
Modern technology has made it possible for falsehoods to sweep the globe almost instantly. Hughes used the example of the false statistic claiming Americans use 500 million plastic straws per day, a figure originating from a 9-year-old’s guess that became accepted as fact worldwide.
“We live in an era when a 9-year-old can deceive the world,” Hughes said (Matt. 24:4, 11).
5. The Rebirth of Israel as the Prophetic Linchpin
Hughes underscored that Israel’s restoration as a nation in 1948 is the keystone for all other prophetic signs. Without it, he said, past catastrophes like the Black Plague could not have fulfilled end-times prophecy. Today, these signs are converging while Israel exists, making the moment unique in human history.
“Without the rebirth of Israel and the return of the Jews to their ancestral homeland, none of the other signs would have prophetic meaning,” Hughes said (Ezek. 37:21-22; Isa. 66:8).
Hughes leaves us with an urgent reminder that these signs are not meant to cause fear but to prompt readiness and hope in Christ. He warned that biblical illiteracy leaves people, and even churches, blind to what is unfolding. “The times should not overtake us as a thief,” he said. “We have the light of God’s word. We see and know the warning signs.”
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The call, Hughes stressed, is for believers to be watchful, anchored in Scripture, and bold in sharing the gospel. In a world swirling with chaos and deception, knowing God’s Word may be the difference between being swept away by the storm, or standing firm until the King returns.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
