OK. Tonight's subject:
When Will Jesus Return?
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This is one of my
most favorite subjects.
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And so before we begin I
invite you to bow your heads
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with me for an
added word of prayer.
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Father in heaven, we thank
you for bringing us here again
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tonight. And as we open
the Word of Holy Scripture
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we pray that Your
Holy Spirit will be present
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and will be our
silent teacher tonight.
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May we hear the
Word, may we understand,
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and may we be willing to be
ready for Jesus when He comes
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is my prayer in
Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
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Jesus and His disciples
had just had a very busy week.
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Having left Jericho,
they had come to Jerusalem.
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And when they did come,
the Bible tells us that Jesus
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entered Jerusalem as a King
riding on the back of a donkey.
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All too soon the Passover
arrived, and Jesus found Himself
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in an upper room
with His disciples.
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And as Jesus looked
around in the upper room
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and He looked at the faces
of those whom He had come to
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consider as His closest friends,
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His dearest companions,
the Bible tells us...
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Well the Bible
doesn't tell us but I imagine
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that at that moment He
became concerned for them.
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Because He knew that
the shadow of the cross
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was already falling upon Him.
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He knew that the scenes
which were about to unfold
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would shake their
faith to the core.
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And so the Bible
tells us He turns to them
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and He says these words in
John chapter 13 verses 33-35.
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Now when He said this
the look on their faces
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must have been
pathetic beyond description.
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They had given up
everything to follow Jesus
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and now suddenly He was telling
them that He was going someplace
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that they couldn't go.
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Now when Jesus had fed the
5,000 and the crowds who had
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followed Him... they thought
"Let's make Him King... "
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and Jesus said: "No,
no, no. I didn't come to be
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that kind of a King...
" many people had stopped
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following Jesus. But the
12... well they had continued
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to be faithful even though
they, too, thought Jesus could
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be a good King like
they wanted Him to be.
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So where on earth was He going?
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And Peter with that
reputation for saying the things
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that everybody
else wanted to ask
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he asked the question the
rest of them would have said.
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And Jesus, seeing the
obvious fear on their faces,
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He then answers Peter's question
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with words which have since
become the great consolation
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for the friends of Jesus Christ
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in John 14:1-3...
notice the words of Jesus.
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He says:
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I love that beginning.
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"I go to prepare a
place for the Americans... "
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Are you happy
with that, are you?
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You like that translation?
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Friend, Jesus says
"I am going to die. "
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"I am going to rest in a
cold tomb but I will rise
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on the third day. And
when I rise on the third day
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after a period of time I'm
going to ascend into heaven
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BUT I will come back. "
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And friends, Jesus says "I
am going to prepare mansions
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for you. " Now have you
ever been invited to somebody's
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house? Maybe you can think back
to your childhood when you were
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sleeping over at other people's
places and they offered you
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a bed. They said: "You
can sleep in this bed. "
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Friends, when Jesus
says "Come to My house"
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He offers us
mansions. Can you believe it?
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I just think that's
absolutely wonderful.
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And how this promise
of Jesus' soon return,
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of His return, must have
comforted the disciples' hearts.
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They didn't fully understand
how Jesus was going to go,
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but the very fact that
He said He would be back
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gave them great hope. And
friends, the return of Jesus
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is the most talked-about
event in all the Bible.
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Approximately one in every
25 verses in the New Testament
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have something to do with
the return of Jesus Christ.
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And theologians tell us that
for every prophecy in the Bible
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concerning Christ's first coming
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there are about eight
concerning His second.
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Friends, the return of
Jesus is the theme of the Bible.
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Enoch preached it the
Bible tells us in Jude 14.
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David... he believed
it with all his heart.
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Paul... he believed it
and in his letter to Titus
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this is what he says. He refers
to it as "the blessed hope. "
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And friend, the very
last chapter of the Bible
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three times we are told... Jesus
tells us "I am coming quickly. "
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"I am coming quickly... " and
the second last verse of that
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chapter... it shouts to us of
Christ's return. The Bible says
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in Revelation 22 and verse 20:
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The return of Jesus is
the final apocalyptic message
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of the Bible: He is
coming. And this was the hope
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that Jesus wanted to
leave with His disciples.
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Human promises and pledges
often fail us, don't they?
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I mean, most of us
make New Year's resolutions
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we can't keep
for more than a week.
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But friends, when
God makes a promise
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He makes it because
He intends to keep it.
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Ah, you missed a
good "Amen" spot.
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When God makes a
promise He makes it
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because He intends
to keep it. Amen? Amen.
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Why... how do I know
this? Because the Bible tells me
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in Numbers chapter 23 verse 19:
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On the 11th of March 1942
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the Pacific theater of
war was threatening and bleak.
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One island after another was
being buffeted into submission
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and the enemy was marching
then to the Philippines.
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Surrender seemed inevitable.
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It was at this moment
that General Douglas MacArthur
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he had only three words
for his comrades as he hopped
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into an escape boat
destined for Australia.
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He said: "I shall return. "
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Upon arriving in the port
of Adelaide at the age of 62
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just 9 days later, he
again reminded the people
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of his promise. He
said: "I came through
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and I shall return. "
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Two and a half years later -
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on October 20,
1944, to be exact -
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General Douglas Macarthur...
he found his feet on Philippine
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soil at last. And he made
this victorious announcement
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"This is the voice of freedom.
General MacArthur speaking.
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People of the
Philippines: I have returned. "
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Friends, MacArthur... regardless
of what happened to him
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he was determined to
make good on his promise.
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And friends, if
MacArthur, a mere man,
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a mere general, can
make his promise good
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then don't you think when
Jesus says "I will return"
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He can and He
will? Of course He can.
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And so friends, the
disciples knew He was going
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but how was He
going to come back?
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Well, to answer this question we
need to turn to another chapter
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of Jesus' life
here on this earth.
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In fact, just
after the resurrection,
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40 days later, the Bible tells
us that Jesus and His disciples
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they made their way
to the Mount of Olives.
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And when they got there, after
a brief word of encouragement,
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Jesus' last
words to His disciples
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the Bible tells us
that something happened.
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And let's notice what
happens in Acts chapter 1:9-11.
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Notice all the visual
words in these verses.
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Friends, when the
disciples heard these words
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from the angel's lips, as they
began putting the puzzle pieces
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together in their
heads they realized
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that what the angels
were saying was simply this:
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Jesus was going to
return exactly the same way
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He had left. In other
words, His return would not be
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some magical apparition.
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It would not be in the
form of some spiritual concept.
00:11:06.43\00:11:10.11
No. He would
literally physically return
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just as they had literally
physically seen Him go up.
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And notice: if we are going
to build this as a theological
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argument we need to get passages
from the rest of the Bible
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to support it. The Bible does.
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In Revelation chapter 1
and verse 7 we are told:
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So friends, the return of
Jesus is going to be visible.
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And I think that's good news.
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Will we be able to
hear Jesus when He comes?
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Oh, you'd better believe it.
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Notice what the Bible says
in I Thessalonians chapter 4
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and verse 16:
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Friends, this verse has to
be one of the loudest verses
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in all the Bible. And I used to
learn how to play the piano...
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I used to have piano lessons.
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And every time I went to
see my dear piano teacher...
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She was a seasoned musician;
she had done all her lessons and
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she was really good. And every
time I went to play my pieces
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for her I would sit
there at that piano and I would
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fumble my way through
them making all these mistakes.
00:12:39.77\00:12:42.56
And she would get kind
of frustrated and she'd say
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things like: "Oh, I'm
on the war path today. "
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She would say: "Get it
right or I'll blow up! "
00:12:48.33\00:12:50.11
And I remember because I
was young. I actually believed
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she might explode some day.
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But she did say to
me one day... She said:
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"Charissa, if Mozart could hear
that he'd turn in his grave. "
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And you know, I've
never forgotten that because
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you know what?
When Jesus comes back
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for the friends of Jesus,
they're going to do more than
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turn in their
graves. The Bible tells us
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they're going to hear the voice
of their Savior, their Redeemer,
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and they're going
to rise from the dead.
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And I just think that
that is a wonderful thought.
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Just think of it... All
the great Bible greats: Noah
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and Peter and Paul and Esther.
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All of those who were faithful
to Jesus... they're going to
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rise and they're going
to be caught up to meet Him
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in the air. And families
are going to be reunited
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in the air... those who
have been separated by death.
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What a wonderful wonderful thing
that God is telling us here.
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And friend, you
couldn't miss it if you tried.
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The Bible tells us
in Matthew 24 verse 27:
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It's not going to be a
matter of: "Did you hear that? "
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Or: "What was that noise? "
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Friends, it's going to be bigger
and better and louder than
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Ben Hur and it's going to make
the New Year's Eve celebrations
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on Sydney Harbor
look absolutely primitive.
00:14:22.73\00:14:25.73
It is going to be the
greatest event the world...
00:14:25.93\00:14:29.75
No, sorry, let
me rephrase that...
00:14:29.95\00:14:31.36
the universe has ever seen.
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But friends, if the dead
are raised then what about
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the living? What about
those who are still alive?
00:14:37.81\00:14:40.34
What happens to them?
00:14:40.54\00:14:42.43
Well for the friends of Jesus,
for those who have encountered
00:14:42.63\00:14:46.97
Him and believed in Him
as a result of that encounter
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in this life, the Bible has more
good news for you and I tonight.
00:14:51.65\00:14:56.09
In I Thessalonians chapter
4 and verse 17 the Bible says:
00:14:56.29\00:15:00.92
Talk about a family
reunion up there in the sky.
00:15:12.51\00:15:16.77
What a wonderful day: to
be caught up and to meet your
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loved ones again. To be reunited
with your family members
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again. And then best of all
to look straight into love's
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shining face... to behold the
beautiful face of Jesus Christ.
00:15:28.79\00:15:33.72
Philippians tells us
in Philippians 3:20-21
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More good news. Not
only will we be caught up
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but the Bible tells us that
we are going to be given new,
00:16:00.45\00:16:03.79
perfect bodies. No
more aches; no more pains.
00:16:04.00\00:16:07.41
We're all going
to look a good 21!
00:16:07.61\00:16:09.91
Notice what else the Bible
says in I Corinthians 15:51.
00:16:10.11\00:16:15.38
What's that
"twinkling of an eye? "
00:16:22.29\00:16:23.80
It's like saying in
the blinking of an eye.
00:16:24.00\00:16:26.03
That's how God will change us.
00:16:26.24\00:16:27.89
And what more news? What news
could be more welcome than that?
00:16:28.09\00:16:32.03
Jesus goes on. This just
keeps getting better and better
00:16:32.23\00:16:35.52
tonight. The Bible tells us in
Matthew chapter 25 and verse 31:
00:16:35.72\00:16:40.79
This will be an event that
CNN will not be able to break
00:16:51.19\00:16:55.83
to you. It's going to be
glorious and you couldn't
00:16:56.03\00:16:59.31
miss it if you tried. Because
Jesus isn't returning to this
00:16:59.41\00:17:02.85
planet as a lowly
babe in Bethlehem.
00:17:03.05\00:17:06.06
No... this time He is
returning as the King of Kings,
00:17:06.26\00:17:09.85
the Lord of Lords. And according
to the text we just read
00:17:10.05\00:17:13.81
He is coming back with
all the angels of heaven.
00:17:14.01\00:17:17.92
Wow! Now how many
angels are there in heaven?
00:17:18.12\00:17:22.30
We don't really know, but
according to the book of Daniel
00:17:22.50\00:17:25.86
in Daniel chapter 7 and
verse 10... it's not on the
00:17:26.06\00:17:28.86
screen, you can just
make a mental note...
00:17:28.96\00:17:31.19
But in Daniel 7:10 we
know that from that text
00:17:31.39\00:17:34.88
there must be at
least 100 million of them.
00:17:35.08\00:17:39.10
So can you imagine that?
Just looking up into the sky
00:17:39.30\00:17:42.26
seeing it filled with angels,
and there in the center of them
00:17:42.47\00:17:47.37
all is your
Redeemer, your Savior,
00:17:47.47\00:17:50.75
your forever
Friend, Jesus Christ.
00:17:50.95\00:17:54.01
Friends, the Bible is
emphatic: Jesus is coming back.
00:17:55.19\00:18:00.45
His return will mark the
very climax of earth's history.
00:18:00.65\00:18:03.79
It will not be secret.
00:18:03.99\00:18:06.11
It will not be imaginative.
It will not be figurative.
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.84
It will be literal.
00:18:10.04\00:18:11.55
So the next logical question
we have to answer tonight
00:18:11.75\00:18:15.48
is when will this
glorious event take place?
00:18:15.58\00:18:18.98
And how soon are we to
the second coming of Jesus?
00:18:19.18\00:18:22.91
Could it happen in
your lifetime and mine?
00:18:23.11\00:18:26.69
Again, to answer this question
we need to go back to the Bible.
00:18:26.89\00:18:30.42
Because one day the disciples
took Jesus on a tour of
00:18:30.62\00:18:34.66
Jerusalem, and as they
were walking through Jerusalem
00:18:34.86\00:18:37.66
they came and they stopped
to marvel at the temple there.
00:18:37.86\00:18:41.76
It had just been
rebuilt by the Roman government
00:18:41.96\00:18:44.91
and it was one of the most
beautiful pieces of architecture
00:18:45.11\00:18:48.19
in the then-known world.
And as the disciples and Jesus
00:18:48.39\00:18:51.98
were gazing at this beautiful
building, the Bible tells us
00:18:52.18\00:18:55.41
that Jesus had something
to say to His disciples
00:18:55.61\00:18:58.59
that literally shocked them.
00:18:58.69\00:19:01.12
He said to them in Matthew
chapter 24 and verse 2, He said:
00:19:01.32\00:19:06.25
Now this was the greatest
building to the Jewish nation,
00:19:18.50\00:19:24.00
and yet Jesus predicted
that this beautiful building
00:19:24.20\00:19:28.02
was going to be
utterly destroyed.
00:19:28.22\00:19:30.88
And the disciples
were naturally shocked.
00:19:31.08\00:19:33.89
It would be like you and I
standing at the foot of the
00:19:34.09\00:19:37.10
Harbor Bridge
marveling at its architecture
00:19:37.20\00:19:40.21
and then someone standing
beside you and saying: "Oh,
00:19:40.41\00:19:42.50
by the way in a few months
that bridge is just going to
00:19:42.70\00:19:45.90
collapse. " It would
be absolutely shocking
00:19:46.00\00:19:48.24
when you think
about it like that.
00:19:48.44\00:19:49.96
And so when they went
up to the Mount of Olives
00:19:50.16\00:19:52.56
they all had these
questions on their mind.
00:19:52.76\00:19:55.22
"Why would Jesus say
something like that? "
00:19:55.42\00:19:57.43
And so they asked Jesus
the question we all would have
00:19:57.63\00:20:00.76
asked Him:
00:20:00.87\00:20:01.92
You see, to the disciples
if the temple was destroyed
00:20:11.73\00:20:15.74
it had to be equated
with the return of Jesus
00:20:15.94\00:20:18.61
and the end of the world...
because they just couldn't see
00:20:18.71\00:20:21.18
it happening any other way.
00:20:21.28\00:20:22.83
And so really when they
asked Jesus this question
00:20:23.03\00:20:26.53
they were asking Him a loaded
one... there were two questions
00:20:26.73\00:20:29.51
in one rolled
into this question.
00:20:29.61\00:20:31.68
First question: when
would Jerusalem be destroyed?
00:20:31.88\00:20:35.03
And second question:
when would Jesus come again?
00:20:35.23\00:20:38.36
What would mark the
signs of the end of the world?
00:20:38.56\00:20:41.54
And so Jesus in His
response... He cleverly outlined
00:20:41.74\00:20:46.26
and answers both of those
questions by describing a series
00:20:46.46\00:20:50.95
of signs that would indicate
the nearness of His coming.
00:20:51.05\00:20:55.17
And He indicated that
these signs would be seen
00:20:55.37\00:20:58.27
in the scientific, economic,
political, and religious world
00:20:58.47\00:21:03.17
and they would show us
that His coming was eminent.
00:21:03.37\00:21:06.23
Now signs are very
important, aren't they?
00:21:06.33\00:21:09.96
They're very important.
00:21:10.16\00:21:12.35
I don't know about you
but I really enjoy looking
00:21:12.55\00:21:15.64
in real estate. I love looking
in new houses and just seeing
00:21:15.84\00:21:19.56
how people live in other houses.
00:21:19.66\00:21:22.08
And not so long ago, my
family... we put our house
00:21:22.38\00:21:27.85
on the market. And
when we did, of course,
00:21:27.95\00:21:30.04
we had to look
for another house.
00:21:30.14\00:21:31.64
And so my mum and I
got on the Internet,
00:21:31.85\00:21:34.33
Googled some houses, and we
found this really nice house
00:21:34.53\00:21:37.63
and it wasn't too far
from where we were staying.
00:21:37.84\00:21:40.97
So we had some
spare time that afternoon,
00:21:41.17\00:21:44.10
jumped in the car, and drove
to this place where the house
00:21:44.30\00:21:47.63
was supposed to be for sale.
00:21:47.73\00:21:49.42
When we got to the
place where we thought it was
00:21:49.62\00:21:52.22
there was no sign outside
the house that we were expecting
00:21:52.42\00:21:56.04
to be for sale. But that's OK,
we could do our own inspection.
00:21:56.14\00:22:00.26
And so we got out of the
car and we both walked to the
00:22:00.46\00:22:03.49
front of the house and we
peered in through the window
00:22:03.59\00:22:05.98
at the front of the
house. And as we were peering in
00:22:06.08\00:22:08.69
the window, yes, oh,
a nice staircase, yes...
00:22:08.79\00:22:11.19
I noticed an apple on
the floor and I said: "Mum,
00:22:11.39\00:22:15.69
there's an apple on the floor. "
00:22:15.89\00:22:17.81
And without missing a beat she
said: "Oh, don't worry, dear,
00:22:18.01\00:22:20.58
the workmen must
have left it there. "
00:22:20.78\00:22:22.67
Sorry... I
thought: "That's OK. "
00:22:22.87\00:22:25.05
So we opened the side
gate and we went round the back
00:22:25.25\00:22:27.58
to look at the house
from the back, you know?
00:22:27.78\00:22:30.42
See what else we could see.
00:22:30.63\00:22:32.02
And so we got to the
back window and both of us,
00:22:32.22\00:22:34.72
faces on the
glass, were looking in.
00:22:34.82\00:22:36.95
We could see a few more things.
00:22:37.25\00:22:39.53
There were flowers on the table.
00:22:39.73\00:22:41.04
There were dishes on the sink.
00:22:41.24\00:22:42.86
There was detergent
there on the counter as well.
00:22:42.96\00:22:45.36
And needless to say, we both
got out of there quick smart.
00:22:45.39\00:22:48.76
I'm glad the person wasn't
home because they would have had
00:22:48.96\00:22:51.61
a rude shock seeing
two strangers peering in
00:22:51.71\00:22:54.86
their back window.
00:22:54.96\00:22:56.24
But friends, had we
taken the absence of a sign
00:22:56.44\00:23:00.34
as a sign that that
house wasn't for sale
00:23:00.54\00:23:03.93
it would have saved
us a lot of trouble.
00:23:04.14\00:23:05.93
And so friends, Jesus...
He wants you and I to know
00:23:06.13\00:23:09.24
when He's coming. So He
tells us a series of signs
00:23:09.44\00:23:12.54
to save us a lot of trouble.
00:23:12.74\00:23:14.70
Notice what the Bible says...
what He tells His disciples
00:23:14.90\00:23:18.27
in Matthew chapter 24
verses 4 and 5. He says:
00:23:18.47\00:23:23.67
Friends, Jesus knew
that before He returned
00:23:35.39\00:23:38.21
Satan would try to
impersonate His return.
00:23:38.41\00:23:42.11
And by the way,
for every truth of God
00:23:42.31\00:23:45.12
Satan has a counterfeit.
00:23:45.32\00:23:47.37
But according to Jesus, you
know, they may talk like Jesus
00:23:47.57\00:23:51.77
talks. They may have
a soft, melodious voice
00:23:51.87\00:23:54.85
like you and I might
imagine Jesus to have.
00:23:55.05\00:23:57.68
They may wear clothes
that He might have worn.
00:23:57.88\00:24:00.97
They may do things that
you think Jesus might do.
00:24:01.17\00:24:04.06
They may quote a whole lot
of scriptures, but according
00:24:04.26\00:24:07.36
to Jesus He said:
"Have nothing to do with them
00:24:07.46\00:24:10.56
because they are an imposter,
they're not the real Jesus. "
00:24:10.76\00:24:15.03
And that is why it is
so important for you and I
00:24:15.27\00:24:18.06
to understand
how Jesus will come.
00:24:18.27\00:24:21.01
Because Satan cannot impersonate
the true coming of Jesus Christ.
00:24:21.21\00:24:25.90
He cannot come back to
this earth with all the angels
00:24:26.10\00:24:29.03
of heaven, can he?
No, he couldn't do it.
00:24:29.13\00:24:32.36
Friends, that's why we
must know how Jesus is coming.
00:24:32.56\00:24:35.05
Jesus isn't going to
come in some remote location
00:24:35.25\00:24:38.26
or step off some space
ship. The Bible tells us
00:24:38.36\00:24:41.58
in Matthew
chapter 24 and verse 26:
00:24:41.79\00:24:45.22
And friend, no one is going to
come up to you, tap you on the
00:24:57.70\00:25:01.79
shoulder and say: "By the
way, I'm a false prophet. "
00:25:01.89\00:25:05.00
No one's going to do that.
00:25:05.20\00:25:06.77
And so if you think about this:
00:25:06.97\00:25:08.41
imagine a cry
went up in Taree...
00:25:08.61\00:25:11.77
"Jesus has come to Taree. "
00:25:11.98\00:25:14.31
Or "Jesus has appeared in Sydney
00:25:14.51\00:25:17.80
or Rome or New York City or He's
in China; He's in Hong Kong. "
00:25:18.00\00:25:22.82
Suppose a cry like that went out
00:25:23.06\00:25:25.36
and people everywhere all
over the world were called
00:25:25.56\00:25:28.41
"Come to Christ. " Would you go?
00:25:28.61\00:25:31.39
Well it would be very
tempting, wouldn't it? Because
00:25:32.66\00:25:35.08
when people flock to
one location it's this herd
00:25:35.28\00:25:38.62
mentality. Everybody
wants to have a look.
00:25:38.72\00:25:40.74
I know that because
whenever there are bush fires
00:25:40.94\00:25:43.51
down where we used to
live people would come
00:25:43.71\00:25:46.50
and come to have
a look at the fires.
00:25:46.71\00:25:48.46
And the same way,
if you're in the shops
00:25:48.66\00:25:50.50
and you're
walking past in the shop
00:25:50.70\00:25:52.36
and you see someone looking
in the window and they're just
00:25:52.56\00:25:54.55
staring, the natural, knee-jerk
reaction is to stop and see
00:25:54.65\00:25:58.53
what they're having a look
at. It would be very difficult
00:25:58.73\00:26:01.73
to not go. But
friend, Jesus said:
00:26:01.76\00:26:04.20
"Have nothing to do with it. "
00:26:04.30\00:26:05.65
In Revelation chapter
16 verse 14 He says... Why?
00:26:05.85\00:26:10.09
And friend, as I said before,
signs are really important
00:26:14.98\00:26:18.13
so that you know who
you're looking out for.
00:26:18.33\00:26:20.24
Not that long ago I was
invited by a Chinese church
00:26:20.44\00:26:24.89
in Queensland to
come and speak for a camp
00:26:25.09\00:26:27.66
that they were running.
00:26:27.86\00:26:29.00
And so I was communicating
with the organizer on the e-mail
00:26:29.20\00:26:32.83
and their name was Frances.
And so Frances and I were
00:26:33.03\00:26:36.15
sending back e-mails. And I
thought: "Oh, it's really good
00:26:36.35\00:26:39.11
working with such an
organized young lady. "
00:26:39.31\00:26:41.19
And I flew to Brisbane,
and when I got to the Brisbane
00:26:41.39\00:26:44.39
airport my phone
rang so I answered it.
00:26:44.49\00:26:46.79
I said: "Oh, Frances,
hi. How are you? I'm here. "
00:26:46.99\00:26:49.24
And this male
voice answered the phone.
00:26:49.44\00:26:51.89
That was shock #1.
00:26:52.09\00:26:53.64
He said: "I'm in the car
park. If you just come out
00:26:53.84\00:26:57.08
you'll see me. " I said:
"Oh, how'm I supposed to know
00:26:57.28\00:26:59.70
what you look like? "
He said: "Oh, I'm in a Ford
00:26:59.90\00:27:02.61
Falcon and it's white. "
00:27:02.72\00:27:04.33
As if I know what a
Ford Falcon looks like.
00:27:04.64\00:27:07.39
So I walked out
into the car park
00:27:07.59\00:27:10.23
and, of course, what
do I see? Cars everywhere.
00:27:10.43\00:27:13.74
I said: "Francis, I
can't see you. " He said:
00:27:13.94\00:27:16.35
"I'm the Ford Falcon
with the ladder on the top. "
00:27:16.55\00:27:18.83
Well that helped
a little bit more.
00:27:19.03\00:27:20.49
And I kept looking and
I just couldn't see him.
00:27:20.69\00:27:23.25
And then suddenly I
heard this voice that I'd heard
00:27:23.45\00:27:26.02
on the phone. And I spun
around and there was Francis.
00:27:26.22\00:27:29.40
Now I had thought that
he was going to be Asian
00:27:29.61\00:27:32.17
because I was going to
speak for an Asian church camp.
00:27:32.27\00:27:34.93
And he was an Aussie.
And so, friends, it helps
00:27:35.13\00:27:38.25
to know who you're
looking out for, doesn't it?
00:27:38.45\00:27:40.41
It helps to know the signs
'cause you could just end up
00:27:40.61\00:27:43.04
going with the wrong person.
00:27:43.24\00:27:44.69
And so that was a really good
experience for me to learn that.
00:27:44.79\00:27:48.25
In Matthew chapter 24
00:27:48.45\00:27:50.45
and verse 7, Jesus...
He goes on and He says:
00:27:50.65\00:27:53.83
Now friends, there
have always been wars,
00:28:07.05\00:28:11.27
but the 20th century
was the bloodiest century
00:28:11.57\00:28:16.53
of mankind's
history. World War I
00:28:16.63\00:28:19.95
saw 20 million people
sacrificed on the altar of war.
00:28:20.15\00:28:25.03
World War II saw an
additional 50 million people
00:28:25.24\00:28:28.94
slaughtered as
the result of war.
00:28:29.14\00:28:31.92
And following the Cold
War the world now trembles
00:28:32.12\00:28:35.48
at the thought of
weapons of mass destruction
00:28:35.68\00:28:38.33
falling into the hands of
terrorists and rogue nations.
00:28:38.54\00:28:42.82
The danger of war still hangs
constantly over the Middle East
00:28:43.02\00:28:46.84
and the Bible says
in I Thessalonians 5:3
00:28:47.04\00:28:51.25
Oh yes,
everybody talks of peace,
00:28:58.77\00:29:01.24
but according to the
Bible it's just really talk.
00:29:01.44\00:29:04.39
Broadcasting
from Hiroshima in 1945
00:29:04.59\00:29:07.81
after the dropping
of that atomic bomb,
00:29:07.84\00:29:10.34
William Ripley... he was
reporting and he said this:
00:29:10.54\00:29:13.58
"I am standing on the
place where the end of the world
00:29:13.72\00:29:17.08
began. " I wonder what he
would say today if he could see
00:29:17.18\00:29:21.68
the unprecedented
nuclear proliferation
00:29:21.81\00:29:24.14
that we today witness
in countries around us.
00:29:24.34\00:29:27.19
Jesus goes on in that same
verse... in verse 7. He said:
00:29:27.39\00:29:31.23
Now there have always
been famines. I recognize that.
00:29:34.46\00:29:38.39
But friend, tonight did
you know that half the world
00:29:38.59\00:29:41.53
goes to bed hungry every night?
00:29:41.63\00:29:44.02
In fact, the experts
tell us that 25,000 people
00:29:44.22\00:29:48.08
a day... that's 9
million people a year...
00:29:48.28\00:29:51.42
they die as a result of hunger.
00:29:51.62\00:29:54.21
Those numbers...
they just boggle the mind.
00:29:54.41\00:29:57.27
You and I can't begin to
comprehend what that really
00:29:57.47\00:30:00.18
means in terms of the degree
of pain that is experienced.
00:30:00.28\00:30:03.88
And so to handle numbers like
that we resort to this thing
00:30:04.08\00:30:07.26
called massification: we just
lump them all into a statistic
00:30:07.46\00:30:10.85
and that's how we deal with it.
00:30:11.05\00:30:12.21
But you and I... we should never
forget that those huge numbers
00:30:12.41\00:30:16.44
every integer that makes
them up represents an individual
00:30:16.64\00:30:20.59
like you and me. Jesus goes on.
00:30:20.69\00:30:23.65
I've been talking about famines.
00:30:23.85\00:30:25.40
He also talks about other things
in Matthew chapter 24 verse 7.
00:30:25.60\00:30:30.05
He says:
00:30:30.15\00:30:31.19
Now there have always been
diseases. I recognize that.
00:30:35.79\00:30:40.75
But never have we had so many
diseases happening on the scale
00:30:40.95\00:30:45.23
and intensity which we see them
around us in our world today.
00:30:45.33\00:30:49.23
I mean, do I
even need to mention:
00:30:49.43\00:30:51.46
Do I even need to mention those?
00:30:58.67\00:31:00.07
No, I didn't
think so because listen:
00:31:00.27\00:31:02.12
even our computers are
coming down with viruses.
00:31:02.32\00:31:05.32
Insects are developing
immunities to these deadly
00:31:05.52\00:31:10.54
pesticides... so much so that
we now have these things called
00:31:10.64\00:31:14.11
superbugs. You just can't
destroy them with the same
00:31:14.21\00:31:17.21
things you used to use.
00:31:17.31\00:31:18.69
Cancer with approximately
100 different strains
00:31:18.89\00:31:22.33
is spreading like an
epidemic destroying infants
00:31:22.53\00:31:26.18
as well as the aged. According
to the World Health Organization
00:31:26.38\00:31:30.66
they estimate that we have
approximately - and I believe
00:31:30.86\00:31:34.05
the number has probably
risen since this statistic -
00:31:34.15\00:31:37.79
we have approximately 40 million
cases of HIV in our world today.
00:31:37.99\00:31:43.48
Whole countries... whole
nations will be wiped out
00:31:43.68\00:31:48.01
if something
isn't done to stop it.
00:31:48.21\00:31:50.85
The Bible also
mentions in that same verse
00:31:51.06\00:31:54.24
earthquakes. Yes I know, there
have always been earthquakes.
00:31:54.44\00:32:00.26
But today, friends, we have over
4,000 seismograph stations -
00:32:00.46\00:32:04.97
seismograph stations -
around the world that record
00:32:05.17\00:32:07.99
somewhere between 12,000 to
14,000 earthquakes every year.
00:32:08.19\00:32:12.65
And according to the
record, they believe that
00:32:12.85\00:32:15.36
we have approximately 6,000
major earthquakes every year.
00:32:15.56\00:32:20.59
And this year alone you
and I know that to be a fact,
00:32:20.79\00:32:23.58
don't we? We have seen it
in the news. We hear of Haiti
00:32:23.78\00:32:26.30
and Indonesia and Chile.
00:32:26.50\00:32:28.22
And there are many other
earthquakes that don't even
00:32:28.42\00:32:30.79
make the news any
more because if they did
00:32:30.89\00:32:33.44
we'd just be listening to the
earthquakes and we wouldn't know
00:32:33.54\00:32:35.64
what else is going on around us.
00:32:35.74\00:32:37.93
And so they tell us
that in the last 90 years
00:32:38.13\00:32:41.52
1.5 million fatalities
have been as a direct result
00:32:41.72\00:32:46.70
of earthquakes. A horrible
tsunami... it hit the South
00:32:46.73\00:32:50.65
Pacific, it hit Asia,
and instantly 300,000 people
00:32:50.75\00:32:55.79
had their lives
just snuffed out.
00:32:55.90\00:32:57.82
It is as if all of nature
is shaking in an attempt to
00:32:58.02\00:33:01.99
wake the inhabitants of planet
earth to realize that Jesus,
00:33:02.19\00:33:05.88
our Creator, our
Redeemer, is almost here
00:33:06.08\00:33:09.19
and time is running out.
00:33:09.39\00:33:11.27
In October of last year I
woke up to something that looked
00:33:11.57\00:33:16.69
like this. Did the dust
storms reach Taree as well?
00:33:16.79\00:33:20.20
Wasn't that a fascinating day?
00:33:20.40\00:33:22.29
I was... You know, I woke
up and I didn't know what was
00:33:22.39\00:33:24.73
going on outside. And my
sister... she actually took
00:33:24.83\00:33:27.81
that picture down where we lived
00:33:27.91\00:33:29.56
in the early
hours of the morning.
00:33:29.76\00:33:32.00
And people all over Sydney
and I suppose all over this side
00:33:32.20\00:33:35.62
of Australia... they were
pretty worried, weren't they?
00:33:35.72\00:33:38.10
And I just found some of these
comments that people were making
00:33:38.30\00:33:42.54
at the time. They said:
00:33:42.74\00:33:43.85
And another writer
wrote in to the ABC. He said:
00:33:52.24\00:33:55.63
Friends, I believe that this
sign of a planet out of control
00:34:05.14\00:34:09.64
is also another sign
that Jesus is coming soon.
00:34:09.84\00:34:12.88
We can see the
signs all around us.
00:34:12.98\00:34:15.36
And Jesus... He
continues to describe them.
00:34:15.56\00:34:18.20
He goes on and He says in
Matthew chapter 24 and verse 12.
00:34:18.41\00:34:22.57
He talks about a coming
persecution for those who
00:34:22.77\00:34:26.34
believe in Jesus. And He says:
00:34:26.45\00:34:27.80
The world is all
worried about global warming.
00:34:35.15\00:34:37.76
But God said there will
also be a global cooling
00:34:37.96\00:34:41.05
that we need to
watch out for as well.
00:34:41.26\00:34:43.49
And so, friends, I'd
like you now to notice
00:34:43.69\00:34:45.84
the moral condition of
the world at the end of time.
00:34:46.04\00:34:49.77
Notice what the Bible
says in II Timothy 3:2-5.
00:34:49.98\00:34:54.66
It would almost
appear in this passage
00:35:25.35\00:35:29.12
as though Jesus was reading the
headlines of the local newspaper
00:35:29.32\00:35:33.52
and He is
summing them up for us.
00:35:33.72\00:35:35.73
I mean, we are living
in these times, friends.
00:35:35.93\00:35:39.93
And you and I don't need a
theological... theology degree
00:35:40.13\00:35:43.24
to realize that. It's
only taken the movies 50 years
00:35:43.44\00:35:48.51
to go from
silent to unspeakable.
00:35:48.71\00:35:51.39
And statistics tell us
that by the time a child
00:35:51.59\00:35:55.61
reaches the age of
12 they have witnessed
00:35:55.71\00:35:58.93
more than 8,000
televised murders.
00:35:59.13\00:36:02.90
And in addition
to that, over 100,000
00:36:03.10\00:36:06.74
televised violent acts.
00:36:06.95\00:36:09.99
It is no wonder our
society is slipping into a form
00:36:10.19\00:36:13.37
of social and moral decay.
00:36:13.47\00:36:16.14
Because listen:
if, when I was a child,
00:36:16.35\00:36:18.70
I was so impressionable that
when I saw the Sound of Music
00:36:18.90\00:36:22.41
and Captain von Trapp
whistling for his children
00:36:22.61\00:36:25.40
and I thought my parents
should do the same as well.
00:36:25.60\00:36:27.97
Then it is no wonder that when
we look at our society today
00:36:28.17\00:36:32.78
children are mimicking
what they see on television.
00:36:32.98\00:36:36.32
And by the way,
adults do the same as well.
00:36:36.52\00:36:39.51
To illustrate my
point a little bit further
00:36:39.71\00:36:42.23
I did some "prac" teaching
in a school in western Sydney
00:36:42.53\00:36:47.30
at the end of last
year as part of my degree.
00:36:47.33\00:36:49.84
And I got to sit in on one of
the worst classes in the school
00:36:50.04\00:36:53.99
so they told me. And when
I got in to sit in this class
00:36:54.10\00:36:57.47
I was quite surprised
because half the class
00:36:57.67\00:37:00.59
were away because they were
on suspension for bad behavior.
00:37:00.79\00:37:04.73
And the half that
turned up that day
00:37:04.93\00:37:07.55
had just come off
suspension for bad behavior.
00:37:07.75\00:37:11.11
So I think to myself:
"What a time in history
00:37:11.32\00:37:13.68
to be studying to be
a high school teacher. "
00:37:13.88\00:37:16.01
And friends, the sins
that called for the destruction
00:37:16.21\00:37:19.40
of the world in Noah's
day... they exist today.
00:37:19.60\00:37:23.50
Notice again Matthew
24:37-39 the Bible says:
00:37:23.60\00:37:29.56
Friends, in Noah's day
when Noah gave that warning
00:37:53.36\00:37:57.89
many people
rejected what he said.
00:37:58.09\00:38:01.09
They rejected the
warning... and when they did
00:38:01.29\00:38:04.21
they sealed their own fate.
00:38:04.41\00:38:06.83
And friends, the same thing
can happen to you and I today
00:38:07.03\00:38:09.87
as well. Men and
women haven't changed
00:38:09.97\00:38:12.28
with the passing of time.
No, we still find it very easy
00:38:12.38\00:38:16.17
to lose ourselves to a
thousand different distractions
00:38:16.27\00:38:20.62
and pursuits. And when
that happens, it may be
00:38:20.82\00:38:23.86
that you and I can
only faintly, very faintly,
00:38:23.96\00:38:27.79
hear the call of God.
00:38:27.89\00:38:30.22
The Bible tells
us, too, In Daniel 12:4
00:38:30.42\00:38:33.15
Now this increase in
knowledge refers to two kinds
00:38:39.85\00:38:43.63
of increases. The first increase
is referring to an increase
00:38:43.73\00:38:47.71
of knowledge in general.
00:38:47.81\00:38:49.19
And friends, we
learned that to be the case
00:38:49.39\00:38:51.99
because today astrologers
know more about what's above us;
00:38:52.19\00:38:55.75
geologists know more
about what's beneath us;
00:38:55.85\00:38:58.79
and biologists know
more about what's within us
00:38:58.99\00:39:01.84
than in any other
generation we have ever seen
00:39:02.04\00:39:04.69
in human history. Today
surgeons perform surgeries
00:39:04.79\00:39:08.47
that medical science didn't
even dream of a decade ago.
00:39:08.67\00:39:12.22
And some have
estimated that approximately
00:39:12.43\00:39:16.26
80% of all the scientists
who have ever lived...
00:39:16.46\00:39:20.50
they are alive today.
00:39:20.71\00:39:22.23
And listen to this... I think
this is really fascinating:
00:39:22.43\00:39:25.17
the scientific material that
they produce in just 24 hours...
00:39:25.37\00:39:30.73
it is enough to take a
person a lifetime to read.
00:39:30.93\00:39:35.00
Isn't that amazing?
That's how much knowledge is
00:39:35.30\00:39:37.79
increasing in
the area of science.
00:39:37.89\00:39:39.98
And some of you here tonight...
you may remember the day
00:39:40.18\00:39:43.33
where people
traveled by horse and buggy
00:39:43.53\00:39:46.03
and yet you have lived
to see man walk on the moon.
00:39:46.23\00:39:50.03
We have gone from
fountain pens to e-mail;
00:39:50.23\00:39:53.42
from telegrams to mobile phones;
00:39:53.62\00:39:56.02
and it's all
happened in the last 60 years.
00:39:56.22\00:39:59.13
That's how exponentially
knowledge has increased.
00:39:59.16\00:40:04.69
My sister and I... we
used to be very close.
00:40:04.99\00:40:07.80
We used to talk to
each other all the time.
00:40:08.00\00:40:10.49
When I first met her, we had
so much to say to each other.
00:40:10.69\00:40:13.99
Whether or not the other
sister understood what the other
00:40:14.19\00:40:17.16
sister was saying 'cause
we were little at the time
00:40:17.26\00:40:19.68
that's what totally...
that's the total of the story...
00:40:19.78\00:40:22.53
But friends today
my sister and I...
00:40:22.54\00:40:25.74
we can sit in the same room and
we cannot... we might not say
00:40:25.95\00:40:29.67
a word to each
other. You know why?
00:40:29.77\00:40:31.65
Because we'll be
talking on the computer.
00:40:31.85\00:40:33.68
There's no need to raise
your voice when you can type.
00:40:33.89\00:40:36.26
That's another sign of
how technology is impacting
00:40:36.46\00:40:40.04
our lives today. But friends,
00:40:40.24\00:40:43.20
Daniel's prophecy also
talks about an increase
00:40:43.40\00:40:46.96
of knowledge where it comes to
understanding the Word of God.
00:40:47.16\00:40:50.90
In understanding
Bible prophecy as it relates
00:40:51.10\00:40:54.44
to His soon
return. And for this reason
00:40:54.54\00:40:57.09
Jesus says in
Matthew 24:14... He says:
00:40:57.29\00:41:01.56
And friends, of all the signs
that you and I have looked at
00:41:16.03\00:41:19.23
tonight, it is this sign that
is still awaiting its complete
00:41:19.33\00:41:23.74
fulfillment. The Bible predicts
a global, world-wide revival
00:41:23.84\00:41:28.44
that will take place
before the return of Jesus.
00:41:28.54\00:41:31.30
And tonight's meeting
is part of the fulfillment
00:41:31.50\00:41:34.94
of this
prophecy of Jesus Christ.
00:41:35.04\00:41:37.18
The aged apostle John
writing from a barren island
00:41:37.48\00:41:42.08
in the Aegean
Sea... he adds to this
00:41:42.28\00:41:45.15
and he says in Revelation 14:6,
00:41:45.35\00:41:48.81
And you can see the picture
above me here at the front.
00:41:48.91\00:41:51.44
It says:
00:41:51.47\00:41:52.47
Friend, God has a
last-day message that will reach
00:42:04.38\00:42:08.89
every nation, kindred,
tribe, tongue, and people.
00:42:09.09\00:42:12.48
Why? Because Jesus is coming
soon and the world must know
00:42:12.68\00:42:17.07
that He is coming.
00:42:17.28\00:42:18.28
It is a certain
message. It is a unique message.
00:42:18.48\00:42:22.70
It is an impressive message.
00:42:22.90\00:42:25.56
And friends, through the
medium of satellite technology
00:42:25.76\00:42:29.00
and the Internet and the printed
media and other forms of media
00:42:29.20\00:42:33.82
the gospel of Jesus Christ
is ricocheting around the globe
00:42:34.02\00:42:38.33
as I speak tonight. It is
penetrating Communist Cuba
00:42:38.53\00:42:43.19
and it is going to
the very heart of China.
00:42:43.39\00:42:46.09
In Australia there is
a spiritual awakening.
00:42:46.30\00:42:49.64
All throughout Africa and Kenya
00:42:49.94\00:42:52.52
and Ghana and Sudan,
Christians and people there
00:42:52.72\00:42:55.77
walk into Christian meetings
to hear the everlasting gospel
00:42:55.97\00:42:59.66
preached, and people
are making their decisions
00:42:59.86\00:43:02.65
for Jesus Christ. It's happening
in Central and South America.
00:43:02.75\00:43:06.92
It's happening in Europe; it's
happening in the South Pacific.
00:43:07.12\00:43:10.59
And I have a soft spot
for the South Pacific because
00:43:10.79\00:43:14.21
my heritage - my family
heritage... it goes back to
00:43:14.31\00:43:16.88
Samoa. And I know that
the gospel is spreading
00:43:16.98\00:43:20.24
in the islands of the sea.
The Holy Spirit is on the move,
00:43:20.34\00:43:24.01
friends. Time is running out.
00:43:24.21\00:43:26.62
The last few grains of
sand are falling through.
00:43:26.82\00:43:29.82
Soon the Son of God will
pierce the star-studded sky.
00:43:30.02\00:43:33.63
And when He does, the
world will encounter Jesus.
00:43:33.83\00:43:37.60
It will be the greatest
encounter we have ever seen.
00:43:37.80\00:43:41.29
And tonight I
believe that that encounter
00:43:41.59\00:43:45.37
is closer than we think.
00:43:45.57\00:43:49.19
Having concluded His
lengthy list of signs
00:43:49.39\00:43:53.62
Jesus then says this
in Matthew 24:33. He said:
00:43:53.82\00:43:58.56
Friends, they say confidence
is the feeling you have
00:44:09.48\00:44:12.91
before you fully
understand the situation.
00:44:13.11\00:44:15.57
But friends, as we
fully understand how Jesus is
00:44:15.77\00:44:19.89
coming back and the
signs that precede His coming
00:44:19.99\00:44:22.64
it should
increase our confidence.
00:44:22.84\00:44:25.44
God doesn't want you and
I to see the signs and then
00:44:25.64\00:44:28.12
hang our heads in
despair and say: "Oh, no.
00:44:28.22\00:44:31.01
Look at what's happening
to the world around me. "
00:44:31.21\00:44:33.32
God wants us to lift
up our heads and rejoice
00:44:33.52\00:44:36.70
and be delighted
because Jesus is coming.
00:44:36.90\00:44:39.57
We are not waiting
for something to happen...
00:44:39.78\00:44:42.43
we are looking
for someone to come.
00:44:42.63\00:44:45.09
And friends, since
Jesus spoke those words
00:44:45.39\00:44:48.44
to His disciples 2,000 years ago
00:44:48.64\00:44:51.75
time has continued to march on.
00:44:51.95\00:44:55.14
And all of those
disciples to whom He first
00:44:55.34\00:44:58.30
gave this glorious message...
they now rest in their graves
00:44:58.41\00:45:02.32
and they await the return
of Jesus when they will hear
00:45:02.52\00:45:05.90
His words and they
will rise from the dead.
00:45:06.11\00:45:08.84
And I wonder... I really do...
00:45:09.04\00:45:11.39
what Peter and Andrew
and James, would all think if
00:45:11.59\00:45:14.99
they were living today. If they
could see what we see today.
00:45:15.09\00:45:18.60
Because I'm pretty
sure that even Thomas
00:45:18.80\00:45:21.55
who is so often
remembered for his doubting
00:45:21.75\00:45:24.64
I'm pretty sure that even
Thomas would have no doubts
00:45:24.85\00:45:28.35
as to just how close we
are to the end of time as well.
00:45:28.55\00:45:33.12
Friend, as I said before,
it's closer than we think.
00:45:33.32\00:45:36.51
And in Matthew 24:44
Jesus concludes and He says:
00:45:36.71\00:45:41.45
When the disciples
watched Jesus ascend into heaven
00:45:49.52\00:45:52.17
at that moment when
He did start rising up
00:45:52.57\00:45:55.36
I'm sure that a pang of pain
must have pierced their hearts.
00:45:55.56\00:45:59.95
But the angels quickly appeared
and they gave them that promise
00:46:00.15\00:46:04.12
"Look He's coming
back, and He'll come back
00:46:04.22\00:46:06.44
exactly the same way He left. "
00:46:06.47\00:46:08.71
And friends, how that
must have encouraged them.
00:46:08.95\00:46:12.37
The Bible tells us that
they went forth and then 10 days
00:46:12.57\00:46:15.63
later there was Pentecost.
00:46:15.73\00:46:17.78
And friend, history tell us
that every single one of those
00:46:17.98\00:46:21.56
disciples - bar John who died
in exile - but every single one
00:46:21.66\00:46:26.38
of them... they
died a martyr's death.
00:46:26.48\00:46:29.22
Why? Because
they were convinced,
00:46:29.52\00:46:33.85
they believed
with all their heart,
00:46:34.05\00:46:36.18
that Jesus really loved them.
00:46:36.38\00:46:38.22
And He loved them so much so
that He was going to keep His
00:46:38.42\00:46:41.76
promise and He was going to come
back and take them to His home.
00:46:41.86\00:46:46.02
They held onto that
even on pain of death.
00:46:46.22\00:46:49.41
And friend, Jesus had predicted
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:46:49.61\00:46:53.58
And 40 days later the
destruction of the temple...
00:46:53.78\00:46:56.57
40 YEARS later... those
predictions were fulfilled.
00:46:56.77\00:47:01.09
You can visit the
site in Jerusalem today.
00:47:01.29\00:47:03.73
Titus, the son of the
Roman emperor Vespasian...
00:47:03.93\00:47:07.54
he captured and
razed that city in AD 70.
00:47:07.55\00:47:11.35
Jerusalem was set on
fire, and as Jesus said
00:47:11.55\00:47:15.40
not one stone was left
upon another of that temple.
00:47:15.60\00:47:18.77
And friends, will we ignore
the signs that we see around us
00:47:18.97\00:47:23.57
concerning the return of Christ
00:47:23.77\00:47:25.42
if the signs He said
that would happen before the
00:47:25.62\00:47:28.16
destruction of
Jerusalem happened as He said?
00:47:28.26\00:47:31.10
The Bible says in II
Peter chapter 3 and verse 10
00:47:31.30\00:47:35.60
How many thieves do you
know that knock on your door
00:47:41.15\00:47:43.97
and say: "Good morning.
Just wanted to let you know
00:47:44.17\00:47:46.28
I'll be dropping by
your house tomorrow night
00:47:46.48\00:47:48.19
to steal your
plasma television. "
00:47:48.39\00:47:50.09
Hmmm? No thief
does that. And friends,
00:47:50.29\00:47:52.79
I think Jesus' coming
is sooner than we think,
00:47:52.99\00:47:55.92
but I just think that not
too many people are thinking
00:47:56.12\00:47:58.88
about it at all. Why
hasn't Jesus returned yet?
00:47:58.99\00:48:03.85
Well friends,
there remains one reason
00:48:04.05\00:48:06.43
why Jesus has not yet come.
00:48:06.64\00:48:08.84
And that's because He is waiting
for the inhabitants of planet
00:48:09.04\00:48:11.99
earth - that's you and me
- to be ready to meet Him.
00:48:12.10\00:48:15.60
The Bible says in II
Peter chapter 3 and verse 9
00:48:15.80\00:48:19.22
Friends, the way to heaven
is just turn right at Calvary
00:48:34.83\00:48:38.70
and then keep going.
00:48:38.80\00:48:40.15
The key to being
ready for Jesus' return
00:48:40.35\00:48:43.12
is to encounter Him today.
00:48:43.32\00:48:45.68
As D. L. Moody said:
00:48:45.88\00:48:47.36
God just doesn't want you to
know the signs of His coming.
00:48:53.10\00:48:55.99
He wants you to know Him...
to have a relationship with Him.
00:48:56.19\00:48:59.68
Before He comes, He
wants you to know Him as your
00:48:59.88\00:49:03.28
personal Savior
and forever Friend.
00:49:03.38\00:49:06.01
Because He will
come... The story is told
00:49:06.21\00:49:09.46
of a young man who was
seeking to win the heart
00:49:09.76\00:49:13.19
of the girl of his dreams.
00:49:13.39\00:49:15.27
And he had been
trying for quite some time
00:49:15.48\00:49:17.72
but it just seemed
that no matter what he did
00:49:17.92\00:49:20.25
he just couldn't
quite get through.
00:49:20.45\00:49:22.32
So one day he
had a brilliant idea.
00:49:22.52\00:49:24.63
He thought to himself: "I'll
buy her a bunch of roses. "
00:49:24.83\00:49:27.39
And so he did. And one
day she opened the door of
00:49:27.59\00:49:31.02
her front... her front
door when the doorbell rang...
00:49:31.22\00:49:33.65
and there were
these beautiful red roses
00:49:33.75\00:49:36.15
and attached was this
note. And she was just shocked!
00:49:36.35\00:49:39.59
I mean, it wasn't her birthday.
00:49:39.73\00:49:41.27
It wasn't Valentines...
it wasn't Christmas.
00:49:41.47\00:49:43.05
But there they
were... just for her.
00:49:43.26\00:49:45.73
And so she picked them
up and she took the envelope
00:49:45.93\00:49:49.47
and opened it and read
the letter that was attached.
00:49:49.67\00:49:52.07
And as she read, she
read of someone who loved her.
00:49:52.27\00:49:55.44
Someone who admired her...
who thought the world of her.
00:49:55.64\00:49:58.49
And it was all very beautiful,
but the line that stole
00:49:58.69\00:50:01.98
her heart went
something like this:
00:50:02.08\00:50:03.76
"You are someone I would
like to get to know better.
00:50:03.96\00:50:07.40
And if someday you might be
interested in someone like me
00:50:07.60\00:50:11.52
then I think you
are worth waiting for. "
00:50:11.72\00:50:14.01
And friend, like that
young man, Jesus loves you.
00:50:14.04\00:50:18.42
Only He's no secret admirer.
00:50:18.65\00:50:20.59
And you know what? The
only reason He hasn't come back
00:50:20.79\00:50:23.32
is because He thinks that
you are worth waiting for.
00:50:23.52\00:50:27.40
So much so that
you're worth coming back for.
00:50:27.60\00:50:30.31
And tonight, maybe He is
waiting for you. The Bible says:
00:50:30.51\00:50:33.59
Friend, don't
hesitate... don't delay.
00:50:38.64\00:50:41.64
Don't wait... because none
of us know if we have tomorrow.
00:50:41.84\00:50:45.50
Tonight would you like to
be ready for Jesus to come?
00:50:45.70\00:50:48.40
If that is your
desire, would you stand with me
00:50:48.70\00:50:51.65
now and say: "Lord, I want
to be ready when Jesus comes. "
00:50:51.85\00:50:55.07
How do we be ready?
00:50:55.27\00:50:56.73
We need to develop a
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:50:56.94\00:50:59.79
and then commit
our lives to Him.
00:50:59.99\00:51:02.26
Read your Bible.
Pray and talk to Him.
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Grow a friendship with Jesus
00:51:05.18\00:51:07.02
and you can be ready
to meet Him when He comes.
00:51:07.12\00:51:09.86
Let's pray. Our
Father in heaven,
00:51:09.96\00:51:11.89
we thank you, Lord,
that You love us enough
00:51:12.09\00:51:14.80
that You're willing
to come back for us.
00:51:15.00\00:51:17.11
We thank you, Lord, that You
think we're worth waiting for.
00:51:17.31\00:51:20.02
And so Lord tonight, as we
see the signs all around us
00:51:20.22\00:51:23.61
shouting at us that
Jesus is coming soon,
00:51:23.81\00:51:26.62
I pray, Lord, that You
will help us to be ready
00:51:26.82\00:51:29.57
to meet You when You
come. As we go from this place
00:51:29.67\00:51:32.65
to develop a personal
relationship with Jesus.
00:51:32.85\00:51:35.91
Please, Lord, help
us to be faithful to You
00:51:36.11\00:51:39.20
till You come is our prayer
tonight in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:51:39.30\00:51:43.79