What More Does The Church Need To See Before They Conclude We Are Nearing Christ’s Return?

Harbingers Daily ^ | 5/21/24 | Jonathan Brentner

[Roman_War_Criminal]

This sounds so much like today! I couldn’t get that thought out of my head as I read the John 6 account of Jesus’ interaction with the Jews the day after His feeding of the five thousand.

How did those in the crowd on that day respond to Jesus’ plea that they believe in Him? They asked, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?” (John 6:30).

What more did they need to see?

Jesus had just fed a multitude with “five barley loaves” and “two fish.” The total number of people could easily have been close to fifteen thousand since the number “five thousand” just included the men. Even satisfying the hunger of a few hundred people with such little food would’ve been a significant miracle, but to feed so great a gathering was over-the-top supernatural.

Seeing such a miraculous sign should’ve at least caused the crowd to consider Jesus’ claims on the following day, but most scoffed at His claims and walked away.

The lack of discernment among this hungry throng from so long ago bears a striking resemblance to many Christians today. They see the multitude of signs telling them that they live in the last moments of time before the start of the Tribulation, yet they respond in the same manner as those who witnessed the feeding of the five thousand.

They scoff at our hope of Jesus’ imminent appearing and flock to churches that proclaim an end-of-the-world return of Jesus that happens in the far distant future. They want what Jesus offers but would rather not look for His imminent intervention in their world.

Beginning in the early seventeenth century, many students of Bible prophecy taught that Israel would again become a nation. When this miraculously happened about three hundred years later, it did little to change the minds of those who claimed God had rejected Israel. This major fulfillment of Bible prophecy didn’t alter their errant thinking that the church was God’s kingdom in place of Israel.

In His mercy, the Lord is letting today’s world see multiple precursors pointing to the soon release of the horses of the apocalypse in Revelation 6:1-8. I believe that if it were not for His restraining force, the world would already have experienced the full impact of these judgments. Sometimes I’m amazed that we are still here and these horses remain in their stalls. We are so close, but for God’s mercy.

Never before has there been so much evidence pointing to the nearness of this time of wrath than today. However, never in recent history has there been so much unawareness and disbelief regarding Bible prophecy as we now see in churches.

The same unbelief that caused the crowd to refute Jesus’ claims in John chapter 6 keeps many of today’s Christians oblivious to the fact that their world could radically and suddenly change at any moment. It grieves my heart that despite professing to believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, so many pastors remain sound asleep, mired in unbelief concerning what the Lord revealed in His Word regarding His appearing and the time of His wrath upon this wicked world.

Of course, Jesus attracted many true followers during His time on the earth. Many saw the signs He performed confirming His identity and recognized Him as their Messiah. Notice the response of those in Jerusalem a little while after the feeding of the five thousand: “Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, ‘When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?’” (John 7:31).

We might ask a similar question to those who tell us we are foolish to look for Jesus’ appearing anytime soon, or even in our lifetime: ‘If the Lord were to warn today’s Christians that the Tribulation period was near, would we see any more signs of its soon arrival than we currently witness?’

I can’t imagine we could see more evidence of the approaching Day of the Lord than what we now witness. I’m aware that those who reading are likely eagerly awaiting His return, but I write to provide reassurance of the validity of what we see despite living in the midst of naysayers.

Just like those living in the first century AD, we live in biblical times today. Also similar to that day long ago, it’s primarily church leaders who are leading people away from anticipating the Lord’s imminent appearing.

[glorgau]

> Just WHO is predicting the day or hour? Could you point us to someone doing that?

There’s plenty of cranks out there. Probably asking for a donation to the cause as well.

[joethedrummer]

“Rebirth and Rise of the Nation of Israel“

*****THIS*****

is what makes the difference.
We are close. VERY close.

[metmom]

Exactly. What good is watching when you don’t know what you’re looking for?

[metmom]

Names would be a start.

And don’t bother with Harold Camping. He’s been dead for years, that was years ago anyways, and everyone denounced him even then.

[Jim W N]

“running to and fro” also literally fulfilled in all this modern health craze and running and walking everywhere.

[SaveFerris]

🔝🔝🔝

🛐🙏✝️

[SaveFerris]

[We are close. VERY close.]

I do believe that is correct.

[SaveFerris]

[Wasn't that the start of the Tribulation?]

It was persecution and martyrdom, to be certain.

THE 7 years of Tribulation will begin with the Man of Lawlessness confirming the (false) covenant of 'Peace and Security'. You can see this happening. Yes, even at Jared Kushner's and Jason Greenblatt's 2019 conference. The exact words that are found in 1st Thessalonians 5:3 in the RSV version of the Bible.

A "two-state solution" is indeed coming. And it will appear to work - at first. Prepare for an "amazing event" to occur which will be under the banner of "Peace and Security"

I will not pretend to have an accurate date for it to happen. I'm only saying that it has been prophesied by God's Word and as such it WILL ......... (wait for it) .... come to pass

To me, the world just keeps on heading down this path; convinced that it's going to be a "good thing" - it will prove not to be such





Hope things are well for you over there...

[SaveFerris]

[Jonathan Brentner]

Oh, I was expecting the guy who had the TV show.

Not the same guy? This guy looks a lot different.

[metmom]

I didn’t think of it that way, but it sure could mean our hectic lifestyle.

[Oystir]

Is your track record better than Benny Hinn’s?

[Wallace T.]

Some signs you list are valid; others are not so certain. I agree that the return of ethnic Israel to its ancestral homeland and the rise of militant Islam, along with the Communist powers of China and Russia, are indicative of a prelude to an end times scenario. The Communist movement is behind the one world superstate proposals. On the other hand, issues like prosperity, moral decadence, and societal breakdown are North American and European issues, not worldwide ones. Preterists err when they claim the Second Coming and the end times were fulfilled by the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. The calamity affected ethnic Israel only and not the whole planet. How many Iroquois, Norsemen, and Ashantes even knew of the event. Similarly, we should not conflate the decline of the West with that of the whole world.

[Scrambler Bob]

But like us they still wanted to see something more.
= = =

Trouble is, if there is some ultimate sign, Flashing words in the clouds I AM GOD, and lightning, power, sparks, etc.,

Then a person does not have the free will to choose God.

God has forced Himself upon them, which He does not do.

That’s my thougnts on that, for now, anyway.

[Jim W N]

The Bible and NT often references Israel, the Middle East, and the West as “the world”. Moral decadence and societal breakdown are pretty universal in these areas.

BTW, I don’t think of “prosperity” as a sign of decline although men’s hearts do tend to stray from trusting in the Lord when financially prosperous. That is why 3 John 2 says God’s heart is that we prosper and be in health (material/physical blessings) EVEN as our soul prospers (spiritual blessings). Spiritual maturity (living victoriously in God’s grace) keeps a material/physical blessing as a blessing and doesn’t turn a blessing into a curse. (Man is good at that.)

[SaveFerris]

Jonathan Bernis is who I was trying to remember

[1st I.D Vet]

New Heaven and a new Earth, sounds like we’re having a makeover where we’re at.

Jesus is Lord, He said he’ll be back, but Zero people who guessed when have ever gotten it right across thousand+ years of guessers.

I’m not saying he won’t come, I’m saying our ONLY job till the second he does, is to spread the Gospel, serve others, point to Jesus.

Nothing points to a time where we sit on our hands and call it “over”.

Agree w you 100%