^{Hebrews 1:3}Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
^{Eph.1  10}That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

 In our last study we saw that the "blessed hope" of the Christian is the personal return of Christ, and that He will return first into the air for His own, 

1 Thess. 4:17,  ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

and then to the earth with His own, Jude 14; Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

 Zech. 14:4; Acts 1: 11. ¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, 

shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Now, is there any way in which we can receive guidance as to when He will come? We would, of course, be foolish and wrong to try to fix the exact day and 

hour of His return, Zech. 14:7; ⁷But it shall be one day which shall be known TO THE LORD

Matt. 24:36; ³⁶"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. "

 Mark 13:32; ³²"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. "

Acts 1:6-7, ⁶When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

⁷And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. "

 but the Word of God mentions certain signs or indications that we are nearing the end of the present age, look up Luke 21:28.

²⁸"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. "

 The Lord Jesus, the Old Testament prophets and the apostles all foretold that certain events would take place on the earth and in the Church which would herald the second advent. Just as the appearance of John the Baptist was the token that Jesus the Messiah was about to be revealed  the first time, Isa. 40:3, so today the presence of certain unmistakable signs in the Church and in the world tell us that His second coming is near at hand.

 Strictly speaking, there are no "signs" connected with the rapture of believers, which is the first phase of the return of Christ; the coming of the Lord into the air for His saints is always proposed as the imminent hope of the Church,

Phil. 3:20; ²⁰For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

 1 Thess. 1:10. ¹⁰And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

 "Signs" only have to do with His return in power and glory, to reign as the Son of Man; but seeing that the coming of the Lord for His people must precede His coming with His people, it follows that if the signs of His return in glory "are shaping themselves visibly before our eyes and tell us that that return is not far off, the rapture must perforce be still nearer".

 If we take our Bible and make a careful study of the scripture references tabulated below, we shall discover that (1) The World Signs; (2) The Church Signs and (3) The Jewish Signs all proclaim the Lord's coming to be near at hand.

1.   THE WORLD SIGNS 

(1)  An increase of sin and lawlessness and conditions similar to the days of Noah and Lot, 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Luke 17:26-30; Gen. 6:11.

(2) Great national distress, perplexity and fear, Luke 21:25-26 and, in particular, the fear of nuclear war, Matt. 24:3-6;

2 Pet. 3:10. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

(3)        Famine, pestilence and earthquakes, Matt. 24:7.

(4)        Labour problems, strikes and widespread commercial and industrial unrest, Zech. 8:10; ¹⁰For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. 

 James 5:4.

 (5)        An amazing increase in travel and knowledge,  Dan. 12:4; ⁴But 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.    Nahum 2:3-4; Isa. 31:5; 60:8.

(6)        The amassing of wealth, James 5:1-3. ¹Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  

²Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

³Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

(7)        Much talk of peace, and the holding of peace conferences, 1 Thess. 5:1-3.

 

Are not these signs evident in a very marked degree today? Do not these world signs proclaim the nearness of our Lord's return?

 2.   THE CHURCH SIGNS

 (1)        The increase of apostasy, 2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

 (2)        Hypocrisy and much empty profession,                 2 Tim. 3:5.

 (3)        Luke warmness in the Church, Matt. 24:12;        Rev. 3:14-20.

 (4)        Many who scoff at the Truth, 2 Pet. 3:3-4.

 (5)        False prophets and a great increase in false            religions and demonism, the occult, Matt. 24:11;          1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Thess. 2:7-10;                 2 Pet. 2:1-2.

 (6)        Much persecution of the faithful ones,                Matt. 24:910; Mark 13:913.

 (7)        Worldwide evangelism, Mark 13:10.

 Do you not agree that these signs are evident in a very marked degree today? Do not these church signs  proclaim the nearness of our Lord's return?

 3.   THE JEWISH SIGNS

 Please read Luke 21:29-33. In this scripture our Lord compares the Jewish nation to a fig tree, and He tells us that when the fig tree begins to bud and bear fruit we may be sure that His coming again is near at hand.

 The budding of the fig tree is taking place today.

 (1)        Over the past 30 years, the Jews have been returning to Israel in fulfillment of many prophecies, Isa. 11:11-12; Ezek. 36:24; 37:21; Jer. 23:33-8; 32:37-41;

Amos 9:14-15; Luke 21:24.

 "Jews from all parts of the world have been regathering in the land of Israel. Week by week, month by month, by ship and plane, great throngs of the sons 

and daughters of Abraham have been arriving at the ports of Israel."

 (2)        There are wonderful industrial, agricultural and cultural developments in Israel, in fulfillment of prophecy, Isa. 35:1-10; Jer. 30:18-22; 31:7-14; Zech. 14:9-11; Hos. 3:4-5.

 This is a truly significant Jewish sign that proclaims the nearness of our Lord's return.

 As you study and meditate upon the above scripture portions, is it not clear that we are living at the end of the present age and that we are justified in believing that "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh"?  James 5: 8. This truth is at the same time most glorious and most solemn. It is glorious for all who know Him and who are trusting Him as their Lord and Saviour, but it is terribly solemn for those who do not know Him, who have never turned to Him in repentance and faith. Please conclude this study by looking up Isa. 55:6-7.

The next sermon will be about the jugdment seat of Christ.