The Signs of the Times
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away. (Matt16:1-)
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Signs of the Times
Jesus chided the Pharisees because they and the culture they lived in claimed to be able to discern changes in the weather through observation of signs of changes in the sky but yet were unable to understand from the “signs of the times” that the time of the Messiah was at hand
We humans today are now being posed with the same question: “How is it that we have instruments and computers to help us to predict weather, storms, and “Global Warming” and yet we cannot interpret the signs of the eschatological times that are in plain view”
The evidential eschatological signs are all around us, and increasing in occurrence: Earthquakes, tsunamis, famines, plagues, wars, volcanoes, meteor showers, rampant immorality, and persecution of Christians. The
Iceland Volcano
judgments of God are not only evident in our physical environment but are evident in the world’s moral environment as well. For instance, all the human institutions that we have idealized are being shaken right before our eyes and hearing: governments, legislatures, the courts, the military, the medical establishments, lawyers, bankers, and even our religious establishments are being shaken to their roots by revelations of corruption, dishonesty, immorality, especially in sexual aberrations and child abuse. All of these things that were being done in secret are now being brought into the light of God’s judgment
Just as Jesus told us: “Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed”. All of these institutional idols in which we have placed our trust are being broken before our eyes so that humanity may be made aware of the wretchedness of our fleshly nature and our dire need to turn to God for salvation. The signs point us to turn to the Lord in repentance by turning from these idols and placing our trust in Him and Him alone for the salvation and reform that He alone can bring. Praised be the Glory of His Name!
The world, however is blind to the significance of these signs, as if these are merely severe but random happenings. But for us, brethren, who have had our eyes opened, it must be clear that these signs are being given to us as a warning that we are at the end of age when the time of separation has been ordained. A time when the wheat is separated from the chaff (Matt. 3:12) and, thus, a time when we must prepare ourselves for the tests trials that will surely come as the separation process proceeds. It is a time when all our works will be held to the light of God’s judgment and when we will be called to stand before governors and councils (Matt.10: 18) to give witness to our faith. It will be just as the Lord has told us…
“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 13:49-50)
And for the religious establishment it will be even as St. Peter warned us,
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1Ptr. 4:17)
We see Christian churches everywhere being shaken and divided so that the five faithful virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) may be set apart from the five unfaithful virgins who let their lamps go out, these latter virgins, representing those churches who keep a pretense of the gospel but deny its power. But we, brethren, who are blessed to be open to this awareness of the signs of the times have a great responsibility to be ready to heed the Lord’s call to be His witnesses to the unbelieving world so that we may be His partners in announcing His Mercy to the world. Yes, it will be a time of darkness but also a time of glory for His Bride, His people, who He will purify and empower to carry forth Good News of His Mercy in the days that are coming on the whole world.
You may be sure of this brothers and sisters, that all of us who believe will be called to be the Father’s partners in evangelization. In these last days there will be no distinction between the ordained and un-ordained when it comes to proclaiming the Good News of Salvation! So, when each of us discerns his/her call it is incumbent on us to respond by proclaiming the Gospel in whatever situation we find ourselves and to whoever is within our reach. So that all may know that Jesus, the Son of God died for the sins of the whole world regardless of their religion or ethnicity and that only by believing in Him and accepting Him is mankind’s only hope for salvation!
It is the Father’s desire that this final outreach of His Mercy reach to the furthest outposts of the world so that every person on earth will have heard the message and will have been given a choice before the “Wrath of The Lamb” (Rev. 6:12-17) falls on the whole world. Will you be ready to respond? Pray my brethren, that we all will be ready when we hear His call!
But, “how”, you ask, “may I make myself ready?”
You make yourself ready by being open to the Holy Spirit and His empowerment. For this is HIS work and not ours. All He wants of us is to be totally surrendered to Him and put aside those human traditions and religious limitations that quench the Spirit and hinder His ability to work in us and through us. You must be ready to stand up against the challenges that will be posed to what He is calling you to do. For, I guarantee that you will be challenged, not only by the world, but by the very religious systems that have denied His power for so long. But we must be steadfast and faithful to what He is calling us to do in the Name of Jesus!
This I what I mean when I say that you must be ready! For even “getting ready” is His work all you have to do is say, “YES LORD!” and stand willing to act on what He tells you to do! Yes, you must proclaim the Gospel but you must be EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit as at Pentecost so that your proclamation of the Good News may be confirmed with Signs following!
But you must be wary, …
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Mark 23:22-31)
May the Lord open our eyes to see and our ears to hear that we may obey His Call to carry His Message of Love and Mercy to the whole world!
Your Brother in Christ,
Bartimaeus
Recommended Links to help you follow through on your commitment!
<> Prayer to Receive the Holy Spirit!
<> Jesus, The Source of Living Water and Us!
Recent Prophetic Warning Regarding Day of the Lord
© B.R.Timeo and Bartimaeus’ Quiet Place, [2008-2009].
Bartimaeus' Quiet Place 
You must be logged in to post a comment.