It is a
question that many of us still ask today. It is not so curious that we should
want to ask this question. Sometimes, political and social events in the world
take turns that are highly unpredictable and even upsetting. These frightening developments
make us all wonder if they are perhaps harbingers of the end of the age and the
return of Jesus Christ.
The
disciples did not exactly get a straightforward answer to their question. What
they got was instead a series of parables to help them (and us) determine the
social and political atmosphere that will be present in the days leading up to
the end of the age. I am not going to go through all of those parables right
now, for that is a lengthy process and I have done that in other places (see
the book, Watching for the Day).
There are
only two statements of Jesus that I want you to take away with you today. First
of all, in speaking about the social and political atmosphere in the end times,
Jesus said of the initial stages, “All these things are merely the beginnings
of birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8 NAS). The second statement of Jesus is one with
which he concluded two of his parables, “Be on the alert, for you do not know
the day [nor the hour] that your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42; 25:13).
A New Word
As you
consider these two statements of Jesus, please now consider a word that has
been introduced into the English language: Brexit.
Although it is a very new word in our English vocabulary, almost everyone
already knows what it means. If you do not, do a quick google search on it.
In fact, if
you are a Christian, and to make your search more interesting, in the search bar
type: “brexit and biblical prophecy.” You will find out not only the meaning of
the word, but a whole host of people who claim to be Bible teachers and who
will tell you exactly how Brexit was predicted in Biblical prophecy and how it
signals that Jesus is coming back very soon. Often there is a postscript saying
something to the order of, “Please send me some money so that I can get this
message out to millions of people!”
Then, after
you have done your internet search, step back and let the words of Jesus return
to your thinking. “All these things are merely the beginnings of birth pangs.
Be on the alert then.”
Despite my
cynicism for some of the people who claim to know exactly how Brexit fits into
Biblical prophecy, I do not deny that I also believe that what is currently
happening in Britain and in Europe is significant in terms of events surrounding
the question that the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your
coming and of the end of the age?” (To continue reading, please click the READ MORE button below)