What will be the sign of Christ's coming? (5)

Read Luke 21:20-28

3)    Signs of Christ’s return in the realm of politics. 

a)     Wars and rumors of wars, Mt. 24:6f; Rev. 6:3f.  As the focus of the latter days is on Israel this sign needs to be seen in the context of Israel.  Israel has felt this since 1948 and the declaration of the nation of Israel.  

b)    Global alliances.  The Bible predicts various movements among nations in the latter days eventually ending in a world-wide government (Rev. 13:7).  (Our 12/19/15 and 11/28/15 posts give more on this subject.

i)       The Roman Confederacy (European nations), Dan. 7:23-25.

ii)    The rise of Northern (Baltic) powers, Ezek. 38:2f; 39:1-6.

iii)  The rise of Eastern (Asian) powers, Rev. 9:13-16.

iv)  The rise of Egypt and Assyria, Isa. 19:18-25.  The nations to the immediate north and south of Israel will have a revival that will bring them into a close and favorable relationship with Israel.

c)     Global economy, Rev. 13:16f; 18.  Part of the end-time global government will be an economic system that will require a special mark to buy or sell.  It will suddenly come crashing down (Rev. 18:1-8).

d)     Global improvement.  There will be amazing advances resulting in the ability of people to travel widely (Dan. 12:4), the growth of knowledge (Dan. 12:4; a remarkable prediction given the increase of knowledge in the last 20 years), the growth of riches (James 5:3), greater global communication (Rev. 11:9) and i greater peace among nations (1 Th. 5:3).  All these will be illusions of advancement and will collapse under the Antichrist when his focus turns to Israel and the returning Son of God.

e)     Global distress, Luke 21:25-26.  Not surprisingly, given the nature of the end-time catastrophes/judgments described in Revelation as well as the signs in the sky just prior to Christ’s return, nations will be distressed and people will live in fear.

f)      Preparation for Armageddon, Rev. 16:12-16.  The drawing of the armies of the earth to the Valley of Jezreel (cf. our Dec. 5, 2015 post) will be accomplished through an increased focus on Israel (Joel 3:2; Zech. 14:2f) as well as a special removal of barriers (drying the Euphrates, Rev. 16:12) to open the way for the Eastern armies.

Believers do not fear these coming days because their faith is in a sovereign God who is orchestrating all these movements as part of His plan to exalt His Son!  Times will be difficult, even for believers, many of whom will die the death of martyrs.  Christ predicted both the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD (Luke 21:20-24) and the turmoil preceding His return (Lk. 21:25-27).  But His closing words were, when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near (Lk. 21:28).