The little picture

versus

THE BIG PICTURE

Which picture are you seeing?

by Michael G. Mickey

Some people see the violin while others see the orchestra when it comes to the times we're living in. Which type of person are you?

Some of my readers believe the return of Jesus Christ is a distant event while others believe it is imminent, perhaps even at the door. I am of the latter opinion.

What leads to this difference of views? I believe it depends on how narrowly one focuses their examination of events taking place in the world today as they relate to Bible prophecy.

The Bible gives us a detailed list of signs we're to watch for in relation to the return of Jesus Christ. To review a list of these signs, click HERE. We're not told to watch for any one sign, but all of them. In other words, we need to be looking at the BIG picture!

Occasionally, I hope you'll review the predictive signs of Christ's return because that's what this ministry is all about. The more familiar you become with the signs of Christ's return, the more obvious the BIG picture of what's going on in the world today will become for you - something that will make the topics I discuss here at RaptureAlert.com a lot more meaningful for you in your spiritual life.

Christ wants us to see the BIG picture of God's prophetic symphony currently being played out before our very eyes in the world today. He once said, as recorded in Matthew 16:2-3: "When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"

Just as we look out our windows in the morning and predict what the weather is going to be like on a given day, Christ wants us to be so familiar with the signs of His return we are almost immediately able to connect events we see taking place in our daily lives and on the news with the prophecies of the Bible. What do we gain from being able to do that? Spiritual confidence and strength!

Not only is it beneficial for Christians to understand Bible prophecy for their own spiritual benefit, there are also many in the world today who are in need of Christians knowing the signs which potentially indicate the Lord's return could be coming in the not-too-distant future! Why? Because many of those mockful of Christians who believe Christ's return is at the door are the ones most desperately in need of Christians witnessing these things to them as they lack the spiritual discernment necessary to see the prophetic signs associated with Christ's coming return on their own! In fact, the Bible tells us these scoffers are themselves a sign the end is drawing near!

2nd Peter 3:3-4: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Because there are so many in the world today who scoff at the idea of Christ's return, it's important for those of us who are looking for the return of Christ to stay focused in this area of our spiritual lives. By knowing the signs as we should, particularly as they relate to the world we're living in today, we'll be able to effectively witness to the lost that time is swiftly running out for them to avoid the horrors of the Tribulation Period. Hopefully, this witnessing will lead many of them to reach a decision to accept Christ before it's eternally too late - our mission until Christ's return.

We also need to know the signs of Christ's return so we can be searching daily for evidence pointing toward the return of Christ in order to keep ourselves (and our Christian brothers and sisters we can share this knowledge with) on track spiritually.

The Bible tells us the Rapture of the Church is going to come without any warning whatsoever, as a thief in the night, but it also tells us it doesn't have to come upon believers as a thief in the night! Why? Because we should know when the season of Christ's return is near based on our knowledge of the prophetic signs given to us in the Word of God!

1st Thessalonians 5:1-6: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ don't have to live in darkness as others do. The Bible tells us everything we need to know to understand the BIG picture as it relates to the return of Christ to the extent none of us should be found in a state of spiritual unawaredness when the Rapture of the Church takes place.

The little picture leaves doubts as to whether Christ's return is coming in the near future, but the BIG picture leaves very little doubt He's coming soon. Why do I say that? I can't think of a single sign predictive of Christ's return that isn't either already present in the world or in the beginning stages of being here.

I sincerely hope each of you who read this will do everything possible in your spiritual life to see the BIG picture and share it with others! We're witnessing first-hand events leading up to the dramatic conclusion of the greatest story ever told - God's story!