“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)
ABSTRACT
This essay delves into the profound significance of the signs heralding Christ’s return, offering guidance through biblical prophecies and insights from Ellen G. White. It aims to foster a deeper commitment to vigilance, sanctity, and active service, preparing us for the Lord’s imminent arrival.
HE RETURNS!
The purpose of this essay is to illuminate the urgent messages embedded within the signs of Christ’s return, guiding us. We will explore the biblical prophecies, Ellen G. White’s insights, and the practical applications of these truths in our daily lives. Preparation for Christ’s return demands vigilance and holiness. Biblical prophecies warn of the end times, as in Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” and 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Ellen G. White emphasizes, “The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 81, 1882). She also writes, “We are living in the most solemn period of this world’s history. The destiny of earth’s teeming multitudes is about to be decided. Our own future well-being and also the salvation of other souls depend upon the course which we now pursue” (The Great Controversy, p. 601, 1911). This work seeks to inspire a deeper commitment to watchfulness, holiness, and service, ensuring we are prepared for the imminent coming of our Lord. What signs indicate His imminent arrival?
SIGNS SIGNAL SALVATION!
The world’s turmoil is not random chaos; it is a symphony of signs signaling Christ’s return. “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; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27). These are not mere natural phenomena but divine warnings, echoing the prophet Joel’s words: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come” (Joel 2:31). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in Mark 13:29 “So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.” and Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Sr. White states, “The signs in the world show that the end is near. God has borne long with the perversity of the human race; He has tried to win them to repentance. But at such a time as this, when they are determined to make void His law, His forbearance ceases” (The Signs of the Times, vol. 10, p. 256, 1884). She further emphasizes, “The time of trouble—trouble such as was not since there was a nation—will soon be upon us, and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain” (The Great Controversy, p. 622, 1911). Just as a storm’s darkening sky warns of impending rain, these signs warn of the coming King. “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33). We must pay heed, lest we be caught unprepared. “We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events,” writes Sr. White. “Prophecy is fast fulfilling. The hours of probation are fast passing. We have no time to lose” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 119). Are we truly seeing, or merely observing?
FOOLISH FAIL TO FORESEE!
The Pharisees, masters of Scripture, failed to discern the very times they lived in. “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3). This rebuke is a mirror to our own potential blindness. Isaiah lamented a similar condition: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” (Isaiah 56:10). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” and John 9:39 “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” Sr. White warns, “The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ’s day was that a mere assent to the truth constituted righteousness” (The Desire of Ages, p. 309). She further cautions, “Many who profess to be Christians will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting. They have not the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps. They have a lamp, a profession, but they lack the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411). Many today know the prophecies but lack the living faith that translates knowledge into action. Like the Pharisees, we may analyze the clouds while ignoring the storm raging within our hearts. The warnings of Christ, far from being harsh, are expressions of divine love. What inquiries arise from this longing for certainty?
DISCIPLES DEMAND DETAILS!
The disciples’ inquiry, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3), echoes our own longing for certainty. Jesus did not provide a date but a call to vigilance: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). This echoes the parable of the ten virgins: “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in Mark 13:33 “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” and Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Sr. White emphasizes, “It is in this life that we are to prepare for the life to come” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 342). She also states, “We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for them that love Him. There is no time to lose. We know not how soon our probation may close” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 232). The preparation is not a single event but a continuous process of sanctification. Just as a gardener tends to his plants, we must nurture our spiritual lives daily. Which servant exemplifies our readiness?
FAITHFUL VS. FOOLISH FATES!
Christ’s faithful servants are those “watching for the Lord, purifying their souls by obedience to the truth” (Luke 12:37, 42, 43). They are actively engaged in service, heeding the apostle Peter’s admonition: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” and 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Sr. White adds, “With vigilant watching they combine earnest working” (Desire of Ages, p. 634). She further explains, “Those who are waiting for the Bridegroom’s coming are not to be idle. They are to be as men that wait for their lord. Not in listless ease are they to remain, but in diligent employment” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 408). They are not idle spectators but active participants in God’s plan. The foolish servant, however, says, “My lord delayeth his coming” (Matthew 24:48), and “He banishes from the mind the convictions that the Lord is coming quickly” (Desire of Ages, p. 635). Their attitude mirrors those described by Peter: “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” (2 Peter 3:3-4). Like a sentry who falls asleep on duty, they fail in their responsibility. Do we labor with zeal, or do we drift in complacency?
TRIALS TEST TRUE BELIEVERS!
The final days will bring “fearful tests and trials” upon God’s people. Sr. White warns, “The spirit of war is stirring the nations from one end of the earth to the other… But in the midst of the time of trouble that is coming—a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation—God’s chosen people will stand unmoved” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 17). We are called to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). “For angels that excel in strength will protect them” (ibid). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” and Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Like a tree rooted in the rock, we must stand firm amidst the tempest, remembering the promise: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Will we be among those who endure? Sr. White assures us, “In the time of trouble, just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels” (The Great Controversy, p. 633). She further encourages, “Let none imagine that there is no need of vigilant watching and earnest prayer in these days when iniquity abounds. The perils of the last days thicken around us, and we need to be wide awake, that we may know where we stand” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 515). How do we secure victory in the final battle?
PRAYER POWERS TO PREVAIL!
Victory in the final battle is not won by human strength but by divine intervention. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Luke 21:36). James reminds us, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). We are exhorted to “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” Sr. White affirms, “Prayer and faith will do what no power on earth can accomplish” (Ministry of Healing, p. 509). She continues, “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him” (Steps to Christ, p. 93). If prayer is our lifeline, why do we hold on so loosely? Like a soldier relying on his shield, we must cling to prayer. How do these concepts reflect God’s love?
LOVE’S LIGHT IN WARNINGS!
The warnings of Christ, far from being harsh, are expressions of divine love. God desires that none should perish, and His calls to watchfulness are invitations to safety. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves” (Desire of Ages, p. 25). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” and Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Sr. White beautifully captures this sentiment: “God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 129). The signs, the rebukes, and the promises all reveal a God who will not abandon His children. Like a father warning his children of danger, God’s warnings are born of love and concern. He desires to save us from the destruction that awaits the unrepentant. If Christ is truly coming, how does this shape our duty to holiness?
HOLINESS HEEDS HIS CALL!
If Christ is truly coming, our foremost duty is to live a life of holiness. “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). This echoes the words of the apostle Paul: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in Leviticus 20:26 “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” and Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Sr. White states, “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 470). She adds, “Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender to the will of God. It is the doing of His will and the keeping of His commandments” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 51). Our lives must reflect His character, not just in words but in actions. Like a mirror reflecting light, we must reflect the holiness of God. Holiness is not a distant goal but a present reality. How does true watchfulness extend beyond solitude?
SHINE SALVATION’S SIGNAL!
True watchfulness is not a solitary endeavor. “Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon” (Zechariah 2:7). We are called to be “our brother’s keeper,” echoing the words of Ezekiel: “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezekiel 3:18). Unity depends on a vital connection with Christ. The Bible echoes this in Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” and James 5:20 “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Sr. White says, “The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one… Every man who is enlightened from above is to impart the light to those around him” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 140). She further urges, “The servants of Christ are to be the light of the world. They are to reflect to others the light that has shone upon them from Christ. The darker the night, the more brightly should their light shine” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 140). Our responsibility is to share the urgency of Christ’s return, to call others to salvation. Like a lighthouse guiding ships to safety, we must shine the light of truth. How does the journey towards Christ’s return demand vigilance and faith?
REFLECT ON READINESS!
The journey towards Christ’s return is a path of constant vigilance and unwavering faith. We must not only watch for the signs but also engage in active service, reflecting the love and holiness of God. The warnings are not meant to instill fear but to inspire action. Each day is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Christ, to purify our hearts, and to extend His message to the world.
URGENT CALL TO COMMIT!
The signs are clear, the warnings are unmistakable, and the call is urgent. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Will we meet Him with joy or terror? The answer lies in our daily watchfulness, our unwavering faith, and our unrelenting labor for the salvation of souls. Let us be found faithful, ready to welcome our Lord when He appears.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
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SELF-REFLECTION
How can I, in my personal devotional life, delve deeper into these prophetic truths, allowing them to shape my character and priorities?
How can we adapt these complex themes to be understandable and relevant to diverse audiences, from seasoned church members to new seekers or those from different faith traditions, without compromising theological accuracy?
What are the most common misconceptions about these topics in my community, and how can I gently but effectively correct them using Scripture and the writings of Sr. White?
In what practical ways can our local congregations and individual members become more vibrant beacons of truth and hope, living out the reality of Christ’s soon return and God’s ultimate victory over evil?
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK 