The Revealing

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“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.“ -Matthew 24:30-31

The Signs Are All Around

Have you ever been deceived?  Perhaps someone conned you out of money or stole something you really valued.  It’s the worse feeling to be tricked and lied to.  Deception is rooted in evil and manipulation is often the vehicle used to get there.  At the beginning of creation, Satan deceived Adam and Eve through lies and temptation.  Adam and Eve disobeyed their Father’s command and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Satan deceived them by playing to their emotions and desires.  Therefore, sin entered the world through their disobedience.  Is it possible we too could be deceived?

Jesus actually gave a warning in Matthew 24:4 about deception:  “Watch out that no one deceives you.”  Jesus was responding to his disciples’ questions about the timing of his second coming and what sign would be given for the end of the age (or world).  Why would Jesus start his answer about his second coming with a warning about deception?  The reason is because Jesus was very concerned that the disciples be ready for his return and not be tricked or led astray by false prophets, false religions and Satan himself.  Jesus gave signs for the beginning of the birth pains of the end of the world.  He said, “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes  in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains” (v. 4-8).      

Do these signs sound familiar?  If you watch the news today, especially within the last 100 years, the signs are all around, the birth pains seem to be ever increasing.  Prophecies about Israel, God’s chosen people, are being fulfilled and the world is setting up for a final chess match.  It feels alarming and can be some-what scary.  However, Jesus does not want us to be afraid, and in fact, he says not to be alarmed.  Instead, Jesus wants us to be prepared.  With that preparation Jesus wants to give us hope by telling us the truth of the matter.  And that starts off with his warning.  Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you,” (Matthew 24:4) and “Watch out for false prophets” (Matthew 7:15).  “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect- if that were possible.  See I have told you ahead of time” (Matthew 24:24-25).

There’s Still Hope

Although we may never live in the times of the tribulation, the signs are obvious and shouldn’t be ignored.  We are living in the last days.  One day the birth pains will cease and the end of the world as Revelation says will truly be birthed.  Jesus gives plenty of warnings through the Gospels, including parables, and New Testament passages, as well as Old Testament prophesies.  

Most importantly, Jesus says time and time again, “I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7,12,20).   And the Apostle Paul said, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37).    

The question now is, are you ready?  Are you ready for his return?

Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”    

Salvation is for those who believe and have a true relationship with Jesus.  This is a relationship of knowing and obeying, not a relationship of knowing about and disobeying.  Genuine obedience is done out of a love relationship.  Being one with the Father as Jesus was one with the Father was in fact Jesus’ prayer for all of us (John 17).  

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!”  

In conclusion, Jesus warns us to not be deceived, but rather to be discerning of the end times and his second coming.  We will never know the exact time, but we can be prepared to meet him in the clouds, because his return is drawing nearer and nearer.  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come…So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:42;44). 

Let’s be ready for Jesus by knowing him and following him in genuine faith!  Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).  May our love and faith in Christ be proven by our obedience, for “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 1:17).   My prayer above all, is that Jesus will find us walking in the light as he is in the light, when he returns to take us home one day!  

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”  –Matthew 24:30-31

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (more abundantly).”  -John 10:10

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  -John 14:1-3