CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

We live in unusual times. Wherever you look, whether in government, banking or nature, life as we know it is undergoing radical change. Even scientists, who care little about the Bible, fear that our world is about to end. Prophecy predicts that something big is about to happen. Christ is soon to come. But how soon is soon?

What did the prophet Daniel predict would happen in the last days?
"And in the days of these kings, the God of heaven will set up a _____ which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people" (Daniel 2:44).

Daniel was given a vision of a metal man that illustrated the rise and fall of world kingdoms. Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and finally a divided monarchy which led to the development of modern Europe today. After the fall of these super-powers, another kingdom will come that will  never end. This is the Kingdom of God! It will be ushered in by the second coming of Jesus Christ. The focus of Daniel's prophecy is to prepare us for this grand event.

When can we expect this day to come?
"Behold, I am coming _____, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work" (Revelation 22:12). 
"Behold, I am coming _____!" (Revelation 22:7)

In the last book of the Bible, we hear an urgent message about the Second Coming. God repeats this message at least 5 times, alerting us that His coming is closer than we think. In fact, the very last words of Christ in the Bible say, "Surely, I am coming quickly!" And the prophet of the Revelation answers, "Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

Can Bible prophecy tell us the exact time for Christ's return?
"But of that day and hour _____ one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36).

God hasn't revealed to us the exact day He's coming. Jesus said even He didn't know. One Bible writer explains, "The supposed dates of Christ's return litter the road of history" (M. Finley, The Next Super Power). Today, many are speculating that the world will come to an end in 2012. A mysterious Mayan calendar has many in an uproar, thinking the world is about to end on December 21. But Christ has unequivocally said, no one knows. But though God hasn't given the time, He's outlined what will happen right before it happens. He's given clear-cut signs to help us know we're getting closer.

How can we prepare if we don't know the exact day for Christ's coming?
"_____ therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42).
"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be sober and _____ in your prayers" (1 Peter 4:7).

The coming of Christ is closer than we think. But unless we stay on the alert, we could put if off, as many do, thinking it will never come in our lifetime. But Jesus wants us to keep our focus on eternity, on serious matters of the heart. He says, "Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe" (John 13:19). Bible prophecy will make us more aware of the times in which we're living by pointing out the evidence (the signs) that our Lord is coming soon.

Why is it important to know the signs of the times?
"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is _____ than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11).

Historians can tell us what's happened in the past. News commentators can keep us informed about the present. But only God can reveal the future. He's the only One who knows how late the hour is. And through Bible prophecy, He wants us to know it as well. The 2nd Coming isn't something we can put off until just the right time. When Jesus comes in the clouds, our destinies will be sealed and our eternal future determined. So we need to stay alert because everything hinges on our readiness for that day.

Is it possible for us to know when we're getting closer to that Day?
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, know that it is _____, even at the door" (Matthew 24:32,33).

Jesus used this lesson from nature to understand He's coming soon and just how soon that will be. For just as we can tell the change of the seasons by the growing buds and flowers, so we can discern the nearness of His return through the signs of the times.

In the days of Christ, the disciples of Jesus asked, "What will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age?" What did Jesus tell them?
"Jesus answered and said to them, 'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying 'I am the _____ and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:4,5).

God doesn't leave us in the dark. He's warned us ahead of time using signs in the world. But before Christ spelled these out to His wondering disciples, He says first to be on their guard, to carefully inspect the signs. And since we are living in the last days, we can expect an increase in deceptions. The Bible says, "Woe to the earth...because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short" (Revelation 12:12). "The shorter the time to Jesus' return, the greater Satan's motivation to deceive the human race will become. As time runs out, he will become more desperate to fool millions with a false second coming" (M. Finley, The Next Superpower, pg. 51). 

HEAVEN'S GATE CULT MEMBERS
TAKE THEIR LIVES TO GAIN HIGHER LEVEL
OF EXISTENCE

MARSHALL APPLEWHITE,
HEAVEN'S GATE CULT LEADER

Are the rise of cults a sign that Christ is coming soon?
"Then many false _____ will rise up and deceive many" (Matthew 24:11).
"For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great _____ and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24).

Cult groups have grown explosively during recent decades. Surveys reveal that 5-7 million people in North America alone are involved in cults. 180,000 members are recruited each year! Why have they become so popular? Most of them are looking for answers in an uncertain world. They are drawn to the message of the cults, which say "follow the god within you" (or follow a leader who claims to be God). The rise of cults and their dependence on a charismatic leader is setting the stage for the great deception of the Antichrist in the last days. 

Is the increase of war and natural disasters another sign?
"And you will hear of _____ and rumors of war. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6).
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be _____, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:7,8).

We are overwhelmed with war and disasters--within America and in the world. More people have been killed in the last century than the previous 20 combined! Since 9-11, our lives have been threatened by terrorist attacks. There is no end in sight to world hunger. Conservative estimates say that 50,000-90,000 people are starving every day! The world is growing at such an alarming rate that we can't sustain life by the food we grow. Deadly earthquakes have dramatically increased in the past 100 years. Cities have literally been wiped out by tsunamis. Deadly diseases, such as SARS, bird flu, and the West Nile virus bombard us . AIDS is epidemic in many countries. There is even a resurgence of old diseases that once were wiped out. Viruses and bacteria are becoming resilient to medication. And yet, the Bible says this is only the beginning!

Is this just religious hype or are scientists concerned that the end is near?
"There will be _____ in the sun, moon, and in the stars, and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and waves roaring" (Luke 21:25).

Even scholars recognize that something BIG is about to happen. Eugene Linden wrote a book called Nine Clues to the Coming Instability. In this book, he points to the signs that indicate the end is in sight. The collapse of the global economy, global warming, water and food shortages, the rise of infectious diseases,  
dangerous extremists in religion, the disappearing middle class, the population explosion--all are signs speaking to scientific minds  that the Bible is true and we are living in the last days.

Is the loss of family values an indicator of the end?
"But know this--that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money...blasphemers, _____ to parents, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:1-4).

Family life has changed dramatically in a single generation. Within this time, we have seen the gradual erosion of traditional family values: (1) Divorce rate of over 50% in North America, (2) A strong rise of absentee parents and detached children, (3) Gay marriage and the homosexual lifestyle becoming widely accepted in society, (4) 46 million abortions occurring ever year. Our nation is also being driven by the pursuit of a violent and godless media that keep many from thinking of what direction our world is headed.

How will God be at work in the final days of earth's history?
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the _____ as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).

As the world is sliding downhill, God's Kingdom is moving forward to prepare every man, woman and child for the 2nd Coming of Christ. In a world of despair and uncertainty, Bible prophecy provides us with clarity. We are living in the toenails of Daniel's great image (Daniel 2), on the very brink of eternity. The warning signs are out, saying "Get ready to evacuate. I'm coming for you!"

How can we know that these signs are sure indicators that Christ is coming soon?
"Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the _____ days, walking according to their lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For...all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:3,4).
"For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as _____ pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

It doesn't take rocket science to know this world is falling apart at the seams. It's no longer business as usual. Many may scoff at the signs so clearly revealed in prophecy and world events. And while it's true that many of these signs have been around for a long time, the fact is they are becoming more frequent and more intense--just as  a woman's labor pains. Signs of the end are reaching a fever-pitch as God is reaching out to you and me. He is saying, "Watch and be ready. The end is nearer than you think. It's time to prepare."

Do you sense that Christ's coming is nearer than when you first believed? Do you want to prepare for His soon return?

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