Since the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christians have been looking for the return of Jesus to set up His kingdom. The signs of the times as outlined in scripture have been existent to varying degrees throughout subsequent centuries, causing Christians to look expectantly for His return, possibly during their own lifetime. Many nations and empires have been saturated with corrupt moral behavior and shown contempt for the God of the Bible. Natural disasters, famines, disease and pestilence have often plagued the nations. It seems that there have always been wars and rumors of wars. So what makes today different?
God was very clear in His promise to Abraham that his descendants would be given the land of “Canaan” as an everlasting possession. He also made it clear that this covenant would be fulfilled through the descendants of Isaac through Jacob.
Genesis 17:7–9 “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.”
Genesis 17:19 “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”
Genesis 28:10–14 “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
That covenant was unconditional and everlasting, so the nation of Israel has to exist for that covenant to be fulfilled. After the Romans destroyed the temple and the nation in 70 AD, such fulfillment seemed in jeopardy. (That is what led to the false teaching of the church replacing Israel.) We know, however, that God’s word never fails. One of the primary signs of our times is the rebirth of the nation of Israel as foretold by the prophet Ezekiel (chapters 36-37). That event on May 14, 1948, started the prophetic clock, so to speak.
We Christians in America tend to look at the signs of the times from our perspective in our country. I think the main difference regarding the signs of the times today is the fact that these signs are evident worldwide. As one of the driving forces of cultural reform throughout the world, it is true that the culture and morals of America infects world culture and morals. I believe we are quickly getting to the point that there will no longer be a nation that supports biblical morality. Immorality isn’t the only sign so clearly evident today. Earthquake and volcanic activity are on the increase throughout the world. Rumors of war and racial unrest are everywhere evident. The push for a one-world government is at an all-time high. Events over the last year have accelerated that process more quickly than I could ever have imagined. The worldwide financial infrastructure is positioned to collapse like a deck of cards. I believe that genetic manipulation and transhumanism are pushing boundaries to a point similar to the corruption of humanity that existed in the days of Noah. In fact, the world is on the fast track to mirroring those days.
Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Though I cannot predict the day and hour, I KNOW we are in the season of the return of the LORD Jesus to take His bride home. And, frankly, I can’t wait. However, I grieve over loved ones who refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior. I continually pray for them to be brought to their knees in faith and repentance before him—no matter what it may take to put them in that position. I know the LORD is only waiting for the moment that His bride is made complete, because He is not willing that ANY should perish.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
I plead with you that do not know the LORD Jesus as your Savior to turn to Him in faith and repentance. Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God….”
1 John 1:8–9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Accept God’s free gift of salvation.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Prove your faith by living in accordance with His word, by showing that you have accepted Him as LORD of your life.
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Show your love for the Savior through obedience to His word.
John 14:15, 21, 23 “If ye love me, keep my commandments….He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father….If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
To my brothers and sisters in the faith, my prayer is for us all to grow stronger and stronger in our faith and our commitment to honor the LORD with our lives. Even though we may face persecution and hard times before the LORD comes to take us home, we will find it will have been but little sacrifice for all that we will gain.
2 Corinthians 4:8–10, 16-17 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body….though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory….”
Keep looking up—He’s coming soon!!
Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
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