A.Prophecy is the ability to speak forth the mind and counsel of God by revelation of the Holy Spirit.
B.Gifts of the Spirit have ceased (1Cor. 13:9-12), and none of us prophesy today, but any of us can and should read the signs of the times.
1.Notice the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:2-3.
a.When the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus for a sign, He gave this response:
“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” (Matt. 16:2-3)
b.Even though the Pharisees and Sadducees did not have the gift of prophecy, Jesus expected them to understand what was happening through what they had seen.
2.Likewise, even though we cannot prophesy, we should be able to read the signs of the times, draw certain conclusions, and make appropriate preparations.
3.Presently, let us consider the signs that are all around us today and what we should be doing.
II.READ THE SIGNS
A.The spiritual and moral decay of our nation is alarming.
1.Consider some of the abominations against God that are rampant in our nation.
a.More than 50 million children have been killed in the womb since abortion was legalized by Roe v. Wade in 1973.These are “hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:17).
b.According to a 2008 study by the Center for Disease Control, 45% of pregnancies in the United States occur among unmarried women.This is a product of the nation’s propensity for fornication and disdain for marriage (1Cor. 6:18; Gal. 5:19-21; Heb. 13:4).
c.Homosexuality is widely accepted and embraced as a way of life in our nation.Four states even issue marriage licenses to homosexual persons (Rom. 1:26-27; 1Cor. 6:9-10).
d.Greed, corruption, deceit, injustice, and waste plague many persons in business and government.Honesty, trust, integrity, frugality, and conservation are in decline.
e.Efforts to eradicate the name of God from the public are growing year by year due to a willfully ignorant application of the premise of “separation of church and state” and the First Amendment of the Constitution.
f.Evolution permeates nearly all government education departments, popular media outlets, and even some churches in bold denial of the Creator (Rom. 1:18-25).
g.Humanism (philosophy of human reason and experience as the only guides for human life) is the effective national religion.God is regarded as an antiquated superstition.
2.How long will God suffer these things?None of us knows, but we must be alert to the real possibility of His wrath against the nation.
a.Through Bible history, we know that God was very longsuffering with such people as the Canaanites, the Egyptians, the Moabites, the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Romans, and even the Israelites.
b.However, God’s patience was eventually exhausted with all of these, including His own people in Israel and Judah.“The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God” (Ps. 9:17).
c.Is there any reason to think that our nation is an exception?
B.Concurrently, the exponential growth of our nation’s temporal problems is astounding.
1.Consider some of the facts that demonstrate that the nation’s standard of living is not sustainable.
a.It is an objective truth that that nation has unsustainable deficits and foreign debt.
b.The nation’s currency is in danger of losing all value due to an unbridled monetary expansion and a runaway inflation.
c.The nation’s oil demands cannot be sustained by the declining oil production.The entire economy is in danger.
d.The nation’s population is growing rapidly.
e.The nation’s political system is corrupt and incapable of reform.
2.Are these signs of imminent collapse indicators of God’s pending wrath against us?None of us knows, but we must consider the possibility.
C.Taken altogether, we may be seeing the beginnings of providential changes.
1.Throughout history, God has raised and overthrown nations through natural means.
a.The O.T. reveals how God has used armies, politics, natural disasters, economics, etc.
b.When nations rise or fall, we can see the hand of God (Ps. 82:8; 103:19; Isa. 40:15-17).
2.There is no reason to think that God would regard our nation any differently.
III.BE READY
A.From a temporal standpoint, we must learn to be content not only with what we have but also with less.
1.Have the attitude of Paul in Philippians 4:12-13:
“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
2.Heed this instruction – “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1Tim. 6:8).
B.From a spiritual standpoint, we desperately need to cling to our faith.
1.Follow the advice of James – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8).
2.Be ready to suffer reproaches, tribulations, and losses without giving up the faith (Heb. 10:32-39).
3.We need to “look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2Cor. 4:18).
4.“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:20-21)
C.All of us need to stick together with our brethren.
1.Take advantage of the God-given support system among the brethren and within the church, which is designed to withstand hardship (John 13:34; Rom. 12:4-21; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:1-3).
2.“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24-25).
D.Let us continually offer prayers for our leaders, neighbors, and fellow citizens to turn unto God.
1.Obey the commandment of 1Timothy 2:1-4:
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2.Notice that the results of our prayers can be for us to “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” and for others “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
E.Most of all, we should always be prepared for the coming of the Lord.
1.Notice 1Thessalonians 5:4-6:
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
2.We should all be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2Pet. 3:12).
3.Are we prepared to say, “Lord, come quickly” (1Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20)?
F.If we do these things, then there is one thing we should not do – worry.
1.Follow the direction of Christ in Matthew 6:33-34:
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
2.Instead of worrying, let us pray.“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
IV.CONCLUSION
A.Do not misunderstand the message of this lesson.This is by no means a prediction of the second coming of Christ, but rather it is a warning about the possible fate of our nation.
1.Christ will come without further warning (Matt. 24:36-44; Acts 1:7; 1Thess. 4:15-5:6; 2Pet. 3:10).
2.However, the potential collapse of a nation is preceded by many indicators that demand notice.
B.Even so, every soul needs to be ready for Christ’s coming today.
