Shortly after news of the coronavirus first broke in the United States, Christians started asking, “Do you think this is a sign of the end times?” And so I preached the message that compared the coronavirus with Biblical pestilences because I didn’t believe that this was a Biblical pestilence.
From then until now, people keep bringing up bad signs they are seeing, as a possible indication that we are near the end. One person texted me about a Microsoft patent for an implanted chip that integrates with your body. The last six digits of the patent number are 060606. Notice the 6’s. Another fellow asked if I had heard about the Trace (CoVid-19 Testing, Reaching, and Contacting Everyone) Act, HR 6666. Again, notice the 6’s. Another friend mentioned Bill Gates desire to tattoo everyone who receives a coronavirus vaccine, as proof that they are vaccinated. Notice, the mark.
All of these are what I call “bad” signs; signs of something evil or sinister pointing to the antichrist. However, as you know, we aren’t looking for the antichrist; we’re looking for the Lord Jesus Christ. And I was wondering if there were good signs for which we should be looking. After all, the Lord is coming to rapture us before all of the bad things in the Tribulation start happening.
Some good signs of the Lord’s coming:
Christians are still waiting for Jesus – 1 Thes 1:9-10 – one good sign is that many Christians are waiting for the Lord to come. They’re talking about him coming. They are expecting the Rapture to happen in our life times. Titus 2:13, people are looking up. They are not scoffing as the people will be doing in 2 Pet 3:4, even after all of these years of waiting. Some might ask, “Doesn’t he come when no one is expecting him?” Matt 24:44 says, “in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” This is his Second Advent, not the Rapture. We’re thinking about and looking for his return.
Christians are still rejoicing over souls saved – 1 Thes 2:19-20 – many Christians are still telling others about Jesus Christ and rejoicing when they get saved. They haven’t given up even with all of the apostasy [2 Thes 2:3] and even in the midst of perilous times [2 Tim 3:1-5]. The apostasy and the perilous times are certainly bad signs that we’re nearing the end. But the people who are still trying to win souls before the Lord comes will certainly put a smile on your face and the faces of the getting saved.
Christians are still loving others – 1 Thes 3:12-13 – we are to “increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men.” This is how God establishes your heart unblameable in holiness. There are still many Christians who love the Lord and love others, genuinely. It’s not at all like it will be before the second advent. Before the second coming the love of many waxes cold, Matt 24:12. There is division and “the brother shall deliver up the brother to death,” Matt 10:21.
Christians are still comforting one another – 1 Thes 4:13-18 – Paul wrote, “wherefore comfort one another with these words.” These words are an excellent description of what will happen to us at the Rapture. At every graveside of a Christian brother or sister, I have preached or made reference to this passage of scripture. Saints continue to be comforted by this truth. By contrast, before the Second Coming of Jesus, people are dying like flies and those saints who are alive are either running for the hills, hiding from the antichrist, starving to death, or dying a martyr’s death. Thank God we’re not going through the Tribulation.
Christians are still living holy lives – 1 Thes 5:23-24 – Paul admonished that “your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Imagine, in the midst of men loving themselves and loving pleasures more than God, there are still many Christians who are concerned about living holier lives tomorrow than they did yesterday. They want to be preserved blameless at the coming of the Lord. And the Lord is faithful to do this for them. That’s a good thing.
Conclusion: there is so much bad news and there are so many Christians looking for bad news to signal “the end” that we need to remember that there are some good signs of his coming, as well. Keep looking up for his return. We should be as expectant as a bride awaiting her wedding day. Keeping preaching the gospel; people are still getting saved. We should be rejoicing in the souls who are getting saved. Keeping loving each other and others who don’t know the Lord yet. Don’t let your love wax cold. Comfort one another when we lose a loved one. We’re going to be reunited soon. And keep living a holy life even though the rest of the world is slipping into moral decay. Strive to be blameless by God’s grace. These are some of the good things we see before Jesus returns.