Signs of the Last Days?!

We Are Still Here!

What’s up with all of the ends of the world predictions from Christians? One of the latest in a long list of such predictions pointed to September 23, 2017, as the last day of the world as we know it. The so-called “Revelation 12” sign in the heavens was to signal the Church’s rapture and drastic changes in the earth. It seems the man who is making the latest prediction, David Meade, is then pointed to October 15 as the day. But we are still here.

A quick google search will reveal that such predictions are not a recent development among believers. As early as the year 500, three theologians predicted that was the year the world would end. One based his teaching on the dimensions of Noah’s ark. But of course, they were wrong. Even the Pope got involved in the prediction that the Lord would return in the year 1000. When He didn’t come in 1000, a few Bible scholars said it would be 1033, a thousand years after the crucifixion instead of His birth. Again, they were wrong!

Predictions of the End

The list is quite long, but a jump to the 19th century reveals that Jesus was predicted to return on October 22, 1844. Then it was 1874. And again, in 1891. Predictions kept coming. In the 20th century, Edgar C. Whisenant, a NASA scientist and Bible teacher, predicted the Lord would return during Rosh Hashanah 1988. His book sold 4.5 million copies. A major Christian network also interrupted their regularly scheduled programming as the date approached to give people instructions on how to prepare for the rapture. When the Lord didn’t return in 1988, he released a revised edition of his book claiming it would be 1989. Then He predicted it would be 1993, then 1994.

Harold Camping got into the act in the 21st century, declaring that the rapture would happen on May 21, 2011, and the world would end in October of 2012. Those dates came and went, and the only thing that happened was many in the Church had to eat crow. Predictions like this may sell books, garner hits on websites, and go viral on social media, but they bring discredit to the Church. These predictions are also a direct disregard for the teaching of Jesus! In His own words, “But concerning that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch, and pray. For you do not know when the time will come.” [Mark 13:32-33]

Predictions like this may sell books, garner hits on websites and go viral on social media, but they bring discredit to the Church. Click To Tweet

Don’t Cry, Wolf!

The Christians who get caught up in speculation and sensationalism with solar eclipses, blood moons, natural disasters, and political maneuvering and try to date the Second Coming lose credibility with their unsaved family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Eventually, they become like the boy who cried wolf one too many times. No one will listen to their message that Jesus is coming again! This brand of speculation and sensationalism results in many swinging the pendulum too far to the other side. Even many in the Church become skeptical about the return of Christ.

Jesus is coming again! And happenings such as the blood moons, solar eclipse, record-breaking hurricanes, typhoons, multiple earthquakes, and even the so-called “Revelation 12” movements with Virgo and Leo should not be ignored or quickly dismissed. Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming…When you see these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near.” [Luke 21:25-26, 28] Many Scriptures point to signs that will indicate the last of the last days. And, though we cannot know the day or the hour of His coming, the day will not overtake the Church as a thief! [I Thessalonians 5:4]

The Church must avoid sensationalism and skepticism regarding signs of the last days! Click To Tweet

Watch!

Jesus taught us two valuable foundational principles that we must follow if we seek to navigate a sensible, Biblical approach to these days. First, while we wait for His coming, we must watch. The word translated watch means to be or keep awake, be alert, on guard, vigilant. He encourages us to be able to read the signs of the time. And He always empowers our obedience. [See Matthew 16:3] But He places a far greater emphasis on keeping an eye on our spiritual condition than on the signs around us. Look at His word recorded in Luke 21:34, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts become burdened by excessiveness and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that Day comes on you unexpectedly.” The reality is we cannot accurately discern the signs of the times if the issues of our everyday living overcome us. While we wait for His return, we determine to watch. We will stay awake and aware of the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives and our generation. 

The reality is we cannot accurately discern the signs of the times if we are overcome by the issues of our everyday living. Click To Tweet

Work!

The second foundational principle regarding the end times is that while we wait, we work. We don’t pack our bags for the rapture and huddle with other fearful believers. We won’t waste our time complaining about how bad things are getting! Jesus teaches that the faithful do His kingdom business until He returns. [Luke 19:13] In fact, He said the end isn’t coming until, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations…” [Matthew 24:14] Like Jesus we must work while it is day! The Church is the expression of Jesus in the earth, and our world desperately needs to see Jesus these days. We are the salt of the earth! We are the light of the world! We are the city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. [Matthew 5:13, 14]

I don’t know exactly when, but I know He is coming. While we are waiting, let’s stay alert and watch and do His work of letting everybody in on the good news. They don’t have to experience the wrath of God. Jesus took it! Today is the day to make ready for eternity. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!