No one on earth knows the day nor the hour of the return of Jesus Christ. One thing is sure, He’s coming. We may not know the day nor the hour but He said we would be able to see the signs. Every generation has seen what they perceived to be a sure sign of Jesus’ immediate return, but He didn’t come then. Some have set dates but it didn’t happen.
Let us look at some of the signs of His return in this generation, and there are many, many that are peculiar to this generation. He said there would be an increase of knowledge ( Da 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.) This prophesy was written over 500 years before the birth of Christ. There has never been a generation that has been saturated with the increase of knowledge like ours. With the internet, computers, cell phones, television and many other means, knowledge has leaped forward like never before.
Israel has always been symbolized by the fig tree. For 2000 years the nation of Israel ceased to exist as a nation. Even the Hebrew language was dead. But today, Israel is very much alive and the Hebrew language has been revived. The fig tree has been growing for almost a generation. (Read Luke 21 and Matt. 24.)
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5. The list describes our generation like none before. Verse 5 speaks of a form of godliness, but denying the power of God. God works by His Spirit and that is an unwelcome thing in many churches. The Holy Spirit often works by His gifts to the Church (I Cor. 12). However, those gifts are not welcome in most churches. Why? That puts the Holy Spirit in control and man wants to control everything himself.
Verse 4 speaks of man loving pleasures more than loving God. The one day a week that we should especially seek to please God and seek Him finds many Christians boating, camping, shopping, watching TV, etc. Huge investments are made in pleasures but no time for church and nothing for the tithe to God.
In verse 3 the Bible warns of a time when natural affection will be missing. Does that speak of our times? Violent video games are causing senseless murders, sex without love, divorces for convenience sake, homosexuality, abortions and gang activities are examples of our culture today.
Verse 2 talks about men being lovers of their own selves. “My way, my toys, it’s my life.” Children suffer, families fall apart, domestic violence increases and the list goes on and on. Can it be long before Jesus returns? Surely, it is near. Read those five verses of 2 Timothy Chapter 3. There are many more signs that identify this generation like no other. Jesus is coming!
Maranatha!
