Signs of Jesus' ReturnShembull

In All the World    

Jesus said that “…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). At that time, it seemed only a laughable hope, but today it is close to realization. With it has come the greatest witness to Christ, and also the greatest bloodbath of Christian suffering and martyrdom of all time. It is the satanic testimony to the nearness of Christ’s return. He sees the signs of the times and realizes that, with the coming of Christ, his reign of terror and freedom to wield darkness and evil are coming to an end.

This tremendous twin sign of Israel and the Church is put in a nutshell in the book of James who admonished us, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8).

The reference to early and latter rains, relates to the rains or downpours of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Joel 2:23. The two seasons of rain are those of the early church, and of the times immediately prior to the end before God puts in the sickle, with a dry season during those middle centuries. The latter rains fill out the seedlings and produce the final crop. This is the harvest that Christ is coming to gather. He will harvest the world.

This brings us to Mark 16:15, our commission. As we faithfully embrace this heavenly design of Christ’s return with absolute fidelity to its Designer, our understanding of the times will be opened, bringing hope and passion to our hearts. Furthermore, it will draw us deeper into the heart of God that we might cry His tears, share His joys, and run with our call in heartfelt obedience. For, like the sons of Issachar, who also understood the times and thus, knew what to do, (1 Chronicles 12:32), our understanding of the times through the signs of His return and His Word, will show us what we should do.