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Aug 16, 2020

Is This The End?

Is This The End?

Speaker: Dennis Gallaher

Category: Sunday Morning

There is a swarm of Biblical activity that is rattling. Will the people of God pay attention?

An earthquake swarm happening recently potentially predicts a greater disaster. It reminds us of a bigger event that many are thinking about today. There is a swarm of spiritual seismic eruptions happening, like hearts growing cold, the collapse of civil order, the restoration of Israel, the flood of immorality, the threat of global government without God, the collapse of economics, the rise in persecution, and so much more. It makes us ask the question…Is Jesus coming soon? Take a look at this snapshot of Jesus’ return.

Point 1: Jesus is coming back. Acts 1:11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Point 2: God’s covenant promises stand strong. Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” …Five times God says, “I will.” In 1948, Israel was made a nation. In 1967, Jerusalem was taken as the capital. In 2018, The United States plants its embassy in Jerusalem. This past week, a historic agreement was made between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The end times are rooted in the history of Israel.

Point 3: The Gospel is preached worldwide. The spread of Christianity in the past two decades is miraculous but there is still more to do. As persecution increases so does the planting of the church and the salvation of souls.                                         

Point 4: Increase of scoffing. 2 Peter 3:3-4 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”…The persecution of the church has begun.

Point 5: Dismay among the nations. Luke 21:25-28 There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. …There is growing fear and dismay today.

Point 6: Moral decay of the world. Luke 17:26-27 And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. …These two stories are speaking of the moral decay of the world that we see today - godlessness, self-worship, chronic narcissism. 

Point 7: Talk about peace. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. …We have lost hope in the Lord’s return but when we see the birth pains, it’s time to take note that the Lord is coming back. But most are more concerned with everyday activities.

There is a swarm of Biblical activity that is rattling. Will the people of God pay attention? These are the signs of the times… a swarm of indicators that something big could happen any day now. What is to be our response? Where should we get our information? From news media or the Word? These are last day events that are happening now.

This message is a snapshot – look for so much more in His Word. The Bible has a clear posture given to the church. 

Be alert. Matthew 24:42-44 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Heed the promise of a day of reckoning to come. Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Focus on our commission. Jesus is coming back! Be about the work of the Kingdom. The church is to be focused on our commissioning. Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when He comes.

Pay attention to the times and our response. Matthew 24:12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. Have you noticed the cooling of God’s people? Lawlessness is everything from anarchy to any law that is devoid of God’s Word; it’s any system or law that turns away from God and His divine order; it’s any system of legality that turns its back on the knowledge and worship of God. Why? Because God has a set order. Let’s return to first trusting and believing God’s Word.

Encourage one another. Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near… It all connects back to the coming of Jesus.

Live by faith. Hebrews 10:36-38 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has not pleasure in him.

Share the good news. 2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Be patient. Revelation 6:10-11 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. There is a day coming when all of this will be in the past. Yes, the Lord is returning but no one knows the day. Are you ready to meet the Lord? Are you a friend of Jesus or just an acquaintance? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Rejoice in that gift!

What ways do you see and recognize these “spiritual swarms” today?
Have you experienced persecution as a Christian?
How does this snapshot of Jesus coming back scare you? Encourage you?
Does this snapshot of the Lord’s coming back reveal an urgency to share the gospel with someone?