These days, when people ask me why I’m so confident we are now in the End Times, I always say it’s because – when I study Christ’s words in His Olivet Discourse – I believe Jesus very clearly enlightens us to the SEASON of His return, when Christ answers the (all-important) question, posed by His disciples: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) Just the fact that this conversation – Christ's FINAL discourse, given on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Jewish Temple – is recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke, tells us its importance.
So, concerning this SEASON of Christ's return, in His Olivet Discourse, does Jesus give us a specific date or time? NO. Of course not. This isn't about sensationalism, as so many evil scoffers in the Church today would have us believe. This is about preparing Christ's Believers for something AMAZING; something that Jesus has been talking about, through His prophets, for a long, long time...ever since the Book of Genesis.
No, on the contrary, Christ is attempting to PREPARE you and me for His return. Why? Well, right off the top, I can think of three very good reasons:
Special Blessing. Christ said in His final Revelation that certain Believers who eagerly anticipate His return will receive special BLESSINGS, for taking the time to learn and teach others: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." (Revelation 1:3) So, to Jesus, this is a big deal. Especially, since most nominal Christians don't give two hoots about the End Times. Guaranteed...Jesus notices.
Assurance. For the same reason that 'Knowledge is Power', knowledge of God's Word builds assurance in God's future. Assurance in God's Word and Eternal Security in one's future with Christ are the keys to having Glorious Freedom in Jesus. Having confidence in Christ's plan for the future is a product of that assurance. So, for those assured in both their Salvation AND their eschatology...sleep tight, my little lambs.
Spreading the Word. By far, the most important aspect of understanding Christ's Olivet Discourse – and the current SEASON of His return – is sharing said information with others and answering their inquiries. In the end, ALL of this is about the Salvation of the LOST...both now AND after the Rapture. That's why it's so vitally important to know exactly what God's Word says concerning the End Times. That way, if you're unsaved friends began to have questions, you'll have all the answers, right?
So, Did Jesus Tell Us When He Was Coming Back? Absolutely! And He gave us MULTIPLE CLUES concerning His imminent return...in THREE parts: Timing, Signs and Prophecies.
Timing
When asked the timing of His return, Jesus first presented His disciples with the proverbial GOOD news/BAD news scenario. The BAD news? That the Temple, Israel, and Jesus Himself would in time all disappear. (Sure enough...within 100 years – by 135 AD – all three were gone.)
However, the GOOD news Jesus had for His followers surely made up for the BAD...that one day Israel would be miraculously reborn. Then, Jesus would return at the end of that first and FINAL Jewish Generation – a 70-80 year period – that would see the following PROPHETIC events:
Israel would AGAIN become a nation, fulfilling dozens of Old Testament prophecies, including Ezekiel 37 (AKA the Dry Bones Prophecy), which – once fulfilled – begins the countdown on one FINAL Jewish generation, before Christ returns to defeat Satan and the Beast, then start His thousand year reign on earth.
Israel gradually grows in strength (#7 world power)
Israel break God's original Abrahamic Covenant (by ceding part of Israel to Palestine, Jordan, and other Arab nations.)
Israel makes peace with their Arab neighbors (As of today, Donald Trump’s Arab-approved ABRAHAM ACCORD continues to attract more and more of Israel's Arab neighbors, in a collective program of PEACE, PROTECTION AND PROSPERITY.)
Instead of accepting Jesus Christ as their Messiah, Israel seeks after and accepts a powerful WORLD/MILITARY LEADER (Donald Trump) as their Messiah, not a SPIRITUAL leader. (Alas, Israel never learns from past mistakes.)
Israel AGAIN rebuilds their Jewish Temple, this time with Donald Trump’s assistance.
Israel is once AGAIN destroyed and dispersed (halfway through the 7-year Tribulation).
FINALLY, Israel accepts Jesus Christ as their Messiah God, leading to the miraculous Salvation of ONE-THIRD of Israel. (Zechariah 13:1, 8-9)
So...did you catch all that? Especially the part where Jesus says, once Israel is reborn (on May 14, 1948, THEN Jesus returns at the end of this current FINAL Jewish generation – yes, the one we are in NOW! – one Jewish generation removed from 1948.
Curious to the length of a Jewish “GENERATION”? Jesus wasn't. Recognizing Mosaic Law, Jesus cites the ONLY Psalm written by Moses – Psalm 90 – where the lawgiver establishes the "days of our lives" – the duration of a Jewish GENERATION – as 70-80 years; or more accurately, that a Jewish GENERATION cannot end prior to SEVENTY YEARS; yet cannot exceed EIGHTY YEARS. “The days of our lives are SEVENTY years; and if by reason of strength they are EIGHTY years…” (Psalm 90:10)
As well, we must take into account that God still needs to attach the FINAL 7-years of Tribulation (AKA Daniel's 70th "week") onto the end of this current 70-80 year generation, which means the Rapture of the Church MUST happen PRIOR to May 14, 2021. Or to put it another way...should the Church still be present on the earth come May 14th, then Jesus has BROKEN Mosaic Law by EXCEEDING an 80-year generation - originally established by God Himself - which is something that has NEVER before happened. And I don't see it happening now. Hey, you know me. I would NEVER foolishly name specific dates or times concerning the imminent Rapture. However, if you think the Church is going to be around after mid-May, I seriously suggest you rethink your plan.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. No, He has more compelling pieces of proof concerning the timing of His imminent return. As if anticipating that people in 2020 would be curious to the TIMING of His return, Christ reiterates the length of this generation by saying the occupants of this FINAL Generation will see the complete fulfillment of ALL unfulfilled End Times prophecy – from the rebirth of Israel to Christ's return – when He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till ALL these things take place.” (Matthew 24:34) Even now, there are people who recall Israel's rebirth in 1948. Per Christ's observation, some of these same people will also witness His return at the end of the 7-year Tribulation.
Finally – maybe only for those scoffers who are still in denial over Christ’s insistence that He’s returning soon after the rebirth of Israel – Jesus adds one more very important piece of proof, a simple so-easy-to-understand-that-a-child-could-get-it PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So, you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near…at the doors! (Matthew 24:32-33),
Even now, I can just hear Jesus reiterating the growing cycle and features of the Fig Tree: ‘Dormant in winter, the moment you notice LIFE in the tender branch – at the first hint of GREEN, followed by the leaves and fruit that grow throughout the SPRING – focus your attention on the Summer, when the HEAT causes some figs to PREMATURELY FALL (Harpazo! Rapture! Rapture!)...like the Celeste fig, whose name in Latin means HEAVENLY.’
Isn't it interesting that there are multiple harvests of the Fig Tree later in the year, yet Jesus alerts the reader to a “Summer” event – the early dropping of the FRUIT – prior to multiple harvests that we know represent Christ’s ultimate return at the end of the Tribulation, and the resurrection of the dead.
But this dropping of the fruit, in Summer? Do I have a hunch what that might mean? Yeah, I believe that’s the Rapture of the Church. Like the dropped Celeste fig. Heavenly.
Signs
In Matthew 24:8, Jesus used the Greek word ODIN (SIGN) to describe how He will use escalating chaos in this world, leading to the catastrophic events of the 7-year Tribulation, as a way to ALERT the world to what’s coming. Of course, in using this word SIGN, Jesus knew full well that ODIN (SIGN in Greek) also means SORROW and BIRTH PANGS. Thus, the SIGNS of the End Times, this gradually time of SORROW, will begin to come faster and faster, each time becoming more intense, until the “baby is delivered”. Like a woman in labor, right up until the Birth. Christ’s return.
For me, I didn’t actually begin following and studying the End Times SIGNS until May 2013. Looking back, it’s almost comical how little was happening eschatologically. Now, compare that with today…when it seems like EVERY HOUR we are now witnessing the SIGNS of the End Times.
I decided to sit down and – and off the top of my head – jotted down 17 SORROWS happening around the world, right off the top of my head…all of them getting worse by the day:
Trump’s DEAL OF THE CENTURY – which breaks God’s Abrahamic Covenant by ceding Israeli land to Palestine – is set to begin on July 1.
Worldwide pandemics with no cure. China has several more waiting in the wings.
Record-shattering locust plagues in Africa, Asia...and of this week, South America.
Hot, Hot Heat. Every month gets hotter than the one before.
Molecule-busting CERN is attempting to open a portal to other dimensions.
Increasing number of worldwide 6.5+ Earthquakes (including a 7.4 this week in Mexico.)
Israeli rabbis increasingly see Trump as their Messiah. Yeah, they say he doesn't need to be Jewish. Who knew?
Dead and dormant volcanoes now coming to life. They're back!
Global leaders seeking a one-world system of governance, through a vaccine implant, as a way to “control” future pandemics.
National guard and military called out throughout US.
Stephen Hawking said the world has an expiration date, around 2030. Guess he was pretty close, right?
Mass increase in incoming meteors; date set on one already expected to hit.
Ice caps melting; water/floods rising.
Massive die-off of sea life.
Threat of nuclear attack from several nations.
Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) threat even greater.
Common storms have now become massive; deadly.
EU is sinking like a stone and will require a financial Messiah (Trump) to bail them out.
My suggestion? Keep an eye on all of these SIGNS, and when you see them begin to escalate – as a woman in labor – know that the Rapture is close...like a newborn about to be birthed.
Fulfilled Prophecy
Of all the omens previously discussed, certainly the most convincing SIGN that we are now razor close to the End Times is predictive Biblical End Times prophecy. Specifically, the vast amount of predictive and quite detailed Bible prophecies now being fulfilled - all in amazing fashion - many of them were prophesied over 2,500 years ago.
Here are several such events – all in the process of being fulfilled, most in unbelievable and unprecedented ways – all have NEVER been fulfilled EVER before in the history of the world:
Apostasy of the Church. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the apostle Paul said one of the two SIGNS that the Rapture of the Church is close is the “falling away”, the apostasy of the postmodern Church, a prophecy we now can say has been fulfilled 100%. Half a century later, in Revelation 3:14-22, when describing the apostate church at Laodicea, Jesus talks in detail of this sickening final Church age that actually causes Our Lord to vomit them out of his mouth. Current Pew studies show rapid decline in Faith in Christ and Christianity, especially among the youth. It will continue to plummet. Churches are dying; closing everywhere.
Daniel’s Peace Treaty. We now know Donald Trump’s current DEAL OF THE CENTURY is the same peace accord spoken of by the prophet Daniel in his 70 WEEKS PROPHECY, where the prophet says in 9:27, that this “covenant” with many (Arab nations) is the very event that not only begins the final 7-years of Tribulation (AKA Daniel’s 70th “week”), but also begins the infamous DAY OF THE LORD (AKA the DAY), spoken of throughout the entire Bible...a period of time that includes both the 7-years of Tribulation and Christ's 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom.
Israel’s Breaking of the Abrahamic Covenant. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of what happens when God's Abrahamic Covenant is broken. “Hear the words of this COVENANT, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “CURSED is the man who does not obey the words of this COVENANT. which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God, that I may establish the OATH...” (Jeremiah 11:3-5)
Revealing of Antichrist. Aside from the APOSTASY OF THE CHURCH, Paul - in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 - said the OTHER SIGN the Rapture is about to happen is the “revealing” of the man who will soon be Antichrist. (This is not to be confused with the TURNING of the Antichrist by Satan, which comes later.) The prophet Daniel says the man who brings peace to the Middle East, that man is the Antichrist. "Then he [Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many [Israel and Arabs] for one week [seven-year Tribulation]..." (Daniel 9:27) To date, Donald Trump’s DEAL OF THE CENTURY has been approved, is scheduled to begin July 1, and is now awaiting Trump’s confirmation.
One-World Government. Wow, this one crept up on us out of nowhere, didn’t it? COVID19 (and other pandemics) has now created the perfect scenario for world governments to create a one-world system, under the guise of vaccinating and monitoring individuals GLOBALLY for safety. Only at this point in history do they now have the means and technology to do this. The still-in-trial Covid19 remedy by Bill Gates includes both inoculation AND microchip combo, for monitoring. As well, the Pope and other religious leaders are now aggressively pushing for a One-World Religion, under the cloak of ecumenicalism.
Gog and Magog War. In August 2016, for the first time EVER in history, Russia, Iran and Turkey allied with one another, for the express reason to attack and destroy Israel. Now, everything is ready. The Chess board is set. Just waiting for white to make his first move.
Rebuilding the Third Jewish Temple. Altar is already built. Red Heifer's been born. High priest is supposedly performing sacrifices INSIDE the Temple Mount. All Israel is missing is the actual newly-built Temple. Not to worry. It's coming...soon. Once the Church and the Holy Spirit are removed in the Rapture, building of the Temple will soon commence. Trump has already committed his assistance.
Destruction of Damascus. As the oldest city in the world, the Bible says Damascus will soon cease to exist. Since war in Syria has slowed of late, much of Damascus has returned to some semblance of normalcy. Fools gold! Isaiah 17 says Damascus will be reduced to a “thing of ruin”. Go and read that prophecy, then come back and tell me that's NOT a nuclear blast.
Notice, each of these major PROPHECIES is in the process of being 100% fulfilled? Exactly as God’s Word says…with many already unfolding in extraordinary fashion?
So, as you can see, when answering questions about His return, Jesus was never ambiguous, ambivalent or abstruse about the SEASON of His return. Remember, earlier in the blog, what Jesus said about watching for His return? “…when you SEE ALL THESE THINGS, know that it is NEAR…AT THE DOOR!” (Matthew 24:33)
So, do you see it?
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