What Will Be The Sign Of Your Coming, And Of The End Of The Age?

What Will Be the Sign of Your Coming, and of the End of the Age?

—Matthew 24:3

Signs . . . signs . . . signs. Ever since the disciples asked Jesus this question, people have been looking for signs of His second coming. When I began in ministry, for instance, a book by Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, exploded the market place and sold millions of copies. Concluding that a biblical generation was forty years, Lindsey implied that since Israel (symbolized by the fig tree in Matthew 24:32) had become a nation in 1948, “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (v. 34). The implication was that Jesus might return by 1988 (1948 + 40)—but 1988 came and went without Jesus parting the skies.

And then there was the widely told story of an American hotel company that wanted to build a hotel on the summit of the Mount of Olives, but did not due to a fault line that ran through the mountain. This geologic discovery was assumed to be a sign of the Second Coming, because Zechariah had prophesied that when the Messiah comes, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, and it would “split in two, from east to west” (Zechariah 14:4). This story was repeated in sermons all across America. However, for the past few decades, anyone who has visited Jerusalem has seen the beautiful Seven Arches Hotel (formerly the Intercontinental Hotel) sitting proudly on top of the Mount of Olives and glistening each morning in the Middle Eastern sun.

Clearly, just like the disciples who asked this question of our Lord two thousand years ago, we are fascinated by signs of His coming. But you may not know that the Bible actually speaks of three major comings. First, the coming of Christ, born of a virgin in an obscure village named Bethlehem, was foretold centuries before the Baby was born. Next, the prophet Joel foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit, and that prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the believers, never to leave us and to empower us for service. The third and only major coming yet to be fulfilled is the return of the Lord Jesus to Planet Earth, His Second Coming. Just as surely as He came the first time, He has promised to come again for His bride, the church.

There are thousands of promises in the Bible, but this Second Coming will be the climax of human history and the fulfillment of the last promise of the Bible: “Surely I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20). According to Scripture, several events will herald Christ’s return, no longer as a Suffering Servant, but as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

WATCH FOR A POLLUTED PULPIT

Jesus indicated that, immediately before His return, “many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). There will be a turning away from the truth. As Paul said, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine . . . and they will turn their ears away from the truth” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). We are living in such a day. Denominations are dying, and many pulpits no longer preach that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, emphasis added).

WATCH FOR A PARTICULAR PLACE

The Bible says that before Jesus returns, before that greatest event in history takes place, the tiny nation of Israel will be reborn as a major player on the world stage. After all, God promised to “bring back the captives of My people Israel” into their own homeland (Amos 9:14). My generation has seen both the miraculous rebirth of the state of Israel and its remarkable rise to prominence as a world power. For the first time since the Babylonian captivity (about 586 to 538 bc), the children of Israel are ruling their own country from their capital in Jerusalem. After twenty-five-hundred years of exile, the Jews are back in the Holy City. And we have witnessed this miraculous sign with our own eyes.

WATCH FOR A PECULIAR PEOPLE

Many long centuries ago Moses shared with the people of Israel his prophecy that “the LORD will scatter [them] among the peoples” and they would find no “resting place” in the world (Deuteronomy 4:27; 28:65). But Ezekiel spoke of a day when God would “gather [His people] out of all countries, and bring [them] back into [their] own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). While there remains legitimate debate as to whether the modern, secular Zionist state is the biblical Israel that was foretold, the fact remains that unusual things are happening among these “peculiar people,” the Jews (Deuteronomy 26:18 KJV; Titus 2:14 KJV).

WATCH FOR A POWERFUL POLITIC

The Bible indicates that before Christ’s return, a powerful coalition of nations will emerge in Europe from the ashes of the old Roman Empire. Daniel referred to this as “the ten horns” of the ancient Roman Empire (Daniel 7:15–25). From this new world order will emerge the essence of a one-world power with a common currency. Sound familiar? This prophecy seems to be happening—today.

WATCH FOR A POPULAR POLITICIAN

According to God’s Word, shortly before Jesus’ second coming, an electrifying leader will emerge on the world scene. He is called the Antichrist (1 John 2:18). This charismatic leader and speaker will promise a world of peace. He will be filled with promises. He will speak of freeing the world of war and tout solutions to the world’s economic and political problems. Much of the world will follow after him. There have been many such leaders along the way, not the least of whom was Adolf Hitler in World War II. It could be that since Satan does not know the timing of the Lord’s return, someone is always on the stage who could fulfill the role of Antichrist.

WATCH FOR A PLURALISTIC PHILOSOPHY

The Bible predicts that before this climactic event of Christ’s return, a new religion will emerge that seeks to unite the world under one banner (Revelation 17:1–18). A new age of humanistic thought will seek to exalt man over Christ. This philosophy has already infiltrated the Western world through the media and much of the educational process. Pluralism is the new religion of the day.

Jesus said, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). In light of this verse and the events going on in our world today, it just might be time for Christians to stop looking for signs and start listening for a shout!

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18)

Q & A: “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” The stage is set for the only coming prophesied in the Bible yet to be fulfilled, the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not as a Suffering Servant but as a conquering King. At that moment every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord! The last promise found in the Bible is spoken by our Lord: “Surely I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20). Let us join John in praying the last prayer found in the Bible: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (v. 20).