250. SIGNS THAT HERALD CHRIST'S RETURN

"Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments ..."

Our previous two lessons have been under the theme of "Preparing for Christ". Once baptised, we set forward on a life of preparation, preparing ourselves to be worthy sons and daughters of God when our Lord returns. This preparation cannot be put off, as Christ's return is near. We can be thankful that God has left certain signs which herald this event. These signs are becoming increasingly obvious. Let us then be alert and ready for what will be the greatest event in our lives.

2 Timothy 3

JESUS WILL RETURN AND SET UP GOD'S KINGDOM.

When Christ ascended from the earth 1900 years ago, two angels gave a message to the watching disciples, "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). After healing the lame man, Peter taught those who gathered, God "shall send Jesus" at "the time of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets" (Acts 3:20,21). Both of these quotations plainly teach the return of Jesus. As Jesus personally walked the earth and was crucified, so he shall return personally from heaven with the power and glory of his Father at his command.

SOCIAL SIGNS THAT CHRIST WILL SOON APPEAR (2 Tim. 3:1-6).

Paul lists the characteristics of the world which would arise before the return of Christ (2 Tim. 3:2-7). These characteristics are becoming so obvious in the world in which we live.

"Men shall be lovers of their own selves", implying one who is not only proud but also one who believes in self expression and independence of view to the exclusion of God's ways. Jesus said we should deny self and follow him.

People shall be "covetous," greedy, or money lovers. Paul tells us that having sufficient for our daily life, we must be content. For the love of money he warns, is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:5-10).

They shall be "blasphemers", and the average Australian today certainly has no regard for the Bible or the existence of God. This lack of regard is shown by their insulting and disrespectful use of Divine titles in oathes and curses (swearing).

Children shall be "disobedient to parents", and today a family that is united is comparatively rare. The children of the world do not respect their parents nor heed their advice. In the schools of the world, young people are taught to question everything that they are told, and of course this does not breed trust or respect.

People shall be "trucebreakers" and today the company or person who honors a contract or agreement that results in hardship is rare.

"Despisers of those who are good" affects those who apply the principles of the Truth in their lives but who find that they are despised by their associates. This is one of our greatest trials, for when we do that which is good and yet are still despised by our fellows, we naturally find it hard to continue on and do what God requires.

"Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness" describes the many people who profess to believe in God, but who do not act out their belief. These have no sense of responsibility to the commands of Christ. They "play act" their profession of godliness. Today we have many church-going "christians" who can see no need to give up their worldly pleasures and entertainments. They may hear the word but they certainly are not "doers of the word" as James describes.

The warning for us is "from such turn away" (v.5). We who are called are the "ecclesia" or "called out" ones of God. We have been called upon to be separate from the world, socially and politically, and to have no part in what it has to offer. If we live in the world and partake of its pleasures, Christ says that we will partake of its sufferings. Surely great will be the anguish of those who have wasted their lives on passing fancies when faced with the dread judgment of Christ.

The abovementioned characteristics shall cause the last days to be difficult or even dangerous (perilous) for those who are attempting to live the Truth. When we look about us we see a world ripe for judgment. We know that we are in the last days. Jesus is about to return. The powers that be can find no way out of the world's problems, but that doesn't apply to us, for we have the answer. Let us continue in the scriptures of God, for in them alone there is hope of salvation (2 Tim. 3:15-17). There is the key to unlock the world's problems but the world, in its folly, chooses to ignore the divine solution.

POLITICAL SIGNS THAT CHRIST'S RETURN IS NEAR.

As a community, we do not take part in political affairs but we do take a keen interest in the movements of governments throughout the world. We can see a crisis developing which shall only be solved by the dramatic, personal intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ. This developing crisis is unfolding before our eyes exactly as Bible prophecy predicts and as our pioneer brethren anticipated over 130 years ago. We have held to the expectations of political events coming about, not because we have received any new revelation but because the Bible long ago painted a word picture of political events in the latter days that our brethren have studied and understood clearly!

Bible prophecy has predicted the following:

• The return of the Jews from dispersion (Ezek. 37:21; Jer. 31:10)

• The revival of Israel as a nation (Ezek. 37:22; 38:8-12)

• The rise and dominance of Russia over Europe and Asia (Ezek. 38; Dan. 2:40-44)

• The decline of Turkey in world politics (Rev. 16:12)

• The growth of communism and preparations for war (Rev. 16:13-16)

• The worldwide experience of war, violence and insecurity (Joel 3:9, 10; Luke 21:24-27).

THE RETURN OF THE JEWS (Jer. 30-33).

Many prophecies of the Bible predict the return of the Jews to their homeland and the establishment of their nationhood (e.g., Jer. 30:10-11, 18; 31:10-11, 15-17, 31-34; 32:37-40; 33:15-16, etc.). Although some of the prophecies describe the total regathering of the Jewish people when Christ is their king in Jerusalem, students of the Bible have believed that the Jews must be settled in the land, as a nation, prior to the second advent of Christ. On the basis of such passages as Ezek. 38:8, 11-13, 16; Zech. 14:1-3; Joel 3:1 brother John Thomas was able to clearly describe the settlement of the land, even when, in his day, the land was waste and desolate (see Elpis Israel pages 441, 442 published in 1848).

On June 8, 1967, in the "Six Day War" between Israel and her hostile Arab neighbours, Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem. This freeing of Jerusalem from Gentile control for the first time in 2,000 years is a wonderful sign that we live in the last days. The Lord said that "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Luke 21:24). In 1980 Israel declared Jerusalem to be their eternal capital city. We now live in days about to see Christ return to end the times of the Gentiles and to commence his thousand year reign of righteousness and justice from Mt. Zion, "the city of the great king" (Matt. 5:35).

THE RISE AND DOMINANCE OF RUSSIA (Ezek. 38; Dan. 2).

Eight hundred years ago, Russia was a tiny nation with a small territory of land near Moscow. Today the power of Russia dominates one-quarter of the entire land mass of the world, and about 40 per cent of the world's population. In 1903 its founder Lenin had 17 supporters. Today there are literally hundreds of millions of people under communism. The Bible shows that this mighty power shall arise from the lands north of Israel and together with its friendly nations, it shall sweep down into the Middle East. It shall appear to be successful in its efforts to gain world domination. It will be about to crush Israel out of existence but shall be prevented and itself crushed by the sudden outbreak of violent storms and earthquakes. The day of Yahweh will have arrived, and the great powerful colossus shall be destroyed by the stone power of Christ and the judgments of God shall sweep through the earth to subdue all nations to Christ's rule (Dan. 2:34, 35, 44, 45). Again our pioneer brethren could, by a study of Bible prophecy, confidently describe the rise and fall of Russia even at a time when Russia was populated mostly by peasants, e.g., "Elpis Israel", page 432 and preface.

THE WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE OF WAR, VIOLENCE

The prophet Joel predicted an enormous build-up of weapons at the time of Israel's regathering and just prior to the judgments of Yahweh (Joel 3:1, 9-11). This so-called "arms race" continues at a terrifying rate costing the nations countless millions of dollars and raising the very real prospect of the world destroying itself. We can thank God for the knowledge that He will never allow that to happen. When the nations are locked together in the fearful battle of Armageddon, God will "judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people".

The weapons of destruction shall be turned into agricultural equipment. The training of the armed services shall cease and where there was fear, panic and despair, Christ shall create worldwide conditions of peace and prosperity (Micah 4:1-4).

No man or combination of men today can solve the many national or international problems pressing in upon our world. The threat of nuclear warfare, the threat of terrorism, the population explosion and famine in developing countries, the twin problems of inflation and unemployment, the dangers of pollution, the breakdown of law and order in society and many other problems are beyond the means of solving by world leaders. These are days of violence and corruption, just like the days of Noah and Lot (Gen. 6:5, 11; Luke 17:26-30). But thankfully we can see all these problems as signs of Christ's coming. The nations experience fear and perplexity. There seems to be no way out of the tangle (Luke 21:25). But when Christ returns in power and glory the world shall realise their foolishness in trusting in man and shall be relieved and amazed to see the perfect and permanent solutions to all the worrisome problems they had experienced. But only those who are "left of all nations" shall see the wonderful changes in store for the world. The Kingdom of God shall be built on the ruins of the kingdom of men and many thousands of people shall be slain and destroyed when God arises to shake terribly the earth. The judgments of God shall be severe and just for only when this ungodly world is forcibly disciplined shall it learn righteousness (Zech. 14:16; Isa. 2:19-21; 26:9).

LESSONS FOR US:

As we look over the broad span of history and particularly the events of today, we see the nations doing those things which God foretold in the Bible. The exactness of the Biblical record should convince us, that, as the situation of the world today is clearly indicated in the Bible, so this situation shall exist prior to Christ's return and God's Kingdom. God has shown by the prophecies which have been fulfilled, that what He has yet in store for the world He surely will fulfil.

How we can prepare for Christ:

Learn what is required of us. Repent, by changing our ways. Not doing as we please but allowing God's Word to guide our ways. Be baptised. Continue to grow and develop in the things of God so we can eagerly await Christ's appearing. May our Lord find the faith in us when he returns soon to make the message of hope contained in the phrase, "the good news of the kingdom," a glorious reality.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas)—part third, chapters 3-5

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Vol. 2, pp.116-139

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Itemise the characteristics of society as described by Paul in 2 Timothy, chapter 3.

2. Summarise what political events would lead up to Armageddon as described by the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel.

3. The signs of the times indicate that Christ's coming is near. What does this mean to you personally?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the characteristics of the perilous last days as defined by Paul in 2 Timothy, chapter 3.

2. How do the political signs of Israel and Russia assure us of Christ's return?