Well good morning and welcome
to 3ABN's Spring Camp Meeting.
00:00:39.18\00:00:45.10
Are you enjoying it so far? Yes!
00:00:45.40\00:00:48.07
Well I want to welcome
all of you that are here
00:00:48.37\00:00:50.94
and what an incredible group
of people. What a good crowd.
00:00:51.04\00:00:55.09
And I see smiles on your face...
00:00:55.29\00:00:57.95
faces, so y'all are a happy
bunch of people this morning,
00:00:58.16\00:01:01.14
too... happy in the Lord.
00:01:01.24\00:01:02.96
And I want to welcome all
of you that are viewing us.
00:01:03.16\00:01:07.05
Our viewers and our listeners.
You know, we have an audience
00:01:07.15\00:01:10.93
on radio as well as
our television audience
00:01:11.03\00:01:14.59
and also the Internet
and all of those other ways.
00:01:14.89\00:01:18.82
It's just amazing. We can't
keep up with the technology
00:01:19.02\00:01:21.85
that is putting 3ABN on
platforms all over the world.
00:01:22.16\00:01:25.91
And so that is
an exciting thing.
00:01:26.21\00:01:28.71
But this morning we
have Nathan Renner with us.
00:01:28.91\00:01:33.01
And I wanted to tell you a
little... Actually, I wanted
00:01:33.22\00:01:35.82
to tell you a lot about him,
but he is a very modest person.
00:01:35.92\00:01:39.82
My bio on him is
only like two sentences.
00:01:40.63\00:01:46.50
But I was in the
green room talking with him
00:01:46.70\00:01:49.85
and something we already
know: he's been on 3ABN before.
00:01:50.05\00:01:54.25
He's an incredible teacher.
00:01:54.55\00:01:56.64
But what he has that
really impressed me is spark.
00:01:56.84\00:02:00.70
He is excited,
and he has a passion
00:02:01.03\00:02:04.04
for the things of the Lord.
00:02:04.24\00:02:05.75
And I really am
looking forward to his sermon.
00:02:05.96\00:02:08.65
He's the senior pastor
of the Sonora SDA Church,
00:02:08.85\00:02:12.94
an instructor at ARISE
where he teaches classes
00:02:13.25\00:02:17.16
on Romans, Revelation,
Bible Boot Camp, and evangelism.
00:02:17.29\00:02:22.33
So this man has experience
00:02:22.53\00:02:24.82
and he's got a passion
for the things of the Lord.
00:02:25.12\00:02:28.10
But before he comes
we have Celestine Barry.
00:02:28.51\00:02:31.95
Celestine, if you
would come on out, please.
00:02:32.25\00:02:34.58
She's going to sing
one of my favorite songs:
00:02:34.89\00:02:38.02
The Midnight Cry. Amen.
00:02:38.22\00:02:41.58
I hear the sound
00:03:00.95\00:03:04.25
of a mighty rushing wind.
00:03:04.95\00:03:10.59
And it's closer now
00:03:12.70\00:03:17.53
than it's ever been.
00:03:18.59\00:03:24.33
I can almost hear the trumpet
00:03:24.83\00:03:30.67
as Gabriel sounds
00:03:31.67\00:03:33.80
the call.
00:03:34.10\00:03:39.06
At the midnight cry
00:03:39.98\00:03:43.59
we'll be going home.
00:03:45.19\00:03:50.84
When Jesus steps out
00:03:51.76\00:03:56.73
on a cloud to call His children,
00:03:57.84\00:04:03.22
the dead in Christ will rise
00:04:05.19\00:04:11.13
to meet Him in the air.
00:04:12.00\00:04:17.63
And then those that remain
00:04:18.24\00:04:23.30
will be quickly changed.
00:04:25.44\00:04:31.28
At the midnight cry
00:04:31.71\00:04:37.62
when Jesus comes again.
00:04:38.55\00:04:44.14
I look around me
00:04:47.91\00:04:50.74
and I see prophecy fulfilling.
00:04:51.24\00:04:57.08
And the signs of the times
00:04:59.69\00:05:04.27
are appearing everywhere.
00:05:05.04\00:05:10.49
I can almost hear
00:05:10.89\00:05:13.74
the Father
00:05:14.14\00:05:17.91
say: "Son, go get My children. "
00:05:18.42\00:05:24.41
At the midnight cry
00:05:25.85\00:05:30.85
the bride of Christ will rise.
00:05:31.56\00:05:37.43
When Jesus steps out
00:05:37.63\00:05:42.97
on a cloud to call His children,
00:05:44.54\00:05:49.85
the dead in Christ shall rise
00:05:51.87\00:05:57.76
to meet Him in the air.
00:05:58.49\00:06:04.47
And then those that remain
00:06:05.32\00:06:10.16
will be
00:06:11.90\00:06:13.19
quickly changed.
00:06:13.50\00:06:18.92
At the midnight cry
00:06:19.32\00:06:24.10
when Jesus comes again...
00:06:25.27\00:06:31.22
At the midnight cry
00:06:32.82\00:06:38.81
our Lord will come...
00:06:42.99\00:06:46.35
He's coming soon...
00:06:46.65\00:06:48.40
again.
00:06:49.95\00:06:55.89
Amen!
00:06:59.22\00:07:00.88
Thank you so much,
Celestine. That was beautiful!
00:07:04.18\00:07:07.36
That was beautiful. Good
day to you 3ABN Camp Meeting!
00:07:07.56\00:07:11.18
It's a joy to be
here with you today.
00:07:11.68\00:07:14.50
I'd like to welcome also our
audience online and on the radio
00:07:14.80\00:07:20.08
on the television.
Before we dive in, let's...
00:07:20.11\00:07:23.79
let's pray together,
shall we? Let's bow our heads.
00:07:24.00\00:07:26.12
Heavenly Father, we
thank you for this day of life.
00:07:27.48\00:07:30.40
We thank you for Your goodness.
00:07:30.60\00:07:32.60
We thank you for Your Word
00:07:33.54\00:07:36.18
that teaches us
and nourishes us,
00:07:36.38\00:07:39.57
protects us, and gives
us a great focus on Jesus.
00:07:39.97\00:07:45.33
Lord, as we open the Word, we
pray that You would speak to us;
00:07:46.29\00:07:50.75
that You would be our Teacher;
00:07:50.95\00:07:53.46
that You would give us
deep and good understanding.
00:07:53.76\00:07:57.15
And we thank you
in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:07:57.45\00:08:00.89
Seven years ago
I took a vacation.
00:08:03.29\00:08:06.49
and I went on that vacation
with a couple of family friends.
00:08:06.79\00:08:11.47
And you may even
know some of these people.
00:08:11.67\00:08:14.21
Have you ever heard
of David Asscherick?
00:08:14.61\00:08:16.20
You know David Asscherick?
00:08:16.40\00:08:18.09
OK. I know some people watch
3ABN. Maybe they've seen him
00:08:18.19\00:08:21.47
a few times. So
David Asschericks' family,
00:08:21.57\00:08:23.48
my family went on a
family vacation together.
00:08:23.58\00:08:27.40
Also went on... and Scott
Moore was also on that trip,
00:08:27.61\00:08:31.12
and you might also know
Scott Moore and his family.
00:08:31.22\00:08:33.61
So it was the Asschericks,
the Renners, and the Moores
00:08:34.01\00:08:36.58
and we went from Michigan
where we were living at the time
00:08:36.79\00:08:40.31
to Wyoming. And we camped
along the North Platte River
00:08:40.61\00:08:46.12
in Wyoming. Beautiful
place! Yeah, maybe you know it.
00:08:46.32\00:08:49.79
And all three of us have
what's called a cataraft.
00:08:50.50\00:08:54.48
It's like a white water raft
with two pontoons on each side
00:08:54.68\00:08:58.72
or a pontoon on each side.
00:08:58.82\00:09:00.40
So we had a cataraft...
each of us had a cataraft.
00:09:00.60\00:09:02.84
Our families would ride
on the cataraft and then
00:09:03.14\00:09:05.52
we would fish. And we practice
catch and release fishing.
00:09:05.62\00:09:09.58
And so we were there camping
along the North Platte River,
00:09:09.98\00:09:13.57
fishing that river,
floating that river,
00:09:13.77\00:09:16.29
and just having the
absolute time of our lives.
00:09:16.50\00:09:19.48
The first day we arrived
00:09:20.32\00:09:22.11
we woke up after
camping that night.
00:09:22.41\00:09:24.98
The next morning was
beautiful. Perfectly blue sky.
00:09:25.18\00:09:29.58
Sunny,
glorious, perfect weather.
00:09:29.98\00:09:33.66
We put our boats in the
water and we began to float.
00:09:33.86\00:09:37.57
Now the river was
running pretty fast.
00:09:38.00\00:09:40.30
It was running at about
14,000 cubic feet per second...
00:09:40.50\00:09:44.61
which is a lot of water
down a medium-sized river.
00:09:45.01\00:09:48.38
But it was safe,
and my son, actually,
00:09:49.45\00:09:53.05
who was maybe 6 years
old at the time, was rowing.
00:09:53.25\00:09:56.67
He was on the
sticks as we like to say.
00:09:56.87\00:09:59.25
So he was in the oarsman's
seat and he was rowing.
00:09:59.65\00:10:02.72
And he had been
rowing for some time.
00:10:02.92\00:10:04.31
I was up in the front fishing,
00:10:04.41\00:10:05.83
and we were just
having a great time.
00:10:05.93\00:10:07.51
And Wyoming... You know,
they have a saying in Wyoming
00:10:08.76\00:10:11.41
"If you don't like the
weather, wait five minutes. "
00:10:11.61\00:10:14.40
And so... beauti... Do
they say that here in Illinois?
00:10:14.80\00:10:19.74
They say that
everywhere, actually. Yeah.
00:10:19.95\00:10:23.02
But it's
actually true in Wyoming.
00:10:23.35\00:10:25.70
I'm telling you: Wyoming has
the fastest temperature changes,
00:10:25.90\00:10:29.53
the fastest weather changes.
00:10:29.63\00:10:30.87
It was blue sky and sunny
00:10:31.17\00:10:33.39
and then literally
as if a switch flipped
00:10:33.79\00:10:37.71
the wind was blowing
40, 45 miles an hour.
00:10:38.02\00:10:42.19
I mean literally
just blue sky, sunshine,
00:10:42.29\00:10:45.65
and then the switch
flips, the wind is blowing,
00:10:45.85\00:10:49.70
And at that very
moment two rivers converged.
00:10:50.20\00:10:56.19
Now this was our first
time floating this river
00:10:57.27\00:11:00.08
so we didn't really know
what was going to be happening.
00:11:00.38\00:11:02.93
So in an instant the
wind blows and at that moment
00:11:03.33\00:11:07.30
two rivers converge. And
those two rivers converge
00:11:07.50\00:11:11.15
at a giant bend in the river.
00:11:11.35\00:11:14.08
Now if you've ever floated a
river you know that the bends
00:11:14.28\00:11:18.30
are always where it gets scary
00:11:18.51\00:11:20.21
because the water
pushes you into the corner.
00:11:20.31\00:11:24.40
Now remember, who was rowing?
00:11:26.23\00:11:27.94
Who was on the
sticks? My six-year-old son.
00:11:28.14\00:11:31.17
There were 14,000 cu. ft. of
water ripping down that river
00:11:32.48\00:11:36.06
and now the wind is
howling 40, 50 miles an hour.
00:11:36.09\00:11:40.34
Well, I could immediately see
it was time for dad to get on
00:11:41.81\00:11:45.19
the sticks. It was time for
dad to be in the oarsman's seat.
00:11:45.29\00:11:48.97
So we were trying
to make that transition
00:11:49.27\00:11:52.59
but before we
could make the transition
00:11:52.79\00:11:54.93
the boat got pinned in
the corner against a tree
00:11:55.23\00:12:00.74
that was leaning out
off the bank into the river.
00:12:00.94\00:12:04.85
And so now we've got
all of this water pushing
00:12:06.39\00:12:09.74
against the side of our boat
that's pinned against this tree.
00:12:09.94\00:12:13.36
And we were tangled up
with fishing rods and dogs
00:12:13.66\00:12:17.55
and two kids and wife, and
we're trying to switch spots
00:12:17.65\00:12:22.23
so I can get us out.
00:12:22.43\00:12:23.91
And I felt the
down-river side of the boat
00:12:24.21\00:12:28.67
beginning to lift.
So before I could even
00:12:28.97\00:12:34.43
say "Get on the high
side" literally the words
00:12:34.63\00:12:38.16
"Get on the... " Those words
were coming out of my mouth
00:12:38.36\00:12:42.38
and in just an instant
00:12:42.68\00:12:45.63
the whole boat
flipped upside down.
00:12:45.83\00:12:49.13
Now I was on the high side.
00:12:50.28\00:12:51.99
Because I was on the high side
00:12:52.88\00:12:54.60
I bailed out
the back of the boat
00:12:54.80\00:12:56.75
and... and I was fine.
00:12:57.05\00:13:00.10
But my family was now
trapped underneath our boat
00:13:01.32\00:13:06.69
in a river that's flowing
at 14,000 cu. ft. per second.
00:13:07.09\00:13:11.54
And I start... I mean
obviously, I'm freaking.
00:13:13.85\00:13:16.06
I'm... "Levi, Laurel. "
I'm just calling their names.
00:13:16.27\00:13:20.03
I'm calling their names and
there is no Levi to be seen,
00:13:20.13\00:13:24.49
there is no Laurel to be seen.
00:13:24.69\00:13:26.20
There is no Becky to be seen.
00:13:26.30\00:13:28.31
And then all of a
sudden... All of a sudden
00:13:28.61\00:13:31.05
my son pops out
from underneath the boat.
00:13:31.25\00:13:35.42
And I was completely relieved
00:13:36.52\00:13:39.61
so I swam to him. I
grabbed him; I pulled him
00:13:39.81\00:13:43.04
over to the boat. Now he and I
are there hanging onto the boat.
00:13:43.14\00:13:46.34
And now I'm
screaming "Laurel, Becky. "
00:13:46.54\00:13:50.73
And no Laurel and no Becky.
00:13:50.93\00:13:54.75
"Laurel and Becky. "
I mean, I'm screaming.
00:13:56.17\00:13:58.87
Still no Laurel; still no Becky.
00:13:59.07\00:14:01.96
And for what
felt like an eternity
00:14:02.46\00:14:07.16
no Laurel, no Becky.
00:14:08.68\00:14:12.63
And then when it seemed
like it was just too long
00:14:15.17\00:14:18.12
uh... I see my wife and
my daughter come out the side
00:14:19.94\00:14:23.98
of the boat.
00:14:24.08\00:14:25.55
Now we were out in
the middle of nowhere.
00:14:28.12\00:14:31.28
We were 10 miles from
a road... soaking wet.
00:14:31.38\00:14:35.00
So once my wife and
daughter are out, my son is out,
00:14:35.54\00:14:38.72
I swim to... I
let my son go. I said:
00:14:38.92\00:14:41.86
"He's a big boy; he can swim. "
00:14:42.07\00:14:43.97
I swam to my wife and
daughter. I grabbed my daughter.
00:14:45.22\00:14:48.24
I swam her to shore. I
sat her down on the shore
00:14:48.44\00:14:50.55
and I said: "Sweetheart,
no matter what happens
00:14:50.75\00:14:52.65
don't move from
here. Do you understand? "
00:14:52.85\00:14:55.52
"Yes. " She was like four.
00:14:55.82\00:14:57.45
'Cause now remember
we are ten miles out
00:14:58.58\00:15:02.05
in the middle of
nowhere in Wyoming, right?
00:15:02.25\00:15:06.15
So now my wife
is swimming to Levi
00:15:06.49\00:15:10.64
to swim him to shore, and
what's happening with the boat?
00:15:10.84\00:15:13.93
It's floating
down the river, OK?
00:15:15.21\00:15:17.94
It's just going.
00:15:18.27\00:15:19.55
So now I swim
downstream as fast as I can...
00:15:19.85\00:15:23.95
as fast as I can, and
eventually I catch the boat.
00:15:24.15\00:15:27.59
And then I have to
swim the boat to shore,
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.26
drag it up on the shore. I
get my wife; I get my kids.
00:15:31.46\00:15:34.83
Our friends were
actually up ahead of us.
00:15:35.03\00:15:36.98
They were like:
"Where are the Renners at? "
00:15:37.29\00:15:39.79
And they pull off to the
shore and then they start hiking
00:15:39.99\00:15:42.42
upstream to find
out what's going on.
00:15:42.52\00:15:44.51
As soon as I got my wife,
my kids, and the boat to shore
00:15:45.74\00:15:49.00
you know what we
did? We sang the doxology.
00:15:49.20\00:15:52.86
Right? Praise God, from
whom all blessings flow.
00:15:53.16\00:15:57.62
Amen? Amen! My wife told me
00:15:57.92\00:16:01.32
when I said "Get on the
high side" and the boat flipped
00:16:01.52\00:16:05.42
when I said those words
she reached out and grabbed
00:16:05.72\00:16:08.78
my daughter.
When she grabbed her
00:16:08.89\00:16:12.07
she literally had
her with two fingers
00:16:12.27\00:16:16.50
pinching her shirt.
00:16:16.80\00:16:19.22
They're under the
water bouncing off rocks -
00:16:20.34\00:16:22.67
underneath the
boat bouncing off rocks
00:16:22.87\00:16:25.02
in the raging river - my
wife literally has a hold
00:16:25.22\00:16:28.55
of our two-year-old
daughter with two fingers.
00:16:28.76\00:16:31.50
She came up off the bottom
00:16:33.88\00:16:36.76
to come up and she hit the boat
00:16:36.79\00:16:41.08
and there was nowhere to go up
00:16:41.38\00:16:44.70
'cause in the boat
the boat has a flat deck
00:16:45.66\00:16:47.59
except for in the very center.
So she comes up, she hits...
00:16:47.69\00:16:51.34
There's no place to go
up, there's no place to get a
00:16:51.54\00:16:53.38
breath. Remember,
she's holding on my daughter.
00:16:53.48\00:16:56.06
She goes back
down; she comes back up
00:16:56.26\00:16:58.72
and this time she happens
to come up in the middle.
00:16:58.75\00:17:01.81
So she tilts her head
back; she gets a breath of air.
00:17:02.11\00:17:04.51
She's still just holding onto
the daughter by this. She goes
00:17:04.91\00:17:07.17
back under and she
then gets to the side
00:17:07.37\00:17:11.91
and is able to pull our
daughter out with two fingers.
00:17:12.21\00:17:15.55
Now, why do I
tell you this story?
00:17:17.19\00:17:21.00
The only reason we survived that
00:17:23.52\00:17:26.07
is because we were prepared.
00:17:26.47\00:17:28.96
You know how we were prepared?
00:17:30.49\00:17:32.18
We were all
wearing our life vests.
00:17:33.29\00:17:35.52
Here's the thing:
when you get on a boat
00:17:37.91\00:17:39.66
in a raging river
the question isn't
00:17:40.86\00:17:44.68
if the boat's going
to flip someday, right?
00:17:44.88\00:17:48.26
The question isn't if you're
going to have an adventure.
00:17:48.76\00:17:52.20
The question is when, right?
00:17:52.50\00:17:55.12
And because you know that
someday there's going to be
00:17:55.42\00:17:59.46
a problem of some sort
00:17:59.56\00:18:01.30
someday, you know...
Therefore, what do you do?
00:18:01.60\00:18:05.96
You get ready; you
wear your life jacket.
00:18:06.97\00:18:09.22
Can you say amen to that?
00:18:09.25\00:18:10.67
I'll tell you, there
has never been a day...
00:18:11.35\00:18:13.91
I mean - you know - I
think about this all the time.
00:18:14.11\00:18:16.14
I think: "I am so glad
I was wearing my jacket
00:18:16.24\00:18:18.70
and I'm so glad my kids
were wearing their jackets.
00:18:18.90\00:18:20.99
Now, if you have your Bible, go
with me to the book of Matthew.
00:18:21.29\00:18:24.81
Matthew chapter 24.
00:18:25.01\00:18:27.28
Matthew 24 is this
great chapter about the coming
00:18:28.31\00:18:31.35
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:18:31.45\00:18:33.04
And in Matthew chapter
24 Jesus makes an incredibly
00:18:33.92\00:18:37.69
important statement. It's
very short; it's very simple.
00:18:37.79\00:18:41.36
And Jesus says...
Matthew chapter 24,
00:18:41.76\00:18:44.58
we're going to look in verse 36.
00:18:44.68\00:18:46.20
Jesus makes an
incredible statement.
00:18:46.40\00:18:48.81
Matthew 24 verse 36
00:18:49.61\00:18:51.74
Jesus says: "Of
that day and hour
00:18:51.94\00:18:56.11
no one knows... not
even the angels of heaven
00:18:56.51\00:19:01.04
but My Father only. "
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.50
Now in Matthew 24 what
we're going to see as we
00:19:03.80\00:19:06.72
study through Matthew 24
and several other texts...
00:19:06.82\00:19:09.59
what we're going to see as
we study through these texts
00:19:09.79\00:19:11.77
is this: that Jesus'
coming - the day and the hour
00:19:11.87\00:19:15.72
of Jesus' coming - is
unknown and unknowable.
00:19:15.82\00:19:19.62
That is, nobody knows
it and nobody can know it.
00:19:20.02\00:19:22.96
The only person that
knows it is God the Father.
00:19:24.09\00:19:26.24
Jesus... In fact, look
at the text. The text says
00:19:26.44\00:19:28.26
that Jesus Himself
does not even know.
00:19:28.46\00:19:31.47
The angels don't know.
It's only the Father who knows
00:19:31.87\00:19:36.85
when His coming
was or is going to be.
00:19:37.05\00:19:40.92
Now, the purpose that
Jesus tells us... Jesus tells us
00:19:41.35\00:19:45.21
over and over again that nobody
knows when He's going to come.
00:19:45.32\00:19:48.89
It's not knowable, and
what Jesus is going to tell us
00:19:49.29\00:19:52.62
after this is this: "That's
why you need to be prepared
00:19:52.72\00:19:56.93
all the time. "
00:19:57.23\00:19:58.91
You cannot know when
Jesus is going to come
00:19:59.77\00:20:02.18
so you cannot put off
being prepared for another time.
00:20:02.48\00:20:07.23
You have to be
prepared all the time.
00:20:07.64\00:20:11.50
OK. Now, let's look...
Matthew 24 verse 36 it says:
00:20:11.80\00:20:16.01
"Of that day and hour
00:20:16.11\00:20:17.74
no one knows, not
even the angels of heaven
00:20:17.94\00:20:22.29
but My Father only. "
00:20:22.49\00:20:26.26
Now in the book of Deuteronomy,
00:20:26.57\00:20:30.60
the Bible says... and
you can go there, in fact.
00:20:30.74\00:20:32.39
Deuteronomy 29:29.
00:20:32.59\00:20:34.45
The Bible says: "The
things that are revealed
00:20:34.85\00:20:37.66
are for us and
for our children. "
00:20:37.86\00:20:43.11
Let's read it from the
beginning: "The secret things
00:20:46.30\00:20:48.41
belong to the Lord our God but
those things which are revealed
00:20:48.44\00:20:52.26
belong to us and to our
children... " For how long?
00:20:52.46\00:20:56.54
"forever... that we may do
all the words of this law. "
00:20:56.85\00:21:02.65
Now what Moses tells us
in the book of Deuteronomy is
00:21:02.99\00:21:05.98
something really important.
00:21:06.08\00:21:08.20
That the secret
things belong to God.
00:21:08.41\00:21:11.46
God is God. The Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit -
00:21:11.76\00:21:15.73
the Trinity - it's OK
for God to have secrets
00:21:15.93\00:21:21.06
inside the Trinity.
Can you say amen to that?
00:21:21.36\00:21:23.92
Right? So it's OK for God to
have secrets inside the Trinity.
00:21:24.78\00:21:28.79
And then it says that God
tells us what we need to know
00:21:28.99\00:21:33.17
in order to be
faithful followers of His.
00:21:33.37\00:21:36.99
Do you follow
that? Notice it says
00:21:37.29\00:21:39.18
"The secret things
belong to the Lord our God, but
00:21:39.38\00:21:41.39
the things which are revealed
belong to us and to our children
00:21:41.59\00:21:46.40
forever. " And
then it says this:
00:21:47.82\00:21:50.43
"that we may do all
the words of this law. "
00:21:50.53\00:21:54.76
So notice the idea here that God
tells us what we need to know
00:21:55.06\00:21:59.51
in order to be faithful obedient
followers of the true God.
00:21:59.71\00:22:03.10
Amen? So let's
just make this point:
00:22:03.50\00:22:06.64
knowing the day and the hour
would not help you spiritually.
00:22:06.84\00:22:11.31
Knowing the day and the
hour of the coming of the Lord
00:22:14.38\00:22:16.70
would not help you spiritually.
In fact, knowing the day
00:22:16.80\00:22:20.22
and the hour would actually be
a detriment to you spiritually
00:22:20.32\00:22:24.96
because it would cause
you to put off your necessary
00:22:25.26\00:22:28.59
preparation until a later hour.
00:22:28.69\00:22:31.26
So let's go back
to Matthew chapter 24.
00:22:31.94\00:22:34.09
Going back to Matthew 24...
00:22:34.39\00:22:36.61
So Jesus says in Matthew 24
00:22:36.91\00:22:39.36
that we cannot know
the day or the hour.
00:22:39.56\00:22:43.45
But Jesus actually
makes it really clear
00:22:44.15\00:22:47.95
in Matthew 24. We're
going to begin in verse 32
00:22:48.15\00:22:51.61
that though we cannot
know the day and the hour
00:22:51.91\00:22:55.36
we can know the season.
00:22:55.66\00:22:58.75
Matthew 24. Let's
pick it up in verse 32.
00:22:59.05\00:23:03.02
"Now learn this
parable from the fig tree.
00:23:05.12\00:23:08.47
When its branch has already
become tender and put forth
00:23:09.65\00:23:14.81
leaves you know
that summer is... " What?
00:23:14.91\00:23:18.89
"is near. "
00:23:19.19\00:23:21.48
I love that time of
the year, don't you?
00:23:21.78\00:23:23.81
Long, cold,
gray winter... right?
00:23:24.11\00:23:29.02
All of a sudden the trees just
have these tender little buds.
00:23:29.22\00:23:34.68
And isn't it the most
beautiful, most vibrant,
00:23:34.98\00:23:38.54
the brightest green? The first
shoots coming out of the tree...
00:23:38.64\00:23:43.62
the first buds? And
that's what Jesus says.
00:23:43.72\00:23:45.85
"The moment you start
seeing that green sprouting out
00:23:45.95\00:23:49.02
what do you know?
Summer is coming. "
00:23:49.33\00:23:52.13
I live in California. If
Jesus was telling this story
00:23:52.23\00:23:54.69
in California you
know what He would say?
00:23:54.79\00:23:56.64
"When the
dogwoods start to blossom
00:23:56.94\00:23:59.82
you know summer is coming. "
00:24:00.97\00:24:02.75
Verse 33: "So you also
when you see all these things
00:24:04.83\00:24:10.34
know that it is
near... at the doors. "
00:24:10.64\00:24:15.99
Now what Jesus has told us
earlier in the chapter, and I
00:24:17.36\00:24:20.70
want to take some time and
look at what Jesus has told us.
00:24:20.80\00:24:23.20
So what Jesus has said is: "You
can't know the day and the hour
00:24:23.61\00:24:26.37
but you can know the season.
It's like when summer is coming
00:24:26.57\00:24:30.03
and the trees
begin to blossom and bud
00:24:30.23\00:24:32.38
then you know summer
is coming. " Jesus says:
00:24:32.58\00:24:35.45
"I'm going to tell you some
signs. In fact, I have told you
00:24:35.65\00:24:38.28
some signs. And when you see
those signs, then you know...
00:24:38.48\00:24:42.08
then you know that
My coming is near. "
00:24:42.31\00:24:45.34
Can you know the
day and the hour? No.
00:24:45.54\00:24:47.14
You can't know that.
The angels don't know that;
00:24:47.25\00:24:49.00
Jesus didn't even know that when
He was here on planet earth.
00:24:49.10\00:24:51.91
So let's look. What
are some of those signs?
00:24:53.10\00:24:55.20
Look there... we're
going to look at verse 4.
00:24:55.40\00:25:01.32
Matthew 24...
Jesus tells us the signs
00:25:01.72\00:25:05.21
that indicate
what season we are in.
00:25:05.51\00:25:09.53
Matthew 24 verse 4:
00:25:10.13\00:25:12.07
"Jesus answered and said to them
00:25:12.37\00:25:14.15
'Take heed that no one
deceives you, for many will
00:25:14.35\00:25:17.22
come in My name
saying I am the Christ
00:25:17.42\00:25:20.50
and will deceive many.
00:25:20.80\00:25:23.79
And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars.
00:25:24.10\00:25:27.10
See that you are not troubled
for all these things must come
00:25:27.30\00:25:30.66
to pass... ' Now notice
this next little phrase here.
00:25:30.76\00:25:33.51
What is the next phrase?
00:25:33.71\00:25:35.02
'but the end is not yet. ' "
00:25:35.22\00:25:39.45
Wow! Now what Jesus...
00:25:39.95\00:25:43.42
The disciples ask Jesus: "What
are the signs of Your coming? "
00:25:43.82\00:25:47.30
And Jesus says: "Well, you
guys are going to see people
00:25:47.50\00:25:50.55
claiming to be the Messiah.
00:25:50.66\00:25:51.70
You're going to
see false Christs.
00:25:51.80\00:25:53.05
They're going to
deceive lots of people.
00:25:53.65\00:25:56.14
You're going to hear
about wars and rumors of wars.
00:25:56.24\00:25:58.71
See that you are not troubled. "
00:25:59.21\00:26:01.15
Jesus says: "All these things
must come to pass, but the end
00:26:01.36\00:26:06.14
is not yet. "
00:26:06.34\00:26:09.79
So often as Christians while
we see wars and rumors of wars
00:26:10.67\00:26:14.95
and we think:
"Jesus is coming again! "
00:26:15.15\00:26:18.22
And what Jesus says is:
00:26:18.62\00:26:20.91
"Wars and rumors of wars...
00:26:21.12\00:26:22.94
don't get too
excited about that. "
00:26:23.14\00:26:25.62
Is that shocking? No.
00:26:28.63\00:26:31.95
Jesus says then: "For nation
will rise against nation... "
00:26:33.18\00:26:36.86
I'm in verse 7:
00:26:36.96\00:26:38.07
"kingdom against kingdom.
00:26:38.47\00:26:40.49
And there will be famines
and pestilence and earthquakes
00:26:40.79\00:26:44.67
in various places... " And
then notice what Jesus says:
00:26:44.87\00:26:49.10
"All these are the
beginning of sorrows. "
00:26:50.05\00:26:55.96
Really?
00:26:57.27\00:26:58.92
The disciples say:
"What are the signs?
00:26:59.32\00:27:01.40
What are the signs
that You're coming soon? "
00:27:01.50\00:27:03.25
Jesus says: "Wars,
rumors of wars, earthquakes,
00:27:03.46\00:27:06.54
famines, pestilence,
kingdoms against kingdoms,
00:27:06.57\00:27:09.25
nations against nations. These
things are just the beginning. "
00:27:09.45\00:27:13.94
Verse 9:
00:27:17.19\00:27:18.56
"Then they will deliver you
up to tribulation and kill you
00:27:21.69\00:27:25.10
and you will be hated by all
nations for My name's sake. "
00:27:25.40\00:27:29.88
Jesus says: "All right, you're
going to see wars, rumors of
00:27:32.27\00:27:34.53
wars, famines,
pestilence, all these things.
00:27:34.63\00:27:37.48
These are just the
beginnings of sorrows.
00:27:37.69\00:27:40.43
They're going to
deliver you up to tribulation.
00:27:40.84\00:27:44.28
There will be persecution
and you will be killed.
00:27:44.68\00:27:47.65
You will be hated by all
nations for My name's sake. "
00:27:47.95\00:27:51.20
Verse 10: "Then
many will be... " What?
00:27:51.50\00:27:54.88
"offended and will
betray one another. "
00:27:55.18\00:27:59.05
The word offend in the original,
it's related to the word
00:28:00.38\00:28:05.02
stumble. And so what Jesus
is saying is this. It's very
00:28:05.12\00:28:08.33
amazing: "Wars, rumors of
wars... don't get too worried
00:28:08.57\00:28:10.91
about that. Famines,
pestilence, earthquakes...
00:28:11.11\00:28:12.74
Yeah, the end is not yet.
That's just the beginning.
00:28:12.94\00:28:15.49
When they start
persecuting then you can know
00:28:15.69\00:28:18.75
you're getting close. "
00:28:18.96\00:28:20.35
And then it says:
"Then people will be offended
00:28:20.66\00:28:23.64
because of Me. " What
Jesus is saying there is
00:28:23.84\00:28:26.14
that believers -
professed believers -
00:28:26.44\00:28:30.00
are going to be
offended. And the word there...
00:28:30.10\00:28:32.50
It's the word stumble, and
so it's like let's say we're...
00:28:32.80\00:28:36.20
we're friends and
we're both Christians
00:28:36.30\00:28:38.16
and there's famines
and pestilence. OK, OK.
00:28:38.36\00:28:40.09
And now all of a
sudden there's persecution
00:28:40.29\00:28:42.05
and somebody starts to stumble.
00:28:42.25\00:28:44.13
That's what it means to say
people will become offended.
00:28:44.63\00:28:48.38
Believing people are
going to start stumbling
00:28:48.78\00:28:52.19
over the gospel
because of persecution.
00:28:52.40\00:28:55.79
That's what Jesus was saying.
00:28:55.99\00:28:57.86
And then they will
betray one another.
00:29:00.25\00:29:03.05
So Jesus is saying that
when times get really difficult
00:29:03.45\00:29:07.88
for us who confess Christ
00:29:07.98\00:29:11.20
when we start to betray...
when we start to stumble
00:29:11.40\00:29:15.73
because of Jesus,
we start to abandon...
00:29:15.93\00:29:18.72
People start to
abandon the faith
00:29:18.92\00:29:20.60
then those people
that abandon the faith
00:29:20.90\00:29:23.01
will begin to betray the people
they used to associate with.
00:29:23.21\00:29:27.39
"Then Jesus said:
'At that time... '
00:29:28.20\00:29:33.87
Verse 11: 'then many
false prophets will rise up. ' "
00:29:33.98\00:29:39.31
OK. So tribulation comes
and then people start to stumble
00:29:39.91\00:29:44.77
out of the Christian faith.
They begin to betray the true
00:29:44.97\00:29:48.30
Christians and then it
says that in that context
00:29:48.40\00:29:53.77
many false
prophets will then arise
00:29:53.98\00:29:57.10
and they will deceive many.
00:29:57.30\00:29:59.81
Verse 12: "And because
lawlessness will abound
00:30:03.24\00:30:07.62
the love of many
will grow cold. "
00:30:08.95\00:30:11.77
The focus of this
text is not the world.
00:30:13.37\00:30:15.50
The focus of this
text is the church.
00:30:15.70\00:30:17.61
So what Jesus is saying: "Yeah,
famines, pestilence, wars,
00:30:18.79\00:30:22.16
rumors of wars... don't
get too worked up about that.
00:30:22.36\00:30:24.76
The end is not yet.
When tribulation comes
00:30:24.86\00:30:27.70
for the people of God, then
you're getting a little closer.
00:30:27.90\00:30:30.50
When the tribulation
gets so intense so that people
00:30:30.90\00:30:33.88
are stumbling out
of the Christian faith,
00:30:34.08\00:30:35.96
then you know you've got
some serious issues going on.
00:30:36.17\00:30:39.75
Then those people that
stumble will begin to betray
00:30:40.05\00:30:42.61
and their love will grow cold
00:30:42.81\00:30:45.34
and then people will begin
to fail to endure to the end. "
00:30:45.74\00:30:51.59
Look at verse 13:
00:30:51.79\00:30:52.82
"He who endures to the end
shall be... " What? "saved. "
00:30:53.01\00:30:58.58
Verse 14 is the punch line
of this section of scripture
00:31:02.22\00:31:05.21
and verse 14 is actually
one of the most important
00:31:05.41\00:31:08.88
and powerful verses here.
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:31:09.08\00:31:13.32
will be
preached in all the world
00:31:13.52\00:31:17.35
as a witness to all the nations
00:31:17.55\00:31:20.33
and then the end will come. "
00:31:20.53\00:31:24.79
You know what the real sign
that Jesus is coming soon is?
00:31:25.19\00:31:30.45
It's not wars.
It's not rumors of wars.
00:31:30.95\00:31:34.28
Those have been happening
for thousands of years.
00:31:34.58\00:31:36.98
Famines... pestilence?
00:31:37.38\00:31:39.10
That's been happening
for thousands of years.
00:31:39.40\00:31:41.74
Tribulation, persecution?
Yes, that's been happening.
00:31:42.89\00:31:45.83
It will intensify as we
get near to the end, but
00:31:46.96\00:31:49.60
the greatest sign of the
soon coming of our Savior
00:31:49.81\00:31:53.80
is the gospel being
preached to all the world.
00:31:54.21\00:31:58.31
Can you say amen to that? Amen!
00:31:58.41\00:32:00.29
Now what Jesus says
is: "You can't know the day
00:32:01.16\00:32:04.75
or the hour. " OK?
00:32:04.85\00:32:06.46
So if somebody comes
to you and says: "Jesus is
00:32:06.49\00:32:08.76
coming on such and such a
date such and such a time"
00:32:08.96\00:32:11.55
or even you
know... then you can know
00:32:11.75\00:32:14.70
that guy has not been reading
the Bible carefully enough.
00:32:14.90\00:32:18.32
But Jesus is pretty clear:
"Though you cannot know the day
00:32:20.90\00:32:24.12
and the hour you
can know the season. "
00:32:24.22\00:32:26.19
And the season where
Christ is soon to come
00:32:28.06\00:32:32.80
is the season where the gospel
is going to all the world.
00:32:33.20\00:32:37.55
The season where
Christ is soon to come
00:32:38.05\00:32:40.89
is the season where God's
people begin to be persecuted
00:32:41.09\00:32:44.82
and people begin
to betray one another.
00:32:45.03\00:32:48.19
Former believers begin
to stumble out of the faith
00:32:48.49\00:32:51.58
and then there is this
urgent call to God's people
00:32:51.78\00:32:55.23
to love and not become
lawless and to endure to the end
00:32:55.43\00:33:00.73
preaching and teaching
the gospel to all nations.
00:33:00.93\00:33:03.51
That is the sign
that we are in the season
00:33:03.81\00:33:07.97
that Jesus is coming soon.
00:33:08.28\00:33:10.47
Amen? Amen! By the
way, I would say that
00:33:10.77\00:33:14.12
we are in that season. Amen?
00:33:14.32\00:33:16.85
We are in that season.
Now, I am so encouraged
00:33:17.25\00:33:21.34
by the progress that the gospel
is making around the world.
00:33:21.64\00:33:26.33
Are you encouraged by that?
00:33:26.43\00:33:28.12
But is it possible that I
can be simultaneously encouraged
00:33:28.98\00:33:33.18
and discouraged
at the same time?
00:33:33.38\00:33:35.08
Absolutely.
00:33:36.83\00:33:38.30
OK. So in one sense
I'm totally encouraged.
00:33:38.40\00:33:42.55
I mean, look at what God
has done through ministries
00:33:42.75\00:33:44.58
like 3ABN. Right?
00:33:44.68\00:33:46.92
The good news of Jesus is
going all around the world
00:33:47.12\00:33:49.76
with great power through radio
and television and the Internet.
00:33:49.86\00:33:53.19
But there are
6,829 people groups
00:33:54.09\00:34:00.08
who have never
heard even the name Jesus.
00:34:00.29\00:34:04.75
Hard for you to
believe that, isn't it?
00:34:07.86\00:34:09.68
It's hard to believe that.
00:34:10.18\00:34:11.60
See, often as Seventh-
day Adventist Christians
00:34:11.81\00:34:14.91
we're patting ourselves on the
back because we've got a mission
00:34:15.01\00:34:18.44
in every part of the world.
We do! In almost every country
00:34:18.54\00:34:22.67
we are represented. The
problem is is that just because
00:34:22.87\00:34:25.94
you have a mission
office in Turkey doesn't mean
00:34:26.04\00:34:29.23
that anybody in
Turkey's ever really met Jesus
00:34:29.43\00:34:32.14
except for the one guy who
moved there to run the mission.
00:34:32.34\00:34:34.69
No offense, by the way, if
you run the mission in Turkey.
00:34:35.84\00:34:38.26
I'm not picking on you.
00:34:38.36\00:34:40.03
You follow that? Yes or no?
00:34:46.95\00:34:48.70
So you have a
country like Turkey
00:34:50.36\00:34:52.56
where there is less
than .01% of the population
00:34:52.96\00:34:56.87
that's Christian.
00:34:56.97\00:34:58.02
These people have no...
They're not going to tune in.
00:34:58.52\00:35:02.96
They don't know anything.
00:35:03.26\00:35:05.39
In fact, this
6,829 people groups
00:35:05.99\00:35:10.24
represent about
2.74 billion people.
00:35:10.45\00:35:16.40
So in one sense
we can be encouraged.
00:35:19.98\00:35:23.41
We don't know the day or
the hour. We can know the season
00:35:23.61\00:35:25.94
and the gospel is spreading
around the world in remarkable
00:35:26.04\00:35:29.04
ways, amen? And yet
there are 2,74 billion people
00:35:29.15\00:35:34.90
who need an opportunity.
00:35:35.10\00:35:37.33
If we want to be the
generation that sees Jesus come,
00:35:38.54\00:35:42.26
the mission work of this world
needs to be front and center
00:35:43.11\00:35:46.93
in our thinking. Amen?
00:35:47.13\00:35:48.79
Now, Jesus is clear. No
one knows the day or the hour.
00:35:49.19\00:35:54.13
Only the Father knows;
not even the angels know...
00:35:54.33\00:35:57.29
but we can know the season.
00:35:57.49\00:35:59.24
And when we see
famines and pestilence
00:35:59.34\00:36:00.99
we don't get too
worried. When we see...
00:36:01.10\00:36:02.71
I mean we get worried for
the people that are suffering.
00:36:02.91\00:36:05.10
We see earthquakes we
don't get worried Jesus is
00:36:05.30\00:36:07.70
coming soon. But
when we see persecution
00:36:07.81\00:36:10.58
and when we see the
gospel going around the world
00:36:10.78\00:36:13.22
then we get excited
because we know that we are in
00:36:13.42\00:36:17.70
the season when Jesus
is going to come. Amen?
00:36:17.80\00:36:22.02
Now let's look down
at Matthew chapter 24.
00:36:22.81\00:36:28.43
Matthew chapter 24.
00:36:28.94\00:36:31.01
And we're just going to
pick it up in verse 32 again.
00:36:33.26\00:36:37.37
We've read it already,
but let's read it again.
00:36:37.67\00:36:39.39
So Jesus says: "Learn
this parable from the fig tree.
00:36:39.79\00:36:42.88
When its branch is already
become tender and puts forth
00:36:43.28\00:36:48.29
leaves you know
summer is... " What? "near.
00:36:48.49\00:36:52.43
So you also, when you
see all these things... "
00:36:52.73\00:36:55.76
When you see the things that
Jesus has just talked about...
00:36:55.96\00:36:58.70
the tribulation, the
gospel going to the world.
00:36:59.10\00:37:02.16
When you see all of that:
"You can know that it is near,
00:37:02.36\00:37:05.45
at the doors. " Verse
34: "Assuredly I say to you
00:37:05.75\00:37:10.57
this generation
will by no means pass
00:37:10.97\00:37:14.18
till... " What?
"all things take place. "
00:37:14.38\00:37:18.78
You know what Jesus is saying?
00:37:19.08\00:37:20.29
The generation that experiences
the gospel going to the world
00:37:20.69\00:37:23.63
and the generation that
experiences the tribulation
00:37:23.93\00:37:28.67
that He has described
will be the generation
00:37:28.87\00:37:31.46
to see Jesus come again.
00:37:31.56\00:37:33.60
Now, Jesus then says in
verse 35: "Heaven and earth
00:37:34.33\00:37:38.43
will pass away but My... " What?
00:37:38.66\00:37:41.63
"words will never pass away.
00:37:41.83\00:37:44.12
But of that day and hour... "
00:37:44.52\00:37:47.62
Who knows? "no one knows.
00:37:47.82\00:37:50.99
"not even the angels of
heaven but My Father only. "
00:37:51.99\00:37:55.51
Now what Jesus begins to do
now is to illustrate this fact
00:37:55.71\00:37:59.38
that nobody knows
the day or the hour. OK?
00:37:59.48\00:38:02.01
How does Jesus
illustrate it? Verse 37:
00:38:02.24\00:38:03.95
"As the days of Noah were
so also will the coming of
00:38:04.15\00:38:08.26
the Son of Man be. For as
in the days before the flood
00:38:08.36\00:38:12.94
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage
00:38:13.14\00:38:16.02
until the day
Noah entered the ark. "
00:38:16.12\00:38:17.94
And notice it says, verse 39:
00:38:18.24\00:38:20.10
"And did not know until
the flood came and took them
00:38:20.30\00:38:24.38
all away. So also will the
coming of the Son of Man be. "
00:38:24.48\00:38:28.78
Now what I want you to
notice here, my friends: Jesus
00:38:29.28\00:38:31.28
starts in verse
36 "no one knows. "
00:38:31.48\00:38:34.36
Then He says: "It's going
to be like in the days of Noah.
00:38:34.57\00:38:36.80
People are eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage.
00:38:37.00\00:38:39.63
Things are going along, and they
didn't know until the flood came
00:38:39.83\00:38:44.56
and swept them away. "
00:38:44.76\00:38:46.22
And so, my friends, I
want you to think about this:
00:38:46.72\00:38:49.45
did Noah know the season
that the flood would come?
00:38:49.65\00:38:54.28
Yes or no? Of course he did.
00:38:54.48\00:38:56.20
God had him building
the ark. The ark gets built.
00:38:56.40\00:38:58.56
And OK, now the ark is built...
we know we're getting close.
00:38:58.86\00:39:02.40
In fact, interestingly enough
Methuselah died right around
00:39:03.03\00:39:06.30
that time. And you know the
name Methuselah: when he dies
00:39:06.40\00:39:09.81
it will come.
00:39:10.11\00:39:11.98
His name was a prophecy.
00:39:12.28\00:39:14.64
So Noah knew the season.
00:39:15.86\00:39:18.55
Noah knew the season, but he
didn't know the day or the hour.
00:39:18.95\00:39:21.35
Then God says: "All
right, Noah, get on the boat. "
00:39:21.85\00:39:24.31
All right. So
Noah gets on the boat.
00:39:24.51\00:39:26.66
Now how long's Noah on the boat
before the rain starts to fall?
00:39:26.96\00:39:29.61
Noah's on the boat seven days
before the rain starts to fall.
00:39:29.91\00:39:32.67
For those seven
days the people were like
00:39:32.97\00:39:35.06
"Noah built a boat on dry land.
00:39:35.36\00:39:39.83
Now he's in the boat on dry land
00:39:40.14\00:39:42.89
with the door closed
and all those animals.
00:39:42.99\00:39:45.31
Noah is mentally ill. "
00:39:45.71\00:39:48.57
All right. Isn't that
what everybody was saying?
00:39:49.87\00:39:52.50
No question. Everybody's
"Noah: he's mentally ill.
00:39:52.81\00:39:56.42
There's no question about it. "
00:39:56.52\00:39:59.01
And then the first pitter-patter
of rain began to fall.
00:39:59.41\00:40:05.34
And then the fountains of
the great earth broke forth
00:40:05.74\00:40:09.54
and swept them away.
00:40:09.84\00:40:13.92
And they were totally surprised.
00:40:14.42\00:40:18.23
Even though Noah had
been preaching for 120 years
00:40:18.64\00:40:22.98
they were still
completely surprised.
00:40:23.38\00:40:28.45
Jesus says no one
knows the day or the hour.
00:40:31.12\00:40:33.25
It's going to be
like in the days of Noah.
00:40:34.75\00:40:36.83
It's going to be a
shock to those who are lost.
00:40:37.03\00:40:41.56
Verse 40 He
illustrates it: "Two men will be
00:40:41.66\00:40:44.30
in the field. One will
be taken; the other left.
00:40:44.50\00:40:46.61
Two women will be
grinding at the mill...
00:40:46.81\00:40:48.49
one will be
taken; the other left.
00:40:48.69\00:40:51.38
Watch therefore... " Now
this is Jesus' punch line:
00:40:51.78\00:40:55.11
You know the
season; this is Matthew 24.
00:40:55.41\00:40:58.00
You know the season. You
don't know the day or the hour.
00:40:58.20\00:41:02.01
It's going to be
a complete surprise.
00:41:02.41\00:41:05.18
"Watch therefore... "
That's the punch line.
00:41:05.48\00:41:08.89
"Watch therefore
for you do not know
00:41:09.29\00:41:14.21
what hour your Lord is coming. "
00:41:14.51\00:41:18.17
My friends, really
what I want you to do
00:41:18.57\00:41:21.27
as a result of this sermon
is be vigilant in your life.
00:41:21.57\00:41:26.22
I want you to be a
vigilant, serious Christian
00:41:27.79\00:41:32.26
living before
Christ comes. Watch.
00:41:32.76\00:41:37.05
That His point:
"Watch... be vigilant. "
00:41:37.25\00:41:39.37
"Watch therefore for you do
not know what hour your Lord
00:41:40.07\00:41:44.16
is coming. "
Verse 43: "But know this
00:41:44.26\00:41:47.32
that if the master of the house
had known what hour the thief
00:41:48.78\00:41:53.23
would come he
would have... " What?
00:41:53.43\00:41:56.35
"he would have watched
and not allowed his house
00:41:56.75\00:42:00.08
to be broken into. " I
mean, wouldn't it be nice...
00:42:00.28\00:42:02.98
Wouldn't it be nice if the thief
before he's going to break into
00:42:03.18\00:42:05.68
your house texted
you ahead of time?
00:42:05.78\00:42:07.73
You know, like: "I'm
going to be there at midnight. "
00:42:08.03\00:42:10.37
"OK, I got your text. What are
you going to do at midnight? "
00:42:11.92\00:42:15.05
You're going to be there, right?
00:42:15.35\00:42:17.97
You're going to be there.
This is southern Illinois...
00:42:18.37\00:42:20.55
you might be there
with your shotgun, right?
00:42:20.75\00:42:23.52
So
00:42:27.01\00:42:28.22
Jesus says: "If you know
what time the thief is coming
00:42:32.54\00:42:37.19
you're going to be awake...
you're going to be watching...
00:42:37.39\00:42:40.40
you're going to be paying
attention. " But check this out:
00:42:40.70\00:42:43.92
But you don't know
what hour Jesus is coming
00:42:44.32\00:42:47.93
so you need to
stay awake all the time.
00:42:48.23\00:42:50.85
You follow that?
You need to be vigilant
00:42:51.15\00:42:54.89
all the time. In
other words, my friends,
00:42:55.09\00:42:57.67
there is no time where
you can say: "You know what?
00:42:57.87\00:43:00.72
Jesus isn't coming
for a few more years
00:43:01.12\00:43:04.34
so I'm going to just kind
of chill. I'm going to let my
00:43:04.54\00:43:06.89
spiritual guard down;
I'm going to just coast. "
00:43:06.99\00:43:09.25
Right?
00:43:09.55\00:43:10.58
Because the moment that you
begin to let your guard down
00:43:10.97\00:43:14.61
as a Christian, it's at that
moment that disaster's going to
00:43:14.71\00:43:18.40
strike in your life.
00:43:18.50\00:43:20.07
Jesus' point is He's
going to come like a thief.
00:43:20.37\00:43:24.34
Jesus is coming like a thief.
You don't know when He's coming
00:43:24.54\00:43:27.81
and so don't let your
guard down. Be a vigilant,
00:43:27.91\00:43:31.45
sober-minded Christian.
Not just when you think
00:43:31.65\00:43:35.74
Jesus is coming. You
need to be a vigilant
00:43:35.94\00:43:38.41
sober-minded
Christian right now.
00:43:38.61\00:43:41.54
Now in Matthew
chapter 24 verse 42
00:43:41.94\00:43:47.14
Jesus - or 43, excuse me -
Jesus uses this illustration
00:43:47.34\00:43:50.51
of a thief. Now, this
is actually a very common
00:43:50.71\00:43:55.54
metaphor that is
now picked up from Jesus
00:43:55.74\00:43:59.90
and used by other
authors in the New Testament
00:44:00.10\00:44:03.79
to describe the coming of Jesus.
00:44:03.99\00:44:06.04
This thief metaphor is
designed to let us know
00:44:06.24\00:44:09.71
we can't know the day
or the hour. That concept
00:44:09.91\00:44:12.91
became a very important theme
00:44:13.11\00:44:16.10
for other writers in
the New Testament. In fact,
00:44:16.30\00:44:18.87
it's used by 5 other
authors or in 5 other places.
00:44:19.07\00:44:23.36
And we don't have time
to look at all of them, but
00:44:24.32\00:44:26.38
let's go to I Thessalonians
5 where Paul uses it.
00:44:26.58\00:44:29.39
I Thessalonians 5...
00:44:29.69\00:44:31.82
I Thessalonians 5...
we'll start in verse 1.
00:44:43.17\00:44:47.31
"But concerning the
times and seasons... "
00:44:49.91\00:44:52.78
I Thessalonians 5
beginning in verse 1...
00:44:52.98\00:44:55.89
"But concerning the
times and seasons, brethren,
00:44:58.24\00:45:00.96
you have no need
that I should write
00:45:01.06\00:45:03.18
for you yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the
00:45:03.58\00:45:07.07
Lord comes as a... "
What? "thief in the night. "
00:45:07.17\00:45:10.73
Where did Paul get that?
He got that from the teachings
00:45:10.93\00:45:13.20
of Jesus. "When they
say 'peace and safety'
00:45:13.40\00:45:18.06
then sudden
destruction comes upon them
00:45:18.16\00:45:20.30
as labor pains
upon a pregnant woman
00:45:20.50\00:45:23.00
and they shall not escape.
00:45:23.20\00:45:24.75
But you, brethren, are not
in darkness so that this day
00:45:25.05\00:45:29.22
should overtake
you as a... " What?
00:45:29.42\00:45:32.24
OK, now what is
Jesus saying here?
00:45:32.54\00:45:34.64
Jesus is saying that
those who don't follow Jesus,
00:45:34.94\00:45:39.71
those people, the
day of Jesus' coming
00:45:39.81\00:45:42.46
is going to burst on them like
a complete and total surprise.
00:45:42.56\00:45:46.99
But then he says: "But the
day is not going to come on you
00:45:48.92\00:45:52.17
like a thief. " Why? 'Cause
we're going to stay awake.
00:45:52.38\00:45:57.31
Amen? We're going to stay awake.
00:45:57.51\00:46:00.17
We're going to stay vigilant;
we are going to pay attention.
00:46:00.27\00:46:03.72
You know what we're going to do?
00:46:03.82\00:46:05.00
We're going to make sure
to have our life jacket on.
00:46:05.82\00:46:08.01
Amen? We're going to
keep our life jacket.
00:46:08.51\00:46:11.98
We're not going to: "Oh, you
know, the river's nice and calm.
00:46:12.18\00:46:14.16
There's no reason to
keep... Let's just relax,
00:46:14.26\00:46:16.76
take our
jackets off. We're OK. "
00:46:16.79\00:46:18.99
He said: "No! That day is
not going to come on you like
00:46:19.49\00:46:24.33
a thief. "
Notice what Paul says:
00:46:24.43\00:46:26.46
Verse 5: "You
are sons of the light
00:46:26.66\00:46:29.69
and sons of the day.
We are not of the night
00:46:29.89\00:46:35.29
nor of the darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep
00:46:35.49\00:46:38.45
as others do, but let
us watch and be sober.
00:46:38.65\00:46:44.44
For those who
sleep sleep at night,
00:46:48.29\00:46:50.64
and those who get
drunk are drunk at night.
00:46:50.84\00:46:53.54
But let us who are
of the day be sober
00:46:53.84\00:46:56.70
putting on the
breastplate of faith
00:46:56.80\00:46:58.75
and love and as a
helmet the hope of salvation.
00:46:58.85\00:47:03.41
For God did not appoint
us to wrath but to obtain
00:47:04.46\00:47:07.51
salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ:
00:47:07.61\00:47:09.88
He who died for us
that whether we are
00:47:10.18\00:47:12.67
awake or asleep... " Now
that means alive or dead.
00:47:12.87\00:47:15.93
"we should live together
with Him. Therefore comfort one
00:47:16.13\00:47:20.13
another and edify one another
just as you also are doing. "
00:47:20.23\00:47:25.25
You follow what Paul is
saying? What Paul is saying here
00:47:25.55\00:47:27.99
is something really
simple. Jesus' coming...
00:47:28.02\00:47:31.04
nobody knows the day,
nobody knows the hour.
00:47:31.24\00:47:34.15
For the wicked it's going to be
a complete and total surprise.
00:47:34.45\00:47:38.27
When they're saying
"peace and safety; everything is
00:47:38.47\00:47:41.35
great, " it's at that
moment that sudden destruction
00:47:41.45\00:47:44.09
comes. But for us, it's not
going to be a total surprise
00:47:44.19\00:47:47.21
because we are not
getting drunk. We are sober.
00:47:47.51\00:47:50.33
We're awake;
we're paying attention.
00:47:50.64\00:47:53.47
And what we're doing is this:
00:47:53.77\00:47:56.83
and I like what he says
at the end. He says that we
00:47:56.93\00:47:59.82
should comfort one
another and edify each other.
00:47:59.92\00:48:05.87
So... what do we do
as we're staying awake?
00:48:06.71\00:48:09.76
We are awake looking
for the coming of our Lord
00:48:10.73\00:48:14.10
and we are
encouraging each other.
00:48:14.40\00:48:17.36
Amen? Now, go with me
00:48:17.66\00:48:23.59
to Revelation 16. I
want you to see the very
00:48:23.79\00:48:27.70
last time that Jesus says
00:48:27.91\00:48:33.37
that He's coming like a thief.
00:48:33.57\00:48:36.26
It's the last time.
00:48:36.56\00:48:39.17
It's Revelation 16 verse 15.
00:48:39.47\00:48:43.05
I actually find this to
be a very interesting text.
00:48:45.10\00:48:49.09
I mean shockingly interesting.
00:48:49.19\00:48:51.47
Now Revelation 16 is
the section of scripture
00:48:52.47\00:48:56.77
that deals with what is referred
to as the seven last plagues.
00:48:56.88\00:49:01.70
OK. Now, the name
seven last plagues
00:49:02.10\00:49:06.24
means that they are the
very last judgment of God
00:49:06.44\00:49:10.49
to fall on the earth. OK?
00:49:10.69\00:49:12.53
And there are
seven of these plagues.
00:49:12.83\00:49:14.57
And just to give you an idea,
the first one is terrible sores
00:49:15.07\00:49:19.70
on people's
bodies. The second one
00:49:19.80\00:49:21.88
is the sea turns to blood.
00:49:22.08\00:49:24.01
The third one is the
rivers turn to blood.
00:49:24.22\00:49:26.25
The fourth one is
the sun scorches people.
00:49:26.55\00:49:29.51
The fifth one is
darkness covers the earth
00:49:29.61\00:49:32.29
and people are in pain.
00:49:32.39\00:49:34.06
Now, do those seem really
dramatic and obvious? Yes or no?
00:49:34.27\00:49:38.53
I'd say if that was happening
00:49:39.28\00:49:41.61
we would all be pretty clear:
00:49:41.81\00:49:44.23
"OK, we've got the
seven last plagues going on. "
00:49:44.43\00:49:46.86
Right? Right? Yeah?
I mean you pickin' up?
00:49:47.61\00:49:51.01
She's picking up
what I'm laying down.
00:49:51.11\00:49:52.79
Look in verse... Then
you get the sixth plague, OK?
00:49:54.13\00:49:59.10
Now notice what Jesus says
in the midst of the 6th plague:
00:49:59.60\00:50:04.11
"Behold... " I'm in verse 15.
00:50:06.33\00:50:08.70
"Behold I'm
coming as a... " What?
00:50:08.90\00:50:13.32
"thief. " Are you kidding me?
00:50:13.41\00:50:16.04
I mean, people
are covered in sores.
00:50:17.39\00:50:20.29
The sea has turned to blood...
the waters have turned to blood.
00:50:20.49\00:50:24.70
People are being
scorched by the sun.
00:50:24.93\00:50:26.89
Darkness descends and people
are in tremendous pain, and
00:50:27.09\00:50:30.53
then it says in the 6th plague:
"I'm coming like a thief. "
00:50:30.63\00:50:35.38
My friends, could it be...
00:50:38.61\00:50:41.23
Could it be that
though we can know the season
00:50:41.43\00:50:45.31
right? Could it be that
though we can know the season
00:50:45.61\00:50:51.31
we even will be shocked
00:50:51.61\00:50:54.78
by the rapidity of
the final movements?
00:50:55.08\00:50:58.41
Notice what it goes on to say.
00:50:59.72\00:51:02.26
"Behold I'm coming as a
thief. Blessed is he who watches
00:51:03.44\00:51:08.12
and... " What? "keeps his
garments lest he walk naked
00:51:08.32\00:51:13.66
and they see
his... " What? "shame. "
00:51:13.86\00:51:18.11
In ancient times
there was a group of people
00:51:18.81\00:51:23.73
whose job it was
to be the policemen
00:51:23.93\00:51:26.52
for the sanctuary.
00:51:26.72\00:51:28.78
That was their job.
00:51:30.27\00:51:31.76
And we have ancient
Jewish documents that say
00:51:32.61\00:51:36.08
if one of those guys was
found sleeping on the job
00:51:36.28\00:51:39.06
they took his clothes away.
00:51:39.36\00:51:41.22
Now I don't know about
you but that would motivate me
00:51:45.45\00:51:47.31
to like not fall
asleep at 2 in the morning.
00:51:47.34\00:51:49.96
Amen? Amen!
00:51:50.26\00:51:52.50
I don't want to be the guy that
has to walk through Jerusalem
00:51:52.80\00:51:56.22
naked. You get home... You
know, you knock on your door...
00:51:56.72\00:52:00.65
You come home; your
wife and kids are there.
00:52:00.75\00:52:02.67
They're like:
"Dad, what's going on? "
00:52:02.87\00:52:05.08
"Oh, I fell asleep
at work last night. "
00:52:05.58\00:52:08.23
You want to be that guy?
00:52:08.64\00:52:10.43
I don't want to be that guy.
00:52:10.73\00:52:12.23
Now check this out:
00:52:13.52\00:52:15.27
at the very end of time
00:52:16.84\00:52:19.56
five of the seven
last plagues have fallen.
00:52:21.26\00:52:24.20
It should be so obvious.
00:52:24.40\00:52:27.52
And you know what Jesus says?
00:52:27.92\00:52:30.00
"Even at the very end
you can go to sleep. "
00:52:30.70\00:52:34.36
Even when it appears com-
pletely and totally obvious
00:52:35.71\00:52:39.78
you could still fall asleep.
00:52:40.95\00:52:44.82
Stay awake. Amen? Stay awake.
00:52:45.81\00:52:49.28
Go with me... Luke 12.
00:52:49.58\00:52:50.88
I'm going to wrap
this up in Luke 12.
00:52:51.08\00:52:52.50
Same story... Or
excuse me... not Luke 12.
00:52:52.80\00:52:55.30
I'm going to go to
Luke 21. Go to Luke 21.
00:52:55.40\00:52:57.82
It's the same story; it's
the fig tree illustration.
00:52:59.25\00:53:02.56
Luke 21... but
Luke adds something
00:53:02.87\00:53:05.18
and I want you to
see what Luke adds.
00:53:07.88\00:53:11.20
Luke 21, we're
going to look in verse 29.
00:53:15.32\00:53:17.44
"Jesus spoke to them a parable:
00:53:24.24\00:53:27.52
'Look at the fig
tree and all the trees. "
00:53:27.82\00:53:30.73
I like that. Luke was
writing to the Gentiles.
00:53:31.14\00:53:33.77
He knew that his book
would go all over the world...
00:53:34.07\00:53:36.08
maybe even places
without fig trees.
00:53:36.18\00:53:38.18
Right? Matthew was
writing to the Jews
00:53:38.48\00:53:40.68
so when Matthew writes to
the Jews what does he say?
00:53:40.89\00:53:42.92
"The fig tree" because Matthew
is the gospel for the Jews.
00:53:43.22\00:53:46.36
Luke is for the Gentiles.
00:53:46.66\00:53:47.79
There might not be fig trees
everywhere, so Luke expands it
00:53:47.99\00:53:50.19
a little bit.
"Look at the fig tree.
00:53:50.29\00:53:51.56
Actually, look at
all the trees... "
00:53:51.69\00:53:53.72
Amen?
00:53:54.02\00:53:55.16
"and see and know for yourselves
that summer is now near.
00:53:55.57\00:53:59.93
So you also when you see
all these things happening,
00:54:00.47\00:54:03.71
all the signs, know
the kingdom of God is near.
00:54:03.81\00:54:06.69
Assuredly I say to you
this generation will by no means
00:54:07.19\00:54:10.02
pass till all
things take place. "
00:54:10.22\00:54:11.54
Verse 33: "Heaven and
earth will pass away; My words
00:54:11.74\00:54:13.84
will by no means pass away. "
00:54:13.95\00:54:17.33
Verse 34: "But take
heed to yourselves... "
00:54:17.63\00:54:21.93
OK? This is the
last exhortation for us.
00:54:22.97\00:54:26.93
"take heed to yourself
lest your hearts be weighed down
00:54:28.53\00:54:32.38
with carousing, drunkenness,
00:54:32.68\00:54:37.08
and cares of this life
00:54:37.38\00:54:39.49
that that day will come upon
you... " How? "unexpectedly. "
00:54:40.45\00:54:46.17
"For it will come as a snare. "
00:54:49.64\00:54:51.82
Now I don't know if you've
ever seen an animal caught
00:54:52.02\00:54:53.80
in a snare? It's just going
along just fine and then ching.
00:54:53.90\00:54:58.07
Completely out of
nowhere snapped up.
00:54:58.47\00:55:01.30
"It will come as a snare
on those who dwell on the face
00:55:03.46\00:55:06.31
of the whole earth. " Verse 36:
00:55:06.41\00:55:08.60
"Watch therefore
and... " What? "pray always. "
00:55:09.00\00:55:14.65
Now my translation - I'm
reading the New King James -
00:55:15.96\00:55:18.14
says "that you may be
counted worthy to escape. "
00:55:18.24\00:55:21.32
Many of the other translations
say "that you may have the
00:55:21.83\00:55:25.64
strength to escape. "
00:55:25.84\00:55:29.01
In fact, you check the
margin in your New King James.
00:55:30.33\00:55:32.48
It says: "that you may
have the strength to escape
00:55:32.68\00:55:37.16
all these things that
will come to pass and to stand
00:55:38.66\00:55:43.06
before the Father. "
00:55:43.37\00:55:44.56
My friends, we want to
be ready when Jesus comes.
00:55:45.82\00:55:50.22
Amen? And if we want to
be ready when Jesus comes
00:55:50.52\00:55:54.22
we have to stay awake.
We have to keep watching
00:55:54.42\00:55:56.21
because no one knows
the day or the hour...
00:55:56.41\00:55:58.43
so there's no time we can
go on a spiritual vacation.
00:55:58.63\00:56:01.36
We need to stay awake.
We need to stay vigilant.
00:56:01.66\00:56:04.02
And Jesus tells us
through Luke how to do that.
00:56:04.22\00:56:08.14
How do we do that?
We watch and we pray.
00:56:08.34\00:56:12.01
And as we watch and pray
we find strength from God.
00:56:12.21\00:56:16.90
Amen? When we watch and pray
00:56:17.10\00:56:20.57
we find strength from
God that we may escape
00:56:20.77\00:56:24.21
through these
things. And then it says
00:56:24.31\00:56:26.73
"and stand before Christ. "
00:56:26.93\00:56:29.82
Amen? The day's
going to be a surprise.
00:56:30.12\00:56:34.13
You don't want
to be caught naked.
00:56:34.43\00:56:36.80
Amen? You don't want to
be found sleeping on the job.
00:56:37.10\00:56:40.30
You don't want to be
caught in this unexpected coming
00:56:40.60\00:56:44.28
of Christ. You
want to watch and pray
00:56:44.39\00:56:48.19
and find strength from
your relationship with Christ
00:56:48.39\00:56:51.53
so that you will be able to
stand on that last great day.
00:56:51.83\00:56:55.31
Let's bow our heads together.
00:56:55.72\00:56:57.94
Heavenly Father, that
day could come unexpectedly
00:57:00.43\00:57:05.33
for any one of us.
00:57:05.53\00:57:07.34
It would be easy for
us to lose our footing.
00:57:08.50\00:57:12.42
It would be easy
for us to fall asleep.
00:57:12.66\00:57:16.09
It would be completely possible
00:57:17.16\00:57:20.79
for us to be among those who
get caught sleeping on the job.
00:57:21.12\00:57:26.54
Please Lord... keep us safe,
Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
00:57:26.74\00:57:31.32