APATHY, APOSTASY AND DECEPTION IN THE LAST DAYS
BIBLICAL SIGNS AND OUR TIMES • Sermon • Submitted
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· 50 viewsAmong the hallmarks of the days preceeding Jesus' return will be a comfortable complacency and powerful deceptions.
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WHY STUDY END TIME PROPHECIES?
WHY STUDY END TIME PROPHECIES?
Excuses not to study eschatology:
Its confusing and difficult to understand
Its confusing and difficult to understand
It can be divisive
It can be frightening
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Jesus said no one would know the day or hour of His return,
But, what else did Jesus say? ,
For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matt. 24:37
Mt. 24:
For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Mt. 24:37-44
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
Jesus’ admonitions:
Stay awake!
Pay attention to the signs of the times
Roughly 1/4 of the Bible is prophecy, most of it regarding end times. Why would God give that much attention to this topic if it wasn’t important? If, therefore God deems it that important, why would we choose to ignore it?
The purpose of prophecy is not to scare us but to prepare us.
SOME GENERAL PROPHECIES ABOUT END TIMES
SOME GENERAL PROPHECIES ABOUT END TIMES
AN AGE OF POWERFUL DECEPTIONS
AN AGE OF POWERFUL DECEPTIONS
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
What are some things Jesus said would characterize society at the time of the end?
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS
INRI
Near Brasília, Brazil, followers of INRI (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) push their messiah around on a rolling pedestal. A dozen disciples—most of them women—live full-time with the celibate 69-year-old in his walled compound, which is protected with barbed wire and electrical fencing. INRI takes his name from the initials that Pontius Pilate inscribed on Christ’s cross. His awakening came in 1979.
VISSARION
In an off-the-grid Russian village called Obitel Rassveta (“abode of dawn”), Vissarion sits in the living room of a disciple. Born Sergei Torop, he had a revelation around the time the Soviet Union collapsed that he was Jesus Christ reborn. Founder of the Church of the Last Testament, he now has at least 5,000 followers; many of them live with him in several utopian eco-villages in the Siberian woods. They’ve built their own schools, churches, and society. Vissarion’s proclamations have been published in 16 tomes titled The Last Testament.
MOSES HLONGWANEalso known as The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jesus
In Eshowe, South Africa, Moses Hlongwane preaches to his flock during his own wedding ceremony—an event he says marks the beginning of the End of Days. Moses says that God identified him as the Messiah during a dream in 1992. At the time Moses was working as a jewelry salesman. Since then, he’s preached in Eshowe, Johannesburg, and other cities in the region. Moses has about 40 disciples.
JESUS OF KITWE
also known as Parent Rock of the World, Mr. Faithful, Mr. Word of God
Bupete Chibwe Chishimba sits on a sofa in his home in Kitwe, Zambia. This messiah goes by several names, but his disciples refer to him simply as Jesus. He spends his days driving a cab, spreading the gospel, and preparing the world for the Kingdom of God.
JESUS MATAYOSHI, JAPAN
also known as The Only God. In Tokyo, Jesus Matayoshi sermonizes during his most recent campaign for a seat in the Japanese parliament. His scripture is titled How the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the One True God, Jesus Matayoshi Will Change Japan and the World.
Story and photos by Jonas Bendiksen (Aug. 2017 National Geographic)
Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012), believed by members of the Unification Church to be the Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ, fulfilling Jesus' unfinished mission. Church members ("Unificationists") consider Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, to be the True Parents of humankind as the restored Adam and Eve.
Other imposters include Jim Jones (Peoples Temple), David Koresh (Branch Davidian) and many, many others. According to one source, there have been over 1100 false messiahs in just the past 50 years.
MANY WILL BE DECEIVED
MANY WILL BE DECEIVED
Some Biblical truths under attack from within the church:
Sanctity of marriage between a man and woman
Authority and credibility of Scripture
Sanctity of life
Virgin birth (Divinity of Christ)
Literal Resurrection
Literal Hell
Jesus is the only way to the Father
SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY
THEY WILL LEAD MANY ASTRAY
MANY WILL FALL AWAY AND BETRAY ONE ANOTHER AND HATE ONE ANOTHER
MANY FALSE PROPHETS WILL ARISE AND LEAD MANY ASTRAY
LAWLESSNESS WILL INCREASE, THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS WILL PERFORM SIGNS AND WONDERS SO AS TO LEAD EVEN THE ELECT ASTRAY IF POSSIBLE
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MORAL STATE OF TODAY’S SOCIETY?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MORAL STATE OF TODAY’S SOCIETY?
Corrupt, selfish, deeply divided, immoral, ungrateful, lovers of pleasure, lacking self-control
BIBLICAL DESCRIPTION OF MORAL CLIMATE IN THE LAST DAYS
BIBLICAL DESCRIPTION OF MORAL CLIMATE IN THE LAST DAYS
AN AGE OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS
AN AGE OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
What are some of the moral conditions of the last days that are listed?
Selfishness, greed, arrogant and conceited, abusiveness, disobedience to parents, ungrateful, unholy,heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, no self-control, brutal, treacherous, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of good or of God, having a phony appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
AN AGE OF APATHY
AN AGE OF APATHY
AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
What conditions in Noah’s time will be repeated just before Jesus returns?
What was the difference between the soil that produced a crop and that which didn’t?
“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
May we not be like the Church at Ephesus who was busy doing many good things, but had lost it’s fervor, it’s first love. Or, even worse, the Church at Laodicea who thought they had it all, but were actually lukewarm, complacent, apathetic and about to be spewed out.
May we not be like the Church at Ephesus who was busy doing many good things, but had lost it’s fervor, it’s first love. Or, even worse, the Church at Laodicea who thought they had it all, but were actually lukewarm, complacent, apathetic and about to be spewed out.
PERSECUTION OF BELIEVERS
PERSECUTION OF BELIEVERS
POWERFUL DECEPTION
Mt. 24:4-
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
What are some things Jesus said would characterize society at the time of the end?
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS
INRI
Near Brasília, Brazil, followers of INRI (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) push their messiah around on a rolling pedestal. A dozen disciples—most of them women—live full-time with the celibate 69-year-old in his walled compound, which is protected with barbed wire and electrical fencing. INRI takes his name from the initials that Pontius Pilate inscribed on Christ’s cross. His awakening came in 1979.
VISSARION
Near Brasília, Brazil, followers of INRI (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) push their messiah around on a rolling pedestal. A dozen disciples—most of them women—live full-time with the celibate 69-year-old in his walled compound, which is protected with barbed wire and electrical fencing. INRI takes his name from the initials that Pontius Pilate inscribed on Christ’s cross. His awakening came in 1979.
also known as The Christ of Siberia
In an off-the-grid Russian village called Obitel Rassveta (“abode of dawn”), Vissarion sits in the living room of a disciple. Born Sergei Torop, he had a revelation around the time the Soviet Union collapsed that he was Jesus Christ reborn. Founder of the Church of the Last Testament, he now has at least 5,000 followers; many of them live with him in several utopian eco-villages in the Siberian woods. They’ve built their own schools, churches, and society. Vissarion’s proclamations have been published in 16 tomes titled The Last Testament.
MOSES HLONGWANEalso known as The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, Jesus
In Eshowe, South Africa, Moses Hlongwane preaches to his flock during his own wedding ceremony—an event he says marks the beginning of the End of Days. Moses says that God identified him as the Messiah during a dream in 1992. At the time Moses was working as a jewelry salesman. Since then, he’s preached in Eshowe, Johannesburg, and other cities in the region. Moses has about 40 disciples.
JESUS OF KITWE
also known as Parent Rock of the World, Mr. Faithful, Mr. Word of God
Bupete Chibwe Chishimba sits on a sofa in his home in Kitwe, Zambia. This messiah goes by several names, but his disciples refer to him simply as Jesus. He spends his days driving a cab, spreading the gospel, and preparing the world for the Kingdom of God.
JESUS MATAYOSHI, JAPAN
also known as The Only God. In Tokyo, Jesus Matayoshi sermonizes during his most recent campaign for a seat in the Japanese parliament. His scripture is titled How the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the One True God, Jesus Matayoshi Will Change Japan and the World.
Story and photos by Jonas Bendiksen (Aug. 2017 National Geographic)
Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012), believed by members of the Unification Church to be the Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ, fulfilling Jesus' unfinished mission. Church members ("Unificationists") consider Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, to be the True Parents of humankind as the restored Adam and Eve.
Other imposters include Jim Jones (Peoples Temple), David Koresh (Branch Davidian) and many, many others. According to one source, there have been over 1100 false messiahs in just the past 50 years.
MANY WILL BE DECEIVED
MANY WILL BE DECEIVED
Some Biblical truths under attack from within the church:
Sanctity of marriage between a man and woman
Authority and credibility of Scripture
Sanctity of life
Virgin birth (Divinity of Christ)
Literal Resurrection
Literal Hell
Jesus is the only way to the Father
SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY
SEE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY
THEY WILL LEAD MANY ASTRAY
THEY WILL LEAD MANY ASTRAY
MANY WILL FALL AWAY AND BETRAY ONE ANOTHER AND HATE ONE ANOTHER
MANY WILL FALL AWAY AND BETRAY ONE ANOTHER AND HATE ONE ANOTHER
MANY FALSE PROPHETS WILL ARISE AND LEAD MANY ASTRAY
MANY FALSE PROPHETS WILL ARISE AND LEAD MANY ASTRAY
LAWLESSNESS WILL INCREASE, THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD
LAWLESSNESS WILL INCREASE, THE LOVE OF MANY WILL GROW COLD
FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS WILL PERFORM SIGNS AND WONDERS SO AS TO LEAD EVEN THE ELECT ASTRAY IF POSSIBLE
PERSECUTION OF BELIEVERS
PERSECUTION OF BELIEVERS
But the gospel is being preached throughout the earth.
But the gospel is being preached throughout the earth.
Mt. 24:
AN AGE OF PEACE
AN AGE OF PEACE
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
AN AGE OF INCREASED TRAVEL AND KNOWLEDGE
What conditions in Noah’s time will be repeated just before Jesus returns?
People were oblivious to the impending disaster.
A TIME OF INCREASED TRAVEL AND KNOWLEDGE
A TIME OF INCREASED TRAVEL AND KNOWLEDGE
4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
Dan
What are some ways increased travel and technology might impact the fulfillment of prophecies?
Rapid dissemination of information can also include dis-information. Global government would not be possible without global communication and travel.
Rapid dissemination of information can also include dis-information;
The world watches the two witnesses being killed.
Global government would not be possible without global communication and travel.
AN AGE OF PEACE
AN AGE OF PEACE
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
1 Thess 5:1-3
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thess 5:
Why will so many people be caught unaware and off-guard by the day of the Lord?
It will occur suddenly during a time of apparent peace and security.
THEREFORE, ANY MESSAGE OF WARNING IS MOCKED
THEREFORE, ANY MESSAGE OF WARNING IS MOCKED
1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
People were oblivious to the impending disaster.
2 Pet. 3:
What does Peter say we should remember?
The predictions of the prophets and command of Jesus through the apostles.
What will be the response of many in the last days?
They will scoff at the idea of Christ’s return.
Why do they scoff?
Why has God postponed His coming?
In His mercy, He is giving everyone the opportunity to come to repentance. God does not want anyone to perish.
How will the Day of the Lord come when it does come?
Suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
How should we live in the meantime?
With holiness and godliness, waiting expectantly and hastening His coming.
OUR RESPONSE
OUR RESPONSE
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Tim.
What are some of the moral conditions of the last days that are listed?
Selfishness, greed, arrogant and conceited, abusiveness, disobedience to parents, ungrateful, unholy,heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, no self-control, brutal, treacherous, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of good or of God, having a phony appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
OUR RESPONSE
OUR RESPONSE
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
MATT
In view of all of the warnings we are given, what does Jesus tell us we must do?
Stay awake and ready.
What are some ways we can stay awake?
Be watching for the Bridegroom. Be faithful servants. Be compassionate to the “least of these, my brothers”.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1Thess 5:4-11
Although the world will be taken by surprise, what encouragement does Paul offer the believer?
We are children of light and need not be taken by surprise.
Therefore, what are we commanded to do?
Be sober; put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation
Will believers experience God’s wrath?
No! We are destined for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!
How can we help other believers face tumultuous times?
H
Encourage and build one another up.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2
What will happen to all of the “stuff” that we worked so hard to accumulate?
It will all be destroyed.
Therefore, what should our focus be?
Live lives of holiness and godliness as we wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God.
What is the promise we are waiting for?
New heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
GOD ASSURES US OF VICTORY
GOD ASSURES US OF VICTORY
GOD ASSURES US OF VICTORY
GOD ASSURES US OF VICTORY
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Heb. 10:24-25