• Matthew 24:24 - "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; in so much that, to seduce if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (This probably describes the false rapture theory as seen very often.)

• Mark 13:22 - "For false christs and false prophets, shall rise and show signs and wonders to seduce if it were possible the elect." (Elect is same as the church)

• Luke 21:11 - "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines and pestilences; and fearsome sights and great signs shall be from heaven."

• Luke 21:20, 22, 25 - "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled." "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring."

• "Now learn the parable of the fig tree: when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh." "So likewise ye know when you see these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."

Because Jesus was the begotten Son of God, He was the same as God, and surely He knew the future just as well as He knew the past like God often taught He could know. In one scripture when His disciples asked about God, Jesus answered, " . . . if ye have seen Me, you have seen God."

After His crucifixion, Jesus began to teach He would go away for awhile and prepare a place for His elect, but would come again and receive them unto Himself. They were discussing the end of this earth age when Jesus taught them to look for the above named signs, and warned when they could see them to know the time was nigh; even at the door. It would be stupid for us to think all this information Jesus taught was just for His disciples who were present at that particular time. His message is just as applicable for you and I as it was for His disciples. And if we are not walking through this life blindly, we will see some of these things happening clearly right now.

It would take a lengthy book to discuss the possibility that many of what He warned can be seen today in our own national living.

But we are spiritually blind if we are not aware that our great American nation is becoming a very, very wicked nation. That is not merely being spiritually blind, but downright stupid if we do not see we are turning away from God in our national lifestyle and daily living.

There are even many in our great American lifestyle who are complaining that Jesus does not have the right to be so judgmental. If any have a doubt in that area, they should read Matthew 24:18, and make an effort to understand it.

We surely have a short memory if we think everything is on a normal schedule and there is nothing that should worry us. Let me mention the recent Tsunamis that claimed so many American lives. There are also the disastrous fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, and thousands of our young men dying in an seemingly endless war. Would you call all that normal? Could it be God's way of trying to get our attention to repent? And could it be the beginning of the greatly feared tribulation that most Bible scholars agree will certainly happen? It is described to start like birth pains to a woman. It may not appear serious at first, but will not go away until there is deliverance.