by GARY S. HATRICK
Observing the Signs of the Times
Jesus never told us when exactly He is coming back. In fact, when His disciples asked Him about it, He said it was not for them to know. Their job was to preach the gospel at home and abroad (Acts 1:6–8). Still, He did tell us to pay attention to the signs of the times (Matthew 16:2–4; Luke 12:54–57). There are things we have been told in Scripture that will be characteristics of the end of the age, and we can see many of them as we look around us socially and politically.
We, as a nation, have been drifting away from God for many years. In the last couple of decades, we have been sliding downhill with the speed of a luge. God is gracious and merciful, abounding in loving kindness and patience, but He is also just. There comes a time when God will no longer withhold judgment on a nation.
It is instructive to see what God charged the nation of Israel before He allowed them to be taken into captivity by Babylon, and to see how many of those charges apply to our nation today.
Now, lest anyone take this as putting down Israel, let me make this clear: I am criticizing our nation using the biblical example of God’s judgment on Israel found in the Old Testament. In today’s world politics, I am a supporter of Israel, and I believe our support of Israel is one of the things that has held back God’s judgment on our nation. I don’t believe Israel does everything right, just as I don’t have any friends who do everything right, yet they are still my friends. I am simply looking at the history of Israel and how God dealt with His nation. These things should be a warning to us.
Warnings from the Prophet Hosea
Look at these verses from Hosea 4:1–3:
“Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel,
For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness
Or knowledge of God in the land.
There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky;
And also the fish of the sea disappear.”
Or consider Hosea 7:13–16:
“Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!
I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.
When they wail on their beds;
They tur s,
Yet they devise evil against Me.
They turn, but not upward,
They are like a deceitful bow.”
These are just two passages from one minor prophet, Hosea. There are many other condemnations among both the major and minor prophets that sound as though God were speaking directly to us today. While these words were spoken to Israel in context, they reveal God’s view of national behavior. We should not think that we will escape judgment when we sin in the same manner. Beyond this, judgment on the world has been prophesied, and it will happen.
Instructions for Believers
So, what can we do?
We who are God’s children can be obedient. We are ambassadors for Christ. While we cannot hold off physical death—whether by nature or by judgment—we can reach out with the word of eternal life. This is what Jesus commanded us to do: to help prepare the world for when He returns in judgment.
Having highlighted words of judgment, let us look at words of instruction from Hosea 10:12:
“Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the LORD
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”
Finally, consider Hosea’s closing words (Hosea 14:9):
“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of the LORD are right,
And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble in them.”
Christian, we have warnings, and we have instructions. What will you do?
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