Second Coming of Christ

Matthew 24:3-8 (NIV)

“Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains. 

In the first three verses of Matthew 24, note that Jesus’ disciples asked Him three questions---(1) when will the Temple be destroyed, (2) what will be the sign of His coming again, and (3) what will be the end of this age?  He answered question 1 in Luke 21:20 that was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Roman army destroyed the temple and all of Jerusalem (interesting fact---the Roman Coliseum was built with the spoils and plunder from the destruction of Jerusalem).  The remainder of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 gives His answers to questions 2 and 3.  

In verses 4-8 above Jesus mentions at least four general signs that will precede His coming……(1) false Christs, (2) wars and rumors of wars, (3) unusual disturbances in nature including famines, and (4) earthquakes.  Since these phenomena have occurred in every generation since He spoke these words, theologians and fanatics have predicted that in whatever generation they were living, Christ would be returning then.  This generation is no different. 

Seven is a popular Biblical number.  In Revelation, describing the Tribulation, there are seven seals (chapters 6-7), seven trumpets (chapter 8-11), and seven bowls (chapter 16).  In my files—although I do not have a reference and could not find one readily with a Google search (although there are many websites with similar warnings)---there are seven signs of the end times.  I personally like these reminders as they seem to capture all that is written Biblically about the end of the world

1.   Signs of Israel—its rebirth in 1948 and the world’s political focus.

2.   Signs of society—plummeting morality, self-centeredness, disobedience.

3.   Signs of the environment—increase in earthquakes, famines, violence, war.

4.   Signs of technology—explosion of knowledge, travel, computers, satellites

5.   Signs of false teaching—cults, apostasy, new age, evil viewed as good.

6.   Signs of nations—increased centralization of world financial and political power

7.   Signs of the gospel reaching the whole world—TV, computers, missions

It would seem that fulfillment of Biblical prophecy is closer today than ever, but we just don’t know.  All anyone can do is choose to believe that the Bible is true and be certain that you are ready to meet the Lord, whenever that is, whether today or many years from now.