The Return of Christ: Part I

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.  

Rumors of War

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

Only a fool would deny that relations between the United States and Russia are bad and getting worse. And only a fool would deny that the morally and intellectually bankrupt Obama administration is largely responsible for the deteriorating relations.

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap checks of his military's combat readiness in Russia's central district. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu: We have to check the capabilities of paratroopers when they are deployed over large distances and their readiness to make landings on unknown aerodromes.

Russia's defense minister added that the latest wargames also involve civilians, including from the health and agriculture ministries, and are designed to test "their readiness to carry out their tasks in wartime conditions."

Is Putin readying Russia for war against the United States? That's extremely unlikely when you consider that Russia's economy is currently in the toilet. While the Russians possess a massive amount of firepower, including 8,000 nuclear weapons, they're not planning on getting into a military confrontation with the U.S. At least not just yet. A war with the U.S. would cripple Russia's already fragile economy.

But in the future? That may depend on who occupies the White House. The Russians are hoping that American voters make the same mistake in 2016 that they made in 2008 and again in 2012 when they elected and reelected the most unqualified, incompetent president in the history of the United States.

And considering how apathetic and clueless many American voters are, there's a strong possibility that a Hillary Clinton or (God forbid) a Bernie Sanders could become America's 45th president. If that happens, Putin and his comrades in the Kremlin will be celebrating with a lot of cognac and vodka.

Does Putin really want war with the United States? Of course not. Rather, Putin realizes that Barack Obama is an extremely weak president who's paralyzed by his leftist ideology that equates war with a deadly plague. Thus, Obama can be pushed around, as Putin demonstrated in 2008 when he threatened to destroy an anti-ballistic missile system the U.S. had planned to install in eastern Europe.

Putin also recognizes that the Obama administration appeased Iran by negotiating a terrible nuclear agreement that guarantees the Persian state will become a nuclear power within two years. That will touch off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that will also affect much of Europe, including Russia. Russia exists to the north of several Islamic states that could get weapons and nukes from Iran. Obviously, Putin isn't going to sit back and wait for a catastrophic attack to occur in Russia. That's why he's getting his military ready.

Russia's ascent towards becoming a global military superpower is prophetic. Nearly 2,600 years ago, the ancient prophet Daniel received a vision from God concerning the rise of two powerful nations in the last days. (Daniel 11) Daniel described one of these nations as a northern kingdom.

What is the identity of the northern kingdom? The northern kingdom is Russia. But how can we be sure of that? Because the Bible always places Israel at the center of its geographical map. And Russia is located directly north of Israel.

And consider that the prophet Ezekiel, who lived about 2,500 years ago, prophesied that a powerful nation he identified as Gog would launch an invasion against Israel in the last days along with a vast military coalition. (Ezekiel 38-39) 

Here's what the prophet wrote: "Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 39:1-6)

Who is Gog? Gog was one of the names for the ancient tribe of Rosh that many modern Russians are descended from. Is it any coincidence that Russia is now becoming a military power that will menace the world? Hardly.

And keep in mind that the dreaded Antichrist will also come from Russia.  Thus, when we see Russia flexing her military muscles, we know that we're getting close to the end. Extremely close.