Sign of the Times: REF: What to look For:
Intro:
A. The Bible declares that Jesus is Coming Again.
1. In fact Jesus himself declared in Rev. 22:13:
– And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
2. The song writer composed: – coming again: May be morning may be noon, maybe evening, maybe soon. O what a wonderful day it will be -Jesus is coming again!
B. The Bible says we cannot know the time of the Lord’s return. Matt 25:13.
1. But the Scriptures make it equally clear that we can know the season of the Lord’s return 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6
2. This passage asserts that Jesus is coming like “a thief in the night.”
3. But then it proceeds to make it clear:
– That this will be true only for the pagan world and not for believers.
– His return should be no surprise to those who know Him and His Word.
C. Furthermore, the Scriptures give us signs to watch for.
1. Events and Changes that will signal that Jesus is ready to return.
2. The book of Hebrews referred in Heb 10:25 – 27
3. Jesus also referred to the end time signs in His Olivet Discourse.
– Matthew 24 / Luke 21 4. Jesus informs his disciples: when you see these signs my return is near.
D. If we were to study the scriptures and this subject you would find a variety of signs listed.
1. I want to speak about just a few of the signs given in scripture.
2. I have placed them in a category for this message.
I. Nature: Luke 21:8- 11
A. There have been wars and natural events dating way back.
1. We read about wars in the Bible.
2. We have lived through wars in our life time.
3. There have been natural calamities scattered all over history.
B. Why does this qualify as a sign of the end times or the coming of the Lord?
1. Matthew 24:8 Jesus speaks about these events increasing.
2. The word sorrow is the word travail.
3. Just like in birth the pain increases before delivery.
4. That is what is happing today. / Just watch the evening news.
II. Society: 2 Timothy 3:1-4
A. We can certainly identify with this text.
1. Notice there are three things mentioned that people will love in the end.
2. Self, Money, and Pleasure.
B. The love of self is Humanism:
1.The belief that Man can accomplish anything on his own.
2. We have disconnecting from God in our society.
3. We worship man and his achievements.
C. The love of money is Materialism.
1. When Humanism is your religion, your god will always be money.
2. Like never before money has ruled our society.
D. The love of pleasure is the third love that is mentioned.
1. This is Hedonism:
2. The lifestyle that is always produced by Humanism and Materialism.
E. But God cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7).
1. He therefore sees to it that when people chose Humanism, Materialism, and Hedonism, the payoff is always Emptism.
2. In the end there is despair.
3. We live in a society plagued by abortion, homosexuality, domestic violence, child molestation, blasphemy, pornography, alcoholism, drug abuse etc.
4. Like the days of the Judges in the O.T.
– people are doing what is right in their own eyes, and the result is that people are calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
III. Apostasy: 2 Timothy 4:3-4
A. This is the falling away of those who once believed.
1. We have some who have come on the scene and professed to be Jesus.
2. We have heresies and false teaching abounding even in mainline churches.
3. There is the casual, lukewarmness of the Church.
B. Notice the challenge in verse 5.
1. Be Watchful or informed.
– We must know what to look for.
– Mt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2. Be Resilient:
– Don’t bend in your belief system.
– Don’t compromise your beliefs.
– Eph. 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
3. Be Evangelistic:
– Be ready to share the Good news message.
– People are open, they need to hear to be saved.
Concl:
A. Jesus is coming again.
B. Acts 1:10-11 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
C. The signs are pointing to his soon return.
1. Next study is on How to prepare.
2. There are basically two ways to prepare:
– First accept Jesus as your savior.
– Second live today as if he is coming back tonight.
3. Mt 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.