Having a Right Focus on The End Times
Signs of the Times – Week #1
Having a Right Focus on The End Times
I Thessalonians 4:16-18; Matthew 24:32-36
- Closed handed issues- we have to fight for these
A few examples:
The Resurrection
The Sinless life of Jesus
The Authority of Scripture
Virgin Birth, Sinfulness of man, The Trinity, Deity of Jesus, Faith alone in Christ alone as the only way for salvation.
- Open handed issues- Not essential to our salvation
A few examples:
Drinking, Worship Style, Church Government, the day of Worship, how often should you take communion, etc.
- The study of The End times is called eschatology
Where Christians and the church Get it Wrong:
1. We won’t talk about the end times
- Approximately 30% of The Bible is prophecy
- Prophecy is given for two reasons:
a. To encourage the believer
b. To warn the unbeliever
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
- The term used for Jesus coming back is the word, Rapture
Three Views on the Rapture
a. Pre– Tribulation
b. Mid– Tribulation
c. Post– Tribulation
2. We set dates
“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. Matthew 24:32-36
3. We obsess over the “how,” the “what” and the “when,” and we miss the “who”
- The Book of Revelation is primarily about Jesus. The end times are secondary
From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. Revelation 4:5
Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:8
- The word Holy means without sin
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” Revelation 4:11
- God created what He pleased
Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:11-13