Mark 13 v 4 - 8: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows."
Whenever something catastrophic happens the placards come out with "The End is Nigh" being announced. In Matt 24v36 Jesus says "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." So anyone who ever predicts that they know the date of the Second Coming is wrong. We know the season of His coming but even Jesus does not know the day nor the hour!
Jesus showed His disciples the Temple buildings and said they would be destroyed. His disciples had asked 3 separate questions:
1. Tell us when shall these things be? - referring to the Temple being destroyed.
2. What shall be the sign of your coming?
3. What are the signs of the end of the world?
Some people have confused the issue by making these three questions into a simultaneous event. The first question would be answered in AD70 when the Romans destroyed the Temple causing the few surviving Jews to retreat to the Masada rock fortress. Eventually they scattered into different places leaving less than 100 Jews alive.
But through those few, God kept alive His Covenant with them and rebuilt them and restored them back into the land of Israel after 1900 years in exile. This is a miracle unique to Israel, proving that the chosen people belong in the Promised Land. Those who hate the one true God hate Israel and want her wiped off the map. This hatred is originated and fuelled by Satan.
What will be the signs of His coming? The first thing Jesus said is Take heed that no man deceive you! So one of the signs of times will be people who go out of their way to lie, cheat, steal, scam, religious deceit, political deceit, business deceit, relationship deceit, corrupt governments.
Jesus said many will come in my name and deceive many. People who say they are Christ or His sole representative are deceiving you, including the Pope. He calls himself the Vicar of Christ, meaning that he is the vicarious representative of Jesus on Earth. He is not! The true representative of Jesus Christ on Earth is the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers, and seals them as protection from the world.
There will be wars and rumours of wars to increase fear and panic. We are seeing it in Ukraine right now and its beyond awful. Civilians being bombed even as they flee through corridors of protection erected by the bombers!
There will be famines, plagues, and an increase in earthquakes in many places. Weather will become extreme, more volcanoes will erupt. These are called the beginning of sorrows. So the 20th century was like the curtain raiser for what is to come. We are still in the throes of a pandemic that has killed millions so far. Millions have lost their jobs, thousands of businesses closed for good during lockdown.
Famine will be a problem this year as Ukraine produces wheat that feeds many nations. So far they have just managed to plant 70 thousand acres of Spring Barley near Odessa, which Russia is planning to bomb next.
Since this Millennium began there have been many earthquakes, some huge ones resulting in very destructive tsunamis. There have been different volcanic eruptions and worries of huge calderas in Yellowstone and other areas that are overdue for life-changing events. Like ash clouds that blot out the Sun from a third of the world for more than 6 months. This will affect food production affecting more than a billion people.
Right now this week there are two astonishing heatwaves. One over the North Pole the other over the South Pole. It is causing ice to melt at both extremes. This increases the height of the oceans over time and coastal areas could be affected. Not quite Waterworld (the movie) quite yet, but lets see if we can start collecting superyachts impounded by hostilities in Ukraine. #asking for a friend!
Just this one month long war is having an impact on so many levels. And this is just a curtain raiser to how the Tribulation will look when wars are escalated on every continent. This is one period on Earth when we want to be out of reach. Like Raptured and enjoying a Feast with our Lord Jesus.
However, before that day there will be some serious persecution of Christians, who will be hated by people of all other nations for believing in Jesus. Many false prophets shall rise and lead many away from the one True God. There will be a terrible increase in divorce. Recent reports show a severe increase in Christians being persecuted and martyred. Signs of the times.
The man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, will bring on anarchy all over the world. We had a foretaste in South Africa last July when there was a uprising in KwaZuluNatal. Hundreds were murdered, malls were looted and burnt to the ground, 300 of them! Imagine that happening to 300 malls in your area, simultaneously with every city on Earth. You do not want to be here for that.
Jesus says that those who endure to the end will be saved. Then the full gospel of Jesus will be preached in all the world and then shall the end come. This full gospel started in Heaven from where Lucifer fell and sin originated in him. The Book of Genesis is the beginning of the rescue of mankind from his evil clutches.
It is important for people to know that before the Great Tribulation starts Christians will be recalled to Heaven like Ambassadors are recalled to their home countries when war is declared. This recall is known as The Rapture when millions of born again Christians will be lifted from the Earth to meet Jesus in the air.
At the same time The Antichrist will take his seat in the Holy of Holies in the rebuilt Temple and declare himself God. The eyes of the Jews will be opened to this imposter with whom they signed a 7 years peace treaty, and they will flee into the mountains of Petra.
Thereafter all the nations of the world will rise against Israel and an army of 200 million will meet Israel on the Plains of Meggido for the Battle of Armageddon. At this moment Jesus Christ and all His followers will come down from the sky above Earth, and descend on these forces. A sword will come forth from the mouth of Jesus and 166 million troops will immediately die. The rest will flee back the way they came.
Thereafter Jesus will rule as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings for 1000 years of peace and restoration. Only His followers will be on Earth with Him. All others will be with their god and master in the lake of fire.
Our God sent His Son Jesus to die a horrible death to prevent any from spending eternity in that frightful place. It is the need of every Christian to preach the gospel to the lost. There is no Plan B. There is no other name under Heaven than the name of Jesus Christ by which we may be saved. There is no religion that can save man from sin, Christianity is not a religion, it is an answer, a way of life that guarantees life everlasting.
Prayer: Heavenly Father You have kept every promise and shown us how to get out of trouble free. All we can do is share the truth and trust You to open the eyes, ears and hearts of those who need to be saved. Call on the name of Jesus, repent and be baptized. In Jesus' name. Amen.