Signs Of The Times

Recently, here in our area of the United States, we had a horrific crime to occur. This seems to be extraordinarily brutal in its nature. I’ll not attempt to go into all the gory details, but two young, beautiful people, male and female, were reported to have been beaten, brutalized, raped, their bodies mutilated, one body burned and other atrocities, too horrible to even report on. I’ll have to say, that in my long lifetime, I’ve never encountered such wickedness. It actually has affected my sleep and thoughts. Scriptures came to mind, that could parallel this atrocity: Judges 19: 1, 10 -12, 20-30 (Read about this horrible crime from your Bible, for sake of time.) I was relaying this information to one of our Church members in another area, and her husband stated: “It’s the ‘signs of the times’, in which we live.” An astute observation!

Are we living in unique and different Times?

Does God, in His Word, give us certain indicators or signs to look for, in this modern world (age), we live in? Yes, He does, in many places! Some of the terminology about these times, in which we live are “last days”, “latter days”, the end of the world”, “day of the Lord”, “last time’, “last hour”, etc. They prepare us, or warn us, of what to expect as this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4), draws to a close. Probably, the most quoted, commonly called the “Olivet Prophecy, is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21: Matthew 24:3 “And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?” Then Christ proceeded to give 6 specific benchmarks in this Gospel account, to alert us of the times, WE are living in! They begin with:

  1. Religious deception. Verse 4 “---Take heed that no man deceive you. 5. For many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ (preaching Christ); and shall deceive many.

    The Apostle Paul was inspired to write how they would be able to do this! II Corinthians 4:2. “But (we) have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation (revelation) of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3. But if our gospel (of the Kingdom of God) be hid, it is hid to those that are (being) lost: 4. In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

    Undoubtedly, Paul was encountering opposition from false ministers, who were dishonest, crafty and deceitful, to lead away people from “our gospel”, the true gospel. To whom, did these deceiving ministers owe their allegiance? II Corinthians 11:2 “----: for I have espoused you to one husband (Rev. 19:7-9), that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4. For if he that cometh ( probably a representative of the Babylonian religion, posing as a Christian minister.) preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit (not the Holy Spirit) which ye (brethren) have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” verse 13 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into (appearing to be) the apostles of Christ.” (Simon (Magus), of Acts 8, pretended to be the Apostle Peter.) 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” Galatians 1:6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” So we’ve been warned of “another Jesus”, “another spirit” and “another gospel”. False ministers are one of the things that we, of this day and age, are warned about.

  2. The second thing that would be on people’s attention would be wars and rumors of wars. Matthew 24:6 “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of war: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: --.” Aren’t far-off places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, filling our news media and even our personal conversations? Isn’t War, Destruction, Violence and Terror, the subject on most peoples mind, more than anything else?

  3. The next thing we were told to look for, is: “and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places” ( So far, the very worst and sorely afflicted areas, seem to be in places like Darfur, Africa and other third world countries. It’s such a major problem; it’s hard to just keep up with the reports! But many will try to avoid these things - they’re too unpleasant, and here in this country, we’ve got our own problems of obesity, it seems. Horrible plagues like aids and other sexually transmitted diseases are still rampant and spreading. Other imagination defying illnesses, such as the Asian Bird Flu, are still cropping up in places like China, Indonesia and other countries. In today’s papers, from “Associated Press” , February 1, 2007, it was reported: “Woman dies of bird flu in Nigeria; family member ill. Lagos Nigeria-- Bird flu has claimed its first human victim in Africa’s most-populous nation, killing a young Nigerian woman due to graduate from university and be married this year, -----” (For more information on bird flu see our NEWS SECTION).

    These great disease disasters follow on the heels of famine many times. There is a direct correlation in the two. And speaking of correlating; the first six things predicted precisely by Jesus Christ, in Matthew 24, (And as we mentioned, also, Mark 13 & Luke 21), are reiterated, in the same order, in Revelation 6: Revelation 6:2 ( first seal) “And I saw, and behold a WHITE HORSE: and he that sat on him had a BOW; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (1) Briefly, the “white horse” represents a false Christ, or false religion, that Christ said would be dominant at the “end of the world”. (This false Christ has a “bow” to conquer - the real Christ comes with a “sword”. (People become confused about this being the real Christ, because he is riding a “white horse”. (Rev.19:21). Next, would come “wars and rumors of wars”. (2) This equals the “red horse”, of the second seal of Rev. 6:4 “--and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” (3) Now, we have, representing the third seal in: Verse 5 “--a black horse; and he that sat on him had a set of balances (to weigh things, in rationing) in his hand. 6. ---a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not (be careful with it) the oil and the wine.” (Representing famine, then pestilence, as shown in Mt. 24:7)

  4. The fourth seal, shown by the fourth “pale horse”, reveals the terrible death toll occurring from these combined and horrible events to take place in these times, the times of the end! Revelation 6:8 “And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the field.”

    Following all of these things, Christ foretold earthquakes taking place in various locations around the earth. Matthew 24:7 “--, and earthquakes in various places. 8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Yes, the account in Revelation parallels these times: So included in all this death and destruction, I’m sure would involve earthquakes. (Revelation 6:12) Two or three of these strong quakes, have happened recently, beneath the oceans. Remember the powerful tsunamis, that took over one hundred thousand lives in Indonesia. Others have occurred off the Hawaiian Islands, lately. Seismologists are anxiously trying to predict when the next one will devastate another area.
  5. What did Jesus perfectly predict, would be the next thing to occur?

  6. As unbelievable as it might be to some peoples minds, MARTYRDOM of God’s true Saints is prophesied. Because they are faithful to the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD, this FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM, PALMING ITSELF OFF AS CHRISTIANITY will launch an attack on those True Christians. These are those, who refuse to submit to the false doctrines of that system, which in fact is a continuation of the BABYLONIAN MYSTERY RELIGION! We see it described as “the great whore” in Revelation 17:1 and “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”, in verse 5. Ask yourself: WHAT CHURCH CALLS HERSELF, THE “MOTHER CHURCH“? You know, it is the church at Rome!!

    These Saints believed God when they were admonished in: Revelation 18:4 “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying. Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues.” Jesus Christ predicted this coming Martyrdom in, Matthew 24:9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake.”

    Again, Jesus corroborates this again in Revelation 6. Revelation 6:9 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them: and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

  7. Finally, we come to the sixth major sign, Christ said to look for: Heavenly signs! Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars (meteorites) shall fall from heaven (the first heaven) and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” (Revelation 6:12--14) (Could involve the 2nd heaven where “space wars” may have been launched.) China, recently proved they could shoot down a satellite (their own), with a rocket, after four attempts!

6 Major Things that signal the Signs of the Times

So now, what do we look for in the morals, attitudes and characters of people - the normal, everyday person you may come into contact with? Even in the Church, the love that Christ said we were to have toward each other, (John 13:35) has and will continue to wane.

Look for false brethren and even false ministers to expand. Matthew 24:10 “And then shall many be offended (or cause offence), and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

I Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons. 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” These are some of the people, who once professed that they were True Christians and a member of the Body of Jesus Christ! Unbelievable as that seems, they have let this Satanic world overcome them, rather than overcoming the world ! It’s not something new! Notice II Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” II Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3. And through covetousness shall they make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (Acts 20:29,30)

Also, the average person of the world will continue to degenerate even more! II Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.” 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

I know that many will disdain or dismiss what I’ve told you, from God’s Word, that we are living and seeing the signs of the (end) times. But, in closing, even that is prophesied: II Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. 4. And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

 
The Church of God, New World Ministries P.O. Box 5536 Sevierville, TN 37864