1. 1. Know there is a future unprecedented time of Tribulation

In the future is a seven year period of history known by various names (Tribulation – Mat. 24:21, 29; Time of Jacob’s Trouble- Jer. 30:7; The Seventieth Week of Daniel – Daniel 9:24-27). This time will serve as:

• A time to wake up Israel – This 7 year period pertains primarily to Israel
• A time to shake up unbelievers – Give them one last chance to repent and come to Christ
• A time to make up the world (like we make a bed) in preparation for Christ’s 2^nd Coming /Millennial Reign – Kingdom on Earth (a time of fumigation)

Jesus said of this seen year Tribulation:

• Matthew 24:21 - For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
• Mark 13:19 - For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

Some say that the events referred to by Jesus in His Olivet Discourse and what is found in Revelation have already occurred (e.g. Preterists). They claim that in 70 AD the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans fulfilled what Jesus was speaking about. The only problem with this is that these events were not unprecedented; they could not be described as Jesus said they would be in Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19. There have been a lot of horrific historical events but nothing that could be classified as the worst ever. These events therefore are still future.

The events of this time of Tribulation are described primarily in two places:

• The Olivet Discourse of Jesus – Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21
• Revelation 6-19

These chapters give great detail about what will happen in this seven year period.

1. 2. Know the Tribulation is a Period of God’s Outpoured Wrath

The Tribulation is a time of God’s outpoured wrath on a Christ-rejecting world (Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19; 19:15).

1. 3. Know Christians are saved from God’s Wrath

Christians are saved from the wrath to come (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10).

1. 4. Know How Christians are saved from this time of God’s outpoured wrath on the earth - By the Rapture

Therefore, they will be raptured out of this world before the Tribulation. The Rapture and time leading up to it are described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-11. From this passage we learn:

1. Don’t be ignorant of the hope God has provided for you (including the Rapture) (4:13)
2. Believe Jesus died and rose again and is coming again (4:14)
3. The dead in Christ rise to be with Him first (4:15-16)
4. Those alive at His coming will be “caught up” (Greek harpadzo – Latin raptus – English rapture) (4:17)
5. We will be caught up to the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (4:17)
6. Comfort one another with these words (4:18)
7. Know the general signs of the “times and seasons” (5:1)
8. Be ready because Jesus will come as a thief in the night, i.e. unannounced (5:2)
9. A particular sign that marks His return is that the world will be saying, “Peace and safety!). Then sudden destruction comes on them (5:3).

10. Like labor pains i.e. gradually with increasing intensity (5:3).

11. We aren’t in darkness so that this should take us by surprise (5:4)

12. That is because we are sons of light and day not darkness and night (5:5)

13. Therefore, don’t sleep, but watch! (5:6).

14. Only those in darkness sleep and don’t watch (5:7)

15. We need to be sober – alert (5:8)

16. Put on breastplate of faith and love and helmet of hope of salvation, i.e. spiritual armor (5:8; cf. also Eph. 6:10-18).

17. God didn’t appoint us to wrath but salvation through Jesus and we will be “together with Him” (5:9-10)

18. Comfort each other with these words (5:11). Comfort does not mean complacent. The comfort that comes from the hope of the coming of the Lord should spur us on to a deeper total commitment to Christ. We don’t have the luxury of being Christian couch potatoes. The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). Spirit filled Christians are the standard God wants to rise up. We are God’s ambassadors commissioned by God to be is conduits to call the lost to “be reconciled to God” (2Cor. 5:20). Let’s represent God will in the power of the Spirit.

1. 5. Know the Labor Pains - Signs of the Times

Before the Rapture and this Tribulation comes, there will be rumblings and early signs of the times or birth pangs, the beginning of sorrows of the events of the Tribulation that we may begin to see (1 Thess. 5:3). The Tribulation will be a time of historically unprecedented events. The Tribulation will be a culmination of things. But we may see the beginning of these things leading up to these events.

What will we see in the world environment leading up to the Last Days?

• Matthew 24:4-8

1. Deception (v. 4)
2. Many coming in Jesus’ name claiming to be “the Christ” who will deceive many and be followed by many (v. 5)
3. Wars and rumors of wars (v. 6)
4. End not yet (v. 6)
5. Nation rising against nation (v. 7)
6. Kingdom against kingdom (v. 7)
7. Famines (v. 7)
8. Pestilences (v.7 plural = many different kinds of diseases)
9. Earthquakes in various places (v.7)
10. This is only the beginning (v. 8). We will see these things as the beginning of labor pains.

• 1 Timothy 4:1-16

1. “The Spirit expressly says that in the latter times” – 4:1a – We need to be walking in the Spirit to hear what He says (1 Cor. 2:9-14; John 14-16; Rom. 5:5; Ga. 5:16-24
2. A departure from the faith or true doctrine based on God’s word – 4:1
3. Giving heed to deceiving spirits – 4:1
4. Giving heed to doctrines of demons or demonically deceptive false doctrines – Satan tempted Eve with doubting God’s word and that by obeying God she would miss out on what is best (Gen. 3:1-6). When you hear casting doubt on the word of God and doubt of the goodness of God you know the enemy is at work. When you hear either or both of those two things you know demons are at work.
5. Speaking lies in hypocrisy – 4:2
6. Consciences seared – insensitivity to the things and truth of God – 4:2
7. Forbidding to marry – 4:3a Marriage illustrates Christ and the Church His Bride (Eph. 5:22-33). Therefore marriage is under attack to desecrate that illustration:

• People meeting, dating, indulging in sex, having a baby, and then thinking about getting married
• Same sex marriage – communicating homosexuality is acceptable to the Lord as part of the Bride (cf. Rom. 1)
• Unequal yoking – communicates Jesus is not the only way of salvation but anyone can be a part of His Bride.
• Abnormal alterations to scriptural marriage is – Adults marrying children; Human’s marrying animals; to tarnish the imagery of Christ and His Bride the church

1. Focus on food and diet – 4:3b-5

• Prioritizing and obsessing about diet and physical exercise

1. Good ministers instruct the brethren in “latter times” issues – 4:6
2. Reject profane and old wives’ fables – 4:7
3. Exercise yourself beyond the physical to be in godly shape - 4:8-9 (There will be an overemphasis on physical exercise in the latter days. We should be physically fit, but this is of only temporal value. But spiritual fitness is eternal and therefore more important.)
4. We will suffer reproach – 4:10-11
5. Don’t let anyone despise your youth – the young can and should minister – 4:12
6. Give attention to reading the word, exhortation and doctrine – 4:13
7. Don’t neglect your spiritual gift – 4:14
8. Meditate or concentrate on these things – 4:15
9. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine; continue in them and you will save yourself and those who hear you – 4:16

• 2 Timothy 3:1-9

1. Perilous times – People’s souls will be in peril (v. 1)
2. People will be consumed with self-love (v. 2)
3. People will love money (v. 2)
4. People will be boasters (v. 2)
5. People will be proud (v. 2)
6. People will be blasphemers (v. 2)
7. Children will be disobedient to parents (v. 2)
8. People will be unthankful (v. 2)
9. People will be unholy (v. 2)
10. People will be unloving (v. 3)
11. People will be unforgiving (v. 3)
12. People will be slanderers(v. 3)
13. People will be without self-control (addictive) (v. 3)
14. People will be brutal (e.g. MMA; the octagon) (v. 3)
15. People will be despisers of good(v. 3)
16. People will be traitors (v. 4)
17. People will be headstrong (v. 4)
18. People will be haughty (v. 4)
19. People will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (v. 4)
20. People will have a form of godliness that lacks God’s power (v. 5)
21. From such people Christians ought to turn away (v. 5)
22. People will creep into people’s lives and take advantage of gullible women
23. Gullible women (v. 6)
24. Gullible women loaded down with sins and various lusts (v. 6)
25. Gullible women always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (v. 7)
26. Men of corrupt minds who resist God-ordained leadership (v. 8-9)
27. Cf. Also Ephesians 4:17-20 for description of unbelievers.

1. 6. Know there will be Scoffers / Expect Skepticism

Peter was inspired by God to warn us that in the last days there would be scoffers –

• 2 Peter 3:1-9 -

1. Peter felt what he was about to say was worth repeating so his readers wouldn’t miss it – 3:1
2. What he is being inspired to say here in the NT has been spoken before by OT prophets (e.g. Hab. 2:3), Peter and other apostles (e.g. Paul) – 3:2
3. Know first – scoffers will come in the last days; they will walk by and be motivated by their own lusts – 3:3. Scoffers don’t want the Lord to return. They want to keep on sinning.
4. The scoffer’s skeptical accusation is, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” – 3:4
5. Scoffers “willfully forget” – They don’t want to believe. It isn’t that there’s no evidence. It’s that they willfully choose to forget or deny God and His word – 3:5a
6. What scoffers willfully forget is that God created the heavens with His word – 3:5b
7. What scoffers forget is God’s power to judge the world as in the Flood – 3:6
8. What scoffers forget is that God preserves creation with His word – 3:7a
9. What scoffers forget is that God is sovereign and He will judge the world with fire – 3:7b
10. Bu beloved do not forget one thing – God is eternal: one day = thousand years; thousand years = one day. God does not measure time like we do – 3:8
11. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise/His word – like some count slackness: i.e. scoffers – 3:9a
12. God has good reason for waiting: He is longsuffering toward us not wanting any to perish – He wants to give people as great a chance to repent as possible – 3:9b

God desires even scoffers and skeptics to repent and be saved. God is willing to persist in reaching the lost in hope that they would repent (Calvinism notwithstanding). He demonstrates His own love in that He sent Jesus to die for the lost while they were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Now this is important for us. Scripture calls us to be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1). We should therefore have the same longsuffering attitude that patiently ministers to the lost, even the scoffer and skeptic in hope that they would repent and be saved. We can only do that as God’s love is poured into our heart by the Spirit (Rom. 5:5) and we allow the love of Christ to compel us powerfully to be used by God who uses us to plead for all to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:14-21). Do you have a longsuffering heart for the lost, even the scoffer, like God does? Do you desire that none perish but that all repent and be saved? If not, pray for it? If so, pray for God’s empowerment to persevere in it; for the sake of the lost.

1. 7. Know What to do

In light of all this, what should a Christian do?

1. Know you need more than a “form of godliness” – 2 Tim. 3:5a - Don’t be self-deceived – don’t think you can live in or condone sin in your life as a Christian. As we have seen, there will a broad reaching apostasy in the Last Days. We all need a personal saving relationship with Jesus that will sustain any threat of heresy or persecution. We have to love Jesus so much and have so personal a relationship that we are not disillusioned even if one close to us forsakes the Lord.

It’s not enough to “believe” God exists. The demons believe in the existence of God and tremble (James 2:19). All belief in the existence of God does is remove you from the “fool” category (cf. Ps. 14:1). Saving faith produces change in a person. You can’t claim to be Christian and live like the world (compare Eph. 4:17-20).

Saving faith is first repentant of sin; it leaves and forsakes the sin of life. Repentance is not a dirty word, it is a blessed privilege (compare to Romans 6 and the new life in Christ we are called to and blessed with). Saving faith produces life change (2 Cor. 5:17). When the God the Spirit resides in you, how can you not be changed? You will be changed and live a holy life (compare Rom. 8; Eph. 5-6). Saving faith produces obedience (1 John 2:3-4; 3:6-8; cf. also John 14:21). Jesus said a good tree bears good fruit (Mat. 7:15-23).

1. Know the Word of God - The Christian should get into the word of God and let it get into them; live it:

• 2 Timothy 3:10-17:

1. Carefully follow Paul’s (v. 10-11) –

• doctrine based on inspired word of God
• Manner of life
• Purpose
• Faith
• Longsuffering
• Love
• Perseverance
• Persecutions
• Afflictions
• God’s deliverance

1. Be ready for persecution (v. 12)
2. Know evil men will grow worse and worse (v. 13)
3. Continue in what you learned and are assured of in God’s word (v. 14-15)
4. Trust the word of God and be equipped with it (v. 16-17)

1. Know about Israel: Jesus sad:

• Matthew 24:32-35 - ³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

God scattered Israel because of her sinfulness (Deuteronomy 28:64-67). But God also promised to raise up Israel (i.e. “the fig tree” = Israel – Mat. 21:18-22; Luke 13:6-9; Jer. 24; Joel 1:7) again (Jeremiah 23:8; Romans 11:23). On May 14, 1948 God fulfilled His promise when the nation of Israel was revived. This was an unprecedented historical event. Never before had a nation been destroyed and then reunited and this after two thousand years of wandering!

What should we watch for in regards to Israel?

• It’s rebirth – Fulfilled on May 14^th, 1948 - Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 30:10; 31:8-12; Ezekiel 36:8-10, 22, 24, 33-38
• Its development – Ezekiel 37
• The attack of Gog of Magog – Ezekiel 38-39 (Not Armageddon). Watch the alliances of this enemy confederacy come together.
• The gradual isolation of Israel until it is all alone against the world – this is preparation for the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16; 13-16; 19:11-21).
• The re-building of the Temple and preparation of the priests – Rev. 11
• Jerusalem as a cup of trembling - Zechariah 12:2-3, 6-8

1. Know the Days of Noah and Lot –

• Mat. 24:36-44 – Days of Noah

1. No one knows the exact day or hour of God’s final prophetic scenario – v. 36
2. But they will be like the days of Noah – v. 37

• Genesis 6; 7
  • Men were multiplying on the earth – population explosion – Gen. 6:1
  • “sons of God” – 6:2 – Two interpretations: 1. These are fallen angels (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Jude 6-7; 2 Pet. 2:4-9) and therefore indicate demonic activity amongst humankind – this may be the cause of giants in the earth (cf. 6:4) – abnormal sexual activity; 2. This is a reference to the breakdown in marriage when godly line of Seth “sons of God” intermarried with the godless line of Cain “daughters of men” – in other words people married whoever they wanted entering into unequally yoked marriages.
  • God will not strive or let such conditions go on forever like this – 6:3
  • Wickedness of people was great in the earth; every intent of thoughts was only evil continually – 6:5
  • This caused God to regret creating man and grieved Him – 6:6
  • This caused God’s judgment to come – 6:7
  • There was a remnant of the righteous represented by Noah and they would experience God’s grace – 6:8-10
  • The earth was filled with corruption and violence – 6:11-12
  • God instructed Noah to get ready for His judgment to come – 6:13-22
  • The day of Gods Judgment came as God said it would – 7:1-24
  • The time of judgment came to an end and God provided a new environment for Noah to live in – like the Millennium and New Earth and New Heaven of Rev. 20-22.

1. People will be eating and drinking, marrying, i.e. going about their business as usual – THEY WON’T CARE ABOUT CHRIST OR HIS COMING v. 38
2. The people didn’t know the time and were suddenly “the flood came and took them away” – v. 39
3. Two in the field, one taken the other left – The Rapture will occur – v. 40-41

• “Taken” - παραλαμβάνω - paralambanō, par-al-am-ban´-o: (Present/Passive/Indicative) – Something done to another. Para - from beside, by, above, beyond, with Lambano – to take (“receive” – 133 times; “take” 106 times; “have” three times; “catch” three times). Therefore it can mean taken from above. This could refer to being taken into custody for the purpose of being brought to trial in a persecution. Or it could be a reference to being taken from above by the Rapture of Jesus. (Compare word use in Mat. 20:17 and Luke 9:28 where Jesus took His disciples aside or up to the mountain to pray.)

1. Watch therefore – v. 42
2. If the master knew when the thief was coming he would have prepared to protect himself and his property – i.e. you have been warned! – v. 43
3. WATCH! – v. 44

• Luke 17:26-37 – Days of Lot

1. People will go about their business dismissing the signs of the times in the world – suddenly, like the Flood, the end will come - v. 26-27
2. Similarly with Lot people will be going about their business and sudden judgment will come upon them – v. 28-29
3. Lot was rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah:

• Abraham asked God if He would destroy wicked Sodom along with the righteous. God said He would not. God said He would spare Sodom if there were even as few as ten righteous people in that wicked city – Gen. 18:23-33
• God did not judge the City and destroy it until Lot and His family were removed – This is a type of the rapture - Gen. 19:1-29
• Sodom was also a place of rampant militant homosexuality, i.e. the days leading up to Christ’s return will also be a time of rampant militant homosexuality – 19:4-11
  • Homosexuality/lesbianism is different than other sins in that it represents:

1. Not only a willful refusal to recognize and know God – Rom. 1:19-23
2. It is also a sin that goes against nature – Rom. 1:24-27
3. When people indulge in this sin there are few other sins that they won’t indulge in – Homosexuality/lesbianism represents a total bankruptcy of soul – Rom. 1:28-31
4. Homosexuality/lesbianism inherently tries to promote itself to others as legitimate and normal and in so doing becomes an agent for sin – Rom. 1:32
5. This is what it will be like just before Christ’s return – v. 30
6. This is a time to not be consumed with the worry of earthly goods – v. 31
7. “Remember Lot’s wife” – In other words, don’t look back longingly on the things of this world. Don’t seek to save your possessions. Keep your eyes and heart on the Lord - v. 32-33
8. Two . . . one “taken” (paralambanō – snatched) – this is a reference to the rapture – v. 34-36
9. “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together” – “Eagles” (ἀετός - aĕtŏs, ah-et-os´) here and in Mat. 24:28 can also be translated “vultures” (KJV). Whether eagles or vultures is the intended meaning, Jesus, rather than tell His disciples where those taken would be brought, He likely simply tells them that those left behind are dead and to be food for the birds (compare Rev. 19:17-18). You don’t want to be left behind!

1. E. Know the Importance of Fellowship and Encouragement – Hebrews 10:24-25

• Hebrews 10:24-25 - ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

1. Don’t forget the “us . . . one another . . . assembling of ourselves . . . one another” – You can’t be an isolated private Christian who does not interact with other Christians. We need each other (e.g. Gal. 6:2)
2. “Consider” (κατανοέω katanŏĕō, kat-an-o-eh´-o) – observe fully
3. “stir up” (παροξυσμός parŏxusmŏs, par-ox-oos-mos´ )– provoke; contend, incite, sharply contend or urge one another
4. If necessary sharply provoke and contend with each other to urge doing “love and good works” – love is important and true agape love is practically manifested in good works; love in action (e.g. 1 John 3:16-18).
5. “not forsaking” (ἐγκαταλείπω ĕgkatalĕipō, eng-kat-al-i´-po) – leaving behind, desert, forsake,
6. “the assembling of ourselves together” – this refers to:

• Gathering together specifically to exhort and encourage one another in Christ and all that the word of God reveals about Him
• Messianic believers to whom this letter was written, leaving the fellowship of the church and returning to synagogue to live under the law
• Christians who might neglect or forsake assembling together via a lack of church attendance.
• Christians in modern times who are so scattered in their attending various fellowships that they spread themselves too thin and neglect establishing deep relationships with anyone in the Body of Christ – e.g. church hopping

1. “as is the manner of some” – some do forsake the gathering together of the fellowship
2. Instead we should “exhort” (παρακαλέω parakalĕō, par-ak-al-eh´-o) lit. to call near - urge on, beseech, comfort, encourage one another
3. This is especially “so muc more as you see the Day approaching” – In light of the times, don’t neglect fellowship and exhort and encaoaurge one another to love and good works

1. F. Know the Importance of Paul’s Solemn Inspired charge – 2 Timothy 4:1-8

• 2 Timothy 4:1-8 - I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1. After Paul’s exhortation and instruction to carefully continue following his doctrine, manner of life, purposed, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance (3:9-13that are all based on God’s inspired word, (the Bible – 3:14-17) – Paul charges Timothy with a solemn charge “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom – 4:1. This is a very serious exhortation!

• There will be a judgment at the appearing or rapture of the church as only the genuinely saved will be taken from this world before God pours out His righteous wrath on a Christ-rejecting world.
• There will also be a judgment at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns at His Second Coming – He will judge to separate the sheep (true believers; wheat) from the goats (unbelievers; including pretenders or tares) in terms of who will be allowed to enter His Millennial Kingdom reign on earth - Mat. 25:31-46.
• This will occur on the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4), the Valley of Decision (Joel 3:14).

1. What does Paul exhort Timothy to do? “Preach the word!” – 4:2 - How?

• Always – “in season and out of season”
• Convincingly
• Confrontatively if necessary – “rebuke”
• Exhortatively
• With longsuffering
• Teaching – explaining and giving the sense or meaning of God’s word (Neh. 8:8)

1. A time will come when “they” or people will not “endure” (ἀνέχομαι anĕchŏmai, an-ekh´-om-ahee - lit. hold oneself up against) or listen to “sound” (ὑγιαίνω - hugiainō, hoog-ee-ah´-ee-no - lit. healthy, uncorrupt, safe) “doctrine” – Instead they will have “itching ears” (κνήθω knēthō, knay´-tho - lit. to scratch) and will “heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turne their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables”: They will heap up for themselves teachers who say what they want to hear not what they need to hear - 4:3-4
2. Instead we need to be – 4:5:

• Be watchful in “all things”
• Endure afflictions – (endure = κακοπαθέω kakŏpathĕō, kak-op-ath-eh´-o – undergo hardship: don’t give up easily; especially don’t give up on the word of God!
• Do the work of an evangelist – Evangelism is work!
• Fulfill your ministry – “fulfill” (πληροφορέω plērŏphŏrĕō, play-rof-or-eh´-o) – fully carry out; entirely accomplish; finish completely

1. Paul adds that this charge is made in light of his soon departure, i.e. his execution at the hands of the Romans – 4:6
2. His charge is in part a charge to follow his example – 4:7

• He has fought the good fight – “I have fought” (ἀγωνίζομαι agōnizŏmai, ag-o-nid´-zom-ahee) lit. I have agonized, struggled, labored fervently
• He finished the race – he wasn’t a quitter
• He kept the faith – he never gave up on God; he never gave up on “the faith” that is based on God’s word

1. Paul pointed out the reward that awaits those who do follow through on this charge – 4:8

• “crown of righteousness” (compare 2 Tim. 2:5) – This will be ours to lay before the feet of Jesus when we see Him (Rev. 4:4, 10). The crown of righteousness is a crown given to “all” those who have loved His appearing –
  • Those who study prophecy and yearn for His return will receive this crown

1. “And not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” – That’s us!; those who look forward to Christ’s return!

Be watchful / Be Alert / Be Ready

Now that you know what to expect in the End Times what will you do? Hopefully you will fix your eyes on Jesus and live your life as though He were returning today. Scripture tells us our End Times attitude should be:

Luke 21:36 - ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Watch prayerfully and live so that you can stand unashamed before Jesus when He returns.

Romans 13:11-14- ¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

• Wake up! Don’t fall asleep spiritually.
• Know the time of Christ’s return is closer than ever.
• If you’re involved in anything that involves darkness cast it off.
• Put on the armor of light (cf. Eph. 6:10-18)
• Walk properly; in the light of God’s word
• Don’t get caught up in partying
• Don’t get caught up in lewdness or lust
• Don’t get caught up in strife and envy
• Put on Jesus; live in the Spirit not the fleshly lusts.

2 Peter 3:10-15 - ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

• Be ready because Jesus comes “as a thief in the night,” i.e. unexpectedly- v. 10a.
• There will be great natural environmental affects when He returns – the great burn up- v.10b.
• Live holy and godly lives – v. 11
• Look for the Lord’s return – 12a.
• Live in a way to hasten His return – Live the Great Commission – v. 12b
• Heavens will be dissolved with fire and elements will melt with fervent heat – v. 12c.
• Look forward to the New Heavens and New Earth – the Re-Creation of God – v. 13
• Look forward to this and be diligent to live in peace and holiness.
• Don’t be impatient for the Lord to return but consider the longer He tarries the more chance there is for people to be saved – v. 14.

1 John 3:1-3 - Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

• God loves us so much that He wants us to be a part of His family as His children! – v. 1a
• This sets us apart from the world because it does not know Him – v. 1b
• What the end product of being children of God will be has not been fully revealed to us. But what we do know is:

1. We shall be like Him
2. For we shall see Him as He is

• This hope of seeing Him makes us just like Him i.e. “purifies us, just as He is pure

Jesus is coming back. We don’t know when exactly. But it could be very, very soon! Are you ready?