“Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately,
AND SAID…
- Tell us, when will all this happen?:
- What will be the sign of your return”
- and the end of the world?”
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ THEY WILL DECEIVE MANY. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only THE FIRST OF THE BIRTH PAINS, with more to come.” (Matt. 24:3-8)
In response, looking out over Jerusalem, Jesus gave a very detailed answer. He told the disciples—and also us, today—how to discern the signs of the end. He warned them about the Tribulation and the “beginnings of sorrows.” “…because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 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. “Therefore when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea FLEE to the mountains.” (Matt. 24:12-16) Jesus is talking to the Jews who will be through the tribulation. This event that finally wakes them up to who the messiah really is half way through (31\2 years), when the beast proclaims he is God. All believers will be in Heaven at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
How close are we to this event? Jesus said, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves (when, for the second time in history Israel becomes a nation), you know that summer is near. Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION will by no means PASS AWAY till all these things take place.” (Matt. 24:32-34) “For behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I WILL BRING BACK from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will cause them to RETURN TO THE LAND THAT I GAVE TO THEIR FATHERS, and they shall possess it.'” (Jer. 30:3) On May 14th 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day. This was 73 years ago Moses wrote the 90th Psalm which says, “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years…” (Psa. 90:10) Moses was 120 years old when he died, so he wasn’t speaking of his age. It just so happens that the average male lifespan is now 79 years. Jesus said “till ALL THESE THINGS take place” the great tribulation would come to an end. If that’s 80 years from the time Israel became a nation, we subtract 7 years from this number, that’s 73 years, where we are now…just saying! MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY!!!
-Bill Stockham