I will have to admit, the popularity of Groundhog day eludes me. It’s all for laughs and entertainment, and maybe hope that the famous rodent’s shadow might bear some hope that winter will soon be over. People always seem to be looking for a sign.
There were signs to point us to the moment of Christ’s First Coming.
There are also signs to point us to the moment of his Second Coming.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,” (Galatians 4:4, ESV)
Christ’s First Advent took place when the times had reached their fullness.
Like a piece of fruit being picked at the exact moment of ripeness. Christ’s Second Advent will also occur at the fullness of time.
What is meant by the term, “The Fullness of Time?”
Usages.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,” (Galatians 4:4, ESV)
Eph 1:10 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Ephesians 1:7–10)
Comparison
First Coming was at the Fullness of Time. “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:1–3, ESV)
Second Coming will also be at the Fullness of Time.
Matt 24:3. “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”” (Matthew 24:3, ESV)
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,” (Luke 21:25, ESV)
Heb 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25, ESV)
The return of Christ will complete the “Times of the Gentiles” “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24, NIV84)
SIGNS for the First Coming
The end of 69 Sevens. “Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.” (Daniel 9:25–26, ESV)
All who understood Daniel’s prophecy knew that the Roman Empire was the Fourth Kingdom of Daniel 2 and 7.
Israel had now returned to the land after the Babylonian captivity.
Christ’s Birth in Bethlehem provided another sign, because the Scripture foretold that Bethlehem was the place where the Messiah would be born. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2, ESV)
The Star in the East provided another sign. The Wise Men were possibly influenced by Daniel’s legacy in the land of Babylon, for they knew that the Scriptures prophecied that the Messiah’s birth would be accompanied by celestial signs. Matthew 2:2 “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.” (Numbers 24:17, ESV)
The fact that Jesus was a descendent of David provided another sign. “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (Genesis 49:10, ESV)
Just as there were Signs of Christ’s first coming, there are also signs of his Second Coming
Illustration: There are SIGNS that Christmas is coming. Christmas decorations, B101 All Christmas Music, Santa in the Mall, Sales, Shopping, Christmas Lights. There are no “signs” that Thanksgiving is coming, but when you see the signs for Christmas, you know that Thanksgiving cannot be far away.
SIGN 1. The Regathering of the Jewish People. “The End” by Hitchcock, 105-118
For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: “Thus says the Lord: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.” (Jeremiah 30:1–5, ESV)
““I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.” (Zechariah 10:6, ESV)
The Jewish people have TWICE returned from exile. (Babylon - 70 years..... Gentiles - 1900 years!!!)
After 70 AD, ,dispersed to more than 70 countries, for over 1900 years.
Hated, persecuted, annihilated... Still survived
The only dead language to ever be fully restored (imagine people speaking Phonecian or Uggaritic)
Sign #2 - Surging Apostasy
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,” (2 Timothy 4:1–3, ESV)
2 Timothy 3:1-9
“not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” (2 Thessalonians 2:2–3, ESV)
Sign #3 - The Coming Middle East Peace
“And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”” (Daniel 9:27, ESV)
SIGN #4 Ten Nation Confederacy
There are numerous ways in which the World is uniting. G 7. United States, Canada France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom
The Iran nuclear talks are being conducted by a group referred to as the P 5 + 1. This stands for the Security Council nations, plus Germany (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States).
The European Union. Is comprised of 28 member countries
The 10 nation confederacy may include non-european countries.
Sign #4 - Globalism
““Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.” (Daniel 7:23–25, ESV)
Rev 13:11-17
If the SIGNS of the SECOND COMING are increasingly becoming more clear, than we can know that the RAPTURE is near!
God wants us to discern the times!
“Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26, NIV84)
“He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54–56, ESV)
