Signs of His Coming - Part 3

Author: Joseph

Date: March 24, 2024

After enduring great persecution and tribulation, the people of God – those who have endured – will see great signs in the heavens revealing His imminent return:

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken”

(Matthew 24:29).

The sun, moon, and stars were given to mankind for recognizing times and seasons, and will fulfill their purpose for this great moment before Yeshua returns (Genesis 1:14-15). The “power of the heavens” will be shaken. They will no longer have rule over their domains that were once given to them:

“God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.”

(Genesis 1:16).

Their dominion will be taken from them and returned to God:

“No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory”

(Isaiah 60:19).

“And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

(Revelation 21:23).

When the sun, moon, and stars have changed, then the “sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,” causing all the tribes of Israel to mourn (Zechariah 12:10). He will descend, triumphantly with great power and glory, riding on the clouds coming down from heaven (Matthew 24:30). And as He descends, He will draw all who are His to Him:

“And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

(Matthew 24:31).

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord”

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

This is the direct answer to the question the disciples asked Yeshua before (Matthew 24:3). But it was important that the disciples also understood what must come before His return in regards to the persecutions they must face (see previous article) and the endurance that is required of them. If they would not endure until the end, then knowing the signs of His return would be meaningless for them.

Yeshua’s response reveals this important truth: we must faithfully endure for His sake, otherwise we can not have any hope in His promises or expect that we should see the end that awaits those who endure. It is not the one who simply knows the signs who will receive the reward, but the one who endures all things faithfully. There may be a multitude of people who know what the Scriptures say regarding the signs to come about Yeshua’s return, but if they have no faith in Him, they will not partake in His promises. Knowing what must come first before His return is only helpful for us if we are trusting in Him, enduring all persecutions, and faithfully remaining in Him all the while. This is why Yeshua’s explanation to the disciples ends with signs, rather than begins with them. They must first understand well that the signs are not as important as their faithfulness.

"...signs are not as important as their faithfulness."

Knowing the signs of His return is good, but these are to give us hope during persecution rather than simply being knowledge in itself. They will be great signs, unmistakable signs that everyone will recognize and therefore we can take comfort in knowing that He will not come in secret, so as to cause us distress in our suffering. No. He will come boldly and in great glory, giving us great hope for when that day comes, giving us hope to endure all things.

Do you look for signs and ponder the prophesies of Scripture, but do not walk faithfully to Him? What is your relationship like with God? Would you be able to endure in the hope of His return through great persecution? Or is your “faith” a matter of knowledge that can be easily swayed by the things you see? Reassess yourself sincerely and ensure that you can endure until the end, not just recognize the signs as mere knowledge, but as hope for your faithful endurance.

Matthew 24:29-31

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org