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This Week

There is a sense even among those who hold little or no regard for Bible prophecy that events in the Middle East could soon bring about the end of the world. What, if anything, needs to occur before Armageddon can take place?. Lesson Plan. This Week.

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This Week

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  1. There is a sense even among those who hold little or no regard for Bible prophecy that events in the Middle East could soon bring about the end of the world. What, if anything, needs to occur before Armageddon can take place?

  2. Lesson Plan This Week • I. We’ll review some of the basics of Biblical eschatology. • II. Review three different theories of the timing of the rapture.

  3. Lesson Plan This Week • III Build a laundry list of “signs of the times” from current world events. • IV Given the magnitude and speed of the “signs of the times” in our present world, consider the implications for our lives.

  4. I. Discerning The Signs • We need to be discerning of the signs of the times and to be able to identify how the pieces are coming together for the end of the age. Notice Jesus’ criticism: • Matt 16:2-3

  5. I. Discerning The Signs • Matt 16:2-3 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. • 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky ; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

  6. II. Last Things • In order to discern the signs of the times, believers need to have a basic understanding of the timetable of last things (eschatology).

  7. II. Last Things A. While prophetical verses may be found in nearly every book of the Bible, not every prophecy relates to eschatology.

  8. II. Last Things b. The end-time scenario is spread out mainly over several books: I.E. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 1 Corinthians 15:51, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 2 Peter, Revelation.

  9. III. Rapture Timing • Is there anything in Bible prophecy that needs to happen before the rapture can take place?

  10. III. Rapture Timing a. Most scholars agree that the rapture should be viewed as “immanent” and that no particular signs will precede its arrival.

  11. III. Rapture Timing B. While no serious Bible student doubts the rapture, there are three different theories as to when the rapture of the Church will occur. 1 Thess 4:15-17

  12. III. Rapture Timing 1 Thess 4:15-17 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

  13. III. Rapture Timing 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. NIV

  14. III. Rapture Timing 1. The pre-tribulational rapture. This is the predominant view. Using the book of Revelation timeline some place the pre-trib rapture at the time of John's ascension to heaven . Rev 4:1.

  15. III. Rapture Timing Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.“ NIV

  16. III. Rapture Timing 2. The mid-tribulational rapture. Using the book of Revelation timeline some say that this would occur at the time when the two prophets ascend to heaven. Rev 11:11-12.

  17. III. Rapture Timing Rev 11:11-12 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. NIV

  18. III. Rapture Timing 3. The post-tribulational rapture. Some suggest that this occurs at the end of the series of seven bowls. Rev 16:15 15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed." NIV

  19. III. Rapture Timing 4. No one knows the day or the hour but we do know its’ certainty and we should remain always vigilant for the coming day. 1 Thes 5:5-6 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. NIV

  20. IV. Recognizing The SignsKey Questions • How can we recognize the signs pointing to the end of the age? • 1. What guidance does the Scripture provide to help us in our identification of the signs of the times? • 2. If we want to recognize the signs of the times what specific detail ought we consider in our analysis? • Matt 24:3-25

  21. IV. Recognizing The Signs Matt 24:3-25 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

  22. IV. Recognizing The Signs 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

  23. IV. Recognizing The Signs 9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

  24. IV. Recognizing The Signs 15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel — let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.

  25. IV. Recognizing The Signs 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now — and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. NIV

  26. IV. Recognizing The Signs • a. Deceivers includes such things as the Occult, Satanism, and Cults, false teachers who lead split off groups from orthodox Christianity.

  27. IV. Recognizing The Signs • b. Wars and rumors of wars: World wide, regional conflict, Israel and the Middle East • 1. Gog: Events in the Middle East are moving closer to the Ezk 38 & 39 prophecy. • 2. Persia (Iran)

  28. IV. Recognizing The Signs • 3. Nuclear Nations and Arms Proliferation: Iran, China, and Pakistan continue to build up their military. • Who is selling arms to whom?

  29. IV. Recognizing The Signs • c. Famines and pestilence: world wide Food Supply, Plagues and infectious diseases (Bird flu) • d. Earthquakes: Volcanoes , tsunamis, climate change.

  30. IV. Recognizing The Signs • e. Persecution of believers: Laws that restrict freedom of religion, actual discrimination and abuse of believers. • f. Apostasy: Ecumenism (one world religion), the number of people who claim to be believers but who do not live their faith, tares among the wheat.

  31. IV. Recognizing The Signs • g. Increase of iniquity Abortion, divorce, homosexuality, immorality, drug/alcohol abuse, crime rate, etc.

  32. IV. Recognizing The Signs • h. Increase in communication, knowledge and travel. Dan 12:4 • 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.KJV • i. Signs and wonders among the heavenly bodies. Luke. 21:25

  33. Luke 21:25 • 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; KJV

  34. IV. Recognizing The Signs • j. World wide Economic developments: Unemployment, inflation, interest rates, oil supply/price, debt and trade balances. Rev 18:11 • 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: • KJV

  35. IV. Recognizing The Signs • k. Developments in Israel and Jerusalem: Tribulation Temple, peace process between Arab states and Israel. 1Thes 5:3 • 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. KJV

  36. IV. Recognizing The Signs • l. Proliferation of anti-Semitism • m. World Political Order: emergence of the Beast, mark of the Beast technology, Beast Government • Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, KJV

  37. IV. Recognizing The Signs • n. Gospel preached to all nations: Missionary efforts, organizations and advancements toward the missionary goal.

  38. VI. Application To what extent have you developed your personal conviction of the rapture and Biblical eschatology? • If you believe that the rapture is immanent how should that belief affect your life?

  39. Next Week Why the U.S. will never win the war on terror.

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