Embrace His Second Coming
Early Signs of His Coming

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 24:4-8

Key Verse: Matthew 24:5

For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Jesus uses “birth pains” as the illustration of signs of His second coming (vs. 8).  Birth pains start slow and small.  As moms come down to the day of delivery, the pains come quick and intense.  So it is with the second coming of Jesus.  The first sign that Jesus mentioned of His coming will be people claiming to be the Messiah.  These people are not the poor folks on the street corners of our cities screaming about going to hell.  These verses tell us that the people coming will be convincing and “will deceive many” (vs. 5).

            The second sign Jesus mentioned is that we will hear of “wars and rumors of wars.”  Again, these signs are in the early phases and Jesus clearly states: “but don’t panic.  Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately” (vs. 6).  All of us have been watching wars and the threats of war for many years.  The age of TV allows for this prophesy from Jesus to be fulfilled in full color.  There have always been wars, but it is obvious to us who look through these “scriptural lenses” that the intensity and threats are growing greater than ever before.

            Finally, Jesus warns us that in these early stages we will see “famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world” (vs. 7).  A person would really have to be living under a rock not to see the growing number of famines and earthquakes in our days.  We are experiencing the early signs of His second coming!

Father, you are the only one who knows the exact moment of Jesus’ return.  We simply pray: Even so Lord Jesus come!  In His name, amen.