Moses said, “The secret things belong to God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever…” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Why did God foretell so much about Jesus’ First Advent and Second Coming? Clearly, He wanted those “with eyes to see” to have discernment and to keep their hearts attuned to the Messiah.
But, insight is not automatic, and discernment eludes those whose hearts are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus ministered in the world, He typically taught through parables. Not only did His parables evoke word pictures that people would remember, but they also allowed Him to speak to His sheep while those outside His flock remained oblivious (Matthew 13:13).
God’s prophetic Word works like that. Many grope in the darkness because they reject the light, but we who are in Christ “are not of night or of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Jesus expects us to recognize the signs of the times (Matthew 16:2-3). He has clearly chosen to give us enough signs to offer insight — if we have eyes to see.
That is not to say that prophetic signs flash before us in bright neon lights. They are often subtle. They require that our eyes adjust spiritually over time, just like night vision takes time to gain acuity. Our ministry’s Internet Evangelist, Nathan Jones, offered an analogy at our recent streaming conference; he stated that like a puzzle that reveals its picture as pieces are added, our understanding of prophecy grows as the pieces fall into place.
In emphasizing the imminence of the Rapture, the “Signs of the Times” — the signs of Nature, Society, Spirituality, World Politics, Technology, and Israel — are shouting about the nearness of that glorious event.
Signs of nature are all around us. As King David observed long ago, “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2). Sadly, even with an abundance of evidence and a cosmos filled with knowledge, many lack wisdom. Even within the Church, scoffers dismiss the magnitude and majesty of what God has revealed to us (2 Peter 3:3-7).
As we marvel at the Creation God has given us, we recognize the truth in Isaiah’s observation: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
God’s prophetic Word is converging all around us. Soon, the Bright Morning Star will pierce the darkness once again (Revelation 22:16). May His light shine in your heart even now (2 Peter 1:19).
