SIGNS OF THE TIMES

The closer we get to the return of the Lord, it seems, the more everything that happens is declared to be a sign. There were earthquakes, and wars, and false Christs long before Jesus of Nazareth was born. Even John the Baptist needed to challenge those who believed him to be the Messiah (Matt. 3:11-12; Mk. 1:7-8; Lk. 3:15-17; Jn. 1:15-34). That being said, I do not want you to think I am one of the scoffers who believe His return is just wishful thinking (2 Pet. 3:3-4). Jesus is coming, and as I watch the evening news, I become more expectant every day!

Believers who eagerly await the Lord's Second Coming, are so very different from those who sought His First Advent. They longed for a Messiah who would conquer their enemies and establish His earthly kingdom. Believers today long for His return, but our longing is for Him to remove the Church in what is known as the Rapture. Ironically, there are no prophecies which need to be fulfilled as necessary antecedents for that event. There are no signs for which to look. The signs mentioned in Matthew 24 have to do with the Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Christ to establish His earthly 1000 year kingdom (the Millennium - Rev. 20:1-7). Those two events occur after the Rapture of the Church.

The signs for which the first century Jews were looking, had to do with Jesus providing evidence that He was their Messiah. I guess feeding thousands; healing the blind, the lame, and the lepers; and raising the dead; were insufficient for them to believe. After all He had done, Jesus told His opposition that the only sign He would show them was the "sign of Jonas (Jonah)."

"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew 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 to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed" (Matt. 16:1-4).

Jesus had earlier prophesied that just as Jonah was three days and three night in the Hebrew dag, and the Greek kytos (a sea monster, a huge whale or fish), He would be buried for three days and three nights (Jon. 1:17; Matt. 12:40). Jesus fulfilled that prophecy with His Crucifixion, His burial, and His Resurrection. In fact, according to the Apostle Paul, that is the "Reader's Digest" version of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4)!

From the time of His Ascension until the middle of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27), there will be no signs which the Jews will believe, because the Lord has partially blinded them from recognizing the truth (Matt. 24:15-29; Rev. 13:1-18; Rom. 11:25).

Again, for the Christian, there will be no sign of His coming for us (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-53; 2 Thes. 4:13-18). If the Jews were called an "adulterous generation" for seeking a sign proving His First Advent, why is it that some Christians feel we should not be called an "adulterous generation" for seeking signs of His Second Coming? Besides, it is the Jews who require a sign, and not the Church (1 Cor. 1:22).

Born again believers do not look for a sign, they listen for a trumpet!