Sign of the Times

Scripture: He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." Luke 21:29-31

Observation: Jesus threw out a LOT of "signs of the end times" at the disciples. Some were clearly near-term - the end of 'his' time on earth. Some were clearly long range - explicitly saying they would not happen soon and many would die first. Others were vague - saying that Jerusalem would fall to an army ... which it did in ~55 AD but some think will happen again, and without really tying that event to the "end times" anyway.

But he says there will be signs, and they will be signs we can see and understand. Just like understanding that leaves on trees is a sign of spring, there will be signs that "the end is near". We may not know what "near" means - it might mean now, or sometime this millennium, or anything in between - but we'll see the signs.

Application: Of course we DO see the signs. Everyone knows that the issues in the middle east are clearly associated with those signs. Most people should understand that the spiritual/moral collapse of the U.S. is a sign. Our technology-connected world is a sign. Will it be tomorrow? Will it be in my lifetime?

Just this morning I was walking down a hill, and the sidewalk was wet. I looked at the trees and thought "when the leaves fall off those trees, this will be a dangerous hill - stepping on a wet leaf is a quick way to fall and break your leg. I'll walk a different route to get my coffee." The leaves on the trees were still mostly green, but some were yellow, and I thought "they will turn soon, but the weather has been so nice it might not be for several week, or it might be before Halloween."

I saw and understood the signs. I foresaw the future danger and how to avoid it. I don't know the timing.

I see and understand the signs. I believe in the future danger and how to avoid it. I don't know the timing.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus!