Look up! The Signs of the End Times

Ever since Jesus ascended into Heaven and took his place at the Father's right hand, we have been waiting for his return and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Truly, we do not know when this will happen, but we were promised that it would be "soon." Now, 2,000 years may seem like a long time, but we have to look at time the way God does. If a thousand years is like a single day in Heaven, then we are only just beginning the third day since Jesus left. God is being patient with us, giving us time to complete the Great Commission of spreading the Gospel across the whole Earth. But also, we can already observe that the countdown to the last days has begun. 

Satan has tried to destroy the Chosen People, and he was thwarted by God's plan. Instead, the Nazi Holocaust elicited the world's sympathy so that the state of Israel was established in 1948. It seems likely to me that this event has begun the generation that will not perish until God's plan for the arrival of his Kingdom is achieved. We know, according to the Bible, that the span of a man's life is 70 years, or 80, depending on his strength. So, will God tarry beyond the lifetimes of those first born as children in the land of Israel? I don't think so. The final events will begin before they are too old to witness the fulfillment of his promises. 

Steps to mark the progress of God's plan:  

1. Aliyah - return of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland.

     - Antisemitism seeks extermination 

     - the State of Israel is reborn

     - the Hebrew language renewed 

     - archaeology proves their claim 

2. Alignment - all of Israel's neighbors ally together to push the Jews into the sea. 

     - Arab military attacks 

     - Islam vs. Judaism 

     - International opprobrium 

     - Adonai defends Jerusalem each time 

3. Anticipation - the desire for peace brings forth treaties, but not peace. 

     - Egypt, PLO, Jordan 

     - Saudi economic agreement 

     - ceasefire is not real peace 

4. Gospel - Go unto all nations and tell them the Good News of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. 

     - radio, television, missionaries 

     - walls are coming down 

     - tyrants try to oppose this 

5. Conversion - many around the world shall choose to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah. 

     - Israeli Christians & Messianic Jews 

     - China, India & Russia hear the Gospel 

     - resistance & persecution increase 

     - lies and deception spread 

6. Preparation - plans to rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. 

     - training & tools assembling 

     - breeding for red heifers 

     - selecting a site to build 

     - architecture & blueprints 

     - Treaty allows construction 

7. Antichrist - The Enemy is revealed, as prophesied from the beginning. 

     - Antichrist becomes the world leader 

     - "World Unity" is declared 

     - Mark of the Beast (global economics)

     - kaffirs (all who dissent) are persecuted 

     - Antichrist declares himself Divine.

     - Abomination of Desolation. 

8. Desolation - the continuing of any sacrifices and offerings shall be forbidden. 

     - both Jews & Christians restricted

     - Antichrist (Mahdi) in the Holy place 

     - plagues and tribulations befall Earth 

     - armies converge on Megiddo plain 

9. Jerusalem is surrounded by enemies 

     - threatened with destruction 

     - many casualties suffered 

     - great earthquake splits Mt. Moriah 

     - evacuation of the remnant 

10. Our King Returns! 

     - His return is visible to everyone 

     - all of Jesus' enemies defeated 

     - post-war clean-up requires 7 years 

Let's be vigilant and keep our lamps filled with oil. Jesus may be coming soon, suddenly and without warning. We hope for the Rapture, but the timing is unclear. The wars of Antisemitism continue because the final destruction of the Jews would mean that Allah has defeated the Trinity and invalidated Adonai's promises. The Arab and Muslim nations may not be the only ones to seek to destroy Israel. 

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Apophis was the great Serpent, the god of chaos and darkness. He was the enemy of Ra, the god of the Sun, light, and life. We have always been trying to escape the slavery of Egypt and go up to the Promised Land. Then, when Jesus came to free the captives, He was releasing us from demonic possession. This War of Light versus Darkness clearly has a repeating pattern for those with eyes to see.

     - We call Satan the great "Serpent." 

     - A comet called Apophis threatens us. 

     - Apophis returns on April 13, 2029.

     - Is this the time for Antichrist? 

Satan comes with signs and wonders so as to deceive the unwary. Perhaps he will claim to have averted catastrophe.

Jesus said that no one knows the time of his return, but He did say that there would be signs in Heaven and on the Earth.

     1. Wars & rumors of war 

     2. Jews regathered to the Promised Land

     3. Gospel will reach all the world 

     4. Total eclipse of the Sun 

     5. Comets 

     6. Sun dim with blood & Moon darkened 

     7. Earthquakes 

     8. New star in the sky 

We are not sure of the expected order in which these will occur, but as we see them, they should reassure us that history is proceeding according to plan.