davidbowerkingwood

The Signs of the Times

Today we are seeing a remarkable increase in signs that were predicted for the end times in both the Old and New Testaments. What is surprising to me is the vast difference in response to these signs by various Christian churches.

Last Sunday night we had the opportunity to attend a service at a Baptist church that was exclusively focused on the signs of the times as they signal the coming changes that will impact this world. I believe the world is being warned by these signs that dramatic changes are coming soon and time is growing short to make your peace with God.

The Bible reveals that a number of significant signs were predicted for both the First and Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals the accuracy with which those signs were fulfilled by the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the time of the First Advent and there is no reason to think the signs of the Second Advent will not be fulfilled with equal precision.

Failure to See and Understand the Signs Given by God

Our Lord was exceedingly careful to fulfill all of the signs of the First Advent that were planned by God and revealed in the Old Testament. He was also angry with those who refused to see the signs ordained by God and wanted to see signs of their own choosing. In Matthew 16:1-3 it is written:

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

In their hardness of heart, the Pharisees and Sadducees rejected the miracles performed by the Lord including the raising of Lazarus and even rejected the resurrection of the Lord, totally refusing to see the signs God had given to them. Let us be careful not to fall into that same trap.

The Signs of the Second Advent

Today we are inundated by signs of the Second Advent. The world situation as described in the Bible for the last days is startlingly similar to the world situation we are now experiencing. Sadly there are many segments of the Christian community which choose to ignore these signs; it seems that regardless of what God does to reveal His plans these revelations can be ignored by those who simply choose not to see the signs.

It is always difficult to imagine life-changing events happening to us; those are things that happen to someone else, certainly not to us. This has undoubtedly been the experience of everyone who has lived through a catastrophic event in their lives. Up until the time the catastrophe strikes it is life as usual, then without warning something happens and things are never again the same.

What’s Coming Next?

The Bible tells us the next event that will take place is the removal of the true church from this earth; for the record, the true church is all people who have received Christ as Savior since the formation of the church on Pentecost, May 25, AD 33. This event is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

“¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

While only God knows the timing for the removal of the church, for those who love the Lord as Savior this will begin a time of indescribable joy and excitement; for those who have rejected Christ it will begin a time of devastation as they realize their lives are forever changed in ways they cannot even imagine.

It is important to recognize the event described in 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18, the removal of the church, is not the Second Advent but precedes it by an absolute minimum of seven years and more likely by closer to around 12 years. There are two major events that have been prophesied that will occur, the Battle of Psalm 83 and the Battle of Gog and Magog. My estimation on the time involved for those two events would add an additional five to six years to the seven year tribulation period.

How Bad Will Things Get?

We know that the last three and one-half years before the return of the Lord to earth will be so bad that if the Lord had not returned as planned no one would survive. We also know that there will be wars and rumors of war and many natural disasters leading up to the return of the Lord.

What we do not know is exactly how bad things will get before the church is removed. We are already seeing signs of the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the people who are called by His name all over the world including the United States. Watching these signs develop and understanding the significance of their meaning can be a source of comfort as we are reminded of the Lord’s return.

Watching the beginning of the destruction of things we have valued is also hard; I’ll admit I’m saddened by what I see happening in the United States. The country which I have loved and has been my home is changing before my eyes and that is hard to watch.

The Lord is being remarkably gracious as He permits many to preach and teach on the signs now being put in place. The number of websites, books, DVD’s and sermons on the meaning and significance of these signs leaves no room for ignorance if one wants to know and understand. It is our responsibility to take advantage of this time of God’s grace and mercy and seek to be informed by looking for God’s message in the signs.