No Sign of the End
While discussing the recent signs of the end times birth various people respond in quite different ways. Many Christians are quick to agree, but not all.
Some people are quick to dismiss signs saying, ‘There are always signs…’ and often citing Matthew 24v36 — “no one knows about that day or hour… not even the Son, only the Father.”
Some even claim that Jesus said not to look for signs.
But did he?
Lets consider, what Jesus taught about signs of the end.
Sudden End
Jesus taught that the day of the Lord will come very suddenly catching many people by surprise. Luke 17v22-37.
We must always be ready and watchful, because the Son of Man will come ‘like a thief’, “at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12v35-40, Mat 24v36 - 25v13.
Jesus himself was arrested when he was in the Garden of Gethsemene by men who literally came ‘like thieves in the night.’ So in his own life Jesus demonstrates this truth.
The thief in the night teaching means there will be no warning sign.
Actually there is a sign of the end, but it isn’t a warning...
After Jesus was nailed to the cross darkness came over the land from the 6th hour to the 9th hour, or 12-3 PM (Mat 27v45).
This is not considered as a warning sign because it comes after the fact. It comes as confirmation of what has just happened. The same will be true at the end:
Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven,with power and great glory.” — Mat 24v29-30
When this darkness comes and the sign of the Son of man appears in the sky, the end will have come. By then it will be too late to repent.
Jesus said, “Night is coming when no one can work.” — John 9v4.
Before he was arrested, Jesus knew what was coming while he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He didn’t need any outward sign to know what his Father was doing.
Paul described the day of the Lord as coming not like a birth, but like the “labour pains” of a pregnant woman. There is a distinction:
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” — 1 Thessalonians 5v1-3.
If the end comes like a birth some might delay preparing until the labour pains begin, but if the end comes like sudden labour pains and we are unprepared, it’s too late. As mortal human beings an unexpected event could cause us to die any day, so we always need to be ready.
When the end comes, Paul says, “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” — 1 Thess 5v4
By God’s Spirit in our hearts we can know the future because “he will tell you what is yet to come.” — John 16v13.
This kind of spiritual insight needs no outwardly visible sign. We make sure that we are ready.
While teaching about his sudden appearing Jesus made no mention of any special sign to look for — but for one:
When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign he said there will be no sign but the sign of Jonah.
The sign of Jonah represents death and resurrection (Mat 12v38-40, and 16v1-4). This is the end itself! Death is the abomination that causes the desolation of the earthly tabernacle. But this is to be followed by resurrection, just as Jonah came through the storm, and was spat out onto dry land.
Of course we will all face death and judgement (Hebrews 9v27-28). Death can come any time, possibly even today, and eventually the whole world is going to pass away. We don’t know which day it will be but we don’t fear death, because in Christ we have the forgiveness of sin and he will raise us up on the last day (John 6v40).
Those who are looking for an imminent end are correct in expecting it to happen with no warning, but there is more to consider.
Signs of Birth
Signs are given at the time of birth when a special time of prophecy is about to begin, and the end is 'not yet' (Mat 24v6-8). For example, Jesus was born with a sign in heaven, and then he fulfilled prophecy as a lived testimony which continues life long (Rev 19v10b, Mat 24v34).
We have recently seen the sign of birth exactly as described in Revelation 12. It is called, The Revelation 12 sign of 2017.
God made the sun, the moon and the stars saying, “let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years.” — Genesis 1v14.
Signs won’t reveal the time of the second coming, but they do reveal the moment of birth as the journey of salvation begins.
The birth of God's child takes place on time, and in the sight of all people, (Gen 21v2, Luke 2v26-31, Gal 4v4).
Even the slaughter of the infants happened “in accordance with the time he (Herod) had learned from the Magi.” - Matthew 2v16b.
“how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” — Hebrews 2v3-4
The signs that we are seeing today, especially the Revelation 12 sign of 2017 point to a moment of birth with a special escape from war promised as the journey of the end times is about to begin.
Signs of the Times
Not only was Jesus born with a sign in heaven, but miraculous signs and wonders continued during his ministry.
Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” — Mark 16v17-18.
Jesus derided the Pharisees for not knowing how to interpret the signs of the times, Mat 16v2-3.
What time could it be?
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, …
a time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3v1-2, 8
Times and seasons were manifest outwardly in the Old Testament era through war and peace. It was called ‘the sin cycle’.
When sin increased God’s judgement came often in the form of war and defeat. But when God’s people repented he led them to victory and gave them peace.
Later the rise and fall of kingdoms became the stuff of prophecy:
God revealed such things to Daniel ahead of time through Nebuchadnezzars dream, and Daniel praised God saying,
“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposed them.” — Daniel 2v21a.
If you have spent much time on the Cross2Victory website you will know that we are not considering the end so much as the birth of the final generation, and the birth comes with signs.
The birth is of major interest, and especially the flood of war and trouble associated with the birth, or birth pains.
Jesus clearly said that such things must happen, but the end will be still to come (Mat 24v6-8). The world will not end with war between nations.
So how will it end?
The End
The end is foreshadowed by the birth as the time when God acts to save his people, and to give us life. We escape a calamity at birth to foreshadow how we will escape God’s wrath on the day of the Lord.
There are many similarities, but there are also differences.
The end can be seen in contrast to the birth:
With respect to the signs of the times, there is a time to be born, and a time to die… A time for war and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3).
If birth relates to a time of war in the world, it seems that the end relates to a time of peace:
Regarding the end, Paul taught that the day of the Lord would come during a time of peace: “… like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘peace and safety’ destruction will come on them suddenly… (1Thess 5v2-3).
Jesus reveals God’s plan of salvation in the pattern of his life:
The birth comes with clear signs, and involves a great struggle with a miraculous escape from an overwhelming enemy — King Herod and the slaughter of the innocent.
There is a good life to live and a powerful ministry to fulfill.
The end comes suddenly with no sign, possibly even while people are at peace.
The disciples were sleeping peacefully in the garden of Gethsemane, but Jesus was ready. He knew what was coming.
The end in involves great sacrifice before the moment of resurrection glory.
There is much more to say about how the end comes. It is important to understand the abomination that causes desolation, and to consider the martyrs. But it’s a sensitive subject. I deal with that elsewhere.
The exodus from Egypt foreshadows our exodus from this world when Jesus returns: The Greater Exodus.
Today we have many signs, and we are about to face war, so I believe it’s time to consider not the end, but the birth. This is a time to serve God and to love our neighbours. Birth is difficult but it brings great joy.
While birth is difficult, its not the great tribulation. The birth of the final generation will begin a blessed life and powerful ministry for those who obey God’s commandments and hold faithfully to the testimony of Jesus.
The Current Battle
We have been considering the signs of the times and how the end comes. Many Christians agree that God is doing something big at the moment, but in our response we should always begin by coming to the cross of Christ in repentance.
When we get to the heart of the matter, there is one big problem afflicting all of us: SIN.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17v9.
How should we interpret the signs of our times?
God is calling us to repent.
The feast of Trumpets is God’s call to repent. It begins a time of repentance and preparation for God’s judgement.
If Donald Trump proves to be God’s trumpet warning to the world as I saw in a vision, God’s purpose is to bring us to repentance before it’s too late.
Jesus began his ministry by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” — Mat 4v17.
Jesus died on the cross to wash away our sin by his blood. His sacrifice is perfect, and there is enough blood to cover everyone’s sin. So we are all invited to come and repent.
By coming to Jesus in true faith and with real repentance we are ‘born again’.
Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” — John 3v3.
To be born again is our own personal Pentecost moment, a time of great awakening. We receive God’s Spirit into our hearts, having our spiritual eyes are opened. Then we see sin for what it is, and we turn around, becoming part of the kingdom of God.
On the day of Pentecost God poured out his Spirit into the hearts of his people, giving signs and wonders, dreams and visions, and “your sons and daughters will prophesy…” — Acts 2v17.
By His Spirit, God reveals what is yet to come (John 16v13), so please enquire of God about the signs we are seeing today. We need to seek God’s wisdom with prayer and fasting.
It may not be the end yet, but I believe God’s judgement is coming on the world, and he is inviting us to choose life, to be part of the faithful remnant and to live the journey of salvation.
We must look to Jesus, and trust God to give us the wisdom that we need to rightly interpret the signs of our times. He will help us know how best to serve, and how to care for each other.
Another article that addresses this matter is: Interpreting Signs
Today the signs we are seeing are pointing to a moment of birth for the final generation. Especially the Revelation 12 sign of 2017.
While the spiritual birth is most important for eternity, the apocalyptic birth of the final generation is looking imminent, and this is going to require our full attention.
The signs listed in the SIGNS menu at the top of the page are pointing to world war three — nuclear war can be expected as the beginning of birth pains for the final generation.
To understand the end times birth and how to care for each other during this time we need to study the birth and testimony of Jesus. — God’s Plan
