Portents of the Day of the Lord

by T. Austin-Sparks

First published in "A Witness and A Testimony" magazine, Nov-Dec 1967, Vol 45-6.

While students of prophecy are occupied with historical signs of the approaching advent of Christ, there are three spiritual portents that should be carefully taken note of.

1. A phenomenal world-encirclement of the Gospel.
Never before has there been such a sovereign movement of God to see that "every nation" has had the Sound of salvation in Jesus Christ registered in it "for a testimony". By persons, radio, and literature this outreach and "Sound" is a mark of our time which just cannot be mistaken for its range. It may only be the essential fact of salvation in and by Jesus Christ, but again "their voice is gone into all the earth".

Jesus said that it would be so of necessity, "and then shall the end come".

2. The filling up of the cup of iniquity.
It is a question whether, in so short a time, there has ever been such a landslide of iniquity. Iniquity is now legalized in those countries which have the greatest history and tradition of the evangelical faith. Israel's release from Egypt synchronized with the "iniquity of the Amorite" being full. May it not be so for the Church?

3. A deep and largely hidden spiritual movement on the part of a "Remnant" for something more real in the knowledge of Christ.

Disillusionment and spiritual hunger are making many seek food and reality with the result that - as Billy Graham has said - many circles of hungry Christians are seeking spiritual fullness outside of organized Christianity.

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