Oct. 23, 2022 Sunday Worship Service

We've been. working with this series, and if you were here for, Bible class, you know that we discussed Crisis. Last tournament of the last sermon, we know of it. When we know his last teaching in the temple, left the temple and he went out on Onto.

The Mount of Olives.

The disciples had some questions for him questions about, you know, they work. Well, one thing they were amazed at the big stones at the Temple was built of.

They were still caught up in this idea that Christ was going to rule there. And so in the rest of it, Mark chapter 13. He's talking about this and he's talking about two events. but tend to get us confused, first thing, you said about the temple was that Not one, one stone will be left standing on another. which would absolutely five flabbergast the disciples because the stones they were looking at some of those were Basically 40 ft long 18 ft high and 12 ft thick. It takes an awful lot to move a stone like that, but Jesus told him not one would be left.

And they didn't understand because they're thinking this Earthly saviors going to come back and fix everything. Why is the temple going to be torn down then uses the rest of that chapter? And he's talking about Tuesday and both of them prophecies. The first prophecy is about the destruction of Jerusalem. Explains to them. How they is Christians. Can avoid the destruction.

And it tells them to look for certain signs. And when you see those signs in the sign being, The armies surrounding Jerusalem, ready to destroy it there to flee to the mountains. And as far as we know, there weren't any Christians killed, 70 years after this date, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. They did leave the temple with no stone unturned. Justice Christ. It said, but see the other time Christ was talking about was his second coming and so is your reading that chapter in Mark, it's very easy to get confused, it's exactly which enter that he's talking about it that time. So we're not really going into that today, but I wanted you to know that that that's just a little missing space between what they did then and what we're going to talk about now and why we're going to talk about.

That enough. What I do. It just a little bit different you know I didn't I didn't give you a sermon reading today. Because there are so many verses involved with this. But if you will,

Turn your song books to page 712?

This song, tells it all. About what we're going to talk about. So if you sing it with me, Troublesome times are here feeling man, talk. So we just hear Freedom, we all Hold You Down.

I'm in your heart to God, saved from the cheap seats away from. Jesus, is coming soon morning or night or Manny wheel me?

All of the Dead shall rise.

Show me called Edward.

When the signs come here and it will come very fast. Jesus, is coming soon morning or night or Manny wheel me.

All of the Dead, shall rise righteous man travels. Well soon be happy forever more. When we meet rising up in the sky by telling you this world, goodbye story to share. Jesus is Travis Wilson.

All right, guys.

There's a lot of information in that song.

when I want a Nachos talk about, The second coming of Christ. I did this because this is what the disciples really did not understand. Even if they're starting this close to the crucifixion of Christ and they still do not have a good grasp on what kind of kingdom. He's going to leave for them. I want to do this and it's in a story format and if so

The story was given as a sermon, the first time at Westside Church of Christ in Muskogee on November 24th, 1963.

Of course I do. Donald little updating in the guys before me did little updating but the story is still

Relevant today and it was a 1963. And it will be every day that we remain on this Earth.

What we're going to do is talk about a man.

And his travel.

Through this time. Matthew 24:36. Jesus told them. But of that day and hour knoweth, no man. No, not the angels of heaven but my father only

Bank of Amman is getting up. Getting ready for work. What's going through his mind?

Oh boy, just another Monday. Starting just another week and another month and another year. I should have been some kind of premonition as the world rose that morning. But Jesus, his words were true, and sure.

For Noah snowman, not the angels having and not the father when that time would come.

The day came on just like any other day, people were still tired and those early hours and John decided not to awaken his wife Grace, he would need all the rest. You can get what was running around after his active youngsters all day, cuz he got up quietly. He looked with affection of at her one more time, just like so many days before.

Grace was a Christian. And she's so badly. Wanted him to become one they'd even had long discussions about it. Just yesterday he had gone to church with her. It seemed as if the preacher was preaching right at him. Staring right into his eyes.

Of course, that surely wasn't true. He decided as he fixed his breakfast after all. He wasn't the only one there, But it sure felt, sometimes if his soul was the only one, the preacher was after.

What what what was that the preacher that preached on? Oh yeah, he talked about Christ coming again, John and enjoyed most of the sermon. Do some of it. Reminded him of all those Tales spouted by the TV. Preachers giving dates that came and went without incident. He was especially intrigued by the stories of those who tried to set the date that Christ would come. And now Summit, Don, White, robes on the, on the day set and climbed atop the houses and trees or mountains or whatever. To be ready to meet the Lord.

He mulled over the many biblical passes that the preacher quoted as proof that Christ was coming again. And that according to Bible, he could come anytime that's a long and 5233, tell us for yourself yourselves, know, perfectly that the day of the Lord, so cometh, as a thief in the night for when they shall say, peace and safety, and sudden destruction cometh upon them as Prevail upon a woman with child, and they shall not Escape it

John knew that all these things would take place and you cannot even imagine what they would be like. 1st Thessalonians. 416 says for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel. With the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Don decided that the preacher was being a little on the theatrical side. When he said, Christ could come again in the wink of an eye,

John Wayne design price didn't show up.

He smiled to himself so that he thought again of his young son, sitting next to him on the few winking, his eye, and trying to time it on a digital watch.

Of course Grayson the preacher probably right. He admitted Any place the dishes in the dishwasher, I really don't know what I'm waiting on. Someday, I'll take the step and become a Christian. When he was ready to leave, he peeked in to see his sleeping children. Love welled up in his heart. If you look at their Angelic little faces, then he went in to kiss Grace. Goodbye. Has she returned his kiss sleepily? He smile to think how happy she would be when he went down the aisle to be back. What are you smiling about you? Oh nothing. You said, as he went out the door, he did not know that he would never see them again.

What a beautiful day off like today. John like to see the world. Wake up each morning.

I know I like that you guys liked it. Just watched the Earth is it comes to life, got to the library this morning, especially if I have a fishing pole.

You like to see it bright and fresh after a night's rest, and before it had a chance to become tired and soiled all over again. He also had a chance to think on his way to work, as he drove along, the neighborhoods were beginning to stir their kitchen windows. He caught glimpses of families eating breakfast in his rearview mirror. He saw seems some still in pajamas and robes hair. Uncombed, it is a dashed out to get the morning paper. Then Dash back inside again starting their day.

For some reason. The preacher's sermon from last Sunday kept coming back to John. As he saw people eating breakfast, passage quoted by the preacher came to mine. Matthew 24:34 as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until that day that Noah Entergy AR

There's many things.

As he drove the osteopathic church building. And you notice rides scattered on the sidewalk evidence of a wedding going on the night before. And he thought again, marrying and giving in marriage.

Cast of home with a sign on the front door. It says night workers. Baby sleepers, do not disturb any thought of Luke 1734. I tell you and that night there shall be two men and one bed. And one shall be taken and the other shall be left.

He drove past a bakery. He's not a loop 1735 just to Shelby Gunner together, grinding The one shall be taken and the other left, John shuttered. And push these thoughts to the back of his mind. Why am I getting so morbid? If Christ hasn't come in over 2000 years. Why should he suddenly choose now? I'm strong and healthy. I should be thinking about living. Not. About the end of everything.

Mouth drying up. It really was a beautiful day though. Most of the people he saw smiled and waved on a day like this, John thought it is hard to realize that there are so many troubles in the world famine and War and ignition death on a morning. Like this is just too good, it's just too good to be alive. Back to should have sounded a warning. in his head for Thessalonians 5, 3000 for when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden, destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not Escape it but no warning,

John continued on his way, the same as every morning exactly the same. There is no Advance warning at all when it when it happened, sometimes there's a feeling in the area when something's about to happen, but there was nothing. Often animals with some some sort of special instinct or nervous, but there was nothing.

How often is good? Oklahoma. Spring and fall days. Do you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up before the lightning strikes?

probably most of us since we live in this part of the country have felt that You would have thought there would have been something like that. But there was nothing.

As usual, some men wear wear growling and snarling. Still not quite awake, your wake up, grumpy as usual, some women were screaming at your children and the children of others as usual, some boys and girls were turning up their noses at the food set before him. Wow. Over in India sleeping. Is a sleeping child was whimpering in its sleep because it had no food at all in China. And official is checking his list of quotas for the week. Virginia Bushman was stalking his game as he and his ancestors have done for centuries. America man was worrying about how he was ever going to pay off his credit cards. You need anybody to do that in your husband over the new furniture she wanted to buy. She didn't need to do that either. The preacher was looking through his sermon notes, trying to decide about, what to preach next. If he had a known

You wouldn't have needed to do that either.

I could tell that one guy, he could just let his wife max out. His credit cards and went after work.

There was no warning life with all its good and all its evils was going on as usual. And then it happened Just as foretold in math, Matthew 24, 27, where is the lightning cometh out of the East and shyness even into the West? So, shall also the coming of the son of man be

Annoyed with something horrendous is it as if every horn ever blown was sounded in unison.

1st Thessalonians 4:16 says, for the Lord, himself shall descend from heaven with a shop with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Just that quick.

Being funny. John was near a cemetery when it happened the shop, travel through the atmosphere faster than the speed of sound or light. It was a shot that penetrated to the very core of the Earth to the depths of the ocean into the center of a man's soul. John panic and smashed his car into a tree. John is never before. Heard the voice of God, but there was no question in his mind as to what was happening. Neither had he seen Jesus before, but he knew exactly who had appeared in the sky. No, no, no. It's thoughts began. Revelation, 17, Thomas, behold, he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they all also with the pierced him and all kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen.

2nd Thessalonians, 1 7 through 8, says, and to you, who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them. That know, not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Well the sky was filled with color blue in the atmosphere was blotted out by the whiteness of a cloud, the glory of the Angels, the appearance of fire and all of this was almost plowed it out by the magnificence of Jesus, the Earth began to tremble and its surface was filled with scissors.

In the cemetery nearby. John saw the graves begin to open in the Dead start coming forth, their bodies were unlike anything John and ever seen. They were flash, but not flash solid, but not solid, a word, used by the preacher. Came to John's mine and corruptible. Some looked happy and some not, he can feel that something was also happening to his own body. John 5:28 2019 tomorrow night at this, for the hour is coming in which all that are in the grave, shall hear his voice and shall come forth. They that have done good unto the resurrection of Life, they that have done evil unto, the resurrection of damnation.

Corinthians 15:51. 52 tells behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

John didn't sleep. He never got the chance.

In a moment, in the twinkling of eye at the last Trump for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised Incorruptible. And we shall be changed.

John was running. Now he was in a daze and his only thought was to reach home. Probably, what many of us would do. Something terrible happening. Where's my wife? Where's my children?

You can hear the sound of the trumpet and could see people rising into the air to meet the Lord. It was hard to keep his balance for the, for the trimmers were increasing in his head. He was aware of the most terrible crime that ever heard. The tearing searing Cry of a soul in agony.

In just a moment, he realized the cry was coming from him. The past several days people who funerals he had actually attended, but that did not surprise him. Nothing surprised him. Now he passed a funeral procession stopped in the middle of the road. The back door, the hearse was open, the lid of the casket was thrown back and it was empty, he ran on around him, he could hear cries and Wales and treats.

From above came, the sound of singing? A glorious refrain of rejoicing and try them but it brought no Comfort to John. His soul felt nothing. He glanced up. Just as if you were still rising in the air. Apparently, almost all who's been prepared with now with the Lord, he ran and ran before. It's one foot. After another, you pass block after block. Having to get home. Then suddenly, he was home. He burst in the front door and begin running from room to room. He shouted, it was still lying on the chair beside the bed, there is evidence of Grace in the children everywhere but no one was where he had left them only a short time before where they where they where could they be? suddenly, he knew they were prepared.

I ran back into the front yard looked up but this guy was empty, he was alone. Alone.

By himself alone in his skin. Didn't your shutter like an old machine that it served its purpose and old machine that was running down? The sun was running down to. He could stare at it without blinking, it became dimmer and dimmer. There was a stickiness in the air around them. John can see stars even in daylight, they seem to jump from place to place everything around him seem to be flying to pieces, like autumn leaves in a windstorm. The Earth was shaking and stirring up mountains only to swallow them up. Again, the sun became black as the ocean's depths in the whole moon turn trips Amanda. Like blood.

The thought struck John that he must now face. God, he was filled with Terror. No. No, I'm not ready to make nice cream. Stumbling blindly. He made his way back into the house and coming down the steps and seller. Huddling in the darkest corner. You muttered insanely High. I must hide. There was no place to hide. 2nd, Peter 3:10, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. In which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth, also, and the works that are therein shall all be burned up.

When John raised his head. You'd left the basement but he knew exactly where he was.

Second.

2nd Corinthians 5:10 says for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, but everyone may receive the things done in his body, may receive these things done his body. According to what he has done, while he was here, whether it be good or bad, John knew that he was with all the people who ever lived upon the face of the Earth and that all would be judge. He knew that he had also acquired a new body, one incorruptible.

One one that would never fade away. One that can never be destroyed.

But there was no consolation in that for he knew where that body would spend eternity.

You knew so much now. But too late, he needed it. He had had time for religion that those other things that he had put first, we're really not important at all. He knew too that those Hypocrites, Hypocrites, on the TV. Would spend eternity where he was going to spend it to. There was little Comfort now in the fact that he was as good as they are. Even if it somehow his wife and children would be happy without him for an almighty God, it can do everything would see to that. He also knew that he would have to spend an eternity without them with the full knowledge of that fact. And that it would be an eternity spent without god without Christ without his family.

Even knew what eternity was, like he had heard eternity talked about.

It heard. eternity joked about but no one that ever conveyed to him a feeling of its bigness, how An empty eternity could really be if been away from God. Without End. Forever. Never ending without God.

Acts 22:16 tells us and now wine Terrace. Tarriest, thou arise and be baptized and wash away their sins. Calling on the name of the Lord, since the story I just told you is not true. Hasn't happened yet.

Christ has not returned yet, but if you It is, however, based on scripts, scriptural teaching and and some knowledge of man's natural reactions to events.

And it's been told for the one reason to make you think twice and turn to God and love. So why Terry is now arise and be baptized wash Away? The Sins calling on the name of the Lord. We might not know all the details regarding the second coming, but the following are solid fats Christ is coming. Price key, for this very day is over. When it comes, everybody's going to know it. When Christ comes, everyone will also know where he or she stands. Are you ready? For the day, the Lord comes.

If you're not ready, I pray that you'll get ready the day meet Jesus through faith and obedience. If you're ready to make that step. Please come up. Call we stand and sing.

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