Jesus indicated that one (of many) signs of the end times or the end of the age grace would be that love for one another would grow cold. Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This can also be interpreted that lawlessness will abound. This includes violence, murder, terrorism, shootings, abortion, sexual attacks, knife attacks, car/van attacks, chemical attacks and other similar acts of destructive and evil behavior. Yes, these things have occurred in time past. But consider the frequency, intensity and devastation of these types of attacks and mass school shootings. They are like birth pangs in frequency and intensity. This is just one part of the CONVERGENCE or CONVERGING of signs.

The most dangerous cities in America, ranked. Do you live in or near one of them?

Violent crime stats

Compared with 2016, violent crime in the United States in 2017 dipped 0.2 percent. This marks the first decline in the nation’s overall violent crime rate since 2014.

There were an estimated 382.9 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2017, according to the FBI, which classifies murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as violent crimes. 

This is a ranking of the U.S. cities with the highest rates of violent crime in 2017, the most recent year available from the FBI.

25. Springfield, Illinois

The rate of violent crime in Illinois’ capital city is 1,055 per 100,000 residents.

There were 11 murders in Springfield in 2017, up from six the previous year.

24. Beaumont, Texas

The violent crime rate in Beaumont is 1,063 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, 16 people were murdered there.

23. Chattanooga, Tennessee

The violent crime rate in Chattanooga is 1,066 per 100,000 residents.

The city saw a 4.7 percent increase in violent crime between 2016 and 2017.

22. Hartford, Connecticut

The violent crime rate in Hartford is 1,093 per 100,000 residents.

There were 29 people murdered there in 2017.

21. Houston, Texas

Texas’ most populous city is also its most dangerous. The violent crime rate is 1,095 incidents per 100,000 residents.

20. Chicago, Illinois

The violent crime rate in Chicago is 1,099 per 100,000 residents. 

19. Minneapolis, Minnesota

The violent crime rate in Minneapolis is 1,101 per 100,000 residents.

There were 42 murders in 2017

18. New Orleans, Louisiana

The violent crime rate in New Orleans is 1,121 per 100,000 residents.

There were 157 murders within the city limits in 2017.

17. Lansing, Michigan

The violent crime rate in Lansing is 1,136 per 100,000 residents.

Fourteen murders were reported in the city in 2017. 

16. Nashville, Tennessee

The rate of violent crime in Nashville is 1,138 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, FBI data said 110 people were murdered there.

15. Anchorage, Alaska

The violent crime rate in Anchorage is 1,203 per 100,000 residents. 

Twenty-seven people were murdered in 2017.

14. San Bernardino, California

The violent crime rate in San Bernardino is 1,291 per 100,000 residents.

In 2017, 34 people in the city were murdered

13. Oakland, California

The violent crime rate in Oakland is 1,299 crimes per 100,000 residents, 8.6 percent below the 2016 rate.

There were 69 murders in the city in 2017. 

12. Indianapolis, Indiana

The violent crime rate in Indianapolis is 1,334 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, 156 people in the city were murdered.

11. Springfield, Missouri

The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1,339 per 100,000 residents.

Fourteen people were murdered in the city in 2017.

10. Albuquerque, New Mexico

The violent crime rate in Albuquerque is 1,369 per 100,000 residents. 

Seventy people were murdered in 2017.

9. Stockton, California

The violent crime rate in Stockton is 1,415 per 100,000 residents. 

Fifty-five people were murdered in that city in 2016.

8. Cleveland, Ohio

The violent crime rate in Cleveland is 1,557 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, 107 people were murdered in the city.

7. Rockford, Illinois

The violent crime rate in Rockford, in northern Illinois, is 1,588 per 100,000 residents. 

Eighteen people were murdered in that city in 2017. 

6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The violent crime rate in Milwaukee is 1,597 incidents per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, 118 people were murdered in that city.

5. Little Rock, Arkansas

The violent crime rate in Little Rock is 1,634 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, 55 people were murdered in that city.

4. Memphis, Tennessee

The violent crime rate in Memphis is 2,003 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2017, 181 people were murdered there. 

3. Baltimore, Maryland

The violent crime rate in Baltimore is 2,027 per 100,000 people. 

In 2017, 342 people in Baltimore were murdered.

2. Detroit, Michigan

Though no longer the most dangerous city in the nation, Detroit’s violent crime rate increased slightly between 2016 and 2017. The violent crime rate in Detroit is 2,057 incidents per 100,000 residents.

In 2017, 267 people were murdered. 

1. St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis overtook Detroit has the nation’s new most dangerous city. St. Louis has a violent crime rate of 2,082 per 100,000 people. That’s 8.8 percent higher than in 2016.

In 2017, 205 people were murdered in that city