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Study to show thy self approved - Bible Course

 Course   Lesson 14

The Signs of Christ's Return

Before leaving this earth to return to his Father, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) told his disciples that he would return.
 

When questioned by his disciples as to the 'sign' of his return and the end of this age (Matthew 24:3) the Saviour spoke of the signs (conditions) that would prevail on earth just prior to his coming; conditions which we believe are now here. This lesson is about those signs which lead us to the inescapable conclusion, that the return of Jesus Christ is very near "even at the door" as the Bible puts it.

Prophesied in literally scores of passages throughout the Scriptures, taught and parabolically explained in the most vivid and varied of ways, the return of Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah) to this earth will be one of the most breathtaking and glorious events ever to be witnessed by the sons and daughters of men. Its awesome significance to believer and unbeliever alike completely dwarfs all other considerations put together. And yet, strange as it may seem, the vast majority of human beings are quite oblivious - some willingly - of this fast approaching event. Even genuine believers in the Messiah, who ought to be tirelessly preparing for His appearance, are woefully ignorant of it. And so the gushing torrent of unpleasant news that pours forth each day from the news media is as much a mystery and terror to them as it is to a little child. No doubt many people correctly sense that the international situation is worsening and is so explosive that it could result in the annihilation of the human race. But why this is all happening and how it will be stabilized remains a complete mystery to them.

As a result people everywhere are sickened with the barrage of bad news that is broadcast each day and are going to great lengths to insulate themselves against it. And so we have multitudes turning to cheap thrills and soul destroying entertainment in a frantic effort to get the most out of life. "Eat, drink and be merry," they say, "for tomorrow we may die." The results of this sad trend are only too obvious.

These lessons have been designed to counteract that drift - for the Christian believer at any rate. If they are acted upon, the net result will be to spiritually orientate the student towards the reality of the coming King. This lesson in particular will act as a kind of survey map of the difficult terrain over which this generation is travelling. Using Bible prophecy alone, it will highlight the Signs of the Times which all point to one climactic event in the near future - the return of Yeshua the Messiah, the Saviour of the World!

Bad news as a consequence, though obviously unpleasant, is paradoxically also a cause for hope; for as Christ so plainly said:
 

With that encouraging thought in mind, let us now examine what the Bible has to say about world events just prior to the Master's return. If you are copying out the texts referred to in these lessons, as advised at the Course Introduction, then you are about to have your eyes opened to the most amazing array of prophetic facts that the Scriptures contain. For the Bible is the Word of the Almighty God, written over 1900 years ago, telling of events that are taking place in the world. today

The Messiah's Promise to Return

To begin with there is the Master's own promise to come back. It is seconded by angels and prophets alike.
(John 14:1-3, Acts 1:10-11, Revelation 22:20, Titus 2:13)

The Great Warning

Our Lord went on to warn his followers that there would arise "false prophets" and "false Christs" who would possess miracle-working powers (verse 24); powers which could easily be mistaken for the power of God Himself. Surprisingly enough these bogus prophets were to correctly proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, which is what he is. He is the Anointed One, the Messiah. So in this respect they are proclaiming the truth.

Why then does the Saviour call them "false prophets?" The answer is simply this. These wonder working preachers, though conscious of the fact that Jesus is the Christ, are nevertheless workers of iniquity. That is the crux of their falsehood. They are blatant sinners (commandment breakers), deliberate and persistent opponents of the divine law that defines iniquity. Yeshua refers to them in another passage in these words:
 

Yes, that is the arena of their deception. They are "workers of iniquity." They say Lord, Lord, but do not obey the commandments. Iniquity is in fact blatant and persistent transgression of the commandments of God. (1 John 3:4)

And so to YOU comes the great warning, "Take heed that no man deceives you"; for miracle-backed deception is the first sign of Christ's return to earth. This warning is dramatically portrayed in the White Horse (the 1st Seal) of Revelation 6:2, Matthew 24:4-5&24.

Signs in the Political World

"There shall be wars." This prophecy does not, of course, refer to the thousands of mini-squabbles and hand-to-hand battles of past ages, which we all know have taken place since the dawn of human history. Instead it refers to the earth-encompassing revolutions and wars of the 20th century; to world wars involving hundreds of millions of people, wars which could annihilate "all flesh" from this planet. Here, in fact, is the Red Horse (the 2nd Seal) of the Revelation riding forth to take peace from the earth. Its rider wields a huge sword which is the symbol of war.
Yes, world wars are a sign of the Saviour's return to earth.
(Matthew 24:6-7, Joel 3:9-17, Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 6:4)

Signs in the Natural World

"There shall be famines." The net result of all natural disasters, be they earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, droughts, tidal waves or unusual weather patterns, is the shortage of food. The shortage of food and the subsequent rise in food prices, is already the number one problem facing many governments. Famine - world famine - with food selling at unbelievably high prices is the Black Horse (the 3rd Seal) of the Apocalypse.
(Matthew 24:7, Luke 21:25-26, Revelation 6:5-6)

Signs in the Medical World

"There shall be pestilences." This means disease epidemics in human beings, domestic animals and fish; and even in the food producing plants that are grown throughout the world. "Pestilence," the Pale (sickly coloured) Horse of the Revelation will strike unimaginable terror into the hearts of entire populations and all the efforts of medical science will stand helpless before it. Mankind has yet to learn that "Yahweh is not mocked," that blatant sin always brings disease and desolation in its wake; and that no sooner has one virus been controlled when others, far more virulent and deadly, will take its place. AIDS is merely one pestilence. Others will follow.
(Matthew 24:7, Revelation 6:7-8, Psalm 91)

Signs in the Social World

A more accurate pen-picture of modern man can scarcely be found; and to think that it was written over 1900 years ago. It is but another sign of our Lord's return.
(Matthew 24:12, 2 Peter 3:3-7. Also read Romans 1:18-32 where the Apostle Paul describes how unbelief and antagonism against truth causes Yahweh to hand society over to all kinds of confusion and sexual debauchery)

Spiritist Manifestations

Millions, the world over, are becoming strangely fascinated by the supernatural powers of heathenism and its many occult outlets. Voodoo, witchcraft, magic, fire-walking, necromancy, divination and astrology are all manifestations of evil spirits. In a very subtle form Spiritism has even entered the Churches. Indeed the Charismatic Movement's peculiar aversion to God's Law and its infatuation with a bogus glossolalia (speaking in tongues) proves that its wonder-working powers originate more often than not from Satan rather than from Yahweh the God of Israel. This massive deception is exposed in Lesson 20.
(Matthew 24:24, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Revelation 16:13-14)

Signs in the World of Knowledge

Here indeed is an unmistakable sign that we are living in the Time of the End; for in almost every department of learning, especially in the understanding of Bible prophecy, knowledge has increased considerably. It has been said that over 90% of all the scientists and inventors that were ever born are alive today. Just pause awhile and consider that amazing fact. It means that an enormous increase in knowledge has taken place in our generation, proving yet again that we are living in the "time of the end."

Persecution of Yahweh's True Followers

Persecutions have existed ever since the day when Cain in a fit of jealous anger killed his brother Abel. What is meant here, therefore, is not that persecution will start - it had already started in the Saviour's day - but that the intensity and range of persecution would increase to hitherto unknown dimensions. It would be world wide! Such a persecution has already begun in some countries. It is scheduled to spread over all the earth.

"You shall be hated of ALL nations" said the Master.

True believers should, therefore, not be unduly surprised when that kind of persecution reaches this country - as it surely will. We are happy to report, however, that Yahweh's Church has been promised divine help in that terrible hour; help that will come in direct proportion to the measure of the trial to be faced; help that will enable the believer to overcome the very worst that Satan can do. We thank Yahweh for this. Matthew 24:9-10. Rev. 6:9-11, Rev.12: 14-17)Persecution is the 5th Seal of Revelation. It follows close after the Pale Horse (the 4th Seal).

Signs in the Heavens

This is a sign the whole world is soon to witness. It is the sixth seal of Revelation. It will be a celestial display beyond anything the world has ever seen. When it happens it will appear as though our entire galaxy is disintegrating as millions of meteorites hurl themselves in all directions. Peoples of all nations will react to this sign with terrifying panic and every soul on earth will begin to realise that the end of this age is at hand.
(Luke 21:25-26, Jeremiah 4:23-28, Joel 2:30-32, the 6th Seal in Revelation 6:12-17)

The Antichrist

Strange as it may seem, Jesus Christ will not return to this earth at the 6th Seal. The 7th Seal has still to be opened. At the 7th Seal the Antichrist will make his appearance. The Antichrist is also called the Lawless One, the Man of Sin, the Son of Hell. He is the visible manifestation of Satan the Devil. And so:

• On the one hand we have the Christ, the Son of Righteousness, the One who obeys Yahweh's Law, the personification of holiness (obedience), the express image of Yahweh the Almighty God.
• And on the other we have the Antichrist, the Man of Sin, the One who disobeys Yahweh's law, the personification of sin (disobedience) and the express image of Satan the Devil.

Using many dazzling miracles and awesome manifestations, the Antichrist, when he appears will win the allegiance and adoration of nearly all the world. No one except the commandment-keeping followers of the God of Israel will oppose him. He is called the LAWLESS ONE or the MAN OF SIN because the main thrust of his hatred is directed against the Law of the Most High, the law which defines Yahweh's will, the law which regulates the government of the mighty universe. The Antichrist vainly imagines that he can change that law. He doesn't succeed of course, but he completely deludes himself and others into thinking that he can.
 

Did you notice that? "He thinks that he can change times and laws. The laws being referred to in this verse are Yahweh's Sabbath laws; for they are the only ones that involve the element of time. The Antichrist will imagine that he can change Yahweh's Sabbath law. The Sabbath, as we have learned in the previous lesson, is Yahweh's Signature, the eternal memorial token or sign of the perpetual covenant between Him and His people. The Antichrist vainly imagines that he can change the Almighty's Sabbath days! So great is his popularity and power and so complete his deception that almost all the inhabitants of the world believe his lie and begin to keep his bogus Sabbaths and festivals. These bogus religious holidays then become Antichrist's symbol of authority, his own signature - his MARK! (See our lesson on the Mark of the Beast where this subtle deception is exposed.)

The reign of the Antichrist is a short one, for he will meet his end at the return of Jesus Christ. The following passages in Scripture describe his meteoric rise and fall in the most striking way.
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation 13, Revelation 19:11-21)

The reader will have noticed that throughout this lesson Christ's description of the events prior to his return have been matched at each step with one or the other of the Seven Seals of the Revelation. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he gave to the Apostle John for the benefit of the whole Church is, in fact, a symbolic portrayal of the same events described in Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21. The chart will outline the Seven Seals of the Revelation. It will also help you to orientate yourself in "time" and to know just what to expect in the near future. Now is a good time to begin reading the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible.

  Course