What Does the Bible Says About the Signs of the Return of Christ?
We should not be surprised in the happenings of today. Jesus warned His disciples and us of the signs of the times before the Return of Christ. These are the End Time prophecies. We need to remember that Jesus told us these things were going to happen so we might have peace. Remembering that our body is in this world and we are going to have persecution and tribulation but we need to be of good cheer and remember that Jesus Christ had overcome the world and so shall we.
The message about the signs of the return of Jesus can be found in Matthew 24:1-54. The conversation of the things that must happen before His return Jesus had with His disciples. This transpired just before He was to be crucified. There were many things Jesus wanted to warn His disciples about. That means they are our warnings as well.
Jesus sat upon the Mount Olive (running north- south for 2 1/2 miles. The range overlooks Jerusalem from the east, across the Kidron Valley; this is where Jesus will return at His second coming). The disciples came privately to him and ask Jesus to tell them the signs of the end of the world and the signs of His second coming. Their specific questions were: “Tell us, when these things shall be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus told them there is no need to write down the times and the seasons, because the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. The rally cry will be peace and safety, then there will be sudden destruction just like the travail that comes upon a woman that is with child, and there will be no escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). Jesus cautioned the disciples; take heed that no man deceive you. (Matthew 24:4).
Other warnings on deceiver that can be found in Scripture
Beware that you don’t let any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the principles of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8). Philosophy is the love of wisdom it is those concepts that man knows more than the Bible, the Word of God. Vain deceit is the empty vain words that contain nothing. It is those people who brag of their faith as a superior awe-inspiring possession, yet their actions do not produce fruits of the faith only vanity that has no purpose. Do not be tricked or deceived by the traditions of men. Remember just because the majority of people are practicing the traditions of old, such as tarot card readings, or speaking to the dead, even reading the horoscope for personal gain; any habit, custom or practice that goes against the LORD God you should avoid.
Let no man beguile you of your reward in voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. (Colossians 2:18). Let no man defraud or deceive you or deprive you by influence of trickery, flattery, misleading, or charming you to desire to like something or be fond of a deep sense of moral littleness of yourself so that you become worthless to yourself and others around you. Also do not be deceived or told it is acceptable to practice the worshipping of angels. Avoid the desire to be interested in or investigate into those things which you have not seen. The warning continues to warn against vainly puffed yourself up or making yourself so proud by your fleshly mind or your animalistic tendencies which suggests depravity. It is these “fleshly mind” things, or the natural worldly nature of man, that can lead into a sinful nature and that is opposed by the LORD.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. We are not to be partakers with the disobedience and those who deceive with vain words. We need to remember there was a time in all our lives that we were in darkness, we were blind and ignored the things belonging to the LORD God. Now we walk in the light of Jesus Christ as children of light. This means we have the fruit of the Spirit in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving or testing to see if a thing is genuine or not. (Ephesians 5:6-10).
We are not to believe every spirit, or person claiming to be from the Lord, but we are to examine whether they are of the LORD God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Here is a huge warning; we are to know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of the LORD God. Equally every spirit that does not confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of the LORD God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that the antichrist should come; and even now already is it in the world. It is important to remember we belong to the LORD God and have overcome the world; because greater is He that is the Lord Jesus Christ that is within us than the antichrist that is in the world. We are of the LORD God and know that the LORD God hears us the world does not hear us. We need to love one another; for love is of the LORD God; and every one that loves is born of the LORD God and knows the LORD God. Those who do not love do not know the LORD God; for the LORD God is love. (1 John 4:1-8).
Again 2 John tells us there are many deceivers are entered into the world, who does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. We must be careful we do not lose the things which we have labored for that we receive a full reward. Those who abandon and does not remain in the doctrine or teachings of Jesus Christ does not have the LORD God. Those who remain in the doctrine of Jesus Christ have both the Father and the Son. If there is anyone that does not receive this doctrine of Jesus or the teachings of Jesus, we are instructed not receive him into our house neither teach them nor speak with exceedingly joy or rejoicing. If we receive those people who do not uphold or believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we greet them and come into communion or fellowship with them then we equally become partakers of their evil deeds. (2 John 1:7-11).
For many shall come in the name of Jesus, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:5). Jesus reminds us that He comes in the name of His Father, and many did not receive Him; if any one comes in his own name, then the world will receive that person. (John 5:43).
Jesus told the disciples that there would be wars and rumors of wars; but they should not trouble anyone, because all these things must come to pass, but the end is not then. For nations shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famine, and pestilence, and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:6). There have been many wars and with the approach of the World wars that generation believed it could be the time Jesus was talking about. There has to be other signs also to consider.
The prophet Haggai reported the LORD speaking to Zerubbabel (one of the builders of the 2nd temple) concerning End Times saying the LORD will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and destroy the strength of the kingdom of the heathen, and will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them the horses and their riders shall come down every one by the sword of his brother. (Haggai 2:22). The turning of brother against brother would be the beginning of the sorrows.
Jesus also spoke of the beginning of sorrows saying there would be many delivered up to be persecuted and many shall try to kill you; and you shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. (Matthew 24:8-9). Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (Matthew 10:17). Remember how Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12). Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:10-11).
I cannot remember any other time in history when Christians have been so hated, I have never seen a time when there are so many betrayal being committed upon members of families. The violent brutal acts being committed by innocent children by their parents or family members is way out of control. The family values have all but disappeared fathers are divided against their sons, son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Just like Luke 12:53 tells us it is going to be. Luke 12 continues to tell us we recognize the signs that happen before the summer storms but we cannot see when we are in End Times.
We have been warned by our Lord Jesus Christ before his Crucifixion and death about the signs we should look for in these End Times. Jesus forewarned us there would be false prophets among the people and false teachers, who privately bring damnable heresies (disunion), even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1). The lies today about our Lord Jesus Christ has so distorted Jesus and His character no one can even recognize Him as the Son of God, our Savior, or even the Messiah.
Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times, or End Times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1). Because lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold. Those that endure to the end, they shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13). You shall be hated of all men for the sake of Jesus Name; but those that endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10:22). 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. Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, (whoso reads let him understand). (Matthew 24:14:15).
We need to make sure our relationship, faith and love for the LORD God is in a place where we can be sustained and ready for the hardship and the persecution and tribulation that is coming our way. We know if we endure to the end we shall be saved. We are not better than Jesus we have all been baptized in His name and we shall die in His name, or be Raptured in His name. We need to remember that Jesus told us these things were going to happen so we might have peace. Remembering that our body is in this world and we are going to have persecution and tribulation but we need to be of good cheer and remember that Jesus Christ had overcome the world and so shall we.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “What Does the Bible Says About the Signs of the Return of Christ?.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1989,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “What Does the Bible Says About the Signs of the Return of Christ?.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1989,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “What Does the Bible Says About the Signs of the Return of Christ?.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1989, (accessed).
