There are enumerable signs of the last days mentioned in the Bible because of numerous events accuring around the world such as Russia’s need to destroy people’s lives. This is no small thing and could easily start World War Three. But there are none that are specific in saying when the end times will occur and the second coming Jesus Christ. The Bible does say that no one but the Father knows when it will happen.
Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Speculation about the last days is just that, speculation. But God says in Mark 13:7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. We are tantalized by the scriptures because of the extreme nature of this subject. Everybody wants to know when the end time will be.
Mark 13:28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
That is liked dangling a carrot in front of our nose. We are able to see and know many things about world events that fulfill the prophesies in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 such as the Second World War back in the 1940’s. The atomic bomb was built and used to end the war! WOW! Surely that is a powerful indicator that the end is near but that was over 82 years ago. God reminds us that His time is different from our time. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
God wants us to totally depend on Him, to turn our lives over to Him! We shouldn’t be anxious for anything, just follow Him. He reminds us that He in control of everything and we need to ask Him how we can serve Him now and not worry about tomorrow. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Jesus was asked by His disciples when the end of times would be and what it would be like. He gives the most astonishing answers as they could very well be the headline news of today.
There is chaos, division, contention, and mistrust abounding in this nation. There have been killings of citizens and police officers just recently. Raging crowds of protesters have taken to the streets in nearly every major city. Morality in these troubled times is at an all time low. Family values have been chattered. Numbers of professing Christians diminished in recent years.
What our God says about the “Signs of the Times” and the “End of the Age”.
Mark 13:
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
6 For many will come in My name,
7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 “But watch out for yourselves,
13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. …
The Christian faith is being attacked like never before!
Matthew 24:
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Jesus is saying that the love of many in the Church will grow cold because their faith is weak. They don’t believe God!
Revelations 3:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
We cannot turn our heads and say that these things are not happening now!
There are those who are trying to pass hate crime laws that would prohibit pastors from teaching what God has to say about sin!
There are wars going on all over the world!
Governments are being overthrown as this is being written!
Our nation is divided because of political unrest!
Ephesians 4:
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Philippians 3:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
1 Timothy 1:
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
2 Peter 2:
6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
Jude 1:
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Christianity is singled out! The scriptures above will bring much persecution to the Church if taught from the pulpit today. So you see prophesy is being fulfilled before your eyes now. However, there is no criticism of the Islamic faith for believing and teaching the same thing!
As Jesus said in Mark 13:8
There was much destruction, death and suffering because of a massive earthquake in Japan. There were earthquakes recently in Haiti, in Australia, and China.
Cholera recently came under a worldwide spotlight after Haiti suffered an outbreak following huge earthquake. Doctors said a cholera outbreak in Somalia’s war-ravaged capital has killed more than 20 people.
15 March 2011 The Ministry of Health of Egypt has announced 130 cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus confirmed and 144 dead!
This is just a few examples of the very things Jesus said would happen.
” Major outbreaks of disease have become more common around the globe in the past 40 years, according to the largest ever investigation into emerging infections.
Diseases such as Ebola and Sars, which originally spread from animals, are an increasing threat to human health, and many infections have now become resistant to antibiotics, researchers said.”
Mark 13:
33Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Luke 21:
36Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Matthew 24:
32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!
Lets not be caught being lethargic and not being concerned about when the Lord will
come again saying, “ He delays His coming”. God might decide we are too lukewarm.
THE LORD WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE “TO COME AGAIN”! Believe in Him!
We just celebrated the 4th of July as a memorial to the beginning of this great nation. It is truly awe inspiring to realize what it really means. Sadly, many of our newer generation of children do not know what the 4th of July is about. It is a subject that is not emphasized as much in our children’s education as it was when I attended school over a half century ago. Certain things begin to get vague over time and their importance is watered down, becoming passive in our minds.
The Christian Church has existed before this nation was formed and still stands today.
My question is this. Is the Christian faith, understanding, belief, and especially spirituality becoming vague, passive and weak. Is it as important today as it was in the days of the Apostles?
I watched the Spurs and Heat play for the world championship and the fans were extremely fanatical about their teams. Why are we not more so about Jesus Christ? It is certainly more important for people’s salvation.
Are we fulfilling our calling now, today? Are we worthy?
Jesus has something to say about that in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
We have a purpose, we are spiritual and we are citizens of heaven filled with power. That power lives in us and that power is Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
I pray that we will stop trying to use Christ and let Him use us!
There are many things happening in this world that indicate that Jesus Christ may come soon. We are to watch for these signs. Matthew 24: 32-33 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors!
Watch and pray!
Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
When what we are doing is not working we need to stop what we are doing and go in a different direction. We need to let Jesus light our path for us and then and only then will we be going the right way.
Let’s be as excited as our brothers in Christ were in the days of the Apostles. Be as zealous as the fans were at the Spurs and Heat games. Do it for our Lord and Savior. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Revelation 3: Therefore be zealous and repent.
God help us to change and not become lukewarm. Amen!
To grow tomatoes you must first plant a seed and then proceed to nurture the tomato plant by fertilizing and watering it. The plant begins to grow and develop strong roots and stalk so it can hold up the heavy tomato. After the plant is thoroughly nourished and receives a lot of sunlight, it produces beautiful flowers. The flowers begin to change and become little green tomatoes. This is the fruit of the tomato plant and it must grow and grow until it reaches its full growth and then the tomato begins to mature into a beautiful finished creation suitable for the masters table.
A Christian must first have the seed of the Word of God. Luke 8:11 “The seed is the word of God. We received the Word by someone sharing Christ, evangelizing, preaching and many other ways that God may use.
We must be born again and when we are baptized we are raised from a watery grave a new creature. John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. We continue to be taught the word nurtured and discipled in the Church. 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
We begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and He becomes the main root of our lives and we are the branches. Jesus is the light of men and His light is bright as the sun. Our faces shine and become like beautiful flowers to God. As we begin to grow we become full of the maturity of the Spirit and await our Lords coming when we will burst into a new creation suitable for the Masters table. Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’
In the book of Hebrews God gives a precise and clear explanation and description of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the first begotten Son of God and the first born of many.
Hebrews 1: 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ” Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
God also gives a very graphic and clear description of believers who overcome as Christ did. AWESOME!
All believers are raised up in newness of life (Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.) at baptism and are begotten of God by His Holy Spirit.
We become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation
We will be given great power and authority over this world’s nations. WOW!
Rev. 2: 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — 27 ‘ He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ — as I also have received from My Father
Rev. 3: 9 … indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet,
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Rev.21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
How much plainer can it be? We have a higher calling than many believers realize. When Jesus says he has a place prepared for us.
Get this: John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
We are going to live in the Fathers house!
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Doesn’t knowing all of this put a huge thrill in your life? It does for me. I can hardly wait for Christ to return and redeem us.
Whether I am dead or alive at His coming, this verse expresses my feelings.
Psalms 15: 17 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
There is a day coming when we shall see Jesus as He is and we will be as He is. (1 John 3:2) We will be in the Kingdom that He promised to us and He said that He was going to prepare a place for us in heaven. The joy we will have is really beyond human description because we cannot grasp the awesome difference between heaven and earth. His appearance will be vastly changed. Giving us an idea of what is in store for us.
Ezekiel 1: 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Why do I say, this is what is in store for us? Because Jesus said that He is going to share His throne with us as His Father shared His throne with Jesus. (Revelation 3:21) We have an exceedingly high calling of joy to look forward to. Jesus reveals to us His thoughts of how great a joyful gift it is to be in heaven and sit on the throne of God. He felt so strongly about it that He literally gave himself as the supreme sacrifice to make it possible. (John 10:17,18) Why is that important? The apostle Paul said, “1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead…
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
How much should we sacrifice? How much do we want it? Are we willing to follow Jesus example and give our life wholly to Christ? Doesn’t the scripture say we are to be “living sacrifices”?
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
We must pray that we will be counted worthy to escape what is about to come to this world and by enduring we will be able to stand before Jesus Christ when He comes again for redemption. (Luke 21:36)
Dear Lord, I pray to You and tell You how much I really enjoy and delight in You. I long for that day when I will be filled with joy to see Your face. In Your Holy Name, Amen!
"He brought me to his banquet hall and raised the banner of love over me. Restore my strength with raisins and refresh me with apples! I am weak from passion... His left hand is under my head and his right hand caresses me" - Song of Solomon 2:4-6
WORLDWIDE INTERNET EVANGELISM 