The time is drawing very near when the Saviour will return in great glory. The evidence is all around us, and is quite unequivocal. If you have not considered any of the following facts before, I beg that you do so. We can see now the similarities to the time before the Flood, when wickedness abounded, and the Lord had no other choice but to destroy the wickedness by destroying the people (except Noah and his immediate family to continue the human race). The earth has received her baptism by water, still to come is the baptism by fire, i.e. incineration. Again, as in Noah’s day, the wicked will be destroyed, this time by war and the other calamities accompanying the end times.
The first, and perhaps most obvious fact that we are on the brink of this annihilation, is that for the first time in history, man now has the capacity to destroy the population of the earth by way of war. The Bible tells us that many wars followed by a final great battle will preceed the Second Coming (the consequences of which are so terrible that they could not be delivered through conventional warfare). This final battle is to occur at Armageddon (Megiddo, in northern Israel, which is just a few miles from the border of the West Bank).
It must also be important that the Jews are now back in the land that was promised to Israel in Old Testament times, after having no homeland for almost two thousand years. This return had to happen as the Lord told the prophet Zechariah, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zech.12:3-4).
Judah (the Jews) have returned to Jerusalem, so this scripture can now be fulfilled. The peoples who live round about Israel seem to be increasing in anger and hatred towards the Jews. Muslims do not want Jerusalem in the hands of anyone else.
Jerusalem is a city divided, and the West Bank area was also promised to the tribes of Israel, as was some land east of the River Jordan. The Palestinians claim part of Jerusalem as their capital. This is contrary to the Lord’s will, as he tells the prophet Joel as to the conditions after Armageddon, then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Joel 3:17) Verse 18 goes on to tell us that in that day the land will be cleansed, and verse 19 tells us what will happen to Israel’s enemies, Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
N.B. Edom was another name for Esau, who was Jacob’s (=Israel’s) elder twin brother who sold his birthright to Jacob. Esau married Canaanite women, contrary to the Lord’s commandment, and separated into a rival nation. He realised that the land of Canaan and the covenant blessing would not be his. Modern day Edomites do not understand nor accept this.
We know that Israel and her main allies have nuclear weapons, and so do some of Israel’s neighbours. The politics of the whole world are in turmoil at present, with many countries teetering on the brink of war. Before the great decisive battle at Armageddon, there will be much war and troubles throughout the world. The Saviour tells us that after this tribulation the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.” (Matthew 13:24). Many people equate this scenario with a nuclear winter.
Matthew 13:7-8 tells us, And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
An interesting point here is that nuclear detonations could trigger earthquakes. The use of chemical and biological warfare could destroy vast agricultural areas and bring about famine all over the world, affecting rich and poor. It is reported that some governments have plans for their military to deploy such despicable tactics.
Matthew also tells us that before the Second Coming, the gospel must first be published among all nations (verse 10). This has now been accomplished, again very recently. Even people at the Amundsen-Scott base at the South Pole will be able to read this Web site uninteruptedly when their new cable is laid across the continent. Technology has given us the weapons to destroy the earth, but it has also given us the tools to spread the gospel to all the world, through modern transportation, printing, radio, television and the Internet. It is very unlikely that the ancient prophets would have known how their prophesies would come true - but now we can clearly see that they have come to pass.
So another precondition, that of spreading the gospel throughout the world, has been satisfied for Jesus to return.
Another sign of the times is sexual immorality. Until very recently, and all over the world, homosexual acts were considered unnatural, ungodly and against the law. Several countries and U.S. states now allow same-sex “marriages”. The abhorrence of homosexuality is becoming a thing of the past among law-makers, and people in general. This is a good thing, according to liberal do-gooders, and political vote-seekers, who probably consider that they are doing homosexuals a favour by legalising, and even promoting, this lifestyle. Unfortunately, no thought is given to the eternal consequences of the people who are living this way (or, it seems, by those who are implementing changes to the law).
Political Correctness is often the enemy of godliness. It is now considered worse to criticise homosexual activity than it is to be engaged in the lifestyle. What a complete turnaround in a matter of a couple of generations!
This is also true of sex before marriage, and even infidelity within marriage. Both are contrary to the Lord’s will, but due to the promotion of immorality, what I term as the “new normality”, many people do not even consider these things to be wrong. Some so-called celebrities are keen to base their image on the fact (or perhaps, myth) that they have been intimate with hundreds of “partners”. Sadly, increasing numbers of these are women, who find newspaper editors and book publishers falling over themselves to promote them. The Lord greatly values virtuous women. These harlots without values who pride themselves in their wickedness have a great way to fall should they not suffer the agonies of everlasting hell. These people, and all of us who live unworthily, cannot enter into paradise unless we have a change of heart, as Jesus said, “sin no more”.
The whole “sexual revolution” that has taken place since the Second World War has brought us to the point where children are now growing up believing that the political correct messages are the right ones, and that the messages in scripture are old-fashioned, unjust and unnecessarily restrictive. As if sexual immorality was wrong for millennia, then all-of-a-sudden it is OK at the whim of ungodly, pleasure-seeking trendsetters.
We are being bombarded with images and sounds of the “new normality” through films, television, song lyrics and sensational “news” stories printed for titivation. People are marching on government buildings demanding what they see as their rights, i.e. their right to act immorally. Early evening television schedules are packed with soap operas, each one battling for viewers by having more outrageous storylines. Sexual deviants are portrayed as normal, violence and murder are everyday events, very few, if any, characters are faithfully married. The promotion of alcohol is also evident in the British soaps, with drinks flowing freely in the pubs at all times of day, and often in the scenes at home, where many characters have a selection of bottles on the sideboard. It is particularly sad that in a country with such enormous alcohol addiction and anti-social behaviour as the U.K., that the most watched shows promote drinking to such an extent. Perhaps there is clandestine sponsorship of these shows by the alcohol industry.
Try finding a comedy show these days that does not contain foul language, sneering cowardly jibes, and that does not give out wrong messages, nor promotes the “new normality”. The number of top acts in the music industry using blasphemy and bad language is also very worrying. When in times past was such a wholesome, life-enhancing pursuit as music and song used for such evil purposes? Probably only prior to the Flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Since earliest times there has been evil. This got so out of hand that the Lord destroyed the wicked with a great Flood. It is obvious that we are now in the same situation again. Satan is showing his power by seeking disciples through any means possible. Using popular media, and ensnaring people with the “new normality” are two of his techniques. Satan knows that his time is fast running out to influence people prior to him being bound up for 1,000 years during the Millennium. (see Revelation 20:2)
When someone accepts Jesus they are baptised by immersion in water, then after that they are baptised with fire, i.e. they receive the Holy Ghost. With the Flood was the earth “baptised”, and the incineration of the earth by war and volcanic action will be its baptism of fire.
I know these things must come to pass to cleanse the earth in order for it to be a paradise, and fit for Jesus to reign in. Some people will not be eligible to remain on this new earth, as the scripture says, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Matt. 24:40)
Do not wait for others to invite you to accept Jesus. He has already done so. These are the final times, and as Matthew reports, “be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh.” (Matt. 24:44) Study the Bible, and ask your Father in Heaven in prayer, in the name of Jesus, what you should do.