Discerning Prophecy And End-Time Signs Sýnishorn

Three Questions About Jesus’ Coming

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 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?” (Matthew 24:1–3)

“When Will These Things Be?”

The first question Jesus’ disciples asked Him regarding the signs of His return was, “Tell us, when will these things be?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus explained that events would unfold over time. Some of the signs He mentioned in Matthew 24 have already taken place. For instance, the prophecy about the destruction of the temple was fulfilled exactly as Jesus had predicted when the Roman general Titus besieged Jerusalem in AD 70. 

Many prophecies concerning Christ’s coming have been fulfilled in the past century. Again, one of the greatest events signaling the end times was the restoration of the nation of Israel in 1948, which occurred due to God’s supernatural intervention. 

The fact that the nation of Israel has been restored means that the clock is ticking because end-time prophecies would not be complete without this promised restoration. Signs continue to be fulfilled in our day. This is happening before our eyes. 

“What Will Be the Sign of Your Coming, and of the End of the Age?”

The second and third questions can be addressed together because their answers are much more integrated. The disciples even merged these questions into one inquiry: “And what will be the sign of Your coming [Jesus’ appearing], and of the end of the age [Jesus’ second coming]?” (Matthew 24:3). There is a clear distinction between the sign of Jesus’ appearing and the sign of His second coming because they point to separate events. Remember, Jesus’ appearing is for gathering His remnant bride, and His coming is for judging and ruling the world.

The Sign of Jesus’ Appearing: Divine “Shakings”

Prior to Jesus’ appearing, divine “shakings” are to come upon the earth and its people. These shakings will occur in three stages. Previously, we talked about one aspect of the tremors, the shaking of the global economy. During these shakings, whatever can be loosed—whatever does not have a strong foundation in Christ—will sway and fall. We have already gone through the preliminary stage of shaking and are currently experiencing the intermediate stage. We are slowly moving toward the commencement of the final shaking:

For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:6–7)

These verses describe a shaking that will occur in every dimension and sphere of life. Wherever there is life, there will be trembling!

God will shake the heavens, the earth, the seas, and the weather.

God will shake nations, governments, institutions, the world economy, families, and individuals.

God will shake the devil and his demons.

Again, everything that is not established in Christ will be shaken loose and fall. He is the only firm rock!

But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:46–49)

God is using the shaking we are now experiencing to refine believers so that they will be purified to become the remnant that is ready for Jesus’ appearing. However, the main purpose of the shaking is to judge the people of the world for their sin and rebellion against Him. If you have been going through a shaking in your personal life, family, finances, or health, then rejoice! God is purifying you as the remnant bride. Keep your lamp burning!

In these devastating times, God’s remnant will not become bewildered, because they will have the light of Christ within them to direct their steps. They will light their lamps of vigil, prayer, and the Word in preparation for His appearing. We do not know how long the final period of shaking will last before the rapture occurs, but we do know that at its conclusion, in the fullness of this era, Jesus will appear for His purified bride.

The Sign of Jesus’ Coming: The Preaching of the Gospel to the Whole World

While the sign of Jesus’ appearing is the shaking of all things, the sign of His coming, and ultimately of the end of the age, is the preaching of the gospel throughout the world: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

How will the preaching of the gospel to the whole world be accomplished? We read in the book of Daniel, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). Increased knowledge in the world has led to an explosion in the development of technology. Thanks to technology, what we previously couldn’t have accomplished in decades or even centuries to spread the gospel, we can now accomplish in a year, a month, or a week. We have the potential to reach billions of people with the good news of the kingdom! The Great Commission of bringing the gospel to all nations (see Matthew 28:19) is being accomplished through technology and other means.

The gospel of the kingdom is not one that simply makes us “feel good.” Moreover, it does not consist of mere “persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). It comes with supernatural evidence, such as miracles, signs, and wonders. 

God has entrusted to every single believer the task of preaching this gospel of the kingdom. (See Matthew 28:18–20.) He did not give this assignment to only a select few. He chose each member of His church to accomplish this mighty work through the power of His Spirit.

The world is in crisis. People are waiting for us, God’s children, to tell them about Christ. The gospel of the kingdom is simple, practical, and powerful, and the supreme task of the church is to bring it to the whole world. The truth of the gospel is confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus! We need to go and demonstrate the power of His resurrection. This is what it means to say, “Come, Lord Jesus” with the Spirit, as the purified bride of Christ!