"THE SKY IS RED & THREATENS" Part II

"Signs of the times are everywhere" pointing definitively to the second coming of Jesus Christ to this earth we live on. These signs indicate trouble for all who do not personally know Jesus as Savior and Lord! The Oak Ridge Boys sing a song called "JESUS IS COMING SOON". The lyrics are:

"Troublesome times are here, filling men's hearts with fear. Freedom we all hold dear is at stake

Humbling your hearts to God saves from the chastening rod, Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians

awake. Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon, Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound

All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies, Going where no one dies, heavenward bound.

Troubles will soon be o'er, happy forevermore. When we meet on that shore, free from all care,

Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye, Homeward we then shall fly, glory to share."

My desire here is for us to be aware of the SIGNS His coming is near. The first sign we talked about in last week's blog was DECEPTION BY FALSE CHRISTS that will be prevalent in the end times. Let's look at more.

Second, there will be DISPUTES AND WARFARE AMONG NATIONS! "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:7) Just look at our world today!

• ISRAEL AT WAR - Over one year has just elapsed since the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel, killing over 1200 Israeli people and taking numerous hostages. As Israel took action to defend its nation and people, they came under severe criticism from the United Nations and many countries, even including the United States. Israel has been subjected to isolation and lack of support. Soon, Israel experienced repeated attacks from Hezbollah that launched 12,000 missiles into Israel from Lebanon in the north. Then the Houthi Movement got involved in terrorizing Israel from the south. Then just very recently Iran, which funds Hezebollah and other terrorist proxies, launched over 200 missiles into Israel. Israel is currently under attack from all sides. Jesus said, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know its desolation has come near." (Luke 21:20) Now, He was speaking directly of the coming destruction of Jerusalem which did take place in 70 AD. However, many prophecies in the Scripture have double meanings or applications. Now again, we see Israel's enemies surrounding Israel, bent on destroying the Jewish state. No question about it, Israel is on "Center Stage" in the end times! Calamity after calamity In Israel will be interrupted by the return of Jesus (who, when He returns, will come back to the Mount of Olives IN ISRAEL!) Antisemitism is on full display throughout the United States and on University campuses as well as in many other countries.

• COMMUNIST CHINA THREATENS - the country of Taiwan, and secretly deploys spies into other countries. Their spies are reported to be in the United States in order to promote China's own selfish interests. We read intelligence reports from our own CIA that China has indeed plans and purposes to attack the Power Grid and Water Capabilities of the United States. Here is a very recent headline: "DEADLY STRIKE COMING TO AMERICA'S POWER GRID". "Our Government is Woefully Unprepared". In his new book, PLAN RED: CHINA'S PROJECT TO DESTROY AMERICA, Gordon G. Chang shares how China "has set the wheels in motion to destoy and decimate America, foment chaos, assault the current order and raze societies to establish worldwide Chinese rule." Our country has been subjected to Cyber Attacks regularly.

• AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE - is forming between Russia, Iran and Turkey even now. This alliance is set to expand leading up to an eventual all-out attack on Israel. Remember, the Jewish people and nation belong to the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and HE will defend the nation and give it victory! "On that day, when all the nations are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." (Zechariah 12:3)

• UKRAINE AT WAR WITH RUSSIA - We know Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The actual conflict began in 2014. The Russian invasion is the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, causing hundreds of thousands of military casualties, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties.

• OTHER WORLD EVENTS - are occuring that are setting the stage for end time signs and dire warnings of impending strife, division and serious conflicts. We currently have been hearing talk of World War III with the United States gearing up in preparedness for such a calamity. This will not be a conflict using M-16's and fighter jets, but a nuclear holocaust!

• INFLATION AND THE DEMISE OF THE US DOLLAR. Inflation has hit everyone hard. The dollar is greatly losing value on the world market causing much economic upheaval world-wide. Our present administration plans to replace our currency with digital money giving the government more control.

Third, there will be DISEASE AND FAMINE! This will be on a world-wide scale! "There will be famines. . .

in various places." (Matthew 24:7) We know that in many areas throughout the world, people are starving, food supplies are non-existent and relief organizations are seeking funds to help with this immense problem. Even greater problems regarding health, food and clean water will characterize the end time.

Fourth, there will be INCREASING NATURAL DISASTERS! These will include earthquakes, hurricanes, wild-fires, major flooding and other catastrophes. "There will be earthquakes in various places." (Matthew 24:7) We hear about these happenings occuring regularly and even being on the increase. Just in the last few days, Hurricanes Helene and Milton have been devastating.

Fifth, there will be the DELIVERANCE OF CHRISTIANS TO PERSECUTION AND TRIBULATION! "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake." (Matthew 24:9) You know as well as I do the mounting increase of the loss of religious liberty taking place across the globe, even in historically Christian countries like the United States and Canada. Religious liberty was embraced by governments and societies, but no longer is this true! It will get worse as the end times intensify. Will we hold steady and remain faithful to God in these times? To do so will be costly!

Sixth, there will be RELIGIOUS PRETENSE AND THE DEFECTION OF FALSE BELIEVERS! "And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:10-13)

Seventh, there will be the DECLARATION/PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD! "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) The popular "THE CHOSEN" series, depicting biblical events of the life and teachings of Jesus, is going to be translated into 600 languages for showings around the world. A global prayer and worship event called GATHER25 aims to use technology to connect the Global Church in 2025 to reach the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This 25-hour global prayer, worship, repentance, and commissioning event is reported to "be epic" and will start on February 28, 2025 at 8 pm and will be streaming through March 1st at 9:00 pm and will feature true accounts of God's work in the lives of people in every area of the world. Every Tribe Every Nation (a collection of Bible translation agencies) has the goal of translating the Bible into every language on the earth (about 6,000) by 2033.

Other signs of the end times and second coming of Jesus include:

• The appearing of the Antichrist on the world scene - "The Abomination of Desolation" or "The Man of Sin." (Matthew 24:15)

• Deception regarding Biblical Truth (Matthew 24:23-26)

• Celestrial Catastrophe - ". . .the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Matthew 24:29)

• Life as Usual - "For as were the days of Noah, so will the coming of the Son of Man (Jesus). For as in those days before the flood (that destroyed the earth and every living thing on it) they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah (and his family) entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:38-39) Jesus concluded this section of teaching by saying, "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42) "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matthew 24:44)

Are we ready and prepared? As we have noted, there are signs of His return looming up before us everywhere; end time prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. Let's not be skeptical or indifferent; I believe it is nearly midnight on the end time clock and time is running out to get right with God. Let's prepare for Jesus' return and be ready to stand before Him for the evaluation of our life, beliefs and relationship! Karen Peck and New River sing this song:

"There's a wave of light that's comin' in the morning, It's a wise, wise man who will heed the warning,

Like a thief in the night, like a bird takes flight, like a new day coming at the end of the night

There's a revelation faithful as a promise. He will pour His life and His Spirit upon us, Then the ground's

gonna shake and the mountains quake. Better not be sleeping when you should be awake.

Chorus: No matter what you say, no matter what you do, Be Ready, Be Ready! We know not the hour, we know not the day. There's gonna be a powerful calling away.

No matter what you say, no matter what you do. Be Ready. Be Ready! This is the day of salvation, Call

on Jesus' name. This is the day of salvation, Believe on the Lord and be saved."

We have surveyed the SIGNS OF JESUS' SECOND COMING! Please join me for next week's blog as we consider more Biblical Truth regarding His Return!

PS. This time around I want to add a strong encouragement to vote in this election!! The choices couldn’t be more defined! On a local, state and national level, this election is probably the most significant one in our lifetime! One side is at least more in line with biblical values while the other side is totally unbiblical! Please Vote!!!!!!