What will be the sign of Christ's coming? (7)

Read Ezekiel 34:11-24

5)    Signs of Christ’s return in the realm of Israel. 

a)     The geographical focus of end-time prophecy will be on Israel.

i)       Gentile influence will remain strong over Israel (Lk.21:24; Rv11:1f).  It will still be the times of the Gentiles.  Israel will apparently still follow the path of seeking help from the nations (e.g. Isa. 30:1-7).

ii)    Jerusalem will become a burdensome stone to all the nations (Zech. 12:2f).  She will be a problem to them that they cannot solve, and especially for the surrounding nations who seek to lay siege against her.  There will be a world-wide animosity against Israel.

iii)  This will result in all nations being gathered against her (Zech. 14:2; Joel 3:2).  God will use this animosity (anti-Semitism) to bring this about.  The antichrist will use this to gain confidence with Israel by making a covenant to protect her, only to break that covenant and become Israel’s greatest enemy (Dan. 9:26-27; Rev. 13:1-10).

b)    God will bring the Jewish nation back to the land to be restored spiritually.  Ezekiel 34:11-31 shows the order of this restoration. 

i)       First, the nation will be brought back to the land (Ezek. 34:11-16; cf. also Jer. 23:3-8; 31:23,28; 32:37f). The land itself will be restored (Isa. 35:1); desolate cities will be inhabited (Isa. 54:3; Ezek. 36:33ff).  The temple will be rebuilt (Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 11:1f). 

ii)    But then God will judge Israel (Ezek. 34:17-21), using the nations to do this as was the case in Old Testament times (Zech. 14:1).

iii)  The remaining nation will be saved (Ezek. 34:22).  This is not just a deliverance from the nations (Zech. 14:2; Rev. 12:13-16); the remnant will become a saved people (Rom. 11:26-27; Rev. 11:11-13; Zech. 12:10-13:1; Dan. 12:1-3).

iv)  That nation will enter the Kingdom of the Messiah (Ezek. 34:23-24).

These signs are some strong indications that the time of His return is near.  I attest to thinking this way.  It is not that anyone has any sort of date set for the return of our Lord.  It is, however, that our Lord told us to watch for these things, and to understand that when we see them we should know His return is near.  

Paul’s words have always been true but are increasingly urgent today: And do this knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Rom. 13:11-14)