The Signs of the
Times
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1
Let's ask God to guide us:
Heavenly Father,
We humbly come to You, grateful that You have given us Your Word, which is a lamp to our
feet and a light to our path.
As we study what the Bible teaches about the signs of the times, we ask You once again to
accompany us and to guide us through Your Spirit.
In Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.
Amen.
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Daniel 12:12
Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the 1335 days.
In our last lesson about the 1335 days, we have seen that this prophetic period
leads to the return of Jesus, and allows us to discover the year (but not the day or the
hour) when this glorious event takes place.
On the other hand, many hypotheses are possible concerning this year.
One of the ways to validate the likelihood of any hypothesis is to be sure that all the
signs of the times are present, since these signs show that Jesus' return is really close,
at hand.
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Matthew 24:3
The disciples came to [Jesus] 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?»
Like most of us, Jesus' disciples were concerned about the signs announcing the
end of the world.
Jesus answered their questions in a very clear way.
He indicated to them many signs, that we can divide into two categories:
- signs in the natural world;
- signs in the social world.
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Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes in various places.
First, let's look at the signs in the natural world.
Jesus foretold that, shortly before His return, «there will be
great earthquakes».
With the choice of the adjective «great», Jesus focused
especially on the gravity of earthquakes, more than simply on their frequency.
In fact, with the lightning growth of the world population in the last decades, we can
notice that earthquakes are always more and more destructive and murderous, affecting a
larger number of people.
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Luke 21:11
And there will be fearful sights and great signs from
heaven.
Luke 21:25
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in
the stars.
As we have seen in our lesson on the sixth seal, «Great Signs in Heaven», Jesus Christ gave us a real
astronomical calendar, allowing us to see the imminence of the end of the world by
observing a succession of heavenly phenomena.
Let's review these phenomena.
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Mark 13:24,25
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light; the stars of heaven will fall.
Revelation 6:12,13
And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the
moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth.
These three heavenly phenomena were foretold by Jesus, the apostle John, and
Old Testament prophets. In all passages, these phenomena always appear in the same order.
Now, let's look at them one by one.
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Revelation 6:12
And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair.
This phenomenon, recorded in books about the history of Astronomy, took place
on May 19, 1780.
It was not an eclipse, and this fact still remains unexplained.
An eyewitness declared: «A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes was
equally invisible with the blackest velvet.» (Samuel Tenney, Letter (1785) in Collections
of the Massachusetts Historical Society).
The darkening of the sun lasted many hours, leaving many places in America in total
darkness.
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Revelation 6:12
And the moon became like blood.
Joel 2:31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
The night following the dark day of May 19, 1780, the clouds dispersed to
unveil the moon which was, according to eyewitnesses, «as red as blood».
This additional historical fact, also still unexplained, can be verified in any good
Astronomy encyclopedia.
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Revelation 6:13
And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree
drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
The great star shower took place during the early morning hours of November 13,
1833. This heavenly spectacle produced such a light that it was possible to read the
newspaper in the street.
Those who witnessed this fantastic phenomenon thought that the end of the world had come.
This is another historical fact that can easily be found in any good Astronomy
encyclopedia.
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Matthew 24:7
And there will be famines (...) in various places.
What was formerly called the Third World now represents more than two thirds of
the world population. In fact:
- 20% of people on earth have enough to eat or even more;
- 60% are insufficiently fed;
- 20% are definitely underfed.
Among the latter, hunger kills more than 25 million people each year.
In addition, world population increases by more than 70 million births each year, most of
them in underdeveloped countries, the future victims of hunger...
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Luke 21:11
And there will be (...) in various places (...)
pestilences.
«Pestilences» in these modern times are
multiplying.
Sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia and herpes, are spreading at an alarming
rate.
AIDS, recently added to the list, has claimed hundreds of thousands of victims in only a
few years. And this is only the tip of the iceberg, since thousands of people carry the
virus and unknowingly continue to spread the terrible disease.
Not to mention flesh-eating bacteria, Lyme disease, mad-cow disease, and still others, too
numerous to mention...
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Matthew 24:6,7
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not
yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
The twentieth century saw the first two World Wars in human history.
World War II alone claimed 50 million victims.
Since 1945, more than 150 wars have caused the death of more than 25 million people, and
there have been only 26 days of worldwide peace!
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Revelation 11:18
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the
time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the
prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy
those who destroy the earth.
The nuclear era now endows man with the power to annihilate the entire planet
with increasingly powerful weapons.
We also see the huge problem of environmental pollution, causing irreversible harm to
Nature, turning its delicate balance upside down.
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1 Thessalonians 5:3
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.
Other signs, in the social world, show us the imminence of the end of the
world.
For example, let's think about peace and disarmament conferences, which are multiplying
like never before.
But unfortunately, all the efforts made to preserve peace have few effects other than
fulfilling Bible prophecy.
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Luke 21:25-27
There will be (...) on the earth distress of nations,
with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and
the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven
will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Isn't this just like reading the editorial of some newspaper? What an accurate
description of our world today!
Notice that this sign closely precedes the return of Jesus Christ.
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James 5:1-4
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that
are coming upon you!
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are
corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like
fire.
You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry
out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
Another sign of the times: struggles between employers and employees.
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2 Timothy 3:1-5
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will
come.
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Here is a very sad portrait of the moral condition of men just before Jesus'
return.
Our generation couldn't have been more accurately described.
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2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived.
As we read the newspapers and watch the news on television, we are horrified by
the incredible cruelty of men.
Many people hope that love will end up reversing this trend, but the Bible teaches that,
on the contrary, things will grow worse and worse until the return of Jesus.
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Matthew 24:12
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many
will grow cool.
With so much crime and violence, people have become very distrustful and
fearful.
Take time to note on your next bus ride how cold and unsympathetic we have become. Hardly
anyone speaks to anyone else, and smiles are very rare.
We no longer open our doors to strangers, fearing that something bad might happen.
Once again, Jesus perfectly described our generation.
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Matthew 24:37-39
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of
the Son of Man be.
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came
and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
People remained indifferent when Noah warned them of the coming of the Flood.
It is exactly the same today, as people are told that the end of the world is very near.
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Genesis 6:5,11-14
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in
the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
(...)
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their
way on the earth. And God said to Noah,
«The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through
them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark.»
Such was the condition prevailing in Noah's days.
Thoughtful people, as they contemplate our society today, note the parallels with these
days.
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Luke 18:8
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really
find faith on the earth?
With these words, Christ also foretold that at the end of time, we would
witness a fading in genuine Christian faith.
Indeed people prefer to forsake faith in God, and turn to other kinds of spirituality, or
simply declare themselves atheists.
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2 Peter 3:3,4
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.»
Abandoning Christian faith, people will laugh at those who eagerly wait for the
second coming of Jesus Christ.
Isn't this especially true today? We can all easily draw our own conclusions.
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2 Peter 3:5,6
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God
the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which
the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
Completing the previous verses, the apostle Peter shows us that, in the last
days, in addition to laughing at Jesus Christ's return, men will deny the story of the
Creation as described in the Bible, and will no longer believe in the account of the
universal Flood.
Amazing, isn't it?
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2 Timothy 4:3,4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will
heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables.
Rejecting the authority of the Bible, many are being seduced and deceived by
various «religious» movements which offer teachings appealing to their egos, without
challenging their real inner spiritual problem.
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1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some
will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
People are turning more and more to occult sciences, astrology, and other forms
of spiritualism.
More recently, we have witnessed the rise of many movements focused on the so-called
infinite powers hidden within each one of us, which individuals are invited to discover
and to develop.
Millions of people are joining these «New Age» movements.
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Matthew 24:4,5,24,25
And Jesus answered and said to them:
«Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am
the Christ", and will deceive many. (...)
For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to
deceive, if possible, even the elect.
See, I have told you beforehand.»
From time immemorial, there have been madmen claiming to be the Christ.
However, Jesus tells us that in the last days, we will no longer find them in asylums, but
rather in places of influence where they will deceive a lot of people.
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Daniel 12:4
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.
Today, we see more than an explosion of scientific and technological knowledge.
In fact, on the spiritual level, the Scriptures, although forsaken by the great majority,
are being studied more and more, in order to understand the message God wants to give us.
And, as foretold, the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation are now unsealed, and
reveal their valuable secrets to whoever seriously and sincerely studies them.
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Matthew 24:14
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.
This sign alone could convince us of the imminence of the second coming of
Jesus Christ.
Indeed, means of telecommunication have expanded at such a rate that at present, we have
enough technology to reach everybody in the whole world.
Powerful computers can translate the Bible into other languages, sometimes in a few
minutes, a work that, not so long ago, was a lifetime commitment.
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Matthew 16:2,3
[Jesus] 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.»
Just as the Pharisees didn't recognize the signs showing that Jesus was the
Christ, the Messiah, so our generation doesn't recognize the signs clearly foretelling His
imminent return.
Yet these signs are quite obvious for any serious Bible student.
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Mark 13:32,33
But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
We cannot know the precise date of the return of Jesus Christ...
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Luke 21:28-31
«Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift
up your heads, because your redemption draws near.»
And [Jesus] spoke to them a parable:
«Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know
for yourselves that summer is now near.
So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is
near.»
... but the signs of the times tell us that this great event cannot delay much
longer.
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Hebrews 10:37
For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come
and will not tarry.
Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, «Surely I am
coming quickly.»
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The return of Jesus Christ is imminent.
In future lessons, we will study in depth what the Bible teaches about this event, how it
will happen, and what will take place on earth on that day.
Don't miss them!
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Let's pray together:
Heavenly Father,
When we observe all the distress and upheavals which shatter our planet, we could be
anxious about what the future holds for us.
But, for those who trust Your Word of truth, these things are signs foretelling the
imminence of Jesus Christ's return. What a wonderful day it will be!
Please help us to get ready for His return. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: «White-tailed deer.» In: «Deluxe Compton's
Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton's Home Library, 1997. Screen
2: In: «Revelation Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #6 («Le
Glorieux Enlčvement Selon l'Apocalypse»), p.1. Screen 3: STEEL, John.
In: «God Cares, volume 2» (MAXWELL, C. Mervyn), Pacific Press Publishing Association,
1985, p.12. Screen 4: First picture: GALLANT, Randy. In: «The Medical
Post» (September 23, 1997), p.9. Second picture: Photo by «Publiphoto». Unknown source.
Third picture: In: «Signs of the Times» magazine (October 1990), Pacific Press
Publishing Association, p.2. Fourth picture: In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (January
1993), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.5. Fifth picture: In: «La Sentinelle»
magazine (March 1993), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.3. Sixth picture: Photo by
POZARIK, James. In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (February 1992), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, p.5. Seventh picture: In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (May 1996), Pacific
Press Publishing Association, p.14. Composite picture by Cyberspace Ministry.
Table of Screen 4: First picture: Photo by CARTER, Kevin. In: «Adventist
Review» (unknown date), «What causes world hunger?» (DYBDAHL, Tom), Review and Herald
Publishing Association, p.27. Second picture: Photo by BLAISE, Olivier. «Nevada Test
Site», Gamma Liaison. In: «Microsoft Encarta 98 Deluxe». Screen 5: Photo
by AP/Wide World Photos. In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (January 1996), Pacific Press
Publishing Association, p.2. Screen 6: HEASLIP, William. In: «Bible
Readings for the Home», Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1972, p.300.
Screen 7: In: «Revelation Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #9 («Les
Quatre Cavaliers de l'Apocalypse»), p.4. Screen 8: CONVERSE, James. In:
«God Cares, volume 2» (MAXWELL, C.Mervyn), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1985,
p.197. Screen 9: Photo by SANFORD, John, Science Source. «Landmarks of
the Moon». In: «Microsoft Encarta 98 Deluxe». Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry.
Screen 10: CONVERSE, James. In: «The Triumph of God's Love, volume 1» (WHITE,
Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing
Association, 1950, p.284. Screen 11: Photo by Robert Caputo. «Famine in
Sudan». From the Web site: http://www.auroraquanta.com/ODP3.html Screen 12: In:
«Adventist Review - A Special Issue on World Hunger and Poverty» («Who Is My
Neighbor?»), Review and Herald Publishing Association, p.39. Screen 13: «Soldiers
in a Korean War.» In: «Deluxe Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition»,
Compton's Home Library, 1997. Screen 14: Photo by BLAISE, Olivier.
«Nevada Test Site», Gamma Liaison. In: «Microsoft Encarta 98 Deluxe». Screen
15: Picture from the Web site: http://dns.usis-israel.org.il/images/p007291-.jpg
Screen 16: Photo by Publiphoto. In: «L'Omnipraticien» journal (unknown date).
Screen 17: «Turkish citizens protest in Ankara.» In: «Deluxe Compton's
Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton's Home Library, 1997. Screen
18: In: «Awake» magazine (April 22, 1998), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society,
p.1. Screen 19: In: «Awake» magazine (January 8, 1987), Watch Tower
Bible and Tract Society, p.1. Screen 20: In: «The Watchtower» magazine
(May 1, 1991), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.1. Screen 21: RUDEEN,
Herbert. In: «The Bible Story, volume 1» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1953, p.108. Screen 22: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (May
15, 1994), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.16. Screen 23: EASTMAN,
Bryant. In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (September 1991), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, p.9. Screen 24: In: «The Watchtower» magazine
(February 15, 1998), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.10. Screen 25: In:
«La Tour de Garde» magazine (April 15, 1990), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society, p.10. Screen 26: Photo from: Osho Foundation International,
India. In: «Revelation» (LORIE, Peter), Simon & Schuster, Labyrinth Publishing Ltd,
1994, p.120,121. Screen 27: HUNT, Robert. In: «La Sentinelle» magazine
(August 1992), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.10. Screen 28: Picture
from the Web site: http://christsbride-min.org/Cbm%20-%20what%20is%20truth.htm
Screen 29: COLLINS, Fred. In: «The Bible Story, volume 6» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1955, p.72. Composite picture by Cyberspace
Ministry. Screen 30: In: «La Sierra Today» magazine (Fall 1999), La
Sierra University, p.4. Screen 31: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery
Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #7, Photo Library 1, 178012.PCD. Screen 32: PROVONSHA,
Clyde N. In: «The Triumph of God's Love, volume 2» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press
Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.536.
Screen 33: PROVONSHA, Clyde. In: «Votre Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
Press Publishing Association, p.332. Screen 34: ANDERSON, Harry. In:
«God Cares, volume 2» (MAXWELL, C.Mervyn), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1985,
p.146. Screen 35: «Comet Hale-Bopp.» In: «Deluxe Compton's Interactive
Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton's Home Library, 1997.
Any copyrighted images not bearing a statement of permission, are used
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law can be without the consent or endorsement of the copyright holder. Images lacking
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The test of Lesson 54 is waiting for you!