Signs
of the Times
Lesson
5
Marking
Code: ST
Marking Color: Yellow
Key Text: Matthew 24:36
Note: this
lesson on the signs of Christ’s
return is based primarily on Matthew 24.
There are two other major chapters in the
Bible dealing entirely with this subject-Mark
13 and Luke 21. Be sure to read and carefully
study these chapters as well.
In Matthew 24, Jesus
answers two key questions:
When would the temple
in Jerusalem be destroyed? (See verses 1-3;
15-20.)
When would He return
again? (See the rest of Matthew 24.)
- Matthew 24:36. We
cannot set dates for the return of
Jesus. No one knows the day or the
hour of the Second Coming until the
Great Tribulation gets under way.
Only then can a person who has
studied the scriptures realize that
in Daniel 12:12, it states,
“Blessed is the one who waits
for and reaches the end of the 1,335
days. After the worldwide earthquake
takes place on Earth in the near
future, a 1,335-day countdown to the
Second Coming of Christ is imminent.
- Matthew 24:33. However,
by observing the signs that Jesus
gives, we can know when His
coming is near.
- Matthew 24-Major
signs:
Matthew
24: 1-3; 15-20. The destruction of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Matthew
24:21,22. The Dark Ages (A.D. 538-1798).
Matthew
24: 29. Footprints in the sky-the
“dark day” of May 19, 1780.
Matthew
24:29: Footprints in the sky-the stars
fall, November 13, 1833.
Joel
2:10, 31; Amos 8:9; Isaiah 13:10; Mark 13:24,
25; Luke 21:25; Acts 2:20; Revelation
6:12,13.
- Matthew
24-Additional significant signs:
Matthew
24:6,7.
In
the political world, there will be wars,
political instability, and nationalism with
nation against nation.
In
the natural world, there will be earthquakes,
pestilence, and famine.
Luke
21:10,11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Joel 3:9-12.
James
5:1-8. In the economic world, there will
be instability, uncertainty, and strife
between the wealthy and the poor.
2
Timothy 3:1-5. In the moral world there
will be corruption, pleasure-seeking, and
intense evil.
Matthew
24:37-39.
Daniel
12:4. In the world of knowledge, there
will be an explosion of information and
technology.
2
Peter 3:3,4. In the religious world,
there will be scoffers, skeptics, and a lack
of true spirituality.
Matthew
24:4,5,11; 2 Timothy 4:3,4.
- Revelation
7:1-3. Why hasn’t
Jesus come yet? The four angels are
holding back the winds of strife
until God’s purposes for earth
are complete and His 144,000
prophet-servants are sealed.
- Romans 13:11-14. Jesus’
return is near! The day is at hand!
It’s time to awake from our
sleep and be ready for Jesus to come
again.
Matthew
24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6.
- Luke 21: 28,36. We
see the signs fulfilled; it’s
time to look up, for our redemption
draws near!
ST-End.
