The following is an excerpt from my book “Truth Cries Out”:
In late summer, as grain fields start to ripen and the first leaves are turning color, you can feel a change in the air, a dryness that tells you that the season of growth is nearing its end. The evenings become cooler and daylength shortens. The smell of the heads of barley is carried by the breeze. There is no doubt in your mind that autumn is fast approaching. Time is short and there is much work to be done to prepare for the dark days of winter that lie ahead. In the same way, the season of growth of the Church is nearing its end. Signs are everywhere these days that indicate that God is about to move in a miraculous way. Signs that are foretold in the Bible of the end times, when God will gather his people to himself.
Over half of the Bible is dedicated to the topic of the “end times” or “last days” illustrating the importance of this period of time from God’s perspective. The population explosion in the last century means that there are currently more souls to save for the kingdom of God than at any previous time in history. In fact, there are more people alive right now than have lived in the entire history of civilization put together. There are three generations of people that are highlighted in the Bible and each one has a major role to play in God’s perfect plan. The generation that lived at the time of Moses was significant in determining the establishment of the nation of Israel and the details of Judaism. The generation that witnessed Jesus walk on the earth was instrumental in the formation of Christianity and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Finally, the generation that is alive to see Jesus return at the end of the age dominates the end times prophecies and ultimately the eternal kingdom of God. I believe that we are this generation.
In Luke 10:23-24, Jesus tells his disciples. “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” They were witnesses to the life and times of the Christ. What an exciting and amazing privilege! Today we are also blessed to be living at a point in history when the signs and wonders of the power of God are all around us. Prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. I am sure that over the last 2000 years, many believers hoped they would witness the things that this generation is experiencing today but never did.
The final push is on to bring in the maximum harvest, however as with any crop, there are weeds that must be separated from the good seed. In Mathew, chapter 13, Jesus tells the disciples the parables of the sower and of the weeds. He explains how the kingdom of God resembles growing and harvesting a crop. True believers in Christ are the crop that is harvested. The weeds represent non-believers. While the news of the harvest is good news to many, whom God will call home, it means judgement for those who do not repent.
All of creation is groaning under the weight of sin. It is evident in nature, in politics and in humanity. War is common and the last century has witnessed more bloodshed than the previous nineteen combined. With all the warnings of climate change in the news, combined with blood red moons, famines, earthquakes, hurricanes and typhoons that are increasing in both frequency and intensity, many are worried that nature is about to crumble from the impact of industrialization. Droughts and famines grip massive areas. Recent wildfires in Greece, California, Siberia, Australia, Alberta and British Columbia have caused increased concern for the environment as well as stress over the loss of life and possessions. Hurricanes and typhoons have ravaged the east coast of the U.S., Mexico, The Philippines, Japan and China. There are people reporting dreams and visions of the rapture and the tribulation while others scoff at God, are proud, infatuated by wealth, ruthless, abusive and don’t consider anything sacred.
Luke 21:25-28 tells us about these signs, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Jesus, when telling the disciples about the signs of the end said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 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.” Mathew 24:10-14.
Today the word of God is reaching the entire globe, as the song Joy to the World goes, as “far as the curse is found.” The Bible has been translated into 90% of the world’s languages and it is estimated that by 2050, it will be translated into every one of the 7,099 languages in the world. Nearly 100,000 people per day receive Christ as their personal savior. Most of this growth in the Church is happening in places where the persecution of Christians is the most prevalent. In countries where there is an abundance of food and material wealth, sadly people aren’t looking to God for redemption and the Church is actually shrinking. Throughout Europe and North America, vacant churches stand as memorials of an age gone by. Some are used as museums, others as art galleries, some are now restaurants or libraries. Much of the developed world is considered a post Christian society. The mission fields are now our own back yards and neighborhoods. The lost are all around us. And there is an abundance of false prophets, setting dates for the return of Christ and the end of the world.
It is so important that we exercise discernment so that we are not fooled by those who would profit from our error. There are many scam artists these days, preying on people who are not well versed in the Bible. They twist scripture slightly enough to justify their cause, but they are not authentic. Many people believed that the end would come in 2012 which marked the end of the Mayan calendar. Nostradamus’ predictions also had many on edge that year. Harold Camping led many people to sell everything they had and give it to the church so they could be raptured with him on May 21, 2011. Christ warned of false witnesses. In Mathew 24:23-27 Jesus explains, “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ’Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Throughout the Old Testament the prophets gave signs that would mark the coming Messiah. The Jewish leaders and teachers of the law failed to recognize those signs when Jesus walked among them. The scriptures foretold, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy….” Isaiah 35:5-6. Jesus said of himself, “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” Luke 7:22. He knew that John would recognize him by these signs, yet the very people who should have been quickest to interpret them, did not.
Jesus gave us the signs that would precede his return and we are expected to be ready. He likened his return to ten bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us.’
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
It’s hard to convey a sense of urgency, when the second coming of Christ has been delayed for such a long time. Peter elaborates in 2 Peter 3:8-9, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Many believers have been lulled to sleep or procrastinate repentance and have become like the foolish virgins. Many congregations are like the lukewarm church (Revelation 3:16) and pay no heed to the warnings in scripture and that day will come upon them like a thief in the night. Several scriptures share this warning:
“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into,” Mathew 24:43
“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15
“For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2
“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10
This cannot be overemphasized. It is so important to have passion in your love for Christ! Live for him each and every day and don’t be led to believe things will continue to go on just as they have for centuries. Nurture your relationship with Jesus so that you are totally aware of what scripture says. Pray continually that you become filled with the Holy Spirit and he will inform you of how to interpret the signs of the age. God will not put this off much longer. He has been so lovingly patient, allowing us time to overcome our uncertainty and gain trust in him. But the time is coming when he will move forward with his plan to crush Satan. Do not be spiritually asleep when Jesus returns!
Peace and safety seem fragile today as world leaders seem all too accommodating in embracing their faith in their military might. While scientists fill the news wires with alarms of global warming, that won’t be what will terminate human existence (from a secular prospective). Global warming is the least of our concerns. Mankind will blow the world up several times over before the climate ever collapses. The earth as we know it was never going to last forever. When mankind was evicted from the garden of Eden, the path towards the destruction of the earth was set in motion. Thankfully, God’s plan is several steps ahead of that potential outcome.
We were created in the image of God. He gave mankind dominion over the earth. He provided us with free will and in order to honor that, he allowed us to make mistakes and even disown him. Even though we have acted like disobedient children and given him plenty of attitude, God still loves us and will forgive us when we repent. When we do, we are welcomed into his kingdom as co-heirs with Christ. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17.
Paul wrote words of hope for us so that we will not become fearful of the times. “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9. The context of this chapter is with respect to the second coming of Christ. Therefore encourage one another…
Scripture tells us the first will be last and the last will be first. Those who are in positions of power and don’t revere God will not have a seat in the front row for the harvest. But those who cry out to the Lord, those in need, will be saved. Jesus said, “See, I have told you in advance.” Mathew 24:25 Don’t be like the unbelievers and skeptics who mock the people of God and insult their intelligence by claiming the Bible is a book of fairy tales and claim there is no God. Don’t be like those who put their faith in mankind to solve world problems and deny that Jesus is the only way to redemption.
God wants his children home. The world will not know what is about to happen, even so, come Lord Jesus!
