As we begin tonight I would
invite you to bow your heads
with me, for a word of prayer.
00:00:08.00\00:00:11.97
Heavenly Father,
as we open Your Word
00:00:11.97\00:00:16.01
once again tonight we
ask and pray for light,
00:00:16.01\00:00:20.02
and understanding we pray that
as we begin this journey, you
00:00:20.02\00:00:23.99
would help us to see a picture
of Jesus and we could have the
00:00:23.99\00:00:28.02
assurance of salvation through
Him. This we ask in Jesus' name,
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Amen. It was the
end of the sceond shift
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and Tom was ready to go home.
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He had been working hard all day
long and so when that bell rang
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at 11 o clock he was out the
door and made his way to his car
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and he started driving down
the interstate on his way home.
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but since it was so late at
night, Tom was having a hard
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time staying awake so he decided
to call one of his buddies on
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the phone so he whipped out his
cell phone, dialed the number,
hooked the ear piece
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to the ear and he started
talking to his friend Bob.
00:01:05.19\00:01:09.16
Now they began going over the
days events, and what they were
00:01:09.16\00:01:13.20
planning to do for the weekend
but at the same time he was
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talking to Bob he also turns up
the radio in his car fullblast,
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as it blares through the loud
speakers. And in between his
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conversations he even begins
to lip sync some of the words
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and move his body back and forth
to the beat of the music. So
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picture that. He is driving
at night, talking on his cell
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phone, lip syncing the words,
and dancing back and forth when
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all of a sudden,
boom! He crashes through a
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barrier in the middle of
the road, and into a ditch at 60
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miles an hour. The force
of the impact knocked him
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out. Minutes later
there were flashing lights and
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wailing sirens as police and
paramedics arrived on the sceen.
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Now fortunately they were
able to rescue Tom from the
00:02:01.28\00:02:05.29
mangled car. He was
wounded, bruised, and cut up but
00:02:05.29\00:02:09.32
he was still alive. Now the
officer on the scene decided to
00:02:09.32\00:02:13.33
give him a sobriety test
because he thought for sure
00:02:13.33\00:02:17.30
Tom must be drunk.
You see Tom had been
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driving on a road that
was closed and the officer
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wanted to know why. But the
officer was rather surprised to
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discover that Tom was quite
sober. Not an ounce of liquor
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was found in his blood.
So the officer asked him
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Why were you driving
on a road that was closed?
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Well Tom was shocked. He looked
at the officer and he said
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I didn't know
the road was closed!
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The officer could not believe
this. He looked back at Tom and
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said, how could you not know?
There were signs up for the last
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3 miles that said
the road was closed.
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Well, Tom was flabbergasted. He
just looked at the officer and
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said, I never saw the signs.
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And the officer responded,
that is because you weren't
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paying, attention.
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See it is a dangerous thing
to ignore the signs on the road
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isn't it. Because those signs
are there to tell you what is
ahead. But in the same
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way God has placed his signs
in this world. They are called
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the prophetic signs of the
times and the purpose of those
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signs are to tell us when
earth's history is winding down
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and to remind us taht
we have to take seriously
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our relationship with Jesus
Christ. Tonight we are gonna
00:03:41.52\00:03:45.52
seek to answer two simple
questions. Number one. What are
the prophetic signs
00:03:45.52\00:03:49.56
of the times which the Bible
talks about?And number two,
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are these signs
being fulfilled today
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Because if they are we
do not wanna be like Tom who
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wasn't paying
attention. So as we begin our
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journey tonight I wanna invite
you to take your Bibles and we
00:04:05.21\00:04:09.21
are going to turn to the
book of Revelation chapter 14.
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Now if you are here for the
first time, you will find that I
usually put the reference
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on the screen for you because
I want you to look it up in the
00:04:17.32\00:04:21.29
Bible for yourself 50% of
the time I will only have the
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reference the other 50% I will
probably write the verse out for
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you just for the sake of
time. So Revelation chapter
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14 beginning in
verse 6. I just wanna spend
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a few moments in this passage
as our foundation tonight.
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Because later on in the seminar
we are gonna spend a lot more
00:04:41.28\00:04:45.28
time in Revelation
chapter 14. Revelation 14 verse
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6. The Bible says, "then I
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saw another angel flying
in the midst of heaven, having
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the everlasting gospel to preach
to those who dwell on the earth
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to every nation tribe tongue,
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and people. Saying with a,"
what kind of voice? A loud voice
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"fear God and
give glory to Him for
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the hour of his judgement
has come and worship Him
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who made the heavens
and the earth and the sea
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and the springs of
water." Here in Revelation 14
00:05:21.32\00:05:25.29
we are given the symbolism
of three angels who ahve
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a super important message that
must go to all the world. Every
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tribe tongue and people.
And so one of the messages
00:05:33.33\00:05:37.30
that we wanna look at tonight is
this message of the first angel
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it is specifically for those
living in the time of the end.
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And the message is to fear
God and give Him glory, why.
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What does the rest of it say.
For the hour of His judgement is
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come. Now that term hour of
judgement that sounds a little
00:05:53.42\00:05:57.42
bit scary but what it is
basically referring to is the
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time of the end. God is
sending us a wakeup message
00:06:01.39\00:06:05.36
to remind us of what period of
earth's history we are living in
00:06:05.36\00:06:09.40
Why does God have to send
us a wake up message? Becasue
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God knows that in
the last days this world
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is going to be very
distracted. We are going to be
00:06:17.37\00:06:21.38
distracted by our
jobs, bank accounts,
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TV. He knows
that we are gonna be
00:06:25.38\00:06:29.38
paying attention else
except our spiritual life
00:06:29.38\00:06:33.39
and our relationship with
Jesus. So becasue He loves us
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He sends us this
warning message in Revelation
00:06:37.39\00:06:41.36
that we need to be paying
attention to the signs that are
00:06:41.36\00:06:45.40
around us and that is exactly
what we are gonna do tonight.
00:06:45.40\00:06:49.40
And so as we make our way down
this path, I would actually like
00:06:49.40\00:06:53.41
to begin by looking at
the words of Jesus in Matthew
00:06:53.41\00:06:57.41
24. Because of all
the chapters in the Bible
00:06:57.41\00:07:01.42
Jesus gives us some
very specific prophetic signs
00:07:01.42\00:07:05.42
to be looking for and all we are
gonna do is see what the Bible
00:07:05.42\00:07:09.42
says and then we are going to
judge whether those things are
00:07:09.42\00:07:13.43
happening today. So let us start
now with Matthew Chapter 24
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and I wanna begin in verse 3-5
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and these are the words of Jesus
00:07:21.44\00:07:25.51
Matthew 24:3-5
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If you are already there in
Matthew 24 let me hear you say a
00:07:29.48\00:07:33.52
loud amen Alright
verse 3. The Bible says
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Now as he sat on the
mount of Olives the disciples
00:07:37.45\00:07:41.52
came to him
privately saying tell us
00:07:41.52\00:07:45.49
when will these things be
and what will be the signs
00:07:45.49\00:07:49.50
of your coming in
the end of the age
00:07:49.50\00:07:53.50
now notice the specific question
the disciples ask they want to
00:07:53.50\00:07:57.51
know what will be the signs
of your coming how will we know
00:07:57.51\00:08:01.48
the time is near.
Jesus begins to answer them
00:08:01.48\00:08:05.48
in verse 4. He says,
Jesus answered and said
00:08:05.48\00:08:09.48
to them, take
heed that no one does
00:08:09.48\00:08:13.49
decieves you
00:08:13.49\00:08:17.49
many will say I am the Christ
and will deceive just a few
00:08:17.49\00:08:21.50
people is that what it says?
see I'm testing you It says well
00:08:21.50\00:08:25.50
deceive many. Now I am gonna
stop there for a second so many
times when it comes
00:08:25.50\00:08:29.50
to studying the scriptures we
go through the passages of the
00:08:29.50\00:08:33.51
Bible much too fast and
we miss the lessons there.
00:08:33.51\00:08:37.51
DO you notice that
before Jesus begins to descrive
00:08:37.51\00:08:41.52
any specific sign, one
of the first things he says
00:08:41.52\00:08:45.52
is he is
concerned about people being
00:08:45.52\00:08:49.59
deceived. He is warning us
that in the last days it will be
00:08:49.59\00:08:53.63
a very confusing religious world
that there is gonna be a lot of
00:08:53.63\00:08:57.53
deception even in
the religious realm
00:08:57.53\00:09:01.57
because when you think of
it we live in a world were
00:09:01.57\00:09:05.61
there are so many
religious voices aren't there?
00:09:05.61\00:09:09.54
In the yearbook of churches I
wanna show you a statistic that
I found. In the year
00:09:09.54\00:09:13.55
book of churches it
says there are about 217
00:09:13.55\00:09:17.62
Christian denominations
just in the United States alone
00:09:17.62\00:09:21.62
now I read another statistic
that said there is 30,000
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and I don't know which one is
true let us just saying
somewhere between the two.
00:09:25.63\00:09:29.56
But I want you to
think about that. One God
00:09:29.56\00:09:33.60
One Bible One Truth,
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217 different doctrines.
Can you understand why
00:09:37.57\00:09:41.58
some people find the
religious world to be very
00:09:41.58\00:09:45.61
confusing. So many different
groups saying, believe us.
00:09:45.61\00:09:49.58
follow us, join us.
In fact you can turn
00:09:49.58\00:09:53.62
the radio on one preacher
will say this, and on the next
00:09:53.62\00:09:57.63
another says that. You can go to
a church on one end of town they
00:09:57.63\00:10:01.60
will espouse this doctrine, go
across the street and they will
espouse a totally different
00:10:01.60\00:10:05.60
point of view. We
live in an age where people
00:10:05.60\00:10:09.60
will even come to my
door trying to tell me
00:10:09.60\00:10:13.61
what to believe. But Jesus
warned us. It is going to be
00:10:13.61\00:10:17.68
a confusing place
in the religious world
00:10:17.68\00:10:21.65
because there is going
to be many different voices.
00:10:21.65\00:10:25.72
Now that may seem
a bit discouraging
00:10:25.72\00:10:29.66
but it is also what causes
people to ive up and say you
00:10:29.66\00:10:33.70
know what I will never be able
to find the truth but you know
if you were the Devil
00:10:33.70\00:10:37.67
wouldn't you want to
make spiritual things seem so
00:10:37.67\00:10:41.70
confusing wouldn't you wanna
make truth seem so difficult
00:10:41.70\00:10:45.64
to find that you frustrate
people to the very core
00:10:45.64\00:10:49.71
of their being. Jesus says
that is what it will be like
00:10:49.71\00:10:53.68
that is one of the
religious signs even in the last
00:10:53.68\00:10:57.69
days. In fact Jesus
goes on and He gets more
00:10:57.69\00:11:01.69
specific and he tells us that
there will come a time when we
00:11:01.69\00:11:05.69
may not even be able tot rust
certain leaders because there
will be false christs and
00:11:05.69\00:11:09.66
alse prophets now i do not wanna
spend a lot of time on that
00:11:09.66\00:11:13.70
we pretty much know the
Bible talks about this kind of
00:11:13.70\00:11:17.71
deception but i just wanna
focus on the last hundred years
00:11:17.71\00:11:21.71
think about the many
false people that have arisen
00:11:21.71\00:11:25.71
now I just put a few on the
screen. How many of you are old
00:11:25.71\00:11:29.72
enough to remember the incident
with Jim Jones and the People's
Temple could I see your hand
00:11:29.72\00:11:33.72
900 people were
lead to their death by
00:11:33.72\00:11:37.73
drinking cyanide poisoning
because they believed this man
00:11:37.73\00:11:41.80
was Jesus himself. Some
remember the incident in
00:11:41.80\00:11:45.77
Waco, Texas with David
Karesh. There was a man
00:11:45.77\00:11:49.74
named Brother Julius who claims
to be the only Messiah. There is
00:11:49.74\00:11:53.78
reverend Moon and
Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda
00:11:53.78\00:11:57.81
He passed away last
year, but he is very popular
00:11:57.81\00:12:01.75
in Puerto Rico.
He claimed to be both
00:12:01.75\00:12:05.82
Jesus and the
Antichrist at the same time
00:12:05.82\00:12:09.79
Now i am not quite sure i
understood that but that is the
claim he made on his
00:12:09.79\00:12:13.80
website and even after
his death he has an extremely
00:12:13.80\00:12:17.80
large following
in Puerto Rico today
00:12:17.80\00:12:21.77
Statistics tell us
that there are an estimated
00:12:21.77\00:12:25.81
2500 cults int he US alone.
00:12:25.81\00:12:29.81
Jesus is telling us
when it comes to a point
00:12:29.81\00:12:33.82
when we hear that many
voices we can know that
00:12:33.82\00:12:37.85
prophecy is being
fulfilled. Now that
00:12:37.85\00:12:41.82
may lead us to ask a pretty
important question. You might
say, well Pastor Dave
00:12:41.82\00:12:45.83
with all these
voices how in the world are
00:12:45.83\00:12:49.80
can I know the
truth? How can I know what
00:12:49.80\00:12:53.87
voice to follow and
what voice to ignore.
00:12:53.87\00:12:57.91
But I got good news for you. God
has not left His people alone
00:12:57.91\00:13:01.91
in these last days.
He has given us a very
00:13:01.91\00:13:05.85
powerful tool for deciphering
between truth and error can you
00:13:05.85\00:13:09.88
say amen that
truth is called the
00:13:09.88\00:13:13.86
Bible. You see this
Bible is a compilation of
00:13:13.86\00:13:17.89
66 Books, written by
40 different authors over
00:13:17.89\00:13:21.86
a period of 1500 years
and when i put all thsoe
00:13:21.86\00:13:25.87
66 books of the Bible
together it forms a complete
00:13:25.87\00:13:29.87
system of truth can you
say amen that is why Jesus
00:13:29.87\00:13:33.88
said in John
17:17. Sanctify them
00:13:33.88\00:13:37.88
by Your Truth,
You Word is truth.
00:13:37.88\00:13:41.88
Notice it does not say
my opinion is truth it says
00:13:41.88\00:13:45.92
God's Word is truth
00:13:45.92\00:13:49.92
And see what that tells me is
00:13:49.92\00:13:53.93
Truth is not
necessarily what a preacher says
00:13:53.93\00:13:57.90
truth is not necessarily
what the laws of a church may
00:13:57.90\00:14:01.90
dictate. And truth is not
necessarily traditions that
00:14:01.90\00:14:06.01
have been around forever. One of
the best things that we can do
00:14:06.01\00:14:09.94
in the time of the end is to be
spending time in the word of God
00:14:09.94\00:14:14.02
every single day
because when we have that
00:14:14.02\00:14:17.99
daily devotional life,
not only wll be equipped
00:14:17.99\00:14:21.96
to know the difference between
truth and error but this book
00:14:21.96\00:14:26.03
will also introduce us to
Jesus our Lord and Saviour and
00:14:26.03\00:14:29.96
Redeemer because
that scares me the msot
00:14:29.96\00:14:33.97
is sometimes when we go
to church we do not bring our
00:14:33.97\00:14:37.97
Bibles and we are much too
willing to accept what a
preacher or teacehr says
00:14:37.97\00:14:41.98
hook line and sinker either
becasue they have sold a lot of
00:14:41.98\00:14:46.01
books or maybe it is the biggest
church in town, but you know
00:14:46.01\00:14:50.02
that is the best way to be
deceived. Now of course God has
00:14:50.02\00:14:54.06
His preachers and His teachers
that is a spiritual gift, amen?
00:14:54.06\00:14:58.03
But God does not want us to
simply sit in our church pews or
00:14:58.03\00:15:02.06
sit at home watching a preacher
on television and let them do
00:15:02.06\00:15:06.07
our studying for us. He invites
us to go to the word of God
00:15:06.07\00:15:10.11
and to let the
word of God change us
00:15:10.11\00:15:14.08
so that is one of the signs
in the religious when there is a
00:15:14.08\00:15:18.05
time of confusion and deception
but Jesus does not stop there.
00:15:18.05\00:15:22.12
In the next few verses he
begins to tell us some signs
00:15:22.12\00:15:26.09
to look for in the physical
world so since you are already
00:15:26.09\00:15:30.09
in Matthrwe 24, let
us satrt in verse 6-8
00:15:30.09\00:15:34.10
and Jesus is going to
mention 4 very specific
00:15:34.10\00:15:38.10
signs. Matthew 24:8
00:15:38.10\00:15:42.10
the Bible says, and you will
00:15:42.10\00:15:46.21
hear of wars and rumors of wars
00:15:46.21\00:15:50.18
see that you are not troubled
because all these things must
00:15:50.18\00:15:54.18
come to pass but the end is not
yet for nation will rise against
00:15:54.18\00:15:58.19
nation and kingdom against
kingdom and tehre will be
00:15:58.19\00:16:02.22
famines
pestilences and earthquakes
00:16:02.22\00:16:06.23
in how many places?
diverse or various places all
00:16:06.23\00:16:10.17
these are the beginning of
sorrows. We are gnna stop there
00:16:10.17\00:16:14.20
for a second I am gonna give oyu
a little quúhere, Without
looking back at your bibles,
00:16:14.20\00:16:18.21
can you name the four
signs that Jesus just mentioned
00:16:18.21\00:16:22.21
go for it. Wars, famines,
00:16:22.21\00:16:26.25
pestilences, and earthquakes.
00:16:26.25\00:16:30.29
All four. Now those
00:16:30.29\00:16:34.32
4 that you see on the screen
I am going to ask you a sceptic
00:16:34.32\00:16:38.29
question that maybe
we have not thought about
00:16:38.29\00:16:42.26
have those things been hapening
since the beginning of time yes
00:16:42.26\00:16:46.30
or no. They have, so how
can we say that they are signs
00:16:46.30\00:16:50.31
of the end when they have been
happening all along, what does
00:16:50.31\00:16:54.31
Jesus mean? The
clue is in verse 8.
00:16:54.31\00:16:58.31
You see, Jesus is not telling
us that these things will be
00:16:58.31\00:17:02.38
happening for the first time
at the end of time in verse 8
00:17:02.38\00:17:06.42
it says that these are the
beginning of what. Sorrows.
00:17:06.42\00:17:10.43
In the original language you
know what that is referring to?
00:17:10.43\00:17:14.40
That is
referring to birthing pains
00:17:14.40\00:17:18.40
see what Jesus is telling us
that the closer we get to the
00:17:18.40\00:17:22.40
end those signs are
gonna happen with a greater
00:17:22.40\00:17:26.41
frequency, and a
greater intensity
00:17:26.41\00:17:30.48
it illustrate that, how
many of you ladies have been
00:17:30.48\00:17:34.48
through the joy of
childbirth can I see your hands.
00:17:34.48\00:17:38.52
How many remember in
detail going through child birth
00:17:38.52\00:17:42.49
I am sure you do. So let me ask
you. On the day that you gave
00:17:42.49\00:17:46.49
birth to your child was that the
first day you ever experienced
00:17:46.49\00:17:50.47
a contraction. Obviously not.
00:17:50.47\00:17:54.00
you began experiencing
contractions, now Im not a
doctor, but probably somewhere
00:17:54.00\00:17:58.07
in the 3rd trimester. At
first they were pretty mild
00:17:58.07\00:18:02.08
and they were far
apart, but the closer you get
00:18:02.08\00:18:06.11
to the end of
your pregnancy the more
00:18:06.11\00:18:10.12
frequent and the more intense
those contractions became didn't
00:18:10.12\00:18:14.12
they in fact I remember when
Marquita was giving birth to our
00:18:14.12\00:18:18.13
oldest daughter
Melanie and it was actually
00:18:18.13\00:18:22.10
a hard labor. i remember about
4 or 5 o clock in the morning,
00:18:22.10\00:18:26.10
she had gotten up to go to
the bathroom and I guess she had
00:18:26.10\00:18:30.11
seen some blood and she said
David I think we need to go to
the hospital so we hopped in the
00:18:30.11\00:18:34.14
car and we rushed to the
hospital we had planned to got o
00:18:34.14\00:18:38.11
and after talking to some of the
midwives we had used a midwife
00:18:38.11\00:18:42.12
at that time as well, they told
us well she isn't fully dilated
00:18:42.12\00:18:46.12
so just walk around
the parking lot for awhile.
00:18:46.12\00:18:50.13
My wife is having a baby we
are not gonna walk around the
00:18:50.13\00:18:55.90
parking lot I was a new father
and they said you need to do
that becauwe that will just help
00:18:55.90\00:19:00.07
the dialation so I believed them
and we walked around for a while
00:19:00.07\00:19:04.01
finally they admitted
her and i am telling you
00:19:04.01\00:19:07.98
she was in labor for 22 hours
00:19:07.98\00:19:12.01
anybody go longer than that?
00:19:12.01\00:19:16.02
Bless you folks. She
had to push for 3 hours
00:19:16.02\00:19:20.12
why? because
Melanie for some reason
00:19:20.12\00:19:24.09
in the womb decided that
she wanted to put her hand
00:19:24.09\00:19:28.10
on her head and just
the little bit of width
00:19:28.10\00:19:32.20
there in the
finger made a difference
00:19:32.20\00:19:36.17
the closer you get
00:19:36.17\00:19:40.18
to the end of your pregnancy
the greater and more frequent
00:19:40.18\00:19:44.15
those contractions will
become. That is what Jesus
00:19:44.15\00:19:48.18
says those signs will be like.
So let's take a look at those
00:19:48.18\00:19:52.19
signs let us see if they have
happened with greater frequency
00:19:52.19\00:19:56.19
and intensity in the last
hundred years. Let us start with
wars and rumors of wars
00:19:56.19\00:20:00.20
now I saw a
stistic I forget where
00:20:00.20\00:20:04.17
I read it but it
told me the 20th century
00:20:04.17\00:20:08.17
was the deadliest century in
human history as far as war was
00:20:08.17\00:20:12.17
concerned. A hundred
and eighty million deaths
00:20:12.17\00:20:16.21
from war alone.
If you think back to
00:20:16.21\00:20:20.18
all the conflicts this world has
gone through just in our
lifetime let us just
00:20:20.18\00:20:24.22
say the last 100 years. Now
obviously I cannot put them all
00:20:24.22\00:20:28.22
on the screen we have
been through 2 world wars,
00:20:28.22\00:20:32.23
seen a Rwandan
genocide, a korean
00:20:32.23\00:20:36.20
and vietnam war,
00:20:36.20\00:20:40.20
a persian golf war and
many numerous conflicts
00:20:40.20\00:20:45.27
that never involved this
country. In fact at any given
00:20:45.27\00:20:49.31
time there is war going on in
this world and the truth is we
00:20:49.31\00:20:53.31
have had very little peace. Now
00:20:53.31\00:20:57.25
I am gonna put a picture on
the screen and as soon as I do I
00:20:57.25\00:21:01.26
won't even have to say a word
you are gonna know exactly what
00:21:01.26\00:21:05.33
it is. Because I am gonna see
the recognition on your face.
00:21:05.33\00:21:09.26
Who knows what this is. 9/11.
00:21:09.26\00:21:13.23
Ever since 9/11 you
realize our world has changed.
00:21:13.23\00:21:17.27
We live in what is now
called the age of terrorism.
00:21:17.27\00:21:21.31
Now I realize there was
terrorism before that but for
00:21:21.31\00:21:25.28
the first time in history
someone could hijack an american
00:21:25.28\00:21:29.28
plane and use it as aweapon
to fly into a building aka
00:21:29.28\00:21:33.32
the twin towers. Now when that
happened, i remember I was in
00:21:33.32\00:21:37.29
a kid, oh when JFK was
00:21:37.29\00:21:41.26
shot I remember exactly where
I was when I heard that news
00:21:41.26\00:21:45.27
now as a kid i thought
well that is because your old
00:21:45.27\00:21:49.27
i don't understand. Now
that I have experienced 9/11
00:21:49.27\00:21:53.31
I do understand because i
can tell you. I know exactly
00:21:53.31\00:21:57.31
where I was and what I was doing
when that story hit the
airwaves. How many of you
00:21:57.31\00:22:01.32
could say the same. You
know where you were? Of course.
00:22:01.32\00:22:05.32
We were in Pennsylvania, and I
was pastoring a church. We were
00:22:05.32\00:22:09.32
outside mowing my lawn and
when I came inside i got on the
00:22:09.32\00:22:13.33
internet and this
banner came on the screen plane
00:22:13.33\00:22:17.30
crashes into twin
towers. I thought it was a hoax
00:22:17.30\00:22:21.34
I thought if that happened that
would be one very station on TV
00:22:21.34\00:22:25.31
so iturned on the
TV and it was on every
00:22:25.31\00:22:29.34
station. Why is
that significant?
00:22:29.34\00:22:33.42
Because I believe that
marks a momentus moment in
00:22:33.42\00:22:37.42
earth's history our world
will never be the way it was
00:22:37.42\00:22:41.36
before 9/11. Security and air
00:22:41.36\00:22:45.39
will never be the same.
Travel will never be the same
00:22:45.39\00:22:49.36
and even since
that time we have slowly
00:22:49.36\00:22:53.37
begun to lose some of our
privacies and even some of our
00:22:53.37\00:22:57.34
freedome that perhaps
we do not even recognize.
00:22:57.34\00:23:01.34
But even beyond 9/11
we have seen rebellions
00:23:01.34\00:23:05.38
in the middle east. about
3 years ago Marquita and I
00:23:05.38\00:23:09.38
were invited to go to the
country of Hungary and present a
00:23:09.38\00:23:13.39
seminar sow hile we were
there we were staying in the
00:23:13.39\00:23:17.39
basement of a church members
house. They actually had an
00:23:17.39\00:23:21.40
apartment on the lower level
where we could stay in privacy.
Now they had a televisons
00:23:21.40\00:23:25.40
there and of course in
Hungary every station had
00:23:25.40\00:23:29.37
what language. Hungarian. Now
I don't if you have ever been to
00:23:29.37\00:23:33.41
Hungary but if I was in
a spanish country I could
00:23:33.41\00:23:37.38
figure out the words. In hungary
you might as well forget it.
00:23:37.38\00:23:41.42
they put letters together I do
not even know how to pronounce
00:23:41.42\00:23:45.42
the only station that
they had in english was CNN
00:23:45.42\00:23:49.42
and I remmebr while we
were there I sat transfixed
00:23:49.42\00:23:53.43
as I watched these rebellions in
the Middle East happening one by
00:23:53.43\00:23:57.40
one by one do you
remember it? The Egyptians.
00:23:57.40\00:24:05.07
ousted their president because
they wanted freedom and I
followed the libyan rebellion
00:24:05.07\00:24:09.11
where they got rid of that guy
and then in suite following them
came Yemen rebellion
00:24:09.11\00:24:13.11
and you have this cry
for freedom and democracy
00:24:13.11\00:24:17.12
that is still coming from
the citizens of the middle east
00:24:17.12\00:24:21.12
today. But
farther than that. What
00:24:21.12\00:24:25.19
I want us to focus on
is the weapons of warfare
00:24:25.19\00:24:29.16
I want you to think about
what has changed in the last 100
00:24:29.16\00:24:32.67
years We ahve gone
from machine guns to
00:24:32.67\00:24:36.71
tanks to missles and
bombs to stealth bombers
00:24:36.71\00:24:40.71
to germ warfare
and chemical warfare
00:24:40.71\00:24:44.71
and nuclear warfare.
00:24:44.71\00:24:48.82
Do you realize that
it is has only been in
00:24:48.82\00:24:52.75
this past generation
that man could destroy
00:24:52.75\00:24:56.79
half of all living things on
this earth with just the touch
00:24:56.79\00:25:00.86
of a button. That
kind of potential for
00:25:00.86\00:25:04.77
mass destruction was
never possible until this last
00:25:04.77\00:25:08.77
century the time in
which you and I were
00:25:08.77\00:25:12.81
born. I want that to
really sink in to our
00:25:12.81\00:25:16.81
hearts and minds because
truthfully the only thing
00:25:16.81\00:25:20.88
that has kept this world
from destroying itself is the
00:25:20.88\00:25:24.89
restraining power
od God upon mankind
00:25:24.89\00:25:28.92
Jesus says when you see
these things we can know
00:25:28.92\00:25:32.93
the time is near.
But then Jesus goes on
00:25:32.93\00:25:36.87
to say
00:25:36.87\00:25:40.90
famines. This is not a
sign that we tend to see
00:25:40.90\00:25:44.91
and take very seriously
in America you know why?
00:25:44.91\00:25:48.91
Because none of us have
experienced famine. Yes we have
00:25:48.91\00:25:52.91
pockets of poverty in
america, and homelessness
00:25:52.91\00:25:57.02
but famine and poverty very
00:25:57.02\00:26:01.06
different things famine
is when you have no food and
00:26:01.06\00:26:05.03
there is no
potential to grow or get food
00:26:05.03\00:26:08.96
I saw a statistic
that just amazed me
00:26:08.96\00:26:13.00
this may not be happeneing in
the US but it does not mean it
is not happening throughout many
00:26:13.00\00:26:17.01
countries of the world.
The United Nations reports
00:26:17.01\00:26:21.08
that one billion people suffer
from hunger on this planet.
00:26:21.08\00:26:24.58
Now I want you to comprehend
that. right notw the estimate
00:26:24.58\00:26:28.62
how many people live on planet
earth do you know? Somewhere
00:26:28.62\00:26:32.59
around 7 Billion that would mean
one out of every seen people
00:26:32.59\00:26:36.62
do not get enough to eat.
00:26:36.62\00:26:40.60
I discovered that 70
million people died from
00:26:40.60\00:26:44.57
famine just in
the 20th century alone
00:26:44.57\00:26:48.60
Jesus tells us,
00:26:48.60\00:26:52.61
when you see these things
happening more and more it is a
00:26:52.61\00:26:56.61
sign that the time is near.
00:26:56.61\00:27:00.68
After famines do you
know what Jesus mentions next?
00:27:00.68\00:27:04.62
well I just put it on the
screen. Pestilence. Now this is
00:27:04.62\00:27:08.62
not a word we use too often int
he 21st century maybe a better
00:27:08.62\00:27:12.63
word for it is disease. Now
00:27:12.63\00:27:16.67
this is a little more difficult
for us to comprehend because you
00:27:16.67\00:27:20.67
and I live in america ina
developed nation where we are
blessed with medical technology
00:27:20.67\00:27:24.67
it has increased our life span
00:27:24.67\00:27:28.64
it has brought many blessing
and we can thankful for that
00:27:28.64\00:27:32.65
but the majority of countries
in the world do not have medical
00:27:32.65\00:27:36.69
technology. many
underdeveloped nations,
00:27:36.69\00:27:40.69
their life span is not
necessarily increasing it is
00:27:40.69\00:27:44.66
decreasing see, medical
technology can make life longer
00:27:44.66\00:27:48.70
but in some cases does
it necessarily make life
00:27:48.70\00:27:52.67
better? Let me put a few
examples on the screen here
00:27:52.67\00:27:56.64
right now even in our
modern world cancer is
00:27:56.64\00:28:00.74
one of the most prevalent
diseases that we have. Now as
00:28:00.74\00:28:04.71
far as we know cancer did not
exist 100 years ago, and if it
did then we knew it by another
00:28:04.71\00:28:08.72
name but let me ask you a
question. They say that one out
00:28:08.72\00:28:12.69
of every 3 people will face
cancer at some point in their
00:28:12.69\00:28:16.69
life how many of you tonight
can say that either you or
00:28:16.69\00:28:20.73
someone you know have had
to face an issue with cancer.
00:28:20.73\00:28:24.67
can i see your hands. look
at all the hands that are up.
00:28:24.67\00:28:28.67
Now I have to yell you
this came home to Marquita.
00:28:28.67\00:28:32.71
and I a few months ago. Back in
00:28:32.71\00:28:36.71
October it was time for
Marquita's annual mammagram. And
00:28:36.71\00:28:40.72
at her mammagram her doctors
told here they saw some things
they did not like they wanted
00:28:40.72\00:28:44.72
to get a second one and so
when they went back they said
00:28:44.72\00:28:48.72
there is some lumps of cysts
that we aren't sure about and
they wanted her to get
00:28:48.72\00:28:52.73
a biopsy done. Now if
you have ever had a biopsy
00:28:52.73\00:28:56.70
done, you know that one fo
the msot excruciating things
00:28:56.70\00:29:00.74
is having to wait that 2 4or 48
00:29:00.74\00:29:04.71
hours in order
to get the results.
00:29:04.71\00:29:08.81
Now we were pretty sure nothing
was there we were pretty sure it
00:29:08.81\00:29:12.81
was just cysts. But I gotta be
honest with you. In that span of
00:29:12.81\00:29:16.79
one or two days a lot of thigns
start going through your mind.
00:29:16.79\00:29:20.82
and it begins to put things in
perspective. Now I am thankful
00:29:20.82\00:29:24.83
to say that everything came back
negative they were just cysts
00:29:24.83\00:29:28.80
and she is fine can you say
amen. But it also gives us an
00:29:28.80\00:29:32.77
idea things can
change in an instant. And the
00:29:32.77\00:29:36.77
only thing that really matters
is do I have a relationship
00:29:36.77\00:29:40.81
with Jesus Christ
who is the center of all
00:29:40.81\00:29:44.81
prophecy. Look at the STDs that
00:29:44.81\00:29:48.78
are in our world today.
Even AIDs in on the rise. now
00:29:48.78\00:29:52.82
thankfully it is not on the
rise in this country. But do you
00:29:52.82\00:29:56.79
understand that medical
scientists are telling us
00:29:56.79\00:30:00.80
that if something si not done
soon in the continent of Africa,
00:30:00.80\00:30:04.77
we are going to have a serious
problem. 40 million people
00:30:04.77\00:30:08.80
living with HIV in
just Sansaharan Africa
00:30:08.80\00:30:12.77
and I have been there. My wife
is a nurse, she was teaching
some health classes
00:30:12.77\00:30:16.81
and it is true. What
they say in the news is not
00:30:16.81\00:30:20.82
an exaggeration. In the last
few years we have seen diseases
00:30:20.82\00:30:24.82
that never existed before.
Mad Cow disease, bird, swine,
00:30:24.82\00:30:28.82
and i remember
reading an article about
00:30:28.82\00:30:32.83
a year ago
saying that the diseases
00:30:32.83\00:30:36.80
we have today are
becoming resistant to our
00:30:36.80\00:30:40.87
antibiotics. In other words the
antibiotics we have today will
00:30:40.87\00:30:44.84
be less effective tomorrow
because these diseases are
00:30:44.84\00:30:48.91
building up a
resistance. Jesus is telling us
00:30:48.91\00:30:52.85
when you see these things
starting to happen we can know
00:30:52.85\00:30:56.85
the time is near and
we need to turn our eyes
00:30:56.85\00:31:00.92
towards Jesus. The
next sign that he mentions
00:31:00.92\00:31:04.93
is earthquakes. Now this one is
a little bit harder to measure
00:31:04.93\00:31:08.86
the last 100 years simply
because the seismagraph is
00:31:08.86\00:31:12.87
a fairly recent invention.
But if you were to go to the US
00:31:12.87\00:31:16.87
geological survey you would
discover that even government
00:31:16.87\00:31:20.91
statistics are telling
us that major earthquakes
00:31:20.91\00:31:24.88
over seven on the rictor
scale have absolutely increases
00:31:24.88\00:31:28.92
in the last few years. That is
not a religious source telling
00:31:28.92\00:31:32.92
us that that is a government
source. You know and truth be
00:31:32.92\00:31:36.93
told I don't even think we need
statistics for this one because
00:31:36.93\00:31:40.93
you and I know it seems like
every few weeks or every moth or
00:31:40.93\00:31:44.90
two we hear about some
earthquake in some different
part of thsi worlds
00:31:44.90\00:31:48.90
actually just two
or three years ago
00:31:48.90\00:31:52.91
remember Haiti? That
country was devastated.
00:31:52.91\00:31:56.91
316 Thousand
people lost their lives
00:31:56.91\00:32:00.92
in a matter of
seconds. 3 million people
00:32:00.92\00:32:04.92
were affected and even though
there have been other stories
00:32:04.92\00:32:08.92
that have made into the enws CNN
we dont talk about this one very
00:32:08.92\00:32:12.96
much the truth is that
country has still not recovered.
00:32:12.96\00:32:17.00
they had 8 billion
dollars worth of damages
00:32:17.00\00:32:20.94
just ina short period of time
00:32:20.94\00:32:24.94
remember the Japanese tsunami?
That happened from an earthquake
00:32:24.94\00:32:28.94
that occured
where. On the ocean floor.
00:32:28.94\00:32:32.98
ANd it caused
this tsunami to over
00:32:32.98\00:32:37.02
take the coast of
Japan, 25,000 people were
00:32:37.02\00:32:40.96
feared dead. I don't know if you
saw any of the clips on youtube
00:32:40.96\00:32:45.03
of how that occurred i could
tell you that would be my wife's
worst nightmare she
00:32:45.03\00:32:49.00
does not like water and to
be able to see that water coming
00:32:49.00\00:32:53.00
in land and carrying everything
away would be frightening
00:32:53.00\00:32:57.01
Jesus says when you
see those things know
00:32:57.01\00:33:01.01
that the time is
near. We could even
00:33:01.01\00:33:05.01
talk about natural disasters.
I wanna read a statistic
00:33:05.01\00:33:08.98
that comes from the natural
disasters data book from asia
00:33:08.98\00:33:12.99
and what it is, it did a study
of natural disasters from 1901,
00:33:12.99\00:33:16.99
to 2000. That is the century
almost all of us were born in.
00:33:16.99\00:33:20.96
Notice what they reported.
Natural disaster growth
00:33:20.96\00:33:25.00
have been increasing every
year due to various factors
00:33:25.00\00:33:29.00
such as urbanization, population
growth, destruction of naturla
00:33:29.00\00:33:33.01
environment and climat change
00:33:33.01\00:33:37.01
Even governmental
resources are realizing that
00:33:37.01\00:33:41.02
natural disasters are
increasing. Now of course theyre
00:33:41.02\00:33:45.02
attributing it to natural
factors but that may be partly
00:33:45.02\00:33:49.02
true but we also know it is
a fulfilment of Bible prophecy
00:33:49.02\00:33:53.06
now I do wanna say
one thing about this
00:33:53.06\00:33:57.07
sometimes when we study the
prophetic signs of the times we
00:33:57.07\00:34:01.17
get the idea oh this is all
gloom and doom, I don't wanna
00:34:01.17\00:34:05.04
talk about this we get the idea
that maybe God is just angry
00:34:05.04\00:34:09.08
and he is trying to
stick it to the world
00:34:09.08\00:34:13.11
that is not necessarily a case.
Why does God allow these things
00:34:13.11\00:34:17.12
to happen?
Because he loves us enough
00:34:17.12\00:34:21.06
to get our attention
.I mean let us be honest
00:34:21.06\00:34:25.06
human nature can be
pretty stubborn cant it?
00:34:25.06\00:34:29.03
now I am german
so I can say this
00:34:29.03\00:34:33.10
I have background by my name
Kleindinst. I can be a pretty
00:34:33.10\00:34:37.07
stubborn person Marquita
knows it takes a lot to get my
00:34:37.07\00:34:41.08
attention and get something
through my skull, but she does
it because she loves me
00:34:41.08\00:34:45.08
because God
knows that we can get
00:34:45.08\00:34:49.08
so sucked into the
things of this world that we
00:34:49.08\00:34:53.15
are so easily distracted,
God will allow these things
00:34:53.15\00:34:57.09
to happen because he is
trying to get our attention
00:34:57.09\00:35:01.06
not because he hates us
00:35:01.06\00:35:05.10
but because he want sus to be
saved and he is trying to turn
00:35:05.10\00:35:09.10
our eyes towards Jesus. The
signs are not about God's anger,
00:35:09.10\00:35:13.14
the signs are about pointing
us to the cross of calvary
00:35:13.14\00:35:17.11
so that we can be
saved, and have peace, and
00:35:17.11\00:35:21.12
have assurance through Jesus.
That is what the signs are about
00:35:21.12\00:35:25.12
But you know we
can go farther in this
00:35:25.12\00:35:29.12
all these things have
increased in recent years
00:35:29.12\00:35:33.13
matthew is not the only book of
the Bible that talksa bout the
00:35:33.13\00:35:37.10
prophetic signs did
you know that? Let us go to
00:35:37.10\00:35:41.10
2 Timothy 3
00:35:41.10\00:35:45.21
and verses 1-5
00:35:45.21\00:35:49.14
becaus ein here
paul begins to describe
00:35:49.14\00:35:53.21
somethings that
would be happening in
00:35:53.21\00:35:57.15
society at the time of
the end. What i am gonna do
00:35:57.15\00:36:01.16
is instead of just
reading that through, I am gonna
00:36:01.16\00:36:05.16
go ahead and put a summary
on the screen of what paul
00:36:05.16\00:36:08.63
desribes. and as you read
those five verse it is rather
00:36:08.63\00:36:12.67
amazing, you would think that
he is reading right out of the
00:36:12.67\00:36:16.71
newspaper today. This is how he
describes what the world would
00:36:16.71\00:36:20.71
be like people would be lovers
of themselves, lovers of money,
00:36:20.71\00:36:24.78
boasters and proud, disobedient
to parents, unloving,
00:36:24.78\00:36:28.78
untahnkful, unforgiving,
00:36:28.78\00:36:32.75
no self control,
00:36:32.75\00:36:36.79
despisers of good, lovers
of pleasure but not of God
00:36:36.79\00:36:40.80
brutal and violent
00:36:40.80\00:36:44.77
I would like to say that is
not true of our world today.
00:36:44.77\00:36:48.80
but we know it is. I would
love to be able to say that
00:36:48.80\00:36:52.81
I never struggle with
any of those problems myself
00:36:52.81\00:36:56.91
but I know that is not true.
I struggle with the human nature
00:36:56.91\00:37:00.95
just like you. That means
everyday I need to be sure
00:37:00.95\00:37:04.92
that i am connected in my
relationship to Jesus Christ
00:37:04.92\00:37:08.92
See he is the only
one who can change our
00:37:08.92\00:37:12.93
hearts Heis the only one
who can take those things that
00:37:12.93\00:37:16.93
are in society and make sure
that they are not a part of our
00:37:16.93\00:37:21.00
life because when people
see us they oughta see something
00:37:21.00\00:37:24.97
different than what they are
seeing in the world today. They
oughta be able to see
00:37:24.97\00:37:29.01
just a little picture of the
character of Jesus in our lives.
00:37:29.01\00:37:33.01
see when you leave here tonight
I would be happy if oyu just
00:37:33.01\00:37:37.12
went out with just
this one lesson. Prophecy is
00:37:37.12\00:37:41.09
not about
memorizing facts and statistics
00:37:41.09\00:37:45.09
prophecy is not being able to
come up with some sort of soap
00:37:45.09\00:37:49.06
opera theory that
will tickle the ears
00:37:49.06\00:37:53.10
it is all about getting my
attention and pointing me to
00:37:53.10\00:37:57.17
Jesus if I study
prophecy for any other reason
00:37:57.17\00:38:01.18
then I have
missed the point. See
00:38:01.18\00:38:05.21
what kind of scares me is
many churches today focus on
00:38:05.21\00:38:09.22
antichrist now again that is in
the Bible for a reason, we are
00:38:09.22\00:38:13.25
gonna study that in depth but
something we must keep in mind
00:38:13.25\00:38:17.33
is knowing who or what
antichrist is is not gonna save
00:38:17.33\00:38:21.30
me that intellectual knowledge
is not gonna get me into the
00:38:21.30\00:38:25.27
kingdom of heaven now it might
keep me from being deceived but
00:38:25.27\00:38:29.30
the only one who can wash me
clean the only one who can put
00:38:29.30\00:38:33.31
a perfect righteousness
in my record book is Jesus
00:38:33.31\00:38:37.31
christ who died on calvary's
cross cause really when you open
00:38:37.31\00:38:41.32
the Bible if you open the first
chapter of revelation, the title
00:38:41.32\00:38:45.32
of that book is the revelation
of Jesus Christ. Not the
00:38:45.32\00:38:49.32
revelation of antichrist, it
is revelation of Jesus Christ.We
00:38:49.32\00:38:53.33
are gonna be getting into that
but in Paul's description of
00:38:53.33\00:38:57.30
society the one that really
strikes me is, he says society
00:38:57.30\00:39:01.37
in the end will
be brutal and vile
00:39:01.37\00:39:05.44
the truth is we live
in a very violent world
00:39:05.44\00:39:09.48
there is virtually no place
in society that is safe anymore
00:39:09.48\00:39:13.48
it used to be that there
were certain places you knew you
00:39:13.48\00:39:17.45
would be safe like a mall
or church but that is not true
00:39:17.45\00:39:21.49
anymore in fact I am gonna
put a picture on the screen
00:39:21.49\00:39:25.49
and i wanna see if
you recognize what it is.
00:39:25.49\00:39:29.46
Who knows what that is
00:39:29.46\00:39:33.47
i'll give you a minute.
it is a school, what school
00:39:33.47\00:39:37.51
Columbine. Do you remember
what happened to Columbine
00:39:37.51\00:39:41.51
high school in
colorado back in 1999?
00:39:41.51\00:39:45.51
two teenagers
dressed in black trench coats
00:39:45.51\00:39:49.52
made their way inside the
school and they indiscriminately
00:39:49.52\00:39:53.52
sprayed gunfire throughout the
halls and the classrooms killing
00:39:53.52\00:39:57.56
teacehrs and professors
and students on the spot
00:39:57.56\00:40:01.56
when that story hit
the television sets,
00:40:01.56\00:40:05.53
society was
shocked. We were out raged
00:40:05.53\00:40:09.57
we could not believe that
something like that would happen
00:40:09.57\00:40:13.58
in our world. That was in 1999.
00:40:13.58\00:40:17.58
DO you know that ever since that
moment, that act has been copied
00:40:17.58\00:40:21.58
and repeated numerous
times throughout this world
00:40:21.58\00:40:25.59
we have had copy cats who have
done the same thing now in many
00:40:25.59\00:40:29.59
different countries in
high schools, colleges,
00:40:29.59\00:40:33.63
universiteis, even
elementary schools.
00:40:33.63\00:40:37.60
in fact now you read in
newspapers it is happening in
00:40:37.60\00:40:41.60
malls it is happening in
workplaces and believe it or not
00:40:41.60\00:40:45.64
it is even happening in churches
00:40:45.64\00:40:49.68
I read a story a couple years
ago where the guy walked through
00:40:49.68\00:40:53.68
tthe door while a man was
preaching and shot him and
killed him point blank
00:40:53.68\00:40:57.69
that worries me just a little
bit because Im thinking wow
00:40:57.69\00:41:01.72
what if i preach someone that
someone doesnt wanna ehar whats
00:41:01.72\00:41:05.73
gonna happen to me but you know
we have to put ourselves in
God's hands because anytime
00:41:05.73\00:41:09.70
we walk out the door it is only
by God's grace and protection
00:41:09.70\00:41:13.70
that we can come home
that night can you say amen
00:41:13.70\00:41:17.71
but you see the progression
of what has happened in society
00:41:17.71\00:41:21.71
but then when you get to verse 5
00:41:21.71\00:41:25.78
Paul uses this phrase that at
first we may not understand on
00:41:25.78\00:41:29.78
the surface he says society
will have a form of godliness
00:41:29.78\00:41:33.76
but denying its power.
00:41:33.76\00:41:37.79
What does that mena? What
does it mean to have a form of
00:41:37.79\00:41:41.76
godliness? it means
that religion will be so
00:41:41.76\00:41:45.83
mething we only
wear on the outside
00:41:45.83\00:41:49.80
there'll be no substance
to it. We might sit in a pew
00:41:49.80\00:41:53.81
and listen to a
sermon once a week if that
00:41:53.81\00:41:57.81
but there is no life changing
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:41:57.81\00:42:01.82
you see just because I
sit in a pew does not mean
00:42:01.82\00:42:05.89
that I am a
christian it is one thing ti
00:42:05.89\00:42:09.92
go to church and
listen to something
00:42:09.92\00:42:13.86
to let the preacher study for
me and it is quite another thing
00:42:13.86\00:42:17.87
to open the word of God
for myself and develop a
00:42:17.87\00:42:21.90
relationship a born again
experience with Jesus Christ
00:42:21.90\00:42:25.91
that is true religion you see
00:42:25.91\00:42:29.91
a form of godliness is
when I call myself a christian
00:42:29.91\00:42:33.95
but then i live and
act like everyone else
00:42:33.95\00:42:38.02
that is form of godliness. It
is a form of godliness that is
00:42:38.02\00:42:41.99
only on the outside when I
go and I listen and read the
00:42:41.99\00:42:46.03
teachings of Jesus, but
then when I leave the church
00:42:46.03\00:42:50.03
and in my home or
workplace i do not live those
00:42:50.03\00:42:54.00
principles I do the opposite,
it is a form of godliness
00:42:54.00\00:42:58.01
there is no substance to
it. See when I let my Bible
00:42:58.01\00:43:02.01
gather dust on the
bookshelf, and I never
00:43:02.01\00:43:06.05
spend time in it that
is a form of godliness
00:43:06.05\00:43:10.12
that Paul is
trying to warn us about
00:43:10.12\00:43:14.09
true religion is knowing
Jesus, spending time with
00:43:14.09\00:43:18.09
Him, sharing ym life in prayer,
00:43:18.09\00:43:22.06
and being able to
connect with Him in the word
00:43:22.06\00:43:26.10
of God. Because
here is the truth
00:43:26.10\00:43:30.11
any relationship you have, in
order for it to grow, what must
00:43:30.11\00:43:34.11
you do you gotta spend time
together. So if Marquita and I
00:43:34.11\00:43:38.15
all of a sudden stopped spending
time together what would happen
to that relationship.
00:43:38.15\00:43:42.18
it would eventually deteriorate
00:43:42.18\00:43:46.15
it is no different in
the relationship with Jesus.
00:43:46.15\00:43:50.23
You see the devil
wants to keep us so busy
00:43:50.23\00:43:54.20
that we runa round like chickens
wiht our heads cut off that we
00:43:54.20\00:43:58.20
do not have time for God. He
does not have to tempt us to
kill someone or rob a bank
00:43:58.20\00:44:02.30
just make us so busy we do
not have time for God and the
00:44:02.30\00:44:06.24
relationship deteriorates.
That is why God loves us
00:44:06.24\00:44:10.25
enough to let some of
these prophetic signs happen
00:44:10.25\00:44:14.28
in order to
wake me up and to get
00:44:14.28\00:44:18.32
my attention. Now
before we end tonight
00:44:18.32\00:44:22.42
there is one more prophetic
portion of scripture that I
would like to go to. Now it is
00:44:22.42\00:44:26.36
in the old testament becasue
Daniel talks about soem signs
00:44:26.36\00:44:30.37
in the prophetic world rather
in the scientific world so iwant
00:44:30.37\00:44:34.40
you to go wto Daniel 12 verse 4
00:44:34.40\00:44:38.41
Daniel 12:4
00:44:38.41\00:44:42.48
Now if you were here last
night, we spent the entire time
00:44:42.48\00:44:46.45
in the book of Daniel tonight
I just wanna touch on this
00:44:46.45\00:44:50.49
one verse. Daniel 12 and
00:44:50.49\00:44:54.49
in verse 4 the angel
that has lead Daniel through
00:44:54.49\00:44:58.53
all these visions in the
book says something quite
00:44:58.53\00:45:02.56
significant to Daniel and
I want us to pick this up.
00:45:02.56\00:45:06.60
Daneil 12 and
verse 4. THe Bible says
00:45:06.60\00:45:10.61
but you Daniel shut
00:45:10.61\00:45:14.61
up the words and
seal the book until
00:45:14.61\00:45:18.65
the time of the end
then the angel describes
00:45:18.65\00:45:22.68
2 things he says,
00:45:22.68\00:45:26.72
many shall run to and fro
and knowledge shall increase
00:45:26.72\00:45:30.73
now I gotta stop there
00:45:30.73\00:45:34.73
now we could spend a lot of time
on that. I wanna focus on this
00:45:34.73\00:45:38.70
running to and fro Now
there are two ways that could be
00:45:38.70\00:45:42.77
interpreted some have looked and
it and said it is referring to
00:45:42.77\00:45:46.74
spiritual knowledge, in
other words men will be running
00:45:46.74\00:45:50.75
to and fro desperately trying
to understand the prophecy
00:45:50.75\00:45:54.78
of Daniela nd Revelation
and when you thinka bout it
00:45:54.78\00:45:58.82
it has only been in
the last 150-200 years
00:45:58.82\00:46:02.76
that Christian churches have
really paid attention to the
00:46:02.76\00:46:06.80
books of daniel and
revelation if you would live 200
00:46:06.80\00:46:10.77
years ago, you would have
found that churches of all
00:46:10.77\00:46:14.80
denominations didn't spend mucht
ime in the apocalyptic books
00:46:14.80\00:46:18.77
because it was believed the
coming of Jesus was thousands of
00:46:18.77\00:46:22.78
years into the future, but you
fast forward into this century
00:46:22.78\00:46:26.82
and all that has
changed. Now Christianity
00:46:26.82\00:46:30.82
is very interested
in the prophetic books
00:46:30.82\00:46:34.79
and you know who has also jumped
in on the band wagon? Hollywood
00:46:34.79\00:46:38.83
how many movies has Hollywood
made about the end times
00:46:38.83\00:46:42.80
things like armaggedon and the
omega code and so many others
00:46:42.80\00:46:46.77
of course they are not doing
because they want to educate us
00:46:46.77\00:46:50.81
with truth for them it is just
a moneymaker and quite honestly
00:46:50.81\00:46:54.81
i would not go to hollywood to
try to find the truth of Bible
00:46:54.81\00:46:58.81
prophecy we need tog o
straight to the word of God
00:46:58.81\00:47:02.82
another way that can be
interpreted, this running to and
00:47:02.82\00:47:06.82
fro I want you to think
of the area of transportation
00:47:06.82\00:47:10.83
I want you to think what has
changed in the area of travel
00:47:10.83\00:47:14.83
just in the last century,
think about this we have
00:47:14.83\00:47:18.80
gone from
automobiles to airplanes
00:47:18.80\00:47:22.87
to concord jets space shuttles
00:47:22.87\00:47:26.88
and manned space stations
00:47:26.88\00:47:30.91
where my daughter wants
to work when she grows up
00:47:30.91\00:47:34.85
we will see how that goes maybe
Dad will get to take a trip
00:47:34.85\00:47:38.92
there sometime. But
think about that we have gone
00:47:38.92\00:47:42.86
from a place of taking
horses and buggies just probably
00:47:42.86\00:47:46.86
a hundred years ago toa
point where we can now go
00:47:46.86\00:47:50.90
anywhere on the face of
the earth in a matter of
00:47:50.90\00:47:54.90
hours. Man has gone to the moon
00:47:54.90\00:47:58.87
to an international
space station all in the last
00:47:58.87\00:48:02.88
100 years.
00:48:02.88\00:48:06.88
That prophecy is being fulfilled
00:48:06.88\00:48:10.89
in our lifetime Daniel goes on
00:48:10.89\00:48:14.92
and after he talks
about running to and fro
00:48:14.92\00:48:18.93
what is the next thing the angel
says. Knowledge shall increase
00:48:18.93\00:48:22.86
I want you to think of
all the technological advances
00:48:22.86\00:48:26.90
in the last 50 years
00:48:26.90\00:48:30.91
now my dad likes
technology iw ish
00:48:30.91\00:48:34.91
that he did not but he does, he
will buy all the newest gadgets
00:48:34.91\00:48:38.91
and tehn call me and want
me to explain how to use them
00:48:38.91\00:48:42.92
now I ask you have you tried
to explain to an 84 year old
00:48:42.92\00:48:46.92
man over the phone how to
use something that you cannot
00:48:46.92\00:48:50.93
even see. It is very
very difficult but you know
00:48:50.93\00:48:54.93
it keeps his mind working so
I'm not gonna complain about it
00:48:54.93\00:48:58.90
but statistics
tell us we have come
00:48:58.90\00:49:02.94
farther in technical
knowledge in the last 70 years
00:49:02.94\00:49:06.94
than int the previous 5000 years
00:49:06.94\00:49:10.95
of earth's history combined.
00:49:10.95\00:49:14.95
WOuld you be willing to say we
live in the busiest genereation
00:49:14.95\00:49:19.02
of earth's history. Now I
cannot prove that statistic
00:49:19.02\00:49:22.96
but I think it is just common
sense. Would you be willing to
00:49:22.96\00:49:27.03
say that this past
generation has seen more changes
00:49:27.03\00:49:31.00
than any other generation in
history would you be willing to
00:49:31.00\00:49:35.00
say that yeah I think we can all
agree on that. Do you realize my
00:49:35.00\00:49:39.01
iPhone can do more than an
entire compute 60 years ago
00:49:39.01\00:49:42.98
that would take a whole room
00:49:42.98\00:49:46.98
all these things have
happened but the question is
00:49:46.98\00:49:50.99
has the increase in knowledge
necessarily made the world
00:49:50.99\00:49:54.99
a better place.
In some cases yes
00:49:54.99\00:49:59.06
but truth be told man
has tended to use it more
00:49:59.06\00:50:02.96
for evil than he has for good
00:50:02.96\00:50:06.97
so these are the prophetic
signs we have studied tonight
00:50:06.97\00:50:11.01
religious confusion,
war and rumors of war,
00:50:11.01\00:50:15.01
famine, disease,
pestilence, natural disasters,
00:50:15.01\00:50:19.01
earthquakes,
violence, moral decay,
00:50:19.01\00:50:23.02
running to and fro, and
the increase of knowledge
00:50:23.02\00:50:27.06
I think if we honestly
look at our world and say
00:50:27.06\00:50:31.03
Bible Prophecy
is being fulfilled
00:50:31.03\00:50:35.00
right in front of our
eyes. It is time to get
00:50:35.00\00:50:39.03
close to Jesus.
Id like to end by
00:50:39.03\00:50:43.04
telling this story. There was
a young boy and his father that
00:50:43.04\00:50:47.11
was fishing in the
ocean. After they spent a dew
00:50:47.11\00:50:51.11
hours fishing together the boy
looked up into the heavens and
00:50:51.11\00:50:55.05
he saw that the sky was getting
dark. Storm clouds were rolling
00:50:55.05\00:50:59.09
in and he began to hear
a faint rumble of thunder
00:50:59.09\00:51:03.12
in the distance. It was
clear. A storm was coming
00:51:03.12\00:51:07.13
so the little boy got scared
and he looked over to his father
00:51:07.13\00:51:11.10
and he said Daddy, a
storm is coming I'm scared
00:51:11.10\00:51:15.10
and the fatehr just looked at
him and said son you just stay
00:51:15.10\00:51:19.07
close to me and you
will be alright and so the
00:51:19.07\00:51:23.08
little boy sat on his father's
lap, while the father safely
00:51:23.08\00:51:27.12
rode him through the
storm and tot he shore
00:51:27.12\00:51:31.09
you see that
son knew when he saw
00:51:31.09\00:51:35.09
the signs that it
was time to get close
00:51:35.09\00:51:39.09
to his father. The prophetic
signs are telling you and me
00:51:39.09\00:51:43.10
that we need to take
seriously our relationship with
00:51:43.10\00:51:47.07
Jesus and to stay close
00:51:47.07\00:51:51.11
to Him, and that he
boils it down into one simple
00:51:51.11\00:51:55.11
statement, he says
so you also when you see
00:51:55.11\00:51:59.11
these things know
that it is very near
00:51:59.11\00:52:03.12
even at the very doors
00:52:03.12\00:52:07.12
My friends Jesus
gives you this invitation
00:52:07.12\00:52:11.16
He says, Come to me, all
you who are weart and burdened
00:52:11.16\00:52:15.10
and I will give
you rest. You will find
00:52:15.10\00:52:19.10
You see the things happening in
this world make you fearful an
00:52:19.10\00:52:23.17
duncertain Jesus says come
you can lay your burdens on me
00:52:23.17\00:52:27.21
if the things
happening in this crazy
00:52:27.21\00:52:31.15
world make you
scared Jesus says come
00:52:31.15\00:52:35.18
I will give you peace. If
you are struggling with guilt
00:52:35.18\00:52:39.19
and shame becasue of the past,
00:52:39.19\00:52:43.16
or issue in life today, Jesus
00:52:43.16\00:52:47.23
says come I will
wash away all thsoe
00:52:47.23\00:52:51.13
sins and I will make you clean
because the wonderful thing
00:52:51.13\00:52:55.17
about Jesus is you
can always start over
00:52:55.17\00:52:59.17
again. Tonight I wonder
if you might pray this prayer
00:52:59.17\00:53:03.21
in the privacy of your
heart. Would you say Lord Jesus
00:53:03.21\00:53:07.18
I need to pay
attention to my spiritual life
00:53:07.18\00:53:11.19
please come into my heart and
00:53:11.19\00:53:15.22
give me peace.
00:53:15.22\00:53:19.19
Jesus said he will
never turn a sincere soul away
00:53:19.19\00:53:23.16
cause he does not
desire for anyone to perish
00:53:23.16\00:53:27.20
all he asks is that
you come and give it to
00:53:27.20\00:53:31.21
Him.
00:53:31.21\00:53:46.22