After a year of turbulence and upheaval across the world, what does 2016 promise? If nothing else, it will likely remind us how close we're getting to the return of Jesus Christ.
How can we possibly know when He's coming back? We don't know the exact date, but we do know that the time is near based upon several specific signs Christ revealed.
Concerning those signs, Christ said this: "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:32-35)
What are the specific signs of the end times? The first sign is spiritual deception: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5)
That sign warns Christians to watch out for false messiahs that would begin appearing in the end times. Certainly, false messiahs have existed since the beginning of the church age. But Christ warned that clever messiahs backed by demonic power will appear and deceive many: "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:23-25)
That sign began to manifest in the early 20th century with William Seymour's Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, Cal. Seymour was a charismatic preacher and a false prophet who predicted that the world would begin to experience an explosion of miracles in the 21st century directly preceding the return of Christ.
Where does the Bible predict that? It doesn't. Rather, it reveals that a counterfeit revival will take place that will deceive millions and lead them to the Antichrist. The apostle Paul explained: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
Asuza Street spawned the Latter Rain, Vineyard and Third Wave Movements, and offshoots such as the Word of Faith, Laughing Revival, and Signs and Wonders Movements. Key teachings of the Third Wave Movement include what is known as "power evangelism." The basic premise of power evangelism is that the preaching of the gospel must be accompanied with signs and wonders in order for people to respond in faith. Proponents of this view have an unbalanced focus on miracles, speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy.
Some of the big names who are promoting the counterfeit revival include Mike Bickle, Benny Hinn, Sid Roth, Perry Stone, Roberts Liardon, C. Peter Wagner and Rodney Howard Browne. These are just some of the false prophets that Christ warned us would appear in the last days. And these pseudo-prophets have convinced many people that a great revival is about to break out across the world.
Paul revealed that the popularity of false prophets in the end times will be directly related to those who reject the truth for so-called "new revelations" not found in the Bible: "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Another sign that Christ revealed would alert us that His return is near is this one: "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:6-7)
Wars and disputes between nations have been going on since the beginning of time. However, the world has experienced more wars and conflagrations between nations over the past 100 years than in all of the previous centuries combined. According to warsintheworld.com, there are currently 66 nations involved in wars and 680 militias and separatist groups fighting to overthrow governments across the world.
Approximately 160 million people died in the wars fought during the 20th century, making the previous century the bloodiest in recorded history. And with the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the current century could see even more casualties.
What are the other signs that Christ revealed concerning the last days? There are several others. In Part II; the increase of earthquakes, famines and pestilences.
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