Zheng Xun
Now, it is the end of the last days. Many brothers and sisters, who truly believe in the Lord and wait for Him coming back, must have such questions: The Lord Jesus has said, “And, behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 22:12). He has promised us to return. Has He come back yet? How can we know whether He has returned or not?
1. The Love of Believers Becomes Cold
Matthew 24:12 records: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Nowadays, in the denominations and sects, believers covet the world in general, and few devote themselves to working for the Lord. Some of them are engaged in business, some are busy with making money by opening factories. Moreover, the pastors and elders scheme against one another and have jealous disputes with each other. They even form factions, steal offerings, and commit adultery. Therefore, the followers become colder and colder in their faith and love and the churches have become more desolate now.
2.The Occurrence of Wars, Famines and Earthquakes
The Bible says: “And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8). In recent years, the disasters are getting worse and worse all over the world. It is horrifying that the earthquakes, floods, droughts, fires, famines, and plagues have occurred more frequently and spread everywhere. The situation of the world is constantly changing and turbulent; the wars, violence, and terrorist attacks take place frequently and escalate unceasingly. For example, in April 2016, India suffered from the worst drought in the past 40 years, leading to over 300,000,000 people grappling with a shortage of drinking water. From 2015 to 2016, there were a series of terrorist attacks in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and so on, which led to countless casualties. In 2008, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China, and nearly 70,000 people died and nearly 18,000 missing. According to the natural phenomenon, as the crust of the earth thickens, earthquakes should have been fewer and fewer. But now earthquakes occur more often, which puzzles scientists.
3. The return of Israel
Matthew 24:32-33 says: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Luke 21:29-32 records: “And he spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near at hand. So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is near at hand. Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” In May 1948, Israel was recovered. Shortly after David Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of Israel at Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, Soviet Union recognized it quickly and set up an embassy thereon May 26, and later supported Israel in many ways. On May 11, 1949, Israel was accepted officially as a member of the United Nations with the support of Soviet Union and America.
4. The Powers of the Heavens Have Been Shaken
Matthew 24:29 says: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” Astronomers frequently publish this type of news: Some new stars appears, while some are falling, meteor crash often happen. On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, the early morning sky briefly lit up with the brilliant flash of a fireball—that is, an extremely bright meteor—over much of the eastern New England states. At 9:15 a.m. of February 15, 2013, Chelyabinsk, Urals Federal region, Russia, suffered the strike of an asteroid, and a huge shock wave and explosion caused 1,491 people injured and plenty of glass broken. It was said by scientists that the diameter of the asteroid was about 15 meters and it weighed about 7,000 metric tons. These have fulfilled the prophecy “the stars shall fall from heaven.”
5. The Gospel Has Been Preached to the Ends of the Earth
Matthew 24:14 records: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.” “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world” means when all nations have heard the gospel of the Lord, He will return (which doesn’t mean everyone has heard it or believed in Him.) After the Lord Jesus completed the redemptive work through His crucifixion, the Holy Spirit began to lead God’s chosen people to testify the Lord Jesus. Through the radio stations, networks, books, gospel tracts, missionary work, and so on, the gospel has been spread more and more widely and preached among all nations finally. Thus, the Christians have already been throughout the world. Even in China, which is ruled by an atheist party, many people have accepted the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, the gospel of the Lord Jesus’ redemption of mankind has spread to the ends of the universe. Dear brothers and sisters, just think about this: Is there any country or region in the world where people haven’t heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus?
6. The Emergence of Heresies
Matthew 24:4-5 says: “And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Now many heresies and evil cults occur in the religious world of every country. They have no truths at all, can’t supply believers with truth and life, much less bring people any edification or benefit.
7. The Appearance of False Christs and Antichrists
Matthew 24:23-26 says: “Then if any man shall say to you, See, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Why if they shall say to you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” As we know, now deception from false Christs occurs in every country. For example, in Korea, many are fooled into believing false Christs without discernment. All false Christs can do is to perform some simple signs and wonders and preach some paradoxical fallacies to deceive others. In addition, they can’t express the truth to solve man’s problems of committing sins and then confessing, nor can they save mankind from corruption. According to the prophecy of the Bible, when the Lord Jesus returns to do His work, many false Christs and deceivers will appear at the same time to imitate and disturb God’s work. And so, when the false Christs begin appearing, it means that God has already returned and He has arrived in secret. But the people just don’t know about it. This is an opportunity for us to seek and to investigate God’s work in the last days. Brothers and sisters, for us to welcome the Lord Jesus’ return, we must know how to tell the true Christ from the false ones. This relates directly to our rapturing before the throne of God. Then, how to recognize the true Christ is the truth we need most right now.
From the facts above, we can see it obviously that most of the biblical prophecies of the Lord’s return have come true, from which we know the Lord has already come back. But many people may ask: Since the Lord has come back, why haven’t we welcomed Him? But have you ever thought about whether there are some deviations in welcoming the return of the Lord? Regarding the return of the Lord, many people take guarding against false Christs as their priority. They pay no attention to how to hear God’s voice like wise virgins or how to welcome the return of the Lord. Instead, they cling to their notions and imaginations, thinking anyone who witnesses the Lord Jesus’ return is false. Because they don’t seek or investigate, they will miss the chance to welcome the return of the Lord!