Reading the Signs of the Times

What a violent culture we live in today. According to a new report from the Council on Criminal Justice, homicides have increased by 23 percent since last year. Violent crime is sweeping the country. We’re afraid to go out on the streets at night.

Jesus said that things would be increasingly wicked in the last days, and the climate of the time prior to His return would be similar to the climate of the time during Noah’s life. So what was it like in Noah’s time? Are there any distinguishing characteristics that parallel our own?

In Noah’s day two sins predominated: excessive violence and sexual perversion. Genesis 6:5, speaking of Noah’s time, says, “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” (NLT).

There were other characteristics of Noah’s day as well. Jesus said, “In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:38–39 NLT).

We might paraphrase this statement by saying it was business as usual. Noah was building a massive ark without a body of water nearby. There hadn’t even been rain on earth at that point. But Noah faithfully followed the directions God had given him. And as the years went by, he kept on with the job God called him to. No doubt people thought of Noah as some sort of crackpot.

Jesus was saying that in the last days, people also will ignore prophetic warnings. They’ll disregard the clear message of God to them. For the most part it will be business as usual. People will go on with their day-to-day activities.

What It All Means

However, the writing is on the wall for anyone who will pay attention.

And just as Noah was mocked, followers of Jesus will be mocked as well, because that, too, is a sign of the last days. People today laugh at the concept of Bible prophecy and the return of Christ, but one day their mockery will cease and their laughter will stop when Jesus fulfills His words. He is coming back.

The apostle Paul, writing about the first arrival of Jesus Christ to this Earth, said, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4–5 NLT).

And again when the time comes, Christ will return. Peter wrote: “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:8–9 NLT).

According to Scripture, there is a generation that will not see death. Instead they will be removed from the face of the earth in what is known as the rapture of the church. This is what Jesus was referring to when He said: “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left” (Matthew 24:40–41 NLT).

Instantaneously millions of believers from around the globe will be caught up into God’s presence. This is spoken of elsewhere in the Bible as well. Paul wrote: “We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NLT).

And John wrote: “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NLT).

A Happy Anticipation

Christ is coming for His church, and He said: “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2–3 NLT).

In the original language, the phrase “come and get you” implies seizing by force. That is exactly what Jesus will do. He will return and take His people into His presence.

Are you ready for His return? Are you looking for it? It means being ready to meet Him. It means living in anticipation of the return of Christ.

To put it another way, it means that you shouldn’t be doing things that would hinder your spiritual life. The teaching of the return of Christ should serve as a motivator, as a comfort to you. As John said, “All who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 John 3: 3 NLT).

A. B. Simpson pointed out: “There are two ways of looking at the Lord’s coming: a looking for it and looking at it. It is possible to look at it with keen intellect and a profound interest, and yet have it mean nothing to us personally. It is also possible to know but little of the theology of the subject, and yet have a deep and holy longing for the Lord to appear. May this theme be not only our study but also our personal hope.”

It isn’t just intellectually saying, “I know Christ will come again.” Rather, it’s looking for and welcoming His return. And if there’s anything in our lives that should be changed, anything that is not right with God, we should deal with it now.

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Learn more about Pastor Greg Laurie.

This article was originally published at WND.com.