No words I wrote seemed appropriate with all that has happened around the world this past week. Believers increasingly ask if this is the end and is Christ about to appear? The answer is simple—no one knows. At His ascension Jesus told His disciples, It is not for you to know the times or epochs (Acts 1:7 AMP) but they were to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be witnesses across the world. Yet, scripture repeatedly warns us, Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour (Matt 25:13). Allow these study notes to guide you and give you hope this week. Apply them to current events.
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age” (Mat 24:3)?
- Sign: Deception—Mat 24:4, 5; Mat 24:11; Mat 24:24
- “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (Mat 24:24).
- Sign: Disturbances in Nature— Mat 24:7; Luke 21:11
- There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven (Lk 21:11).
[earthquakes: the original word Jesus uses is the word [seismos] which means: a commotion, that is, (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake: – earthquake, tempest and by implication (of water).
So the sign is NOT confined to just a disturbance in the ground. It can be also refer to a hurricane, a tornado, a tsunami, a volcano, etc.
- Sign: Persecution—Mat 24:9
- But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of My name (Lk 21:12 HCSB).
- Sign: Apostasy & Loss of Love—Mat 24:10; Mat 24:12
- “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another (Mat 24:10).
- “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold (Mat 24:12).
- Sign: Complacency—Mat 24:38; Mat 24:39; Luke 17:26
For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark (Matt 24:38 HCSB). They were just going about life and business as usual.
- Sign: Terror—Luke 21:26; Luke 21:9, 11
“When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately” (Lk 21:9)
There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven (Lk 21:1).
People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken (Lk 21:26 HCSB).
- Sign: Gospel Preached—Mat 24:14
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matt 24:14).
- Sign: Lack of Peace
“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end (Matt 24:6).
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but the end is not yet (Mark 13:7 HCSB).
Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its horseman was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him (Rev 6:4 HCSB).
Sustaining Word for the Week: “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk 21:28).