Ask any thinking man or woman anywhere on this planet tonight and the unanimous observation will be the recognition that we are living in a most momentous hour of human history! The frightening realities of our world today are mind-boggling to say the least – with the stark images of disease, famine, natural disasters... In the past 100 years or so we have witnessed some of the most startling and cataclysmic events in human history.
Tonight, we are going to see what the Bible says about it all. It will provide hope and security beyond the desperation and uncertainty. The Bible can help us make sense of it all.
Long ago, Jesus sat on a hillside with His disciples and predicted such a time as this. In Matthew 24 the disciples came to Jesus privately and they asked Him a question
"What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age (world KJV)"? Matthew 24:3 Here, Jesus talked about various signs which would precede His Second Coming. In addition, these signs in miniature would precede the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century. In 70 AD, Titus, the Roman general, attacked, overthrew, and totally devastated the city of Jerusalem. Jesus used the destruction of Jerusalem under Rome as a symbol of the final destruction of the world.
The events which led up to the destruction of Jerusalem would be present at the end-time on a much larger, grander, more magnificent scale before Jesus' return in the end-time. In fact - when we compare Jesus' prediction in Matthew 24 with the predictions in the book of Revelation, they provide an incredibly accurate picture of our day.
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
No one can know exactly when He will return and the terrible events connected with His return will transpire. Jesus tried to make this clear. However, He also wants us to realize that we can know when it is near.
Matthew 24: 32,33 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors!
Signs in religious world -Matthew 24:4, 5 He said that in the end-time's drama and uncertainty thousands in their search for meaning would turn to cults and other deceptive paths. They would turn to false Christs and false prophets. The confusion and deception would be widespread and Jesus sought to warn us.
Signs in the political world. Matthew 24:6,7 Wars and Rumors of war – Jesus looked into the future and saw wars of our century. The 20th century has seen the greatest wars of all time!
Sign of Potential for World Destruction. Revelation 11:18 Broadcasting from Hiroshima in 1945 after the atomic bomb was dropped, William Ripley stated: "I am standing on the place where the end of the world began." What would Ripley say today – at this time of unprecedented nuclear power?
Sign of peace and safety - I Thessalonians 5:3 Have you noticed how fragile peace treaties are these days? Peace treaties fail because they are based on frail human promises. However, I want to tell you, when Jesus, the Prince of Peace, fills the heart with His peace, it makes a dramatic difference. All man’s plans are transitory. While the ink is still wet on the documents of peace, there are new attempts in the direction of war. One U.N. diplomat put it this way in describing man’s vain attempt to establish world peace: “We have tried so hard, but we have failed so miserably.”
Sign of Famine. Matthew 24:6, 7 It doesn’t take a scientist to see the truth of this prediction of Jesus. Look in almost any direction in this world tonight and we see the startling fulfillment of the words of Christ. Jesus is trying to get this world’s attention – wants us to realize what sin has caused.
Sign of pestilence - Matthew 24:6, 7 The original word for “pestilence” in the NT language Greek means “plague” or “disease”. Plagues of disease such as AIDS and various other diseases are breaking out randomly. Antibiotics are no longer affective against many viruses, AIDS continues to spread as it is new drug resistant strands of HIV. And now there are these new types of Flu viruses such as the avian Bird Flu H5N1. Scientists say this is the greatest single threat in our world today.
Sign of polution- Rev. 11:18 calls our attention to this reality. Wust face the fact that our planet is deteriorating whether we realize it or not. Scientists frankly warn about the destruction and possible death of earth. We simply cannot afford to ignore the reality and magnitude of this problem. No longer can we see these clear signs and tuck them away as if the danger doesn’t really exist.
Sign of Earthquakes. Matthew 24: 7 Each year we have 12,000 major earthquakes in the world. Actually we you stop and think about it, there is an almost universal upheaval of nature around the globe tonight. I believe Jesus was speaking in candid fashion about this in Luke’s Gospel. Luke 21: 11, 25
Sign of Moral Decay. Matthew 24:37 “As it was in the days of Noah” – Jesus believed in the flood. Just remember that, would you?
Genesis 6:5, 6, 11 The “wickedness of man was great” and God saw it. “Every intent … evil continually.” Does this sound anything like things are today? What do you think? Don’t believe something simply because you heard it from me. I want you to examine and decide for yourself.
Sign of Crime and Violence. There is no question that our crime rate is exploding. It’s absolutely impossible to turn on the news without viewing staggering evidence to the validity of Christ’s prediction that in the last day’s things would be as are.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 Notice “In the last days perilous times will come” Verse 4 says “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” In America and elsewhere it is Football, baseball, basketball, computer games and then maybe God. Fact is in most people’s lives He’s not even a distant 3rd. Today’s generation merely casts Him aside, as they are engrossed in the sensational trivia of an agenda of pleasure.
Amos 8:12 Jesus gives an urgent appeal to wake us up! To help us know when He will return. Amos 4:12
Sign of Fear - Luke 21:26 In cities across the country people are afraid. They carry revolvers and purchase guard dogs. We install burglar alarms and place bars on windows! Why? Because we live in a society of fear – Our age is an age of anxiety.
Sign of the Gospel - Matthew 24:14 Before the coming of Jesus, unprecedented doors of opportunity for the proclamation of the gospel will open around the world. Revelation shows us the fulfillment of this prophecy of Jesus in: Revelation 14:6, 7 For those living in earth’s last days a message of hope and challenge is given.
“Fear God and give glory to Him” “Fear” simply means to take Him seriously. Because “the hour of His judgment has come.” Here is a message going to all the world – It is to be given with a “loud voice.”
“Loud Voice” in Greek is “mega phone”, from which comes our English word, megaphone. God is trying to get us to listen to Him as He speaks to our world today.
What an exciting time to be alive! While time remains Jesus appeals to all men living on this doomed and dying planet called Earth! This is what the prophecies in this book are all about. This is a day of opportunity. This is the time to prepare for His soon return. Today, it’s not wars or starvation, or natural disasters that we should fear. We should worry only that we might fail to be ready to meet Jesus when He finally intervenes in the chaos of this old world.
Some will heed the warning and flee to safety. Have you heard the warning? Will you be ready? Don’t let anything keep you from preparing to meet your God. Are you ready for Jesus to come?