THE SIGN OF JESUS’ COMING and THE END OF THE AGE

ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW THE SIGN OF JESUS’ COMING and THE END OF THE AGE?

Matthew 24:3, “And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Signs of Christ’s Return

Jesus and His disciples have been referring to, warning about and teaching about the onset of ‘The Last Days’ since around A.D. 30 to around A.D. 95. In fact, these same disciples clearly said the ‘Last Days’ had already begun around the time of Jesus’ birth, crucifixion, death and resurrection; and that the events of these last days, as symbolized by the breaking of the Tribulation Seals (specifically Seals ONE through FIVE), as spoken of by Jesus and related by John in the Book of the Revelation, would overlap and intensify.

Jesus is giving His disciples (and us, His disciples today) a review and an overview of what has occurred, is occurring and continues to occur and intensify in these last days.(see Matthew 24:4-14):

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.

SEALS #1, #2. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,

(Note: Political intrigue and upheaval, wars and rumors of wars have been occurring in intensifying in number, frequency and severity since the days of Jesus).

SEALS #3, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

(Note link: Famines and earthquakes have been occurring in intensifying in number, frequency and severity since the days of Jesus).

SEALS #4, #5. “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And, because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.

(Note: Severe persecutions, hatred for and the slaughter of Jews and Christians have been occurring in intensifying in numbers, frequency and severity since the days of Jesus).

But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

(Note: It is both interesting and important to recognize that Jesus’ instructions and teachings about the Last Days, and specifically The End of The Age, which occurred in A.D. 30 and which are recorded in Matthew 24, are spoken in the future tense.

(But, every other time Jesus and His disciples speak of these events from Matthew 24, regarding The Last Days and specifically, The End of The Age, they speak in the aorist tense. The aorist tense has no regard for past, present or future tense; i.e., “that which was, is now, and shall continue to be”. They have occurred, are occurring, and will continue to occur until the consummation of scriptures!)

This is also true of Jesus words, recorded by John in the Book of The Revelation.)

“The End of The Age”

Jesus, in His discourse to His disciples, has brought us up-to-date in our linear eschatological timeline.

It is at this point that Jesus re-introduces a term found in Matthew 24:3, which is previously used by the archangel Michael as a prophetic instruction and warning in Daniel 12:13, “But as for you (Daniel), go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

What Jesus is reiterating, saying and teaching is that Five of the tribulation Seals have been opened, (broken), are overlapping and intensifying, and that we are now standing at the brink of the SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL. The 6^th Seal is the beginning of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, and the beginning of the Seven Years of Great Tribulation: “A great tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again”, (Matthew 24:21; also, see the 6^th Seal from Revelation 6:12-14).

 TO WIT:

 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days, (‘the tribulation of those days’ is referring to tribulation seals ONE through FIVE which were opened in or around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95, which are overlapping and intensifying to this current day), (then) THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31).

The book of Matthew continues to warn, and rebuke believers (and non-believers) that we are in the Last Days and the End of The Age is perilously near and instructs us on what it means to be ready. You and I would do very well to take heed and prepare.

The Book of the Revelation lays out the terrifying details of the Wrath of the Lamb at the End of The Age and the horrifying judgments contained in Daniel’s Seventieth Week reserved for those who have not surrendered their life to God through Jesus Christ!

So, if you are a devoted follower of Christ, why should any of this concern you? Many churches teach that, as a Christian, you have a ‘get out of Tribulation free card’. While it is true that when the Trumpet of God sounds and Jesus appears in the air to gather His elect from the four corners of the earth, you will be spared the judgment reserved for those who do not bear the seal or mark of God and whose life is not recorded in the Book of Life.

But don’t be deceived. The finals days leading up to the 6^th Tribulation Seal are full of trouble and terrifying signs. Jesus tells us that ‘false Christs’ and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Christians need to know what is coming in order to alert all those who are susceptible to deceptions and will hear the Gospel and a way of escape to safety.

Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot and must not stand idly by, waiting for His return.

The Parable of the Slaves (Doulos) and Talents

Matthew 25:14-24, “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one, he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

 “Now, after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

 “Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’

 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Honestly. This makes me tremble. And I will say that if our doctrines teach that our righteous behaviors and deeds or lack thereof have no bearing on our eternity – please think again and be warned. We cannot ‘earn or salvation’ but our deeds reflect our faith and beliefs, and we are to work out our salvation with a righteous fear and trembling!)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

What it means to “Get Ready“.

I Declare that:

When I dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].

I say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!”

For He saves me from the trap of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.

He covers me and completely protects me with His Wings, And under His wings I find refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.

I am not afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.

A thousand of my enemies fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but no real danger ever comes near me.

I am only a spectator as I look on with my eyes and witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as I watch safely from the shelter of the Most High].

Because I have made the LORD, my refuge, The Most High is my dwelling place, No evil will befall me, nor will any plague come near my abode.

For God will command His angels in regard to me, to protect and defend and guard me in all my ways [of obedience and service]. They will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not [even] strike my foot against a stone

I tread upon the lion and cobra; the young lion and the serpent I trample underfoot.

God declares that:

“Because you set your love on Me, therefore I will save you;

I will set you [securely] on high, because you know My name and [you confidently trust and rely on Me, knowing I will never abandon you –  no, never].

 “You will call upon Me, and I will answer you;

I will be with you in trouble;

I will rescue you and honor you.

 “With a long life I will satisfy you and I will let you see My salvation.” (Taken from Psalm 91)