Signs of Christ's Coming
We sometimes hear preachers say, "All the
necessary signs of Christ’s coming have now been fulfilled. Christ
could now come at any time."
Singers bring us the stirring words,
"Signs of the time are everywhere. There’s a brand new feeling in
the air…"
However, we live at a point in time when we need to
realize that no matter how sincere or well intended these statements
are not Biblically correct.
I. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF CHRIST COMING FOR HIS
CHURCH
Jesus Stated That No Man Knows The Day Or The
Hour
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not
even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father. Take heed, watch and pray: for you do not know when the time
is."
Mark 13:32, 33. " And what I say to you I say to all, Watch.’
" Mark 13:37
Church Age Believers Are To Continually Look For
Jesus.
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:" Philippians
3:20. "Looking for the blessed hope, and glorious
appearing of our great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;" Titus 2:13. "So Christ was offered
once to bear the sins of
many; To those who eagerly wait for Him will he appear a second
time, apart from sin, for salvation." Hebrews 9:28
There Will Be A Sudden Resurrection and Rapture
"Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed." 1st Corinthians 15:51,52.
The great purpose of the resurrection of the
saved dead and the changing and catching up of living believers is
to prepare us for heaven and our work of reigning with Christ when
we come back with Him to earth.
II. THERE WILL BE MANY SIGNS DURING THE TRIBULATION
seven years
a seven year covenant of
peace with Israel.
After Jesus comes for His church a great leader
who will have risen to be the executive leader of the Federated
States of Europe will enter into a seven year covenant of peace with
Israel.
The Tribulation
The seven years of this covenant will also mark the time
span of the coming tribulation period (See Daniel 9:24-27). This man
will be empowered by Satan. The first 3 ˝ years will be composed of
events that mark the stages of his gaining authority over all
nations of the earth. Many Bible scholars believe we have a
description of this in Matthew 24:4-9 and Revelation 6:1-11.
False Christ - Verses 4 & 5
Rider on white horse,
verses 1 & 2
Wars and rumors of wars, nation
Rider on red
horse (peace taken from the earth. Verses 5 & 6.
Nation rising against
nation. -Verses 6 & 7
"There shall be famines" Vs 7b
Rider on black
horse with balances-famine. Verses 5 & 6
"…pestilences and earthquakes,
Rider on pale
horse - death with Verses 7c, 8
Hell following. Verses 7, 8.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you." Vs 9
Description of slain
martyrs.
Please note that all these events have their
"fulfillment" in the tribulation after Jesus has taken the church
home to be with Him.
Satan Will Be The Source of Many Signs.
"For false christs and false
prophets will rise, and show great signs and wonders; to deceive, if
possible, the very elect."
Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22.
"And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the
Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth, and destroy
with the brightness of His coming: The coming of the lawless
one is according to the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,´
2nd Thessalonians
2:8,9.
See also Revelation 13.
The Lord God Will Be The Source Of Many Signs
"And there will be great earthquakes in various
places, and famines, and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great
signs from heaven."
Luke 21:11. "And there will be signs in the sun, in the
moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;´
Luke 21:25.
"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven: and then
all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of
Man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Matthew
24:30.
We certainly get the impression that the conflict
of the ages between the Lord God and Satan will come to a final
showdown that will rock the world.
III. PROPHECIES (SIGNS) ARE BEING FULFILLED
Prophetic scholars have identified nearly forty
prophecies that will be fulfilled during the Tribulation that are
already in various stages of development. Time and space do not
allow listing and commenting on all these prophecies but we will
give some of the most important ones:
Jewish exiles return to their homeland: Isaiah
43:5,6; Zephaniah 3:10
Israel has a rebirth as a nation Isaiah 11:11,12;
Amos 9:14,15
Israel’s rainfall restored. Joel 2:23
Israel becomes fertile again. Isaiah 27:6
Plans to rebuild Jerusalem Temple Isaiah 2:2,3;
Micah 4:1,2
Levites, priests, Temple vessels prepared.
Ezekiel 43:14 - 19
Preparation made for sacrifice of red heifer.
Numbers 19; Ezekiel 36:24,25
A Federation of Nations from Old Roman Empire.
Dan 2:40-44; Rev 13:1;17:3
Russia become the military power of the North.
Ezekiel 38:1-12
Israel surrounded by hostile Arab nations Psalms
83:4-8
Progress made towards One-World Government Rev.
13:7
Population control by a world economic system
based on numbers Rev 13:17,
Increase in false
Christ's Matthew 24:4,5
Increase in wars around the globe Matthew 24:6,7
Massive famines and pestilence Matthew 24:7
Increasing killer earthquakes Matthew 24:7
Worldwide hatred and persecution of Jews Matthew
24:9, 10
Asia building army of 200 million Revelation
9:14,16
Capability to dry up Euphrates River Revelation
16:12-14
Meltdown of moral standards Matthew 24:12; II
Timothy 3:1-3
Weapons of unparalleled destruction. Joel 2:1-3
Great increase in the wealth of the rich. James
5:1-3
Formation of One-World Church Revelation 17
Worldwide television communications Revelation
11:9, 10
Great signs in the heavens and perplexity on
earth. Luke 21:25,26
The most amazing thing about these prophecies is
that there was virtually no development toward them for 1900 years
of the church era. Indeed, half of the 20th century had
been completed before notable progress began to be made in any of
these areas.
IV.
true Christians are to WATCH for His coming
Reason would tell us that if these events are to
find their complete fulfillment in the tribulation and Jesus comes
for His church before the tribulation then true Christians are
to watch as never before.
We once again affirm that we cannot know the day
or the hour of Jesus’ coming for His church. However, the increasing
progress towards prophecies fulfilled during the tribulation period
indicates that we are nearing the end of the church age. Even
prophetic scholars such as David Allen Lewis, who has called for a
boycott on all date setting, is willing to say, "I believe we are
living in the final era of the day of grace, the Church Age."
The words of Jesus in Luke 21:28 sum up most
clearly what we are trying to say, ‘Now when these things
begin to happen , look up, and lift up your heads; because your
redemption draws near."
Copyright © 2002 Thomas E Berry
All Scriptures quoted from NKJV unless otherwise noted
Copyright © 2008 Truth Helpers Inc.
|