The Sign and World Events

 In a recent meeting, the question as to what was the sign of Yeshua’s coming was raised.  In response, it was pointed out that Yeshua specified what that sign would be in Mathew 24:14:  "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness/sign to all the nations, and then the end shall come”.  Nevertheless, is the “sign” of His coming 'only' the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom to the entire world, or does the "sign" also consist of world events that are taking place while this glorious message is being declared in all nations?  Perhaps they both go hand in hand and are inextricable one from the other because, reading on, from verse 15 through 29, we see Yeshua addressing the “elect” or the called-out ones, regarding those days and cautioning this remnant not to be deceived (v. 24).

Yeshua warned that this end-time tribulation will be catastrophic in nature, so much so that none in the past or in the future will compare to it (v.21).  It is the wrath of the Lamb - the Son of Elohim, that will execute this distressing period.  He will be watching over every aspect.  This week’s Parasha, with its enumeration of the curses, gives an accurate indication of what may be on the horizon.  The cup of iniquity has to be full before Yeshua takes it and pours it out, just as the tares and the wheat must also come to full maturity before the Lord of the Harvest takes out the former to be burnt. 

Years ago, I came across an observation regarding the cause of the tribulation, and that is the gathering of the remnant that responds to the Gospel of the Kingdom.   As it is stated in the Matthew text, the elect is destined to go through this turmoil.   Elohim's chosen ones house His Kingdom within them, the nature of which is Yeshua's Light.  They are not the ones executing the curses upon the nations, on the contrary, they are learning what it means to be a living sacrifice under those circumstances.  Even though subject to the horrific conditions all around them, they are comforted by a living hope. They are learning first-hand what the apostle wrote in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Messiah, and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).  In the coming days the reality of Yeshua's presence will be so intimate and tangible, it will be like seeing Him face to face.

This period is Yeshua’s greatest hour. The times of the Gentiles\nations are nearing their end, and what was prophesied of Him before He was born into this world is about to be fulfilled, that is to set up the everlasting Kingdom in the House of Jacob (ref. Luke 1:33), and to restore His Father’s ancient people, the tribes of His inheritance.  He will take them out of the nations and bring them back to their promised land. He will fulfill all that has been spoken about them in the writings of prophets of old.  Israel will be what they were called to be - a firstborn nation that the rest of the nations will respect and honor, not because of who they are in themselves, but because of the glory that is upon them. This Shabbat's Haftara reading describes it well:

  "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of YHVH has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; But YHVH will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you.  And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

The above points out very clearly that during a time of deep darkness, the light of the Kingdom will be “rising”. As a result, it will be at war with the kingdom of darkness. Yeshua will not hold back any of the curses resulting from iniquity and rebellion, even reintroducing some of the ten plagues of Egypt (see Deut. 28:60; Rev. 16).  

Our Heavenly Father is giving us time to get our act together and be prepared for the turbulent days ahead ("Jacob's Trouble", Jeremiah 30:7). This requires a deepening of our understanding of what it means to be immersed in the body of Messiah. ^"For by one Spirit we were all baptized/immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13). The world, on the other hand, offers us a variety of “mixed drinks”. It is time to get up from the table of the demons and recline at the table with Yeshua, even like the disciple, who leaned on His chest.