This is Part 2 of Laurie’s notes from her recent Sagemont Church Ladies Night Out message.
What do The Real Housewives and the recent ice-pocalypse have to do with prophecy?
I’ll give you a little hint: both point to something we sometimes forget.
All of the prophecies concerning Jesus’ first coming have been fulfilled (and I gave you five of them in Part 1). But what about Jesus’ second coming? Are any of those prophecies being fulfilled today? Yes! So, let’s take a look at:
According to prophecy expert Dr. David Reagan (founder and director of Lamb & Lion Ministries), there are six categories of prophecies concerning Jesus’ second coming that are being fulfilled today. I was most blessed to hear Dr. Reagan speak at the Pre-Trib Study Group Conference recently, and I purchased several of his books including Living on Borrowed Time: The Imminent Return of Jesus. I highly recommend that book, and I especially appreciate the way he simplifies end-time prophecies by categorizing them into the following six groups:
6 Categories of End-Time Signs
1) The Signs of Nature:
When the disciples asked Jesus about signs of His return, He included signs of nature:
“There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11 NLT
In Dr. Reagan’s book, Living on Borrowed Time, he cited FEMA statistics to prove that we are seeing prophetic signs of nature today. For instance, from October 1991-November 2004, the United States experienced 9 of the 10 largest insurance natural disasters in history, 5 of the costliest hurricanes in history (which doesn’t even include Hurricane Katrina in 2005), and 3 of the 4 largest tornado swarms in history.
More recently, the winter of 2014 will be remembered by many Americans for record low temperatures which have even produced a brand new word: ice-pocalypse.
2) The Signs of Society:
The Apostle Paul described these in his second letter to Timothy:
“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.” 2 Timothy 3:1-4 NLT
Dr. Reagan says this passage reveals “three things people will love in the end times: self, money, and pleasure. The love of self is Humanism . . . the love of money is Materialism . . . and the love of pleasure is hedonism.” Sounds to me like a typical episode from one of many popular TV shows . . . including The Real Housewives.
3) The Spiritual Signs:
Dr. Reagan believes these signs are both negative and positive as seen in the following passages:
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.’ Matthew 24:14 NLT
The negative signs described in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 are reinforced by a Barna poll from 2011. Results from that poll revealed that only 43% of those who identified themselves as Christians firmly believe the Bible is accurate in its teaching. Translation: over half of the people who claim to believe in Christ do not believe His Word.
Another Barna poll, however, from December 2013 revealed some very good news about evangelism (the positive spiritual sign promised in Matthew 24:14). According to their research, evangelism is on the rise among Millennials (those born between 1983-1997). These young people are sharing their faith more than any other generation today. I would encourage you to read the full report here.
4) The Signs of World Politics:
Pick up any newspaper, listen to any news report, and the sign of world politics is always front and center:
“And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matthew 24:6-7 NLT
As I write this post, Kiev is burning and war is on the horizon. Two weeks ago, Americans were warned that Iranian warships were the Atlantic. And of course, the war between Syria and Israel is ongoing. All of these are present-day signs of the end times.
5) The Signs of Technology:
The following prophetic passages were written long before the internet, satellite communication systems, or nuclear weapons existed:
“When they [the two witnesses] complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them. And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem…where their Lord was crucified. And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them.” Revelation 11:7-9 NLT
“People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” Luke 21:26 NLT
Today’s technology will enable these prophecies and others to become reality.
6) The Signs of Israel:
It breaks my heart to say it, but even America is distancing itself from Israel these days – further evidence of the fulfillment of prophecy:
“On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves.’ Zechariah 12:3 NLT
These categories and scriptures are only a few of the ways God is fulfilling prophecy today in preparation for future events: the rapture of the church, the tribulation, and the second coming of Christ (which I’ll cover in Part 3). But as I have shared them with you, this is my prayer:
As you watch the weather and the news . . .
As you witness what’s happening in our society, in politics, and in technology . . .
As you observe how the world – including America – responds to Israel . . .
May God give you discernment to recognize all of these things for what they really are, the unfolding of his prophetic calendar, and may you be ready and encourage others to be ready. Because Jesus. Is. Coming.
Maranatha! Your sister,
