What about the end times?

I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15; Matthew 24 and 25; Revelation 21 and 22

1. Reason for prophecy: A Biblical view of prophecy.

a. Prophecies fall into the two categories of accusation (admonition) and prediction. Often there is a mixture of the two.

· I Corinthians 14:3=Maybe a ”definition” of prophecy?

· Three reasons that seem to come out when Paul is talking about the second coming. I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

o 1) comfort for one another (4:18; 5:11)

o 2) edify one another (5:11)

o 3) put on the armor (5:8)

b. Reading about end times carries a blessing

Why is there a blessing attached to reading the prophecy?

“Rev 1:3 Threefold Blessing: cf. 22:7, 9, 18-19

“Blessed is he (singular) that readeth (aloud)”—indicates the public reader

“Blessed are they (plural) that hear the words of this prophecy”—the listeners

“Blessed are they (plural-specifically of the hearers) that keep the things”—single article referring that the ones who hear should be the ones who keep.

No matter how hard it is to interpret or unresolved issues—read, hear, and keep and get a blessing.

So…look for signs of Jesus…look for words to keep!”

--Dr. Rex McDowell I

2. What to do about prophecy: Focus on what we know (Revelation 22:12-16)

a. Christ is returning to this world

Wingrove Taylor preached that “Christ's coming is:

i. Sure

ii. Soon

iii. Sudden

iv. Separating”

b. There is a Heaven and Hell—literal places of reward and suffering respectfully.

c. Will be a resurrection of physical bodies (I Corinthians 15

d. Judgment of all men

e. Totally renovated earth, all trace of sin gone forever

3. What are we to do about it?

a. Jesus taught: Matthew 24 and 25

i. He will certainly return

ii. We cannot possibly find out when

iii. Therefore, we must always be ready for Him

“Christ is coming again and that fact must make a definite, practical difference in how we live now.”

--H. Douglas Buckwalter:

b. We are to fulfill our assignment until He Comes

Keep our focus on Christ, knowing Him better, living like Him now, fulfilling His commission

Matt 28:18

Acts 1:6

Matt 24:11-14

Revelation 22:17

4. Conclusion (Matthew 25)

Three points in this chapter when looking at judgment and end times:

1. Be ready!—habitual preparation. “Watch for Him” (vv. 1-13)

2. Be faithful!—diligence in our working. “Work for Him” (vv. 14-30)

3. Be fruitful!—fulfilling our calling. “Serve for Him” (vv. 31-46)

It is not the size ofthe service but the faithfulness in service!

The servants cared for the least!

Notice that things that were commended were what we would consider small kindnesses.

Book suggestions for further study:

• Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of your Life, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 2003.

• James R Krabill and David W. Shenk, Editors, Jesus Matters: Good News for the Twenty-First Century, Herald Press, 2008.