The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Spiritual Discernment of Signs and Seasons

Man Holding Lightbulb

The message of Lamb & Lion Ministries is: “Jesus is Returning Soon!” All of our outreach can be boiled down to that singular message. Most people who believe Jesus is coming again share one common question: When?

Can We Know the Timing?

Is there anything we can know about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ?

If you had asked me that question years ago, I would have said, “No, absolutely not! There is not one thing you can ever know about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.” But after over 45 years of intensive study of Bible prophecy, I’ve come to a different conclusion. When people ask me now, “Can we know when Jesus will return?” my answer is, “Yes and No.” No, we cannot know the date. Yes, we can know the season.

Now, when I say we cannot know the date that Jesus will return, I mean that with all my heart. The Bible makes it crystal clear we cannot know the date. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus Himself said, “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” We simply cannot know the date. Unfortunately, there are a lot of sincere people who are setting dates. I do not doubt their sincerity, but they are sincerely deceived.

Why Date-Setting Is So Dangerous

You see, Satan loves date setters because they bring discredit to Bible prophecy. You know how it works. Somebody sets a date. People get their hopes focused on that date rather than on their Savior, Jesus Christ. They become obsessed and run around all over the place talking incessantly about the date. The press picks up on the story and focuses in on the date. Then, the date comes and passes, and scoffers heap ridicule on those who believed in the date. The individuals who put their faith in that date are embarrassed, and they become embittered. They say to themselves, “I’ll tell you one thing, I’ll never do that again!” Then, when a responsible prophecy teacher comes along and says, “I don’t know the date, but I do know Jesus is coming soon,” they say, “Oh sure, I’ve heard that nonsense before,” and they refuse to listen. They close their minds to God’s prophetic word. And Satan loves it.

The closer we get to the Rapture, the more of these date-setters Satan is going to deceive. The effect will be like the person who constantly yells, “The wolf is coming, the wolf is coming, the wolf is coming!” Although the false messenger continues to shout a warning, people grow frustrated and decide to ignore the message. And then the wolf comes.

So, while we cannot know the date Jesus is coming, we can know the season of the Lord’s return.

We Can Know the Season

One of the most important Scripture passages that proves we can know the season of the Lord’s return is in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 he wrote, “Now as to the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”

Notice that for most of the world, Jesus’ coming will be “like a thief in the night!” Verse 3 says it will occur while people are saying, “Peace and safety!” At that time, Paul says, “Destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.”

But too many Christians stop reading at verse 3 and never get to the fundamental point found in verse 4. Underline that crucial verse in your Bible. Don’t ever forget it. The verse proves beyond a doubt that you and I can know the season of the Lord’s return. First Thessalonians 5:4 says, “But you brethren, believers, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”

Now, what does that verse tell us? Paul is saying Jesus is coming like a thief in the night. But not for the brethren, not for Christians. He’s coming like a thief in the night for the world. He’s coming like a thief in the night for pagans. He’s coming like a thief in the night for those professing Christians who do not have any personal relationship with Him, who have never really been born again, and who refuse to believe and study the Word of God.

What do you think Paul means when he says, “We are sons of light and not of darkness”? I think what He’s referring to is the fact that if you are truly a born-again child of God, you have the Holy Spirit residing inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the Person of God who inspired the Bible. So if you lean on the Holy Spirit, He will illuminate your mind and heart, opening your spiritual eyes to understand the mysteries of God’s Word — including the season of the Lord’s return. And so the Bible says point blank, Jesus is not coming as a “thief in the night” for those who know Him and those who love Him.

There’s a similar passage in Hebrews 10:25: “Do not forsake our assembling together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” What day? The day of judgment mentioned in verse 27 — the day when the Lord will return. It is the day referred to in verse 31 where we are warned that it is a “terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Note again verse 25 where it says that we are to encourage one another “as we see the day drawing near.” That means we can tell something about the season in which we’re living. It means we don’t have to be totally ignorant about the timing of the Lord’s return.

Looking Forward to the Blessed Hope

The point again is that, no, we cannot know the date; but if we exercise the spiritual discernment God’s Word tells Christians we should have, then, yes, we can know the season.

My friends, Jesus is coming soon, which is why every day I cry from the depths of my heart, “Maranatha!” Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

18 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • You can know very closely as to His return.

    [Mat 24:34 NKJV] 34 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

    You can know which generation this verse points to.

  • There is a Biblical model of the earth’s history and future that suggest Yeshua’s return in on the horizon.
    There were four thousand years from creation to crucifixion, reflecting the four days the Passover lamb was kept before being crucified. A thousand years being as one day. Psalm 90:4. God tends to be neat and tidy.
    The final thousand years before the new heavens and new earth will be the millennium, reflecting the one thousand cubic cubits in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle of Moses.
    In between would be two thousand years, reflecting the two thousand cubic cubits in the Holy place before the Holy of Holies in Moses’ Tabernacle.
    That makes a total of seven thousand years, or the seven one thousand years prophetic days of the creation week.
    Yeshua returns to earth at the six thousand years mark.
    Subtract your version of the rapture from the six thousand year point to get the rapture year.
    As there is no certainty about the crucifixion year this model cannot predict the exact year of the rapture or of the return of Yeshua.
    Yeshua did say “…the law prophesied…” Matthew 11:13
    A possible indicator that would narrow the range of crucifixion years is the year King David died. It looks like it was exactly 1000 years before the crucifixion. There are a number of parallel events in their lives.

  • Thank you, Dr. Reagan, for your many years of faithful service to our King and for your guidance and encouragement to Believers to stay strong and be faithful lights, as the darkness gets even darker.

  • According to the Dead Sea Scroll calendar, we are in the 12th Onah 119th Jubilee. In two years, 2025 will be the start of the 120th Jubilee.

    Onah just means period. It is a 500-year period & there’s 4 of them making up one age of 2,000 years. There are four ages, three 2,000-year ages and one 1,000-year age as we know it is the Millenia Kingdom.

    Jesus went to the cross on the 8th Onah & seven years into the 80th Jubilee, which is 32AD. (Give or take a year) So in 2032 should be 2,000 years since Christ death burial & resurrection.

    Don’t know the date but some time once we get into the 120th Jubilee in two years (2025-2075) we will see Ezekiel 38 & Psalms 83 war the rapture-tribulation and the return of Jesus in this 50-year period and the King Jesus will have His Kingdom set up and running by 2075. Which is 6,000 AM, we are now in 5948 AM.

    Amen Glory to Yesua!!

    The DSS calendar is round like a clock, the last two Onahs on it is the Kingdom age which ends & brings us into eternity, the 8th day. We’re at the end of the 6th day now, 6,000 years from creation. (52 yrs from it)

    https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Store/Circle+Dead+Sea+Scroll+Calendar+2023AD+5948AM-7795961185

  • Thank you brother David. You have helped me understand and stay focused on the scriptures perspective of life on earth. You have helped tremendously over the years. May our wonderful Father bless you abundantly for your dedication to Him and to His children.

  • Hey guys, you can remove the link I didn’t realize it showed where someone can purchase this calendar, I’m not trying to promote anyone’s product.

    The AM means Monday but couldnt remember what the A stood for so I googled AM & found the same calendar but with more details. I have a more stripped-down version, this one I like, by the same guy, Dr. Ken Johnson.

    Or keep the link up but I’m not trying to promote anything. You can obviously remove this comment, it’s just a note to you.

  • I’ve been listening to prophecy folks saying Jesus is coming soon for the past 50 years now. How soon is soon? Just live your life as godly Christian’s have for the past 2000 years and stop watching for signs.

    • Jesus commanded His children to watch for the signs He gave that point to His return (Mat. 24:42-44).

      Many folks who believe in the Rapture begin to doubt the teaching when it seems to never come. Why, believers since the Apostle’s time have been waiting for it to occur. Some have even given up on Jesus’ Second Coming because it has been 2,000 years in waiting. They feel abandoned and question Jesus’ promise to return.

      But, God always fulfills His promises, especially those promises which say the Church isn’t destined to endure God’s judgment on the world (1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:4; Rev. 3:10). The Bible also gives us a lot of clues that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation (Isa. 26:19-21; Mal. 3:17; Lk. 21:36; Jn. 14:1-14; I Cor. 15:51-58).

      “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 1 Pet. 3:9

      We know the Rapture will be years rather than centuries in coming because Israel is a nation once again, something Jesus said the generation that witnessed its rebirth would be the one that would experience Jesus’ return.

      God has also given us signs to identify the end times, and most if not all of them are happening today. For a list of 50 of those signs, check out http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_signs11.php.

      Remember what Jesus commends in Revelation 3:10, those who “endure patiently.” The Rapture will come.

  • I just watched Tim Moore, Nathan jones with Mondo Gonzales, comments were shut off. I had a question about what I saw in the sky 2 weeks ago.

    (You can delete this, this my way to make comment from that show)

    At first, I thought I was looking at a low flying satellite then it stopped & it just looked like a star. It stayed still then turned sharp to the right, got bigger then at times it turned bright then very dim. It ended up sort of over my house somewhat, a few hundred feet up. At one point I could hear propellers faintly, must have been a drone but a very expensive one.

    At one time I did see something that could be described as a so called “UFO” (The deception) it acted similar except it moved in lightning speed back & forth and was red. At first it moved like a satellite (then the light was white) it stopped, flashed backwards then forward (In red), did this a few times then moved like a satellite again across the sky turning back to a white light. It was instantaneous when it went back & forth.

    I know Mondo studies the skies with his special equipment, can you copy past this and send it to him? With my email address.

  • As Tim Moore said in one of his commentaries, Spiritual Signs are abounding and multiplying. We have an epidemic of deception, and Satan Worship. Most of us see a world of lawlessness. Matthew 24:12 says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of most will grow cold.” A lot of people will glory in their shame. Isaiah 5:20 Good will be called evil and evil will be called good on a massive unprecedented scale. Moreover, the laws designed to create a harmonious society, are being outright ignored and instead our streets are marked by violence, rioting, and homelessness. We have an anarchistic society. All these events represent a collective rejection of Jesus on this planet. When Jesus said, lawlessness will abound, He was describing more than an absence of laws or law enforcement. He was also describing how things will be exponentially worse than anything we’ve witnessed before, in the last days.

  • When you speak of His return, are you referring to the second coming or the rapture? The Matthew verse surely refers to the second coming but which scriptures refer to the rapture?

    • Because Jesus’ talk in Matthew 24 of the Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation precedes his discussion of the Rapture, confusion has occurred with many who do not see a differentiation in the timing and so attribute incorrectly the taking of the people as a Post-Tribulational event. There will be a gathering of people for judgment, called the Sheep-Goat Judgment, at the end of the Tribulation, and Jesus addresses that in Matthew 25 and Luke 17.

      The “taking away” Luke 17 describes and then the judgment of those who survive the Tribulation and the cleansing of the Earth from the Tribulation judgments can be found in the Parable of the Weeds found in Matthew 13:36-43, 49-50 and again in Matthew 25 concerning the Sheep/Goat Judgment that will occur during the 75-day interlude between the Second Coming at the very end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom (Dan. 12:11-12).

      The survivors of the Tribulation are gathered by the angels and judged before Christ, with those who have accepted Jesus (the sheep) living on into the Millennial Kingdom and those who have rejected Christ (the goats) are sent to punishment in Hades awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium and the Lake of Fire/Hell.

      For further information on resurrections and judgments, check out http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_eternity4.php.

      Matthew also teaches the imminent return of Jesus, in that the Lord may appear any moment and, therefore, we are to always be ready for the Lord’s return (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44, 50; 25:13). Analyzing this apparent contradiction, check out http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles_issues5.php questions 1 and 5 under Frequently Asked Questions.

      • Nathan, We can see how the New World Order will explain the disappearance of millions of Christians using the Aliens from outer space theory. They are prepping the population for this huge event, (called the Rapture) in the news every day.

  • The Lamplighter magazine is so valuable to me because it really describes what we are experiencing as predicted by our Savior Christ, and the pictures stay in our minds. Who could not see these spiritual signs, they are coming at us at great intensity, and also at Israel. We are living in the days of Noah and Lot. II Timothy 3 describes the darkness, delusion, and lawlessness we are experiencing. Thankful for the unity of true believers who can discuss the times with all rationality.

  • Dear Dr. Reagan,

    Excellent reminder and valuable scripture references to under-gird it and what a wonderful hope we have to help us endure as the days grow so much darker awaiting the coming Kingdom.

    One of the most encouraging doctrinal stances you have taken that displays the mercy, justice, and character of our God which I have held for some 25 years myself, is conditionalism. I have in those many years encountered only one other couple that held to it besides myself and while I have found tolerance from the theologically conservative, evangelical pastors I have shared it with none of them (out of 6) were even aware of the position and effectively dismissed it and showed disinterest. I have been more successful in sharing it with other believers who are quite surprised to find another orthodox view on the doctrine of hell.

    Thank you for taking that stand and honestly I don’t know of any other well-known conservative, evangelical pastors or ministry leaders that hold to it. I don’t know if Dr. Nathan Jones or Tim Moore do. There are many within the Presbyterian denomination that do apparently but I cannot endorse or participate in their amillennialism or Calvinism and therefore wouldn’t find any meaningful fellowship there.

    You are unique. May God bless you.

    Grace & Peace,

    Adam

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