DISCERNING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES


A. "O YE HYPOCRITES, YE CAN DISCERN THE FACT OF THE SKY; BUT CAN YE NOT DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES?" - MATTHEW 16:1-3
  1. Our Lord reproached the religious leaders of Israel:
    1. They were able to predict fair or foul weather, because they read the face of the sky
    2. But, they were blind to the accumulating signs of the coming doom of their nation Luke 19:42-44
  2. Had they heeded the warning of Moses and the prophets, they could have seen the handwriting on the wall:
    1. Deut. 27:28
    2. Jer. 19:1-11
  3. Had they heeded the pleas of the Son of man, they could have prevented the catastrophe that overtook their nation: - Luke 19:41-44
B. THE BLINDNESS OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE LAST DAYS
  1. If every the words of our opening text had a prophetic application, it is in our day:
    1. "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people" - Is. 60:1-2
    2. "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of man" - Luke 17:28
  2. Scientific knowledge dealing with material progress, has made astounding progress:
    1. That which was a new discovery but yesterday is outdated today - Dan. 12:4
    2. Scientists predict the unpredictable in many fields of knowledge. This is, literally the push button age - beyond comprehension
  3. But, man seems totally blind to the engulfing powers of world-wide disaster:
    1. "When they shall say, Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them" - I Thess.. 5:3
    2. "Men are so engrossed with the cares and pleasure of this world, that they cannot see the portent of God's judgments hanging over the world" - Is. 24:1-28; Luke 21:34-35
  4. This blindness is inexcusable:
    1. Our Lord's predictions as recorded in Matthew 24 are affirmed by history
    2. Signs in the sun, the moon, the stars, and among the nations are clearly recorded in history; compare Matthew 24 with Luke 21:1-26 C. OUR LORD'S REBUKE OF THE LEADERS OF ANCIENT ISRAEL IS A TIMELY WARNING FOR GOD'S REMNANT PEOPLE
  5. We pride ourselves on being well posted in Bible prophecy:
    1. We dwell upon the great prophecies in the books Daniel and Revelation - Dan. 2:7-8; Rev. 12:1-17; 13: 14: 15: 16: 17: 20:
    2. We do have a measure of knowledge of last day events - Rom. 13:1-14
    3. We know that we are living in the judgment hour - Rev. 14:6-7
  6. Yet, the Lord charges us with blinding complacency:
    1. The testimony of the true witness - Rev. 3:14-17
    2. Our great need for eye salve - Rev. 3:18
  7. Our Lord, out of pity and compassion, blessed us with much counsel from the Spirit of Prophecy:
    1. That was true in the experience of ancient Israel - 2 Chr. 20:20; Hosea 12:13
    2. That is God's loving care for His remnant people - I Thess.. 5:20; Rev. 12:17; 19:10
    3. In spite of all the spiritual guide lines in our churches, many, many among us seem blind to the signs of the times
    4. The enticements of the world and the cares of life seem to have put many among us to sleep and unconscious of present day developments currently reported over the radio, the T.V. and other news media
  8. So it behooves us to learn from the experience of ancient Israel:
    1. That is Paul's admonition - Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:1-11
    2. For sin is no respecter of persons - Acts 10:34
    3. Our guilt will be so much greater because we are blessed with the knowledge of fulfilled Bible prophecy as no other people ever were
    4. Do we discern in current events that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, yea is even at the door?
    5. Let us heed the words of our Master as recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 17:21


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