What are the signs of the times?

Are they pestilence or are they political?

By Craig C. White

Jesus said to the Pharisees “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

I am really looking forward to the Rapture. That is when all Christians will be resurrected and taken away up into heaven. What are the signs of the Rapture? Is the Corona virus outbreak a sign that the Rapture is approaching? Pestilence is one of the signs given in Matthew chapter 24. But Matthew’s signs are not for our day. The signs in Matthew chapter 24 occur during the first half of the seven year long Tribulation period. They are not signs of the Rapture. As a matter of fact the Rapture is not referred to at all in Matthew chapter 24.

Mathew’s signs are given to warn the residents of Jerusalem and Judea that a surprise attack is coming. Matthew says that one Jew will be taken away prisoner and one Jew will be left in Jerusalem when the Antichrist invades Jerusalem. Matthew says that like the flood surprised Noah’s evil generation, the Antichrist will make a surprise ambush of Jerusalem and Judea. Matthew says that when the Jews in Jerusalem are going about their lives as usual then the armies of the Antichrist will invade. The Jews are instructed to watch for the armies of the Antichrist coming because nobody knows the day or hour when the Antichrist will attack Jerusalem and Judea.

To say that nobody knows the day or hour that Jesus will return for the Rapture is a wrong application of scripture. That is true of the mid-tribulation invasion of Jerusalem. We can discern the events that lead up to the Rapture.

Jesus admonishes the Pharisees to discern the signs of the times. What are the signs of our time? We have already determined that pestilence is not a sign that the Rapture is near. The signs of the times today are political in nature. We aren’t looking for plagues or earthquakes or signs in the sky. We must understand the political events of the day. As nations move to attack Israel, then we can know that Jesus will return to stop them.

Jeremiah 49:23-27 describes Turkey as they attack northwestern Syria and then destroy Damascus. After Turkey destroys Damascus then Turkey will lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria into the Golan Heights of northern Israel. This battle is described in Ezekiel chapter 38. This battle is lead by the chief prince or primary governor among the provinces of Turkey.

If you want to know when the Rapture will happen then I will tell you. When Turkey leads the forces that are now fighting in Syria into northern Israel then Jesus will return to repel them. Jesus will also gather his Church at that time. Nahum chapter one describes Jesus coming in a whirlwind of fire to the Golan Heights.

It’s High Time to understand the signs of our time. We must understand the actions of the nations as they pertain to Israel. That is more difficult than reacting to a pandemic or an earthquake, but God has given us sound minds so that we can understand.