Signs of the Times

Tuesday, 17 March 2009 16:03

I was talking to my wife the other day, and she asked me what I thought about what is happening in Israel. How many have been attentive to the news of what is happening in Israel? For those who are awaiting the news, I'll give a brief overview. What is happening is that all Jewish residents were driven out of Gaza. We're talking about people who had taken up residence on this site for long periods, often for over twenty years, but now they were forced out of their homes by the Israeli army. This all happened because the government of Israel made a deal with the Palestinians, the Oslo agreement, where it was agreed that Israel would give this land.

There are many who agree with this action by the Israeli government saying it is very correct, because after all the land Israel captured during the Six Day War in 1967. But there are also many who are in complete disagreement because they say the action taken by the Israeli government only serves to weaken that country and to encourage some form of terrorism. I do not know what school of thought you are subject, ie whether they are for or against what is happening. But what if I can say is that as Christians we should not occupy our minds to analyze either side. Seeing these things happen we should not concentrate on a narrow focus, but we must examine the whole picture. So as Christians we have to do is ask what does all this mean for the world? This is the question that we will be examining today.

Today we will explore the meaning of what we're seeing happen in Israel. Today we will analyze the signs of the times. We now turn to the Word of God.

Matthew 24:32-33 - From the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near the gates.

Now before we proceed with our study wish to dwell for a brief moment and make a clarification. Today we will discuss a topic rather deep, say it is a profound topic today because we are dealing with the subject of prophecy. It is for that reason I want to make it clear that what I will present is all based on a study of the prophecies found in the Bible. Let me make it clear that I am not saying or implying that I am a prophet or a great theologian or a scholar of the Word, but as I said before, I can read. I also want to make it clear that what we study'm not trying to guess the date of the second coming of Jesus, or the end of time. I want this to be clear for every one that proclaims to do this, frankly it's a phony liar. This is something that I can say with much certainty because the word is very clear that this date is not known by anyone as the Lord tells us in Matthew 24:36 we read "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but only the Father. "I also want to make it clear that this preaching is not with the purpose to intimidate, frighten, or intimidate anyone. So I'm not preaching to the world or the rapture of the church tomorrow.

The purpose of this preacher is trying to awaken those believers who have fallen asleep, calling believers to repentance those who have strayed from the will of God, and prove to all those agnostics, that the Word of God is absolutely reliable, because the events we are seeing develop today were written in the Bible for over 2000 years ago. Again, I am not a prophet, I am no great theologian, I am not a great interpreter of the Word, I am a simple man of limited education, but read. With all that well understood now continue with our study.

This little parable is part of the answer that Jesus gave his followers when asked what we find when we read in Matthew 24:3 "And as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us , when will these things and what will be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the century? "What we found with this question is that they, like all of us, wanted to know how they could recognize signs of His return, and Jesus was clear in his response as we see in studying the 24th chapter of Matthew in its entirety.

In this chapter we find that the Lord clearly told all that had happened in detail.

Now the problem that exists is that everything that Jesus said would happen are things that can be found in almost every era of human history. In other words, the signs that Jesus said would happen can be found in the history of almost every generation since the beginning of the church. Think about it for a brief moment and see if what I say makes sense. Jesus warned about false teachers and prophets, Jesus warned about wars and rumors of wars, pestilence, I talk about Jesus, Jesus speaks of false Christs, Jesus spoke of large signals.

Now I ask, have we not we seen this happen in the not too distant history? Of course. For example, all we have heard or studied about the first and second world war, right? Everyone here studying or have heard of the bubonic plague that killed millions of people in Europe, right? All we have seen how false teachers have corrupted the Word of God, in order to control people, and have financial gains, right? All we have seen how they have raised false Christs, represented by all these sects and religions that profess to be the way to God, right? All we have seen how they have built have alleged prophets and signs of health, right? So like I said, all these things can be found easily in the history of mankind, and it is for this reason that this way of looking at things has engendered doubt and complacency. But none of this is new, and something that is well reflected in 2 Peter 3:4 we read "...¿ Where is the promise of his coming? Because since the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue well as from the beginning of creation. "

So here we see that at the time everyone was entirely convinced that everything would remain the same, in other words the people of God had entered a state of complacency. Actually the way of feeling expressed by the people of that time is no different to God's people today. I say this because like them, many have now fallen into a state of complacency, and continue to think that everything works as expected. But this of course is not true because we are seeing today prophetic events are taking place before our very eyes.

The word here says "From the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is near." When we study the issue of return of our Lord, we soon found that this event is not something that is in the New Testament alone. In the New Testament we find a detailed description of what is to happen, but in the Old Testament we find confirmation, and even more clues that reveal the signals that have to happen before the return of the Lord.

When we think of the prophecies of the Old Testament that deal specifically with the return of Jesus and the end of time, the book of Daniel is always highlighted as extremely important. It is stressed in this way because all the great theologians and scholars of the Word, agree that the book of Daniel contains insights that can only be interpreted as visions that predict the course of world history. But because our time together is limited, our focus today is not the issue. Today we examine a tiny portion of this book to see if it contains any clues to tell us that the advent of Jesus can occur in our time. I want us to look now at Daniel 12:4 tells us "But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the end time. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. "In this little verse God reveals to Daniel and us three things about the end time. While this verse to scrutinize them to see what I say. Take heed as it says here "shut up the words and seal the book until the end time."

What does this reveal? This here shows us that no one will know the time because the book was sealed. This of course confirms what Jesus told us. Second we see that says "many shall run to and fro." What does this reveal? This reveals that there will be confusion, and after many false Christs shall walk, and wonder that we find today?
But already some must be thinking that all this has existed since the beginning, so I have not said anything new. But in the third revelation is that this is interesting. Take heed in the words "and knowledge shall be increased." My brothers, do not think there's been another era in human history when technological advances, or advances in science have been above those of our era. Think about it for a short time. There are many things that we despise today giants representing increases in science. To name a few, electricity, media, radio, television, industry, and means of transportation. Nor should we forget the progress in the mechanisms of war, let's not forget the rockets and bombs. Let us not forget that man has been on the moon, and is exploring space.

And what about medicine? In preparing this study I read an article that says that medical knowledge doubles every three years. So we can certainly say that in our time man's wisdom, the science has grown to giant steps. That's why I say that this revelation is so interesting, brothers has not been any other time where you have seen these things. But we can not say that the end is near just because we have advanced technologically. We can not say that the end is near only because science and knowledge has increased to a level like never before. There are many other things that have happened, and that's why Jesus calls us to be vigilant and stay alert. But now let's ask again, what does what is happening in Israel for the world? To answer this question we return now to the book of Daniel.

Returning to this book we find that we are told in Daniel 9:27 "And for one week, the covenant with many in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and offering. After the crowd of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. "To understand what is being read here, is important to know the symbolic meaning of certain words referring to the prophecy. So we know that one day in prophecy represents a year.

This is something that is illustrated in Ezekiel 4:6 we read "When these, you lie on your right side a second time, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days, days per year, days per year you have given. " Keeping this mind then we know that this verse of Daniel is part of the prophecy of the seventy weeks or 490 years. These verses here dealing with the time of the Apocalypse has come upon this world as the Lord tells us in Matthew 24:21 we read "... then shall be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world to now, nor ever shall be. " This tribulation will be for a period of seven years. According to the Word of God a new leader was up, and will surely be the instrument or the architect to establish a peace pact between Israel and Arab nations. It is only through this covenant that the Jews can make your dream of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, and to re-establish the sacrifices. But mean time, half a week, or as we know three and a half years, this new leader will break the covenant. This new leader will eventually sit on the throne of the temple and claimed to be God. For further confirmation of this we have the warning of Jesus in Matthew 24:15-16 "Therefore, when you see in the holy place the abomination of desolation, spoken by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16 then that are in Judea flee to the mountains. " This leader and his followers will fool most of the world and will make great signs that appeared to be miracles. Like I said, this new leader finally demanded that praise as a god, with the death penalty that do not. How can I be sure of this?

I can be because when we look in the Bible about the end times, and study the prophecies in Revelation will soon find 13:13-15 warns us all to read "He performs great signs, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven to earth before men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which has been allowed to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast, which had sword wound and lived. 15 And he was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, that the picture could speak and cause to kill anyone who refused to worship. " Why do I say all this? I've said all this because what we're seeing happen in Israel today is nothing more than the first step in establishing peace, and to begin rebuilding the temple.

Brethren, when we look a little all that has happened in Israel, you will soon realize that they have suffered greatly. They have been in a state of constant war. Let me explain it another way. Did you know that Israeli families rarely come to public places, whether to eat or the movies or the like, a family group? Did you know that marriages rarely enjoy a night of entertainment in the town together? Do you know why they do these things? They do not fear terrorism. They do not because if it happens terrorist explosion, something we've seen that happen often, whether man or woman of the household dies, the family or children are not completely helpless. Now I ask, what manner of life is this? It is for this reason I am sure that everyone in Israel want peace is established.

I will also give a trivial news. On 9 June 2005, it was announced that a group of 71 rabbis in Israel are planning to rebuild the temple, the money is available, and even prefabricated temple pieces already stored. Interesting all this, right?

To conclude. Jesus tells us "So, when you see all these things, know that it is near the doors." As I said at the beginning, this preacher is not with the intent to intimidate or scare anyone, this is predicated with the intention that we realize the signs of the times. Since the beginning of the church, man has speculated about the time when Jesus returned, and the end of time. In almost every generation can find that has been said that Jesus' return is imminent. In almost every generation we find that there have been those who have distorted the word to control, frighten and confuse many on this very powerful. But remember that it is for us to know the exact date, but if we pay attention to events, we will soon see the Word of God being fulfilled. I think everyone here will agree when I say that we are living in prophetic times. I say this because as I've been able to prove all this we are seeing develop before our eyes is of great significance. With each passing day we get closer to the return of our Lord. Watch for what is happening in the Middle East. Watch for what is happening with Israel, but we are not troubled or concerned about this because these are things that must happen. Let us be alert and watchful waiting with anticipation for the return of our King.

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