| John 14:1-3 | "... And If I go", said he, "... I will come again." |
Prophesied in literally scores of passages throughout the Scriptures, taught and parabolically explained in the most vivid and varied of ways, the return of Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah) to this earth will be one of the most breathtaking and glorious events ever to be witnessed by the sons and daughters of men. Its awesome significance to believer and unbeliever alike completely dwarfs all other considerations put together. And yet, strange as it may seem, the vast majority of human beings are quite oblivious - some willingly - of this fast approaching event. Even genuine believers in the Messiah, who ought to be tirelessly preparing for His appearance, are woefully ignorant of it. And so the gushing torrent of unpleasant news that pours forth each day from the news media is as much a mystery and terror to them as it is to a little child. No doubt many people correctly sense that the international situation is worsening and is so explosive that it could result in the annihilation of the human race. But why this is all happening and how it will be stabilised remains a complete mystery to them.
As a result people everywhere are sickened with the barrage of bad news that is broadcast each day and are going to great lengths to insulate themselves against it. And so we have multitudes turning to cheap thrills and soul destroying entertainment in a frantic effort to get the most out of life. "Eat, drink and be merry," they say, "for tomorrow we may die." The results of this sad trend are only too obvious.
This aticle hase been designed to counteract that drift - for the Christian believer at any rate. If they are acted upon, the net result will be to spiritually orientate the student towards the reality of the coming King. This aticle in particular will act as a kind of survey map of the difficult terrain over which this generation is travelling. Using Bible prophecy alone, it will highlight the Signs of the Times which all point to one climactic event in the near future - the return of Yeshua the Messiah, the Saviour of the World!
Bad news as a consequence, though obviously unpleasant, is paradoxically also a cause for hope; for as Christ so plainly said:
| Luke 21: | 28: “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” |
The Messiah’s Promise to Return
To begin with there is the Master's own promise to come back. It is seconded by angels and prophets alike.(John 14: 1-3, Acts 1: 10-11, Revelation 22: 20, Titus 2: 13)
The Great Warning
| Matthew 24: | 4: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” |
Our Lord went on to warn his followers that there would arise "false prophets" and "false Christs" who would possess miracle-working powers (verse 24); powers which could easily be mistaken for the power of God Himself. Surprisingly enough these bogus prophets were to correctly proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, which is what he is. He is the Anointed One, the Messiah. So in this respect they are proclaiming the truth.
Why then does the Saviour call them "false prophets?" The answer is simply this. These wonder working preachers, though conscious of the fact that Jesus is the Christ, are nevertheless workers of iniquity. That is the crux of their falsehood. They are blatant sinners (commandment breakers), deliberate and persistent opponents of the divine law that defines iniquity. Yeshua refers to them in another passage in these words:
| Matthew 7: | 21: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” |
And so to YOU comes the great warning, "Take heed that no man deceives you"; for miracle-backed deception is the first sign of Christ's return to earth. This warning is dramatically portrayed in the White Horse (the 1st Seal) of Revelation 6:2, Matthew 24:4-5&24.
Signs in the Political World
"There shall be wars." This prophecy does not, of course, refer to the thousands of mini-squabbles and hand-to-hand battles of past ages, which we all know have taken place since the dawn of human history. Instead it refers to the earth-encompassing revolutions and wars of the 20th century; to world wars involving hundreds of millions of people, wars which could annihilate "all flesh" from this planet. Here, in fact, is the Red Horse (the 2nd Seal) of the Revelation riding forth to take peace from the earth. Its rider wields a huge sword which is the symbol of war.Yes, world wars are a sign of the Saviour's return to earth.
(Matthew 24:6-7, Joel 3:9-17, Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 6:4)
Signs in the Natural World
"There shall be famines." The net result of all natural disasters, be they earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, droughts, tidal waves or unusual weather patterns, is the shortage of food. The shortage of food and the subsequent rise in food prices, is already the number one problem facing many governments. Famine - world famine - with food selling at unbelievably high prices is the Black Horse (the 3rd Seal) of the Apocalypse.(Matthew 24:7, Luke 21:25-26, Revelation 6:5-6)
Signs in the Medical World
"There shall be pestilences." This means disease epidemics in human beings, domestic animals and fish; and even in the food producing plants that are grown throughout the world. "Pestilence," the Pale (sickly coloured) Horse of the Revelation will strike unimaginable terror into the hearts of entire populations and all the efforts of medical science will stand helpless before it. Mankind has yet to learn that "Yahweh is not mocked," that blatant sin always brings disease and desolation in its wake; and that no sooner has one virus been controlled when others, far more virulent and deadly, will take its place. AIDS is merely one pestilence. Others will follow.(Matthew 24:7, Revelation 6:7-8, Psalm 91)
Signs in the Social World
| 2 Timothy 3: | 1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” |
(Matthew 24:12, 2 Peter 3:3-7. Also read Romans 1:18-32 where the Apostle Paul describes how unbelief and antagonism against truth causes Yahweh to hand society over to all kinds of confusion and sexual debauchery)
Spiritist Manifestations
| 1 Timothy 4: | 1: “Now the spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” |
(Matthew 24: 24, 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15, Revelation 16: 13-14)
Signs in the World of Knowledge
| Daniel 12: | 4: “But thou Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased.” |
Persecution of Yahweh’s True Followers
| Matthew 24: | 8: “All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9: Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” |
"You shall be hated of ALL nations" said the Master.
True believers should, therefore, not be unduly surprised when that kind of persecution reaches this country - as it surely will. We are happy to report, however, that Yahweh's Church has been promised divine help in that terrible hour; help that will come in direct proportion to the measure of the trial to be faced; help that will enable the believer to overcome the very worst that Satan can do. We thank Yahweh for this. Matthew 24:9-10. Rev. 6:9-11, Rev.12: 14-17)Persecution is the 5th Seal of Revelation. It follows close after the Pale Horse (the 4th Seal).
Signs in the Heavens
| Matthew 24: | 29: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light and the stars (meteorites) shall fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” |
(Luke 21:25-26, Jeremiah 4:23-28, Joel 2:30-32, the 6th Seal in Revelation 6:12-17)
The Antichrist
Strange as it may seem, Jesus Christ will not return to this earth at the 6th Seal. The 7th Seal has still to be opened. At the 7th Seal the Antichrist will make his appearance. The Antichrist is also called the Lawless One, the Man of Sin, the Son of Hell. He is the visible manifestation of Satan the Devil. And so:- On the one hand we have the Christ, the Son of Righteousness, the One who obeys Yahweh's Law, the personification of holiness (obedience), the express image of Yahweh the Almighty God.
- And on the other we have the Antichrist, the Man of Sin, the One who disobeys Yahweh's law, the personification of sin (disobedience) and the express image of Satan the Devil.
| Daniel 7: | 25: “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” |
Did you Notice that? He ‘thinks’ that he can change ‘times and laws.’ The laws being referred to in this verse are Yahweh's Sabbath laws; for they are the only ones that involve the element of time. The Antichrist will imagine that he can change Yahweh's Sabbath law. The Sabbath, as we have learned in the previous lesson, is Yahweh’s Signature, the eternal memorial token or ‘sign’ of the perpetual covenant between Him and His people. The Antichrist vainly imagines that he can change the Almighty’s Sabbath days! So great is his popularity and power and so complete his deception that almost all the inhabitants of the world believe his lie and begin to keep his bogus Sabbaths and festivals. These bogus religious holidays then become Antichrist's symbol of authority, his own signature - his MARK! (See our lesson on the Mark of The Beast where this subtle deception is exposed). The reign of the Antichrist is a short one, for he will meet his end at the return of Jesus Christ. The following passages in Scripture describe his meteoric rise and fall in the most striking way.
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation 13, Revelation 19:11-21)
The reader will have noticed that throughout this lesson Christ's description of the events prior to his return have been matched at each step with one or the other of the Seven Seals of the Revelation. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he gave to the Apostle John for the benefit of the whole Church is, in fact, a symbolic portrayal of the same events described in (Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21). The chart will outline the Seven Seals of the Revelation. It will also help you to orientate yourself in ‘time’ and to know just what to expect in the near future. You are strongly advised at this stage to begin reading the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible. In order that you may become more acquainted with that matchless prophecy request a free copy of the A Voice In The Wilderness booklet Understand the Revelation. It is also available online. Do not hesitate to read it.
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