Signs of the advent.
The coming of Christ in his kingdom being the great event of prophecy to be fulfilled, the time and signs of that coming became questions of intense interest to the disciples. The time is generally indicated by the signs. These are—
I. APOSTASY THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF FALSE CHRISTS.
1. Many antichrists appeared before the destruction of Jerusalem.
2. Many have since been deceived by the popes.
3. Many have been deceived in the Mohammedan delusion.
II. EXCITEMENTS OF MILITARY COMMOTION.
1. These existed before the destruction of Jerusalem.
2. They are to precede the millennial reign.
III. FEARFUL PUBLIC CALAMITIES.
1. Famines.
2. Pestilences. These are the usual attendants of famines.
3. Earthquakes.
IV. THE WIDE PUBLICATION OF THE GOSPEL.
1. The publication was at first limited to the Jews.
2. When the Jews rejected it, then the apostles turned to the Gentiles.