Dear God, “some golden daybreak” You will return. We shall see You coming in the clouds of heaven, and all our battles will be over, forever!  We are longing for that day! Please come quickly Lord Jesus! We pray in Your holy name. Amen.

Our study for today is about what the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the earth will represent for the human race. I have attempted to talk about what heaven is going to be like, in the past, and have never been able to even begin to describe what that is going to be like. Today, I am simply going to share some of what is in my heart with You. My heart is somewhat heavy today. Just yesterday, I became aware of a very sick little girl,whose condition had been brought to our attention at the Prayer Request page. Along with a prayer partner I prayed for her healing, and then this morning I published a prayer on her behalf. Immediately after I published the prayer, I went to the link that had been left at the Prayer Request Chapel, and to my sadness, I discovered that little Kayla Grace, had fallen asleep in the Lord. My heart aches. She was only two years old!

That is one of the things we will never have to deal with when Jesus returns. Death will be a thing of the past! Glory to God! Hallelujah! I long to live in a world where life is going to prevail over death (1 Corinthians 15: 54, 55)! The first order of things will be restored! That is what heaven is going to be about – restoration! But it will not be a restoration of the old, but of what God had intended, “in the beginning,” before the entrance of sin into our universe. Because of this, God is able to say, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21: 5a). God will once again look at His restored creation and declare it “very good” (Genesis 1: 31).

The tree of life will be there. The river of life will be there. Life will be restored to the full! Above and beyond all of this, God and the Lamb, will be there (Revelation 22: 1-3)! Just to be in their presence will be heaven for me! God will then remove every cause for tears. When I think of “crying” in heaven, it just does not fit in with the concept of heaven. If “the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21: 4c), then there will be no place for tears! For this reason I have chosen to paraphrase the first part of verse 4, in the following manner:  “And God will wipe away every cause for tears from their hearts[.]” There will be no need to fear, and there will be no need for tears. The old order of things is forever gone.

There will be no broken homes in heaven. I do not quite understand the concept that “they shall be as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22: 30). I believe, that, when by God’s grace, members of a family are saved, God will not separate them in heaven. Heaven is about restoration, remember? Not separation! All of the devastating effects that broken homes have had have on the different members of the family, and especially, on the children, here on earth, will not come to mind. Praise God!

We will not need any health insurance in heaven. Another text that I am not quite sure what it means, is, “.  .  . And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22: 2c). No one will be sick in heaven! Everything has been made new! We will have new bodies, new minds, new hearts! Why will we need “healing?” If this mortal is going to put on immortality, and this corrupt,  incorruption, why will we need to be healed? Could it be that the effects of sin are so damaging that even after we receive our glorified bodies, some healing will be necessary, throughout eternity? Perhaps this is one of the mysteries, that I will have to wait until I get to heaven, to understand.

Praise God, that life as we know it, will not last forever. I can hardly wait for heaven to begin. Seeing Jesus, and living with Him forever, will be worth whatever we are suffering in the here and now. May God help us to be faithful until we see Him face to face!

Merciful God, please stay with us, as we seek to know Your will so that we may worship You in Spirit and in truth. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Today we will be talking about another attitude that will be prevalent in the days just before Jesus returns. An attitude of, “I have time, I can wait until all the signs have been fulfilled, then I will begin to get ready.” This was the problem with the servant (steward) in our Scripture. Although our Scripture calls him a servant, he was really doing the work of a steward. He had been “put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time.” It will do all of us good to see ourselves as stewards. Indeed we are all stewards of some part of God’s creation, and His work, here on earth. Several of the parables taught by the Savior dealt with the subject of stewardship (Matthew 25: 14-46). Part of the duties of a good steward includes caring for the “least of these.” Today, we will try to identify ways that will help us not to become  ”wicked” servants, or stewards.

If we observe the way our text begins, it would seem that there was a time when the servant or steward was considered “faithful and wise.” That is obviously why his Master left him in charge of the other servants. He knew that He could depend on him to get the work done. Perhaps that was during the period of his ”first love” (Revelation 2: 4). Many of us come to Jesus full of love to Him, and zeal for His cause. But when the going gets rough, and “lawlessness abounds, “the love of many grow cold” (Matthew 24: 12). The years come and go, and the Savior has not returned as soon as we expected. We begin to think that the Savior may not be coming back in a hurry after all. We start rationalizing about what we should, or should not, be doing. Pretty soon, our actions are based on what feels right, versus what is right.  We may even begin to doubt if Jesus is ever going to return after all. “Could it be that we have believed a lie all these years?” Therefore, we begin to fall back into many of our former behaviors. The old man [woman] of sin is resurrected, and we begin to live as we please. After all, “there is no heaven to gain or hell to shun.” Why not eat, drink, and be “merry;” and “mean” to those around us. We fail to realize that the Master did not tell us the day and the hour that He would return, but He did promise that He will return!

This scenario brings to mind a story I may, or may not, have shared with you before, of a lady who lived in a small village. One day a herald rode through the village blowing his trumpet and announcing that the queen was going to visit the village, and that the town folk should get ready for her visit. There was a lot of excitement in the village. People were seen painting their houses, and throwing out old furniture and bringing in new. They mowed their lawns and pruned their trees and raked their leaves faithfully, for the first year. By the second year, the lawns did not look as tidy; and here and there, you could see a house or two where the paint had begun to peel. The conversation had changed from, “what we are going to do during the visit of the queen,” to “what are the plans for today?” They were back to their routine activities; back to “business as usual,” with some exceptions. By the third year, you could count the homes that were “keeping up” their appearance. And by the seventh year, there was only one fine looking house in the entire village. People would pass by and smile and shake their heads at the owner of the little yellow house on the corner. Some would even dare to shout as they went by, “Still waiting for the queen, Mrs. Jones?” To which Mrs. Jones would reply, “Yes I am! Your Majesty said she would come, and I know that she will come!”

One evening, as the sun was beginning to set in the West, the sound of a trumpet was heard. It was the herald who was riding his white horse, leading the entourage that was accompanying her Majesty! Mrs. Jones was seated on her porch, adequately dressed, and with her surroundings nicely kept. As the queen and her entourage came to her home, the herald stopped and announced:  “Your Majesty, here is someone who is expecting you.” Her majesty was helped out of her carriage, and was given a warm welcome into the home of Mrs. Jones. Needless to say, from that day forward, when people passed by the home of Mrs. Jones, there was no snickering. The topic was, “this is the home the queen visited when she came to our village.”

One fine day, the King will visit our village – Planet Earth. By His grace, let us be ready to look up and welcome Him as He descends. On that occasion, it is He who will welcome us into ‘the joy of [our] Lord!” May God grant that on that day, we might be found, not doing our own pleasure, but in a state of readiness!

NOTE:  My regrets that this devotional is coming to you one day late. Inadvertently, it was not published yesterday.

Gracious God, in the midst of everything taking place around us, please help us to realize that You are still in control. And with that knowledge may we be set free from all our fears. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

The sign that we will be looking at, is found in the very heart of our Scripture for today:  “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth[.]” We are living in a world that is almost entirely, held captive by fear. We fear others; we fear “what might happen;” we are afraid that our needs might not be supplied ; we are afraid of the unknown. Because of this, more people suffer from depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and a long list of fear-related infirmities, which only serves to increase their fearfulness.

From Jesus’ comments on more than one occasion (see Matthew 6: 30; 16: 8), it would appear that He saw fear as a lack of faith. Listen to what He said to the disciples when they became fearful during the storm:  “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘ “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” ‘ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘ “Peace, be still!” ‘ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘ “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” ‘ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘ “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him” ‘ ” (Mark 4: 37-41)?

“How is it that you have no faith,” sounds as if He is saying, “If you had faith, you would not be so fearful.” What makes their fear so deserving of reproof, is the fact that Jesus was in the boat! But before we criticize them for their fearfulness, let us not overlook the fact that even though we say that Jesus is the Sovereign of this world and its inhabitants (Psalm 24: 1), our hearts oftentimes “[fail us] from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth[.]!

At least the disciples were in the storm. We have become fearful over expected calamities! And oftentimes, we are fearful over things which never come to pass. But there is another aspect of fear that we should not overlook, and it is equally, the result of a lack of faith! Let us look once more at Mark 4: 41, “And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Emphasis supplied.

Sometimes we are even fearful of the results of answered prayer! They cried to Jesus for help. I do not know what kind of help they expected, but when they received help, Scripture informs us that they were “exceedingly” afraid, and asked one another, “Who is this that can answer prayers in this manner” (my paraphrase of the disciples question)? We want natural answers to supernatural problems! Perhaps that is because we have created gods in our own image. So, we do not expect them to do more for us than we can do for ourselves! Therefore, we become fearful!

Something similar occurred when the church was praying for Peter to be released from prison. God answered their prayer and this is what happened:  “Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished” (Acts 12: 16). Standing before them was the answer to their prayers, and they were shocked! “Could it be that we have actually received what we asked for?” “Did God really answer our prayers?”

Indeed, Jesus identified the reason for all our fears – A lack of faith. Yet it is “grace, by faith” that is going to get us to the finish line, because “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11: 6).May God increase our faith, that we might not be among those who become fearful, as we witness the signs of His coming being fulfilled. Instead, may we “rejoice” as we see our “redemption drawing near” (Luke 21: 28)!

I just thought that an annex to this devotional would be in order:  I too, become very fearful over different situations. So these words are as much for me, as well as for you who are reading. May God help us to learn, together, how to cast out “cares” and “fears” upon Him, knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5: 7)!

Dear God, there is a message in here for all of us. Please help us to hear what that message is. When we hear, help us to apply it. This we ask in the glorious name of our Savior and Creator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today we look at another group of signs. Jesus is comparing life as it was in two periods of earth’s history, with what life will be like “when the Son of Man is revealed.” Let us look at the signs He is calling our attention to, in order to better hear what He is saying to us, today. What was life like “in the days of Noah” and “in the days of Lot[?]”

Jesus says, “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark[.]” The obvious question is:  “What is wrong with eating, drinking, getting married, and being “given in marriage[?]” Perhaps we can get an idea of what Jesus is saying to us, by going to another part of Scripture where some of these activities are mentioned.

“But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine:  ’ “ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” ‘ “ (Isaiah 22: 13)! The conjunction “But,” tells us that the idea following, is not in accordance with the idea that went before. That is true. If we should go to the beginning of chapter 22 of Isaiah, and even beyond, we find that YHWH was sending messages to His people, through the prophets. He was warning them of impending doom, in the hope that they would repent, and look to Him for deliverance. Instead, we find them making provision to “have a good time.”

Is this not in accordance with the prevailing attitude of our generation? Invite someone to a religious meeting, and notice their reaction. Many will find it difficult to make the time to attend. On the other hand, invite them to a party, and all concerns for time is gone. This is not only the attitude “in the world.” This condition also exists in the church. Timothy, describing the “last days,” had this to say:  “But know this, that in the last days .  .  . men will be .  .  . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3: 1, 2, 4b).

The attitude was, back then, and is, in our day, “let tomorrow take care of itself; today we will have fun!” Have you ever warned someone about a dangerous habit, only to have them respond:  “You have to die from something!” Or, “Yeah, it may kill me, but, ‘Way to go!’ ” In other words, “ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” More important considerations, such as marriage, are given the same Laissez-faire attitude, “Let us do as we please! If this one does not work out, I can get married again! What is the big deal?” A dangerous “end of the time” attitude that has become quite prevalent!

“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built["]. “Likewise,” in other words, “the same attitude prevailed in the days of Lot.” In our preaching, we tend to interject the message of the sexual lifestyle that was prevalent in Sodom at the time that it was destroyed, to this portion of Scripture. For some reason, the Savior did not mention it. That does not mean He approved of it. Could it be, He saw, that if we got stuck on only one concern, we will begin to feel that our indifferent attitude, in the face of His soon coming, is all right? That even though Jesus is showing us, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He is about to return, and is warning us, and encouraging us to repent, and turn to Him, we have insisted to go on with “Business as usual?”

Is it “Because [we are saying], ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that [we] are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—” that God wants us to look at our own condition first, and then, by His grace, heed His call:  ”I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3: 17, 18, emphasis supplied)? Then, and only then, will we be adequately equipped, to call others to repentance.

Let us not lose sight of the fact, that their indifference persisted, “until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” And “on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.” 

“Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” May God help you and me to be ready, on that day!

Dear Father, as we look to You today, we ask that You will open our eyes to the signs that are fulfilling all around us. May we see, hear, and obey. This is our prayer in the blessed name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The sign that we are studying today, seem to be present in every age; in the wilderness wanderings, during the days of the prophets, during the days of apostles, the time of the end, and the end of time.This sin is especially prevalent, because it is the direct result of the selfishness of the human heart. As the coming of the Lord draws near, the hearts of men and women will become hardened! One of the signs of the last days, is that human beings will be “lovers of money” (2 Timothy 3: 2). And the Word of God tells us that, “the love of money, is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6: 10a).

In the early church, we have an example of the selfishness and greed of the human heart. On this occasion, Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, sold their land and brought, what was supposed to be the entire amount, to the apostles, to be distributed evenly. But they had both agreed to lie about the transaction, in order to keep back some of the money. This act of deceit cost them their lives (see Acts 5). Now you may say that this incident, and the behavior of the rich, in our Scripture, for today is completely different. I agree with you. What the two groups do have in common, however, is the desire to satisfy self at the expense of others.

God has given to some the talent of making good financial investments. The revenue from these investments are to be used to bless ourselves and others. They are not to be hoarded, until they become corroded. In the Book of Proverbs we read the following:  “He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.  .  .  Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them” (22: 16, 22, 23).

In the Levitical law we find the following instruction:  “ ‘In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession. And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another. According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of crops he shall sell to you. According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops. Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God. ‘So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety” (Leviticus 25: 13-19). Emphasis supplied.

The Master will soon return! At His coming, may He not find us oppressing one another (see Matthew 24: 48-51).

Merciful God, please lead out in our study for today. Please teach us Your will and Your way. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

You may have noticed that throughout our studies of the signs that speak of Christ’s return, we are establishing the difference between the time of the end and the end of time. Today, our text makes the difference even more striking by the statement, “but the end is not yet.”

I found what I considered a meaningful abstract that tied the Lisbon earthquake to what was happening in the political arena at the time. It makes the timing of that earthquake even more significant than I had first thought,

“This article examines the impact of the Lisbon earthquake on the international political sphere. The shock waves of the event reflected the basic ideological traits of the eighteenth century. For the first time in the western world, the press helped to create the illusion of proximity and unity among the peoples of different European nations. Furthermore, the 1755 earthquake launched the modern debate on how to think and act in a world where such catastrophes are likely to occur.
On the eve of the Seven Years’ War, the destruction of the capital of the Portuguese empire also triggered diplomatic and political reactions. Pombal’s attempt to turn Portugal into a prosperous and politically strong country contributed towards minimising the disruptions to social and economic routines. Against the backdrop of the 1755 earthquake, and using the European war as an immediate cause, the Marquis of Pombal, minister of King Joseph I, laid the foundations for a press policy commensurate with the scale of the catastrophe” (Ana Cristina Araújo, University of Coimbra).

The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a war between France and Great Britain. It was fought on U.S. territory. It later evolved into the “world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years War” (Wikipedia). 

Between the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries the amount of wars that have been fought, make it hard to believe that creation has been able to survive the amount of blood that has been spilled upon its soil, and the irreparable damage done to our echo system! Following is a list of some of these wars. Be advised that different historians establish slightly different timelines for these wars based on underlying factors. 

American Civil War – 1775-1782.

French Revolutionary War – 1789-1802.

Chile War of Independence – 1810 – 1821/1826.

First Anglo-Afghan War – 1839-1842.

Spanish American War – 1898-1899.

World War I – 1914-1918.

World War II – 1937-1945.

Korean War – 1950-1953.

Viet Nam War -1959-1975.

Rwanda-Burundi War – 1959-1995.

At the present time there are two wars raging; one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Where will the next war be fought? Is it any small wonder that the apostle penned these words, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” Romans 8: 22)? The Good News is, that one of these days, all of these kingdoms “will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ! And He shall reign forever and ever” (George F. Handel).

Merciful LORD, How thankful we are that You have not left us to grope in the darkness of the unknown. We thank You for leaving us signs along the way, to guide our feet into Your heavenly kingdom. Please help us to be obedient to Your leading. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

The book of Daniel, for many years, was considered a sealed book. The prophecy of which our Scripture forms a part is almost parallel to portions of Matthew 24. It is indeed a prophecy about the time of the end, not, the end of time. The door for the “increase of knowledge,” would begin to open just about the time that the era of persecution, the 1260 years (538-1798) was coming to an end. The darkness that had engulfed the world when the reading of the Word of God was prohibited, was the main reason for “darkness [to] cover the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isaiah 60: 1b, 2a).

Once the darkness was lifted, knowledge could flourish. As a result, the age of invention, with its modern means of transportation made it possible for people to “run to and fro,” and thereby facilitate the increase of knowledge. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries witnessed the invention of the airplane, and the invention of the telephone. In this manner groundbreaking information could travel around the world with the speed of light!

With the Reformation, and the invention of the printing press, bibles, which once had to be handwritten over long periods of time, and could only be read by the prelate, could now be multiplied, and put in the hands of the common people. Truly, it can be said, “ The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119: 130). None of these inventions were simply the result of the initiative of human beings. Behind the scenes was God, controlling circumstances, and working out His divine plan; preparing the world and its inhabitants for the event that will change the world for time and for eternity – the return of Jesus Christ to earth!

Two main events are mentioned in these “time of the end” scenes:  “Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished” (Daniel 12: 7, emphasis supplied). Here again we find the same period of time of  persecution of the “holy people”:  time = 360 + times = 720 + half a time = 180 =1260.

“Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand” (10). Though persecution “completely shattered” the people of God, praise His name, they were “purified,” “refined,” and “made white,” in the blood of the Lamb, and by His grace! The wicked will never be able to understand the things of God, because spiritual things are “spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2: 14). But those who know the Lord, “shall understand.”

May God help us to be wise in the things of the Lord, and thereby be ready to meet Him in peace, at His coming!

Gracious God, as we come before You today, we ask that Your Holy Spirit will be with us as we study Your Holy Word. lead us into all truth. This is our prayer in the blessed name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

As we continue our study on the signs that are announcing the soon return of our Savior, we come to one that seems to be affecting our churches:  love-less-ness, toward both God and man. In many churches people do not look forward to attending church. Many feel that there is no difference between the way they are treated in the world and the way they are treated in the church. I was shocked when I came upon a literature under the title of:  Wounded in Church!

The Church is the last place you would expect anyone to get hurt. Do we not say that the church is a hospital? Well, people do not go to a hospital to get sick, but to be healed! Nevertheless, just as it is in many cases, people do not die from the malady for which they went to the hospital, but from some sickness they acquired while in the hospital. In like manner, the love of many brothers and sisters is waning, because of hurts received within the church!

We may be surprised to hear this, because any wrong doing spoken of in the Bible, we Christians, tend to assume, that it is intended for the people of the world. But note to whom Jesus was speaking when He said these words; it was to His disciples! Look at the words following that statement:  “but he [or she] who stands firm to the end will be saved.” It is to those who are seeking salvation, that these words are directed toward.

Speaking to the members of the church at Philadelphia – the period of the Church, known for its brotherly love, Jesus testifies the following:  “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3: 9-11).

 It is noteworthy that even in such an atmosphere of love, there were those who only offered lip service:  they only said that they were Jews, but they were not! Passing through the Great Disappointment, separated the wheat from the chaff.  It soon became evident who were the true believers. During this period of the church, it was the disappointment that would try the love of many. In the end of time, it will be the iniquity that abounds, that will cause the love of many to wax cold. May we, as individuals, do all in our power, to love each other into the kingdom! May neither the disappointments that we shall face, nor the iniquity that exists, keep us from seeing Jesus for ourselves.

It is good to know that for both groups, Jesus had the same advice, only stated differently. To the church at Philadelphia He said:  ”Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” To you and me, the church that is awaiting His soon coming, He says:  “”but he [or she] who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

So hold on dear friends, a crown of life awaits us, if we stand firm to the end!

Gracious God, here we are once more in Your presence depending on You to tell us how we are to read the signs of Your coming. Please help us we pray, in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Yesterday we began looking at the signs in our day, that are announcing the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. The sign we made mention of, was really referring to the early period of, the time of the end, which we have differentiated from, the end of time. About a little less than a year and a half ago, one of our devotionals was dedicated exclusively to the three “signs in the heavens,” mentioned in our Scripture for today. Therefore, we will not be going over them again. I will mention, in passing, the dates that these signs were fulfilled; but our conversation will be primarily about the role these signs played in announcing the time of the end.

In our study yesterday, we spoke about the earthquake of 8.8 magnitude that shook Chile. The impact was so great that it caused the earth to “tilt;” thereby triggering the phenomenon of, shorter days. It is noteworthy that God also used an earthquake to announce to the world that the time of the end was about to begin. This is a partial account of what took place:

“The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, took place on 1 November 1755, at around 10:24 in the morning. The earthquake was followed by tsunami and fires, which caused near-total destruction of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, and adjoining areas. Geologists today estimate the Lisbon earthquake approached magnitude 9 on the moment magnitude scale, with an epicenter in the Atlantic Ocean about 200 km (120 mi) west-southwest of Cape St. Vincent. Estimates place the death toll in Lisbon alone between 10,000 and 100,000 people, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in history. 

.  .  .  As the first earthquake studied scientifically for its effects over a large area, it led to the birth of modern seismology and earthquake engineering” (Wikipedia).

Other signs that marked the time of the end, were, The Dark Day ” ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light[.]‘ ” May 19, 1780.

The Falling Of the Stars “the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ ” November 13, 1833.

You will notice the sequence in the dates of these signs. The last major “sign in the heavens,” was in 1833 - one hundred and seventy-seven years ago! How much longer before the end comes? No one knows. May God help us to get ready, and, by His grace, stay ready, because “we know not the hour of the Master’s appearing” (F. E. Belden)!

Heavenly Father we give You thanks that everything that you do for Your children, You do in love. Please help us to appreciate Your love, and pass it on to others. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

When these words were spoken by the Savior, they were in direct reference to the forty two months, ”And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months”  (Revelation 13: 5); or, three and a half days (prophetic, a day for a year), “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.  .  .  Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them” (11: 9, 11); or, one thousand two hundred and sixty days, of persecution. ” ‘ “.  .  .  And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” ‘ ” (11: 3). All three references are mathematically equal to the same amount of years, and refer to the same period of time.

Our text for today was brought to my mind, by a comment I heard, and later read, about the effect that the earthquake, of 8.8 magnitude, in Chile, had had on planet earth:

“(CNN) — The massive earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday may have shifted Earth’s axis and created shorter days, scientists at NASA say.

The change is negligible, but permanent: Each day should be 1.26 microseconds shorter, according to preliminary calculations. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.

A large quake shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet.

When that distribution changes, it changes the rate at which the planet rotates. And the rotation rate determines the length of a day.  .  .

He determined that the quake should have moved Earth’s figure axis about 3 inches (8 centimeters). The figure axis is one around which Earth’s mass is balanced. That shift in axis is what may have shortened days.

Such changes aren’t unheard of.

The magnitude 9.1 earthquake in 2004 that generated a killer tsunami in the Indian Ocean shortened the length of days by 6.8 microseconds.”

Years ago we were talking about the signs of “the time of the end.” I believe that we can safely conclude that we are now living in, “the end of time.” Indeed,  unless these days are also shortened, no flesh could survive the atrocities, and calamities, that will take place just before Jesus returns. Those days were cut short by the French Revolution, and the dawning of The Age of Reason. Our days will be cut short, by the appearing of the “Son of Man” in the clouds of heaven!

Dear friends, Jesus left us the following warning, so that by His grace, His coming need not take any of us by surprise, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21: 28).

Are you ready for Jesus to come?