Lesson
11
Signs
of the Endtime
IV. Signs of the
Endtime
The 24th chapter of
Matthew is of great significance when looking at the endtime. Jesus' disciples
asked him privately while sitting on the Mount of Olives, "Tell us when
shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end
of the world?" (Matthew 24:3).
Jesus answered and
outlined several things of major consequence that would happen in the last
days. People can now understand from the fulfillment of many of these
Scriptures that the time of the coming of the Lord is drawing near. Before
enumerating these happenings, He gave a severe warning saying, "Take heed
that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4). Listed below are the events as
Jesus spoke them:
"Many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many" (Verse 5).
There are hundreds of
different types of religions today, from Eastern religions to watered down
denominationalism; from radio and T.V. voices to staid beautiful
cathedrals. A person can easily be deceived and led astray if he does not have
a basic knowledge of the Word of God. "Take heed that no man deceive
you." Jesus said, ". . .the truth shall make you free."
"Wars and
rumours of wars" (Verse 6). "For nation shall rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom" (Verse 7).
The population
explosion to almost 4-1/2 billion people has made it much more difficult to
feed the masses of people. This situation is compounded by the most
extraordinary weather the world has ever known. Record dry spells have been
recorded in many places, while floods have ravaged some normally dry lands.
With drought has come famine to many areas of the world. Never since the
beginning of time has there been so much frustration in endeavoring to feed the
world.
"Earthquakes
in divers places" (Verse 7).
As the earth becomes
older and as modern man with his technical knowledge experiments with the
earth, the fault lines seem to become more severe. With this movement, within
the earth's surface, earthquakes have become more numerous. Many leading
geologists and seismologists claim there will be more highly severe earthquakes
in the days ahead.
"Eating and
drinking" (Verse 38).
Another phenomenon of
this last day is the number of eating and drinking places that have sprung up
everywhere. On one street ten years ago there were two eating places, and today
there are sixteen plus two taverns.
"Marrying and
giving in marriage" (Verse 38).
In America, the
divorce rate has risen to about 50% of the marriages. This is not just true in
the U.S. but is true in many nations of the world. The signs
listed above relate to the populace, who will go on in their normal pursuits of
life, thinking things will always go on as before. They will not be aware that
Jesus is coming soon. Paul wrote to Timothy about the perilous conditions of
the last days giving several signs of that day which is to come:
"For
men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce
breakers, false accusers, incontinent, (not restraining the sexual appetite),
fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers
of pleasures more than lovers of Cod, having a form of godliness but denying
the power thereof" (II Timothy 3:2-5).
Paul then
gave a direct warning, "From such turn away."