What Time Is It? Week 1 | It’s Time to Be Hopeful

Series Intro

I want to quickly let you know what this series is not.

It is not going to be the most mind blowing information you have ever seen

It is will not be an astrology class

It will not be a time where in I reveal to you the identity of the anti Christ or the day that Jesus is coming back.

__________

Not a stage full of charts and timelines

My goal for this series is not to unravel every bit of twisted theology regarding eschatology.

We aren’t going to walk away from the next several weeks with a definitive view on when the rapture is

We aren’t going to garner a deep understanding of the meaning of the four beasts of Daniel seven

We aren’t going to spend hours delving into the imagery of the book of Revelation…

We are simply going to evaluate what scripture says about the time within which we live where there is an inherent shift in our timeline.

WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS

___________

It’s always been an interest

A infatuation with the end of all things is not a new development.

From the beginning of those who follow Jesus, there has been a concern with how are we going to know it’s the end

Look at the conversation the disciples have with Jesus in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:3 ESV

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

This passage is cross referenced and paralelled in the gospel of Luke and Mark as well…

They wanted to know how they could know that they were about to receive the promise.

You and I are asking the same questions the disciples were asking thousands of years ago

How can we know that the end is near?

____________

Jesus gave us the markers

Matthew 24:5–8 ESV

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Wars and rumors of wars

I don’t need to do too much interpretation on this…it’s self explanatory and it’s prevalent.

Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, China/Taiwan, Iran/Israel Republican/Democrat,

Earthquakes and Famines

Earthquakes worldwide,

various: tousoutos: so great, so much, so many

Not necessarily more than there were but we are aware of them now do to technological advancement in registering them.

Food shortages at unprecedented levels

World food crisis due to supply chain issues, weather extremes, and conflicts.

______________

Matthew 24:9–12 NKJV

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Tribulation

Tribulation has not been happening in the US and so we assume it isn’t happening.

13 Christians are killed each day for their faith…Every two hours another Christian dies

5000 per year

Will be Hated

Pew research indicates that by far Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world.

Christianity is hated because it presents itself as an exclusive truth

Our pagan society likes to believe that each person is entitled to their own unique version of truth.

Many will be Offended

Have you been on social media lately?

Have you disagreed with someone about anything lately?

Many False Prophets

Some people are still waiting on a governmental overthrow

Some people are shocked to still be on the earth following the eclipse.

Lawlessness will about

Our society has been infused with a level of lawlessness.

Anti police

Anti authority

Anti establishment

We have looked back on historical figures and are rewriting their story based on their worst characteristics.

___________

This is the normal conversation surrounding the end times.

Our eschatology has been informed by: Left Behind

We tend to view the end times as the content of horror movies.

Apocalypse, Revelation, Tribulation, Judgement (SHOW PICTURES)

Left Behind, Tribulation Force, ETC…

___________

How do we respond?

We don’t have to look beyond the US to see fulfillment of the prophecies of Jesus but understand that these scenarios are playing out all over the world!

So what should our response be to these realities?

How should we walk when we understand that we are living in what I believe to be the last of the last days?

Jesus gives us that answer in the proceeding verses.

Matthew 24:13–14 NKJV

But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus instructions for those who identify and recognize the approach of the end is to…

commit to endurance

preach the gospel

There is a twinge of hope at the end of Jesus lecture on end times scenarios!

Which is why the first message that I want to preach to you in our collection of conversations around the concept of “what time is it?” is

It’s Time to Be Hopeful

__________

While there are many aspects about the eschatological prophecies that have a bit of scary edge to them…we can find an equal amount of scripture that points us to the end as a means of hope and comfort.

__________

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Acts 1:9–11 NKJV

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

________

Engagement Season

Today I want to start our conversation by talking about a special time in my life.

Do you remember the time of your life that was your engagement?

I hated being engaged…

We had an 11 month engagement

Multiple visits where we had to say goodbye.

Then on the night before our wedding we said one last goodbye…but this time, it was with an understanding that we won’t have to say goodbye again. (Picture of Rehearsal Dinner)

This is the implication of Jesus message to the disciples in John 14.

__________

Jesus Declares His Deity

It’s worth noting that this passage carries with it one of the most profound declarations of deity by Jesus.

He literally tells the disciples to put the same level of faith that they have in God in Him.

He then tells them..I am going to enact an expansion and renovation plan in heaven…ONLY THE OWNER CAN DO THAT.

But this expansion plan is not something that He is building so that He can just have it ready when we get there.

It is an expansion in preparation for a retrieval!

JESUS IS COMING BACK!

__________ Prevalent in Scripture

The rapture of the church…the return of Christ is a topic that is heavily focused on in scripture.

Over 300 references in the New Testament

216/260 chapters in the New Testament talk about the return of Christ or the End Times

23/27 books in the New Testament have something to say about eschatology

This time is heavily talked about in scripture because it is the most dangerous time in history.

Conversation around the rapture is supposed to be encouraging for followers of Jesus.

Look at Paul’s explanation

1 Thessalonians 4:15–18 ESV

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Greek: Harpotzo: to suddenly snatch “caught up” = Latin Raptere

His final note on this moment is the fact that we will be with the Lord FOREVER!

The fearfulness of God’s judgment is not the primary objective in scriptures exhatalogical narrative

It is his commitment to those He loves.

__________

The Passion is About The Bride

The only thing that God gets out of the redempttive work of the cross and resurrection…is a relationship with HIS BRIDE!

God did not become any more holy based on the cross

The glory received from man is no more precious than the glory received from angels

I don’t know why He is so commited to a relationship with us…but He is and I am grateful!

__________

Revelation 21:1–4 NKJV

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

The real motivation of the second coming is a desire to be close once again

Many of us struggle with this concept because we have a perspective that “I know He’s forgiven me, but He can’t like me”

My life is too messy and broken for Him to love me.

The love you have for small kids in spite of their disgusting nature.

The return of Jesus is a love story.

_________ Are we living in the last days?

1 Thessalonians 5:1–9 ESV

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

We cannot narrow down the day or the hour…Scripture literally tells us that.

But we can be well aware of the season.

We are living in the season.

The bible uses the terminology of a mother giving birth.

YOU DON’T KNOW THE DAY

BUT THE SEASON IS VERY EVIDENT

POSSIBLE ENDING POINT

___________

Three objectives for the end

Three things we neeto do at the end of time

1. Make Sure We are Right With God

1 Peter 4:7 NKJV

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Some of us need to let the urgency of the hour develop within us a commitment to stop playing games with God.

Revelation 19:7 NKJV

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

Some of us need to get serious about our walk with Jesus - It’s almost time for the wedding (BRIDES PUT IN WORK)

2 Peter 3:10–12 NKJV

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

2. Get Ourselves Connected with Godly Community

1 Peter 4:8–9 NKJV

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

You need to be plugged into the local church.

Serving on a team (SERVE 101 today)

Part of a group (Connect Groups on Wednesday)

Hebrews 10:24–25 NKJV

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

3. Use our Gifts to Reach the Lost with The Gospel

1 Peter 4:10–11 NKJV

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We are not simply to sit around and wait for Jesus to come back…we are to use the gifts that God has given us to make a difference.

We are a church commited to one thing…SEEING CARTERSVILLE EXPERIENCE LIFE CHANGE THROUGH CHRIST!

When will the end happen?

Matthew 24:14 NKJV

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

___________

Jesus introduction to the scariest book of the Bible

Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

____________ When Jesus got up from the grave He gave us a message

John 20:7 KJV 1900

And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.