There is some meteorological reference to the biblical passage by Jesus in Matthew 16:2,3...."When it is evening you say, 'it will be fair weather for the sky is red'....and in the morning....'it will be foul weather today for the sky is red and threatening'....Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky....but you cannot discern the signs of the times." The science of it all has something to do with if a high pressure system has passed....and the amount of dust in the sky. The red sky at night could indicate that conditions were not good for a storm to develop whereas a red sky in the morning could indicate that conditions were good for a storm to form. It was enough that sailors would use the phrase....red sky at night....sailors' delight....red sky in the morning.....sailors' warning....and that was the purpose of Jesus giving the warning....which is for all of us.
There were some satellite images released showing desert sands in the Sudan....with large splotches of red....that are interpreted as being blood in the sand....so much blood that a satellite could pick it up from space. There have been horrific genocides in the past fifty years....and even more recently that make what is going on in the Sudan pale in comparison. Add to this World Wars I and II....and the Holocaust....and these days that we live in....with all the violence....are indeed as in the days of Noah! That is but one sign....and Jesus told those Pharisees and Sadducees that they demanded a sign....and that there were signs was right before them....but they did not see them. That is us today!
The newly formed miraculous state of Israel was a sign....and the consequent desert blooming as a rose....the murderous hateful nations surrounding Israel....even the rebellious and modern atheistic and agnostic citizenry of Israel....just as we are in America....is a sign. This great falling away in the church and in evangelicalism....where the gospel of salvation is obscured by a works salvation of morality and patriotism....and even Trump himself....are all signs....and there are many....many more....all of which we glance over and go on with the business of making America great again....and having our best life ever!
Here is my message for a brother or sister in Christ reading this....who may be involved in Bible studies and other church and even gospel activities....regularly....and for years....evangelicalism today....and our churches....all of us generally speaking....we can talk a good game for fifteen or twenty minutes in a Bible study or in a sermon....but we have no real interest in the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior and King! It is not real to us....and we have no real hope in it....for it is just words to fill in in the back of a Bible study pamphlet.
Jesus rhetorically wondered if the Son of Man would find faith upon His return....He was pointing also to the disinterest in His return. I am in conversations with Christians often and it is like pulling teeth to get them to talk about the Second Coming....for they are not comfortable with it....and would rather end the topic quickly....so as not to appear fanantical....but talk about America's problems with the Left....and they will talk your ear off. They are not interested in my posts....not even my best friends read them.
One sign that you might want to consider is that for multiple decades....we in the church had men who commanded respect on a national level....men like Billy Graham and R. C. Sproul and John MacArthur and even Pat Robertson....and they warned us passionately....and they are all gone. God has taken them home....their job done. Right now....there is no one left of a national stature....no one....to perk up the ears of the church....and the people that are there on a national stage....men such as Jonathan Cahn and Frankling Graham....they can talk a good game on judgment....but their real hope is that we put the people in Congress and the former White House....to legislate morality....so that God might withhold judgment. The absurdity of it all is that our hope is in a false prophet....a man whose inane outbursts referencing God ridicule true faith!
This is certainly all going to change. The days of wine and roses are over. There is no revival of young people in America....not now anyway....and if one should come it will not be politically oriented....but steeped in mortification for what we have become....and what we had mistakenly placed our hopes upon.
This is no exaggeration....most of the Christian men that I know....are more interested in what the Steelers do this weekend....(if they are playing)....than in the return in righteous judgement of the Lord of Glory....and they have more hope in our military prowess....than our Fortress and our Rock....and our only shelter in a storm!
Note: The photo was taken from our patio early this morning. Unfortunately the striking red just does not transfer from the iPhone to my laptop.
