4. With So Many Signs How Could We Get Lost?

Does it matter to whom Jesus gave the signs? If you want to get to your destination it does. Should a distinction between Jew and Christian be made? I think so.

Luke 19:11 you remember reveals the prevailing mindset of the Jew at that time. There was a great deal of anticipation. The questions about when the end would be and what the signs would be arise naturally out of Judaism, not Christianity.

This is an important distinction to make. Christianity was yet to be. Jesus, in Matt 16:13-18, had just recently introduced the idea of the Church to the disciples when He said, “I will build my Church.” The Church was a program with the same goal as Judaism, but would pursue it by different means using different tools. Put simply, Judaism was the method of God working through a nation for the redemption of mankind. Christianity on the other hand was the method of God working through a corporate body of individuals from many nations for the redemption of mankind. If put side by side, you would see individuals from both groups marching off in different directions pursuing the same goal.

Since the Church was yet to be formed and yet to be understood for many years to come (see Eph 3:1-13), the signs given in Matthew 24 have nothing to do with Christianity. They are not for the Church; they would mean nothing to Her. In fact, those in the Church following them could get lost (apostasy, see Matthew 25:1-13).

Consider the nature of a sign. A sign points the way to something ahead. Imagine being one of two people leaving Denver Colorado to make your way to Pakistan on the other side of the world. You head east and the other person heads west. How useful would your map be to the other person? And the signs that line the road that read “Kansas City, Indianapolis, Pittsburg, straight ahead” how useful would they be to him? And what would you make of him if he thought your signs were helpful on his way west to Pakistan? And more alarming still, what if he was funding and supporting projects instigated by Satan which were tearing down his signs to erect your signs in their place?

This raises some important issues, but for now I just want to make the single point that Jesus taught His disciples – we will not know when the end will be until it happens. This we can know for sure…

…the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will Matt 24:44

We all have an interest in the future so it is easy for us to listen to those that talk about it. We should be careful how we listen (Luke 8:18). We must not underestimate the power of Satan. He sends out ministers of righteousness to tickle the itchy ears of many. Their activity is not limited to work in the church, but appear in business, government, and along the roads we travel. He leads many off course not unlike he has done time and time again. Therefore, we must be careful what signs and maps we use to guide us.

Judgment may not come as a lightning bolt, but a belief that you think you know when the end is near.

…God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth… 2 Thess 2:11-12


Rob/

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3 thoughts on “4. With So Many Signs How Could We Get Lost?”

  1. Let me show you on a timeline what I mean when I say that the signs apply exclusively to Israel and not the Church. 

    Timeline

    God works with Israel

    God works with the Church

    God works with Israel

    The End

     

     

    ← The Signs begin here

    The Past

    →                            The Future

     

    ← We are here

     

    Since the signs are for Israel, we have no way to tell how close we are to the end of the age.  We have no way to tell when the signs Jesus spoke of will appear.  We have no way of telling when the Rapture will happen.  We have no idea where to put the marker that says “we are here” other than under the Church Age.  We could be 9% along the timeline for the Church or 90%.  There is no way for us to know.  God didn’t say how long the Church Age would last or when He would start working with Israel again.  Jesus didn’t know either; therefore we most certainly do not.

    Now to make matters worse, consider this:  That even when God starts working directly with Israel again, the signs He gives them in Matthew 24-25 convey what message?  YOU WON’T KNOW.  Hence, be ready.  Fill your lamps with oil.  Prepare for a long delay, but be ready. 

    If that is the message to them, in the tribulation, then what must the implication be for us prior to the start of the Tribulation?  If Israel won’t know, won’t be able to figure it out, then how can we think we can figure it out?  If they would be fools to think they could, wouldn’t we be the fool of fools to think we could?

  2. Well, you have indicated that we “don’t know…we have no way of telling” and I agree with this. However, in the same line of reasoning, the current state of Israel may just be the return of the Jews that are dealt with in Revelations. We don’t know nay or yay!

    But if they are, I think you ere in opposing the idea that they may be the return. Hence, the rapture could occur tonight!

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