People have set dates for the return of Christ. 00:00:02.70\00:00:05.87 So far, all have embarrassingly failed. 00:00:05.90\00:00:09.90 But is there some way 00:00:09.94\00:00:11.27 we can tell when Christ will return. 00:00:11.31\00:00:14.68 Could Christ return in our day? 00:00:14.71\00:00:17.55 And are there signs 00:00:17.58\00:00:18.91 that point to this tremendous event. 00:00:18.95\00:00:21.68 What will happen when and if He returns soon? 00:00:21.72\00:00:26.55 Welcome back. 00:00:30.43\00:00:31.76 Today, we're talking about, 00:00:31.79\00:00:33.13 could Christ return in our day? 00:00:33.16\00:00:37.70 Could His coming be near? 00:00:37.73\00:00:40.07 What do the Bible prophecy say? 00:00:40.10\00:00:42.20 Now, we're going to have a little summary 00:00:42.24\00:00:43.71 of the first program we had, 00:00:43.74\00:00:45.07 which was on the same subject. 00:00:45.11\00:00:47.38 This is just a little summary to bring you up-to-date. 00:00:47.41\00:00:49.91 We do not know the day or the hour of Christ's return. 00:00:49.94\00:00:54.65 So it's foolish to set dates, 00:00:54.68\00:00:57.32 but we can tell when His return is near. 00:00:57.35\00:01:01.22 His coming is certain. 00:01:01.26\00:01:04.79 He doesn't return as a little baby, 00:01:04.83\00:01:06.36 He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:01:06.39\00:01:09.93 He returns to save His people, 00:01:09.96\00:01:13.97 the people who surrendered their lives to Him, 00:01:14.00\00:01:17.57 and who've been saved 00:01:17.61\00:01:18.97 by His death 00:01:19.01\00:01:20.48 on the cross. 00:01:20.51\00:01:23.31 He returns to execute judgment 00:01:23.35\00:01:25.75 on the rejecters of the gospel. 00:01:25.78\00:01:28.58 The Bible talks about 00:01:28.62\00:01:30.35 this tremendous, 00:01:30.39\00:01:32.59 tremendous firestorm 00:01:32.62\00:01:35.06 that accompanies Him. 00:01:35.09\00:01:37.53 And while God's people are saved from the holocaust, 00:01:37.56\00:01:43.53 the wicked are destroyed. 00:01:43.57\00:01:45.33 But the Bible teaches, 00:01:45.37\00:01:46.70 there's hope for every lost soul 00:01:46.74\00:01:48.80 who comes to Christ. 00:01:48.84\00:01:50.21 So it doesn't matter who you are, 00:01:50.24\00:01:53.04 it doesn't matter what you've done in the past, 00:01:53.07\00:01:56.38 there's hope for every person. 00:01:56.41\00:01:59.58 Jesus Himself said the words, "For God so loved the world 00:01:59.61\00:02:04.09 that He gave His only Son, 00:02:04.12\00:02:06.25 so that whoever believes in Him," 00:02:06.29\00:02:07.82 you've got to believe. 00:02:07.86\00:02:09.92 It's a terrible idea going around in some circles 00:02:09.96\00:02:12.86 that people will say, "Well, everybody's 00:02:12.89\00:02:14.53 just going to be saved. 00:02:14.56\00:02:16.06 Everybody's going to be saved whether they believe or not." 00:02:16.10\00:02:18.70 No, no, no, that's a perversion of the gospel. 00:02:18.73\00:02:22.10 The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, 00:02:22.14\00:02:24.11 He gave His only Son, 00:02:24.14\00:02:25.47 so that whoever believes in Him." 00:02:25.51\00:02:30.08 And this belief includes a complete reliance on Him, 00:02:30.11\00:02:35.85 and a surrender to Him. 00:02:35.88\00:02:37.95 So the message is trusting Christ now. 00:02:37.99\00:02:42.19 Listen, although we cannot know the day or the hour, 00:02:42.22\00:02:45.89 we can know when His return is near. 00:02:45.93\00:02:50.63 And I want to share a text with you. 00:02:50.67\00:02:52.03 I want you to come in your Bibles 00:02:52.07\00:02:53.74 to Matthew 24:32, 33, 00:02:53.77\00:02:57.57 Matthew 24:32 00:02:57.61\00:03:01.38 I think, 00:03:01.41\00:03:02.74 32 and 33. 00:03:02.78\00:03:06.51 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: 00:03:06.55\00:03:11.05 When its branch has already become tender 00:03:11.09\00:03:13.42 and puts forth leaves, 00:03:13.46\00:03:15.62 you know that summer is near. 00:03:15.66\00:03:18.06 So you also, when you see," and notice these words, 00:03:18.09\00:03:21.86 "all these things... 00:03:21.90\00:03:23.23 When you see all these things, 00:03:23.26\00:03:25.73 know that it is near," the coming of Christ. 00:03:25.77\00:03:29.00 So you can't know the day or the hour, my friend, 00:03:29.04\00:03:33.38 but Jesus said, "When you see all these things, 00:03:33.41\00:03:36.04 these great prophecies being fulfilled, 00:03:36.08\00:03:39.41 you can tell that it is near. 00:03:39.45\00:03:45.05 We're starting a winter here in Thousand Oaks. 00:03:45.09\00:03:48.42 But in a few months, 00:03:48.46\00:03:50.66 the leaves will come out again 00:03:50.69\00:03:52.09 because summer's coming, there are signs. 00:03:52.13\00:03:55.30 Right now, 00:03:55.33\00:03:56.67 I want to share with you seven great signs 00:03:56.70\00:03:59.70 concerning the return of Christ. 00:03:59.73\00:04:02.34 And the first one is this, 00:04:02.37\00:04:03.84 if you're taking notes, you can write it down. 00:04:03.87\00:04:05.44 Number one, 00:04:05.47\00:04:06.81 great wars. 00:04:06.84\00:04:08.18 Matthew 24:7, then Revelation 11:18, 00:04:08.21\00:04:13.35 Jesus said, "For nation will rise against nation, 00:04:13.38\00:04:17.29 kingdom against kingdom. 00:04:17.32\00:04:19.55 There will be famines," try to remember this, 00:04:19.59\00:04:22.12 "famines, pestilences, 00:04:22.16\00:04:24.49 and earthquakes in various places." 00:04:24.53\00:04:28.26 And then in Revelation, 00:04:28.30\00:04:29.73 it says these words, the Book of Revelation, 00:04:29.76\00:04:32.30 "The nations were angry, 00:04:32.33\00:04:34.70 and Your wrath has come, 00:04:34.74\00:04:37.91 time of the dead, that they should be judged, 00:04:37.94\00:04:40.44 and that you should reward Your servants, the prophets, 00:04:40.48\00:04:43.35 and the saints, 00:04:43.38\00:04:44.71 those who fear Your name, small and great." 00:04:44.75\00:04:48.62 Look at these words, 00:04:48.65\00:04:50.85 just look at them. 00:04:50.89\00:04:52.92 "And should destroy those," 00:04:52.95\00:04:54.66 what does it say? 00:04:54.69\00:04:56.83 The Bible says, 00:04:56.86\00:04:59.96 "Christ will destroy those who destroy the earth." 00:05:00.00\00:05:04.47 In other words, Christ will return 00:05:04.50\00:05:07.27 when the nations are fighting each other 00:05:07.30\00:05:11.41 and are destroying the earth. 00:05:11.44\00:05:16.24 We've only had that capacity in recent years. 00:05:16.28\00:05:20.08 Sign number two, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. 00:05:20.12\00:05:24.59 We read about it, Matthew 24:7, 00:05:24.62\00:05:28.49 and then it tells us in Revelation 16:8, 00:05:28.52\00:05:32.79 that the sun will have tremendous power 00:05:32.83\00:05:36.26 to scorch men with great heat. 00:05:36.30\00:05:38.63 This is tied in with global warming. 00:05:38.67\00:05:41.50 Famines, pestilences, 00:05:41.54\00:05:44.57 tremendous earthquakes, 00:05:44.61\00:05:45.94 and then the Bible says, 00:05:45.97\00:05:47.38 "These will happen on a greater intensity." 00:05:47.41\00:05:51.08 Matthew 24:8 says these words, 00:05:51.11\00:05:56.12 "All these are the beginning of sorrows." 00:05:56.15\00:06:01.62 And in the Greek language, 00:06:01.66\00:06:03.12 in which this Bible is written, the New Testament, 00:06:03.16\00:06:07.93 the beginning of sorrows 00:06:07.96\00:06:10.73 is a reference to the birth pangs 00:06:10.77\00:06:13.80 that a mother goes through before the baby is born. 00:06:13.84\00:06:17.41 Every mother knows that the pain gets more intense 00:06:17.44\00:06:20.81 and closer and closer. 00:06:20.84\00:06:24.81 And so the wars will get closer, more intense, 00:06:24.85\00:06:28.32 more famines, more earthquakes, more pestilences, 00:06:28.35\00:06:32.42 it says in another part of the Bible, 00:06:32.45\00:06:34.99 "The sun will be scorching men with tremendous heat." 00:06:35.02\00:06:38.99 Many people say, 00:06:39.03\00:06:40.43 "We are seeing the commencement of this." 00:06:40.46\00:06:44.30 Sign number three, the great tribulation. 00:06:44.33\00:06:48.30 You have to listen carefully to this one. 00:06:48.34\00:06:53.01 The Bible says, 00:06:53.04\00:06:54.51 one of the great signs before Christ returns 00:06:54.54\00:06:58.45 is a tremendous tribulation that takes over the earth, 00:06:58.48\00:07:03.82 a terrific time of trouble. 00:07:03.85\00:07:07.42 Now my evangelical friends, 00:07:07.46\00:07:10.16 hopefully, will be kind to me 00:07:10.19\00:07:13.09 because I'm going to disagree with them. 00:07:13.13\00:07:16.87 But they're charitable people. 00:07:16.90\00:07:19.53 Most of my evangelical friends teach the coming of Christ. 00:07:19.57\00:07:24.41 And after the coming of Christ, 00:07:24.44\00:07:26.57 this terrible time of trouble when the antichrist rules. 00:07:26.61\00:07:29.64 I wish it were so. 00:07:33.08\00:07:35.02 I heard a great preacher on TV say, 00:07:35.05\00:07:37.05 "We're not going to see it, 00:07:37.09\00:07:38.42 we're going to be raptured home to glory." 00:07:38.45\00:07:40.82 Now I would like to believe that 00:07:40.86\00:07:44.63 because that sort of appeals to me. 00:07:44.66\00:07:49.10 But I don't believe it 00:07:49.13\00:07:50.90 because I don't believe it's taught in the Bible. 00:07:50.93\00:07:53.13 Let me give you some texts on this, if I may. 00:07:53.17\00:07:56.34 Matthew 24:21, 00:07:56.37\00:07:58.81 and then we'll read some more. 00:07:58.84\00:08:02.44 Jesus said, "Then there will be great tribulation, 00:08:02.48\00:08:05.51 such as has not been 00:08:05.55\00:08:07.45 since the beginning of the world 00:08:07.48\00:08:09.48 until this time, 00:08:09.52\00:08:11.49 nor ever shall be. 00:08:11.52\00:08:12.85 And unless those days were shortened, 00:08:12.89\00:08:15.09 no flesh would be saved, 00:08:15.12\00:08:16.93 but for the elect's sake," 00:08:16.96\00:08:20.30 that's God's people, "those days will be shortened." 00:08:20.33\00:08:23.20 My question is this. 00:08:23.23\00:08:25.37 If the elect are home in glory, who cares? 00:08:25.40\00:08:31.17 I'd like to be home in glory too. 00:08:31.21\00:08:34.24 But Jesus said, 00:08:34.28\00:08:35.61 "There's going to come this massive, 00:08:35.64\00:08:37.71 this tremendous tribulation." 00:08:37.75\00:08:41.08 And Jesus said, 00:08:41.12\00:08:43.65 "If those days were not shortened, 00:08:43.69\00:08:45.15 even the elect could not stand it." 00:08:45.19\00:08:47.96 So the elect, I would suggest you, 00:08:47.99\00:08:50.19 are not in glory, but are still on this earth. 00:08:50.23\00:08:54.10 Now verse 22, 29, 30, and 31. 00:08:54.13\00:08:57.73 I want you to notice this. 00:08:57.77\00:08:59.73 Think about this, 00:08:59.77\00:09:01.10 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days," 00:09:01.14\00:09:04.14 hey, 00:09:04.17\00:09:06.34 "the sun will be darkened, 00:09:06.37\00:09:08.28 and the moon will not give its light, 00:09:08.31\00:09:10.55 the stars will fall from heaven, 00:09:10.58\00:09:12.88 and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." 00:09:12.91\00:09:16.22 So after this tribulation, 00:09:16.25\00:09:19.05 after this great time of trouble... 00:09:19.09\00:09:20.72 Are you listening to me? 00:09:20.76\00:09:22.59 Now Jesus said, after this great tribulation, 00:09:22.62\00:09:25.23 after this great time of trouble, 00:09:25.26\00:09:27.03 you know, He says, 00:09:27.06\00:09:29.60 "Then the sign of the Son of Man 00:09:29.63\00:09:31.50 will appear in heaven," 00:09:31.53\00:09:32.87 after the tribulation, 00:09:32.90\00:09:34.30 "then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 00:09:34.34\00:09:36.81 and they will see the Son of Man 00:09:36.84\00:09:39.17 coming on the clouds of heaven 00:09:39.21\00:09:40.71 with power and great glory." 00:09:40.74\00:09:42.51 That's the second coming. 00:09:42.54\00:09:45.01 "He will send His angels 00:09:45.05\00:09:46.38 with a great sound of a trumpet, 00:09:46.41\00:09:48.12 and they will gather together." 00:09:48.15\00:09:50.05 Notice it again. 00:09:50.09\00:09:51.42 "His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven 00:09:51.45\00:09:55.69 to the other." 00:09:55.72\00:09:58.06 I find that pretty hard to explain away. 00:09:58.09\00:10:02.26 So I say to my evangelical friends, 00:10:02.30\00:10:04.87 please, just give me a little slack here. 00:10:04.90\00:10:09.87 I don't believe in this common idea 00:10:09.90\00:10:11.74 that the rapture takes place, and then the antichrist comes, 00:10:11.77\00:10:14.91 and the great tribulation as I tell you, 00:10:14.94\00:10:17.68 I heard this great preacher, he said, 00:10:17.71\00:10:19.38 "You can tell us who believe this 00:10:19.41\00:10:21.28 because we're all always happy." 00:10:21.32\00:10:26.25 We're going to go home to glory, 00:10:26.29\00:10:27.79 we're not going to see it. 00:10:27.82\00:10:30.23 But Jesus said, 00:10:30.26\00:10:32.23 "The elect are going to be there in the midst of it." 00:10:32.26\00:10:35.23 And then Jesus said, 00:10:35.26\00:10:37.20 "After this terrible tribulation, 00:10:37.23\00:10:39.60 this terrible time to trouble," 00:10:39.63\00:10:41.24 Jesus said, "They're going to see the Son of Man 00:10:41.27\00:10:44.57 coming in the clouds of heaven 00:10:44.61\00:10:46.17 with power and great glory." 00:10:46.21\00:10:48.98 Now listen to me. 00:10:49.01\00:10:52.11 On the basis of these passages from Jesus 00:10:52.15\00:10:54.42 and other texts as well, 00:10:54.45\00:10:57.89 I believe that this great tribulation 00:10:57.92\00:11:01.72 takes place before the return of Christ 00:11:01.76\00:11:05.59 and is tied up with the antichrist. 00:11:05.63\00:11:09.30 I believe it's tied up with the famines, 00:11:09.33\00:11:11.70 and the pestilences, and the world wars, 00:11:11.73\00:11:15.80 and the nation's destroying the earth. 00:11:15.84\00:11:17.74 People say, "Well, God's not going to dwell on it." 00:11:17.77\00:11:23.31 It says, when Jesus comes, it says this in Revelation, 00:11:23.35\00:11:26.98 "The nations are destroying the earth." 00:11:27.02\00:11:31.65 So I put it to you. 00:11:31.69\00:11:34.72 I believe from scripture, 00:11:34.76\00:11:37.03 one of the great signs of the end 00:11:37.06\00:11:39.49 is the coming of the antichrist, 00:11:39.53\00:11:41.40 and this tremendous time of trouble, 00:11:41.43\00:11:45.17 this tribulation. 00:11:45.20\00:11:48.50 Now, it seems to me that we are seeing 00:11:48.54\00:11:52.01 the start of this great tribulation. 00:11:52.04\00:11:55.71 It seems to me 00:11:55.74\00:11:57.48 that the prophecies are being filled, 00:11:57.51\00:12:00.88 and this great tribulation is coming on a pace. 00:12:00.92\00:12:05.09 I believe 00:12:05.12\00:12:06.65 as people say around the world, what's happening? 00:12:06.69\00:12:08.59 What's going on with the earth? 00:12:08.62\00:12:10.53 Everything is insecure. 00:12:10.56\00:12:13.50 The nations are angry, 00:12:13.53\00:12:16.77 they're about to destroy the earth. 00:12:16.80\00:12:19.87 I would suggest to you, 00:12:19.90\00:12:22.10 this is a sign of the coming of Christ. 00:12:22.14\00:12:25.14 Another great sign is the abomination of desolation. 00:12:25.17\00:12:29.44 What does that mean? 00:12:29.48\00:12:30.81 Jesus said in Matthew 24 00:12:30.85\00:12:34.22 that the abomination of desolation 00:12:34.25\00:12:37.52 would stand in a holy place. 00:12:37.55\00:12:40.32 Now, this is a term that refers to the antichrist. 00:12:40.36\00:12:46.29 And then if you come to 2 Thessalonians. 00:12:46.33\00:12:49.33 Please be patient with me here. 00:12:49.36\00:12:51.50 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, it says, 00:12:51.53\00:12:55.04 "Let no one deceive you by any means." 00:12:55.07\00:12:57.81 Watch out for spiritual frauds. 00:12:57.84\00:13:01.01 "But that day will not come 00:13:01.04\00:13:02.38 unless the falling away comes first," 00:13:02.41\00:13:04.61 falling away from the truth, 00:13:04.65\00:13:06.35 "and the man of sin," the antichrist, "is revealed, 00:13:06.38\00:13:09.45 the son of perdition, 00:13:09.48\00:13:10.92 who opposes and exalts himself 00:13:10.95\00:13:13.09 above all that is called God or that is worshiped, 00:13:13.12\00:13:15.82 so that he sits as God 00:13:15.86\00:13:17.69 in the temple of God, 00:13:17.73\00:13:19.33 showing himself that he is God." 00:13:19.36\00:13:23.67 And if you read the first verses 00:13:23.70\00:13:25.43 of 2 Thessalonians 00:13:25.47\00:13:28.87 Chapter 2, 00:13:28.90\00:13:30.61 it says this takes place before the coming of Christ. 00:13:30.64\00:13:35.71 Now, listen to me. 00:13:35.74\00:13:37.45 I know this is pretty solid stuff. 00:13:37.48\00:13:42.82 So signs, wars, famines, pestilences, 00:13:42.85\00:13:48.36 the nation's destroying the earth, 00:13:48.39\00:13:52.56 and then there comes 00:13:52.59\00:13:53.93 this tremendous time of trouble, 00:13:53.96\00:13:56.00 this tremendous time of trouble, 00:13:56.03\00:13:58.97 brought about by the nations. 00:13:59.00\00:14:01.54 Something has happened, 00:14:01.57\00:14:02.90 and the sun, Revelation 16 says, 00:14:02.94\00:14:04.81 is scorching men and women with great heat. 00:14:04.84\00:14:07.54 Isn't it amazing? 00:14:07.58\00:14:09.24 In spite of all the overwhelming evidence 00:14:09.28\00:14:12.15 that people still deny climate change. 00:14:12.18\00:14:17.15 It's incredible. 00:14:17.19\00:14:19.95 Virtually every scientist in the world. 00:14:19.99\00:14:23.43 The only people who denied are people 00:14:23.46\00:14:25.69 who've got an interest in polluting the earth, 00:14:25.73\00:14:28.13 a financial interest. 00:14:28.16\00:14:30.33 They're the people who are teaching it 00:14:30.37\00:14:32.10 because they want to be the polluters. 00:14:32.13\00:14:36.60 But the Bible says, 00:14:36.64\00:14:38.41 "Sun becomes hotter and hotter and hotter." 00:14:38.44\00:14:42.94 Then it says, 00:14:42.98\00:14:45.28 "The great antichrist appears, 00:14:45.31\00:14:47.62 and the antichrist, the abomination of desolation, 00:14:47.65\00:14:50.19 he sits in the temple of God in the church." 00:14:50.22\00:14:54.02 That's the last place you'd expect him to be. 00:14:54.06\00:14:58.66 And the vast majority of Christians 00:14:58.69\00:15:01.03 and people who believe in God are going to be deceived. 00:15:01.06\00:15:04.17 You know why? 00:15:04.20\00:15:05.53 Because they do not follow the scriptures. 00:15:05.57\00:15:08.90 They're being brainwashed by religious charlatans, 00:15:08.94\00:15:13.91 and by tricksters, and by frauds. 00:15:13.94\00:15:17.28 They're being brainwashed. 00:15:17.31\00:15:19.61 It's the truth. 00:15:19.65\00:15:23.32 With the coming of spiritual deception, 00:15:23.35\00:15:26.45 it is a sign. 00:15:26.49\00:15:28.92 Sign number five, the gospel to the world. 00:15:28.96\00:15:31.66 Matthew 24:14, 00:15:31.69\00:15:35.86 the words of Jesus, 00:15:35.90\00:15:38.50 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached 00:15:38.53\00:15:41.80 in all the world as a witness to all the nations, 00:15:41.84\00:15:45.61 and then the end will come." 00:15:45.64\00:15:47.84 The truth is, you can't stop the preaching of the gospel. 00:15:47.88\00:15:53.25 People can connive, they can cheat, they can lie, 00:15:53.28\00:15:57.69 they can steal, they can tell, 00:15:57.72\00:16:00.42 they can do every evil deeds, 00:16:00.46\00:16:02.39 they can work to stop the preaching of the gospel 00:16:02.42\00:16:05.43 but the truth is, 00:16:05.46\00:16:06.80 the gospel is going to be preached. 00:16:06.83\00:16:09.90 In Communist China, 00:16:09.93\00:16:12.23 where they are now possibly more devout Christians 00:16:12.27\00:16:15.64 than any other place in the world 00:16:15.67\00:16:17.87 including United States of America. 00:16:17.91\00:16:20.18 People say, "It couldn't happen with the communist." 00:16:20.21\00:16:22.54 Well, it's happening. 00:16:22.58\00:16:24.35 You know why? 00:16:24.38\00:16:26.05 Because God is behind it, that is why. 00:16:26.08\00:16:29.75 Then the Bible says, "There'll be false christs 00:16:29.78\00:16:32.29 and false prophets showing signs and wonders." 00:16:32.32\00:16:36.59 Matthew 24:24, 00:16:36.62\00:16:40.00 "False Christs," charlatans, 00:16:40.03\00:16:42.86 "false prophets," talking nice things, 00:16:42.90\00:16:45.43 the charlatan, "will rise and show great signs 00:16:45.47\00:16:48.47 and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." 00:16:48.50\00:16:51.94 Therefore the elect are on the earth. 00:16:51.97\00:16:54.91 Oh, no, but the elect are home in glory... 00:16:54.94\00:16:56.75 No, no, no, the elect are on the earth. 00:16:56.78\00:17:00.05 They're fighting the antichrist. 00:17:00.08\00:17:03.39 They're fighting the false prophets. 00:17:03.42\00:17:07.32 And most people who take the name of God 00:17:07.36\00:17:09.79 are sitting ducks. 00:17:09.82\00:17:11.23 So easily brainwashed 00:17:14.33\00:17:17.03 because they've lost the capacity 00:17:17.07\00:17:19.17 to think for themselves. 00:17:19.20\00:17:20.87 I charge you today to think for yourself, 00:17:20.90\00:17:25.07 not to follow a religious hierarchy 00:17:25.11\00:17:28.28 or some charismatic political figure, 00:17:28.31\00:17:32.81 but to think for yourself, 00:17:32.85\00:17:35.42 you see? 00:17:35.45\00:17:37.05 False Christ, 00:17:37.09\00:17:38.55 Revelation 16:13-15, we won't turn it up, 00:17:38.59\00:17:41.56 but you can write it down if you're taking notes. 00:17:41.59\00:17:43.63 It talks about spiritism that takes over the world, 00:17:43.66\00:17:47.33 where the whole world becomes demon possessed. 00:17:47.36\00:17:52.43 Sign number seven, the carcass and the eagles. 00:17:52.47\00:17:57.31 Jesus said, 00:17:57.34\00:17:58.87 "The whole earth would become a stinking carcass." 00:17:58.91\00:18:03.98 Matthew 24:28. 00:18:04.01\00:18:07.52 People say, "What on earth does this text mean?" 00:18:07.55\00:18:09.75 "For wherever the carcass is, 00:18:09.78\00:18:11.32 there the eagles will be gathered together." 00:18:11.35\00:18:14.22 Just as the Old City of Jerusalem in 70 AD 00:18:14.26\00:18:18.16 became a stinking cesspool of every sin. 00:18:18.19\00:18:23.67 And the Roman soldiers came with the eagle emblazed 00:18:23.70\00:18:27.90 on their banners. 00:18:27.94\00:18:31.57 So the earth becomes a cesspool, 00:18:31.61\00:18:36.98 ripe for judgment. 00:18:37.01\00:18:40.12 Cities are all broken down. 00:18:40.15\00:18:42.08 Let me tell you this. 00:18:42.12\00:18:44.02 You're listening to me? 00:18:44.05\00:18:45.89 There's no security in this world. 00:18:45.92\00:18:49.09 There's no security in politics, my friends. 00:18:49.12\00:18:53.40 There's no security in false preachers. 00:18:53.43\00:18:58.07 There's no security in con artists, 00:18:58.10\00:19:01.20 who are very good at brainwashing 00:19:01.24\00:19:03.34 the totally gullible. 00:19:03.37\00:19:07.01 There's security in Christ. 00:19:07.04\00:19:09.31 That's why I say to people, 00:19:09.34\00:19:11.01 "Read your Bible everyday." 00:19:11.05\00:19:13.55 Therefore 00:19:13.58\00:19:15.25 we believe 00:19:15.28\00:19:16.62 that the coming on the basis of these tremendous prophecies, 00:19:16.65\00:19:20.89 we believe. 00:19:20.92\00:19:22.26 Listen, we believe 00:19:22.29\00:19:24.09 that His coming is near even at the doors. 00:19:24.13\00:19:29.90 We're not saying the day or the hour, 00:19:29.93\00:19:32.47 but we believe His coming is near. 00:19:32.50\00:19:35.40 If we believe this, I think we would live 00:19:35.44\00:19:38.44 and act differently to the way 00:19:38.47\00:19:41.54 we live and act today. 00:19:41.58\00:19:45.61 But one thing is certain, 00:19:45.65\00:19:46.98 His coming is no farther removed than my death or yours. 00:19:47.02\00:19:51.89 You and I could die at any moment. 00:19:51.92\00:19:56.36 For me, 00:19:56.39\00:19:58.36 my death would be the second coming. 00:19:58.39\00:20:01.93 Because I would fall asleep, 00:20:01.96\00:20:04.10 and a moment later, 00:20:04.13\00:20:05.47 I would see Christ coming. 00:20:05.50\00:20:08.70 Some people say, 00:20:08.74\00:20:10.07 "No, His coming is a million years off." 00:20:10.11\00:20:12.94 It's as close as your death. 00:20:12.97\00:20:15.34 That could be today, 00:20:15.38\00:20:17.51 it could be during this meeting, 00:20:17.55\00:20:20.22 it could be while 00:20:20.25\00:20:21.68 you are watching the telecast. 00:20:21.72\00:20:26.05 We're no farther removed from death than this thickness. 00:20:26.09\00:20:30.86 Look at it. 00:20:30.89\00:20:32.23 You know what that is? 00:20:32.26\00:20:34.93 That's the thickness of the wall of your artery, 00:20:34.96\00:20:40.14 this thick. 00:20:40.17\00:20:41.50 In the Book of Philippians, 00:20:44.81\00:20:47.08 Paul said 00:20:47.11\00:20:48.44 that he wanted to depart and be with Christ, 00:20:48.48\00:20:52.61 which was a great idea. 00:20:52.65\00:20:54.02 No doubt about it, to depart and be with Christ 00:20:54.05\00:20:56.55 because Paul realized 00:20:56.58\00:20:59.59 he would fall asleep, 00:20:59.62\00:21:02.39 completely oblivious, 00:21:02.42\00:21:04.83 and then the next thing he would know, 00:21:04.86\00:21:06.46 what would it be? 00:21:06.49\00:21:08.00 Christ. 00:21:08.03\00:21:10.00 Depart and be with Christ. 00:21:10.03\00:21:13.54 That's in my personal reality, 00:21:13.57\00:21:16.30 His coming is no farther removed 00:21:16.34\00:21:19.07 than my personal demise. 00:21:19.11\00:21:24.15 Then why are people so indifferent 00:21:24.18\00:21:27.95 to Christ and His truth? 00:21:27.98\00:21:31.09 My heart 00:21:31.12\00:21:33.42 is beating a beat 00:21:33.46\00:21:38.19 that says 00:21:38.23\00:21:39.83 Christ is coming. 00:21:39.86\00:21:43.60 Great text. 00:21:43.63\00:21:44.97 Matthew 24:44, 00:21:45.00\00:21:47.04 I want you to notice it. 00:21:47.07\00:21:48.40 Matthew 24:44, 00:21:48.44\00:21:50.31 therefore, in view of all of these things, 00:21:50.34\00:21:53.74 in view of all of these things, 00:21:53.78\00:21:55.11 "Therefore be also ready, 00:21:55.14\00:21:58.65 for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." 00:21:58.68\00:22:02.22 Be ready. 00:22:02.25\00:22:04.79 That's the message of scripture. Be ready. 00:22:04.82\00:22:08.32 Be ready today. 00:22:08.36\00:22:10.56 Be ready now, 00:22:10.59\00:22:13.13 and don't think that pious religiosity 00:22:13.16\00:22:15.50 is going to save anybody. 00:22:15.53\00:22:18.63 You know, the story of the miner, 00:22:18.67\00:22:20.60 went along to church. 00:22:20.64\00:22:23.04 The preacher preached his heart out, 00:22:23.07\00:22:25.31 the miner was not committed. 00:22:25.34\00:22:28.21 You see, you're not saved until you accept and believe. 00:22:28.24\00:22:32.41 Some people have this terrible idea 00:22:32.45\00:22:34.48 that everybody is saved until they reject. 00:22:34.52\00:22:37.69 That's nonsense. 00:22:37.72\00:22:39.32 That's the devil's lie. 00:22:39.35\00:22:42.06 And there're lots of people who go to church 00:22:42.09\00:22:43.46 believe that devil's lie. 00:22:43.49\00:22:47.73 But you're saved when you accept and believe. 00:22:47.76\00:22:53.30 When the pastor was closing up the church, 00:22:53.34\00:22:55.34 he said, "I can't go home." 00:22:55.37\00:22:56.74 Why can't you go home? 00:22:56.77\00:22:58.11 He said, "I need... 00:22:58.14\00:22:59.67 I can't go home until I settle it. 00:22:59.71\00:23:01.54 Tonight, 00:23:01.58\00:23:02.91 I've got to settle it." 00:23:02.94\00:23:04.98 So the pastor and he got down on their knees, 00:23:05.01\00:23:08.15 and he led the man to Christ. 00:23:08.18\00:23:09.72 There are steps you take. 00:23:09.75\00:23:12.15 You repent of your sin, 00:23:12.19\00:23:14.46 you believe in the cross of Christ 00:23:14.49\00:23:16.36 that Christ died for you. 00:23:16.39\00:23:17.73 It's easy. 00:23:17.76\00:23:19.16 Anybody can be saved. 00:23:19.19\00:23:22.76 It is not a quick fix. 00:23:22.80\00:23:26.37 So he gave his life to Christ. 00:23:26.40\00:23:27.74 The next day he went down the mine, 00:23:27.77\00:23:29.80 there was a tremendous explosion. 00:23:29.84\00:23:31.94 They brought him up out of the mine. 00:23:31.97\00:23:33.94 His wife rushed to him, 00:23:33.98\00:23:35.54 she heard the words 00:23:35.58\00:23:37.71 coming from his lips, 00:23:37.75\00:23:39.61 "I'm glad I settled it last night. 00:23:39.65\00:23:42.88 I'm glad I settled it last night." 00:23:42.92\00:23:44.92 You'll be glad too if you settle it now. 00:23:44.95\00:23:48.39 What are you going to tell God 00:23:48.42\00:23:52.59 if you don't settle it? 00:23:52.63\00:23:55.10 What are you going to tell Him? 00:23:55.13\00:23:56.97 I never had an opportunity. 00:23:57.00\00:23:58.37 You've had it, 00:23:58.40\00:23:59.83 had it now. 00:23:59.87\00:24:03.44 Just very recently, 00:24:03.47\00:24:04.81 we had terrible fires in Thousand Oaks. 00:24:04.84\00:24:10.28 We saw the fire coming up 00:24:10.31\00:24:12.51 at the back of our place, over the mountain. 00:24:12.55\00:24:14.65 We thought, 00:24:14.68\00:24:16.02 it's going to happen again. 00:24:16.05\00:24:17.82 So we went home and packed 00:24:17.85\00:24:19.79 as much as we could, 00:24:19.82\00:24:22.42 and then 00:24:22.46\00:24:26.53 the tank is arrived overhead. 00:24:26.56\00:24:28.96 The big tankers, 00:24:29.00\00:24:31.33 the DC-10, the MD-80s, the Hercules, 00:24:31.37\00:24:36.84 we had deliverance from the heavens. 00:24:36.87\00:24:40.18 Now listen, they were like angels. 00:24:40.21\00:24:43.65 The day is going to come when things are going to get 00:24:43.68\00:24:45.18 so bad in this world. 00:24:45.21\00:24:47.28 People are going to say, "There's no hope for us." 00:24:47.32\00:24:50.29 But those who trust in Christ are going to look up 00:24:50.32\00:24:52.92 and rejoice 00:24:52.95\00:24:54.29 because 00:24:54.32\00:24:56.42 the angels are going to come 00:24:56.46\00:24:59.46 with Christ. 00:24:59.49\00:25:01.26 There will be deliverance 00:25:01.30\00:25:04.57 from the heavens. 00:25:04.60\00:25:05.93 But I want to say to you, 00:25:05.97\00:25:07.30 the deliverance is for those 00:25:07.34\00:25:09.60 who put their faith in Christ now. 00:25:09.64\00:25:14.08 Don't put it off, 00:25:14.11\00:25:15.44 you could die 00:25:15.48\00:25:17.98 today. 00:25:18.01\00:25:20.35 And when Christ returns, my friend, 00:25:20.38\00:25:25.45 when Christ returns in all His glory, 00:25:25.49\00:25:30.46 with all His angels, 00:25:30.49\00:25:35.46 that's when the good time start. 00:25:35.50\00:25:39.63 You hear this? 00:25:39.67\00:25:41.60 No more pain, 00:25:41.64\00:25:43.37 no more tears, 00:25:43.41\00:25:45.07 no more sorrows, 00:25:45.11\00:25:47.94 no more 00:25:47.98\00:25:49.74 broken hearts, 00:25:49.78\00:25:52.28 no more stillbirths, 00:25:52.31\00:25:54.68 none of those things. 00:25:54.72\00:25:58.19 And therefore, 00:25:58.22\00:26:01.62 we should take today to our hearts 00:26:01.66\00:26:04.56 the great text. 00:26:04.59\00:26:07.26 "For God so loved the world, 00:26:07.30\00:26:10.23 that He gave His only Son, 00:26:10.27\00:26:13.44 so that whoever believes in Him, 00:26:13.47\00:26:17.31 shall not perish, 00:26:17.34\00:26:20.04 but have everlasting life." 00:26:20.08\00:26:22.31 Amen. 00:26:22.34\00:26:27.02 There's only one thing 00:26:27.05\00:26:28.38 that really counts in this lifetime, 00:26:28.42\00:26:31.02 your relationship to Christ. 00:26:31.05\00:26:33.72 And then if you have a right relationship with Christ, 00:26:33.76\00:26:37.43 you want to tell people about Christ. 00:26:37.46\00:26:40.36 That's why Jesus said, "Go into all the world, 00:26:40.40\00:26:42.86 and preach the gospel to every creature." 00:26:42.90\00:26:46.84 By the grace of God, we're going to do that, 00:26:46.87\00:26:49.64 we are doing that. 00:26:49.67\00:26:51.44 That is why we're going back to Cuba, 00:26:51.47\00:26:54.08 to this communist land, to preach Christ. 00:26:54.11\00:26:58.55 We're accepting an invitation to go to the vast, 00:26:58.58\00:27:02.75 huge city of Manila, 00:27:02.78\00:27:05.22 the capital of the Philippines. 00:27:05.25\00:27:06.82 I've been there before, 00:27:06.86\00:27:08.49 but by the grace of God, 00:27:08.52\00:27:10.13 we're going back. 00:27:10.16\00:27:11.96 Please support us. 00:27:11.99\00:27:13.70 Please stand with us 00:27:13.73\00:27:16.26 in the preaching of the everlasting gospel. 00:27:16.30\00:27:18.97 You say, "How do you do it? 00:27:19.00\00:27:20.34 Who pays the bills?" 00:27:20.37\00:27:22.24 We do. 00:27:22.27\00:27:23.61 "Do you get any help, 00:27:23.64\00:27:24.97 financial help from the church?" 00:27:25.01\00:27:26.34 No, my friend, we don't. 00:27:26.37\00:27:28.01 But we get a lot of help from God and from His children. 00:27:28.04\00:27:32.71 Please support us in the preaching 00:27:32.75\00:27:35.65 of the everlasting gospel. 00:27:35.68\00:27:37.39 It's the most important work in all the world. 00:27:37.42\00:27:40.52 Everything else is almost trivia. 00:27:40.56\00:27:43.56 So would you please write to me? 00:27:43.59\00:27:47.43 John Carter, P.O. Box 00:27:47.46\00:27:49.76 1900, Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 00:27:49.80\00:27:55.47 Do your best for Jesus. 00:27:55.50\00:27:57.61 Do your best for the gospel. 00:27:57.64\00:28:00.04 And in Australia, write to me at Terrigal, 00:28:00.08\00:28:03.75 and we promise you this. 00:28:03.78\00:28:06.65 Every dime, every dollar is going to be used 00:28:06.68\00:28:10.22 to win souls to our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:10.25\00:28:13.92 Please write to me today. 00:28:13.96\00:28:18.39 Thank you, and God bless you. 00:28:18.43\00:28:19.96 For a copy of today's program, 00:28:29.30\00:28:31.24 please contact us at P.O. Box 1900, 00:28:31.27\00:28:34.84 Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 00:28:34.88\00:28:38.85 Or in Australia, 00:28:38.88\00:28:40.82 contact us at P.O. Box 861, 00:28:40.85\00:28:44.15 Terrigal, New South Wales 2260. 00:28:44.19\00:28:48.32 This program is made possible 00:28:48.36\00:28:50.13 through the generous support of viewers like you. 00:28:50.16\00:28:53.13 We thank you for your continued support. 00:28:53.16\00:28:56.26 May God richly bless you. 00:28:56.30\00:28:58.23