The Great Treasure Hunt

[Jesus said] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44 ESV).

 

The reading today is most often called “the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.” John Calvin writes of this parable: “… the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure. We commonly set a high value on what is visible, and therefore the new and spiritual life, which is held out to us in the Gospel, is little esteemed by us, because it is hidden, and lies in hope. There is the highest appropriateness in comparing it to a treasure, the value of which is in no degree diminished, though it may be buried in the earth, and withdrawn from the eyes of men. These words teach us, that we ought not to estimate the riches of the grace of God according to the views of our flesh, or according to their outward display, but in the same manner as a treasure, though it be hidden, is preferred to a vain appearance of wealth.”

 

In every life stage we learn to ask questions and seek understanding to be “successful.” In school we ask questions when we don’t understand. At work we gain experience and learn to do our jobs well. To own a home, we figure out how mortgages and interest rates affect our finances. It seems intuitive to seek wisdom in every area of our lives, and yet we often ignore the wisdom of God. Maybe that’s why Jesus compares it to a hidden treasure.” We are called to actively search for insight and wisdom from God so that we can know the Lord.

 

Scripture urges us to make the knowledge of God the most important knowledge that we can gain—more important than any other type of insight or wisdom. The knowledge of God and his wisdom help us see everything else more clearly. By the wisdom of God, we have greater wisdom and insight to do our tasks here on earth with a kingdom focus.

 

In the coming days we will look at some practical ways to seek this treasure… I hope you will join me on this great “treasure hunt”!

  

The torn Curtain

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51–54 ESV).

 

Our reading today describes a very important element of the death of Jesus. At the moment Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn open “from top to bottom.” The temple was the place of God’s presence among his people. The innermost section was called the Holy of Holies. It was the most sacred of places within the Temple; it was the place where God’s presence was focused. A thick curtain separated it from the rest of the temple, and only one person, the high priest, could go into that room once a year, on the Day of Atonement, after going through an elaborate cleansing ceremony (cf. Leviticus 16).

 

In a sense, that curtain was a lasting reminder of the barrier God had used to keep Adam and Eve from the garden when they had fallen into sin. It wasn’t that God didn’t want people in his presence. The problem was that because of sin, no person could survive in God’s presence. God’s holiness and purity cannot mix with human sinfulness.

 

But Jesus’ death for our sake changed all that. The writer of Hebrews wrote: “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…” (Hebrews 10:19). Jesus took away our sin by his death, opening the way for us to approach God again and enjoy life in him. The Holy Spirit now comes to us in the quickening of our spirit allowing us to respond to God and He restores our relationship forgiving our sin.

 

So many times I hear people tell me what they need to do to earn God’s favor and receive His presence. That is so far from the truth of Scripture. Everything necessary to receive the fulness of the presence of God has already been done. God has come to us because of the atonement that Jesus accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection. You don’t need to go anywhere of do anything to have God’s presence and power; He has already given it to you. Enjoy Him! Rely on Him! Fellowship with your heavenly Father! 

God's Broken Heart

 

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:1–8 ESV).

 

Ancient Greek philosophers imagined a perfect supreme being without emotion. This god would know everything and be in control of everything; however, it could not be influenced by people or other creatures, because that would imply weakness or lack of control. It could not have emotions or be truly responsive to humans. The Greeks called this supreme being “God.” The early Christian church developed in a world that was heavily influenced by this Greek thinking. So Christian theologians often used those ideas to explain Christian teachings to Greek-minded people. Even today, our concepts of God tend to be influenced by those perspectives. That heresy is known as Gnosticism. It holds that knowledge is far superior to emotion. The Apostle Paul warned the early churches against this understanding of God (cf. 1 Timothy 6:20).

 

When we come to a passage like our reading today, we might think, “What?! God regretted what he had done? He changed his mind? Human sin hurt God to the depths of his heart?” That doesn’t fit well with our Greek-minded ideas of an emotionless supreme being. So, we try to explain such verses away and not take them at face value.

 

But God wants us to realize that our actions—good and bad—affect him. When I hurt a friend, that puts a barrier between me and that person. Similarly, our sin grieves Him. Effectually we reject His presence. It sets up a barrier between us and him. He knows the pain that will bring not our lives which causes Him to grieve. Because of that, God has made a way forward for us. As we confess our sins to God and receive his forgiveness through Jesus, we are then free to experience the fullness of His presence. Do you need that restoration today? Confess to Him. He will restore you!

Restored

 

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,  but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (Genesis 3:1–7 ESV).

 

God placed the first humans, Adam and Eve, in a beautiful garden filled with wonderful plants, wildlife, and abundant food (cf. Genesis 2:8-25). God himself was present there and took walks with them in “the cool of the day.” They had everything they could possibly need. However, as our reading details for us, Adam and Eve sinned, disobeying God’s command to them. And as we read at the end of this chapter, they were banished from the garden and kept from returning by an angel with flaming sword.

 

At first read, this could seem like pretty extreme punishment for just eating some forbidden fruit.  Though, a lot more was involved. God had entrusted Adam and Eve with representing him by managing this beautiful garden—to develop and care for it. But they shifted their allegiance from the Creator to following the way of the enemy—Satan (cf. Revelation 12:9). In doing this, they ruined their relationships with God, with each other, and with the creation. So, God banished them and blocked the way to the garden.

 

Perhaps you have experienced rejection, you may have been fired from a job, shunned by family members or neighbors, barred from society. Maybe you have been at fault, either partly or fully; or maybe you are innocent. Either way, it feels awful.

 

Thankfully, God provided a way to be reconciled with him. God sent his Son, Jesus, to defeat the devil and remove the barrier so that we can have fellowship with God again (Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:14-18).

 

The New Heaven and the New Earth

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1–4 ESV).

 

The "new heaven and new earth" is a biblical concept, taken particularly from our reading today (Revelation 21). It describes the ultimate, perfected state of creation after God's final judgment, where sin, death, and suffering are abolished, and God dwells directly with His chosen people in the “New Jerusalem.” It is the fulfillment of His original purpose for a restored, eternal world. It represents not just renewal but a superior, transformed reality where God's presence brings complete harmony, peace, and eternal life for believers, replacing the current world's corruption.

 

When thinking about this complete renewal, we can say that it signifies a fresh start, purging the old creation of sin and its effects, creating something superior, not just a remodeled version. God is not merely putting the broken things back together, He is making all things new. We also see this will be a state when God dwells directly with His people, symbolizing perfect communion and the fulfillment of His dwelling with humanity. There will be an absence of suffering; there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain; tears will be wiped away. It's the culmination of the biblical story, reversing the fall and restoring creation to its intended glory, even surpassing Eden. This is our ultimate comfort and hope, assuring that current suffering is temporary and that God will make all things new.

 

On those days when it seems impossible to even stumble forward much less take a strong step, then we may turn to this great hope of a final destination without any trials or trouble. All of that which was destroyed in the original sin of Adam and Eve will be restored to God’s original intent of eternal life! That day is coming quickly!

 

The Rapture

 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV).

 

The “rapture” in the Bible refers to a prophetic event where Jesus will return to "catch up" or snatch away all true Christian believers (living and resurrected dead) to meet Him in the air, taking them to heaven. Our reading today is the clearest reference to this event. It involves believers being instantly transformed and taken to be with the Lord, often described as happening suddenly, "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:51). It should be noted that many theologians have interpretations that vary on whether it's a secret event before or simultaneous with the Second Coming.

 

The word Apostle Paul uses that is translated "caught up" is ἁρπαγησόμεθα. The word "rapture" comes from the Latin rapere, meaning "to seize" or "snatch away," reflecting the Greek harpazo in the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 4:17). HELPS Word Studies says it can be understood as to seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); or, to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).

 

From this passage we can know without debate that both deceased believers (resurrected) and living believers (transformed) will meet Christ. These will meet Him in the air, thus not at the time Jesus comes to the Earth specifically. It is a separate event surrounding the Second Coming. Some of the things that are debated are the timing. Whether the Rapture occurs before, during, or after the Great Tribulation (a period of judgment) is a significant point of difference among Christian traditions. And, some see the Rapture and the visible Second Coming of Christ as separate events, while others view them as one unified event depending on the timing of it. It is worthy of note that the Reformers of the 16th century, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, generally did not distinguish between a "Rapture" and a "Second Coming" as two separate events. Their eschatology was focused on a single, visible, and triumphant return of Jesus Christ to judge the world and establish the new heavens and earth.

 

I must confess that I hope for the rapture before the tribulation, although that is purely selfishness on my part. I just don’t want to be here when the world is in such turmoil. In recent years I have leaned more toward the traditional reformed belief that these events are indistinguishable in their timing. They happen virtually at the same time. Regardless the hope we have because of this truth is the same. Jesus IS coming to finally set all things right and banish evil from creation once and for all! To be sure, that may be much sooner than many would believe.

What Are the Signs? - Pt 8

 

[Jesus said] “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9–14 ESV).

 

Jesus foretold, “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). And Paul warned, “In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2, 4).

 

Perhaps this sign of the times, more than any other, has slid into sharp focus for the Christian in this generation. Between 1870 and 1970, the divorce rate in North America quadrupled. Now it is even higher, 53% of first-time marriages end in divorce. Further, it doesn’t seem to matter whether they are church members or not as the statistics are virtually identical.

 

From cancel culture to hate crime, today’s society has made it clear that it is fostering division, contempt, and entitlement. There are professed Christians who believe that social media gives them license to bully, gossip, and demean. Sure, it’s easy to love someone who loves you back, but what about those who don’t treat you well, who aren’t that likable, or with whom you simply have a disagreement of opinion?

 

Real, true love is dissipating—and it’s about to get worse. As was previously mentioned, the Bible predicts terrible persecution upon God’s people, “that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15). Indeed, this extreme hatred will only intensify until the Second Coming ends it. Jesus said, “Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). However, this is not reason to fear. It is the assurance of our hope. Be kind and full of grace. Our God will deliver us into an eternal life prepared and secured by the work of His only begotten Son, Jesus!

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt 7

 

[Jesus said] For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:24–28 ESV).

 

Another sign of the “End of the Age” is the specific work of these “false christs and false prophets.” We’ve already learned that “false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). “Signs and wonders” is another name for miracles, inexplicable occurrences outside the laws of nature.

 

The Bible teaches us some significant facts about miracles. When God was about to deliver His people out of slavery, He told Moses and Aaron, “I will multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:3). God then predicted that the ruler of Egypt, Pharaoh, would challenge them: “Show a miracle for yourselves” (Exodus 7:9). Everything happened just as God said. When Pharaoh challenged Moses and Aaron, the miracle that Aaron performed, through the power of God, was to “cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent” (Exodus 7:10). Directly after, however, Pharaoh ordered “the wise men and the sorcerers,” known as “the magicians of Egypt,” to copy Aaron’s miracle; and “they also did in like manner with their enchantments” (Exodus 7:11).

 

Miracles are not always from God—they can also be counterfeits from Satan. And even though Pharaoh’s magicians aren’t around today, their equivalents are. There are psychics, mediums, and yogis. There are paranormal investigators, ufologists, and spiritual healers. There are Wiccans and New Agers, “Christian” witches! Witchcraft is now a multibillion-dollar industry. They may have different labels for who they’re coming into contact with—whether ghosts, aliens, reincarnations, or even professed angels—but the Bible reveals the single source behind these types of signs and wonders: “They are spirits of demons, performing signs” (Revelation 16:14). The supernatural manifestations accompanying the false christs and prophets of the last days are demons. In fact, it is the end-time false prophet, also known as the second beast from the earth (Revelation 19:20), that convinces the whole world by its signs and wonders to persecute all those who worship God (Revelation 13:13–15).

It is very interesting that Jesus warns us these things will take place in order to deceive many people. The deception comes at the point of providing false hope. After all, if such a wonderous thing can be done by any individual, doesn’t that mean they are powerful enough to save us in our calamitous world? The answer will always be no. There is no one other than Jesus capable of saving us. Our hope must be placed in Him and Him alone. Politicians who claim and sometimes seem to be able to make our lives great can’t save us; preachers who claim to have the answers to all our woes cannot save us… unless they point us to our only Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

As these voices increase it is a sign that we are nearing the End of the Age and the coming of the Christ!

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt. 6

 

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 24:3–8 ESV).

 

There have been many claims in recent years that the End of the Age has begun and the Second Coming is imminent that it has dulled the average believer into a sense of indifference. Several leading ministers have set specific dates for the return of Christ only to have the time come and go—undermining the faith of thousands. So many people have claimed to be Jesus that Wikipedia actually compiled a page on it! This applies in a broader sense as well. There have been many other religions that have begun in contention with Christianity, professing their doctrines as the path to salvation. Some sources say that there are more than 4,000 religions in existence today. Counted among those are Wicca, a type of witchcraft founded in 1954, and the New Age, a movement steeped in mysticism born in the 1970s.

 

When Jesus warned His disciples of the signs of the times, He mentioned this specific deception more than any other. He cautioned them to “take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many (vv. 4, 5). He also says that many false prophets will rise up and deceive many (v. 11). Reading further in Matthew 24 Jesus says, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (vv. 23, 24).

 

Our Lord also knew of the ultimate false christ that is to manifest in the last days: the Antichrist. The apostle John said, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). Paul added, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4). The “Day” being referred to is “the day of the Lord,” the Second Coming. The Antichrist will deceive people into believing that he is the God of the Bible, “the only true God” (John 17:3). Indeed, Scripture tells us that “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). While there are many false christs and false prophets in other religions, it is counterfeit Christianity in particular that will become the centerpiece of the end times.

 

What does this mean for us? The most important principle is that we take seriously the truth that the Second Coming could be at any moment. The imminent return of Jesus does not force us to complacency, rather it should motivate us to dig deeper into the Scripture to understand how to recognize the “wolves clothed in sheepskins.” It also should motivate us to take seriously every opportunity we have to share the truth of the Gospel. It is that truth that sets all men free!

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt 5

 

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 ESV).

 

The fourth sign of the End of the Age will be the persistent denial of the crises of our world. When he spoke of the Second Coming, the apostle Paul stated, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them” (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3). Perhaps the most insidious and subtle of denials is when “peace and safety” are yearned for, when ease and comfort are cherished, at the expense of truth. This becomes a time when Christ’s return becomes an annoyance, an avoidance, or even regarded as a pipe dream. People don’t want to hear about it because they like the way things are; they don’t want things to change.

 

Perhaps one of the best examples took place during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Practically overnight, the entire world was impacted; our way of life shifted dramatically. Many students of Bible prophecy identified it as a sign of the end, one of the “pestilences” (cf. Matthew 24:7). However, the greatest concerns were financial loss from businesses. Many people couldn’t wait until their favorite stores and restaurants could reopen and their routines returned to “normal.” People became much more concerned with getting back to their creature comforts rather than responding to the alarm being sounded. In so doing, they make the Second Coming but a byword. The devil has a thousand ways to distract us with the humdrum of everyday life.

 

We are facing a dramatic shift in the “peace” of the world. Regardless of how many times it is said by others, we are not living in peaceful times. These are times when the security of the past is being swept away in favor of control at a high level in our world. This is such a time when it feels as if we have been struck by calamity and uncertainty. Be certain of this… Jesus is coming! Pray that it is soon. Be vigilant and ready!

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt 4

 

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. (Revelation 11:15–19 ESV).

 

The third sign is the environmental crisis. On May 13, 2021, the world’s largest iceberg was formed when it broke off the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica. “A-76,” as it was named, is a whopping 1,670 square miles. To give you some comparison it is nearly the size of Delaware, larger than the state of Rhode Island, and over 70 times larger than Manhattan Island.

 

No doubt, the earth is changing. While science attributes the environmental crisis to such factors as global warming, loss of biodiversity, or pollution, the Bible explains the root of the problem as another sign of the end. In his vision of the final judgment, the prophet Isaiah recorded, “The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate” (Isaiah 24:5, 6). Furthermore, in his vision of the end times, the apostle John heard proclaimed from heaven that God would “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). The earth is breaking down because humanity has persistently broken God’s law. There may well come a day when the devil will twist this reasoning to convince the majority of the globe to follow a counterfeit law of God.

 

In 2015, Pope Francis published his second encyclical, entitled Laudato si’, widely considered to be the pontiff’s opus on environmental protection. The issue has, in fact, been called the “cornerstone of his pontificate.” Francis has been instrumental in propelling climate change into a global movement, largely in his efforts to unite church and state under its banner. At no other time in Earth’s history has a church been so impassioned about environmentalism.

 

Though we are not given license to treat our planet like trash, there is danger in making environmentalism your gospel. The fact of the matter is that we cannot save the world with solar panels, wind turbines, or hybrid cars. “The day of the Lord [the Second Coming] will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). It is Christ who saves the world. Ultimately, the Savior will “create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17), restoring the earth to perfection. That time may be much sooner than many realize!

 

What Are the Signs? - Pt. 3

 

[Jesus said] “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. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:6–14 ESV).

 

The second sign of the End of the Age is the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In 2014, in what I believe to have been an incredible miracle from God, Amazing Facts became one of the only Christian ministries given permission to hold a full public evangelistic series in China since 1949, when missionaries were expelled. At 1.4 billion, the communist country has the world’s largest population. At the end of the meetings, hundreds were baptized to the glory of God and DVDs of the meetings began to proliferate around the country.

 

And it’s not just Amazing Facts; missionary-minded ministries everywhere have taken up the great commission. This is also true in other parts of the world. South America is seeing a great resurgence in evangelism; the 10/40 Window, which holds two-thirds of the world’s population, is also seeing a great response to the Gospel; and, colleges and universities in the United States are seeing hundreds of students respond to the gospel.

 

Interestingly enough, this sign of the end has been contingent upon another: the rise of technology. There are those whose only opportunity to learn about the gospel comes from a website. Satellites can now beam the light of God’s truths into individual homes. Through the internet, television, satellite, radio, publishing, and word of mouth, the message is reaching into virtually every corner of the globe.

 

This is actually a sign that triggers the Second Coming. The Bible tells us that when every living person has had the opportunity to hear the gospel, when “this gospel of the kingdom [is] preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, … then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

 

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.