“Then they will
see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place,
straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:27- 28).
Hey Gang: I had
decided there was not much interested in ‘what’s Happening Man” blog, so had
put it to bed. But the following article
came across my desk and I felt it important enough that, if one or two people
read it, it would be worth my time. It
is clearly written, very simple to read and understand and very appropriate for
a family meeting and discussion of its contents.
It is an article that had eternal significance. I have studied the prophetic word for many
years and seen many, if not most of these signs come into reality. The writer of Hebrews tells us that in the
last days everything that can be shaken will be shaken. I believe one has to have their head in the
sand, if they are unaware of the many warning that God’s word has given
us.
Jesus said, “I don’t want you to
be unaware of precisely what my intentions are pertaining to my coming again.” The following is a list of the many signs that one can clearly
see in our world today.
The Number One Prophetic Sign:
Convergence
What is the number one prophetic sign? What sign, more than any
other, points to the soon return of Jesus Christ? While any number of signs are present, I
believe one stands out above all others. In fact, Jesus Himself told us what it
is.
When the disciples said, "Tell us the signs of your coming
and the end of the age" (Matthew 24:3), Jesus detailed a number of things
to look for. He then said,
"When you see all these things,
you can know my return is near. I'm right at the door" (Matthew 24:33).
He also said, "When all these things begin to happen, look
up for your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28). This means the number one sign of Jesus'
return is all the signs appearing together.
Both Jesus and the prophets told us what signs to look for, and
the appearance of just one is reason enough to take notice. But the arrival of one sign after another
should really get your attention. This convergence of signs is the number one
prophetic sign - the number one reason to believe Jesus is right at the door.
The Convergence of Signs
The Bible tells us a number of events will take place just prior
to the return of Jesus. Generations of Christians lived and died without
witnessing one of these signs. Yet
our generation is witness to all of them. Those signs include:
Israel Back in the
Land - God promised to bring the Jewish
people back into the land of Israel before He returned (Jeremiah 23:7-8). He
said He would call them from "among the nations" (Ezekiel 39:28),
from "the farthest corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11:12), and from
"north, south, east, and west" (Psalm 107:3).
He promised to welcome
them home from the lands where they were scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). When they
did, He promised to return and establish His everlasting kingdom (Isaiah
11:11-12).
The Jews Back in
Jerusalem - Jesus said armies would surround
Jerusalem, destroy the city, and enslaves its citizens. This happened in A.D.
70 when the Roman legions did exactly that.
Jesus then said people
other than the Jews would control Jerusalem for a time, then the Jewish people
would once again control Jerusalem. When they did, Jesus promised to return
(Luke 21:24-28). Since 1967, the Jewish people have been in possession of
Jerusalem and will be celebrating their 50 year reunification this June.
The Gospel Preached
Throughout the World - When asked
about the end of the age and the signs of His coming, Jesus said to look for a
very specific sign.
He said the gospel
will be preached throughout the entire world. Every nation will hear it. And
then? And then, the end will come (Matthew 24:14). For centuries after the
crucifixion, the gospel was confined to a small area surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea.
In the past two
centuries, Christians have brought the gospel to every nation in the world.
Today, missionaries are in every nation.
The Bible is
translated in hundreds of languages, and the message of Jesus is sent around
the world by radio, TV, satellite, and the Internet. Our generation is
literally on the verge of spreading the gospel to every last person on earth.
An Increase in Travel
and Knowledge - Six hundred years before Jesus, an
angel gave Daniel a special message. He said "travel and knowledge"
will increase in the end times (Daniel 12:4). For centuries of human history,
dramatic gains in travel and knowledge did NOT take place.
Yet the last two
hundred years have seen explosions in the speed and frequency of travel as well
as the amount and availability of knowledge.
Arrival of the
Exponential Curve - Jesus said a
variety of global signs will come before His return and the end of the age.
These signs will be spiritual, natural, societal, and political in nature. And
He said they would appear in a distinct way - "like birth pains"
(Matthew 24:3-8).
This means the
frequency and intensity of these signs will increase as we near His return. Our
generation has seen the exponential increase in war and famine Jesus said to
look for.
In the 20th Century
alone, more people died from war and famine than lived on the earth when Jesus
spoke these words.
Israel Surrounded by
Enemies - The Bible says enemies will surround
Israel in the end times. Those enemies will say "Come, let us wipe away
the nation of Israel. Let's destroy the memory of its existence" (Psalm
83:4) and "Let us take for ourselves these pasturelands of God"
(Psalm 83:12). Ezekiel said Israel's
neighbors will say "God has given their land to us" (Ezekiel
11:14-17), and "Israel and Judah are ours. We will take possession
of them. What do we care if their God is there?" (Ezekiel 35:10).
Ever since the rebirth
of Israel in 1948, the daily headlines have included these Bible verses.
Israel's Muslim neighbors claim the land of Israel for themselves, and they
have no regard for the God of Israel.
Israel's Exceedingly
Great Army - Ezekiel said, in the end times, Israel
will field "an exceedingly great army" (Ezekiel 37:10). Zechariah
said Israel will be like a fire among sheaves of grain, burning up the
neighboring nations (Zechariah 12:6) and even the weakest Israeli soldier will
be like David (Zechariah 12:8).
Since 1948, Israel has fought no less than four conventional wars
against its neighbors. Despite being outnumbered more than 50 to 1, Israel has
achieved overwhelming victory every time.
Rise of the Gog of
Magog Alliance - The Bible says
a military alliance that includes Russia, Iran, Turkey, and a number of Muslim
nations will attack Israel "in the latter days" (Ezekiel 38:8) when
God brings His people home from among the enemy nations (Ezekiel 39:27).
Today, we see those very nations coming together - an alliance that has never
existed in world history.
Rise of a United
Europe - The Bible says a revived Roman Empire
will come to power in the end times (Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation 17).
According to Daniel, it will be a ten nation alliance of weak and strong
nations.
Some parts will be as
strong as iron, while other parts will be as weak as clay (Daniel 2:42). We see
the beginning of this alliance in the European Union - a coalition of weak and strong
nations struggling to stay together despite the efforts of Britain to leave
through Brexit.
The Rise of Global
Government - The Bible says a single government
will rule the world politically (Revelation 13:7), religiously (Revelation
13:8), and economically (Revelation 13:1617) in the last days.
It will rule over
"all people, tribes, and languages" on the face of the earth
(Revelation 13:7). Its authority will be so complete no one will be able to buy
or sell anything without its permission (Revelation 13:1617). For
centuries, a true global government was impossible. Today, world leaders openly
discuss it.
Denial of the Signs - Almost two thousand years ago, Peter issued a warning.
He said in the last days people will mock the idea of Jesus returning.
They will make fun of those who believe in the Second Coming and say exactly
what we hear today - things like, "I thought Jesus was coming back?
What happened to His
promise? Generation after generation has said He's coming. Yet, since the
beginning of the world, everything has remained the same!" (2 Peter 3:34).
Conclusion
Despite the naysayers,
Jesus is coming, and the signs indicate that ours is the generation that will
witness His return. The convergence of all these signs confirm it. Jesus Himself
said to look for these signs, and when you see them, He said you can know His
return is near. He's right at the door (Matthew 24:33).
In fact, He said the
generation witnessing these signs will not pass away before He returns (Matthew
24:34). "But Britt," you might
say. "These are the same signs you keep pointing out. You keep saying the
same thing over and over."
That's right. I do.
And that's because the truth doesn't change. These signs were present
yesterday, and these same signs will be present right up until the
rapture. But keep this in mind -
for 1,878 years of Christianity (A.D. 70 - A.D. 1948), none of these signs were
present. Today, all of them are.
I repeat myself
because this is a message people need to hear. It's the message every Christian
should brand in his or her heart. Advertisers say you need to hear a message at
least seven times before it sinks in.
Looking around, I don't think it's sunk in. Too many people are asleep
when it comes to the signs of the Second Coming.
Sadly, many of these
people are Christians. If you're one of them, it's time to wake up.
Jesus warned us not to
be caught sleeping when He returns (Mark 13:36). He commanded us to
watch.
Today, the signs of
His return are all around us. Jesus is coming, and it can't be said enough...
Now is the season of His return.
