Obey the Signs

While on vacation in Utah last summer I had a fascination with signs I saw. Here are some of the more interesting and intriguing ones.

Signs may tells us the height of s particular peak we are climbing. Signs may warn us about dangerous rattlesnakes or falling rocks. Signs may direct traffic or keep people away from vegetation. Finding and obeying signs can save your life.

Jesus gave us plenty of signs about His coming. No one knows the exact time of Jesus’ return. However, Jesus, out of love and concern for His people, put clear and accurate signs along the path of life. He wants believers to be prepared at all times to greet Him at His return.

Scripture offers three different signs to remind us that Jesus’ return will be “soon” (Revelation 22:7,12,20). These signs offer both warning and comfort to believers.

Sign #1—The gospel will be preached in the whole world

In Matthew 24 Jesus offers a whole list of signs to mark the beginning of the end. In this list is a remarkable statement as to the timing of his glorious return: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Has the gospel of the kingdom been preached in the whole world? You be the judge. According to the American Bible Society, the Scriptures have been translated, printed, and distributed worldwide in more than 2,000 different languages and dialects. Advances in electronics and communications allow the gospel today to reach the heights of the Himalayas and the most remote islands in the South Seas.

Personally, I have been in contact with people in France and in Hawaii with the use of our congregation’s website and the church’s Facebook page.

We want to know when Jesus will return and the world will end. We will never know the exact time, but God did give us signs that point to his return. One of those signs is that the Gospel will be preached in the whole world.

Sign #2—Anomalies in nature

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:6-7)

The second sign of the end times is the increase of anomalies in nature. Jesus spoke about famines and earthquakes in various places as beginning signs. With every Haitian earthquake, Hawaiian tsunami, Icelandic volcanic eruption and Asian and African famine, we are reminded that the Lord is returning soon.

With every Afghani War, Iraqi War or threat of World War III, Jesus takes one step closer to His return.

These seismological events will be followed by astrological events. Immediately before our Lord’s return there will also be astrological events. “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. . . . the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Luke 21:25,26)

Sign #3—Spiritual and moral decay

The third sign is the spiritual and moral decay inside and outside the Church. Wars will increase, Christians will be persecuted, many will turn away from the faith, and false prophets will abound. Paul writes, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) The proliferation of false churches and apostasy from Christian faith are both evident today.

Perhaps most disturbing is Paul’s description of people’s moral quality in the last days: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Jesus added that “the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

Sadly, the words of Jesus and Paul hit the nail on the head for our times—for today’s American society and for much of the world.

Obey the signs. Watch for Jesus’ coming.