“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:3. ST1853 3.1
Our Lord asked the Pharisees and Sadducees this question, at a time when they came to him tempting him for a sign from heaven. It was a reproof to them for their unbelief in the signs mentioned by the Old Testament writers, which they professed to believe, and which were actually fulfilling before their eyes, yet disregarded by them. They could tell the weather for the morrow, but had no skill in those prophecies that pointed to that time. “When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning it will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times.” ST1853 3.2
We will here name some of the signs which the Jews had as evidence of Jesus being the true Messiah. ST1853 3.3