Last weekend, I was blessed to attend a Signs of the Times Conference in Prescott AZ. After Mike Golay opened with a message entitled As it Was in the Days of Noah, Pastor Barry Stagner took us on a journey through scripture in a message he called, It’s About Time.

Revelation 22:10 and Romans 13:11-12 were launching points:

Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
~Revelation 22:10

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
~Romans 13:11-12

The Bible is filled with instruction to be ready for the coming of Jesus…and it’s about time!

Here are some points Pastor Barry emphasized:

1. Israel’s rebirth set the prophetic clock in motion. In Matthew 24:32-34, Jesus uses the parable of a fig tree to describe the rebirth of Israel and its significance. Throughout scripture, the fig tree represents Israel, and the branch putting forth fruit represents Israel’s rebirth. Jesus says that when we see that happen (Israel’s rebirth), we are to be ready for the coming of the Lord.
2. Man has assumed God’s role in defining morality and truth. Genesis 6:5 talks about the wickedness of humans, and Matthew 24:10-12 warns of a time when lawlessness causes love to grow cold. Indeed, the thoughts of man’s heart are evil, and people will betray and hate one another. Lawlessness abounds due to disregard of God’s commands.
3. What the church used to expose as evil is now accepted as good. Revelation 3:14-22 describes the church of Laodicea, the lukewarm church that exists at the end of the church age. It is the church that fails to stand on righteous principles, but instead compromises. In lukewarmness, they accept evil rather than expose it.
4. We have every reason to expect the rapture to occur at any moment. Undoubtedly, the world will be a mess when Jesus returns for His saints! We are told not to grow weary in the midst of the mess (Galatians 6:9), but to keep looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

It’s about time to set our focus on Jesus and His coming. Are you ready?