Signs Of The Second Coming Of Christ

Signs of the Second Coming of Christ

Matt. 24:32-35 (NIV) 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

INTRODUCTION

This message concerning the times that will be present before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

A. For example, God warned the world before He sent The flood—the ark was the sign.

B. Before the Lord delivered the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, He sent ten plagues upon the Egyptians—the plagues were the signs.

C. Before He sent the Israelites into Babylonian captivity, He sent Elijah and Elisha—their miracles became the signs.

D. Before He sent His Son to be born of a virgin, He put a star in the heavens—the star was one the signs.

E. Just as the first coming of Jesus was preceded with signs, so will His Second Coming be preceded with signs.

There will be signs in the world that will correspond with the signs in the Word. Jesus said, “When these signs begin to develop, look up for your redemption draweth nigh.” We are living in the time when Jesus is going to return. There are several major signs I want to share with you. I also want to give you some facts and what Heaven is going to be like for you and me.

I. The Population Explosion

38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,

so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

A. The Lord said it would be like the days of Noah when He comes back. In Noah’s day they were marrying and giving in marriage.

1.There was a population explosion at that time. God had told Adam and Eve to fill the earth (Genesis 1:27), but He said nothing about

overfilling it.

B. Ecologists and sociologists are worried that the earth

will soon be overpopulated.

1.In China, for instance, the law states that each family is allowed only one child. To disobey is to invite prosecution and even persecution.

2. Extreme populations are named as causes for serious economical and sociological problems, such as unemployment, crime, robbery, violence, hunger and starvation.

C. Jesus said prior to His coming it would be like the Day of Noah.

D. As there was a population explosion then, there will be a population explosion just before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

II. A Progression of Knowledge

A) The Progress of Knowledge -- The mental sign is seen first in the progress of knowledge.

1. Man’s knowledge doubles in less than 6 years.

a. By the time many medical students graduate, much of their earlier training is already obsolete

b. Printed material doubles in less than 15 years

B)Technology, for example, has developed the laser beam, a concentration of energy in a pinpoint of light. It is now used in various

forms of surgeries, sometime requiring no incisions at all.

B) The Pressure on Men’s Hearts –

Matthew 24:21-22 (NIV) 21 For then there will be great distress, (TROUBLE)unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

1. Not only is the mental sign found in the learning Of knowledge, it is also found in the pressure on men’s hearts.

2. The Lord said there would be distress(trouble of nations and perplexities. Perplexity means no way out.

3. What a picture of people today who feel pressured from stimuli on the outside.

4. They see no hope for the future.

5. They see no way out of debt, problems, difficulties, or marital stresses.

6. Men’s hearts are failing them because of the fear (stresses, strains, struggles and the sins of life.)

III. NOTICE THE MORAL SIGN

Matthew 24:37-38 (NIV)

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

A.He referred to the time of His return as like that of Noah’s day (Genesis 6:5),

1. When men’s thoughts were continually wicked and God judged the world because of man’s evil thought patterns.