Those with spiritual discernment see the world changing before our eyes. This world is greatly troubled. There are greater storm clouds on the horizon. There are tectonic shifts happening spiritually as we are drawing near to the latter days.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was asked by his disciples, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered, revealing the ‘signs of the times,’ the condition of things in the world to indicate the latter days are drawing near. “Watch and be ready,” he said later. “Learn the parable from the fig tree: when it’s branch has already become tender, and puts 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.”
The Apostle Paul also described the condition of things in the world to indicate the latter days are drawing near in 2 Timothy 3. “Realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”
After describing the signs of the times that would take place in the world, Jesus then brought the focus of the signs to that of Israel. In other words, Israel will be the center of the unfolding events of prophecy fulfilled in the latter days, Jerusalem will be the epicenter, and the Temple Mount will be the singular place where the nations of the world will come to terms.
Jesus continued in Matthew 24, “When you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. . . For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short.”
The abomination of desolation spoken of through Daniel the prophet is specific to Israel and the Temple Mount itself.
Watch for the signs of the times by keeping attuned to the events happening in the world, but particularly watch for the things that are happening in the Middle East regarding Israel. It is the epicenter of the unfolding latter day prophetic fulfillment.
By Pastor Rich Jones
