End Times Prophecy Watch

Matthew 24:3-5 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?" (4) And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. (5) For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

The above quoted passage of scripture records the Lord’s opening statement when He taught on the subject of the end of the age. In this passage the Lord warned the church not to be deceived about this subject, and in fact this is the only time the Lord warned the church not to be deceived. The reason the Lord warned us about this particular subject is because the saints will become more vulnerable to deception as we draw closer to the end of the age; for during that time many false Messiah’s and false prophets will arise deceiving many. I also want you to note that the Lord places the onus on His saints to ensure that they are not deceived. The reason He does that is because He has given us more than enough signs to look for pertaining to the end times, which will prevent us from being deceived. And so this series lists some of the main end time events revealed in scripture, thus enabling the saints to avoid deception as we enter the period of the last days.

Before the church age many of the mysteries of God were hidden, but the moment the church was born God began to reveal His mysteries to the Apostles and Prophets by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:5); Part of the mysteries of God are events that will take place in the latter days. It is not the will of God that the church should be ignorant of latter day events. Our Lord Jesus said that He no longer calls us servants but rather His friends, for He said that a servant does not know what His master is doing, but all things that He has heard from the Father, He has made known to us (John 15:15). The book of Revelation was given to the Lord Jesus to show His church events which must take place in the latter days (Revelation 1:1). And so we see that God wants the saints to have full understanding of end time events.

Acts 1:6-7 “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"  (7)  And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” 

So what about the scripture quoted above where our Lord tells us that it is not for us to know times or seasons which our Father has put in His own authority? The Lord made this comment in response to the disciples desire to know the exact date when He would set up His kingdom on the earth. There are instances when God reveals exact timelines for the unfolding of future events. For example, God told Abraham that his descendants would be afflicted in Egypt 400 years (Genesis 15:13). God told the Jews they would be exiled to Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10). The Lord has also shown us that when the Antichrist is finally revealed he will be allowed to reign in the earth 42 months (Revelation 13:5). However, even though God does occasionally reveal exact timelines for the unfolding of future events, this is not the norm, for God has placed times and seasons in His own authority. It is therefore foolishness for people to predict specific dates for future events and any ‘bible teacher’ who attempts to do so should be ignored.

Matthew 24:32-33 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  (33) So, you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors!”

And so the question is asked, ‘If it is not given to us to know times and seasons, how can we prevent being deceived as we draw closer to the end of the age?’ The Lord Jesus answered that question in the above quoted passage of scripture; by using the analogy of observing the fig tree to determine whether summer is near, because the fig tree puts forth its leaves just before summer arrives. The context of this passage is that the Lord had revealed certain key events that must take place in the latter days; the point being that when we see those events unfolding we will know just how close we are to the end of the age.

Obviously, in His teaching about the last days the Lord did not reveal all the key events that must take place, because there are many others revealed in scripture. Nevertheless the principle remains the same; when we see foretold scriptural events unfolding, we will know how close we are to the end of the age. And so in this series I have listed, in chronological sequence, some of the main scriptural key events that must take place before the Lord’s return; the purpose being so that it is easier for believers to understand the times in which they live.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  (17)  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.  (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 

When our Lord Jesus returns to the earth the church will be in one of two locations. There will be the saints who are in heaven and there will be the saints who are on the earth. The saints that will be in heaven at that time will accompany the Lord Jesus when He descends to the earth. In the above quoted passage of scripture the Holy Spirit refers to the dead in Christ rising first. All who are dead in Christ are currently with Christ in heaven, for the scripture teaches us that when saints fall asleep they depart this life to be with the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:8). In the same passage quoted above the Holy Spirit goes on to say that there will be saints alive on the earth when our Lord Jesus returns. And so clearly the church will be located both in heaven and on the earth when our Lord Jesus returns.

Mark 13:35-37 “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- (36) lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  (37) And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Because the saints in heaven are currently with Christ they will not be taken by surprise at the return of the Lord. However, that will not be the case for all the saints on earth. The requirement for the saints on earth not to be taken by surprise at the Lord’s return is to watch. In the passage of scripture quoted above the Lord Jesus admonishes His saints to watch for His coming. The reason He tells us to watch is so that we will not be found sleeping when He returns. In other words we are to be prepared for His coming. So what are we to watch for? We are to watch the fig tree to see if its leaves have begun to show yet. In other words we are to watch for the unfolding of foretold key scriptural events to determine how close we are to the Lord’s return.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  (2)  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.  (4)  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  (5)  You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  (7)  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  (8)  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.  (9) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the above quoted passage of scripture the Apostle Paul counsels the saints to watch and be sober so that they will not be taken by surprise when the Lord Jesus returns. In fact Paul is so confident that the saints who watch will be aware of the Lord’s imminent return that he finds no need to write to them concerning times and seasons. Conversely however, it is also clear from this passage that saints who choose not to watch will be taken by surprise at the coming of the Lord Jesus. Nevertheless, in this passage it is plain to see that unbelievers will be taken by complete surprise when the Lord returns, for as far as the world is concerned they would have reached a stage where they could finally proclaim that peace and safety had been attained in the earth. It will be in that instant that sudden destruction will come upon them.

Michael E.B. Maher

The Last Days

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