Sermon Tone Analysis

A Crash Course in End Times

5 Aug 18

Turn to Matt.

24

Let give you a little map of where we’re heading.

Today and next Sunday we’ll have a crash course concerning the End Times.

Then we’ll take a couple of weeks to tie up some loose ends with Spiritual Gifts and service.

Then, in Sept, we’ll begin a series called Believe.

When we talk about End Times, we generally think prophecy.

Only a small percentage of prophecy in Scripture deals with the End Times.

Technically, it’s called apocalyptic literature.

Prophecy, especially End Time prophecy is not the main part of Scripture, so let’s not make it bigger than what it is, but let’s not ignore it either.

Understand that prophecy was not given to satisfy our curiosity about the future; it’s not so we can have a secret knowledge and predict certain events.

The purpose of apocalyptic literature serves as a:

a) Notification to believers

- Jesus is coming

b) Warning to unbelievers

- those who don’t know Christ and warn those who are playing games with Christ

c) Inspire hope and encourage perseverance of the saints

- it’s going to get rough but hold on, the King is coming

d) To prepare the Bride for the Groom

- Prophecy is not all about how bad it’s going to be, but about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “When you see these things happening - hide! Show everyone how scared you are!” No!

He said, “Rejoice!

Lift up your heads because your redemption draws nigh!”

When we see what the Bible tells us we will see, we know that the wedding day is almost here!

Keep all that in mind as we go through this.

Here we go – A Crash Course in the End Times.

As I’ve studied Matt.

24 and other “End Time” passages, people will be sorted into two groups - we’ll keep with the Biblical language of sheep and goats.

Sheep are those who know the truth and are in a right with God.

Goats are those who are deceived and are not in a right with God.

Goats, however, can be placed into two sub-groups: In one group are those who, for whatever reason where always deceived - they knowingly rejected God’s plan of salvation in Christ.

In the other group are those who became deceived.

They were in the faith - then rejected the faith.

Is that possible?

Not going to get too deep into that this morning, but succumbing to deception has always been problematic for God’s people and will be more problematic prior to Christ’s return.

There are demonic and evil forces in this world that long to deceive - and we’re easy targets.

We’re easily deceived when we’re ignorant of the truth, when we ignore the truth, when we’re indifferent about the truth or when we’re complacent with the truth.

There are subtle differences in there, but I think it’s accurate.

We have 24/7 access to the Word of God and many in the Church ignore it.

And that concerns me because a day is coming when Jesus Christ will return and some of you may find yourselves with the goats.

See, it’s all about who you know and who knows you.

Jesus doesn’t want us with the goats, so He said this …

Conflict and disasters will increase in frequency and intensity as we near Christ’s return.

Part of this is natural - the earth can only take so much of the human population.

Part of it is spiritual - as the population increases, so does sin.

Creation cries out waiting for its redemption as well.

So, know this: we’ll see an increase in

1) Global chaos

- politically, economically, naturally, socially.

This is where situational awareness comes in.

We, of all people should understand what is going on in the world so as not to fall into deception, but also to help others escape deception.

We will see …

2) Global persecution

Jesus said that His followers would one day be hated by all nations and kingdoms.

Nations - ethnos - ethnic groups.

Kingdoms - organizations of authority and power such as governments, or companies with political and economic power.

So ethnic groups and organizations will be against Christianity.

It seems like there will be no escape for Christians.

Christians will be hated and betrayed no matter where they go - by family, friends, nations and kingdoms.

Why would the world hate us so much?

The simple answer: Because darkness hates light!

Christian values stand in the way of evolution and progress.

We’ll see

3) Global apostasy

In latter days, there will be a mass exodus from the Christian faith - not necessarily less people coming to faith, but a great number of people leaving the faith.

Why would people leave the faith in mass numbers?

Jesus tells us, many will be deceived?

Anytime there is a natural disaster, scammers come out of the woodwork.

These slime-balls take advantage of horrible and painful situations.

They prey on the vulnerable.

The same is true spiritually - as the end approaches and chaos increases, so will false prophets and teachers - scammers.

They will take advantage of the chaos and the physical need to survive and will lead people away from Christ.

The closer it gets to Christ’s return, the more imperative it is that we know the truth (the Word) and resist compromise.

We will also see an increase in …

4) Global lawlessness

Some translations use wickedness, which can be a little confusing because we often associate wickedness with blatant evil - like the devil is red, with two horns and tail.

Not accurate.

A better translation is lawlessness.

Lawlessness is the casting off of moral restraint.

It is the disregard for Biblical authority and morality.

As Christ’s return nears, global lawlessness will increase.

Why would lawlessness cause many to fall away from the faith?

Because lawlessness is appealing to the flesh.

Lawlessness says anything goes, there is no sin, no right or wrong, no absolutes, no truth, believe what you want, all roads lead to the same place, just coexist.

That’s called the wide road that leads to destruction.

That leads to the goat pen.

There will also be an increase in …

5) Global Apathy

The root of lawlessness is the desire for autonomy

– to be self-governing.

We want to be in charge of our lives, our morality, our destinies etc.

The more selfie-centered society becomes, the more apathetic we become – which means we lack authentic love and concern for others.

Authentic love is unconditional, sacrificial, choosing to do what is best for others.

Apathy is the opposite - “My wellbeing, my time, my resources, my interests is more important.”

There will be global chaos, persecution, apostasy, lawlessness and apathy.

That’s is our future – who’s in?

But wait, there’s more, but we’ll finish that next week!

I don’t mean to be a Debby-downer, but it is doom and gloom for those who reject Jesus Christ.

But it’s not doom and gloom for those who know Jesus Christ – remember, it’s all about who we know, and if we truly know Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, we will know His voice and we follow Him and we will run away from a stranger’s voice (John 10).