Wednesday, April 3, 2013

What ARE the Signs of the End?

Given that so many uncanny and amazing events are taking place these days, especially in the last few months, I thought we should skip over to Matthew 24 to find out exactly what Jesus listed as the signs that the end of the world is near. (I don't say "end of the age" because I believe the world as we know it will be drastically changed.)

Matthew 24
1. And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Note: Solomon's temple was indeed destroyed by the Romans who burned it in 70AD and the bricks were taken apart one by one to recover the gold that had melted down in between them. Although the Jews claim that this was a false prophecy because part of the temple wall remained, the wall they are referring to, which is known as the "Wailing Wall", is a retaining wall and was never part of the temple.

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 diverse places.

Note: This is what we are seeing now: famines, pestilences and earthquakes! War is nothing really new, is it? But, all these things are escalating, especially recently.

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.

What an honour, to be hated for Jesus!

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.

We have certainly seen that!

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.

Has every nation heard the Gospel? Is there any place left on the planet that has not heard it?

15. When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Ok, here's some important stuff because it's in capital letters and it says, "Whoso reads, understand!) So, what the heck is He talking about here? Well, it's something that "stands" in the Holy Place. Jerusalem was the "Holy Place" in those days.

16. Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:
18. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

It looks pretty seriously like you are going to have to SCRAM and very quickly, when you see the "Abomination of Desolation" standing in the holy place. Now, some people suggest that this is a large computer base and some people think it could be a statue type thing in the same image as the Antichrist. Really, if you are a true believer, I believe God will show you exactly what it is when the time comes!

19. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

That is a good verse to claim! I remember being on a flight across the ocean, thinking that this was going to be a long, drawn-out flight which was going to cause a lot of discomfort. I was gritting my teeth and trying to grin and bear it at the same time. Then, I nodded off for what seemed like a second and when I woke up, six hours had passed! I was amazed! ... The strange thing is that, when I mentioned this to another passenger afterwards, she said she had had the exact same experience!

By that, I'm saying, God is more than able to make the time pass quickly!

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 shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Ever seen someone like that? Ever experienced some prophet or false Christ who was really convincing?

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.

This is a good verse for the Bahais who think that Baha'ullah was Christ reincarnated. Sorry. Nope.

27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

I don't think you're going to miss it! (If you're still alive, that is.)

28. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

When? Immediately before? No! Immediately AFTER the tribulation!

30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

YES! Hallelujah!

31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
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.
34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

We don't know the day or hour, but in a previous verse, he says "This generation" shall not pass until these things be fulfilled. We are now IN the generation of many of these things that are coming to pass. NOW is the TIME.

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