Collection

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Our sermon will be in Luke 21:5-24

We have a website: https://tahlequahworshipcenter.com/

Service coming up on Wednesday

Diaper Drive

Prayer requests

Georgey

Dorcas

Cristy’s Grandparents

Sandra

Donna

Ukraine

Joe & Family

Barbara’s Sister

Andy W.

I want to welcome all that are joining us online.

Thank you for being here with us.

Cristy has some songs picked out for us.

Are you ready to worship?

Let’s make a joyful noise

Songs

Just Over In The Glory Land

He Set Me Free

Goodness Of God

Signs Signs Everywhere Signs 2

Last week we talked about the destruction of Jerusalem.

I think the account in Mark states the questions more succinctly.

Mark 13:1–4 NKJV

1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

So, today we will be talking about the end of the age.

When all things will be fulfilled.

There are a couple of schools of thought about how to deal with questions like these.

One is called dispensations, or divisions of time, of how God deals with the church and/or people.

The other is called covenantalism.

Dispensationalism has a distinction between the Church and the Jews.

It views scripture through divisions of time.

According to dispensationalism, there are things that have not yet been fulfilled in regards to the Jews.

Covenant theology views God through various covenants with his people.

The church is viewed as having been grafted into his people.

There are truths in both of these.

I’m not going to take a stand on either one.

There’s an old Indian proverb that tells of blind men trying to figure out what an elephant is.

Has anyone heard of it?

The truth is that we can’t see perfectly

We all need glasses.

Take Christian and I.

He has almost perfect vision, but he is partially color blind.

I see colors perfectly, but my eyes don’t focus right.

So we see things differently.

Some people have theorized that God made some of these things obscure so that we would spread more.

In any case, what’s important is that Jesus is coming again.

I’m not sure about the details, but he’s coming.

Luke 21:25–38 NKJV

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” 29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Look for the Signs

What are the signs?

Signs in the Sun, Moon, and stars

Distress of nations

Seas and waves

Then the return of Jesus

Let’s talk about those a bit.

There are 2 other parallel passages that describe these events: Mark 13 & Matthew 24 .

The Matthew account visualizes it like a vulture circling dead bodies.

We saw some the other day circling above our house and we were worried that one of the dogs had died.

Some of this is apocalyptic in nature, but I don’t think we can miss the 2nd coming.

I don’t understand what will happen in sun stars and moon, but God uses them all the time to convey information.

Think about it for a second.

I’m not talking about astrology, but what is a day? What is a year? How about a week or a month?

We look past that, but in this account, we see Jesus using the seasons as an illustration.

He uses a fig tree as a picture of those days.

When you see a tree budding, you know that spring is upon us.

Jesus then uses the days of Noah as an illustration of what is to come. (In Matthew)

I think this is part of what he is talking about in the Distress of nations.

Let’s read Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36–44 NKJV

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

There’s a lot that could be said about this passage, but one thing for us to understand is how bad it will be.

I don’t want to get into the timing of this, but I do want to say that the days of Noah were more horrific than we can imagine.

I know he’s using it as an illustration, but if the world gets that bad, what is God going to do with them.

The point is that when things start getting bad, we need to be looking for his Return.

Look for the Savior

Let’s look back at our text: Luke 21:27-28

Luke 21:27–28 NKJV

27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

and Luke 21:34-36

Luke 21:34–36 NKJV

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Look For The Savior

All of these signs will culminate in the return of Jesus

I want you to think about this for a minute - One day we will be with Jesus.

I don’t know how it will all happen, but I know that one day I will see my redeemer with my own eyes.

One day there will be a judgment and if you believe in Jesus, he will stand up and say “I died for you.”

We won’t be judged for what we did wrong, but what we did right.

Colossians 2:14 NKJV

14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Then we will be with him forever more!

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Look for the Saints

So, what do we do then?

All of those who have gone on before will be with us.

In that last passage it says that the dead in Christ will rise first.

Can you imagine?

We will see Jesus and then our loved ones.

If Jesus comes today, I will see my grandparents. I will see Billy.

We’ll see Gerald and Sue.

And we will always be with them and Jesus.

If we truly believe, Then Heaven we’ll receive.

Are you Ready?

Let’s go and tell the world!