Signs of the Savior

In a private meeting (Matthew 24:3) the disciples of Jesus asked, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"  He answered (4-5): "Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’”  We are not to set dates but watch for signs because (33) “When you see all these things [earthquakes, global strife, military conflicts, famines, persecution] you know that he is near, right at the door.”  We must read the signs and hold to our faith to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13).

            Israel has the world’s attention as God said it would.  Bible prophecy was fulfilled when the United Nations proclaimed Israel a nation in 1948.   To keep peace, Israeli General Moshe Dayan gave the Muslims control of their Dome of the Rock even though Israel won the war.  In doing this the general was fulfilling prophecy concerning the time of the Gentiles.

            Modern Israel will use any means necessary to defend their homeland because they are far out-numbered by Arab nations surrounding them (who all hate the Jewish people).  Jesus commanded us (John 15:17-18) to “love each other”—then saying, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”  As the end approaches people reject the truth and accept a lie.

            The huge number of those who distort God’s grace is predicted.  False teachers supply the demand to give what the people want.  “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear,” (2 Timothy 4:3).

            Because of the huge number of false teachers, many will leave the faith.  “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons,” (1 Timothy 4:1).  There is so much deception (from false doctrines today) that Jesus had say: "Watch out that no one deceives you.”

            The church at Laodicea was lukewarm (neither zealous nor cold), and the only church of the seven that receives no commendation (Revelation 3).  Many hear the message but do not practice the Word (of God), so Jesus will have to say (Luke 13:27), “‘I don’t know you or where you come from.  Away from me, all you evildoers!’”

            Apostasy is on the increase because Satan is more determined than ever to sow weeds (of deceit) among the wheat (of God’s truth).  The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) is a reminder that we must grow in faith and  trust—not diminish.  Many professed Christians live like worldly people.  If basic principles of truth are rejected—(the deity of Christ and His resurrection to life to destroy the devil’s power), then God’s truth is not being given.

            The supernatural power that raised Jesus from the dead, is God’s divine power to heal our bodies (without medicine), to supply our needs (without laid-up assets), to protect us from injury (without human devices), to correct our injustices (without court action), and to save our soul (without human works), but only by faith in the atonement work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

            God has promised to bless Israel.  (Isaiah 35:1-2), “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.”  Since 1948 rainfall has increased remarkably and the nation has produced larger crop yields.  Recent reports say that fruit and vegetables are now grown in Israel that are larger than those from the Imperial Valley in California.  The Israeli desert is getting ready to burst into bloom when God blesses the land of promise.

            Ezekiel prophesied 2,500 years ago that an army from the north (along with many allies) would attack Israel.  They are bent on annihilating the Jews but Ezekiel predicted that God would destroy the attacking armies.  The general consensus is that Gog and Magog is modern-day Russia and her allies.  (Ezekiel 38:18), “When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD.”

            Magog was the second son of Japheth who, (according to Josephus), settled north of the Black Sea.  In Ezekiel 39:2 God says to Gog, “I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel.”  All Bible directions are given in relation to Israel—(north is north of Israel, south means south of Israel, etc.).  Russia is north of Israel.  Gog’s allies (Persia, Libya, Gomer [Turkey], Ethiopia, and Togarmah) are all Islamic (Muslim) countries and Russia’s allies who hate Israel.

            Russian history goes back to Genesis 10 (approximately 2,000 years before Christ) and was described as a barbarous people.  Russia’s current capability to do what Ezekiel predicts makes the nation a significant sign of the return of Christ.  (Ezekiel 39:11) “On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east toward the Sea.  It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there.”

            The apostle Paul describes the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.”  This Rapture will be similar to what took place in Genesis 5:24, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”  The Rapture is the blessed hope (Titus 2:13), which is “the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

            Most scholars agree that the Bible speaks of the Second Coming of Christ in two stages.  The first stage is that Christ returns in the air (suddenly but not to the earth’s surface) to Rapture His church.  All true believers are caught up at that time to be with the Lord—fulfilling John 14:1-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms.”

            These who are ready (because their faith was in Christ) stand before the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body,” and to participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-10). 

            After the seven-year Tribulation on earth is over, Jesus will complete the second stage of His coming by returning all the way to the earth to set up His Kingdom.  (Revelation 20:6) “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.  The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

            After mentioning the steadfast faith of the believers in Thessalonica, the apostle commends them (1 Thessalonians 1:9) for turning “to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”  He also said (1 Thessalonians 5:9) that, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

            Since the Tribulation is the time of God’s wrath, and since God did not appoint true Christians to go through this time of severe trial and persecution, then we must reason that His true church will be raptured before the Tribulation.  The consensus is that the Rapture occurs before the tribulation troubles, and the Glorious Appearing occurs after.

            In support of a pre-Tribulation rapture view is the fact that the church is mentioned seventeen times in the first three chapters of Revelation but is not mentioned after chapter 4.  In chapter 19:7 it says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”  This is the Glorious Appearing of our blessed Savior.

            The Rapture is the sudden gathering of all God’s people who are trusting Him in genuine faith (from a sincere and believing heart).  Jesus said, “No one knows the day or hour,” so we must live each day and hour in faith in order to “be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him,” (Matthew 24:44).

            Believing in Jesus is the all-important issue and, (according to Bible teaching and example), includes trusting God for health, healing, supplies, protection and salvation (by faith and faith alone).  We are saved by God’s grace which (Titus 2:12-14), “teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

            Believing in Jesus, living by faith, and trusting God every day includes claiming our atonement rights to physical healing (without drugs Acts 3:16), daily supplies (without laid-up treasure Luke 18:2), divine protection (without human devices Psalm 121:7), and every other free gift from God (James 1:17) that is received for free (by faith).

            We do not set dates but we watch for signs.  Jesus promised (Matthew 10:22) “Those who endure to the end will be saved,” (NLT), so (2 Peter 3:13-14) “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  Since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

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