IS THE END IN SIGHT ?

By Pastor Mike Stahl

Brothers and Sisters , I’ve heard many people ask in amazement , " What’s going on ? " referring to all the earthquakes , floods , tornados , winter storms , the declining economy , rumors of possible war with North Korea , terrorist plots , swine flu epidemic , gay marriage , continued efforts to eliminate Christianity in the name of political correctness , President Obama bowing to a Saudi King , in addition to making statements that the U.S. is NOW more a "Muslim" country than a Christian one , unborn babies being slaughtered in the name of "science" ,  you name it - it’s happening . .  NOW !!!

Frankly , my friends , I see the end coming ! And I mean that LITERALLY !! Look around you , you’ll see the majority of people walking around with their heads hung low , as if in a trance. Myself , though , I have a smile on my face ,and I’m NOT looking DOWN . . But UP !! THAT’S RIGHT , UP !! Because I’m ready at any day , week , month , year , or second  , to see my Lord and Savior , JESUS CHRIST coming down from Heaven in the clouds , in all His Glory to " sweep up" His people .  GLORY  BE TO GOD  !!

I don’t need a ton of bricks to fall on my head to wake me up to this reality , either , folks ! Just like if I hear a train horn , I don’t need to see a train to KNOW one is coming ! All I have to do is pay attention to the "signs" . If I hear thunder and see the clouds darken , I don’t need to see the rainstorm , to KNOW that it’s going to rain - all I need to do is pay attention to the "signs "

Just about any day of the week now , you can pick up any newspaper , watch any tv news station ,I don’t care which one it is - take your pick , from the Wall Street Journal to the Miami - Herald , to USA Today - when you read or watch the news , it’s like reading the book of Revelation !

But , how about turning your Bible’s to Luke 12:54-56 and see what Jesus HIMSELF said , " And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? "
You see , for most of recorded history , the world’s principal occupation was farming . The farmer depended directly on the weather for his livelihood.  He needed just the right amounts of sun and rain - not too much , not too little - to make his living , and he grew skilled in interpreting natural signs . Jesus was announcing an earthshaking event that would be much more important than the year’s crops - the coming of God’s Kingdom ! The Kingdom , like a rainstorm on a sunny day , was giving signs that it would soon arrive . But Jesus’ hearers , though skilled at interpreting weather signs , were intentionally ignoring the SIGNS OF THE TIMES !! So , right here , Jesus declared that signs were clearly discernible relative to His ministry ,yet men refused to heed these signs - and STILL DO !! Therefore , such people must bear the responsibility for their own destruction !

Now , remember I said , I walk with my head looking up in the sky and a smile on my face in these gloomy times ? Well , brothers and sisters in Christ - SO SHOULD YOU !! ALL Christians should !! Know why ? Again , because Jesus tells us in John 14:1-6 that we should not live in fear , to believe in God , and fix our hope on that day , as He is making preparations for us .

Let’s first look at John 14:1-3 ; " Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. "

Jesus’ words here show that the way to eternal life , though unseen , is certain - as assured as your trust in Jesus . He has ALREADY prepared the way to eternal life . The only issue that may still be unsettled is one’s willingness to believe .  There are few verses in Scripture that describe eternal life , but they are rich with promises . Here Jesus says , " I go to prepare a place for you , " and " I will come again . " We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus has promised it to all who believe in Him . Although the details of eternity are unknown , we need not fear , because Jesus is preparing for us and will spend eternity with us .

Now , let’s go on to 14: 4-6 ; " And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. "

This is one of the most basic and important passages in Scripture . How can we know the way to God ? Only through Jesus ! Jesus is the way because He is BOTH God and man . By uniting our lives with His , we are united with God ! We need to trust Jesus to take us to the Father , and all the benefits of being God’s children will be ours . Jesus says He is the ONLY way to God the Father ! Some people may argue that this is too narrow . In reality , it’s wide enough for the whole world , IF the world chooses to accept it . Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way , we should be saying , " Thank-You , God , for providing a sure way to get to you ! " As the WAY , Jesus is our path to the Father . As the TRUTH , He is the reality of all God’s promises . As the LIFE , He joins His divine life to ours , both now and eternally . Jesus is , in truth , the ONLY living way to the Father .

So , now let’s see what else the Bible says about the "signs of the times ". Chapter 2 in the book of Daniel tells us the following :

FOUR HAVE BEEN  , it tells us in 2:36-40 ; " This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. "

Ok , so what’s Daniel mean ? Well , in the interpretation of the dream , Daniel pointed out that Nebuchadnezzar was an extremely powerful world ruler because " the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom , " etc . God is in total control of the kingdoms of this world (4:32 ) . In relation to the image , Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar , " Thou art this head of gold. " In view of the demolition of the image by the stone , this must have brought consternation to the king .

Daniel next explained that an "inferior " kingdom would succeed his own . This must refer to the Medo-Persian Empire that captured Babylon in about 538 B.C. Notice verses 5:28 ; " PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians " ; and 6:8 ; " Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not " ; 12 ; " Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not " ; and 15  , " Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed " in this regard . The Medes and the Persians were one combined nation at that time . The bronze area of the statue stood for a third kingdom " which shall bear rule over all the earth.  " This was historically fulfilled in the conquests of Alexander the Great of Greece who conquered Asia Minor , defeating the Persians in the process , and then took control of Syria and Egypt before proceeding even as far as India by the year 323 B.C.

" the fourth kingdom " , represented by the iron legs , would be extremely strong and was fulfilled by the Roman Empire , which eventually and gradually filled the vacuum in the period of the Greek decline before the birth of Christ .

Now , ONE IS YET TO COME , it tells us in Daniel 2:41-43 ; " And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. "

The toes of this statue correspond to ten kings ruling simultaneously in the area of Roman dominion . This can be seen by comparing verse 44 (which I’ll get to in a minute ) , with chapter 7 where there are four beasts that represent these same four kingdoms . The fourth beast ( ch.7:7 ) had ten horns , corresponding to the ten toes of  the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream . These horns are clearly identified as ten kings . " the feet were part of iron, and part of clay ." The mingling of iron and clay in the feet of the image is of uncertain explanation . Perhaps it stands for strength of authority in a king mixed with the weakness of fickle human opinion in a democracy . The two "feet" may speak of a time beyond Christ’s first coming , a time after the Roman Empire was divided .

Now , lets look at Daniel 2:44 ; " And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. "

" in the days of these kings " , this points to the future when the Roman Empire will be reassembled during the Tribulation period after the rapture of believer’s at Christ’s return . " the God of heaven " would then " set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed . " God’s kingdom is that referred to in Isaiah 9:6 ; Jeremiah 23:5-6 ; Micah 4:1-8 , and predicted at Christ’s birth in Luke 1:32-33 . This kingdom was never established during Christ’s earthly ministry , as can be seen from the statements in Matthew 19:28 ; Luke 19:11 ; and Acts 1:6-7 . God will set up this kingdom on earth at His return from Glory at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon . Revelation 20:4-6 describes Christ ruling and reigning over the earthly kingdom predicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream .

God’s time line revealed :

Now , obviously , NO ONE knows when Christ will return . Matthew 24:36 tells us that ; " But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. " Heck , not even the " angels of heaven " ! So , if the angels don’t know , do NOT be deceived by these false prophets and various televangelists that tell you THEY KNOW !!

HOWEVER . . . We CAN KNOW when the time is near by seeing the "signs". Let’s  start by looking at Daniel 9:24 ; " Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. ,"

Now , here , "Seventy weeks " meant , literally , seventy units of seven , or seventy times seven . Almost all expositors , ancient and modern , have seen this as signifying seventy units , each composed of seven years , making a total of 490 years . " Are determined " indicates that these years of which God told Daniel were certain to transpire in the manner predicted . " Upon thy people and upon thy holy city ." This prophecy concerned Israel , the Hebrew nation descended through Jacob , and the city of Jerusalem . Six things dealing with sin and righteousness would be accomplished during the 490 years . The first three are negative , and the final three positive : (1) " to finish the transgression " has reference to rebellion against God ; (2) " to make an end of sins " could quite naturally in this context refer to sin being put away during the Messiah’s reign ; (3 ) " to make reconciliation for iniquity " speaks of an atonement for sin on the basis of some sacrifice . This was no doubt fulfilled in Christ’s own sacrificial death on the cross ; (4 ) " to bring in everlasting righteousness " so , with sin taken care of  ( in the first three statements )  , righteousness can now be a reality . This will be applied to Israel at Christ’s glorious second coming at the conclusion of the Tribulation Period and will usher in the predicted righteous government of the Messiah ( Isaiah 9:7 ; 11:3-5 ; Jeremiah 23:5-6 ) ; (5 ) " to seal up the vision and prophecy " - there will come a time when all visions and prophecy will be fulfilled or consummated , and thus will no longer have a function . There are yet , of course , many prophecies that must still be fulfilled ; and (6 ) " to anoint the most Holy " , this phrase has been taken at various times to refer to Zerubbabel’s temple , Christ Himself , the Holy One , or the future millennial temple . The most natural usage would be a reference to the anointing of a future temple when Messiah’s reign will be inaugurated with righteousness . Such a temple is predicted in Ezekiel 40-48 , together with actual animal sacrifices which will commemorate Christ’s death on the cross .

Now , let’s look at the sixty-nine weeks of years in Daniel 9:25-26 ; "(v 25 ) "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." (v 26 ) "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. "

" From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem . " These words indicate the beginning point , or terminus a quo , for the seventy weeks of years during which the six events specified in verse 24 are to be accomplished . It actually requires the completion of all seventy weeks , or the full 490 years , to accomplish all of the predicted events of verse 24 . It’s believed that this starting point can be readily identified from the Scriptures themselves . Three possibilities are found : (1 ) A date of 538 B.C. when Cyrus issued a command recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and repeated in Ezra 1: 1:1-4 . However , this edict clearly referred only to rebuilding the Temple and not only mentioned nothing of rebuilding the city , but also accomplished nothing in that regard ; ( 2 ) A date of 458 B.C. when Artaxerxes issued a decree to aid Ezra as he returned  to Jerusalem . But this command , recorded in Ezra 7:11-26 , also had clearly nothing to do with rebuilding the city . Ezra summarized the intent of the king’s edict as being " . . . to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem " ( Ezra 7:27 ) . (3 ) A date of 445 B.C. seems to be more credible , at the time when Artaxerxes gave permission to Nehemiah to go ". . . unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers , that I may build it " ( Nehemiah 2:5 ) . The edict even mentions materials to be gathered " . . . for the wall of the city . . . " ( Nehemiah 2:8 ) .

" Unto the Messiah the Prince " defines the termination point , or terminus ad quem , of the first sixty-nine weeks of years , meaning 483 years , as expressed by the phrase " shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks ." The significance of the marking off of the initial seven weeks , or forty-nine years , is uncertain , though it may refer to the time Ezra and Nehemiah labored to firmly set up the new Jewish state in Jerusalem . Those days could certainly be described as " in troublous times ."

Now , going to verse 26 , the terminus of the first sixty-nine weeks was unto the " Messiah the Prince  " ( vs. 25 ) , indicating some point in His life , not His birth , because of the chronology involved . This is usually seen as a reference to His baptism , earthly ministry , or sometimes , Triumphal Entry . Sometime "after " the fulfillment of the 483-year period " shall Messiah be cut off . " The crucifixion of Christ coincides with this prediction , as nearly all biblical scholars agree . The next event described is the destruction of " the city " ( Jerusalem ) " and the sanctuary " . This destruction occurred in A.D. 70 and was carried out by Vespasian , his son Titus , and the Roman legions . " The people of the prince that shall come " refers to the Romans , since this prince is to be distinguished from " Messiah the Prince " of verse 25 . The prince of verse 26 is the Anti-Christ , and his people are the Roman people . It’s important to note that these events happened after the first sixty-nine weeks of years , but still before the final week spoken of in verse 27 . That final week is STILL FUTURE and await’s the fulfillment of the events of verse 27  ; " And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

So , in the "week " to come , there will be ; a ) the dispersion of the Jews ( Luke 21:24 ) ; b ) the distressing of Nations ( Luke 21: 25-26 ) , and  c ) the declaration of the end ( Luke 21:29-32 ) .

Let’s take ‘em one at a time , starting with the dispersion of the Jews . Luke 21:24 ; " And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. "

" And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles ." This is taken by most to mean Jerusalem will be under the governmental control of non-Jews . This has been the case ( with the exception of the Bar Kochbar revolt , A.D. 123-35 ) until Wednesday June 7 , 1967 . " Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled . " On June 7 , 1967 , the "times of the Gentiles" were completed . Jesus did not predict what would happen after that time , but it may be assumed that Israel would come back into God’s spotlight , and the return of Christ would be nearer .

Now , on to b ) the distressing of Nations . Luke 21:25-26 tells us ; "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. "

Here , Christ tells his disciples to observe the signs of the times, which they might judge by. He charges them to look upon the ruin of the Jewish nation as near. Yet this race and family of Abraham shall not be rooted out; it shall survive as a nation, and be found as prophesied, when the Son of man shall be revealed. He cautions them against being secure and sensual. This command is given to all Christ's disciples, Take heed to yourselves, that ye be not overpowered by temptations, nor betrayed by your own corruptions. We cannot be safe, if we are carnally secure. Our danger is, lest the day of death and of judgment should come upon us when we are not prepared. Lest, when we are called to meet our Lord, that be the furthest from our thoughts, which ought to be nearest our hearts. For so it will come upon the most of men, who dwell upon the earth, and mind earthly things only, and have no converse with heaven. It will be a terror and a destruction to them. Here see what should be our aim, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things; that when the judgements of God are abroad, we may not be in the common calamity, or it may not be that to us which it is to others. Do you ask how you may be found worthy to stand before Christ at that day? Those who never yet sought Christ, let them now go unto him; those who never yet were humbled for their sins, let them now begin; those who have already begun, let them go forward and be kept humbled. Watch therefore, and pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and make the most of every opportunity to do good. Pray always: those shall be accounted worthy to live a life of praise in the other world, who live a life of prayer in this world. May we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ's word, obeying his precepts, and following his example, that whenever he comes we may be found watching.

And , finally c ) the declaration of the end . Luke 21:29-32 ; " And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. "

The fig tree is thought by many to be a symbol of Israel .This is seen in Luke 13 . " This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled . " The generation spoken of is probably the one which sees the signs ( especially those regarding the fig tree ) come to pass . That generation , which could very well be OURS - will see God conclude this present age prior to the inauguration of His millennial kingdom .

So , in conclusion , brothers and sisters , despite all that is happening around us , we need not walk around gloomy ,with our heads hung low , BUT . . As Christians , in these last days - (and make no mistake about it , we ARE in the last days ) , we need to LOOK UP !! Why ? Look what Jesus HIMSELF tells us in Luke 21:28 ; " And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. " Sure , the picture of the coming persecutions and natural disasters is gloomy , but ultimately it is a cause not for worry but for GREAT JOY !! When believers see these events happening , as we are seeing now , we KNOW that the return of our Messiah is near , and we can look forward to His reign of justice and peace . Rather than being terrified by what is happening in our world , we should confidently await Christ’s return to bring justice and restoration to His people .

Jesus told His disciples to keep a constant watch for His return . Although nearly 2,000 years have passed since He spoke these words , their truth remains : CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN !!

May He continue to bless and keep you ALL - ALWAYS . .

Your brother in Christ ; Pastor Mike