What Are the Signs? - Pt 2

 

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. [6] For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1–9 ESV).

 

The first sign of the End of the Age is the rise of technology. Do you realize that radio, television, computers, and the internet were all developed in the 20th century? In only a century and a half, we’ve gone from the invention of the telephone to having a smartphone in the palms of 83 percent of the global population. Some of you are old enough to remember the first televisions. I certainly am. It was a big event when my dad brought home our first TV. It was similar to the one pictured here. They were more of a cabinet than a screen. We connected the input to portable antennas called “rabbit ears” because of their shape. We were fortunate enough to live close enough to Houston which gave us a choice of three different channels, if we were able to get the antenna positioned just right! That technology has certainly come a long way in the last 75 years!

 

Or take the travel industry. For six thousand years, the fastest mode of public transportation was a horse. Today, travelers can jet around the world in mere days. In a matter of decades, the world saw the invention of the commercial railway, the mass-produced automobile, and commercial aircraft. Private citizens have even flown into space!

 

And it’s not just physical ease; information is readily accessible at our fingertips. “Google” is a verb in the dictionary. The dawn of technology resulted in the consumer getting what he wanted when he wanted it; it normalized instant gratification. And it’s showing no signs of stopping. Now the public is careening down the black holes of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency.

 

The important question is whether you using the technology, or is the technology using you? Do we see in this sign an indication of Paul’s description of those living in the last days: “men … without self-control” (vv. 2-3), “led away by various lusts” (v. 6)? We also see the prophecy of these things 2,500 years ago: “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” during “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4). Don’t be lulled to sleep by the truth that there has been a rise in technology before. After all, the Renaissance (c. 14th–17th century) was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political, and scientific "rebirth" following the Middle Ages. Originating in Italy and spreading across Europe, it emphasized humanism, classical learning, and innovation in art, science, and literature, transitioning society toward modern times.

 

Our call is to recognize that Jesus’ return is imminent. This must lead us to preparation and ministry.

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt. 1

 

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:1-8 ESV).

 

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, an active volcano in the state of Washington, erupted, taking the lives of a record-breaking 57 people. One of the more tragic accounts tells of one Harry R. Truman (no relation to the former president), who notoriously refused to evacuate his nearby home, instead stubbornly dismissing the many ominous warning signs. In April of 1980, the 83-year-old had made clear to family members, reporters, and even local law enforcement that he was staying put at his Mount St. Helens Lodge on Spirit Lake, despite the volcanic eruption that was expected to come. Truman was last seen at about 6 p.m. on May 17 at his lodge, “just riding her out.” The mountain erupted the next day, northward toward his longtime home.

 

Lest we make the same mistake as Harry R. Truman, the Lord has gifted us with His prophetic Word. In the last days of Jesus’ life on the earth, His disciples asked, “What will be the sign of Your coming?” (v. 3). Jesus then proceeded to list those signs that would herald His return at “the end of the age.” We will look at each of these in the coming days, though I would caution you to realize that no one can “name the date.” I won’t attempt that; however, we can test the times and understand the importance of being ready. Truman refused to believe that the mountain he loved could destroy him and all he loved. Yet, in his disregard for the warnings, it did just that. Later in the chapter from which our reading is taken, Jesus said:

 

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36–44 ESV).

 

Let’s be ready, equipped with the wisdom and knowledge the Scripture gives us!

 

The Feast of Trumpets

 

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:23–25 ESV).

 

I hope you have enjoyed Ezra and Nehemiah. Today I will begin to examine some of the passages that determine our theology surrounding the end of time and the final coming of Jesus. It may seem a bit strange to begin with our reading today which is from Leviticus. That is certainly not one of the “go-to” writings for most people; however, this passage describes the establishment of the Feast of Trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets, known as Rosh Hashanah, holds deep significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions. It’s a time of remembrance and prophetic expectation.

 

As believers in Jesus, we know there is more to this feast than recalling ancient events. The Feast of Trumpets points prophetically to the return of Jesus. Matthew writes: “He [Jesus] will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect” (Matthew 24:31).  The trumpet sound that once echoed from Sinai will resound again, this time announcing the coming of the Messiah. This becomes a time when we not only remember what God did for Israel, but we also look forward to what He will do for all believers. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The Feast of Trumpets was designed to reawaken God’s people to the beauty of his presence among them.

 

The Feast of Trumpets occurred toward the end of the agricultural year. For months the people labored under a hot sun to grow food—tilling, planting, pruning, and finally harvesting. But through long days, heavy demands, and the uncertainties of their daily work, it could be easy to lose sight of the God who had come to live among his people. The Feast of Trumpets marked the beginning of the religious year. On this first day of a new year, trumpets blasted throughout the community of God’s people, announcing the nearness of God. The unmistakable sound of the ram’s horn called Israel to revival and renewal.

 

One day we too will hear the unmistakable sound of a trumpet, announcing that Jesus is returning to make his kingdom complete! Amid the busyness of our work, our schooling, or the worries and cares of this world, we can lose sight of the certainty of Jesus’ return. But we are called to be ready for that day! Let us live each day eagerly awaiting and preparing for the clear, triumphant note of the Lord’s trumpet call.

 

As we look at some of the passages that deal with the Second Coming, my hope and prayer is that you will be strengthened in these difficult days by the knowledge that the trumpet will sound for the last time and Jesus will come to make all things right. I am convinced we are closer to that moment than many would acknowledge. Take comfort in knowing He will return!

 

God Remembers Us

 

[Nehemiah said] I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service. (Nehemiah 13:10–14 ESV).

 

There’s an old nursery rhyme about “an old woman who lived in a shoe” and who “had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.” I think Nehemiah might have felt like her. He had so many people to watch. When one group was doing well, another was behaving badly. He kept going to his knees and asking God to remember him.

 

Nehemiah was putting out fires all over Jerusalem. Each time he dealt with a new situation, he worked to make it better, and he prayed something like “Remember me for this, my God.” He could not stop people from sinning, but he could bring them before the Lord in prayer. Prayer is the only solution for many of the world’s problems.

 

By sending Jesus, who fulfilled the Old Testament law perfectly for all who believe in him, God showed that he kept his promise to make Israel a blessing to all other nations. Believing in Jesus, we can be assured that God forgives us for Jesus’ sake, crediting us with his righteousness (cf. Romans 3). That’s all we have when we think about it. So, we pray continually for his help, that in his strength we may honor God in all we do.

 

When we pray, we know that God controls the world, loves us, and promises to work in and through us. We trust that God will bring glory out of terrible situations, because he alone can do it. Daily, then, let’s remember the one true God, who holds the whole world in his hands and saves us!

 

Living in Jerusalem

 

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men. (Nehemiah 11:1–6 ESV).

 

What do Fremont, California, Overland Park, Kansas, Irvine, California, Plano, Texas, and Seattle Washington, all have in common. According to Forbes Magazine, these cities were ranked the best place to raise a family in the U.S. in their 2024 report, citing strong economics, high family income, low poverty, and excellent education/health metrics. For the Jews, Jerusalem was the best place to live. There was no better location for a formerly exiled people to rebuild their lives than to take up residence near the house of God. Jerusalem is still one of my favorite places in the world, though I’ve never lived there and only visited on occasion.

 

Our reading today gives us the story of how Nehemiah would allot land to each of the Jews who returned to Judah from exile. Only one family out of ten could live in Jerusalem. The goal was to live, work, and worship God’s way. Each of the family lines populated Jerusalem with the kind of people who centered everything on being God’s witnesses to the surrounding nations.

 

To live in Jerusalem was a great honor, but also a challenge. The people chosen were honored to lead the kind of life that brought glory to the Lord. They would treat each other with justice. They would regularly engage in sincere worship. But it would be a challenge to be faithful and not cut corners in work and worship. Still, Jerusalem’s residents accepted the honor and challenge to make God’s city the best place to live.

 

We should examine how we attract people for God. We must take to heart Paul’s words: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The best place to live is in the will of our only Savior, Jesus.

 

Walking with God

 

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. (Nehemiah 9:1–3 ESV).

 

Our reading today describes a solemn day of national assembly for the Israelites as they sought spiritual renewal following the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Eugene Peterson writes in his book Answering God, “God works with words. He uses them to make a story of salvation. He pulls us into the story. When we believe, we become willing participants in the plot… We can do this recklessly or robustly, throwing ourselves into relationships and actions. When we do this, we pray.”

 

Israel got pulled into the story of reconciliation by confessing their sins through prayer. But they had to prepare themselves to enter God’s arena. First, Israel prepared an atmosphere of reconciliation. They gathered before the Lord, knowing that they and their ancestors had all blown it. Then they fasted, pushing out sinful desires and creating space for God. Next, they remembered their holy identity and separated themselves from the practices of other nations. And they told God their story of sins through prayer. There was a cycle of reading the Law, confessing their sins, and worship.

 

In their prayers, they gave honor and praise to God alone. They remembered that salvation was God’s idea, not theirs. Their prayers returned them to the story of God, who kept his promise to make something out of them despite their sins.

 

Jesus is God’s idea too. We are invited into a story we did not write. Jesus wrote us into the book of life by his great love for us, ushering us into the big story of God’s mercy and grace. That’s the story you and I get to tell!

 

Making a List and Checking It Twice

 

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. (Nehemiah 7:5-7 ESV).

 

I know you are familiar with the phrase "Making a list and checking it twice." It refers to the classic Christmas song lyrics from "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," where Santa keeps track of who's been "naughty or nice." However, it's also a common idiom for careful planning or double-checking tasks, reflecting a diligent, organized approach, often associated with Christmas preparation or general thoroughness. I must confess that I am such a list maker. I don’t make lists of people as much as I incessantly make lists of things to do. And I change my list only as absolutely necessary for convenience or accuracy.

 

But God is a God of accuracy. Nehemiah made a big deal about names and numbers. As the exiled people of God transformed from an unsettled people to a restored people, names and numbers were important. God cared about every family and each person’s life. There were lives and stories behind every name and number. No one is invisible in God’s family. The priests mattered because they helped with and conducted worship for the people. The singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants assisted the priests and Levites. In order to fill the city of God with right living and worship, Nehemiah needed to get the rules and numbers right. God cares deeply about every detail of his salvation plan.

 

Jesus cared about getting the details of salvation right. He healed a blind man and told him to go visit the local priest. He cleared the temple from being a place of commercial business that crowded out prayer. He submitted himself to death on a cross because it was the only way to redeem sinful humankind.

 

This ought to help us the next time we are tempted to cut corners in our walk with God. We ought to think about the details, because they matter to him.