SIGNS OF THE TIME

1. SIGNS in Bible lexicon are omens revealing where we stand in prophetic calendar and what follows in divine agenda. For example, Noah’s Ark was a SIGN illustrating END of antediluvian world, “And God said unto Noah, The END OF ALL FLESH IS COME before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them. ... MAKE THEE AN ARK of gopher wood; ...” [Genesis 6:13-14] The Ark signalled destruction to a wicked world but to Noah, sanctuary of SALVATION, “But with thee will I establish my covenant; and THOU SHALT COME INTO THE ARK, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee” [Genesis 6:18] There were SIGNS in every age which to those who BELIEVE were as candles in the dark and to those who BELIEVE NOT, tokens of condemnation. A generation that fails to  identify SIGNS OF THE TIME is blind and lost, “WE SEE NOT OUR SIGNS: there is NO MORE ANY PROPHET: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long” [Psalms 74:9] Thinking the END should come in their time, the Apostles desired the accompanying SIGN, “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 THY COMING, and of the END OF THE WORLD?” [Matthew 24:3]

 2. FEAR is the ominous SIGN to this generation; never in human history had there ever been so much DISTRESS and palpable FRIGHT turned a common denominator to rich and poor alike. FEAR is the aroma of DEATH and HELL synonymous with perdition in those who have not Christ; as the world descends into paroxysms of FEAR, the whole world stands in terror of the fourth Apocalyptic Horseman, “... behold a PALE HORSE: and his name that SAT ON HIM WAS DEATH, and HELL FOLLOWED with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill ..” [Revelation 6:8] The world is terrified of a rogue asteroid smashing into the earth, a pestilence without cure, nuclear war, collapse of money and the list is endless, “... SIGNS in the SUN, and in the MOON, and in the STARS; and upon the EARTH DISTRESS OF NATION, with PERPLEXITY; .... MEN’S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the POWERS OF HEAVEN shall be SHAKEN” [Luke 21:25-26] What lies ahead are evidently frightening, yet not unexpected; the WISE understand the creeping shadows of horror and confusion as beacons of HOPE of imminent redemption, , “And when THESE THINGS begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and lift up your heads; for your REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH” [Luke 21:28] Those who know “THESE THINGS” yet give room to sundry FEARS slowly drift into a confused state of hopelessness and at grave risk of missing the mark.

3. FEAR is the SIGN to the world, as gathering of TARES to the Church, “The ENEMY THAT SOWED THEM IS THE DEVIL; the HARVEST is the END OF THE WORLD; and the REAPERS are the ANGELS. As therefore the TARES ARE GATHERED and BURNED in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world” [Matthew 13:39-40] TARES look so much like the real thing, having outward appearances of godliness but inwardly bereft of roots in TRUTH. As we see TARES coming together in BUNDLES, we know that the HARVEST of the earth is at hand, “... and in the time of HARVEST I will say to the reapers, GATHER YE TOGETHER FIRST THE TARES, and BIND THEM IN BUNDLES to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” [Matthew 13:30] TARES are coming out of their Church closets to reaffirm their roots in global inter-faith BUNDLES, giving proof to prophecy; the hour of the MAN OF SIN is here, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition” [2 Thessalonians 2:3] The frenetic pace with which respected Christian leaders are reaching out across many divides in the name of peace and unity, tell us the “FALLING AWAY” is in motion. Again, FEAR is palpable but TARES may only be discerned, refuse to be deceived by TARES in priestly robes, “BEWARE lest any man SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY and VAIN DECEIT, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” [Colossians 2:8]

4. SIGNS are for those who are called according to the purpose of God, even as Moses, “...  if they will not believe also these TWO SIGNS, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the WATER which thou takest out of the river shall BECOME BLOOD ...” [Exodus 4:9] THREE SIGNS were given to Moses and THREE to this generation; FEAR, TARES and the GOSPEL. Watch the SIGNS and take heed, in particular, to the THIRD, “And this GOSPEL of the kingdom shall be PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD FOR A WITNESS unto all nations; and then shall the END COME” [Matthew 24:14] Until recently it was impossible to preach the Gospel in all nations at the same time; satellite communication now makes it possible. Some indeed preach Christ for personal gain, others of contention and what have you, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether IN PRETENCE, OR IN TRUTH, CHRIST IS PREACHED; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” [Philippians 1:18] All three SIGNS point to imminent appearance of Jesus Christ and END of the present world, “Seeing then that ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE DISSOLVED, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all HOLY CONVERSATION and GODLINESS” [2 Peter 3:11] Now, is the time to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and prepare to meet your God.