Ever since Jesus Christ warned His followers that He would leave them to go to His Father’s house in heaven and promised that He would “come again and receive [them] to [Himself]” (John 14:1-3), Christians have asked the million dollar question: “When will you return, and what will the sign of your coming be?” The very fact that Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for asking that question, I believe indicates that He approves of our watching for signs of His return.
Last week we started our prophecy study series with an exploration of the Rapture of the Church. I explained to you exactly what the rapture was and what it will look like. It’s a future event where Christ will return and take his children home to be with Him forever. This morning we are going to start part 2 of our series entitled “Signs of the Times” in which we are going to take a look at legitimate Bible-based signs that point to Christ’s return to earth.
The Bible gives many examples of signs that should warn us of Christ’s coming. Four such signs are given by Jesus, two characteristics of the time period preceding His appearance are given by the apostle Paul, and other events are given by the prophets as occurring prior to or soon after the end of the age. Let’s start our study by looking at the signs given by Jesus Christ Himself.
I. Four Signs Given By Jesus To Indicate His Coming And The End of The Age
In Matthew 24:3 Jesus was asked, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and the end of the age?” Jesus told His apostles to look for the following signs prior to his Second Coming and the end of the age.
A. False Prophets and Christs
Let’s look at Matthew 24:5 and 11: [5] For many will come in my name. Saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many. [11] Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Of course, there have always been false teachers, for that is Satan’s way of distorting the truths of God. That is why we have so many cults, religions, and other –isms that claim a Christian basis for their beliefs. If Satan cannot get people to disbelieve or rebel against God altogether, he will get them hooked on some false doctrine to lead them astray.
Who can deny that everywhere we look today, we find deception growing stronger and more prevalent. It has been said that a new cult springs up at least once a month in the United States, and that no matter how fantastic and fanciful its teaching may be, or how wild its claims, there are always those who are willing to be deceived.
A few years ago, evangelists were quick to point out how Jim Jones fulfilled the prophecy when he led almost 1,000 people to commit suicide in Guyana and how the leader of Heaven’s Gates invited 36 people to follow a comet to another galaxy. But, the explicit fulfillment of this sign today can be seen in the many radical followers of Mohammed believing they will be rewarded for killing Christians and others they call infidels.
B. Wars
The next sign can be found in Matthew 24:6 and 7. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…
Rumors of wars in all areas of the world now occur frequently thanks to instant media coverage and the availability of a multitude of 24-hour news sources. Just this week we have seen the results of terrorists capturing Israeli soldiers and Israel’s response. War has been declared and we may see just how easily the entire world may become involved in what is happening thousands of miles away.
Iraq has civil infighting among religious factions that threaten the stability and future of their country. North Korea is testing the world’s response by experimenting with its intercontinental missiles. Syria is blaming Israel for the fighting that is occurring in Lebanon, and Iran is on the brink of developing and using its nuclear weaponry. Not to mention the civil unrest in Mexico over the close election for their presidency, the Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan, and the terrorist plots that are being uncovered in our own country. I think it’s safe to say that this sign of the end can be easily seen as occurring even as we speak.
C. Famines and Pestilences
Next Christ mentions famines and pestilences in Matthew 24:7. [7]…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Jesus said that before His return we would see an increase in these problems. I think that you can agree with me that sickness, disease, and starvation are becoming epidemics in the world today.
New diseases seem to be appearing regularly. We now have AIDS, SARS, bird flu, Ebola, and mad cow disease. Superstrains of diseases thought vanquished by antibiotics are rapidly appearing. Even the mumps seems to be making a comeback.
D. Earthquakes
Then another sign are earthquakes and other major natural disasters. The number and intensity of earthquakes is at a level higher today than any other time in history. A staggering number of seismic events occur around the world daily. And even as we speak there is a volcano in Ecuador threatening to erupt.
And look at all the crazy weather patterns we are having. Horrific tornadoes, unmerciful hurricanes, floods in regions that are already saturated and drought in hot, dry climates that could use some rain. Record breaking heat waves have been recorded in the last two decades. And presently there are major wildfires in California and Montana that have already scorched over hundreds of thousands of acres combined.
In Matthew 24:8 Jesus said that when we see all these things start coming to pass that these signal “the beginning of sorrows” or some translations call them birth pangs. Like a woman going into labor, the closer and closer she comes to delivery, the more severe the pains are and the more frequently they occur. Christ is telling us that the increase in the number of disasters and the increase in the severity of the disasters that we are witnessing today are just the beginning.
II. Two Characteristics of the End of the Age From the Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul also gives us two characteristics of what the time preceding Christ’s return will look like.
A. Godlessness
The first characteristic is godlessness.
1 Timothy 3:1-5, 7: [1] But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: [2] For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,[4] traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power…[7] always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For anyone who has watched television, read a newspaper, lost a retirement to corporate greed and corruption, or just walked outside their front door, its obvious this prophecy has been fulfilled by our generation. Our leaders are often corrupt; our cities are filled with crime, brutality, and neon signs proclaiming our sinful, godless nature.
Lawlessness is becoming rampant. Bizarre killing rampages are multiplying among our teen-agers. Jails are filled to overcapacity with hardened criminals of all kinds. Drugs are virtually a staple of modern society and traditional families are almost nonexistent.
The secular humanists that teach in our nation’s colleges and universities are some of the most educated and influential people in our societies, and yet they are the most lacking in any real truth.
B. Apostasy (Falling Away from the Faith)
The second characteristic of the times that Paul gives us is apostasy or the falling away from the faith of believers.
1 Timothy 4:1-2: [1] Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, [2] speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron
This sign is deception occurring in the very church of Christ, causing believers to follow untruths and fall away from the faith. Do you know what is happening in the world today concerning religious deception?
In the Church of Scotland more than 1/3 of their ministers do not believe in the virgin birth of Christ. The second most senior churchman in England said that Britain can no longer be considered a Christian country.
Episcopalian dioceses across the United States are loosing members because of the denomination’s ordination of a homosexual bishop. And believe it or not, there are even Baptist churches in America that are supporting homosexuals in ministry positions.
Last week our church received a newsletter from an organization that is called the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. The name sounded relatively innocuous, but upon reading the publication I realized that the entire purpose of the publication was to promote homosexuality in the Christian community. One of the churches named in the letter as celebrating its 50th anniversary listed the 5 principles that inspire their vision. The fifth principle floored me. It said that they took the Bible, God’s Holy Word, seriously, but not literally. I never thought I would see the day that a Baptist Church didn’t take the Bible literally. And this church is aligned with and presently active in the American Baptist Churches USA, even after they made a decision in 1992 to license for ministry an openly gay divinity student.
Having said all this does not mean that I am against homosexuals or people of other faiths. I love people, just as Jesus loved people, but Jesus also had a message of repentance and following Him and His standards. The moment the church starts interpreting the Bible their own way to please man is the moment we become deceived. Which is what we can see happening around us today.
Churches today are becoming more and more ecumenical, embracing New Age interfaith agenda, and denying Christ as the only way to salvation. Giving in to politically correct media and a corrupt society, they preach tolerance and compromise in place of God’s truth for the salvation of the world.
III. Occurrences Given by Prophets Required for the End of the Age
And finally, there are the occurrences or events given by the prophets as requirements for the End of the Age and the return of Christ. Many of these prophecies would take a lot of explanation. Some of them could be individual sermons in and of themselves. So I want to list a few of them for you and tell you where they are found, because we can see them developing in the world around us, but I won’t go into any great depth on them. If you wish to know more about any of them please ask and I will try to provide you with some more explanation.
A. 2 Million Man Army In the East
Revelation 9:16 tells of the existence of a 2 million man army in the east during the end times. An army of that size had never existed until China’s army reached that number in the 1960’s.
B. Redevelopment of the Roman Empire (European Community)
The second chapter of the book of Daniel explains the succession of the great empires of the world. All of the empires prophesied in that book have come to pass except for the last one. The fourth empire is described as a redevelopment of the third empire which was the Roman Empire that ceased to exist around 500 AD. The nations of Europe since the Roman Empire dissolved never adhered or formed one empire but continue as separate nations. However, today we have the European Union which now has, I believe, 25 member states all of whom were once under the power of the ancient Empire of Rome.
C. Rebirth of the State of Israel
Prophecies in the book of Ezekiel, Isaiah and Zechariah all claim that Israel would once again be a nation living in their own homeland when the times of the end are near. This is significant because for over 2000 years the Jewish people have wandered aimlessly worldwide without a home or a nation of their own. Yet in 1948, the nation of Israel was reborn and the Jews have been returning to their homeland in record numbers ever since. This is just one more sign that Christ’s return in drawing closer.
D. Return of the One Pure Language, Hebrew
Zephaniah 3:9 says, “For then I will return to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.”
Prior to the restoration of Israel in 1948, Hebrew was a dead language. Today, Hebrew is spoken daily throughout the nation of Israel.
E. Increase of Knowledge and Travel
The book of Daniel 12 tells us that in the end of time knowledge and travel will increase dramatically. Billy Graham was quoted as saying, “ninety percent of all the engineers and scientists who have ever lived are alive today.” Air travel, space travel, DNA research and human cloning are all examples of the rapid increase in knowledge and travel in our generation.
These are just a few events the prophets mentioned as occurring in the last days and there are many, many more signs I could give you from Scripture, all of which we are seeing fulfilled today.
The good news is, that even though our world seems to be speeding towards chaos, nothing is spinning out of control. Instead, all the signs are pointing in exactly the opposite direction.
The Bible predicted moral collapse in the last days. It predicted the rise of Muslim fundamentalism, the collapse of Russian communism, signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and even the sense of impending doom that we are seeing. The Bible predicted the controversy over Israel and even the development of the European community. The Bible said all these things would begin at approximately the same point in history and would develop along parallel lines.
Because that is exactly what is happening, it proves that things aren’t out of control, but carefully under control. Jesus told us this would happen, because He is in charge of it all. And He told us that, when we see all these things begin to come to pass, we should look up, and lift up our heads, for our redemption draws near. (Luke 21:28) The feeling of impending doom is for everyone else. We have assurance of knowing that the only way to predict an event is to be in control of it. Bible prophecy proves everything is under control and right on schedule. We have nothing to fear. And we have a great hope in our immediate future.
So, back to our question, “When will the rapture of the church take place? When will Jesus come to take His children home?” After looking at the multitude of signs that Scriptures give to us of when He is coming, and comparing them to events that are occurring around us in the world today, I would have to say that Jesus could come at any second, maybe even before we leave this building this morning.
My question to you is: “Are you ready? If Jesus decided to come today to take his children home, would you be one of them or will you be left behind to face the wrath to come?” If you don’t know the answer to those questions, I beg you, please don’t leave here without finding your answers. Talk to me or one of the members of this church and find out how you can be sure that you will escape God’s wrath.
Next week, if we are still here, we will be taking a look at just what God’s wrath will entail by delving into the book of Revelation.
