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5/19/02 FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 161 TITLE: BIRTH PAINS, PART II TEXT: MATTHEW 24: 9-14 INTRODUCTION: (1) THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE WORLD IS NOT HEADED TOWARD PEACE AND UNITY, BUT TOWARD A FINAL, CATACLYSMIC WAR, THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. * YET, UNTIL THAT CLIMACTIC HOLOCAUST, THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AS THE WORLD FALLS DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO CHAOS, CONFUSION AND SIN. ** FOR AS THE END APPROACHES, WARS WILL INCREASE, CRIME WILL ESCALATE, THERE WILL BE ECONOMIC UPHEAVALS AND UNPRECEDENTED NATURAL DISASTERS, SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES, FLOODS, FAMINES AND DISEASES. *** ALL THOSE CALAMITIES WILL MARK THE OUTPOURING OF GOD’S WRATH ON THE FALLEN, REBELLIOUS WORLD. **** THE O.T. PROPHETS SPOKE OF THIS TERRIFYING TIME OF FUTURE JUDGMENT. (2) JEREMIAH WROTE IN JEREMIAH 30:7 DESCRIBING ISRAEL’S SUFFERINGS AT THAT TIME, “ALAS! FOR THAT DAY IS GREAT, THERE IS NONE LIKE IT; AND IT IS THE TIME OF JACOB’S DISTRESS, BUT HE WILL BE SAVED FROM IT.” * THOUGH DESCRIBING THE COMING JUDGMENT OF THE GENTILE NATIONS, ISAIAH WROTE IN ISAIAH 34:1-4 – “DRAW NEAR, O NATIONS, TO HEAR; AND LISTEN, O PEOPLES! LET THE EARTH AND ALL IT CONTAINS HEAR, AND THE WORLD AND ALL THAT SPRINGS FROM IT.” V. 2 – “FOR THE LORD’S INDIGNATION IS AGAINST ALL THE NATIONS, AND HIS WRATH AGAINST ALL THEIR ARMIES; HE HAS UTTERLY DESTROYED THEM, HE HAS GIVEN THEM OVER TO SLAUGHTER.” V. 3 – “SO THEIR SLAIN WILL BE THROWN OUT, AND THEIR CORPSES WILL GIVE OFF THEIR STENCH, AND THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE DRENCHED WITH THEIR BLOOD.” V. 4 – “AND ALL THE HOST OF HEAVEN WILL WEAR AWAY, AND THE SKY WILL BE ROLLED UP LIKE A SCROLL; ALL THEIR HOSTS WILL ALSO WITHER AWAY AS A LEAF WITHERS FROM THE VINE, OR AS ONE WITHERS FROM THE FIG TREE.” ** AND THEN IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT THIS TIME OF GREAT TRIBULATION AND SAID IN MATTHEW 24:21 – “FOR THEN THERE WILL BE A GREAT TRIBULATION, SUCH AS HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD UNTIL NOW, NOR EVER SHALL.” *** NOW IT’S INTERESTING AND APPARENT TO ME THAT THIS TIME OF TRIBULATION AND GREAT TRIBULATION, THE FULFILLMENT OF DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK, IS A TIME LIKE THE EARTH HAS NEVER SEEN. **** AND IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THE UNFOLDING OF THE SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS PARALLELS OUR LORD’S CHRONOLOGY OF TRIBULATION EVENTS FOUND IN HIS OLIVET DISCOURSE IN MATTHEW 24. (3) FOR EXAMPLE, THE SECOND SEAL IN REVELATION 6:3&4 DEPICTS WORLDWIDE WAR, WHICH JESUS PREDICTED IN MATTHEW 24:6&7. * THE 3’D SEAL FOUND IN REVELATION 6:5&6, COMMUNICATES FAMINE WHICH FINDS IT’S PARALLEL IN MATTHEW 24:7. ** THE 4TH SEAL FOUND IN REV. 6:7&8 REPRESENTS DEATH, WHERE BY THE SWORD, FAMINE AND PESTILENCE WHERE ONE FOURTH OF THE EARTH WILL DIE. *** AND IT’S PARALLEL COULD BE MATTHEW 24:7 AGAIN WHERE IT COMMUNICATES FAMINES AND EARTHQUAKES, NATURAL DISASTERS. **** THE FIFTH SEAL FOUND IN REVELATION 6:9-11 REVEALS MARTYRS UNDER THE ALTAR, WHICH WE FIND A PARALLEL IN JESUS’ WARNING THAT BELIEVERS WILL BE MARTYRED DURING THE TRIBULATION IN MATTHEW 24:9. (4) AND THEN DURING THE UNFOLDING OF THE 6TH SEAL, THE SKY GOES BLACK, JUST AS JESUS PREDICTED IT WOULD IN MATTHEW 24:29. * NOW IS IT A COINCIDENCE THAT ALL OF THESE PARALLELS TAKE PLACE IN MATTHEW 24 AND REVELATION 6? I DON’T BELIEVE SO. ** FOR WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A TIME OF TRIBULATION SUCH AS THE WORLD HAS NEVER KNOWN. *** AND JUST AS A MOTHER’S BIRTH PAINS INCREASE IN FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY AS THE TIME TO GIVE BIRTH APPROACHES, SO THE JUDGMENTS DEPICTED IN REV. 6 AND MATTHEW 24:4-14, WILL INTENSIFY THROUGHOUT THE TRIBULATION UNTIL THEY CULMINATE IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN BLAZING JUDGMENT GLORY TO THE EARTH IN REV. 19. **** AND THE BIRTH PAIN SIGNS POINT TO THE TIME WHEN JESUS WILL COME FORTH AFTER THE TRIBULATION TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM. (5) AND THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON TAKES PLACE AND JESUS WILL SUBDUE HIS ENEMIES INCLUDING SATAN, THE BEAST-ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET. * AND SATAN WILL BE RELEASED FROM THE ABYSS FOR A TIME, AND THEN CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AS HE WILL BE BOUND FOREVER AFTER THE 1000 YEARS. ** BUT THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO THE EARTH AFTER THE TRIBULATION ARE THE THINGS WE’RE STUDYING AT THIS TIME IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE CALLED BIRTH PAINS, MATTHEW 24:8. (READ IT). *** AND LAST SUNDAY WE LOOKED AT BIRTH PAINS 1-3 AND LORD WILLING TODAY WE’LL LOOK AT MATTHEW 24:9-14 WHERE WE’LL SEE BIRTH PAINS 4-6 WHICH WILL BE OUR OUTLINE TODAY UNDER THE TITLE, “BIRTH PAINS, PART II”. **** AND WITHOUT ANY MORE INTRODUCTION, LET’S BEGIN TODAY BY LOOKING AT BIRTH PAIN NUMBER 4 IN V. 9. LOOK AT MATTHEW 24:9 PLEASE. I. BIRTH PAIN #4, (READ V. 9) A. NOW THE FOURTH LABOR PAIN OF THE END TIMES WILL BE SEVEN PERSECUTIONS OF BELIEVERS BY THE EVIL, UNGODLY WORLD. * AND INTERPRETING MATTHEW 24 IN A FUTURISTIC WAY, WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE BELIEVERS TALKED ABOUT HERE, ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SAVED IN THE TRIBULATION AS THE CHURCH HAS BEEN RAPTURED OUT. ** NOW TRUE BELIEVERS, FROM MOST OF THE APOSTLES AND PEOPLE LIKE STEPHEN IN THE FIRST CENTURY, DOWN THROUGH CHURCH HISTORY HAVE SUFFERED PERSECUTION AND HAVE DIED, BEEN MARTYRED FOR CHRIST. *** SO IN CHURCH HISTORY, MANY BELIEVERS HAVE GONE THROUGH TRIBULATION AND HAVE BEEN HATED AND KILLED. **** BUT AGAIN WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A BIRTH PAIN, BEFORE THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO THE EARTH. 1. AND SIMILAR FEATURES LIKE GREAT PERSECUTION IS HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD TODAY. * AND CERTAINLY WE SEE OUR SOCIETY WHICH LOVES TO TALK ABOUT TOLERANCE, BECOMING MORE AND MORE INTOLERANT WITH TRUE BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY. ** AND CERTAINLY WE SEE HOSTILITY GROWING FROM SOME MUSLIMS TOWARD CHRISTIANITY. *** SO SIMILAR FEATURES ARE PRESENT RIGHT NOW IN VARYING DEGREES, AND COLLECTIVELY THEY SEEM TO BE GROWING STEADILY WORSE AND EVEN MORE PREVALENT, JUST LIKE BIRTH PANGS. **** BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THE ERA WE ARE LIVING IN IS THE ONE CHRIST DESCRIBES. 2. NOW CERTAINLY IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE CLOSE WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW, MATTHEW 24:36 SAYS: (READ IT AND ALSO READ MATTHEW 24:44). * AND BELOVED, THE REALITY OF THE MATTER IS, CHRIST COULD COME BACK FOR HIS CHURCH TODAY, AND THEN THE TRIUBLATION WOULD START AND LAST SEVEN YEARS AND THE BIRTH PAINS WOULD START LEADING TO CHRIST’S RETURN TO THE EARTH, PHASE TWO OF HIS COMING. ** BUT ALSO IT COULD BE MANY MORE YEARS BEFORE PHASE 1 OF HIS COMING, THE RAPTURE. *** AND AGAIN NO DOUBT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IS ALREADY RIPE FOR THE TRIBULATION. **** ELEMENTS LIKE THE BIRTH-PANG SIGNS ARE ALREADY BEING FELT. 3. BUT THE PRESENT AFFLICTIONS MAY MERELY BE LIKE BRAXTON-HICKS CONTRACTIONS WHICH MOST WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD A BABY ARE WELL AWARE OF, FOR BRAXTON-HICKS CONTRACTIONS ARE PREMATURE LABOR PAINS. * BUT THEY NONETHELESS SIGNIFY THAT THE TIME FOR HARD LABOR AND THEN DELIVERY, IS INEVITABLE AND QUICKLY DRAWING NEAR. ** AND AS WE GO BACK TO V. 9, THE LABOR PAIN HERE IS DELIVERANCE OF BELIEVERS TO SUFFERING. *** AND THE EVENTS DESCRIBED HERE AND IN MATTHEW 25 HAVE HAPPENED IN CHURCH HISTORY, BUT THESE THINGS WILL BE UNIQUE TO THE END TIMES IN DETAIL, IN SEQUENCE, IN SCALE AND IN EXTENT. **** NOW SPECIFICALLY AS WE GO BACK TO V. 9, JESUS SAID THAT THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE DELIVERED TO TRIBULATION. 4. AND THE WORDS “WILL DELIVER” OR “HANDED OVER” OR “SHALL THEY DELIVER”, DEPENDING ON WHICH TRANSLATION YOU HAVE, IN THE GREEK HAS THE BASIC MEANING OF GIVING OVER AND WAS OFTEN USED IN A TECHNICAL SENSE FOR ARREST BY THE POLICE OR MILITARY. * IT WAS OFTEN USED TO SPEAK OF ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT. ** SO ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT ARE AHEAD FOR THESE BELIEVERS. AND BEYOND THAT THEY WILL BE KILLED AND HATED BY ALL NATIONS. *** AND THE GREEK WORD FOR NATIONS IS ETH-NOS FROM WHICH WE GET OUR ENGLISH WORD ETHNIC. **** AND BASICALLY IT APPEARS THAT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLES, RACES, PEOPLE GROUPS WILL KILL AND HATE CHRISTIANS AT THIS TIME, JEW AND GENTILES. 5. IN FACT, IN HIS PARALLEL PASSAGE IN MARK 13:9, MARK REPORTS THAT JESUS SAID: “BUT BE ON YOUR GUARD; FOR THEY WILL DELIVER YOU UP TO THE COURTS, AND YOU WILL BE FLOGGED IN THE SYNAGOGUES, AND YOU WILL STAND BEFORE GOVERNORS AND KINGS FOR MY SAKE, AS A TESTIMONY TO THEM.” * NOW THE COURTS PROBABLY REPRESENT GENTILE AUTHORITY, AND THE SYNAGOGUES WOULD REPRESENT JEWISH AUTHORITY, INDICATING THAT PERSECUTION WILL COME FROM BOTH GROUPS. ** SO BEING IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST’S NAME WILL COST BELIEVERS THEIR FREEDOM, THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR RESPECT AND OFTEN THEIR LIVES. *** AND ONE LAST THING IN V. 9, LOOK AT THE END OF THE VERSE, “ON ACCOUNT OF MY NAME, FOR MY NAMES’ SAKE, BECAUSE OF ME,” JESUS SAID. **** MEANING THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL SUFFER BECAUSE THEY ARE IDENTIFIED WITH JESUS, ON ACCOUNT OF CHRIST’S NAME. 6. AND FOLKS THE PERSECUTION WILL NOT BE DIRECTED SO MUCH AGAINST BELIEVERS THEMSELVES AS AGAINST CHRIST WHOM THEY SERVE AND REPRESENT. * AND THE UNBELIEVING WORLD AT THAT TIME WILL INTENSIFY ITS HATRED FOR CHRIST, AND BECAUSE IT CANNOT ATTACK HIM DIRECTLY, THEY WILL FIERCELY ATTACK HIS PEOPLE. ** AND PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 6:17: (READ IT). *** NOW WHEN PAUL SAID HE BORE IN HIS BODY THE BRAND MARKS OF JESUS, HE WAS AFFIRMING THAT HE HAD RECEIVED WOUNDS THAT WERE REALLY DIRECTED AT CHRIST. **** AND BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD NOT GET TO CHRIST, THEY ABUSED THE ONE WHO REPRESENTED HIM. 7. AND WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHDRAWS HIS RESTRAINT AND SATAN IS GIVEN GREATER FREEDOM, THE SAINTS WILL SUFFER IN AN EXTREME WAY. * AND THAT IS BIRTH PAIN #4. NOW BIRTH PAIN #5 STARTS IN V. 10. LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE. II. BIRTH PAIN #5, (READ V. 10) A. NOW THE FIFTH BIRTH PAIN IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FOURTH. FOR AS PERSECUTION GROWS AND INTENSIFIES IN THE END TIMES AND BELIEVERS BEGIN TO BE ARRESTED, HATED AND MARTYRED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, MANY SUPPOSED CHRISTIANS WILL DEFECT OR “FALL AWAY”. * AND THE WORDS “FALL AWAY” IN THE NAS OR “BE OFFENDED” IN THE KJV OR NKJV OR “TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH” IN THE NIV IS THE GREEK VERB SKAN-DAL-ID-ZO WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN. ** AND FROM THIS GREEK WORD WE GET OUR ENGLISH WORD SCANDALIZE. *** AND IT LIT. MEANS TO PUT A STUMBLING BLOCK OR IMPEDIMENT IN THE WAY, UPON WHICH ANOTHER MAY TRIP AND FALL AND IS A METHAPHOR TO OFFEND. **** AND THE IDEA COMMUNICATED IN V. 10 IS THIS, DURING THE TRIBULATION MANY WILL FALL AWAY FROM WHAT THEY PROFESS. 1. DURING THE INITIAL TIME OF FALSE PEACE EARLY ON IN THE TRIBULATION, IT MAY BE POPULAR TO IDENTIFY WITH JESUS OUTWARDLY. * BUT WHEN THE FALSE PEACE IS OVER AND GREAT DIFFICULTIES ARISE FOR CHRISTIANS, MANY WHO HAVE PROFESSED WILL SHOW BY THEIR LIVES THAT THEY HAVE NEVER TRULY POSSESSED CHRIST. ** THEY TRIP AND FALL AWAY, ARE OFFENDED BY THE HIGH COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST AND SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS. *** AND THESE SHAM CHRISTIANS, BANDWAGON CHRISTS, WILL FALL AWAY AS THE TRIBULATION PICKS UP, AND REVEAL THEIR TRUE CHARACTER AND HEART WHEN THEY OPENLY REJECT CHRIST AND VICIOUSLY BETRAY HIS PEOPLE. **** THEY WILL NOT BE LIKE PETER, WHO IN A MOMENT OF FEAR AND WEAKNESS DENIED KNOWING CHRIST, BUT LIKE JUDAS, WHO BECAUSE OF HIS INNER HATRED OF CHRIST BETRAYED HIM TO HIS ENEMIES. 2. AND SUCH PEOPLE ABANDON CHRIST’S VISIBLE CHURCH BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER A PART OF HIS INVISIBLE CHURCH. * THEY FORSAKE GOD’S EARTHLY FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER BORN INTO HIS HEAVENLY FAMILY. ** THEY ARE CLASSIC EXAMPLES OF WHAT CHRIST ILLUSTRATED WITH THE SHALLOW-SOIL SEEDLING IN MATTHEW 13:20&21 – “WHO HEARS THE WORD AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVES IT WITH JOY; YET HE HAS NO ROOT IN HIMSELF, BUT ENDURES ONLY FOR A WHILE. FOR WHEN TRIBULATION OR PERSECUTION ARISES BECAUSE OF THE WORD, IMMEDIATELY HE FALLS AWAY.” *** AND THE WORDS FALL AWAY IS THE GREEK WORD SKAN-DAL-ID-ZO, THE WORD USED IN V. 10 TRANSLATED FALL AWAY, OR TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH OR BE OFFENDED. **** AND MY POINT IS WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT TRUE BELIEVERS IN MATTHEW 24:10. FOR A PERSON WHO GENUINELY BELONGS TO CHRIST WILL SOMETIMES FALTER AND BE DISOBEDIENT. 3. BUT HE WILL NEVER REJECT HIS LORD. HE WILL PERSEVERE BY GOD’S GRACE. * AND FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THESE “MANY WHO FALL AWAY” ARE NOT TRUE BELIEVERS IS THEIR ACTIONS IN THE LAST PART OF V. 10. “THEY DELIVER UP ONE ANOTHER AND HATE ONE ANOTHER.” ** GOD’S PEOPLE WILL BE BETRAYED BY THOSE WHO WERE ONCE A PART OF THEIR FELLOWSHIP AND HATED BY THOSE WHO WERE ONCE A PART OF THEIR FELLOWSHIP. *** AND MARK IN HIS GOSPEL MAKES THE PICTURE EVEN CLEARER IN MARK 13:12, FOR HE SAID: “AND BROTHER WILL DELIVER UP BROTHER TO DEATH, AND A FATHER HIS CHILD; AND CHILDREN WILL RISE UP AGAINST PARENTS AND CAUSE THEM TO BE PUT TO DEATH.” **** AND MY POINT IS NOT ONLY IN THE FAMILY OF FAMILIES, IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST’S SAINTS, BUT ALSO WITHIN INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, THOSE WHO DO NOT TRULY BELONG TO CHRIST WILL TURN AGAINST THOSE WHO DO, EVEN TO THE POINT OF BETRAYING THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND PARENTS INTO MARTYRDOM. 4. SO WE SEE BETRAYAL AND HATE AND HATRED FOR FAMILY IS UNNATURAL, AND HATRED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST SHOWS THAT THE ONE WHO PRACTICES HATE IS NOT A CHRISTIAN, READ I JOHN 3:14 AND I JOHN 4:7&8. * AND BEYOND THAT. LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS IS EVIDENCE TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE CHRISTIANS, READ JOHN 13:34&35. ** AND THE TRUTH THAT I AM TRYING TO GET ACROSS IS, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT CHRISTIANS IN V. 10 AND NEVER WERE. *** BUT THERE IS ANOTHER REASON FOR DEFECTION UNDER THE BIRTH PAIN FOUND IN V. 11, LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE. B. READ V. 11. NOW JUST AS SOME FALSE BELIEVERS WILL DEFECT BECAUSE THE COST IS TOO HIGH, OTHERS WILL DEFECT BECAUSE THEY ARE DECEIVED ABOUT THE GOSPEL. * FOR DURING THE TRIBULATION MANY FALSE PROPHETS WILL JOIN THE FALSE CHRISTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK IN V. 5, AND WILL MISLEAD, DECEIVE MANY. ** THEY WILL LEAD THEM FROM THE PATH THEY ARE TO FOLLOW TO ANOTHER PATH. *** AND NOTICE THAT THE ADJECTIVE MANY IS USED TWICE IN V. 11, THERE WILL BE MANY, A LARGE GROUP OF FALSE PROPHETS WILL DECEIVE OR MISLEAD MANY, A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE. **** BUT MOVING ON THERE IS A THIRD CAUSE OF DEFECTION FOUND IN VV. 12&13 UNDER THIS BIRTH PAIN. LOOK AT V. 12 FIRST OF ALL. C. READ V. 12. NOW THE LURE OF SIN WILL BE VERY ATTRACTIVE AS IT ALWAYS IS. I MEAN NORMALLY SIN IS WRAPPED IN A PRETTY PACKAGE, IT LOOKS GOOD, BUT LIKE AN APPLE THAT LOOKS GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE BUT IS WORMY ON THE INSIDE, THE MOMENT YOU BITE INTO IT, IT LOSES IT’S APPEAL AND YOU WANT TO SPIT IT OUT. * SIN IS SUBTLE, IT IS DECEITFUL AND THERE IS EVEN FUN IN IT FOR A SHORT TIME, A PASSING PLEASURE IN HEBREWS 11:25. ** AND THAT’S WHY WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO SEE THROUGH THE TRAP AND WEB OF SIN, READ HEBREWS 3:13. *** NOW GETTING BACK TO V. 12 BECAUSE LAWLESSNESS IN INCREASED AT THAT TIME, LIT. IT IS MULTIPLIED, IT ABOUNDS, SIN WILL ABOUND AT THAT TIME. **** FOR WHAT IS SIN? IT IS DISOBEYING GOD’S LAW AND GOD’S WILL, FOR I JOHN 3:4 SAYS (READ IT). 1. SO LAWLESSNESS IS SIN. AND NO DOUBT END-TIME LAWLESSNESS WILL CERTAINLY INCLUDE DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LAWS, BUT EVEN MORE, IT WILL BE MANIFESTED IN INCREASED DISREGARD FOR GOD’S LAW. * IT WILL BE A TERRIBLE TIME, IN FACT PAUL TALKS ABOUT A TIME LIKE THAT IN II TIMOTHY 3:1-5 (READ THEM). ** AND EVIL WILL MULTIPLY BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE RESTRAINER OF SIN WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY, AND THAT ENTICEMENT WILL LEAD MANY ASTRAY. *** AND THEIR SUPERFICIAL PROFESSED LOVE FOR CHRIST WILL GROW COLD, THEIR QUOTE LOVE WANES, IT COOLS OFF, FOR WHAT IS THE BIG EVIDENCE OF TRUE LOVE FOR CHRIST? **** THE ANSWER IS OBEDIENCE, READ JOHN 14:15 AND I JOHN 5:3. 2. AND LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THESE MANY TALKED ABOUT IN V. 12, NEVER TRULY LOVED CHRIST OR KNEW HIM. THEIR LOVE IS SUPERFICIAL, IT IS TALK, NOT WALK. * AND WHEN THEY ARE TRULY TESTED, THEIR LACK OF THE FRUIT OF LOVE WILL SHOW THAT. THEY WERE NEVER TRULY CHRIST’S. ** FOR ENDURANCE IS ALWAYS A MARK OF SALVATION, WHICH IS THE CONTEXT HERE, FOR LOOK AT V. 13 PLEASE. D. READ V. 13. NOW IT IS NOT THAT A PERSON’S ENDURANCE WILL PRODUCE SALVATION, BUT THAT HIS ENDURANCE WILL BE A SPIRIT EMPOWERED PRODUCT AND PROOF OF THE REALITY THAT HE IS SAVED. * FOR NEITHER THE HIGH COST OF DISCIPLESHIP NOR THE DECEPTION OF FALSE PROPHETS, NOR THE ENTICEMENT OF SIN WILL CAUSE TRUE BELIEVERS TO TURN FROM CHRIST, BECAUSE HE HIMSELF WILL PROTECT THEM FROM DEFECTION. ** PERSEVERANCE OR ENDURANCE IS A MARK OR A FRUIT OF GENUINE SALVATION. *** AND THE PERSON WHO ENDURES IN FAITH WHATEVER HARDSHIP OR PERSECUTION MAY COME TO THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST DEMONSTRATES HE BELONGS TO CHRIST, AND CHRIST ASSURES THAT PERSON THAT “HE SHALL BE SAVED”. **** AND THE VERB SAVED IS IN THE FUTURE TENSE HERE IN THE GREEK AND DOES NOT INDICATE A BEGINNING BUT A COMPLETION. 1. IN OTHER WORDS, ENDURANCE DOESN’T INITIATE SALVATION ANY MORE THAN CAN ANY OTHER HUMAN EFFORT OR WORK. * BUT IT DOES GIVE EVIDENCE OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE THAT RESIDES IN THE BELIEVER WHICH GUARANTEES FUTURE SALVATION. ** FOR WHEN GOD BY HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE BEGINS A GOOD WORK OF SALVATION IN SOMEONE HE WILL CARRY IT FORTH WHEN OUR SALVATION IS FINISHED IN A SENSE, WHEN WE WILL BE WITH CHRIST, READ PHIL. 1:6 AND EXPLAIN SANCTIFICATION, THEN READ HEB. 10:10 & 14. *** AND BELOVED, IT BOILS DOWN TO THIS. GOD IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, AND TRUE CHRISTIANS PERSEVERE BY HIS POWER, READ II TIM. 1:12, I PETER 1:5, II TIM. 4:18 AND JUDE 24. **** SO THE ONE WHO ENDURES IN CHRIST SHALL BE SAVED, AND ENDURANCE SHOWS TRUE BELIEF IN CHRIST, READ I JOHN 5:4&5. 2. AND THOSE TRUTHS LEAD US TO OUR LAST BIRTH PAIN WHICH WE WILL COVER QUICKLY, BIRTH PAIN #6. LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE. III. BIRTH PAIN #6, (READ V. 14) A. NOW THE SIXTH AND LAST BIRTH PAIN TO INDICATE THAT THE END TIME IS NEAR WILL BE THE WORLDWIDE DECLARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. * AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE KING IS COMING BACK TO EARTH TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM. ** AND THOSE WHO TURN TO THE KING FOR SALVATION WILL BE ALLOWED ENTRANCE INTO HIS KINGDOM WHICH WILL LAST 1000 YEARS AND TURN INTO A KINGDOM, A RULE OF GOD THAT WILL HAVE NO END. *** BUT THE QUESTION COMES UP AT THIS POINT, HOW WILL THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM BE PREACHED WITH THE CHURCH BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD? **** WELL, THE ANSWER IS THIS GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED BOTH BY NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL MEANS. 1. IT APPEARS THE 144,000 WHO ARE SEALED IN REV. 7 WILL PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL. * AND LATER IN REVELATION, IN REVELATION CHAPTER 11, TWO WITNESSES WILL BE GIVEN AMAZING POWER TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL AND VERIFY THEIR AUTHORITY WITH GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS. ** AND THEN IN REVELATION 14:6&7, JUST PRIOR TO THE POURING OUT OF THE BOWL JUDGMENTS, GOD SENDS AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN WITH “HIS EVERLASTING GOSPEL TO PREACH TO THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH – TO EVERY NATION, TRIBE, TONGUE AND PEOPLE – SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, FEAR GOD AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM, FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT HAS COME; AND WORSHIP HIM WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA AND SPRINGS OF WATER.” *** AND FOLKS THAT ANGEL COULD BE A LITERAL ANGEL – A SUPERNATURAL HEAVENLY MESSENGER. **** OR IT COULD SYMBOLIZE SOME OTHER EXTRAORDINARY MEANS BY WHICH GOD WILL BROADCAST THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. 2. BUT EITHER WAY, THE ENTIRE WORLD WILL HEAR THE MESSAGE BEFORE THE END COMES, AND THEN THE END SHALL COME, AND HIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SALVATION WILL BE OVER. AND AS I WRAP UP THINGS TODAY (1) ONE QUESTION, YET IMPORTANT APPLICATION AS I SPRINGBOARD FROM END TIMES UNTIL NOW. AND THAT IS THE CHURCH TODAY HAS THE MANDATE TO EVANGELIZE THE WORLD. ** WE TRULY BELIEVE, THE GREAT COMMISSION IS A CORPORATE MANDATE, AND IS THE PERFECT PLAN TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL MEN, AND PROCLAIM CHRIST. *** AND WE SEE THE MISSION CARRIED OUT BY THE APOSTLES. **** AND TODAY WE DO IT AS A TEAM, AS A COLLECTIVE, AS A VISIBLE BODY WITH DIFFERENT GIFTS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE CHURCH. (2) AND WE AS A CHURCH WANT TO BE A WORLD MISSION CENTER, EVANGELIZING JERUSALEM, JUDEA, SAMARIA AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH, ACTS 16:8, THE LAST WORDS OF CHRIST TO HIS DISCIPLES. * AND CORPORATELY WE REACH OUT WITH TV AND RADIO, WITH OUR FRIENDSHIP CENTER MINISTRY, THROUGH OUR YOUTH MINISTRY, THROUGH CHRISTMAS OUTREACHES, THROUGH FUNERALS AND EVEN WEDDINGS, AND OTHER MEANS, AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH WHICH MARK TALKED ABOUT TODAY. ** AND IF THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMPTS YOU, PARTICIPATE, SIGN UP TODAY, ANOTHER OPEN DOOR IS SET BEFORE US. *** BUT ALSO AS WE AS A CHURCH SCATTER, WE HAVE OPEN DOORS AROUND US OFTEN. ARE YOU WALKING THROUGH THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AT WORK, AT SCHOOL, WITH FAMILY. **** AND I REMIND YOU ABOUT A WONDERFUL TOOL WE OFFER, THE RED BOOK. AND MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS, BEFORE 2002 IS OVER, GO THROUGH IT WITH SOMEONE, YOUTH AND ADULT. * FOR NOW WE HAVE A MANDATE, AND IT IS GIVEN IN LUKE 24:47&48 AND MARK 16:15. (READ THEM & PRAY). |