Scripture Text – Matthew 24:3-14
Pastor’s Note: Please keep in mind that as you read these various circumstances prophesied by Jesus, M. R. De Haan wrote and commented abut these things back in 1944.
Concluding with the nine signs began from last week:
7. Increase of Lawlessness
8. Apostasy
These two signs are related. They are the abounding of lawlessness and the “growing cold” of many who before this time were warm with love. Need we comment on this seventh sign? Hardly, when we consider the fact that the crime bill of the nation is estimated at sixteen billion dollars annually (in 1944). Our daily papers are the best commentaries on these words of the Lord Jesus and coincident with this is the lukewarmness of the Church. From earnest preachers in every quarter comes the cry that a lukewarmness and indifference are creeping over God’s people. Preaching does not seem to touch them. Our Lord spoke of these things nineteen hundred years ago as signs of His soon return.
9. Universal Gospel Preaching
Jesus speaks of the last sign in these words: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” I realize that this will be fulfilled after the Rapture, but it is beginning to be fulfilled even before the Rapture. For the first time in history it is possible to reach the whole world with the Gospel. The radio is able to send that message to every nook and corner of the globe. If we could supply everyone with a receiving set and then preach in his language we could fulfill these words of the Lord Jesus to the letter. During the Tribulation the Gospel will be brought to all men by the converted 144,000 of Israel; it will be accomplished largely by what the Word calls, the “hearing of the ear”—by means of the radio (and today in 2023, everyone has a cell phone with internet access). Thus we see that these nine signs enumerated by Jesus in Matthew 24 are in the process of fulfillment.
I know that some will raise the objection that all these things have happened before. There have always been false christs and false prophets. There have always been wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, anti-Semitism and wickedness. Yes, that is indeed true. However, all of these signs have never been present at the same time and so blatantly obvious. In these days in which we are living all the signs are present simultaneously. This has never before happened and surely the words of Jesus become richly significant: “When these things begin to happen.” We stated this in lesson two, but it bears repeating what Luke wrote in his gospel:
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” – Luke 21:28.
These things will not be completely fulfilled until after the believers are raptured, but our Lord emphasizes that when they begin to happen or start to come to pass, we are to look up, we are to focus heavenward. The days spoken of are upon us, and what a blessing it is to bring this message of hope to a hopeless world! Even more so today than when this was written, we have the technology that allows it to be possible. Soon the Lord will come. For the first time in history all these things are beginning at the same time. For the first time in history we can begin to preach the Gospel to all nations by means of the radio (and in 2023, television and most assuredly, the cell phone). For the first time in history earthquakes are occurring in many various places, often at the same times. Soon He who said He would come will come and will not tarry.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 