March 5th 2008
As one continues to study Bible Prophecy, they realize that Jesus Christ was quite clear and understandable about His Doctrine concerning His Second Coming. It amazes me that Bible Prophecy is considered a very complicated subject that only PhDs in Theology can understand.
Yet to the surprise of many, Jesus Christ who never attended any Seminary spoke and taught his disciples who were not “educated” men according to today’s standard yet they understood what He taught.
What so-called Bible Prophecy Teachers have done is to make people focus on them as the solution providers when it comes to Bible Prophecy rather than the Teachings of Jesus Christ.
On the other hand are those who theorize that Bible Prophecy is not as important and therefore more concerned with Church Growth and general welfare of the church in terms of material prosperity, fancy Mega Church building projects, Healing Crusades, Political Christianity, Dominionism, and the like… Others think that they can hold views on the Second Coming of Christ even when they contradict the very words of Jesus Christ concerning the same subject.
However, The Testimony of Jesus Christ and that of His apostles as we have then recorded in the New Testament are paramount and supersedes all…all other testimonies outside the Bible are simply thoughts of men or lies from Satan… Setting all bias and prejudice aside, Lets proceed to listen to The Testimony of Jesus Christ in the first person concerning His Second Coming in Luke Chapter 21…
Giving to be approved of Men…
Luke 21:1-4
(1) And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.
(2) And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
(3) And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:
(4) for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.
Interestingly Luke 21 opens with Jesus Christ in the Temple and looking at people giving in the treasury. He saw the rich and then the poor widow give. Jesus Christ concludes by stating that the poor widow cast in more than they all…
Today the westernized global church is more concerned with giving as a means of justification so as to attain “God’s Blessings” and gain more material wealth… The Poor widow gave all she had and received applause not from Men, Preachers, and Pastors but from Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords… Where is your justification coming from? It is from men or Jesus Christ?
The Jewish Temple and the Mega Church Phenomenon…
Luke 21:5-6
(5) And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said,
(6) As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The Temple physical structure was focus of the Jews that they were blinded to seeing The Messiah who walked among them. The disciples thought that Jesus Christ would be astonished and amazed at the magnificence of the Temple in Jerusalem but to their surprise Jesus Christ spoke doom to this beloved physical Temple.
Notice how the Disciples spoke of the Temple being adorned with precious stones and offerings… They were looking at the outward appearance of things. Today in these last days many are focusing their attention on the physical structures of churches and the offerings of money generated inside these concrete structures.
The Mega Church Phenomenon has taken the Church by storm and many Christians focus on the outward appearance of these Mega Churches as a measure spirituality, blessings, and God’s approval yet what is coming ahead is persecution, tribulation to the Christians that they will not be able to utilize those Mega Church structures.
The Temple in Jerusalem became an Idol to the Jews until it was totally destroyed in 70AD as Jesus Christ had prophesied. Likewise the Mega Church Ideal is an Idol in Christendom today and judgment is determined towards it. In the days ahead true Christians will find no use for Mega Church structures and the money generated in them…
The Church of Jesus Christ is not a physical Temple made by hands of men nor is it a fancy high tech Mega Church complex built and created by the ingenuity of men… For The Lord abides not in such but in the hearts of Men who are the Temple of The Holy Spirit and not built by hands of men but God Almighty…
When shall these things be?
Luke 21:7
(7) And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?
The disciples asked Jesus Christ the time that these things shall be…which of course included the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem… The disciples also asked Jesus Christ what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass…
- When these things shall be…
- What shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass…
All these questions in verse 7 should be taken in context as we study about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as that is the key in this study… In other words what events will transpire leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ…?
There will be Great Deception…
Luke 21:8
(8) And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
Jesus Christ clearly tells us that we are to TAKE HEED that we be not LED ASTRAY. There will be great deception in that people will come in Jesus Christ’s Name preaching and saying that Jesus is The Christ but yet shall deceive many.
Jesus Christ is very clear these false prophets are wolves who will come in sheep’s clothing…and not every one who says Lord Lord will enter Heaven… Jesus Christ will cast away many who will have done miracles and great wonders in His Name but were false and workers of iniquity…
Matthew 7:15-23
(15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
(16) By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(20) Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;
(2) to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
(3) let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
(4) he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
(1) But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
(2) through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
2 Timothy 4:1-4
(1) I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(2) preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
(4) and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
2 Peter 2:1-2
(1) But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
(2) And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.
One of the things that happen before Jesus Christ returns and that Christians largely ignore is that there will be deception inside the church and a great falling away – a departure from truth.
Today in many Christian churches the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and the Teachings of His Apostles have been cast aside and largely people are following the Traditions and Commandments of Men which they teach as Doctrine.
It is high time that Christians examine what they listen to and hear from the pulpits with The New Testament. Does it line up with God’s Holy Word? If it does not, then reject it and have nothing to do with it…
The deception Jesus Christ speaks about begins in the Church…by men who proclaim that Jesus is The Christ yet they use it as a means to deceive… The Apostle Paul warned about the Great Falling Away – Apostasy that will take place before Jesus Christ returns.
However, you don’t have to be apart of those who Fall Way from Truth. Today many Christians and Pastors are falling away and have fallen away from Truth in Christ Jesus as presented in the New Testament by Jesus Christ and His Apostles…
There will be wars and turmoil but this is not the end…
Luke 21:9-10
(9) And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.
(10) Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
War and rumors of wars are one of the signs Jesus Christ gave us that would signal His soon return. However, these wars don’t mean that the end has come. For over 2000 years now, there have been wars and major world conflicts. The temptation is for folks to think that the end of the world has come. Jesus Christ gave us a strong warning in the verse above that the end will not come immediately. In Matthew 24, it states that these will be the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:6-8
(6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
(7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
(8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus Christ is clear that these wars and uproars don’t mean that the end has come. These are just the beginning of sorrows. The world wars that happened all were just a beginning of sorrows.
I believe that we are about to witness a Third World War – or the Gog Magog war spoken of in Ezekiel 38, 39, but this will not be the end of the world. It will just be a war that ushers in the reign of the Antichrist and the Tribulation period; a period in which the world will see greater sorrows.
Notice that Jesus Christ also talks about nations rising up against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms… Well, we shall see more ethnic cleansings as one ethnic group rises up against another.
What happened in Rwanda and Kosovo, not mentioning recent ethnic riots in Kenya, all point to the fact that there will be more ethnic uproars in the future. Ethnic groups of various kinds will seek autonomy and self rule from authorities that they will deem responsible for the mayhem they face.
There will be earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places…
Luke 21:11
(11) and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Another important sign that Jesus Christ speaks about pointing to His Second Coming is that Earthquakes will take place in various places. Today when one does a simple Google search on earthquakes, you will be amazed that earthquakes are on the increase and also averaging at 5.0 on the Rector Scale…
There are numerous earthquakes happening that websites that keep track of them now report earthquakes that happen above 5.0 on the rector scale. These earthquakes will not reduce but increase with magnitude even as we read in the book of Revelation until Jesus Christ appears in the sky with all His Glory…that event itself will be preceded by a strong and great earthquake…
The Seal Earthquake…
Revelation 6:12-14
(12) And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
(13) And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
(14) And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
The Golden Censer Earthquake…
Revelation 8:3-5
(3) And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
(4) And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
(5) And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
The Two Witness Earthquake…
Revelation 11:12-13
(12) And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
(13) And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The Trumpets Earthquake…
Revelation 11:15-19
(15) And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.
(16) And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,
(17) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
(18) And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
(19) And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
The Vail/Bowels Earthquake…
Revelation 16:17-18
(17) And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
(18) And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
So, it is important that we keep watch. The Lord communicates His end time signs through major earth convulsions below and signs in the heavens above. When major earthquakes take place, remember the sayings of Jesus Christ, that these will happen prior to His Second Coming – they are signs pointing to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ…
However, Jesus Christ spoke about famine and pestilences too. The world especially in the Third world has witnessed epidemics caused by pestilences unknown before like HIV/AIDS, Ebola. Yet millions were killed at the turn of the 20th century by global epidemics like Small Pox, influenza, Chicken Pox, etc…all these fulfilling what Jesus Christ had spoken that there will be pestilences as a sign to us that His Soon return would be close…
Revelation 6:8
(8) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.?
Hunger and famine are on the increase and will do so even during the Tribulation period that a price of bread will cost a person’s day wage… Already there are reports of increase in the prices of wheat globally that recently BBC News reported of uproars in Cameroon in Africa as people rioted because of the increase in fuel and food. We are to see an increase and continual occurrence of such riots and uproars.
Revelation 6:5-6
(5) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
(6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Global Hate and Persecution of Christians…
Luke 21:12
(12) But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake.
(13) It shall turn out unto you for a testimony.
(14) Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:
(15) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.
(16) But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
(17) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
(18) And not a hair of your head shall perish.
(19) In your patience ye shall win your souls.
Now this is a topic which many Christians hate to listen to. The reason being that they have been deceived by preachers and teachers who teach that Christians will not suffer and endure the Great Tribulation period and that they will “fly away “in a ‘secret rapture’ before the great tribulation. However, Jesus Christ also gave that to us as a sign pointing to His Second Coming.
A global persecution of Christians will certainly take place prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Brethren, yes, we better prepare spiritually, mentally, and even physically to endure that time of great global persecution of Christians. This period of time will require great patience.
The Bible clearly shows us that the Antichrist persecute the saints and kills many of them. Brethren, the Bible never self contradicts but always reaffirms truth in one portion of scripture to another portion of scripture. Daniel the prophet speaks of this end time global antichrist persecution of the saints, so does Jesus Christ, Paul the apostle and John in the book of revelation….
Antichrist makes war on the saints…
Daniel 7:21-22
(21) I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
(22) Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
There will be global hate towards Christians…
Matthew 24:9-10
(9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
(10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
We are appointed for tribulation…
1 Thessalonians 3:2-4
(2) And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
(3) That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
(4) For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Satan makes war against the saints during the Tribulation…
Revelation 12:17
(17) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Antichrist makes war against the saints…
Revelation 13:7
(7) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Saints come out of the great tribulation…
Revelation 7:13-14
(13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
There is certainly no confusion about if Christians (except if they are not saints) will not endure the great tribulation and persecutions coming ahead… It is clear that elect – the saints – the redeemed go through the great tribulation, they are persecuted, and hated by all nations for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Jerusalem shall be surrounded by Armies…
Luke 21:20-24
(20) But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.
(21) Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein.
(22) For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
(23) Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
(24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
A simple look at this portion of scripture above suggests that it has already been fulfilled and therefore no reason to look intently at what Jesus Christ was stating in the portion of scripture above. Most Theologians engage in debates on if Luke 21:20-24 is still relevant since the Romans surrounded Jerusalem in 70AD and Gentiles trampled over the Holy City. However, let’s take a look again at this important scripture…
We see Jesus Christ spoke on the following…
- Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies…
- Know that her desolation is near…
- Those in Judea should flee to the Mountains…
- Those in the midst of her should depart…
- Those outside the country should not return…
- These are the days of vengeance…
- That all that is written may be fulfilled…
- There shall be great distress upon the land and wrath upon this people…
- They shall fall by the edge of the sword…
- Shall be lead captive into all nations…
- Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the gentiles until time of the gentiles is fulfilled…
Certainly when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Romans in 70AD, there was an initial fulfillment of this important prophecy. According to the writings of Historian Josephus, Christians escaped Jerusalem when she was surrounded by Roman armies.
Also there was great distress on the land and the Romans used excessive force – great wrath upon the Jews and Pharisees who had put up resistance against the Romans. The Romans then killed thousands of Jews and took many Jews as slaves to Rome and other places. The Gentiles since then took control of Palestine and Jerusalem up until 1948 and 1967 were Israel regained “full control” of Jerusalem City.
However, questions remain as we closely look at the parameters Jesus Christ used in this prophecy as we look for its real fulfillment…
- Was there a fulfillment of ALL that was written at the 70AD event?
- Did all the prophetic scriptures we read of in Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and other Prophets get fulfilled at the 70AD event?
- Did the Antichrist appear then and set up his authority and blaspheme the Temple for 3.5 years at the 70AD event?
- Did Jesus Christ return the Second Time and setup His Kingdom?
So, we find that verse 22 is a parameter we cannot overlook for the fulfillment of this portion of scripture…
Luke 21:22
(22) For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
There is certainly going to be a final and complete fulfillment of Luke 21:20 were armies will surround Jerusalem once again and ALL prophetic scriptures will be fulfilled, and Jesus Christ will return to setup His kingdom and reign for 1000 Years.
Many Bible Prophecy students get perturbed as they see Prophecy being fulfilled twice in a number of instances in the Bible…sometimes in a partial fulfillment then in a final and complete fulfillment…
Yes, we see Jerusalem was surrounded in 70AD yet NOT ALL what was written was fulfilled then… However, we see in the book of Revelation that Jerusalem is surrounded again at the Battle of Armageddon and Christ returns and Prophetic Scriptures get fulfilled again… Then we see the Last time in the Book of Revelation again were Jerusalem is surrounded once again at the last rebellion and Prophetic scriptures in Revelation are all fulfilled…
It is like a pattern happening through History insofar as Prophetic scriptures are concerned. Take for instance prophetic scriptures concerning the Antichrist right in the Book of Daniel and Isaiah…
We see the Assyrian made a ‘Covenant of Death’ with Israel and it was annulled… Then we see the same pattern as Antiochus Epiphanies makes covenant with the Jews, breaks the covenant and attacks Jerusalem, desecrating the Temple and offering a pig on the alter… We see Titus with the Roman-Syrian armies surround Jerusalem and destroying the Temple…
However, we don’t see other prophetic scriptures like the rise of the Antichrist Global Kingdom and 666 Economics take place…
We are yet to see another final and complete fulfillment of the Prophetic Scriptures in which the Antichrist will come in with flatteries and make covenant with the Israel and in the middle of that 7 year covenant (70th Week of Daniel), the Antichrist will break covenant with Israel and declare himself to be God in the Temple – the abomination of Desolation…
History provides us with these clues as we see partial fulfillments or shadows of things to come… (I will deal with this in more detail in the 70 Weeks of Daniel article)…
I believe that Jerusalem will be surrounded once again by armies at the following Global Battles…
- Gog Magog Battle of Ezekiel 38, 39…
- Armageddon Battle of Revelation 19...
- Last Satanic Rebellion of Revelation 20…
However, in my opinion the ‘times of the Gentiles’ will come to an end at the Armageddon Battle… We see Jerusalem being placed on the table for division at the Middle East Peace Conferences taking place courtesy of the USA. Jerusalem is always a topic.
The Arabs want part of Jerusalem as their capital in their ‘New Palestine State’. So, the times of the Gentiles continuing to trample of Jerusalem are really not yet ‘over’ as some suggest…
Any peace agreement between Israel and the Beast global government will include concessions concerning Jerusalem… Remember also that the Antichrist shows himself in the Temple in Jerusalem as God and sets up the abomination of desolation…
It is clear that the Antichrist will come in with flatteries, false peace deals, and covenants, and then betray the Jews…
Daniel 11:21-24
(21) And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
(22) And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
(23) And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
(24) He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
We also note something remarkable in regards to Luke 21:20-24, and that is the existence of Jerusalem under Jewish control insofar as end time bible prophecy is concerned. If we are to see a fulfillment of Luke 12:20-24, with Jerusalem being surrounded by armies and ALL that is written being fulfilled including the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, then Jerusalem must exist and under the control of the Jews. Israel as a nation or an entity must exist and under Jewish control. Otherwise what is written in Ezekiel 38, 39, in Revelation and other unfulfilled prophecies in the Old Testament cannot be fulfilled.
However, in 1948 Israel became a nation and by 1967 the Jews had Jerusalem under their control after almost 2000 years in Exile. It is now possible during our lifetime that we see a complete fulfillment of what is written by the prophets in both the Old and New Testaments, with Israel and Jerusalem being central and major key player in this end time period.
Cosmic Events Signal the Immediacy of Christ’s Return…
Luke 21:25-28
(25) And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;
(26) men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
(27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
(28) But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
We see in the above portion of scripture that cosmic events signal the immediacy of Christ’s Return. It is when there appear signs in the sun, moon, and stars, coupled with distress of nations and roaring of the seas, then Jesus Christ appears in the clouds.
As I have noted before, the Bible never contradicts itself. We see a second and third witness of the same cosmic events that signal that Jesus Christ is coming any time… In each of the scriptures we note the following…
- Sun Darkened…
- Moon does not give its light…
- Signs in the Sun and Moon…
- Moon turned into Blood…
- Stars will fall from Heaven…
- Powers of Heaven Shaken…
- Heavens shall pass away with great noise…
- Elements shall melt with fervent heat…
- The Earth and its works shall burn up…
- Heavens depart as a scroll…
- Every Mountain and Island is moved out of its place…
- Voices, Thunders, and Lightening…
- Great and Mighty Earthquake…
- Cities of the Nations Fall…
- Great Hail…
The Sun turned dark and Moon into blood before the great day of The Lord…
Joel 2:30-32
(30) And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
(31) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
(32) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
After the tribulation of those days…the Sun is darkened, Moon stops giving its light, stars fall from heaven then Jesus Christ returns…
Matthew 24:29-31
(29) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
(30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
(31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
After the Tribulation of those days, Sun is darkened, moon stops its light, stars fall from Heaven, then Jesus Christ returns…
Mark 13:24-27
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
The Day of The Lord comes…Heavens pass away with a great noise…
2 Peter 3:10-12
(10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the 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.
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
(12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Day of the Lord – cosmic events, sun becomes black, moon becomes as blood, stars fall to earth…
Revelation 6:12-17
(12) And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
(13) And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
(14) And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
(15) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
(16) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
(17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Day of The Lord – Thunders, voices, lightening and a great earthquake…
Revelation 16:17-20
(17) And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
(18) And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
(19) And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
(20) And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
The Day of The Lord – Lightening, Voices, Thundering, Great Earthquake, and Great Hail…
Revelation 11:15-19
(15) And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.
(16) And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,
(17) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
(18) And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
(19) And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
We see that there is a consistency with various scriptures all giving us a picture of events that happen just before Jesus Christ returns. Cosmic events are the final signs we must watch for that signal the Immediacy of Christ’s return.
However, it is important to note that these cosmic signs take place after the tribulation of those days and not before… It is when the Sun is darkened and the Moon becomes like blood and stops giving its light, that Jesus Christ appears in the clouds and every eye will behold him.
When you see these things coming to pass, know that the kingdom of God draws near…
Luke 21:29-33
(29) And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:
(30) when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.
(31) Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.
(32) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.
(33) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Jesus Christ uses figurative language here but at the same time prophetic language that when you see a fig tree shoot forth, you know that summer is near. Likewise when you see these signs take place, know that the return of The Lord draws nigh…
Jesus Christ is speaking about the signs He mentioned above in Luke 21 pointing to His second coming. We are to watch for those signs otherwise if we don’t watch, then The Lord will come to us as a thief in the night…
- There will be great global deception…
- There will be wars and turmoil but this is not the end…
- There will be earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places…
- Global Hate and Persecution of Christians…
- Jerusalem shall be surrounded by Armies…
- Cosmic Events Signal the Immediacy of Christ’s Return…
- Jesus Christ returns in all His Glory…
Prophetically speaking, the ‘fig tree’ is symbolic of Israel and so Luke 21 symbolically speaking about the restoration of Israel as a nation. That when we see Israel-Judah become a nation once again, then we should know that that Generation will not pass away till all these things be accomplished.
We see in Jeremiah 24 that The Lord promises to bring back the good figs back to the land of Israel…
Jeremiah 24:5-7
(5) Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
(6) For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
(7) And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Notice in the verse above that The Lord promised to bring back the good figs and He would build them, and not pull them down, He would plant them and not pluck them up, and He would give them a heart to know Him and they will return to Him with their whole heart.
This scripture has never been completely fulfilled since Judah was plucked up again and taken back to exile in 70AD… Judah never returned to The Lord with their whole heart and yet this prophecy has to come to pass…
Therefore Israel/Judah the Fig Tree will have to shoot up again…they will have to be restored back as a nation once again. When we see Israel become a nation, we should know that this is the last generation that will see prophetic scriptures come to pass and behold the Second coming of Jesus Christ…
Israel became a nation again in 1948 and therefore this could very well be that generation that sees the return of Jesus Christ. It is time that we watch. As a matter of fact, watching is a command from The Lord Jesus Christ that we must obey… The Lord has given us all these signs pointing to His second coming and we should not be asleep as most of the church is today, caught up with worldliness and cares of this life…
Watch! Don’t be deceived with Worldliness and the Cares of this life…
Luke 21:34-38
(34) But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:
(35) for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.
(36) But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
(37) And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.
(38) And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.
This is a command from The Lord that we watch and not be taken by riches of this world with are just temporal. The day of The Lord will come upon many suddenly because they refused to take heed to The Lord’s command and watch.
We have many Christians who scoff at the second coming of Jesus Christ and many who are drunk with the lifestyle of the world that they are even offended at True Bible prophecy. Many Christians are simply concerned with getting the best job, best house, best car, best wife and kids, best this and that…
They always seek to go to the “next level”, they claim that they are rich and in need of nothing, yet before The Lord they are blind, naked, miserable, and wretched. Let us obey The Lord’s command and Watch. The reason there is so much deception in the Church is that Christians don’t watch; they don’t even know that Jesus Christ warned us about the great deception that would come in the last days prior to His coming…
Jesus Christ also tells us to pray that we be counted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man. Jesus Christ was not telling us to pray that we be “raptured” out of this place before evil comes…no way… Many Pre Tribulation preachers and teachers make the error by taking this verse out of context to support claims and doctrines not supported at all in the Bible…
What we see is that Jesus Christ was taking about was that we be kept from the great evil that will be taking place during that time, kept from the deception, and kept from falling away or the apostasy during that time. Notice in Luke 21 Jesus Christ tells us that when we see these things being to take place lets look up for our redemption draws near…
How shall we see these things if we are not here? Jesus Christ was not speaking to a vacuum. He was addressing the saints… Also when we look at other scriptures in the Bible concerning “being kept from evil”, we see that the context is to be kept from the evil one and not to be raptured out of this world before the bad things happen…
Matthew 6:13
(13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
John 17:9
(9) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
John 17:11-12
(11) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
(12) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:15
(15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
(23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All the scriptures above clearly state that the ‘keep’ here that The Lord spoke about is not to be ‘raptured’ out of here before the Tribulation but to be kept from evil and preserved through the Tribulation time. In other words The Lord will keep us from the evil, temptation, sin, and apostasy in the tribulation days.
In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
Uganda, Africa
