It’s Time – End Times

It’s Time – End Times

Subject – It’s Time to Look Up

By Rick Welborne

Luke 21:25-28 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                      

²⁵  "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
²⁶  men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
²⁷  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
²⁸  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

--The End Times has become a topic of interest for many recently as the events happening in the Middle East appear to be the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. 

--The intensifying violence and war in Israel has led many to scrutinize biblical prophecies with renewed interest, searching for correlations between current events and scriptural predictions. 

--Could the war in Israel be the preliminary sign of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan unfolding before our eyes be a sign of the End Times?

1. The Beginning of the End Times.

--After Jesus rose from the dead after His crucifixion, He did not go back to Heaven immediately. We are told by Jesus what we are supposed to be doing. The Great Commission.  

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
¹⁸  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. 

--This is vital for us to recognize not only the importance of how Jesus returned to Heaven, as He will return to Earth again one day. He is coming back!

 --This is exceedingly important for us in the meantime. We are called to share the Good News of Christ and know that He will indeed return. 

--Since He left, the "end time clock" began. Therefore, we have been living in the End Times since Jesus returned to Heaven. Remember, one day is as a thousand years. It’s time to look up.

2. The Fulfillment of Israel Becoming a Nation Again.

--One of the most pivotal and important bricks to be laid out for the return of Christ was the necessity for Israel to become a nation again. 

--After World War II and the Holocaust, several nations rallied together to restore Israel to its homeland once again. On May 14, 1948, Israel once again became a nation.

Ezekiel 34:11&13 (NKJV) ¹¹  'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out

. ¹³  And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.

 --With the restoration of Israel as a nation many believers began to consider just what else was necessary before His return. So what is next on God’s time-clock? Israel’s War? It’s time to look up.

3. Gog and Magog.

--In the book of Ezekiel, many of the End Days prophecies explain what is to come before Christ's return. Ezekiel 38-39, speaks of a country, Magog, to the North of Israel invading Israel.

--We were also told that this country would form an alliance with Persia. Persia changed its name in 1935 to Iran, and many scholars agree that Magog is what we call modern-day Russia. 

--One of the most prevalent prophetic signs here is the alliance of Iran and Russia. According to John Kiry of the National Security Council, "Since mid-2022, Iran has become Russia's top military backer." 

--This formed alliance is setting the stage for things to come. The attacks that occurred in the Fall of 2023 and the most recent attacks in the past few weeks. This is not Armageddon. 

--The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and these alliances are seen by many believers as the precursors to the prophesied events leading to the return of Christ. 

--Scholars argue that these developments are aligning with prophetic narratives that predict severe trials in Israel before the ultimate reconciliation and peace. It’s time to look up.

4. The Red Heifers.

--Other signs aligned with the recent attacks and imminent war in Israel invite great suspicion that these are the events prophesied about. 

--One is that of the red heifers, "A huge buzz reverberated worldwide the week of September 12, 2022, when five red heifers arrived in Israel." 

--The Jerusalem Post described how a Christian farmer in Texas raised and shipped five unblemished red heifers to the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. 

--The heifers were inspected and approved by Jewish rabbis. Upon the arrival of these five red heifers, a group of roughly 300 people welcomed them. 

--One person blew the shofar, a horn used in Judaistic ceremonies. The red heifers are now secured on a farm in Haifa." This is something that has not been seen in 2,000 years. 

--This matters to End Times prophecy as many believe Christ's return is imminent as the Red Heifer is important for the Third Temple. The Third Temple must be rebuilt before Christ's return. 

--Another is that of the prophecy laid out in Zechariah 14:1-21 where attacks against Jerusalem would occur during the feast of Tabernacles, which occurred during the attacks on Israel back in October 2023. 

5. What We Should Be Watching For.

--Scripture lays out that many things are necessary before the return of Christ. One is the building of the Third Temple, which is yet to occur. 

--Another is a massive earthquake prophesized about in Ezekiel 38:19 during a battle against Magog. Magog will not win the battle; God will intervene with this earthquake. 

Ezekiel 38:18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁸  "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face.
¹⁹  For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 

--We must be diligent to study the Word and what is to come to be aware of the events occurring around us, unfolding just as He said they would. We must be aware of what’s happening.

--Awareness also means being prepared—spiritually, mentally, and practically—for the changes these prophetic fulfillments might bring. 

Key - Christians are encouraged to maintain a posture of prayer and readiness, aligning their lives with God's will and purposes, and supporting each other in faith communities to stay watchful and hopeful as events continue to unfold. This preparation strengthens our personal faith and also equips believers to share hope to those outside the church. We tell them it’s time to look up.

6. Antisemitism in the End Times.

--The Bible shares there will be antisemitism happening in the final days as well. 

Zechariah 12:3 (NCV) ³ One day all the nations on earth will come together to attack Jerusalem, but I will make it like a heavy rock; anyone who tries to move it will get hurt. 

--There is a great rise in antisemitism and hatred of the Jewish people. As Christians, we must stand with Israel even in the face of opposition, for the Jewish people are God's chosen nation. 

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)
⁶  "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

7. What the Church Should Be Doing.

--With all of this considered, what should we do when we hear of war in Israel, red heifers, earthquakes, and other prophecies? Should we stock up on food and create bunkers in fear? 

--No. It’s time to look up! 

Luke 21:27-28 (NKJV)
²⁷  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
²⁸  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." 

--As Christians, we should take this time to be intentional with sharing the gospel with those around us; we should continue to cultivate our own relationships with God and be diligent in prayer. 

--This is not a time to fear; it is a time to live the life God has called us to live. 

--Not even the Son knows the exact time He will return to Earth, but we can still be aware of these incredible prophecies coming to pass. 

--Let it strengthen us that our faith is true and our God keeps His Word. Let us continue to pray for Israel in the days to come.