WORLD SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS AND THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST
AMAZING FACTS OF BIBLE PROPHECY!
The prophecies of the Bible are more-sure than the speculations of men. They are accurate. We see their fulfilment all around us today. They throw light on the past, the present and THE FUTURE!
God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, declares in Isaiah 46:9-10: “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none like me, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure.”
SIGN OF INCREASED KNOWLEDGE
This is given in Daniel 12:4, which reads, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
After thousands of years of human civilization, the last 80 years have seen a breathtaking increase of scientific knowledge never before imagined.
Radio, television, jet aircraft, earth satellites, phones, and atomic power are all products of this age of increased knowledge which the Bible call the time of the end.
THE SIGN OF POWERLESS RELIGION
There’s formality, ritualism and ceremony on every hand. It is all outward show but inward poverty. Altars, statues, candles, robes, stained glass windows etc. They look respectable but have no Bible power. No salvation. No miracles. No Holy Ghost experience.
The Bible refers to this sign of the last days in 2 Timothy 3:5, which reads, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away.”
In Pidgin we say “Yu go lotu lotu tasol pasin bilong yu ino senis yu prei, prei na inogat ansa, muv aut na painim God – igo inap yu painim em tru long Spirit.” God is not the author of confusion. He is true to His Word and promises.
THE SIGN OF PERILOUS TIMES
“But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come.” (2 Timothy 3:1).
Albert Einstien, one of the men responsible for the splitting of the atom, said after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: “Annihilation of any life on earth has been brought within the range of technical possibilities. The ghostlike character of this development lies in its apparently compulsory trend . . . In the end, there beckons more and more clearly general annihilation.”
WORLDWIDE ARMAMENTS RACE
There is the sign of worldwide re-armament, as in the words of Joel 3: 9 & 10: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; Beat your plough shares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say I am strong.”
How better could Joel have described the present-day race to re-arm? And this, we read, will be on the eve of Armageddon, and the great day of Christ’s return.
The present world atomic stockpile is equal to several tons of T.N.T. for every man, woman and child alive on earth.
“Let the weak say, I am strong.” Today we see even weak nations declaring their strength, obtaining arms from whoever will supply them.
Egypt, Syria, Indonesia, Sudan and many others are receiving arms from the U.S.A., Britain, Russia and China.
THE MODERN CRAZE FOR PLEASURE
The following after sport, TV, alcohol, drugs, travel etc. supersedes the desire for the reality of the joys of the real Bible salvation. The Bible reference is found in 2 Timothy 3:4, which speaks of many who would be “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”.
GREAT DISTRESS AMONGST THE NATIONS
Jesus spoke of this in Luke 21:25, saying “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”
The crisis follows crisis – Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Palestine – Armageddon is at the doors!
THE ATOMIC, HYDROGEN, AND NEUTRON BOMBS
This is given in Joel 2:30 as a sign of the approaching Day of the Lord. This verse refers to “Blood and fire”, and pillars of smoke”. The Hebrew word ‘timeroth’ is used for “pillars”- used only twice in the entire Bible. ‘Timeroth’ is the Hebrew word for ‘palm trees’.
The prophet Joel looked into the future, the ‘Last Days’ and saw ‘Palm trees of smoke’. The enormous mushroom cloud of the atomic or hydrogen explosion – these great ‘pillars of smoke’ are another sign that we are living in the last days.
Further prophecies which could well describe atomic war are: Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven” Luke 21:26 – Jesus said, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
THE MODERN EASE OF TRAVEL
Present-day methods of travel are also signs of the end time. Daniel 12:4 states that at this time “Many shall run to and fro”. Less than 30 hours to London by jet airliner. Planes, vehicles and ships make travel easier than before.
THE SIGN OF THE BLASPHEMER
This is referred to in 2 Timothy 3:2.
There is the widespread arrogance of modern man in his profane use of the name of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. The religious blasphemer who ridicules the power of the Holy Ghost and Bible miracles today is the anti-Christ.
FLAME-THROWING TANKS
In Joel 2:3
Flame–throwing tanks are described: A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness . . . “Verse 7: “They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march every – one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.” Verse 10: “The earth shall quake before them . . .”
AMASSED, BUT USELESS RICHES
The Bible speaks of this in James 5:1-3, in these words: “Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted . . . Your silver and gold are cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped together treasure for the last days.”
Have a look around! The rich get richer and the poor get poorer – monopolies, big business, and high-interest charges. The rich reap the profits, and the poor pay the interest.
THE GREAT AWAKENING TO THE TRUTHS OF BIBLE PROPHECY
Daniel 12:4 reads “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end . . .” It is only since the phenomenal awaking to the truths of Bible Prophecy that we have seen we are at the end of this age. The darkest day in the history of man approaches. The light of the more sure word of Prophecy is given for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.
REVIVAL IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
On one hand, man is doing his worst; on the other hand, God is doing His best. The Bible promises a “latter rain” of the Holy Spirit at the end of this age.
Throughout the world including PNG thousands are receiving the Bible baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the Bible evidence of speaking with tongues (ACTS 2:4). No substitute will seal us for the day of Christ’s return.
JESUS SAID…. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: watch!” (Mark 13:35-37.)
The Bible says, “Repent, and be baptised, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
We who are living today have been passing through the days of the most remarkable generation of all history; while many avidly read of the wonders of our age their attention is diverted from the offer of Bible Salvation.
Our future lies not in knowledge or scientific progress but in the personal offer of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?