"And wisdom and
knowledge shall be the stability of thy times,..."
(Isaiah
33:6)
The fact that we are living in the time of the end, is evidently
brought forth by the times around us. The scripture here let's us
know, in order for men to have stability in their times. We must
have wisdom and knowledge from God. By having a clear understanding
of the times we can better prepare oursleves and have peace in the
mist of a world filled with chaos. The Signs of the Times is truly
that wisdom and knowledge from God, that brings security and a
present hope in God, to know that He is still in control.
What is a Sign?
Signs Def: 1.) Indication of a coming event, 2.) a marker that
precedes an event, 3.) something that is an outward manifestation of
something come.
"And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples cames unto
Him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what
shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the World?" (Matthew
24:3,)
The question is asked today, are we living in the last days? The
answer to this question I believe is a most definitely yes. This
answer comes with strong certaninity, based on careful study of
God's word, and the events of our times and generation. God has
through his prophetic word, forecasted the times in which we live.
To the child of God the Times and Seasons shouldn't come as any
shock, but rather as an indicator of the soon return of our Lord.
But this my friend is not the case, many today sad to say even in
christian circles stand in fear and awk wondering what is going on.
This is a direct result of not being taught prophecy or a fear of
studing God's Prophetic word. This problem in the church is not a
new one, our Lord dealt with it in His own generation.
The Indictment against the Church
"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting,
desired Him that He would show them a sign from Heaven."
"He answered and said unto them, when it is evening, ye say, it
will be fair weather; for the sky is red."
"And in the morning, it will be foul weather today: for the sky
is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, Ye can disern the face of the
sky; but can not discern the Signs of the Times?"
(Matthews 16:1-3)
Here Jesus rebuked sharp, the Pharisees and the Sadducees,
because they could discern the sky and weather, and prepared their
lives according to that days forecast. But they couldn't spiritually
discern the Signs of the Times. Today many in the church and world
prepare their lives everyday on the words of their weather man's
forecast, but never discerning the Spiritual climate in which they
live. This is an indictment against the church and it's Leaders. As
the church spend time in God's Prophetic word, it will awake out of
it's cold state, and discern the hour and prepare it's self to meet
a Holy God. The Signs of the Times are indicators of Christ's soon
return, and the end of the world. Every child of God should know
what God has predicted for the last days. Many are giving up the
faith, because they don't have any understanding of the times.
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look
up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption
draweth nigh."
(Luke 21:28)
Even though the Signs of the Times reveals, some terrible
things, and even the beginnings of sorrows, there is still an
underline hope that is the stablity and strength for every christian
in these times.
The Signs of The Times Revealed in the
Gospel
Here we will exmaine the signs given by our Lord, His Prophets,
and His Apostles. We will allow the word of God to reveal the Signs
and through documented evidence, give you confirming facts that we
are living in the last days.
First we will look at the Signs revealed by our Lord. These are
found in the Gospels starting with the book of Matthew.
(Matthew 24:3-39)
3.) " And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came
unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and
what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the
world?"
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."
6.) " And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see
that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but
the end is not yet."
7.) "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."
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."
11.) " And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
deceive many."
12.) " And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many
shall wax cold."
13.) " But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved."
14.) " And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all
the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come."
23.) " Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ,
or there; believe it not."
24.) " For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect."
25.) " Behold, I have told you before."
26.) " Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the
desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe
it not."
32.) " Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his
branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer
is nigh:"
33.) " So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,
know that it is near, even at the doors..."
37.) " But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be."
38.) " For as in the days that were before the flood they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day that Noe entered into the ark,"
39.) " And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
(Mark 13:4-37)
4.) " Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be
the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?"
5.) " And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest
any man deceive you:"
6.) " For many shall come in my name, saying, I am
Christ; and shall deceive many."
7.) " And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars,
be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall
not be yet."
8.) "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers
places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these
are the beginnings of sorrows."
9.) " But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you
up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye
shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a
testimony against them."
10.) " And the gospel must first be published among all
nations."
11. " But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no
thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:
but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for
it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."
12.) " Now the brother shall betray the brother to death,
and the father the son; and children shall rise up against
their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death."
13.) " And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's
sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved...."
21.) " And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is
Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:"
22.) " For false Christs and false prophets shall rise,
and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were
possible, even the elect."
23.) " But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all
things...."
28.) "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch
is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is
near:"
29.) "So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things
come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors."
(Luke 21:7-31)
7.) " And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these
things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come
to pass?"
8.) " And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the
time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."
9.) " But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be
not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end
is not by and by."
10.) " Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom:"
11.) " And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,
and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights
and great signs shall there be from heaven.
25.) " And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the
moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves
roaring;
26.) "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for
looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for
the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
27.) " And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory."
28.) " And when these things begin to come to pass, then
look up, and lift up your heads; for your
redemption draweth nigh."
29.) " And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig
tree, and all the trees;"
30.) " When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own
selves that summer is now nigh at hand."
31.) " So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to
pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand."
Perilour Times
The Apostle Paul received from God a revelation, concerning the
last days. He spoke of the last days as a time of peril, or perilous
times. This can be found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7,
2 Timothy 3:1-7
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
that lovers of God;
5.) "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away."
6.) "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,"
7.) "Ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
False Doctrines
1 Timothy 4:1-3,
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;
Israel
One of the greatest signs of our day, occured on May 14, 1948,
when the nation of Israel was reestablished after nearly 2,000 years
of desolation. The Word of God prophesies the future for this nation
in the latter days. Israel's birth in 1948 was by divine
appointment. Our generation is the only generation since the time of
Christ that has seen God's chosen people in possession of their
promised homeland.
In the study of this sign we will examine:
A.) The Restoration of Israel - Amos 9:13,14,15, Ezekiel 36:8-11
B.) The Regathering to the Jews to their homeland - Ezekiel
11:17, 20:34,41, 28:25,26 34:13-16, 36:8-12,24,28, 38:8
C.) The Blooming and Budding of the Land of Israel - Isaiah 27:6,
Ezekiel 36:8-11, Amos 9:13-15, Ezekiel 36:30,34-36
D.) The Rebuilding of the waste cities - Amos 9:14, Isaiah 61:4,
Ezekiel 36:10,33-36,
We will also look at prophecies regarding:
1.) The Dead Sea Scroll
2.) The restoration of the Levitical
Priesthood worship
3.) The restoration of the Animal
Sacrifice
4.) The Dead Sea Wealth
5.) The restoration of the
shekel
6.) The restoration of the Hebrew Language
The Restoration of latter-day
Bablylon
The Word of God prophesies the latter-day restoration of Babylon.
The Scriptures teaches that Babylon will one day come back into the
mind of God, and he will bring swift destruction upon that city. The
account of this is found in the book of Revelation 18:1-24. The city
of Babylon was destroyed centuries years ago by the Persian kingdom,
and this prophecy has been the topic of much controversy. Until our
present day there has been no literal city of Bablylon in existence,
but God's Word prophesied that it would one day return! Is the
present day restoration of Babylon by King Hussin a latter-day
fulfillment of Bible Prophecy? You be the judge as you look at the
documentation covered in subjection of the signs.
Final Words,
In this Introduction to the Signs of the Times, we have given
just a small amount of scriptures that point to the Signs of the
Times as indicators for the last days. As you journey on in this
study we will give you document evidence from current event around
us, but put into a Biblical perspective. Your news watching will not
be the same, you will view the news with a prophetic eye. Enjoy your
time of study.