RPG Adults
SIGNS OF THE END
LORD’S DAY, MARCH 6
Mark 13:1-13
Matthew 24:1-3
“…what shall be the sign when all
these things shall be fulfilled?”
SIGNS OF THE END
Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem. Not one stone will be left standing. The greater question of course is when will the world end? What are the signs that tell us it is near? When will the Lord Jesus return?
The Lord began by describing the world just before He comes back. These are the signs to look out for: (1) Religious Signs: false Christs and false prophets (Matt 24:4,11,24); (2) Military Signs: “wars and rumours of wars,” “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Mark 13:7,8); (3) Cosmic Signs: “great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” (Luke 21:11). According to the Rev Dr Timothy Tow, the vision of the first four seals tallies with the signs of Matthew 24:6-8—“The galloping of the four horsemen of peace, war, pestilence and death would be as seen in a circus, going and bobbing round and round (children love to ride these ‘playhorses’). So, until the Second Coming of Christ there will be cycles of the same throughout the world. This is not narrowly confined to the last seven years of the so-called Tribulation Week. To be exact, these cycles of peace, war, pestilence and death occur during the time period from Christ’s Ascension to Christ’s Second Advent” (Coming World Events Unveiled, 32).
Other signs of the end times are (4) Social Signs: persecution of God’s people, and destruction of the family unit, moral corruption (Mark 13:9). Then there is the (5) National Sign: Israel will be back in the Promised Land (the sign of the fig tree in Matt 24:32 cf. Jer 24; Joel 1:6,7; Hosea 9:10; see Isa 11:11,12; note, Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948), and attacked by the nations. Finally, the (6) Evangelistic Sgn: “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt 24:14). Jesus said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).
THOUGHT: Are you ready for the Lord’s return? It is nearer than you think!
PRAYER: (Pray you will always be alert and ready for the Lord’s return.)