Lesson 2: Looking For Signs

A. WHY THERE WILL BE SIGNS

1. Definition: A sign points primarily to the supernatural activity of God to send a message to people. “Communication between the visible and invisible world.” ISBE

2. There have always been signs.

a. The rainbow, a sign that the earth won’t be flooded again.

b. Moses called by the burning bush and the rod that became a serpent, etc.

c. The bronze serpent (Num. 21:9).

d. Jesus, miracles were signs that pointed to His deity.

3. Jesus answered the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” (Matt. 24:3).

4. The principle of concerted preparation: Conditions on earth after a secret rapture must be in place before He returns. “The Pharisees . . . desired him that he (Jesus) would show them a sign from heaven . . . when it is evening, ye say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red” (Matt. 16:1-2).

B. WHY THERE WILL BE NO SIGN BEFORE THE RAPTURE

1. The rapture will be instantaneous, not progressive or slowly revealed.

“Behold I show you a mystery . . . we shall be changed in a moment,in the twinkling of an eye” (I Cor. 15:31-32).

2. The rapture will come without notice. “I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Rev. 3:3).

3. Jesus refused to give supernatural signs to unbelievers (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38). Jesus gave them the “sign” of scriptures, i.e., sign of the resurrection and sign of Jonah (John 2:14, 6:30; Matt. 12:39).

4. Jesus said Jews seek signs but Gentiles seek wisdom (I Cor. 1:22ff). There are no signs when Jesus comes for the Gentile church, yet many signs when He comes seven years later for Israel.

C. SIGNS BEFORE THE RAPTURE

1. How does the word imminent relate to signs?

a. The word imminent means impending, “close at hand.” You never know when it will happen.

b. You don’t know the time that will transpire before an imminent event occurs.

c. To set a date or fix signs for an imminent event takes away from its unexpectancy.

d. To say an event is imminent, you can say it is “soon coming.”

2. What does an imminent rapture mean?

a. Christ could come at any moment.

b. If something has to happen, then Christ’s return is not imminent.

c. Just because Christ’s return is imminent, does not mean it will not happen soon.

3. What views of the rapture have the wrong timing?

a. The post-tribulational rapture says the tribulation must occur first.

b. The mid-tribulation rapture says the events of the first half of the tribulation must happen first.

4. If the rapture is imminent, how can we say there are signs today?

a. Because forces must be in place before the rapture that will become events after the rapture.

(1) Israel in the land.

(2) Israel being persecuted.

(3) The possibility of a world government and world ruler, etc.

b. We can know the “seasons” of the future. “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer [is] near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -

- at the doors!” (Matt. 24:32-33).

c. Christians are not ignorant of prophetic themes. “You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of

light and sons of the day” (I Thess. 5:2, 4-5).

d. God has given His people the scriptures to prepare and warn others what will happen; we can warn the unsaved. “The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should

perish but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

5. Can anyone know for sure when Jesus will return?

• NO! “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36).

• Martin Luther said, “If anyone by happenstance guesses the day God had planned for His Son to return, God would change the date so the Scriptures would stand.”

D. HOW SHALL I RESPOND?

1. Be patient. He will come. “Watching thereunto with all perseverance” (Eph. 6:18).

2. Thank God for everything. “Watch . . . with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).

3. Watch out for Satan’s temptation. “So be on your guard” (I Thess. 5:6, LB).

4. Pray as you wait. “Watch unto prayer” (I Peter 4:7).

5. Reinforce your good actions. “Wake up, strengthen what little remains” Rev. 3:2).