Max Lucado - Are We Nearing the End?
Summary:
Drawing from Matthew 24:7-8 where Jesus describes end-time signs as «birth pains» that increase in frequency, the preacher points to escalating wars, natural disasters, the regathering of Jews in Israel since 1948, global economic controls, and moral decline as evidence we’re in that season. He calls the restoration of Israel a «super sign» fulfilling prophecies like Jeremiah 30:3, essential for events like the Antichrist’s covenant and Armageddon. The encouraging conclusion is that believers should read these signs without fear, trusting God’s warnings prepare us to believe and be ready for His kingdom.
Greeting and Personal Touch
God bless you today. God bless you. I can’t promise that my dog won’t make an appearance, so let me just go ahead and turn the camera toward him. There he is, sound asleep. He’s following me everywhere I go today, so don’t be surprised if old Andy jumps up on my shoulder or something. Hey, we’re coming to the end of a discussion based on John 3, verse 16. In this beautiful passage, Jesus promises to bring everlasting life, eternal life, to everybody who believes in Him.
The Promise of the Kingdom
What a wonderful scripture this is! A kingdom in which there’ll be no tears, there’ll be no graves. It’s going to be exactly like, well, God will have His Garden of Eden. Let’s discuss the proximity of the inauguration of this kingdom. I don’t want to stay around—I get it. Let us know how to pray for you before you slip out, but if you can stay around for about 10 minutes and consider what Jesus said about the end of times, I think you’d find it interesting. He said nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and that there will be famines and that there will be earthquakes in various places. All these, He said, are the beginnings of birth pains (Matthew 24:7-8).
Understanding Birth Pains as Signs
This phrase «birth pains"—we men, we’re not qualified to define it. I get that, and I wouldn’t try. But I have it on good authority that birth pains are painful and that they come with increasing frequency as the time draws near. Now, Jesus compares the signs of the end to birth pains. They’re painful, and they come with increasing frequency; they’re increasingly common. So, with that in mind, I wonder if you’d be willing and interested in considering some of the signs of the end. Jesus said in the end, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. This is an idiomatic expression that describes a widespread conflict—not just a localized skirmish but a widespread conflict.
Wars and Conflicts
Well, we’ve seen that twice in the last century, correct? The conflict was so severe that it earned the phrase «world war.» More people died from war in the 20th century than in all other centuries combined. Birth pains!
Natural Disasters: Famines and Earthquakes
What about natural disasters, specifically famines and earthquakes? Do you know the world has always seen both, of course, but we’re seeing them with increasing frequency? According to one study, from 1939 to 1976, there were 71 earthquakes; from 1977 to 2014, there were 164—an increase of 131, according to the U.S. Geological Society. Does it seem to you that the birth pangs are increasing in frequency? These are signs—signs on the road. Birth pains!
The Super Sign: Regathering of Israel
There’s more, of course. The most remarkable sign of this generation is the regathering of the Jewish people in Israel. The Bible speaks of a day in which Jewish people will reoccupy their homeland. Here’s an example from the book of Jeremiah: «The days are coming, » declares the Lord, «when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess.» Now that’s in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 30, and verse 3. Almost all the key events of end times hinge upon the existence of the nation of Israel. Everything revolves around Israel. The book of Daniel prophesies a covenant between the Antichrist and Israel.
Now that can only happen if there is a nation of Israel, right? The book of Daniel prophesies a rebuilding of the temple. Again, Israel must exist in order for this to happen. Daniel forecasts an act of utter sacrilege in the temple—no Israel, no temple. The war of Armageddon only makes sense if Israel is occupying the land where the valley is found. Now, the idea of a repopulated Israel was absolutely unthinkable just a few decades ago. The Jewish people were dispersed to over 70 countries for more than 20 centuries, yet all that changed when, in 1948, we saw them return. For the first time since 135 A.D., there are more Jews living in Israel than in any place on earth.
This is a super sign! This super sign should be enough to get our attention, but there’s more—just a couple more.
Global Economy and Moral Decline
The book of Revelation prophesies a day during the tribulation when an evil ruler will command the world economy, and in that day, no one will buy, no one will sell without his permission.
A hundred years ago, this was impossible and unthinkable. Economies were localized to regions and countries, but thanks to the proliferation of electronic banking, credit, and debit cards, it is possible. The world is a smaller place. Also, scripture repeatedly promises a plunge in morality in the end times—I mean a plunge. The world has always been immoral; I get that. Yet this day and age, because of globalism, pornography is peddled on a global scale like never before. Porn peddlers in Russia can poison the thoughts of a teenager in Kansas at any point of the day.
Now, this wasn’t true when I was a kid; this wasn’t true 30 years ago, but it’s true today. Because the world is smaller, the possibility of global disasters is more likely. So what tool will the Antichrist use in the tribulation? Well, again, thanks to globalism, he can use bacteria; he can use nuclear power; he can use financial sabotage; he can use a combination of them all; he can use a pandemic. The signs are there! We could easily add to the list the blood moons, the attempts at peace in the Middle East, increased apostasy in the church. All of these add up to make us think this could be the generation—the generation of the rapture. This could be the generation of the rapture, the tribulation, and the second coming. Again, to be clear, I don’t know; no one knows. But shouldn’t we read the signs?
Encouragement for Believers and Call to Faith
Now, if you’re in Christ, my friend, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid! Be aware, but don’t be anxious. Be thankful! Be thankful that you have a heavenly Father who tells you what to expect so you won’t be surprised. Now, if you’re not a believer, you can be thankful as well. You can be thankful as well! Now you know what is coming. God has revealed it to you. You can give your heart to Christ. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His followers what to expect. He spoke of His going away, referring to the crucifixion, and alerted them to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then He said, «I have told you before it comes so that when it does come to pass, you may believe» (John 14:29).
God tells us what will happen before it happens so that when it happens, we’ll be ready, and we’ll believe. That’s my prayer for you, my friend-just believe! In these uncertain times, you be certain of your relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You trust Him because He loves you. God bless you, my friend!
Lighthearted Closing
I’ll say goodbye to my dog before we head out. See, I told you he didn’t move an inch, did he? Ah, you ought to see his face! He’s a beautiful dog. I’ll talk to you soon!