Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 3

Last time we ended with a brief look at the arrival of false Christs on the world scene. The Apostle John wrote about such sometime between AD 90-95 when he said: "...and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come..." (1 John 2:18) Remembering Jesus' references to birth pangs and the budding of a fig tree in Matthew 24, we understand that as the time of Jesus' return grows short, these signs will increase in intensity and frequency, and that is exactly what is happening. We also noted how these signs parallel the removal of the seals from the great scroll in Revelation 6.

Now we investigate what we might call the second bud on the fig tree or the removal of seal #2. Jesus says in Matthew 24:6, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." The parallel consistency continues as we read "When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come!' Then another horse came out, a fiery red one, Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth, and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword."

We live in a day when conflict between nations, the potential for conflict or the rumor of conflict dominate the news. In the last century there were two world wars and several other major conflicts. In the recent decades there have been more localized wars in Bosnia, Somalia, Darfur, Rwanda, and Israel. Nuclear sabres have been rattled by India, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran. In all of these our attention is continually drawn to the Middle-east, with Jerusalem as the epicenter.

Without the assurance that God is in charge, and without the knowledge that His plan of the ages is unfolding on the world stage, such things are cause for alarm. During this holiday time, who wants to think about such things. Maybe they will all just go away and there will be peace n earth, good will among men. There will be peace on earth, but not until the Prince of Peace returns and establishes it. And before that happens, times of stress and hardship will come like never before on planet earth. But Jesus said, "See to it that you are not alarmed."

So while you and I were digesting our turkey and pumpkin pie, the rumors of war were intensifying. Hamas continues to fire rockets into southern Israel from Gaza and Israel retaliates with air strikes. Almost slipping in under the radar, on November 27, 2009, Israeli Air Force Chief Maj. General Ido Nehushtan told a Tel Aviv University audience: "The time for hard decisions is fast approaching," adding, "The scope of security threats to Israel is very complex and we must prepare for all exigencies."

These "hard decisions" are viewed by experts as having to choose between striking Iran's ballistic missile bases or the missiles pointing at Israel from Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, as well as dealing with hostile ships facing Israel from a fifth direction, the Mediterranean. A two week joint exercise between Israel and the US in the beginning of November revealed that Israel would be incapable of extending total security to its missile bases, airfields, strategic sites and its civilian population if facing a coordinated strike from all five directions.

There is much speculation about whether Israel would make a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, and whether the US would support her. Strangely enough, the Bible seems to suggest that a coordinated attack from the north of Israel and from Iran (Persia) will occur first. Ezekiel 38 - 39 describe a cataclysmic attack against Israel. God intervenes in this battle, destroying Israel's enemies with confusion, natural and supernatural disaster. As you read these chapters, much of the language sounds like an ancient attempt to describe a limited nuclear war.

As we close this installment, I should point out that the means with which God brings this war to a shortened conclusion, are some of the same signs we shall explore in the next edition. So the birth pangs will continue, and the fig tree will continue to bud. Ultimately there will be two types of responses to such events: 1) Those joyously awaiting the return of Christ will stand, looking up as their redemption draws near, 2) Others' hearts will fail them for fear of things to come. It's time to take inventory - to which group do you belong?

Academy Witness

Jim Pouillon, a strong defender of the pre-born, was gunned down last September, as he stood (as he had for over 20 years) as a pro-life witness near the local high school in Owasso, MI. Today, November 24th was declared by Jim's friends as "Jim Pouillon Memorial High School Witness Day." Across the country, pro-life Christians (to call oneself a Christian and not be pro-life is a gross oxymoron) assembled peacefully in front of high schools as witnesses to many things, including: the sanctity of life from conception to natural death; the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman; the sanctity of sex, only within the bonds of marriage; and the saving grace of God as demonstrated in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Norwich Free Academy, a privately endowed high school with a college-like campus, which has served as the local/area high school since 1854, was not without a witness today. This morning between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM, the theology of the church became the biography of the street as a few committed souls braved the damp chill and the police restrictions, and handed out over 400 pieces of literature containing the truth of God's Word.

Because of abusive solicitation by many groups, including drug dealers, bar and strip club owners, etc. the school had struck a "license agreement" with the city of Norwich that the otherwise public sidewalk that surrounds two borders of the campus, and a small green directly in front of the main entrance would be treated as school property (and subject to its solicitation rules). Consequently, at 7:00 AM we had to push back another 100 feet and could no longer access students disembarking their buses.

There were two blessings in this. The head of security at NFA is a retired Norwich police officer and a deacon in the Catholic, known by me from my days in the insurance business. He bent over backwards to explain the rule to us and how it came to pass, and how it applied to everyone. He got the police Captain on the phone, who's wife used to work for me and whose sister has been in my church small group for years. He happens to be a strong believer, and went through the whole explanation, rather apologetically. Of course we cooperated quickly and fully. Now for the blessings.

In our new location we were able to interact only with students approaching the school on foot from the west. Quickly I found myself talking with a young lady (we now had time to talk instead of just handing out literature to kids on the fly). Because i was standing near our box of resources, I was able to give her a DVD entitled "Judgment Day: are Your Ready?" I told her that she was the only one to get one of these this morning, to which she responded, "I must be special." My immediate response was, "From God's perspective, you're very special." Immediately her countenance softened, her eyes glistened as she whispered, "Thank you." That moment alone made the morning worthwhile.

The second blessing was to return home and find an e-mail from the police Captain, in which he

thanked me for our group's cooperation, and closed with this statement: "It is a shame such rules need to be in place these days, however I do understand the need and felt you did as well. God's Word and the power of His love will be heard in spite of any regulation or distance."

Thank God for a wonderful opportunity to be Ambassadors for Jesus. God bless NFA, its administration, faculty and students; and God bless the men and women of the Norwich PD.

Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 2

As I write this second installment, I find myself greatly challenged by the words at the close of Part 1: "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless." (2 Peter 3:14) I am so glad that the way I am to be found by Him is not dependent solely on my efforts, but that the key is to be found in Him.

Thank God that's settled, and I hope that you can say the same thing because you are in Him (Christ). There have certainly been enough things unfolding on the world scene this past week to upset anyone's peace. I'm so glad that the peace Jesus offers is separate and distinct from the peace which the world offers (John 14:27). I am sitting here in the comfort of a nice home office; my wife is getting a headstart baking Christmas cookies; my 12 year old Lab is sleeping at my feet recovering nicely from surgery and the world seems quite peaceful.

However, I just spent the last hour checking in with some reliable sources who present the news with the insight that comes with a biblical world view. It should come as no surprise that most of that news is not peaceful. In Matthew 24, the first birth pang (also the first bud on the fig tree) which Jesus mentions is deception promulgated by false Christs and those who come in His name. (v. 4-5) Interestingly, when the first seal is opened on the scroll in Revelation 6:1-2 there is revealed the rider on the white horse, marking the arrival of The False Christ. Three clues as to who he is are in his appearance: 1) he rides a white horse - Jesus the true Christ rides a white horse in Rev. 19; 2) he has a bow with no arrows which represents conquest, but not by brute force at this point; and 3) he is given a crown, which represents authority.

Today, false Christs are everywhere. Just look at some of the things proposed by large religious bodies (which represent authority) this past week, plus one example of a person suffering, in the church, because she repented of sin.

1) The World Council of Churches has endorsed and has urged all of its members to the Climate Change Council meeting in Copenhagen, December 8-13. There is a treaty proposed by this council, which President Obama appears to be in favor of. If it is signed by the USA, this would go a long way towards the loss of our national sovereignty.

2) The National Council of Churches USA and World Church Service has noted that God has called them together to proclaim the gospel and restore justice to the world. The concern here is that this is just a further advancement of the social gospel and a slipping away from what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19-20.

3) The Mormon Church surprisingly endorsed 2 ordinances passed by the Salt Lake City Council, making it illegal to discriminate against gays in housing and employment.

4) Abby Johnson, the former Planned Parenthood director who became so troubled by the sin of abortion during the 40 Days for Life Campaign that she quit her job and has become a pro-life spokesperson has come under heavy fire from an unexpected source - her own St. Francis Episcopal Church.

Those are just four of many signs in just one week, all pertaining to the first birth pang and the first bud on the fig tree. Jesus, in his long-suffering grace is calling the church to repentance and to be restored to her first love.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15)

Until next time........be encouraged by Christ

BIRTH PANGS AND FIG TREES

Welcome to the first of a several part dissertation under this title. While my thoughts and conclusions are my own, I can take credit for none of them. First, credit goes to the Lord Jesus Christ who birthed in me a hunger for His Word, accompanied by an ability to know and understand it. (Both of these are works in progress). Secondly, credit goes to the Bible scholars whose published works have been tools in the hands of the Holy Spirit to bring nurture to these processes. Among these are Marv Rosenthal, author of The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church and Ryan Habbena, author of The Parable of the Fig Tree. Both of these gentlemen have graciously granted me permission to reference their works.

In Luke 24:27, We read that Jesus expounded to the two Emmaus Road travelers everything from the writings of Moses and the prophets concerning Himself. Jesus is the pre-eminent and central figure of all of Scripture. With that in mind, when it comes to a prophetic description of what the end-times or last days will look like, I believe that we should, first of all, hear and understand to words of Jesus. From there, we can go to other parts of Scripture and discover how they build foundational truths upon the chief cornerstone.

Matthew 24 and 25 are labeled by many scholars as the Olivet discourse, because this is where Jesus was sitting when he delivered this significant teaching. In red-letter editions of the Bible, Matthew 24:4b - 25:46 are all red-letter, meaning that these are the recorded words of Jesus Himself. This is truly the "Word of the Lord."

In this discourse, Jesus speaks three rather lengthy, and important parables, which take up the entirety of Matthew 25. (We will refer to them in detail in later postings.) In this first edition, I want to bring your attention to two parabolic statements Jesus makes in Matthew 24. In verse 8, after listing some signs of the end of the age, Jesus says, "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs." In verses 32-33, After Jesus has described that which will take place in the middle of Daniel's 70th week and following - leading right up to a description of His glorious second coming, Jesus says: "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and put forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."

Jesus is speaking clearly of signs that shall be visible on the earth. He speaks of signs in nature and signs of persecution, betrayal, false prophets, false Christs, great deception and apostasy (falling away from genuine faith). The parables tell us that these signs will proceed in two ways. First, they will be like birth pangs. A woman's pregnancy could be compared to Jesus words, which when spoken are a surety of things to come. Eventually there comes a time of birth pangs, which increase in both frequency and intensity, followed by hard labor, and ultimately the promised delivery. Second, they will be like the fig tree, indicating a relentless progression from tender shoot, to leaves, and ultimately the promised fruit.

In the next installments we will examine some of those signs in detail, and we will discover how Jesus' Olivet Discourse, truly is the chief cornerstone of the apostles' foundational teaching concerning end-times (eschatology). We will discover that His teaching is definitely for the church, and how our understanding of this is necessary to prepare us to, as Peter said in 2 Peter 3:14 - "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless."

Until then, be encouraged by Christ.

Les Young is available for teaching/speaking engagements ranging from sermons to day-long seminars. For details and contact information, check www.endtimesencouragement.com

GO UPSTREAM
Once upon a time, there was a town where a teenager was found drowned in the nearby river. Of course this caused a lot of grief in the close-knit community. Counselors were dispatched, the school was closed. and virtually everyone turned out for the funeral. As people were leaving the cemetery, which was situated near the river, suddenly someone cried out, "There are two in the river; quick, get help!"

With so many people nearby, quickly a few EMS personnel jumped in and pulled the two out. They were also teens and with some timely CPR, both were revived. Unfortunately, they each suffered some loss of brain function. Within the next two weeks, twelve more teens were found floating in the river. Early on a 24/7 watch had been posted along the river so that 11 of the 12 were pulled out in time to prevent death. "What is going on?" was the question on everyone's mind.

At town meetings many proposals came forth, ranging from posting "No Swimming" signs to forming a commission to study the problem, to testing the water and the lunch menu at the high school, to applying for a federal grant for more sophisticated rescue equipment. Finally, one man posed the question that stopped everyone in their tracks. "Why don't we go upstream and and see what is pushing these kids in the water."

40 Days for Life just finished. Over 500 babies were spared gruesome torture and murder at the hands of the abortionists and their mothers were spared a lifetime of sorrow. One Planned Parenthood director in Texas quit her job and had a profound conversion to Christ after seeing an ultrasound. Praise God! At the same time a last minute effort is being waged by a Pro-Life confederation called "Stop the Abortion Mandate" calling for people to contact their congressmen this week. The radical Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is doing all she can to stop even a vote on the Stupak-Hipps amendment to HB 3962. This amendment would prohibit federal funding for abortion in any health care reform. Because of a complicated scheme in the House, what is needed is a NO vote on the Rule.

I applaud all of these efforts, and i have participated in all of them. At the same time, I equate this activity to pulling kids out of the river. The church needs to go upstream and vigorously support the truth of God's Word. This has to be done by our actions as well as our words. Less passive entertainment; diligence to discern the spirit of the world operating in education, media, and even in some church activities. The gospel must be preached in word and deed, seriously, consistently, continuously. When we do that, the Holy Spirit is free to change hearts - upstream.