Six Critical Signs
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Last week when we looked at “The Olivet Discourse”, I mentioned what David Jeremiah called six critical signs that Jesus mentioned concerning His Second Coming.
Deception of false Christs [v. 4-5]
Wars and rumors of war among the nations [v.6-7a]
Famines, pestilences and earthquakes worldwide [v. 7b-8]
Persecution, tribulation and the killing of believers [v.9]
Falling away of false believers [v.10-13]
Proclaiming of the Gospel to the world [v. 14]
These signs actually describe the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 year Tribulation Period preceding His Second Coming. But these signs started years ago and are progressively increasing in intensity until they come to full term, birth.
These signs are “cultural signs” that are beginning to appear all around us today like we’ve never experienced before. One of the reasons this is happening at such volume now the population increase, which magnifies things. And the magnification in these signs are evidence of the moral decay taking place like never before either, beginning with; the breakdown of the family, substance abuse and alcoholism, addictive disorders, gambling, cheating, bullying, lawlessness, and religious persecution.
1. Deception by False Christs; 4-5
1. Deception by False Christs; 4-5
These are not false teachers or prophets, but people who actually claim to be Christ.
Notice Jesus said “many”
Shortly after Jesus death and resurrection, several men claimed to be the Messiah.
36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
I went back and Googled “claims to be the messiah” and you would be amazed at what I found. Sixty-two people from the first century until now claimed to be the Jewish Messiah, and I didn’t even do a deep search. These people were from various backgrounds and religions, including women, Hitler and a present age movie star, Ezra Miller, born in 1992.
Anna Lee (1736–1784), a central figure to the Shakers,[34] who thought she "embodied all the perfections of God" in female form and considered herself to be Christ's female counterpart in 1772.
Samael Aun Weor (1917–1977), born Víctor Manuel Gómez Rodríguez, Colombian citizen and later Mexican, was an author, lecturer and founder of the Universal Christian Gnostic Movement. By 1972, Samael Aun Weor referenced that his death and resurrection would be occurring before 1978.
Shoko Asahara (1955–2018), the founder of the Japanese doomsday-cult group Aum Shinrikyo. In 1992 Asahara published Declaring Myself the Christ, within which he declared himself Christ, Japan's only fully enlightened master, and identified with the Lamb of God. Following the Tokyo subway sarin attack of 1995, Asahara was arrested and executed by hanging in 2018.
Ezra Miller (born 1992), an actor, has claimed to be Jesus, the next Messiah, and the devil, saying they would bring about a Native American revolution.
The sad thing is what Jesus said, ‘many will be deceived”
All these I mentioned started different religions/churches and had followings. Unfortunately, many died a foolish death following them because they did not take time to discern the spirit’s whether they were from God or not, and they didn’t rightly divide the word of God!
According to Scripture, the one clear sign of Christ’s return will be his unmistakable appearance in the clouds, which will be seen by all people (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). In other words, believers never have to wonder whether a certain person is the Messiah. When Jesus returns, believers will know beyond a doubt because he will be evident to all.
2. Warfare among the Nations; 6-7a
2. Warfare among the Nations; 6-7a
There have been wars of mankind shortly after the beginning of time.
Historians believe the first war in recorded history took place in Mesopotamia in 2,700 B.C. between the forces of Sumer and Elam. Enembaragesi, the King of Kish, led the Sumerians to victory over the Elamites in that war.
The Battle of the Vale of Siddim, also often called the War of Nine Kings or the Slaughter of Chedorlaomer, in Genesis 14:1–17 is the first recorded war in the Bible that occurs in the days of Abram and Lot. That was in 2090 B. C.
Wars are characteristic of every age, but they do seem to be more common now than ever before. One of the reasons why wars are more prevalent now is politics. As the political landscape changes and often worsens, wars and rumors of wars become more relevant.
Where do wars come from? The heart of man
Matthew 18:7 (NKJV)
7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Violence and wars dominate the news cycle so much that man believes the end is here. But Jesus says, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
Jesus is telling His disciples then and those who are reading the Word now, that difficult days are ahead, but do not be troubled, because God is in control. [Jesus just told them the temple would be laid flat, that’s not the end of the world]
The chaos and conflict that Jesus speaks of stretches out over centuries and generations of men in history, pointing to the Day of His return. He is simply preparing us to be ready!
Luke 21:34 (NKJV)
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
3. Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes Worldwide; 7b-8
3. Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes Worldwide; 7b-8
Nations at war increase the chances of famines and pestilences/diseases.
Geneva Academy of Humanitarian Law; Today, it monitors more than 110 armed conflicts and provides information about parties, the latest developments, and applicable international law. Some of these conflicts make the headlines, others do not. Some of them started recently, while others have lasted for more than 50 years. Out of these 110 conflicts, the United States is involved in 5 of them.
In 2023, record levels of acute food insecurity persist due to protracted food crises and new shocks/conflicts. In 48 countries, 238 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity – 10% more than in 2022. Twenty two countries right now are facing a true famine.
Nearly 13% of American households were food insecure in 2022. And this is expected to rise.
Malnutrition is a factor in many disease’s. It can lead to serious health issues, including stunted growth, eye problems, diabetes, and heart disease.
Lifestyle choices lead to many diseases; HIV, AIDS, STD’s, obesity, alcoholism, drug addiction.
Earthquakes are a natural occuring phenomenon. Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement along faults “tectonic plates” within the Earth.
Earthquakes also create famines and cause disease epidemics that ultimately take many lives. And Jesus says they will happen in “various places.”
Japan is the most common place for an earthquake to hit
Alaska and California are the most prominent places in the U.S., and are happening in places around the globe that have never had earthquakes before.
Earthquakes and natural disasters are not the judgment of God
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Close;
All these signs are the “beginning of sorrows.” We know for sure we are already in this time frame, and things will continue to intensify as we draw near the time of Christs’ return.
We are not to be troubled about these things, but to be prepared and preaching the Gospel till He comes!