What is a biblical sign? The short answer is an event, symbol, place, or person whose existence or occurrence indicates something vital in God’s plan for the longer term.
Importantly, these signs are identified in Scripture. They don’t come from people’s opinions or fortune-cookie interpretations. Rather, they’re mortared into the very bedrock of God’s Word.
Jesus referred to Himself as an indication: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, after which all of the tribes of earth will mourn, and they’re going to see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).
Our Lord actually scolded the Pharisees and Sadducees because they were tired of the signs of the times:
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees got here, and testing Him asked that He would show them an indication from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it’s evening, you say, ‘It might be fair weather, for the sky is red;’ and within the morning, ‘It might be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how one can discern the face of the sky, but you can not discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:1–3).
What Are the Signs of the Second Coming?
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke each contain a sermon, often known as “The Olivet Discourse,” during which Jesus presents an inventory of signs that describe the longer term of the world.
Here are six critical signs contained in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse:
1. Deception by false Christs (vv. 4–5).
2. Disputes and warfare amongst nations (vv. 6–7).
3. Disease and famine worldwide (vv. 7–8).
4. Deliverance of believers to tribulation (v. 9).
5. Defection of false believers (vv. 10–13).
6. Declaration of the gospel to the entire world (v. 14).
These six signs cover the primary three-and-one-half years of the Tribulation and coincide with the Book of Revelation. But while these signs might be fulfilled within the seven-year Tribulation Period, they are going to not start on a dime. They will construct up over time.
Paul reminded the Thessalonians that the Rapture would come as a thief within the night —unexpectedly, quietly, and suddenly.
Using the identical figure Jesus utilized in the Olivet Discourse, but with a unique sense, the apostle wrote:
“But in regards to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have got no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief within the night. For once they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3).
What Should We Know about These Signs?
What Jesus wants us to know is that this: the six signs which might be going to occur in the longer term is not going to be all-of-a-sudden experiences. They might be like birth pains, with the frequency and intensity of every event regularly increasing.
When we observe that pattern on this planet, we’ve discovered the key to understanding the signs of the times.
As we study these verses in Matthew 24, three things must be apparent to us.
First, Jesus wants us to review the longer term. Jesus was within the habit of preparing His disciples for upcoming events even during His days on this earth.
As we’ve seen, He made some extent of telling those around Him a few of the things they might anticipate in the times ahead.
So don’t let anyone let you know that Jesus didn’t hassle in regards to the future or that He was tired of prophecy. The facts say otherwise.
If the longer term was a very important subject to Jesus, it must be vital to us too!
Second, our Lord’s prophetic ministry transforms us so we’ll have the option to satisfy the longer term. Jesus said, “These things I even have spoken to you [about the future], that it is best to not be made to stumble” (John 16:1).
In other words, “Men, should you grasp what I’m telling you in regards to the future, you won’t fall throughout yourself. You won’t fall into the trap of running around in panic mode when you have got no reason to be in panic mode.”
Third, the signs of the End Times will help us trust our Savior — assuming we listen. If you have got put your faith in Christ and have spent significant time within the Word of God, tough times could be like a magnet that attracts you to the Lord.
The Lord Is with Us
Nothing goes to occur, ever, that may catch Jesus Christ by surprise. He is in a position to help His children work through anything, and never a single thing goes to occur in the longer term that may change that fact.
Jesus told His disciples that on this planet they might have tribulation. What we frequently miss is what He didn’tsay.
Jesus didn’t say, “In the world you’ll have tribulation but I even have overcome tribulation.” No, Jesus said, “In the world you’ll have tribulation, but I even have overcome the world.”
Jesus does not only overcome the event. He overcomes the environment during which the event occurs. Therefore, we are able to trust Him.
Jesus involves us within the midst of the struggle, when the battle is sort of unbearable and the circumstances look inconceivable.
In the voice of absolute certainty, of power and strength beyond imagining, He speaks to us of peace and provides us the encouragement we want. He raises our morale and fills us with strength.
Taken from The Great Disappearance: 31 Ways to be Rapture Ready by Dr. David Jeremiah. Copyright © 2023 by Dr. David Jeremiah. Used with permission from Thomas Nelson.
To learn more, visit Perhaps Today.
For further reading:
What Do We Know in regards to the Second Coming of Jesus?
What Does Parousia Have to Do with Jesus’ Second Coming?
Why Is God ‘Like A Thief within the Night’?
What Did Jesus Mean That We Will Have Trouble in This World?
What Is Tribulation? Bible Meaning and Significance
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Daniel Christel
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The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and don’t necessarily reflect the views or positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
