The Second Coming of Christ – Part 3 Signs of the Times

Signs of the Times

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I  am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will  come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”         John 14:1-3 (NIV) 

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “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  Messiah,’ 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.”        Matthew 24:3-8 (NIV)

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the  angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”     Matthew 24:36 (NIV) 

1 . Increase of . 

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death,  and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will  grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”       Matthew 24:9-13 (NIV)

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”  

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)

My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I ride a Mercedes, my son rides a Land Rover, and my grandson is going to ride a Land Rover. But my great grandson is going to have to ride a camel again. Why is that he was asked? And his reply was, “Hard times create strong men, strong men create easy times. Easy times create weak men, weak men create difficult times. Many will not understand it, but you have to raise warriors, not parasites. And add to that the historical reality that all great empires … the Persians, the Trojans, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the  Romans, and in later years the British … all rose and perished within 240 years. They were not conquered by external enemies, they rotted from within.”

Worldwide . 

Worldwide . 

1 . Increase of the . 

1970: 1.2 billion Christians 

2020: 2.6 billion Christians 

2022: 698,975 conversions 

1990: 52% of world in extreme poverty 

2017: 16% of world in extreme poverty 

2022: 9.2% of world in extreme poverty

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that  causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand.”     Matthew 24:15 (NIV)

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a  secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there,  and knowledge will increase.”           Daniel 12:1-4 (NIV)

Increase in . 

Increase of .

“I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So,  I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?” But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what  I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified,  cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness,  and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.”              Daniel 12:8-13 (NLT)

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of  God and speed its coming.”     2 Peter 3:10-12 (NIV)

1 . Follow , not .

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the  Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So, you also must be ready, because the  Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”       Matthew 24:37-44 (NIV)

2 . Make an eternal difference with our lives.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to  perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”                    2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

“Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are  you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them:  “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and  you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to  the ends of the earth.”   Acts 1:6-8 (NIV)