In Matthew 24 we find that Jesus and His disciples, having departed from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, have walked to the Mount of Olives where, Jesus having sat down, they continued their conversation with Him. On the way they had obviously been discussing His return to earth and the end of the world, for one of them asked Him what would be THE SIGN OF HIS RETURN to earth which would mark the end of the world as man will have always known it. In asking for “the sign” the disciple was referring to A SINGULAR EVENT that would alert true saints that their Savior would soon appear. In verses four through eight Jesus answers the question by warning them of several signs that would alert His people that His return was on schedule. Though the signs would be obvious to God’s true servants, there would be other associated signs that would become known to His Very Elect saints later. What the student of the Holy Scriptures will learn is that the signs would begin soon after the founding of the New Testament Church and would end with the return of Jesus Christ. As history has recorded, the final era of this world’s existence has so far lasted over 2000. If I am hearing the Lord correctly, her final days have arrived and things are about to change drastically. Namely, a separation of church sheep and church goats is about to take place publicly and globally in the form of a religious civil war.

At this point we need to distinguish between THE LAST DAYS (the past 1993 years–“days”) of this present world and THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS (the final years of the last days) of this present world–the time in which we are now living. What Jesus explained to the disciples (and us) involves the centuries leading up to the final years of the world’s existence. The signs that the world was in its FINAL YEARS would, over time, be taught to the disciples who would reveal them to the true church through their teachings and writings. As the Lord told the Prophet Daniel, some of those signs would not be known until the “end of the end time.” Though Daniel had been shown those signs by the Lord Himself, he did not understand them. God told him that it was not for him to understand the signs, that they would be revealed to His people during the later days. Until the time for their revealing arrived, they were to be “sealed” (Dan. 12:9). At a time known only to the Lord, He would reveal their meanings to His holy human messengers who would share their meanings with those counted worthy of receiving such divine information.

In order to determine exactly when the last days of this world began we need to turn to Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit has fallen on the 120 believers in an upper room in Jerusalem. The commotion that followed drew the city’s Holy Day (Pentecost) crowd to the building where Christ’s followers were gathered. When asked what was happening, the Apostle Peter said: “… this (speaking in unknown tongues) is that which was prophesied by the Prophet Joel ” (2:28) who repeated what God had told Him. Joel wrote: “‘And it will come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS, says the Lord, that I will pour out My (Holy) Spirit on all flesh ….'” (vss 16-18). Peter was explaining that what the people were witnessing was THE LORD’S SIGN THAT THE LAST DAYS OF THE WORLD HAD BEGUN. Further reading tells us that over the next several years some of those in the early church believed that Christ’s coming would take place during their lifetimes, an error that the apostles corrected by explaining that there were many other signs that would take place before the LAST OF THE LAST DAYS (end of the end time) arrived. As the signs tell us, we are living in those days now. Read about the signs of the end of the world. Key word–Signs.

At this point Jesus begins to explain that before His return there would be several signs that would take place world-wide that would reveal that the world was in the LAST DAYS of its existence. Other signs as noted in the Signs series, reveal that we are now in the LAST OF THE FINAL DAYS OF THIS WORLD’S EXISTENCE. What we will be looking at in this series involves the general signs that, beginning in 31 A.D., would come upon the earth because of mankind’s sins. Each of these signs would come on the scene and remain as part of mankind’s on-going experience (God-sent curses) as other signs materialized and joined the curses that had arrived earlier. In the final days, all of the signs would be in operation at the same time.

We will be examining Matthew 24:4-8 to identify those signs. In Revelation six Jesus uses different colored horses and their riders to symbolize the signs that would come to pass following the establishing of His church in 31 A.D. Understand that it is because mankind embraced the white horse rider (false Christ) and his message (false Christianity and other religions) that the other signs would follow. Read The “Voices” of God. Key word–Voices. In that series I refer to God’s signs as His voices of punishment and lessons by which man could learn to obey His Law. Read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 to see how God blesses those who obey His Law and punishes those who reject it.

Let us now turn to Matthew 24 beginning with verse four where the Lord warns the disciples (and all salvation seekers) about what was coming. The first, and most important sign was and is: “Do not let any man deceive you, for many (false prophets) will come in My name, declaring that I (Jesus of Nazareth) am the Christ, and (having gained people’s trust) will deceive many.” In Revelation 6:2 we find false Christianity represented by the rider on a white horse–the same color of horse Jesus is pictured as riding in Revelation 19:11,19,21. In this way Satan, by presenting himself as Jesus Christ, has deceived “MANY” (billions) into following him by embracing his various versions of God’s Truth. Today those organizations are called denominations, faiths, churches, etc. In keeping with Christ’s prophecy, their modern-day leaders proclaim that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, thereby presenting themselves as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:113-15). The key to their false ministries is to keep the people ignorant of God’s “Fine Print,” which enables them (false prophets) to lead the church masses astray.

It is because of the church’s embrace of the white horse rider and his “truths” that the other signs Jesus warned about have come on the scene where they remain to this day. Note that the white horse rider (religious deception) would go forth “conquering and (would continue) to conquer.” Their victims would be the billions of salvation-seeking church people who continue to follow him generation after generation. To determine the false Christ’s success in conquering the religious masses, check any phone book under the CHURCHES heading–and count.

A perfect example of Satan’s power over professing Christendom took place a mile or so from where I live. I had placed an article in the local newspaper in which, by using God’s Word, I proved that God condemns the churches for lying about His Word. A local woman asked her pastor if what I had written was correct. His reply perfectly summarizes the attitude of church people throughout the earth. He said: “Every word he (meaning me) wrote is right. But we are going in another direction.” I will give credit where it is due. That false prophet admitted what his religious brethren refuse to admit. I see the hand of God in his honest admission.

What church people, both the ministry and the laity, will not admit either publicly or privately is this: NOT ONLY DO THEY REJECT GOD’S WORD, THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF EMBRACING IT. Why? BECAUSE TO DO SO WOULD TAKE CHURCH LEADERSHIP OUT OF THEIR HANDS AND PLACE IT IN THE HANDS OF ALMIGHTY GOD, WHICH WOULD DESTROY MAN’S (SATAN’S) ENTIRE CHURCH SYSTEM AND MAKE JESUS, NOT SATAN, THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH. THAT CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN THIS LIFETIME. THE SPIRIT OF ADAM AND EVE LIVES IN THE CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT RELIGIOUS SYSTEM KNOWN AS “CHRISTIANITY. This truth will be made abundantly clear in the spiritual civil war that will take place soon. I believe it will begin within four years and will, as I have said before, involve the Lord’s 7th day (Saturday) Sabbath. L.J.