SIGNALS PRIOR TO CHRIST’S RETURN
By Frank Eiklor and Cecilia Contreras
LESSON 43 (Part 3)
INTRODUCTION
Many times, unbelievers and skeptics have said, “You Christians are so simple-minded and foolish. You take everything by faith. We only believe in facts”. However, they are really the ones who are foolish and ignorant of the facts.
The Bible is a book of facts. The book of Genesis and the order of creation are facts. Sin and its terrible results are facts that can be seen. Archaeological finds prove again and again the historical trustworthiness of the Bible. Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection are facts that stand the test of time. And prophetic promises and warnings concerning the future are great indications that the Bible is indeed the Word of the living God.
Jesus spoke in detail concerning certain signs that would precede His return to rule the earth. Other scriptures also speak of events that will take place before the end of time. We will study twelve of these signals in this series of lessons before returning to our study in the Book of Revelation. Thus far, we have looked at six signals that will take place prior to Christ’s return. They are:
1. THE PHYSICAL REBIRTH OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
2. JERUSALEM AGAIN THE UNDIVIDED CAPITAL OF ISRAEL
3. THE DISINTEGRATION OF MORALITY
4. UNENDING FAMINES, VIOLENCE, WARS AND PLAGUES
5. STEADY INCREASE IN KILLER EARTHQUAKES
6. EZEKIEL’S VISION OF A LAST DAY’S INVASION OF ISRAEL
Now we will briefly look at three more prophetic signals.
Signal #7—A THREATENED NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST
How skeptics must have laughed for centuries at the Apostle Peter’s description of the end of the world. The sky passing away with a great noise? Earth’s elements evaporating through unimaginable heat? Earth itself dissolved?
They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers. After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate their enemies. The world fears and trembles over this threat of nuclear destruction. A desperate cry is building for some great leader who can guarantee the world peace and prosperity by controlling governments, economies and weapons. We will look at this probability in our next point.
“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 2 Peter 3:7-11
Signal #8—A CALL FOR A CHARISMATIC LEADER
How often you hear the words, “There are no great leaders today. Our world is ready to explode. We need a great leader who can bring us all together.”
Since the world wants peace and prosperity in order to better enjoy their lives of sin, they do not choose Jesus. However, they will approve of a leader who is coming on the scene with a golden tongue and the heart of a devil. Christ had warned the religious leaders that though they would not receive Him coming in His Father’s name, they would receive another coming in his own name.
This demonic personality will arrive to lead a new world order. He will be the anti-Christ himself whose rule will first appear powerful and then turn hellishly violent. Christians argue: “Will the Church be here—or gone—when anti-Christ comes?” I shall not join the argument but continue to teach Christians, “Live as if Jesus will return tomorrow-—and prepare your soul as if there is great suffering ahead.”
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Signal #9—THE CALL FOR A REBUILT TEMPLE
With their temple destroyed in 70AD, pious Jews have prayed for—and prepared for—the day when they would again construct their temple on the original site. Today Muslims control the Temple Mount and vow there will never be another Jewish temple. Yet Scripture indicates that God will allow the Jews to rebuild their temple and that it will be the place the false Christ will enter to declare himself to be God. Watch the Mideast carefully. Perceptive hearts will see certain signals that will be warnings that our Lord’s return grows nearer and nearer.
“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4
(TO BE CONTINUED)
