“Now
when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your
redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28 NKJV
The
past few weeks the subject of our study has, in a general sense, been concerned
with events we have seen occur around the world and in the Middle East in
particular. Behind the scenes so to
speak, there has been a discussion surrounding whether or not what we are
seeing has “biblical” implications, or if the events are simply part of what we
could call “normal” everyday occurrences.
I suppose that should come as no surprise considering the words given us
by Peter in his second letter.
knowing
this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to
their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For
since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
So
as I studied this past week and thought about why some people see the same
events yet differ on their implications, it was no surprise (to me at least) to
wake up Friday morning to find that hurricane Patricia, which had on Thursday
been a Category 1 storm with winds in the eighties, had in only twenty-four
hours become a Category 5 storm with winds over two-hundred miles per
hour! The news began describing this
storm as the “strongest ever recorded”, “strongest hurricane on record”, “most
dangerous storm in history”, and more.
Thankfully,
it now appears that it has weakened almost as fast as it grew and the damage
will not be nearly as catastrophic as predicted, yet I could not help but
wonder if God is trying to get the world’s attention considering the number of
events which seem to be occurring now on almost a weekly basis. Thinking along
those lines, it was logical for me to think back to what Jesus had to say to
the Pharisees and Sadducees in the book of Matthew when they asked Him for a
sign.
Then
the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them
a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you
say, '[It will be] fair weather, for the sky is red'; "and in the morning,
'[It will be] foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.'
Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot
[discern] the signs of the times. "A wicked and adulterous generation
seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the
prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed. Matthew 16:1-4 NKJV
In
this passage, the word for discern is the Greek word sēmeion; which is translated as “a
sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common
course of nature”. So let me ask you; do you see what I see? Events beginning to occur that many believe
are unusual and not what you would expect to see if things followed their
natural course? I believe this attitude
of ignoring what is truly unusual is what Jesus was warning us about in this
passage. Jesus had performed miracles
which were “transcending the common
course of nature” yet it was not enough for the skeptics.
But
concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should
write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 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. 1 Thessalonians
5:1-3 NKJV
Are
we living in the “times and the seasons” Paul is referring to here? Notice Paul begins verse one with the word “But”. This means it is a continuation of a
previous thought, so we need to look back at what he was talking about
before. When we do, at the end of the
previous chapter, this is what we see;
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.
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.
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. Therefore comfort one
another with these words. 1
Thessalonians 4:15-18 NKJV
It
is obvious that Paul has been speaking about the rapture of the Church, the
concluding event of the Church Age which we as believers are expectantly
waiting for. Paul tells his readers two
very important facts which I believe we should take serious note of as we read
these verses. The first is that he
certainly implies that we will recognize the “times and the seasons”. Considering what Jesus had to say
about recognizing the signs of the times, I believe it is logical to assume
that God intends to make it very clear that we are approaching the end of the
age to those who are watching faithfully for Jesus’ return.
The
second thing Paul says is that the signs will be comparable to a woman in labor,
and the pains she will endure before the birth of her child. I am soon to be a grandfather again as my
oldest daughter is expecting twin girls to arrive in December. Something I have noticed before, and
especially in the case of twins, is that there is no question that a woman is “expecting”
because of the visible signs we can observe.
In other words, although the actual labor pains begin just before the
delivery, there are plenty of other signs that precede it which tell us that a
woman is expecting. So those who are
watching and expecting a birth, are generally not surprised when the labor
pains begin.
“Take
heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. “It is like a man
going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants,
and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. “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—“lest, coming
suddenly, he find you sleeping. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:33-37
NKJV
Although
some may question if the events we see are the beginning of birth pangs, I
believe the vast majority would agree this world is “expecting” and the labor
pains are soon to start.
Do you see what
I see?
Keep
watching.
A
few years ago I did a post concerning the judgment of Noah and the flood, and
mentioned the timing according to the account given to us in Genesis. You can read it here;
The
reason I mention it is if you have read a few of my posts, you know how much I
like “coincidences”. If you follow the
Jewish calendar as they did in the Old Testament by watching for the sighting
of the New Moon, this month (the second month) began at sunset on the
fourteenth of October. That would put
the seventeenth day of the second month to begin at sunset the thirty first of
October or Halloween. I believe this is
the first time in quite a long time that the anniversary of the flood falls on
Halloween. Probably just coincidence
though.
