"Can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Matt. 16:3).

"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors" (Matt. 24:33).

Events seem sudden and astounding. The rapidity with which events develop, causing the world scene to alter, serves to arouse within us the hope and expectation that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to catch away the Church which is His body is very near.

The Bible indicates that the world is ripening for the judgment of God and that Satan is preparing the minds of men to accept the leadership which he will provide to head up a world-wide religious system. This is clearly outlined for us in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, where we see the beast set forth empowered by Satan to be the world-wide political dictator, and the false prophet equipped by Satan to deceive the whole world as the religious despot. How thankful we can be that before God's judgment begins to fall on a world ripe for destruction, the Lord Jesus comes in the air to receive unto Himself a glorious and completed Church. It is true that we cannot set any dates for the rapture of true believers from a worsening world scene, but as we see human conduct becoming more and more like that which prevailed in the days of Noah, when the earth was filled with violence, we can prepare our own affairs, confident that the Lord's appearing for us is not far off and may be today.

—John Moseley