In my last message we looked at how the increase of knowledge is a major sign of the Lord’s imminent return. It is the sign that heralds the beginning of the End Times. This increase of knowledge is not just in the secular realm but in the spiritual realm as well. In fact its because of the world being enlightened spiritually that man has become more inventive, hence the increase of knowledge.
Have a look at the video of this message at the bottom of the blog
Over the last 200 years there has been a lot more said about the 2nd Coming of the Lord. This is a good thing, because during the 'Dark Ages,' the Church knew very little about this coming event. The Church was asleep, and not on their tip toes waiting and preparing for the Lord's Coming.
Even today there are Churches that are not taught much about the Lord's Return and they are asleep too, unprepared, like the 5 Foolish Virgins in Matthew 25. There are also many who scoff about this teaching, and say that it has been spoken about for so long now and hasn't happened yet, and never will. If they read their bibles they would see verses like this.
Sleeping Christians
“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. “ 2 Peter 3:3-10.
The Lord assures us in this chapter that His Return will surely come, just as the Flood came to pass thousands of years earlier, as judgement upon a sinful world.
“Watch therefore, for you don't know in what hour your Lord comes.” Matthew 24:42
Watchman on the walls
It tells us here in Matthew 24 that we must be “watchful” for the Lord’s Return. This word “Watch” is “Agrupneo” in Greek, and means to be “Alert and intent upon a thing.” it’s like a guard on guard duty in the army. He would stand upon the walls of the city and look at the horizon continually, to see if there were any “signs” that would show if the enemy was approaching, like clouds of dust on the horizon from approaching chariots, or camp fires. We are to be like these soldiers, looking to see if there are any signs to show that the Lord is coming back soon. The Bible tells us that we don’t know exactly when He’s coming. It just says that we are to get ourselves ready.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.“ Matthew 24:36
“But we will know THE SEASON of the Lord’s Return.
“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
We don't know the day or hour, but are not to be ignorant of "The Season" of the Lord's Return. When you see new growth in God's creation, you know it's the season of spring, (These are "Signs" of spring), or when the leaves fall from the trees, you know it’s the season of autumn. ("Signs" of autumn.) So it is in the season of the Lord's Return. When you see certain things happening in the world then His coming is surely near. There are many Signs with us now that show we are in the season of His return. The present world wide Covid19 Epidemic is a sign of the Lord’s soon Return.
Autumn is a sign that winter is coming
When Jesus came the first time, God in His mercy gave a powerful SIGN to the people in Israel and the surrounding regions. It was the "Sign" of A STAR. Everyone saw the Star but not everyone did anything about it. King Herod saw it, the Pharisees too, and also the Shepherds etc. But no one in Israel knew what it meant. Only the Wise Men who came from far away understood the sign and responded to it. We are fast approaching the 2nd Coming of the Lord, and God in His mercy has given us "SIGNS" which are powerful warnings to this generation. Many of them have been with us now for 200 years, but we have got so used to them that we don't "see" them anymore, or understand what they mean. These signs have become so familiar to us that we are indifferent to them.
The sign of a Star when Jesus first came
When I first went over to Africa from New Zealand 50 years ago, I was amazed by all the new things I saw, tasted and smelt. The sight of so many dark skinned people for a start. Grass huts, Giraffes, Zebras, and exotic birds to name a few. There was lightning and thunder storms like I had never seen before, not to mention the glorious sunsets and vast open spaces. There were so many different fruits and insect sounds that I had never experienced before. But sadly the novelty of all these new things soon wore off. “There goes another Giraffe, and another Elephant.” It was like this for those who were born there in Africa too and they weren’t as impressed as I was when I first arrived.
African Animals
Today we find ourselves in a window of time which I believe is just before the imminent return of the Lord. There are amazing signs that show that the return of the Lord is near, but we don't really notice them. For a Prophet of old having a vision of our day it would be amazing to see what we see every day. Try and picture what it must have been like to see the things we see every day. For men who had only seen horses and chariots, seeing in visions all the cars, motor bikes, air planes and electric lights to name a few, must have been mind blowing. The trouble is we are born into these days and it means nothing to us.
A Prophet seeing into the future
We become indifferent to these signs that are mentioned in the bible. We have got so used to them that we don't "see" them anymore, or understand their meaning and become indifferent to them.
Here is one sign that is huge.
1. SIGN ONE:
THE JEWS RETURN HOME TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL…
“He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.” Luke 21:29-32
The Figtree is a symbol of the Jesus nation
The FIG TREE is symbolic of the Jewish Nation. Look at Mark 11 where Jesus cursed the Fig Tree. He was speaking of the Jewish Nation that was not responding to His Ministry. Not long after He died on the cross, the Romans came in 70AD and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple as He prophesied.
The Israel nation was formed in 1947
‘When the Fig Tree begins to shoot forth’ .... The Jews were punished for their sin of rejecting the Prophets and Jesus, becoming a barren Fig Tree. From 604 BC. Gentile nations ruled over them. i.e. Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims and finally the Turks. They were set free from Gentile rule in 1917 AD and in 1948 AD they received their Independence and ruled themselves again. They began to "shoot forth" once more. Jesus said when you see this happen; ‘know that within a generation… all will be fulfilled concerning the End Times and the Lord's Return.’ 100 years ago the Jews were few in land of Israel and very poor. Now millions of Jews are returning home and the nation is blossoming once more. What is a generation? Is it 40 years? 70 years? 100 years? We could be the last generation before the Lord’s return.
7 Times of punishment passed over the Jewish people, ending in 1917AD
In the light of the 1 day = 1 year bible code. God warned the Israelites that if they continued to sin against Him, 7 times punishment would come upon them.
“And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.” Leviticus 26:28
A time is a lunar year of 360 days. In 604BC the Babylonians took them captive. 604BC plus 7 x 360 = 2520 /years.
That is 2520 years from 604BC brings you up to 1917AD. (There is 1 year for the year 0.) In 1917AD they were freed from Turkish rule and began to come home and then rule over themselves once more. There was the Balfour Declaration that allowed this to happen.
While on one of my walks last week around the large rugby fields at the Vogeltown Park. I was thinking about how we are new creatures in Christ, when a monarch butterfly came and landed at my feet on the grass. It had no need to be there as there were no flowers, just freshly mown grass. I felt this was one of those signs, ‘kiaros’ moments, where the Spirit was trying to tell me something.
