Three Big Signs Of The End Times Pastor Rich Laskowski
This is the first message in a series of three that will discuss the events of the last days as prophesied in the Bible. The next message is entitled, Islam, The Anti-Christ, and the End Of Days and the last message will be brought by Jon Graf and will focus on praying in the last days as we see prophesy come to pass. The message you are about to listen to zeros in on three things that the Bible says must take place before the church will see the gathering together with Jesus as described in the 4th chapter of 1 Thessalonians. The Thessalonians Christians were infiltrated by false teacher who said that the rapture that Paul described in first letter had already happened. Paul write them again to assure them that it had not happened yet. He says that it won't happen until three specify things come to pass. These three things will help us to know the season in which Jesus will return.
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THREE BIG SIGNS OF THE END TIMES STUDY NOTES
New series: Living in the Last Days
#1:Three Big Signs of the End Times
#2:Islam, the Anti-Christ, and the End of Days
#3. Praying in the Last Days (Jon Graf)
The disciples listened to Jesus talk of what the future held.
And asked a common question: WHEN?
Mt 24:1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, 'and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Jesus said no one knows the day and hour (mat24:36)
But we as children of God can see the signs of the times - The Season
1Th 5:1 ¶ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
We have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to show us when the times are getting close.
I. SOME SIGNS ARE GENERAL
A. They can be explained or rationalized
1. Wars and rumors of wars
2. Earth quakes, famines, sickness
3. Rise of evil
B. Others are more specific
1. Israel becoming a nation again
"Thus says the Lord God: ' Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land." (Ezekiel 37:21)
- Not a return from Babylon 500 years before Jesus, but nations (AD 70)
In the year 70 A.D., the Roman army destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Israelites had to leave their homeland and make homes in other countries. This lasted for almost 2,000 years.
In 1948, Israel was once again declared to be the home of the Jews.
This was prophesied by Jesus
Mt 24:32 ¶ "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Many Bible scholars and prophecy teachers believe that the fig represents Israel.
This was a miracle – and necessary because so much Bible prophecy depends upon Israel being a nation in the last days.
II. BUT SOME SIGNS ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY TELL US THAT THE FINAL EVENTS HAVE BEGUN (Like a smoke alarm)
THREE BIG SIGN TO THE END TIMES
2Th 2:1 ¶ Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 ¶ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
1. Apostasy – Falling away of the church
2. Anti-Christ is revealed (we will see this)
3. Temple is rebuilt through confirming covenant
These are things that when we see them happen we know that the fuse has been lit.
The count down has begun
#1. THE GREAT APOSTACY/ FALLING AWAY
2Ti 3:1 ¶ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
- Looking godly, right terminology - no power to live right
- This is talking about apostate Christians (v. 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.)
Mt 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
- Spoken specifically to the Jews, but also to us as grafted in Jews and children of Abraham.
- There is something about trouble that causes a person to show their true colors.
- Coming persecution will cause many to fall away from authentic Christianity.
Will result in:
A cross on the building does not make them Christian
- Some mainline denominations embrace teachings of the occult now
- Oprah says she is a Christian and follows New Age occult teachings. The media embraces here and her teachings influencing millions.
FALLING AWAY CAN BE: REDEFINING WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS/ Minimize the Bible
- Bible believing Christians will be thought of as crazy, unstable, and criminals
-Persecution will rise - many will fall
- As it gets less politically correct to be a real Bible believing Christian MORE WILL TURN/ APOSTASY will increase
As we see this come to pass, Jesus is near
#2. A PEACE TREATY AND THE REBUILDING OF THE JEWISH TEMPLE
a. PEACE TREATY/ confirm covenant
- Israel is in conflict with almost everyone in the middle east.
- Challenged for the control of the temple mount - Challenged for their right to exist.
- But a treaty or covenant will be reconfirmed
- And peace will come for a short time
Da 9:26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (NKJV)
- He is the Anti-Christ
- One week is 7 years
- Ending the sacrifice and offering has to mean that the temple has been rebuilt.
Comparing New Testament confirms these things
2 Thess 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 ¶ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Re 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
#3. REVEALING OF THE ANTI-CHRIST
Satan's desire has always been to be worshiped.
31/2 years into the treaty
- Animal sacrifice has been resumed as it was in the Old Testament times
- Anti-Christ will stop the sacrifices
- Set in the temple proclaiming himself to be God/ Messiah.
Da 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
(NIV)
Dual nature of Biblical prophecy
Refers to Antiochus Epiphany in 170 BC, but a greater and more complete fulfillment in the Anti-Christ in the last days
Comparing the Anti-Christ and Antiochus:
This was the abomination that makes desolate in this first fulfillment
The abomination that makes desolate in the last days is when the Anti-Christ stops the sacrifice and sets in the temple claiming to be God. (GREATER FULLFILLMENT)
2Th 2:3 ¶ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
MAIN POINTS:
1. A great falling away coming - we will see it (2 Thes 2:1-4)
2. The Jewish temple will be rebuilt - we will see it. (2 Thes 2:1-4)
3. Anti-Christ will be revealed when he stops the daily sacrifice in the rebuilt temple
WE WILL SEE IT (2 Thes 2:1-4)
These signs are how we know not the day and hour - but the season:
OUR RESPONSE?
1. Make sure you are walking with Jesus
- Protection from deception
2. Watch - alert- sober -Pray for family friends, world
3. Witness:
- Invite to church
- Talk to people about Jesus
- Give then a CD