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The Return of Christ
Signs of the End Times
Jesus said: “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many… Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars… Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (Matt. 24:4-15).
Peter said: “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:3,4)
Paul said: “In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
Budding of the Fig Tree
Jesus said: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:28-33).
The budding of the fig tree refers to the date that Israel became a nation.
Ezekiel tells us: “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.” (Ezekiel 40:1).
The date was Nisan 10 in BC 573, exactly 2520 years (1260 years plus 1260 years) before May 14, 1948, the precise day and hour that Israel became a nation. At the Passover, the blood applied to the door posts had no power over sin, but when Christ died His Blood gave dominion over sin.
At the first Covenant, the laws were written on tablets of stone, but when the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost the laws were written in men’s hearts.
God told Jeremiah: “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33).
The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and Israel was dispersed into all nations because Jesus came unto His own, and His own received Him not. Israel became a nation on the day of Pentecost to fulfill both the first and second covenants (1430 BC and 30 AD). One of the most important events in history has been the day that Israel was again recognized as a nation, May 14, 1948.
Christ said: “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24:34).
This prophecy is a clear warning that the generation alive at the budding of the fig tree will see the second coming.
There may be great debate over the length of a generation, but everyone can see that we are at least 62 years past the budding of the fig tree.
Seven Seals
In Revelation Chapter 5, John describes a book sealed with seven seals which only Jesus Christ, “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah,” can open. These seals give figurative signs of Christ’s return and end-time events, yet the vast majority of people are unaware that many of these seals have already been opened.
When Jesus opened the first seal, John said: “I saw, and behold a white horse (the Gospel message): and he that sat on him (Jesus Christ) had a bow; and a crown (power and authority) was given unto him: and he went forth conquering (Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil), and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2).
The second seal opened speaks of a red horse and the rider is given power “To take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.” (Rev. 6:4). “Nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.” The world has been ravaged by wars and rumors of wars for centuries. Millions have been killed.
The third seal opened tells of a black horse with a rider holding a pair of balances. “A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny…” (Revelation 6:6).
These dry measures are equal to approximately one day’s food supply. “A penny” refers to the Roman denarius - a day’s wages for a Roman soldier. This speaks of famine and hyper-inflation that will make one day’s food supply equal to one day’s wages.
The forth seal opened speaks of a pale horse: “And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8).
Famine, disease, pestilence and cancer have killed millions. Millions have been murdered by genocides, ethnic cleansings and abortion. Now AIDS, swine flu and other epidemics or pandemics are killing many. Christian missionaries are being martyred and Christians are being despised by their own government. The world would like to make Christianity disappear.
When the fifth seal was opened John said: “I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.” (Revelation 6:9).
Many wonder why God does not come back and put an end to hatred, crime and violence.
God gave Adam a time limited dominion. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, Satan got control of the earth through fallen man, but what he got was a time limited dominion. Jesus is coming back when that lease expires.
When the sixth seal was opened “There was a great earthquake (cataclysmic event); and the sun (religious system) became black as sackcloth of hair (heresy, false doctrine), and the moon (religious leaders) became as blood (ecclesiastical corruption exposed).” (Revelation 6:12).
“And the kings of the earth, and great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man (no level of society is exempt from God's laws), hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17).
Untold millions have been succored by false doctrines and corrupt religious systems. Many believe that they can sin willfully and remain saved, but when that Trumpet sounds the scoffers will be looking for a place to hide.
When the seventh seal is opened, seven angels with seven trumpets prepare to sound. When the first four trumpets sound, one third of the “sea became blood… A third part of the creatures” in the sea died (oil and pollution is killing untold numbers of sea creatures). “The third part of trees” (leaders), “all green grass” (common people), high or low, rich or poor, all will be affected. “A great star from Heaven” (a bright angel called Wormwood) turned a third part of the rivers bitter (fresh water polluted) and many died. “A third part” of the “sun,” “moon” and “stars” (religious leaders), will be smitten with darkness (heresy and false doctrine).
When the fifth trumpet sounds locusts are released from the bottomless pit: “And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.” (Revelation 9:7-10).
When the sixth trumpet sounded, John describes what he saw as demonic beings with breastplates of iron, heads like lions – given power to kill with fire, smoke and brimstone out of the horse’s mouths - military tanks seen by a man who had never seen such machines.
“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20-21).
Evolutionists may think that these signs are just natural environmental phenomenon, but even scoffers must admit that these prophecies were written nearly two thousand years ago, and none of God's prophecies have ever failed!
The Rapture
The term “Rapture” refers to the Lord’s return to take the righteous out of the world.
Paul says: “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Rapture will bring a very distinct form of judgment upon the unrighteous. Jesus will take His righteous followers out of this world and the unrighteous will be left behind to face the Great Tribulation.
Great Tribulation
Jesus Said: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of he world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21).
Many very educated and intelligent people are scoffing at the second coming of Christ, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” (1 Corinthians 3:19).
America's Spiritual Condition
America is drunk with licentious, perverted lifestyles, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, abortion, murder, lying and theft - sin is sweeping America and favaging millions. Government, Wall Street and big banks have virtually bankrupted America. Deficit spending will undoubtedly cause hyper-inflation and drive the cost of food and necessities out of the reach of common folks.
Politicians have no desire to control immorality! American society is headed for the depths of depravity. Government has become more-wicked than the citizens they govern.
Liquor, beer and wine are flowing in America like water out of faucets. Many fancy restaurants today are nothing more than taverns, bars and saloons with a different name. Liquor has killed more men, ruined more women, destroyed more homes than all other social evils combined. Armies have been defeated because of it.
Pornography is being sold from virtually every magazine rack in America.
Many parents are feeding their own children with the filth that television is spewing into their living rooms, cursing their own families with eternal destruction and damnation in Hell.
Government is promoting gambling casinos and race tracks in place of honest tax revenues. The Supreme Court has legalized abortion and now Washington has passed healthcare legislation designed to balance the budget by legalizing euthanasia.
Hundreds of new Bible translations are allowing false prophets to twist the Word of God out of context, beguiling and sentencing careless believers to an eternity in Hell.
The bottom line is that there is no fear of God.
Warnings
Jesus said: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage (divorcing and remarrying), until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:37-39).
Jesus said: “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery…” (Luke 16:18). The divorced and remarried were swept away by the flood. “So shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Over 50% of people in churches today are divorced and remarried. Some claim that their entire church prayed and got approval from God to divorce and remarry. Too bad John the Baptist didn’t know about that.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Daniel says: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2).
JESUS CHRIST CAME THE FIRST TIME TO BE THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS. HE IS COMING THE SECOND TIME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD!
Many have been deceived by false doctrines thinking that they can’t lose their salvation, but the writer to the Hebrews warns: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
Many people have lost all sense of holiness, women painting their faces, dying their hair, dressing like Christmas trees looking for a place to plug in, and men more interested in sports and drinking beer than being responsible leaders of their own families, driving more nails into the hands and feet of Christ with every sin.
The writer to the Hebrews says: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14).
America’s Freedoms
America is known as “the home of the brave and the land of the free.” Freedom is America’s signature value. Many foreigners have never experienced freedom of speech or freedom to elect state and federal government representatives. They want freedom to have a voice in government.
America celebrates freedom every year on the 4th of July, and America’s gallant, brave military men have done a magnificent job of keeping America free from bondage to foreign powers, but that type of freedom is not the problem.
Spiritual Freedom
As you can see from, “America’s Spiritual Condition,” and the “Seven Seals” listed above, sin and wickedness is wrecking America. The real problem in America today is people wanting the wrong kind of freedom. The Supreme Court wants freedom to rewrite the Constitution. Professors want freedom to teach evolution. Many preachers want freedom to preach false doctrines. Many women want freedom to kill unwanted babies. Others want freedom to divorce and remarry; freedom to use tobacco, alcohol, drugs and pornography, etc. Freedom to worship God has been replaced with freedom to worship any god.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT IN YOUR FACE FREEDOM TO INDULGE IN EVERY KNOWN FORM OF SIN THAT THE BIBLE CONDEMNS!
“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time!” (Revelation 12:12).
Jesus Christ died to free us from bondage to Satan and sin, but today the vast majority of Americans are not interested in that type of freedom. They actually like sin, they enjoy sin, they want sin, yet sin is destroying them and America! Sin is driving America on a down-hill course! Sin is behind every form of crime, violence and hatred.
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34).
AMERICA'S REAL PROBLEM IS NOT BONDAGE TO ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT; IT IS BONDAGE TO SATAN AND SIN!
We are now fighting a spiritual battle of unimaginable magnitude against a desperate enemy whose time is running out. Satan and his demon host of Hell have gained significant strongholds in governments, universities and churches.
JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO SAVE US FROM SIN! THE BLOOD OF CALVARY PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR PAST SINS, AND THE NEW BIRTH GIVES DOMINION OVER SIN!
The problem is that people do not want salvation from sin. JESUS DID NOT COME TO SAVE US IN OUR SINS! HE CAME TO SAVE US FROM SIN! Many churches today are preaching exactly the opposite. They claim that they are saved no matter how much sin they commit.
First of all, “The wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23), and “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” (1 John 3:8).
Second, if you are saved from sin, you will have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, living in you. Don’t fool yourself. He will not live in those who commit willful sin. If you refuse His guidance and you sin willfully: “Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23).
“Whosoever is born of God doth not comit sin; for his siid remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:9-10).
It is only by the power of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that man can live without sin. There are many who claim to be Christians while they live in sin, but they are sorshipping a god of their own creation who will accept them the way they want to be accepted.
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).
IF GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DRIVE GOD OUT OF SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY, THEN THE GOVERNMENT IS THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE!
IF CHURCHES ARE PREACHING FALSE DOCTRINES, THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE VERY GOD THEY CLAIM TO WORSHIP!
It is not hard to understand that Satan is behind false doctrines, but it is hard to believe that churches could become so blind to their own spiritual corruption.
Are you ready for the return of Christ? “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18).
IF YOU ARE STILL COMMITTING WILLFUL SIN YOU HAVE NOT REPENTED AND YOU ARE NOT SAVED FROM SIN!
Repentance is not apologizing to God for breaking His commandments. Repentance is turning away from sin. If you want to spend eternity in Heaven, you must repent of sin and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
Jesus said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Pastor James Wood
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