Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

 

SIGNS already Fulfilled

Introduction

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is described as, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7) Christ will come:

Personally - 1Thess 4:16

Literally and visibly - Acts 1:11; 1Jn 3:2; Rev 1:7

In Glory - Matt 16:27; 24:30; 25:31

In Power - Matt 24:20

With Angels - Matt 25:31; Rev 5:11

With Ten Thousands of His Saints -Jude 14

Quickly - Matt 28:7, 8; Rev 22:7, 12, 20

Unexpectedly - Matt 24:50; Lk 21:34, 35

This aspect of Christ's second coming is also known as Christ's return WITH His church.

However, there is another aspect of Christ's return. This aspect is taught clearly in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18. It is known as Christ's return FOR His church where the believers who have died in Christ will be resurrected from the dead (called the First Resurrection) and those in Christ who are alive when it happens will be caught up (also known as the Rapture). The latter will be with Christ and the resurrected saints in the air and then Christ will bring all to heaven to be with God.

Our focus of the fulfilled signs is on the latter.

 

A. Some of the Major Prophetic Events that will precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ FOR the church include:

The Gospel will be preached in all the world - Matt 24:14

There shall arise false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders – Matt 24:24

A Falling Away - 2Thess 2:3

Identity of the Antichrist revealed - 2Thess 2:4, 7-9; 1Jn 2:18; Rev 12, 13, 17 (this takes place immediately after the Rapture)

One World Church - Rev 13:8

Days of Noah and Lot - Matt 24:36-41; Lk 17:26-30

 

B. Events Fulfilled Already

1. The Gospel preached in all the world -- Matthew 24:14

a. By the year 2000, the clarion call of the Ecumenical Movement was to present to the Lord Jesus Christ a birthday cake. Sixteen years after that birthday "bash", the Christian world is now at the brink of ushering in the end time one world spiritual leader known as the Antichrist. With modern technology like the internet, the gospel has already reached the world many times over. The Bible does not say that all on earth will believe and become believers.

 

b. Matthew 24:14 (KJV), "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." The gospel "shall be preached in all the world" and it has. This will be the witness unto all nations that Jesus Christ alone saves. To those who receive Christ's salvation, they will be saved. To those who reject, they will remain condemned, for they are already condemned even before Christ's death and resurrection.

 

2. There shall arise false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders -- Matthew 24:24

a. The false christs and false prophets are before our very eyes, if only we have eyes to see. False christs are those who call themselves Christians but do not portray the Christ of the Bible by their teaching, practices and way of life. These false christs appear to promote Christ by their evangelism and fervency but because the "Christ" they show to the world is not according to the teachings of the Bible, they are called false christs by Jesus Christ Himself. They are not like the anti-christs who attack Christ by attacking the Bible such as saying that the Bible has mistakes. False prophets are those who "prophesy" future events that are additions to the Bible. Their so-called prophecies are not true but figments of their imagination to deceive the gullible. Both the false christs and false prophets are not true believers. They may think they are but they are not.

 

b. The message of these false christs and false prophets will be backed up by great signs and wonders. These are very potent signs energized by Satan himself. Which movement today is known as the Signs and Wonders Movement? The answer: The Charismatic Movement! Their history is divided into three main headings:

The Pentecostal Movement (began in early 1900's);

The Neo-Pentecostal or Charismatic Movement (after 2nd World War and with advent of TV); and

The Third Wave Movement or Neo-Charismatic Movement (late 1980's).

 

c. Satan is a powerful Devil. After permission was given by God to afflict Job, Satan sent the Sabeans to slay the servants and take the asses. He also sent fire from heaven to burn up the sheep and servants and they were consumed. He sent the Chaldeans to slay the servants and take the camels. He sent a great wind to destroy the house in which Job's seven sons and three daughters were feasting, thus killing all of them with one single blow. He finally afflicted Job with sore boils which totally incapacitated him so much so that Job had to sit on ashes to ease the pain and scrape himself to find relief (cf. Job 1-2).

 

d. Satan is also called an angel of light (2Cor 11:14). These false christs will appear as ministers of the gospel, calling themselves pastors and Christians while they paddle their evil goods. They will attribute what they do and experience to the Lord Jesus Christ. They will use Christian jargon to mask their cleverly disguised agenda, i.e. to draw as many as possible after themselves. The false prophets are no different. Using the name of Christ they will presume to know the future. Their "prophecies" will be very general and at times they may have the semblance of fulfillment. The deluded will be taken in lock, stock and barrel. Will they have a part in God's kingdom?

 

Jesus says, "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 which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)

 

e. There are three main epochs of signs and wonders in the Bible.

i. The first was in the days of Moses when the Lord had to demonstrate His power to a people who had forgotten Him. Their 430 years of bondage in Egypt had numbed the people of Israel to forgetfulness. They needed to be reminded of the covenantal relationship they had with Jehovah. The covenant was first established in the days of Abraham, and continued with Isaac and Jacob (also called Israel) and his 12 sons.

 

ii. The second epoch was in a time when Israel had fallen prey to a syncretistic worship of Jehovah. They had not forgotten Jehovah as such but they worshipped both Jehovah and Baal together. This was an abomination in God's sight. Prophets like Elijah and Elisha were sent to demonstrate the clear distinction between Jehovah and Baal. Israel cannot worship Baal because it is a false god. Only Jehovah is the One living and true God.

 

iii. The third epoch of miracles was the most powerful of the three. But the hearts of the people of Israel were extremely stubborn. They were filled with pride. Jesus and His apostles performed miracles never seen before. All of them were real and the healings were all instantaneous (except when Jesus wished to take a longer time to heal, as in the case of the blind man in Mk 8:23-25). This is contrasted starkly against the shams and deceptions of today's miracles claimed by the Charismatics.

 

iv. As prophesied by God, the only signs and wonders that will occur in the future will be just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. And it will come from the Evil One. It will be to deceive the gullible and blind masses. We see this happening before our very eyes.

 

f. The anchor in which we evaluate all signs and wonders is the Word of God. Deuteronomy 13:1-4 (KJV), "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass,whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."

 

3. A Falling Away -- 2Thessalonians 2:3

a. The name for "falling away" is "apostasy." It is a reference to the Christian church that will fall away and reject the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings. It cannot refer to other religions. The other religions are already under condemnation and in total darkness. It means that Christianity will retain its name but lose its heart and soul, i.e. its essence and power to save through the preaching the gospel of Christ according to the Bible. Another gospel will be preached by apostate churches. All who believe in this gospel will not be saved even if they think they are!

 

b. The World Council of Churches (WCC -- founded 1948) convened and celebrated her 50th anniversary in 1998. This movement has already garnished to her side the majority of the mainline denominations. They will continue to gain ground. The purpose is to have a one world religion. It will succeed as the Word of God has prophesied. The Ecumenical Movement is another name for the WCC. The Roman Catholics are now official members. They have been observers since the completion and publication of the Vatican II Council in the 1960's. Based upon the Vatican II Council, the heart of Roman Catholicism remains unchanged (i.e. their doctrines remain the same). But their approach toward the Protestants has "softened." The Protestants are called "separated brethren" whereas before they were regarded as heretics. People from other faiths are called "hidden brethren".

 

c. In 1994, about 20 so-called evangelical Christians and 20 Roman Catholics co-authored and co-signed a paper that stated that evangelicals and Roman Catholics are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. They are not to be witnessed to. Instead both sides are to witness together so that the world may come to know Jesus by this unity. In 1997, a follow-up paper was drafted by about the same candidates who drafted the first. This paper tried to patch up the loopholes found in the first. The paper highlights their position of what the gospel message is.

 

d. On 2 August 1999, in The Age (a Melbourne newspaper), Dr George Carey, the archbishop of Canterbury, a leader of 70 million Anglicans, cast doubts on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He said, "we cannot know whether Jesus rose from the dead."

 

4. One World Church -- Revelation 13:8

a. The one world church with her one world system of government will come to pass as the Bible prophesied. No one can prevent it from happening. It is not our task, therefore, to prevent it from coming to fruition.

 

b. What is our duty then? Our duty as Bible-believing Christians is to warn people so that they will not be caught in the trap of unbelief. The price is eternal damnation! Many of the para-church groups like Campus Crusade for Christ and Navigators are contributing to the kingdom of the antichrist. Come out from among them immediately! 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV), says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

 

5. Days of Noah and Lot -- Matthew 24:36-41; Luke 17:26-30

a. What were the days of Noah like? Genesis 6:5 (KJV) says, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:11-13 (KJV) further adds, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."

 

b. What is our world like today compared to Noah's and Lot's time? The immorality and depravity we see around us is worldwide. Homosexuality and fornication are rampant. Marriages are breaking down. Most children in America have more than two parents. The world is fast catching up with this new trend. This is largely due to the Hollywood movie studios that churn out millions of minutes of footages on sordid sex and violence. The glamorization of such sinful acts has moulded a generation of Satanic worshippers who find great delight in committing such sins with impunity (cf. Rom 1:21-32). Their hearts are hardened. Today's generation is numb to fornicators living together. Homosexuality is catching up and will become the accepted norm as well.

 

C. Events to be Fulfilled in the Future before the Second Coming WITH His Church

The Abomination of Desolation will stand in the Holy Place - Matt 24:15

The Great Tribulation - Matt 24:21; Rev 6, 8-9, 11, 15-16

Darkening of the sun and moon, and stars fall from heavens - Matt 24:29; Acts 2:19-20

Identity of the Antichrist revealed -- 2Thess 2:4, 7-9; 1Jn 2:18; Rev 12,13,17

Battle of Armageddon - Rev 16:15-21

 

D. Events that will Take Place AFTER the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

The Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet condemned to the Lake of Fire - Rev 19:19-21

Satan cast into the Bottomless Pit - Rev 20:1-2

Separation of the Sheep and the Goats - Matt 25:31-33

The Millennium - Rev 20:1-5; Isa 11:1-9; 65:17-25

The Millennial Temple - Ezek 40-48

Satan Released from Bottomless Pit to deceive the World one final time - Rev 20:7-9

Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire to join the Beast and False Prophet - Rev 20:10

The Great White Throne Judgement or Bema - Rev 20:11-12, 15

Emptying of Hell - Rev 20:13

Destruction of Hell and Death - Rev 20:14

New Heaven and New Earth - Rev 21:1 - 22:12

 

Conclusion

The primary purpose of prophesies is that God's people who are in the light will not live in darkness. We must be awake when the Lord comes. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-10, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

 

Luke 12:54-57, "And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when [ye see] the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. [Ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

 

These eschatological signs are given by our loving heavenly Father to all His children who have eyes to see and ears to hear! They are warning signs to us so that we will not be deceived. We need to warn our loved ones and friends today, for some of these signs have already been fulfilled, which means the day of the first resurrection and rapture is very near. It will happen suddenly. As children of light we must not be caught off-guard like those who belong to darkness. Let us examine our lives in Christ now. Stop loving the world. The life of a child of God is more than meat and drink. It is a life of holiness lived in light of God’s holy and precious Word.

May Jesus Christ return soon! Amen.