Current Events and the Bible - Part 2

Current Events and the Bible - Part 2

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when these things will be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and  of the end of the age?”     Matthew 24:3

Before Jesus was born, God planned the day of Jesus return to this earth. We can read about it in Job and in Daniel, like we read last week. Isaiah Even told about his birth. Ezekiel tells about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in the book of Revelation.  All through the Old Testament we can read of his coming and in the New Testament about his death on the cross and his return to earth. Throughout the Bible we hear about last days, or end times. God is telling us to prepare for those times.  Are we really listening to what He says to us?

In Matthew 24:3, the disciples had been listening to Jesus, but they wanted to hear more of what he meant about ‘last days’. “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus began to tell them many of the things that are going to happen in Matthew 24:3-31. This shocked them and so they wanted to know when it will happen.  In vs. 32 he answers them, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! (Jesus is telling his disciples to be watching for certain signs as we should still be doing today.

Then Jesus gave them a hint, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”   (Matthew 24:36-39) We won’t know when it will happen until after it has happened.

Now, that was prophecy of a long time ago.  You may think it will never happen, but our great God who created us and watches over us is never late! The book of Revelation in the back of your Bible tells so much yet to come, but I can tell you it will come to pass and is already building up speed. I’ll give you a hint in Revelation, chapter 11:3-10; prophesy that no one could ever understand, but today it is very understandable to most people. Near the end, God rose up two witnesses and they stood in the streets of Jerusalem and testified about God.  Everyone was so ungodly they tried to kill them, but no one had the power to do so until they were finished talking.  Then Satan came and God allowed them to be killed.

You may think that’s a lost battle, but listen to this; they lay dead in the street for three days.  Verse 9 says “And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.” Rev 11:9 (NLT) Why is this so significant? Not until recent years could people all around the world see wars while they were being fought or see things while they were happening!  Only by broadcasting through satellite can we sit in our living rooms watching TV and see a war being fought on the other side of the world at the same time. This is happening today. 

Can you think what people 2000 years ago could even imagine?  It’s like us trying to image what heaven is like. I Corinthians 2:9 tells us what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT) God tells us all these things in the Bible; are you listening to Him?


            Next week – Part 3