8
Compelling Reasons why Christ is coming very soon!
The evidence
for the soon return of Jesus Christ is overwhelming. It could be any moment.
One scholar lists 167 converging clues just in the last few years. The following
are eight:
- Israel’s
rebirth. As Jesus prophesied, the Jews were scattered during the Jewish-Roman
war of A.D. 70 (Luke 21:24). Also prophesied to occur before Christ’s
return, the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn on May 14, 1948. Israel
is called “God’s time clock.”
- Plummeting
morality. Studies show a shocking breakdown just since mid-century (2
Timothy 3:1-4).
- Famines,
violence, and wars. Jesus said the signs before his return would come
as intensifying birth pangs, seeing increased famines, violence and wars,
a clear picture of our planet (Matthew 24:6-8). One of six people on earth
suffers from hunger. Violence is epidemic. A study of wars since 500 B.C.
shows a recent dramatic increase. More than 100 conflicts have erupted since
1990, about twice the number for previous decades.
- Increase
in earthquakes. Also prophesied to be as birth pangs (Matthew 24:7),
a recent study shows a dramatic increase in earthquakes worldwide, just
since the decade of Israel’s rebirth. Between 1920 and 1990,
a 70-year span, there were 10 major earthquakes. But in 1990 to the
year 2005, a 15-year span, we have had 13 major earthquakes." (Associated
Press) The U.S. Geological Survey data shows in 2000, there were 22,256
recorded earthquakes worldwide but steadily increased to 31,199 earthquakes
in 2004. (WorldNetDaily)
- Explosion
of travel and education. Two key conditions described about 2,500 years
ago for the Second Coming are that “travel and education shall be vastly
increased” (Daniel 12:4, Living Bible). In all of history, the vast increase
in travel has come just since mid-century with the explosion of both ground
and air transportation; in education, with the advance of science and computers.
- Explosion
of cults and the occult. Counterfeit spirituality is everywhere with
cults and false Christs (Matthew 24:24), psychic phenomena, spiritism, Satan
worship, witchcraft, nature worship and the New Age movement (1 Timothy
4:1). What is a cult or the occult? See "What is
a cult or the occult" Report on this website.
- The
New World Order. Increased centralization of world financial and political
power is a prelude to the soon-coming world power system in the hands of
the “Antichrist,” who will be the incarnation of Satan and who will deceive
most of the world (Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 13). Beware of
the “mark of the beast”. Beware of the Mark of the Beast Report"
on this web site
- Increase
in both apostasy and faith. The Bible predicts in the last days, “A
form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).
Today, many churches deny the eternal truths of Scripture and power of the
Holy Spirit, replacing them with ungodly, temporal and “politically correct”
values. But also, a prophesied outpouring of God’s Spirit is causing hundreds
of millions worldwide to come to true faith in Christ in record numbers,
virtually unnoticed by the media.
The Escape Plan
Christ’s death and resurrection have opened the way to heaven and life with
the Father forever for all who put their trust in Him and His great sacrifice
on our behalf. Christ will soon come and rescue His people from the approaching
“Great Tribulation” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). He will later rule and bring
peace on earth- after He judges the world and every person (Matthew 25:31-46).
God’s judgment is indeed coming on a world in rebellion. He cannot deny His
nature. His attributes of perfect holiness and justice demand judgment for
sin, of which we are all guilty. “For all who have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The result of sin is death, or separation from God. “For the wages of sin
is death” (Romans 6:23). Wages are something we earn, or deserve.
But “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Is “love” in conflict with “judgment”? Answer:
God’s wisdom reconciled the dilemma- the Son of God would take all our judgment
upon Himself! “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
To escape God’s judgment, we each must receive His free gifts of forgiveness
and love, “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(Romans 6:23). A gift is something we do not earn, or deserve.
How to receive Him
In any gift exchange, there has to be giver and receiver. God has already
given us the gift, His Son; now we must receive Him. “But as many as received
Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
We receive Him by faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works,
that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).
We receive Him by personal invitation, (Christ speaking) “Behold, I stand
at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will
come in to him” (Revelation 3:20). Do you hear His voice?
The following is a suggested prayer: “Lord Jesus, I believe you are the
Son of God and that you died on the cross for my sins to save me from eternal
death. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. I
give you my life. Help me to be what you want me to be. Amen.”