The Sign of the Times

As I look around me I see a time of great distress in this nation. It raises the question of what is happening? When will Jesus return? In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked that very question: "Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?'"

Note how Jesus replied in verses 4-8: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." An apt description of today's world is it not? But note that Jesus said, "the end is not yet" (v. 6b).

Jesus continued: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (vs. 9-14).

"Then the end will come" (v. 14b). Pay attention to what is happening around you. The coronavirus pandemic, the violence in the streets, the mob violence in our major cities and their assault on our nation. All these things make our upcoming election extremely critical. It is a fight for the soul of this nation. As I have often said, we are just one election away from the loss of our freedoms and the complete dismantling of the greatest nation on earth.

If the extreme left socialists win this election and gain control, look out and look up! Why? Because this nation will undergo a fundamental change. Nothing will be the same. And the first assault will likely be directed at the church. How do I know this? Because they have already taken aim, demanding that the church stop singing! The left is already trying to control the church and shut it down. If they can do that, they will have overcome a major obstacle. Chaos and anarchy will flood the streets. "Lawlessness will abound" (v. 12a).

When you see these things happening, look up and know that God is near! Amen.