7.2 Signs of the Times                                             

 

1. For what did Christ rebuke the Pharisees and Sadducees?
Matthew 16:2-3
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

 

2. What sign was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, by which Christ, at His first coming, could be recognized as the Messiah?
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:22-23
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

3. Where had the prophet said Christ would be born?
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

4. Which prophet had foretold Christ's ride into Jerusalem?
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Matthew 21:4-5
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

 

5. What question did the disciples ask Christ concerning His second coming?
Matthew 24:3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?

 

6. How did Christ answer this question, according to Luke?
Luke 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

 

7. What, according to Matthew's account, did Christ say were to be the signs in the sun, moon, and stars?
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

 

8. In what words had some of the prophets of the Old Testament foretold these signs?
Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

 

9. When were the sun and the moon darkened?
On May 19, 1780

 

10. When was there a remarkable display of falling stars?
On November 13, 1833

 

11. Have we reached the time when there is distress of the nations with perplexity?
Note: Every person of understanding knows that the world is currently in a state of unrest, and that people throughout the entire civilized world are concerned and troubled about the state to which present conditions will lead. Do people's hearts fail now “from fear and expectation of the things that will come upon the earth”? Everyone who is familiar with present-day conditions knows that this is the case. What can be said about the “making a great sound” of the sea and waves? Great spring tides and currents at sea, with cyclones and whirlwinds on land, have occurred frighteningly frequently during recent years, making people afraid that even greater disasters are to come.

 

12. According to the prophecy of Daniel, what would characterize the time of the end?
Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

 

13. What has been predicted regarding the moral condition of the world in the last days?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

14. How did the apostle Peter say that the message of the Lord's return would be treated by some?
Peter 3:3-4
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

 

15. What will God's faithful servants do at this time?
Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

 

16. What are all admonished to do when these signs appear?
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

17. How will the coming of Christ overtake those wicked servants, who say in their hearts: “My Lord delays coming”?
Matthew 24:50-51
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.