Are you Concerned about the
future?
Part 3 Matthew 24
Intro:
There are 2 events that are mentioned in Bible Prophecy that could be the next
event on the Prophetic Calendar
A)One is the Rapture of the Church ( Explain )
B) The other is a Battle the Ezk the Prophet prophesied would occur in the last days Ezk 38
C) There are 2 great Battles described in the End times ( One is
the battle of Armageddon Rev 16
1)
Which takes place
after the 2nd coming of Christ
D) The Battle of
Armageddon takes when the Anti-Christ rallies all his followers from all over
the world to fight against God & they are wiped out
1)
That will be the last battle in the History of the world
But
the other battle talked about in the end times is the Battle discussed in Ezk.
38
A)It describes a time when some of the Arab nations surrounding Israel join forces & link up w/ Russia to invade Israel
B) And Although Israel
is severely out manned & out gunned / God
is going to give them a remarkable victory
1)
Why will these Islamic
nations want to invade Israel Hatred !!!
C) There is a long
standing Hatred that the Arab nations have for the people of Israel
1)
It dates back to the
days of Abraham & his sons Isaac & Jacob
D) Gods Promise to Abe
a Son / a Nation / a Land / Abe tries to
help God out Hagar & Ishmael Father of the Arab nations
2)
Finally Isaac the
Promised Child is born & there have been problems ever since
The
Hatred that many of the Arabs have for Israel has its roots in Islam
A) Mohammed The last hr
will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews & the Muslims Kill them
Koran:Surah 5 Take not the Jews & Christians as friends Slay the
Idolators ( the non Muslims
B) Not every Muslim feels this way but most of those in the Middle East do Hate Israel & the Jews with a passion
1) Syrian Minister of Defense
The hatred for Israel that we indoctrinate into the minds our Children from
birth is Sacred
C) In Egypt 9th
grade textbook declared Israel shall not live
if the Arabs stand in their Hatred
1) 5th grade text book The Arabs do not cease to act toward the extermination of
Israel
D) No Arab maps even
show the existence of Israel
So
the Arab nations around Israel will attack because of their shear hatred of
Israel & their desire to take over that country / Jerusalem
A)But what about Russia ? Simple Oil Russia will get sucked in because of the need to boost their crumbled economy
B) We see the stage being set
already for this great battle Russia
has already been selling arms to nations like Iran & Iraq
1) As well as providing Nuclear Scientist to assist those nations in their desire to develop Nuclear weapons
C) And the Present Palestinian / Israeli conflict has only caused the Hatred of the Arabs against Israel to Heighten
Tonight
I want us to consider the growing Hostility toward Israel and how that plays
into the Prophetic picture
A)And then I want to conclude by giving some reasons why I believe the Bible clearly teaches the rapture will happen before the Tribulation.
B)First growing Hostility: v.9 "Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's
sake.
C) Now Jesus is talking here about
Persecution in general it is definitely on the rise against both Christians
& Jews
1)
Each year approx.
350,000 Christians are Martyred for their faith in places like Sudan / Africa
& China
D) But I think the real
focus of Jesus words is directed toward Israel they would be hated by all
nations
1)
Much of that hatred
would center around Israels Capital city of Jerusalem
Zech.12 2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of
trembling to all the surrounding
peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
3 "And it shall happen in that day that I will make
Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will
surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against
it.
Jer. 29:18 Jerusalem would be a reproach to all nations
Jerusalem
is one of the most talked about cities in the world
A)There is more verbiage printed about Jerusalem than all other cities combined in the UN Records
B)The UN security counsel devotes 1/3 of it deliberations to discuss the city of Jerusalem
1) Recent UN meeting one
world leader stood up & Protested cant we talk about something else
besides Jerusalem
September 2, 2001
DURBAN,
South Africa -- A human rights forum running parallel to the U.N. World
Conference on Racism ended spitefully with a
declaration that branded Israel a "racist
apartheid state" guilty of
"war crimes, acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing."
The declaration, adopted
by a majority of the 3,000 delegates from 44 regions to the World Conference's
Non-Governmental Organization forum
Recent Summit meeting of
Arab leaders -
Iran's
Khomeini "The only way to end the
crisis in the Middle East is to dry up its roots. What is at the roots of this
crisis? It is the Zionist regime that has been imposed on the region,"
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud warned the summit leaders
against failing to adopt a "strong and united stand" against Israel,
STATING
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"If Arab leaders do not rise
to the challenge, the Arab peoples will give up on us,"
Iraq's representative, the deputy to President Saddam
Hussein, called for a Muslim holy war.
"Iraq's position is to call
for the liberation of Palestine... through a jihad, (Holy War)
which is the only way,"
To date the UN Has condemned Israel 370 times for Defending
herself
The
Current conflict between Israel & the Palestinians began when Israeli Prime
Minister Sharon went up on temple Mt
A) Palestinians Protested
B) Camp David talks fell
apart because Arafat despite everything that Barak wanted to give him
wanted Jerusalem too
1)
We wont rest until Jerusalem
is the Capital of the Palestinian state
C) The Muslims
claim that it belongs to them although it is not mentioned once in the Koran
as being one of their holy cities
1) Yet Jerusalem is mentioned directly in the Bible 811 times /
D) If you count the references to Zion 152
times
1)
Other titles the Holy
City the City of God over 1000 times the word Jerusalem appears in the Bible
And
Yet the Muslim world continues to Press this point & it is quickly becoming
the most sensitive issue in the world today{ like the bible said
A)So there is this growing Animosity toward Israel in the world today that is going to increase in Intensity & in scope in the last days
B) Leading up to this time when those nations will join w/ Russia to attack Israel once & for all.
1) But What is preventing this from happening Now ? One thing The U.S.
C) So the U.S. needs to
somehow be taken out of the way before an attack can occur How will that
Happen 3 possible Scenarios
#1 The U.S. turns its back on Israel ceases to be her
supporter Possible but not likely while Bush is in Office
#2 The U.S. gets attack
by a Nuclear weapon Sept. 11 showed us we are Vulnerable Hatred against us
in growing
WASHINGTON/KABUL
(Reuters) - President Bush, planning the biggest U.S. military buildup since
the Cold War, issued his third warning in a week on Friday to "axis of
evil" countries he accuses of seeking nuclear, germ or chemical weapons.
Bush,
who condemned Iran, Iraq and North
Korea as the "axis of evil" in his State of the Union address on
Tuesday, "People say, 'What
are the consequences?' They will find out in due course if they can't get their
house in order. The mighty United States will do whatever it takes to defend
our security," "Make
no mistake about it, if you threaten us with weapons of mass destruction, if
you threaten our allies and friends with weapons of mass destruction, we will
do whatever it takes to protect our people," Bush said.
As a result He was
condemned in Iran as a bloodthirsty maniac and in North Korea Bush's comments
this week were little short of declaring war and accused his administration of
"political immaturity and moral leprosy." while Russia said
Washington should not try to turn its war on terrorism into a campaign against
individual nations.
Although the hatred against the US is
growing I think that the event of us being attacked is also highly unlikely
because we have the largest nuclear arsenals in the world & one of the most
powerful Military
A)Most people are smart enough to know that although they might cause us to be severely damaged they would be obliterated
B) Scenario #3 Rapture
cripples our country makes us a non factor
C) And if Ezk 38
happened soon after make since as the AntiChrist sets up One world Government
& religious system Remove Christians & Islam
Tonight I want to conclude by giving 7 reasons why I believe the Bible Clearly teaches the Rapture will happen before the Tribulation
Reason #1 Message in 1 Thess 4:18 - "Comfort
one another w/ these words"
A.)
We
noted that in 1 Thes. 4 Paul is talking about the Rapture when we are Caught up
to meet the Lord in the Air
B) He ends that thought w/ this Exhortation 18 Therefore comfort one another with these
words.
1) See Key
thing / This Teaching is to comfort us - not freak us out!
C) Now if
rapture is at the end or middle of Tribulation - that is not very comforting! Flee
and hide try to avoid Anti-Christ -
Martyred
1.) I would rather die now!
A)
In 1 Thes. 5 Paul
continues discussing this theme of the Rapture of the Church which He says
comes as a Thief / also the day of the Lord
B)
Day of the Lord Begins
at the Rapture & ends at the end of the 1000 yr. Reign of Christ
1)
So it includes the time
of Tribulation. When the Wrath of God is being Poured out
C) And
on that thought Paul offers these words of Encouragement
9 For
God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us,
that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.11
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you
also are doing.
D.) Now
why hasn't He appointed us to wrath?
1)
The
wrath we deserve was paid for at Calvary!
It was poured out on Jesus absorbed by Jesus!
Reason #3 Pre-Tribulation is Escapism youre
right!!!!!!!!!!
A.) Luke
21:34-36 - Talking about end times parallels Matt.24/ talking about the events
of the Tribulation
B.) And in
v.36 - Jesus says watch and pray that you will be counted
worthy to escape and stand before the Son of Man
C) Now if this wasn't an option Jesus would have said - watch and buy
weapons, gold, store food, get ready go through it!
1.) but He doesn't - He says - pray counted
worthy to escape!
A) Purpose of
that time is to shake up Israel - called time of Jacob's trouble - not the
churches trouble
B) In ROM 9-11 - God not through with Israel - time
coming
Jews
will be saved some now! All then
2)
Zech
where wounds? House of friends { JACOBS TROUBLE
Titus
2: 11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly
in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ,
A)
So
here in Titus we are instructed on how we are to be looking for the coming of
Jesus Christ
B) But those
who embrace the mid & Post Tribulation. view
points are
not looking for Jesus appearing / but
Antichrist
1)
Nowhere
in scripture are we -told to be looking for Antichrist!
Why? not going to be here
Reason #6 The
types in the O.T.
A) Luke 17
Like the Days of Noah : In the story of Noah we have a beautiful picture of what will take
place in last days
B) At the
time of Noah God was judging the earth w/ the flood. God's wrath is being poured out on wicked
mankind! Gen. 6
1)
A
world forsaken God Given over to Sexual Immorality /
Violence Selfishness Perversity just like our World
C) Now during the flood the Lord
protects Noah & his family in the
ark Now they are a type of the
nation of Israel
1) Who God is going to protect during the
time of the Tribulation.
D) Ok where is the church in this picture? Gen. Ch. 5 the church is
seen
in the person of Enoch / a contemporary of Noah
1) Enoch walked w/ God & was not .....took Him
! Rapture!
E) Enoch
is a type of the church taken out before judgment begins!
2nd Type look at found in Gen. 18,19 Story of Lot!
A) Again in Luke 17 Jesus said it would be like the
times of Lot
rampant
( Homosexuality ) We see that growing
as well
B) In the
Story God sends angels to destroy the
cities of Sodom &
Gomorrah for their wickedness!
1) There werent 10 people in that city who
worshipped God!
Abe said spare it
for 10 righteous /God said yes
C) 2 Pet.2:7 IT SAYS THAT the Lord delivered Righteous
Lot from the destruction .
1) Lot
& His daughters are a picture of the church that is
not
preserved through the judgment
D)
But
are taken out - removed before the
judgment can begin!
3rd illustration in the book of Daniel 3 / Shad/ Mesh/
Aben.
A) King Neb. makes a statue . demands to be
worshipped
much like the Antichrist will during
the Tribulation.
B) Shad.
...... Abendego refuse & are thrown
into the fiery furnace
Neb. Didn't
we throw 3 men into .......... like the Son of God!
1) A
beautiful picture of What the Lord is going to do for
Israel
during the Tribulation time
C) Question
where is Daniel ? He is absent from this story most
likely
taken away on Business / Dan. is a type of the Church.
So we have the Diff. types in the Bible that also pt. to the
fact that the Rapture will take place before the
Tribulation.
A) God taking out Enoch , Lot , Dan. ( The
Church ) Before
the judgment begins
of
Judgment !
Reason #7 The
Jewish wedding Ceremony
AA)
Beautiful picture In Jewish culture marriages were most often
Arranged (
EXPLAIN)
A.) Kids
came of age where they could actually be married - one thing that
needed to take place first was home prepared
B.) So the
boy - bridegroom would begin to build a dwelling place for he
and his bride
1.) the wedding couldn't take place until it
was finished! Now Who determined when it was finished? - Father
C.) This
is so great in comparison to our situation
John
14 - Jesus says - going to heaven prepare
a place for you - my bride - (betrothed to the Lord)
D.) He said
- I will come
again and receive you to myself
1.) but also says - no man knows the day or the hour of that coming except - Father!
E.) But
Jesus said - we should know the times and seasons - understand when things are getting closer!
Now
the bridegroom would be working on the house and the bride would get reports
from friends relatives ( Times /
Seasons
A.) Walls
are up / roof is on / windows in / front door is up/ it could be any day now! -
finished
B.)
Over
the years it became the custom of the bridegroom to surprise his
bride in the middle of the night - early morning
C.) He and
his groomsmen come into town to her house making a lot of
noise! Awaken Bride and her
bridesmaids -needed to be ready
D.) Check this out!
Bridegroom and bride would then go
to this house he prepared - stay 7
days!
1.) family and friends - party - celebrate - at
the end of the 7 days - bride would be presented!
1.) betrothed
to Him
2.) Gone to
prepare a place
3.) No one
know day or hour except Father
4.) Bride
gets reports - we know times and seasons
5.) Bridegroom
comes - 7 year feast - presented at 2nd coming
