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!