The Signs of the Times

The signs of the times (Matt. 24:1-14)
There is no exact date when will the Lord Jesus will come again but for sure it is nearer than we believed.
Kahit hindi natin malalaman kung kailan ang rapture, the Bible tells of the signs of the times:

1. Religious explosion. Matt. 24:5,11
Religion will rise by number. We are in a day where numbers are a barometer of being true religion. Most religion teaches salvation by church membership. Nag-away-away na sila pero hindi man lang nila napansin na pareho ang paraan ng kaligtasan na tinunuro nila ang pagsanib sa relihiyon at paggawa ng mabuti. mayroon din namang nagsasabi na nakausap nila ang Dios (kahit sino pwede magsabing nakausap niya ang Dios, pero walang witness na nakausap nga niya), habang nakakakita tayo ng paglaganap ng relihiyon in great number this is oe of the signs of the times.

2. Wars and Rumors of Wars. Matt. 24:6,7
Tunay na lumalaganap ang giera sa iba't-ibang mga bansa. Ito'y tanda na malapit ng dumating ang Panginoon. Hindi po dapat magulumihanan ang isang tunay na mananamplataya sapagkat hindi pa ito ang katapusan.

3. Pestilence or Disease. Matt. 24: 7
Lumalaganap na ang iba't-ibang uri ng karamdaman. Iba't-ibang uri ng karamdaman na nagpapahirap at pumapatay.

4. Earthquakes. Matt. 24:7,8
Earthquakes at volcanic eruptions ay kapansinpansin sa ating kapanahunan. These are the signs that Jesus is coming so soon. Ito'y pasimula pa lang kahirapan. Kapansinpansin ang pagbagsak ng ekonomiya dahil sa patuloy na pag-erupt ng isang bulkan sa Iceland.

5. Christian Persecution. Matt. 24:9,10
Kung meron mang pananampalataya ng pilit sakalin at patuloy na tinutugis ay ang pananampalatayang Kristiyano. Until now Christians are being persecuted. In other countries, reading the Bible is not allowed. You can be jailed by praying "in the name of Jesus". Christian seems to be an offence to the world. At sa ating kapanahunan yan nangyayari.
Christians are still the most persecuted people in all the world.
Sa mga panahong ito nasusubukan ang tunay na tibay ng isang mananampalataya.

6. Mega-churches. Matt. 24:11
MANY false prophets shall arise and deceive MANY. Centralized and mega churches are on the rise. If there be a time in history that people come to "christian churches" is today. People are carrying Bibles, singing "christian songs", chanting 'christian praises" but most often they don't know where are they going after death.
Centralized religion. Did Christ established a centralized church? Did Paul become lord over the churches he had helped established?

The Seven churches of Asia in Rev. 2 & 3 has one angel (messenger) each church and has differ in characteristics.

Paul encouraged Titus to ordain elders (pastors) in every city. Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

It is not God's design for a church to be centralized and look only to one pastor. The church is the monopoly of Christ but not of any man. Only Christ is the head of the church.

People loves entertainments and are for so many times are entertained by preachers' oratory or music or dancing and the word of God is left in the streets.

7. Backsliding. Matt. 24:12
While mega-churches is on the rise, true Christian seems to be affected by backsliding. Because of the abounding worldliness and materialism the love of Christ is waxing cold. The church is left behind while Christian pursue for the world.

8. The Saved Shall Endure. Matt. 24:13
This verse has been a topic of so much debate. The fact is: ginawa na itong paraan ng kaligtasan sa maraming mga relihiyon. Upang maunawaan ang talatang ito dapt maunawaan natin ang buong kwento sa Matt. 24. Mula sa verse 1 hanggang 14 ay pangyayari sa pangkasalukuyan at ito ang SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Mula naman sa verse 15 hanggang 51 ay panghinarap ng mangyayari.

Specifically, ang verses one to 14 ay hindi nagtuturo ng paraan ng kaligtasan bagkus ito'y mga tanda o palatandaan ng malapit nang pagbabalik ng Panginoon.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
From the original meaning, the phrase "the same shall" is the same as "this".
Therefore, it can said, But he that shall endure unto the end, this be saved.

Sa paglaganap ng mega churches and religions and some Christians backslid, isa sa mga palatandaan ng ating kapanahunan ay ang pag-endure ng tunay na ligtas. Ang ligtas lamang ang maaring manatili sapagkat sinabi na yan ng Bibliya sa Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

9. Intensive Worldwide Gospel Movement. Matt. 24:14
The gospel is being spread all around the world.

Now these are the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Unawain po natin ang kanahunan.
kung ikaw ay hindi pa ligtas, may oras ka pa upang tanggapin ang Panginoon ngayon. Pagsisihan mo ang iyong kasalanan at tanggapin mo si Kristo bilang Tagapagligtas.