One thing about the entire end times teaching since Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth is that we have heard so much of it, we tend to ignore it. I suppose the main reason for this is our lack of patience. It has been 43 years since his book was released, and I’ll grant you, that is a long time. From another perspective however, it isn’t long at all.
My son was born in 1967 and my daughter was born in 1970. It seems like yesterday to me. So much has transpired over those years it is mind-boggling. In that time consider how far air travel, including space travel, has progressed. Consider the advances in medical knowledge. What about computers and the Internet? The weather seems to have gone berserk since those days. Any thoughts on the changes in our government? What about communication? Has anyone considered the decline in morality and the increase in crime? These are just a few things to think about.
Probably the number one place to keep our eyes fixed is Israel and the Middle East. The cork could blow from that bottle at any time.
Take a moment and consider the prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled, to the letter. One of those many prophecies I pay close attention to is the apostasy of the last days that is prophesied.
Living all my life in the Bible belt, I suppose I have been somewhat sheltered to the lifestyles in other parts of the country. Even yet, I never dreamed that Satan would get such a foothold in so many local churches. False teachers have saturated the local churches and airwaves like roaches coming out when the lights are turned off.
Many churches want nothing to do with any teaching on prophecy. How can that be? At least a third of the Bible concerns prophecy. Do we just pick and choose what we want to hear or teach? Obviously so.
Children look forward to Christmas with great anticipation. I’ll give you three guesses why and the first two don’t count. Christmas time to children is about presents. Face it. That’s the way it is, and that’s fine. They’re children.
The Rapture to the church is our Christmas time. Our one present we’re waiting to receive is the return of our Savior to take us home. He says is so wonderful that it is beyond our imagination. Why are so many, who say they are His, not interested? Why have others shown much interest in the beginning, but now have lost interest?
Those who say that Jesus lives in their hearts, but are not excited about His return, may need to re-consider their salvation issue with God.
Those who have lost interest may be “fair-weather friends.” They’re there for the exciting beginning, but can’t last for the long haul. They too may need to re-consider their salvation issue with God.
How can either group be so nonchalant about Jesus? Whether we finally get to meet Him in death or the Rapture is an exciting thought.
And then there are those who, as the turtle, just keep looking for Him while working for Him, not wavering to the left or the right.
Is Jesus coming back or not? Does a politician lie? We all know the answer to that. Here’s the real news. Jesus does not lie. He said He will return, and return He will. He has been very gracious to us by giving us signs to look for. These signs are all around us.
Folks, I don’t know when, and neither do you, but we both know that time is running out for this world. Based on the information Jesus has provided, His return must be close. How close? I don’t know, but I’m willing to wait and keep looking, because each day is one day closer than the last. In the meantime, we need to be warning those who will listen. There may not be many, who will listen, but someone eventually will, and that someone is important.
The return of Christ in the air for His church, the Rapture, is the next major event to happen on God’s calendar. Following that are the final seven years promised Israel, which we commonly call the Tribulation. Following the Tribulation is Christ’s second return to the earth and then His thousand-year reign upon this earth, which we call the Millennium. Following the Millennium is eternity with Him.
You’ll notice that I haven’t really gone into very many signs in this article. I have done so in the past, and many others have too. The signs are there. Just open your Bible and look around. They’re very plentiful. Only the spiritually blind could miss them.
The important thing to remember is “What did Jesus say?” He said He would return. I repeat again that He has said basically, “Look for this and that to happen.” They’re happening. He said they would be more plentiful and more severe the closer it gets to His coming. Now get this. There are no signs for the Rapture. All the signs are for the Tribulation, which follows the Rapture. If we are seeing the signs now that pertain to the Tribulation, how close is the Rapture?
Will that day ever come? He said it would. Will it be today, tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year? I don’t know, but He’ll probably come when we least expect it.
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)
These two verses are referring to Christ’s Second Coming, at least seven years after the church is removed from the earth in the Rapture. The world at that time will not expect it.
By the same token, it is my opinion, that when Jesus comes earlier for His church (Rapture) many will not expect it, but it is going to happen. It is my opinion that it will be soon, but that is just my opinion. He will come when He is ready, but yes, that day will come.
Grant Phillips