Would you like to know when Jesus is coming again? While no one can tell you the exact time, there is a passage of Scripture which gives four clear signs of when it will happen. Find Matthew 24:15-28, and see if you can see the four signs of the times.
The first clear sign that Jesus Christ is about to return is "the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel." Daniel spoke of an event that would signify an era of extreme blasphemy and hostility against the God of Israel. I believe his prophecy has been fulfilled twice and will be fulfilled once more.
In 168 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanies, ordered his troops into the Jerusalem Temple, proclaimed himself as god, and sacrificed swine on the altar of the God of Israel. In AD 70, General Titus of the Roman army marched into and raised banners of the god Zeus in the Jerusalem Temple, looted its contents, and then destroyed it with fire. One way this could be fulfilled would be by a modern-day destruction of the nation of Israel, which is horrifically plausible if you take note of current events in the Middle East. The Old Covenant has lost its relevancy, but it could be that the Jewish people are still God's clock when it comes to the end of the world.
Another interpretation would be an age of extreme blasphemy and mockery of God's church. Our generation is the first in Christian history to witness such abominations as an art exhibit depicting a crucifix in a bottle of urine (Andres Serrano), a major motion picture depicting Jesus as sex-starved pervert (Martin Scorsese), a renowned recording artist calling Jesus an enlightened gay man (Elton John) and a leading talk show host mock the Lord's Supper by proposing a "snackrifice" of potato chips (Stephen Colbert).
Serious Christians today are considered dangerous and extremist by this present world. Sexual liberty now triumphs over religious liberty, and more men and women in pulpits and professorships deny the cardinal doctrines of the faith than affirm them. This, to me, seems to be "the abomination of desolation."
The godlessness and attacks upon God's people of "the abomination of desolation" have a chilling effect. Jesus calls it "great tribulation," which is sign number two. It has happened and is happening to the Jewish people. It has happened and is happening to the church. It will not stop, until Christ comes again.
It is hard to feel "great tribulation" in a country like the USA, but please remember we are only 5 percent of the world's population and a relative dot on the big map of human history. Around the world, more people have been martyred for their faith in Christ in the past century than all the previous centuries combined, and incidents seem to be intensifying. Even in our polite society, Christians are being marginalized and mocked in ways we never could have imagined just a generation ago.
As we urge people to turn to Christ, let us urge them to turn to the right Christ, for there is only one Way, one Truth, and one Life that can bring us safely to the true and living God (ref. John 14:6). For "false Christs and false prophets will arise," especially in the last days, according to Jesus, which is the third sign. They will not be ugly, but impressive. They will not be ineffectual, but do great things and build great organizations. They will not be repulsive, but very persuasive. Many will follow them, straight to eternal destruction.
The last sign of the time in this section of Jesus' sermon is "lightning." The "lightning" is a symbol of the certain and swift second "coming of the Son of Man," the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This fourth sign also serves to comfort and temper believers, while it should scare the, you know what, out of unbelievers.
Christ will not come again until the light of the gospel has totally covered the earth. But when that last soul is won, life in Christ will be available no more. Nuclear armament will not end it. Global warming will not end it. The second coming of Jesus Christ, fulfilling all prophecies including the outpouring of the wrath of God upon evil and unbelief, will bring out the "vultures" of eternal death.
If I were an unbeliever or a nominal Christian, this would instill in me a healthy and serious fear of God, and a concern that the time to be saved by Him could be gone in a flash of "lightning."
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church in Hot Springs. A native of Georgia, he is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Arkansas and Georgia, and preached the gospel in several states and foreign countries. He can be reached at [email protected] or 525-8339.
Religion on 01/30/2016