The Closing Time

Titanic

The most prominent ship of 1912 was the Titanic. It was the most luxury and anybody would have imagine that this ship would be sinking in it’s first time on the ocean. Sadly, on April 15, 1912 the Titanic was destroyed by an iceberg. Even though it was one of the most precious inventions that humans have ever made, it was totally destroyed without any signs.

World Trade Center

What would you have done if you have known that the twin towels would be destroyed? Do you think you have gone to work that day? On September 11, 2001 multiple fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters went to work as usual. Sadly, this was the last day of their lives and thousands were killed by this terrorist act.

NOW GOD IN HIS MERCY AND LOVE LEFT THE SIGNS OF THE CLOSING TIME, SO YOU AND I COULD BE PREPARED FOR HIS SECOND COMING.

Revelation 2:10 NIV

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

It is certain by the words of Jesus that we would have to be faithful and be set on the rock and not on the sand by the time our trials may begin. Last month was 500 years after the Protestant Reformation began by Martin Luther. We have heard and read that many of these men and women that were part of the Reformation had died because they would not give up on their faith. A good example of these kind of people would be the Waldensian. Ellen G. White wrote,

“Their refusal to surrender the Scriptures was also an offense that Rome could not tolerate. She determined to blot them from the earth. Now began the most terrible crusades against God’s people in their mountain homes. Inquisitors were put upon their track, and the scene of innocent Abel falling before the murderous Cain was often repeated.” - GC Ch. 4.

I truly believe that the Waldensian did understand what says. This text is a wake up called for us today. As we get into the sermon this morning I ask that you may be meditating on what the Lord has to say and open your heart and receive His blessing. Why? Because we are leaving in the last days of this world. God is reminding us that He is soon to come at anytime. However, prior to His coming there are certain things that we need to see happening, and be facing.

“The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God-fearing people were endured by them with a patience and constancy that honored their Redeemer. Notwithstanding the crusades against them, and the inhuman butchery to which they were subjected, they continued to send out their missionaries to scatter the precious truth. They were hunted to death; yet their blood watered the seed sown, and it failed not of yielding fruit.” - GC Ch. 4

As today, we need to realize that our closing time is near, and we, now, have to make a true commitment with the Lord.

Signs of the Closing Time

Let see what happened when the disciple concerned asked Jesus about His second coming. Christ declares that we may know when He is near, even at the doors.

Matthew 24:1-

Matthew 24:1–3 NIV

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. “Truly I tell you, 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?”

The disciples were concerned about the end of the age. It is important to mention that the disciple did not fully understand Christ’s mission till the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The mentally given here was into the end of the Roman government and when Jesus would take the kingdom. Jesus was very cleared and responded with the different signs.

Jesus told them the signs which we could set in different categories.

Signs of The Closing Time

gsd

-Blasphemy

-Global Tension (war, natural disasters, etc.)

-Immorality

-Gospel around the world

Blasphemy

Matthew 24:4–5 NIV

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

-Jose Luis de Miranda -Puerto Rico, he mentioned he would be immortal by 2012 which after he claimed this, he died of cancer and many of his followers are waiting for him to raise.

-David Shayler -British In an article in the Daily Mail, Shayler claimed that he was the son of God stating, "I am the messiah and hold the secret of eternal life," and that he was the reincarnation of various historical figures

Matthew 24:11 NIV

11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

, 24

Matthew 24:24 NIV

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Look what the servant of God wrote about this issue.

Look what the servant of God wrote about this issue.

“I have been shown many who will claim to be especially taught of God, and will attempt to lead others, and from mistaken ideas of duty they will undertake a work that God has never laid upon them. Confusion will be the result.” 2SM pg. 72

Global Tension

Matthew 24:6–7 NIV

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.

Matthew 24:8 NIV

8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Matthew 24:

Is not this what is happening today? North Korea is Threatening US with a nuclear attack. Isis keep killing people and Muslims that become Christians. There is war in Middle East. Nations are rising against others …

What do you have to say about this summer 2017, how many natural disasters we have had so far. How many people have died do to these disasters? Earthquake in Mexico, New Zealand and multiple other places. People died in Puerto Rico because of the lack of food in certain areas, medicines, water, etc.

And Jesus was cleared to the disciples, that these things are just the beginning.

Immorality

Matthew 24:9–13 NIV

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Think about what you have seen during this week. Tell me something that does not go with what the Bible is talking.

Homosexuality now is acceptable and we have to let our kids growing with a mindset that in the Bible is wrong , but legally in their country is totally fine. Men and women living in what they call “open relationships...” Parents abusing their kids physically, sexually, and psychologically. Satan is destroying the family, what God has created to represent His character on earth.

Matthew 24:37–38 NIV

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

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marrying and giving in marriage means that the meaning of marriage as something special and between two will not longer be there.

Look how the days of Noah were:

Genesis 6:11 NIV

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.

Matthew 24:39 NIV

39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Those days of Noah have already come. Once again, look around you, at the mall, at store, at the bank, schools and colleges. Aren’t we living in those days?

Matthew 2439

You know this is why God called us to not be afraid.

Gospel around the world

Before His returning, God will allow everyone to hear the Gospel, so they can make their decision.

Matthew 24:14 NIV

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

What does the Three angel message says?

Revelation 14:6–7 NIV

6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Revelation 14:6

People would have the opportunity to repent and give their lives to Christ.

When is Christ coming then?

Matthew 24:36 NIV

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

MAtthew

Not even the Son knows, just the Father. This is why we have to be ready in any moment.

WHY HAS CHRIST TAKEN SO LONG?

“Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” COL 69

Christ is waiting for those that have not made their decision yet, those that are warm, but not hot.... and for those that have not heard the message. Christ is also waiting, so we can accomplish our mission as a church, to preach the Gospel of Salvation.

Revelation 22:12 NIV

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.