February 15, 2002, Vol.2,
No.4.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "Signs
Before the End of Time?" (see below)
and "Your Value In Christ"
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS:
Can We Expect Signs
Before the End of Time?
by Tom Rainwater
 QUESTION:
Does it specify anywhere in the Bible that there are signs
to look for before the end of time? If so, where?
ANSWER: This is an excellent
question. Many believe that the last few years before Christ
returns will be full of signs, both gruesome and glorious. Basically,
this comes from a misunderstanding of some very difficult passages
of Scripture. One such passage is Matthew 24.
Matthew 24
Matthew 24 begins with Jesus' disciples showing Him the buildings
of the temple. Jesus responds, "Do you not see all these
things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left
here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (NKJV)
Jesus was prophesying the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
The temple would be destroyed because it had served its purpose
under the Law of Moses and its sacrifices were being replaced
with that of Jesus. They would later crucify the Son of God,
and this would be God's judgment upon that sinful nation. (Consider
Luke 23:26-31 and Matthew 27:25.)
Upon hearing that the temple would be brought down, Jesus'
disciples ask three questions:
(1) "Tell us, when will these things be?"
(2) "And what will be the sign of your coming?"
(3) "and of the end of the age?"
Notice they assume that the destruction of the temple would
coincide with the end of all things. They were wrong. However,
Jesus answers their questions in the order they asked them.
(1)
When will these things (the destruction of the temple) be?
Jesus gives them signs by which they would know that the end
of the temple was near. (Matthew 24:4-14.) Upon seeing those
signs, they were instructed to flee from the city of Jerusalem.
(Matthew 24:15-20.)
(2)
What will be the sign of your coming?
In verses 21-31, Jesus speaks of coming in judgment against
the nation of Jews at Jerusalem; He is not yet talking about
His "second coming." Remember that the Lord brought
judgment against sinful nations many times in the Old Testament.
The terminology used in verses 29-31 is no different than God
used in the Old Testament concerning the fall of Northern Israel
(Amos 8:2,9-10), Egypt (Isaiah 19:1; Ezekiel 32:2,7-10), Babylon
(Isaiah 13:1,9-13), and even the end of the Mosaic covenant (Acts
2:16-21; Joel 3:15-16; Haggai 2:6-7; Hebrews 12:25-28). This
prophetic language indicates Jesus would have an active influence
from Heaven in the fall of these things.
When it came to the destruction of Jerusalem's temple, there
would be signs. Notice in verse 33: "So you also,
when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the very
doors." (NKJV) Jesus also said in the following verse,
"Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no
heaven pass away till all these things are fulfilled." (NKJV)
All the events described so far in this chapter would be fulfilled
in that generation -- the generation in which the apostles
lived. Jesus' instructions were to these people to flee
Jerusalem when they saw the signs. Indeed, Jerusalem and
the temple were destroyed completely at A.D. 70 by the Roman
army with the help of the Lord.
(3) And of the end of the
age?
In verse 35, Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will by no means pass away." (NKJV)
He is emphasizing the fact that His words will outlast all things---that
His word is sure. But here, Jesus changes the subject from the
destruction of Jerusalem to answer His disciples' last question.
Verse 36 begins, "But of that day...." Which
day? The day Heaven and earth will pass away. Now He is
talking about the end of the world. "But of that day
and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but
My Father only." (NKJV) Concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem, its time could be determined by signs. But the time
of the ultimate end will not be preceded by such signs of warning.
People will be going about their business as they did just
prior to the flood in Noah's day (verses 37-39). No one will
suspect the day on which Jesus comes again. People will be separated
from one another quickly at the end (verses 40-41). Some will
be taken away for condemnation (2Thessalonians1:7-9; Matthew
13:40-43), the righteous will be left in the caring hands of
God.
The fact is: there is no way we can know when the world will
end. It will be a time that those alive will not expect (Matthew
24:42-44). All the parables that follow into chapter 25 speak
about preparing for Christ to come again in person -- this time
to judge. There will be no signs because Jesus will come
as unexpectedly as "a thief in the night." (2 Peter
3:10.)
What we do know about the
condition
of earth at the final end?
What will the world be like before the end? All we know is:
there will be sinners (Matthew 24:38-39) and scoffers (2 Peter
3:3ff) and saints (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), just as there are
now. At what point will God the Father decide to end all things?
We do not know. Even Jesus does not know the hour in which the
Father will send Him and the angels to gather the righteous and
unrighteous.
With these things in mind, let's not look for signs, because
none will be given. Let's consider instead a sign that has already
been given -- the sign of Jesus resurrection. Jesus is alive,
and He is Lord and Christ. He will be your judge one day. Are
you ready to meet Him?
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