Is It the Time and the Season?

Billy Graham has his final message tonight and while the political debate about the disasters befalling this country is important, Graham's message carries much more meaning in the long run. In particular, it is very interesting to hear that he believes that the alignment of events in the world is such that the End Times could really be near and I will look forward to his elaboration on that theme tonight. 

Scripture says that no one, not even Jesus, knows the date and the hour that God chooses to bring this grand experiment to an end. Matt. 24:36. But Jesus also said that we can know the season that this will occur and that is what Graham is referring to. Matt. 24:32-33. 

In that regard, another most interesting story is making the rounds. Yitzhak Kaduri was one of Israel's most prominent rabbis when he died at age 108. Just before his death he wrote a note that was not to be opened until a year after his death. This was not surprising because when it was opened, it said that the name of the Messiah was "Jesus." This caused quite a stir in Israel in light of his position and it reverberates even today.

www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23877/Default.aspx

Looking at the "season", it is unequivocal that God fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah that for a second time He will gather His people, the children of Abraham, from the four corners of the earth and establish them in Israel. Isaiah 11:11-12. This happened in 1948 with the creation of the modern state of Israel. Reading the rest of Isaiah 11, it is also clear that this historical event is part of "the day" on  which the Lord establishes His Kingdom on earth. Isaiah 11:11. A "day" in the Lord's eyes, however, is like a 1000 years in our eyes, so exactly when all this could roll out still is subject to a lot of uncertainty.  Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8. Events are happening today, though, that have not been seen in my lifetime and perhaps historically that could signal that this may be the time and hence the pertinency of Graham's message - events like Rabbi Kaduri and the reestablishment of the Sanhedrin after a 1,600 year hiatus. God has used Billy Graham throughout his ministry and He may do so this one last time. 

Regardless of what Graham says or doesn't say, two things are also clear from Scripture. First, things are going to get worse before they get better. Matt. 24:3-25. Secondly, He will come when we least expect it, so be ready. Matt. 24:36-44. Good advice and a word that we should all take to heart.