Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

The Imminent Return Pt.3

Let's just all remember to continue to pray for the missions team that's getting ready to head out to Africa. It's sooner than when we first believed. Amen? It's just around the corner. All of the preparations that are taking place, a lot of excitement. I was talking to Tony just the other day, and people are really expecting a great time. They just so look forward to our visits there. You've gotten to know many of their faces, and they, yours. It's family. It's an exciting thing.

Isn't it interesting how you can go all of those miles into a new culture, a different culture, and have family there? When we separate, there is a true koinonia, a knitting together. You feel that pull. Looking forward always to coming home, but realizing that God has made us not only one church, one baptism, one spirit, but a true family. That's exciting.

Let's turn to the epistle of Peter. We want to continue taking a few moments. Like we've said before, we're not doing an exhaustive study on eschatology. The study of eschatology will exhaust you. Many volumes have been written, and nobody has a clue. If somebody could figure it out, if somebody really knew all of the answers, then the Lord's coming would not be as a thief in the night. No man knows the day or the hour. So, we are aware of the seasons. We have talked about, historically, there have been the seasons. History, we all know, cycles. There have been many seasons, as the Lord has prepared over the years, that He could have possibly come; but He chose not to. The good news is this: it's sooner than when we first believed.

One of the great signs of the Lord's coming is that nobody is talking about it. Turn on the radio; turn on the television; do a survey of most of the churches in our nation, and you won't hear much talk at all about the coming of the Lord. People are fairly content here. This isn't our home. Amen? Can you say "praise God" for that? We're just pilgrims, the Scripture says, sojourners. We are just traveling through. We're laying up treasures, the Bible says, that are in heaven. Many people are building little kingdoms on the earth. We're more worried about what we can leave in an estate to our children than we are what we are laying up eternally in the heavens--souls being reached, the name of Jesus being exalted in a godless generation. So it is time, periodically, to stir our hearts and remember who we are. We belong to a kingdom and a city not made with hands; it is invisible to the natural eye.

Just rest in the promise that we've been looking at in John 14. He said, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. [Jesus is gone, and has built that. The statement was] ...how can we know the way? [The famous verse that we all know.] Jesus saith unto him, [Don't you understand?] I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The only way home is through Jesus.

So we're living in a world when people are trying to make multiple paths. It has been going on for a long time. But because of the move toward political correctness, because we're living in a society when the word that is most heralded today is "tolerance," you and I are called to proclaim a gospel without tolerance. The way is narrow. The name is one: Jesus. At that name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. So in the midst of this tolerant generation, we bring intolerance. We bring absolutism into a society of relativism.

We live in a society that doesn't have absolutes anymore. Everything is gray. There is not right and wrong. Whatever people "feel" is correct, however they want to worship their god. Of course, the Word of God doesn't permit that. When we begin to talk about the coming of the Lord, we need to make sure that we are all talking about the same thing. A lot of people believe Jesus is coming through government, that the spirit of Christ is being brought in through love and "Come on, now, everybody. Love one another." We have Willy Nelson putting on his campaign. We're not talking about brotherly love. We're talking about the kingdom of God.

When Jesus is coming, He's not coming through secularism, secular humanism, philosophy, philanthropy. Jesus is coming literally, physically--physically--to establish His kingdom on this earth. The Bible makes that very clear. You begin to talk about that, and people think that we're idiots--"Come on now. Jesus is dead." He is risen! One of the great statements following the resurrection of Jesus is found in Acts, Chapter 1, verses 7 and 8, in that particular period of time. They asked Him the question, "Are you going to come now and set Your kingdom up?" You see, the believers were tired of being beat up on by the Roman Empire. The true Christian church was tired of all of the Pharisees and the rule of the rabbinical order. They had a vision. They were getting a little glimpse of what was coming, and they asked Him, "Are You coming now to set up the kingdom? Is this the time that the kingdom is going to be set up?" And Jesus said, "It's not for you to know." So why are we trying to figure it out? People have been for years, for two thousand years, trying to figure out, When is He coming? When is He going to do this? He said, "It's not for you to know."

But here's what you need to know: "You're going to receive power to be witnesses unto Me. So go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father." We know that the power of the Holy Spirit came as they were gathered together in the upper room on the days of Pentecost. But a very interesting thing also happens at that time when Jesus gave them that admonition to go be filled with the Spirit: "Don't worry about when I'm coming; be ready for My coming." Let me say it again. Don't worry about when He's coming; be always ready, and it doesn't matter.

Part of being ready is being about His business. We're going to look at Thessalonians this morning and see that Paul brought rebuke to the Thessalonian church; because when they thought Jesus was coming, what did they do? They all just withdrew. Guys quit their jobs. They all got together and said, "Let's just hang out here and have a spiritual party until Jesus comes." Jesus said, "You don't do it that way. Occupy until I come." The word "occupy" in the Greek is a very interesting word. It means "to be busy." Don't be apathetic; don't be slothful. "Be busy about My business."

What we're doing, then, is proclaiming the coming of the Lord. We're sharing with those that are around us Titus' blessed hope. We're living godly lives and letting people know that Jesus is coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, this pure bride. So we look for that at every moment. We anticipate the coming of the Lord. We anticipate it by expectation, by looking up. We anticipate it by zealous declaration of the gospel. If we believe Jesus is coming back, we're going to tell somebody. How many of you told somebody this week, "Jesus is coming back" or that Jesus has died for their sins, that Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby you can be saved? Let me see. How many of you shared Jesus with somebody this week? Praise God! Let me see that again. That's not enough, not even half this week. This is a bad week. You see, that's "loving His appearing." That's "looking for Him." Beloved, if we believe Jesus was coming back, that His kingdom was going to be established, that the time of the Gentiles is ceasing--we're going to take a look, shortly. Not only are we going to shortly look at it, but we're going to look at it for a short period of time, because I don't want to get caught up in the book of Revelation in all of the seals and all of the trumpets and all of the vials.

But beloved, there is a seven-year period coming on this earth that you wouldn't wish on anybody. The Bible talks very graphically about those conditions, to where people are tormented, both rich and poor, mighty and humble. It says they are going to flee into the mountains and they are going to cry for the mountains to fall on them and crush them and hide them from the face and the wrath of the Lamb that is to come. There is a judgment coming that is going to torment men beyond understanding, as through physical, cataclysmic events, earthquakes and meteors, a third of the creatures dying in the sea (the stench of that smell), a fourth of all of humanity destroyed. I don't know exactly how it's going to happen. Is it going to be partially through AIDS? Is it going to be this bird virus, whatever this bird virus is that's out there? Who knows? It could be, some of it, terrorists that are releasing different viruses and different things. We don't know all of the specifics, but we know that torment, the judgment, is coming upon the earth. We know that's coming. What are we doing to tell people?

Do you believe it's in our generation? Not only in our generation, but do we believe that it's imminent, momentary? You say, "Yes, theology. But it just doesn't look like it's that bad here." Have you found 2 Peter? Let's take a look at this here for just a moment, because I want you to see the spirit of antichrist and the age that permeates the hearts of men and has for a couple of thousand years. Listen to what Peter said. This second epistle, Chapter 3, "Beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,[now look what their motivation is] walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved [for a purpose, look, reserved] unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [Say this verse with me.] But the day of the Lord will come [but the day of the Lord will come how?] as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, [here's the question] what manner of [life] ought ye to be [living?]" If this is going to really happen, what kind of life should we be living? What should control our thought processes, our time, and our energy? "The Lord is not slack concerning His promises. The day of the Lord will come."

The "day of the Lord," we've talked about, is a very interesting phrase. The day of the Lord is not just the tribulation. The day of the Lord and the judgment of God begins with the rapture of the church that precedes the seven-year period of tribulation--not just tribulation, but the tribulation. There is only one. The church has experienced tribulation, trials, judgments, and many of these things, but we have seen through the Scriptures the reference to this seven-year period referred to as a number of different phrases. I want to do this so we can remember. It's called "Daniel's seventieth week." How many of you have been reading in Daniel a little bit, Daniel, Chapters 7 through 11, primarily 9 and 11? Just get a feel for it. It is referred to as "Daniel's seventieth week." It's referred to as "the time of Jacob's trouble" or "the time of Israel's trouble." That helps us see what it basically is. The tribulation is a time that God does two things. He judges the nations, the Gentile nations. He also judges Israel, His covenant people. He is bringing about on them the judgments for their rejection of the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. We realize that these are the two things that are taking place.

"The time of Jacob's trouble," "Daniel's seventieth week," and then it's also referred to--this is important. I'm going to take a look at this in the next couple of minutes. It's called "the wrath of the Lamb." "Hide us from the wrath of Him," is the cry of those. The face of Jesus--you know, the One that we love, the One that to us is comfort. None of us has ever really seen His face, but when we talk about "the face," "the look of God," "the compassion," "the lovingkindness," can you imagine how that face that brings you and me such comfort is so tormenting to those that are His enemies? How do we know that? Very simple. Walk up to somebody who's not a Christian and say "Jesus." You can see it go all over them. You can say "god." "God" is okay, because "god" means anything. "God" means a totem pole. "God" means "Hare hare hare Krishna." I just don't know about serving a god named Harry.

What is it about that name? We sing that song, "There's Just Something About That Name." Do you want to know why? He's alive. That name is alive--Yeshua, Salvation of God. When we speak in that name, He confirms it with His presence and with signs following.

"The wrath of the Lamb"--torment to some, peace and delight to us. Let's talk about this a little bit. Go with me to the book of Revelation. In the book of Revelation, I want you to see something. We're going to look at Revelation, and then we're going to go to Luke 21. In Revelation, Chapter 3--now remember, we broke down the book of Revelation for you in its most simple divisions. Chapters 1 through 3 talk about the church; Chapters 4 through 11 talk about the events of the seventieth week of Daniel; and Chapters 12 through 20 come back and talk about the specifics, the characters, of that same seventieth week. So there is not, from Chapters 4 through 20, a chronology. It repeats itself and amplifies different truths.

The interesting thing that we shared also is that after Chapter 3 in the book of Revelation, the church is never mentioned. Why? Because, I believe, that at Chapter 4, verse 1, the rapture has taken place and the time of Jacob's trouble has begun. Chapter 4 begins with that statement, "After this." After what? The church age that we're talking about, the reference to the churches of Asia--both specific, literal churches at that time. I don't know that I've ever had a greater time than our visit of the seven churches of Asia. Those of you that went, what a time that was! Life changing.

We know that they are literal, specific places; but they also speak and typify the church through the ages. You can see what Jesus brings to the recognition of these churches, that are in existence at that moment in history, also make reference to many different churches that exist throughout history, the two thousand-year period, and also in many of our lives today as church members. We can identify with the people of these churches of Asia.

One of the things that He speaks here in Chapter 3--look at this real quickly and see what we can learn about this. The loyal church of Philadelphia. He says, "I know thy works [the church of brotherly love. I know your works]: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." That's exciting. "You have kept My word. You've not denied My name." Because of that kind of a commitment, there is going to be benefit to it. This benefit has been there through the ages; and, I believe, is ultimately going to be experienced by that church that sees the Lord's coming. I believe it's us. I have believed ever since I became a Christian, when I was just a kid, 20 years old. I've looked for Jesus to come every day for the last 40 years.

Janet's dad, Alvis, he truly never thought he would see death. He served Jesus all his life, from a young boy. He looked for the coming of the Lord every day and went home. Janet never believed she would go the way of the grave. Yet now, she waits. I think she's going to beat me, because the dead in Christ shall rise first. I don't expect to die; I expect to be changed. But if I'm not, my kids and my grandkids are going to expect to see Jesus coming, as we raise up a godly seed. And the scoffers will stand and say, "Where is His coming? All things remain the same." No, it's sooner than when we first believed. It's not the same. Another day has gone by. Now, things aren't the same. There have been a lot of changes in our society. When I first got saved, I thought, "I read this, and I really believe with all of my heart that the Lord could come any day. Yet, I don't understand how it could happen." Knowing that God can do whatever He wants, this stuff could be done supernaturally, that there could be the necessary conditions met instantaneously. When you serve a sovereign God, an almighty God, He can do whatever he wants.

As I looked around, there was an old guy that caught my attention back then. He impressed me as much as any man I ever knew. I thought, "One day, I'd like to meet that guy." He wrote a book called The Day The Dollar Died. Who would have known that Willard Cantelon would have become a close personal friend and that we would have assisted him until his last days? He wrote that book The Day The Dollar Died and the other, New Money Or None, in reference to what the Bible teaches concerning the mark of the beast, a cashless society. Back in the 60's, that was kind of hard to "get." But I believed it. We see technologically today--and not only technologically, but politically--that it's going toward a cashless society. "Well, praise God, we can wait then." No. At a time when you think not, the Son of Man cometh. He comes as a thief in the night. No man knows the day or the hour. His coming is imminent. We're not looking for things to happen before we believe He's coming back. There is nothing that prohibits the catching away of the church at this moment. It has always been [imminent]; I'll show you Paul's theology on that in just a moment.

But technologically, I told you the thing that just cracked me up years ago. We were in Africa, and I went into that little store. I couldn't believe it. There were just a couple of things on the shelves in there, and we basically just went in there for a soda. We go in there, and we get the soda, and I'll still never forget it. The most rustic boards you can imagine, dirty--you know Africa. Dirty--just chickens and spare tires lying in there. You walk up there and you put the soda on this splintered, rustic counter, and they take it, and behind the counter, you hear "beep!" as they scanned it. I thought, "Is this for keeping inventory? I know the inventory!" I could tell you the inventory and I just walked in the store! We go over there, and we walk the streets, and you go into some of the deepest parts of Africa. They may not have enough food, and they are wearing hand-me-downs from America--Christians. If it's from America, it's fine. Christians--one of the kids in our church was wearing this really cool tee shirt that said, "Porn Star." They don't know what a porn star is! "It's a shirt from America!" But I'll tell you one thing. They have cell phones.

The Bible says when the Lord comes, every eye will see Him. The technology, the politics, the building up of the king of the South (Iran) through that particular area, of Islam. Just when we thought there was confusion in prophecy, when the Soviet Union dissolved--"What happened to the king of the North?" The king of the North is a faction, again, of that Islamic southern rim of Russia. We had looked to Moscow, but very likely, it is spiritual as much as it was political. I don't want to get too far off on that. The point I'm wanting to make is the seasons. He said the seasons are discernible. The greatest indicator of the seasons was back in 1948 when Israel became a nation, back in 1967 when they inhabited again the Holy Land. They are not giving that up, folks. These politicians can knock themselves out. There is a guy coming, though, that will get Israel to sign a peace treaty. Did you all read that in Daniel, Chapter 9?

Just look around. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man. As it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man. We know what the sin of Sodom was. It was wealth; it was idleness; it was the pride that we see in humanity today, especially in America. It gave way to the perversion of sodomy, of homosexuality. We look at this today and how acceptable it's becoming, an "alternative lifestyle." It's not an alternative lifestyle. It's sin. It's an abomination to God. So does that mean when we run into homosexuals, we just kind of pull our robes around ourselves and say, "Unclean"? No, we just go up and preach the gospel to them. But it's a perversion, an abomination to God, and they need to be told, "It's not acceptable." That's not real popular today, but Christians aren't real popular today.

So here we are, this "faithful church." I got sidetracked because of what it says: "You keep My word and you don't deny My name." Christians apologize for everything today. It just irritates me. I make no apologies for the Word of God. It's truth, and everything else that opposes it is a lie. I make no apologies for the name of Jesus. It's the only name whereby men can be saved. We make no apologies for a gospel that's narrow, that demands holy living, that doesn't just talk about it but does it, and brings reproof and rebuke and instruction into righteousness that the man of God may be perfect and thoroughly furnished unto every good work. We're not playing church. We're not interested in people feeling better about themselves. We're interested in getting people ready for Jesus coming. So that's our message, and people don't like it, and that's okay. But the Lord likes it. He says, "[Because you have not denied My name and because you have kept y word] I will make [those that are of Satan] come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee" (verse 9).

Jesus said, "Behold, I give you power over all the power of the devil, and nothing shall by any means harm you." Do you believe that? Then the bolder we become in speaking the truth, Satan, those of the synagogue of Satan, those that say they know the truth but that it's a lie, are going to come and realize they have no power over us. Let them go whip up on somebody else, but no power over us. If you don't compromise, people don't know what to do with you until they decide to kill you.

"Because thou [here's where we were headed] hast kept the word of my patience, [This is a beautiful promise, beloved. Get it in your notes.] I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast [Beloved, there are a lot of false prophets and a lot of false theology going around], that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God."

The thing that I want to point out here--and we'll go to Luke 21 in just a moment and show you Jesus' comment on this subject again. But one thing about hermeneutics is if you're going to study the Bible, we've got to understand one thing. You have to interpret the Bible literally. Now, we know that within the literal truths of the Bible, literal truth is sometimes revealed metaphorically, symbolically, parabolically. But it is obvious when that is what is being done. So as we are interpreting Scripture, the one thing that we have to do is interpret it, as I said, literally.

The first way we begin to interpret the Scripture is when you read the Bible, read the whole Bible, old covenant and new covenant. The New Testament did not do away with the Old Testament. There is a little phrase that people used for years. It states it all. It's very simple, but I like it to just help us see. "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." Jesus said it this way, "I didn't come to destroy the law; I came to fulfill it." The law is good, perfect, and just, the Bible says. So we study all of it, but it all says the same thing. The New Testament is just enlightenment and fulfillment of many of these Old Testament truths.

One thing about prophecy is very interesting. Prophecy--and I've seen graphs that guys have drawn. You can see it in the Scriptures, and they even state the Scriptures (some of the graphs). I don't have them handy with me right now. But as a prophet would stand and God would open his heart and reveal, it would be, if you can imagine, peaks and valleys. Many of the things the prophet saw, as he would look, he would see peaks. He would see primary, specific, monumental events and would see and speak toward these things. But a lot happened between them. We see that in the prophecies concerning Jesus as Messiah: His first coming and His second coming. His first coming was as Emmanuel, God made flesh. His second coming is in two phases: the rapture of the church and also His coming at the end of Revelation as He comes with His saints as He sets His feet upon the Mount of Olives, it cleaves asunder, He comes and rules the nations for a thousand years with a rod of iron. Satan is bound, and after that thousand years, Satan is loosed and he begins to pour out his power, and those that are deceived by Satan after Jesus has literally, physically, ruled for a thousand years, it says, will be as the sands of the sea. That shows how wicked people's hearts are. You can hang out with Jesus for a thousand years and then turn on Him.

But the prophets are looking across time, not understanding exactly what they're seeing. Much of it was stated in symbols and in types. Then as you see it begin to unfold, we get a little clearer perspective. But we don't even know at all until we look back at it and we see that answer. Jesus gives us a great illustration on that in John the Baptist. Do you remember? The prophet said that Elijah must come first, and Jesus said, "If you received John the Baptist as that, if you can believe that John the Baptist's ministry fulfilled that prophecy, then you are moving in proper faith."

It's not always what you think it is. You're not going to figure this thing out. It's by faith, and by faith we understand that the primary purpose of all of this is, as we read on Wednesday night, that we are children of light so that that day will not come upon us unawares. We are expecting it always, and we're looking to live in holiness. But the primary thing is this. Beloved, don't get caught up in the world and its system, and don't love the things that the world loves, so that we can be ready at any moment for the coming of the Lord.

So he says here (John the Beloved) as he's writing here in Revelation, he is making this statement to us. He said, "[Because you've kept My word, because you're one that's loving My appearing, I want you to know something.] I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all [that's an interesting word] the world, to try them that dwell [another very interesting word] upon the earth" (Revelation 3:10). Very quickly, I don't want to belabor the point, but get it in your notes. Those that think the church is going to go into the tribulation, or can be preserved by God as Israel was in the land of Goshen or as they were in Egypt, or as Noah was upon the ark--many people believe the church is going to ride out the tribulation. That's not what the Bible says. It doesn't say that in Thessalonians, and it doesn't speak of that here to the faithful church who keeps His word, who isn't ashamed. Prior to the judgment of God, it says, we will be kept from--from--the hour of tribulation. That word "from," ekpheugo in the Greek, literally means "to be cleanly removed away, to be taken out of." That's a whole lot different than "preserved through."

I was talking about Bible interpretation. You read the whole book; you read the context of the truth that you're studying; and then within the context--make sure it's proper context. Don't just pull things from here and there. If you want to know what that one verse means in Thessalonians, read the whole book and understand why Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica. Understand the history, and understand the oppression of the Roman Empire, and understand the false doctrine, and understand the period of time that was taking place (about 50 A.D.). Understand all of these things, and then you'll get a little better idea of what that one verse means.

But within that verse, guess what? That verse is made up of words. So we not only study the Word; we study the words of the Word. Words mean things. One word that people don't really get is "no." Right? "What part of no don't you understand when I tell you no?" "Yes, but what about...?" "No!" "But if we...." "No! No!" Re-NO. Key-NO. Remember that? What was that commercial? There was a commercial about a guy saying no all the time. I don't remember what it was. This word means something.

You know, I found something out about God. God is pretty good with grammar, and I'm not. (I'm glad one of us are.) Even though I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to grammar, I know the difference between "from" and "through." And I'm assuming the Holy Ghost does too. He could have said, "And will keep you through" or "preserve you through." He said, "I will take you out of." That's good enough for me.

Then he makes another statement. He said, "This judgment is coming upon all of them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth." It's the Greek word katoikeo. It's interesting. It says "those who have taken up permanent residence," who claim citizenship; they're part of the world. We're not of this world. We're in it, the Bible says, but we're not of it. But those who have imbibed the spirit of the world, those who love this world more than they love the kingdom that's coming, that's whom the judgment is coming upon.

Go to Luke. We're just about finished for this morning, but I want you to see something in Luke 21. Jesus is speaking here and answering their question, "When are all these things going to happen, and what are the signs of the coming of the end of the world?"

I didn't look at my notes here, so I made a mistake. The word "kept from" really is not ekpheugo. That's where we're going in Luke. It's tereo, "from, clean out of."

In Luke 21, we see them asking Jesus concerning the end times and the end of the world. "When shall these things be?" they asked Him in Matthew 24. Luke 21 is the parallel passage that is taking place here. As Jesus is speaking concerning these things, He makes an interesting statement, speaking toward the signs of the times and the signs that will be that you'll recognize in the book of Revelation concerning the "signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, the perplexity; the sea and the waves" (verse 25). These are general statements that you can see specifically spoken toward in the seals and the trumpets and the vials of Revelation. He said it's going to be a time when men's hearts will be failing them for fear.

There is a great anxiety in the world today. People are afraid of everything today. It is interesting that the Head of the Church constantly says, "Fear not; be not afraid." He will never leave us nor forsake us. He says that when these things begin to come to pass, look up for your redemption draweth nigh (verse 28). Then He gives them the parable of the fig tree. Then the verse I wanted to take you to, verse 34. "Now you have not entered into this place yet of the wrath, the judgment of God, the wrath of the Lamb. The time of Jacob's trouble has not yet come. So let Me give you some advice," Jesus is saying in verse 34. "Take heed to yourselves [examine; take a moment], lest at any time your [lives] be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life." Because if you get caught up as one of these residents of Revelation, if you become an earth dweller, if you start getting distracted by or attracted to the things that everybody else in the world loves (your ambition, your job, your recreation, your education), whatever it is begins to be those weights that do so easily beset us.

If you get caught up in--I really like the way the Holy Spirit describes the days just prior to the coming. Ask yourselves if this isn't true. You see these words, "surfeiting," "drunkenness"? The party spirit. Dear God, people are looking for everything to have a party. I guess the thing that gets me more than anything is--I don't get it. I don't get the green beer; I don't get adults dressing up for Halloween. You go to the bank and Big Bird waits on you. I think I'm going to go in as a robber and say, "Hey, I'm just kidding. It's Halloween. Just cool it, Big Bird." Everybody wants to have a party. I like parties. I enjoy having a good time, but this spirit.

Thessalonians says that in the last days, we need to sober up. "Watch and be sober that that day doesn't come upon you unaware." How sober are you? That doesn't mean sourpuss. That doesn't mean that we can't enjoy life. It's just that we're aware of our surroundings. We're aware of the hour that we're in. Do you understand what time it is?

For years, they had the clock, the doomsday clock. Do you all remember that? "One minute until doomsday." Nikita Khrushchev is banging--anybody remember Nikita Khrushchev? It was a singing group. He is banging his shoe on the table, and says, "We will bury you!" He was Prime Minister of Russia. We buried him and everybody else that got a cold. I thought that was interesting. Whenever you heard the news, it was, "The Prime Minister of Russia has a cold." The dude died! Their medicine wasn't that bad; that was their way of taking people out. They said, "He's got a cold. We've got him in the back room. We're going to give him a shot." Bang!

Anyway, we're looking at the days that we're in. It's one minute ‘til midnight. Jesus is coming back. The world as we have known it--you know, it's really sad. I was talking to my grandma, and I said, "Grandma, what did it used to be like?" She is 98, so she has seen some stuff. We all know of the simpler times and the different things. There is no going back. We've lost our nation; we've lost our freedoms. We're not free anymore. There's no freedom in this nation. It's sad. I don't want to get into all that; it just ticks me off. But we can't go back.

What are we doing in preparing for our citizenship in the kingdom of God? What are we doing? Look what it says. "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth [the earth dwellers]. [Here's my admonition to you, and we'll close with this for this morning.] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape ["ekpheugo" in Greek] all these things that shall come [upon the face of the earth; they are going to come] to pass, and [prepare] to stand before the Son of man." Ekpheugo, "clean away from, out of." The escape is "out of." Look up; our redemption is drawing nigh.

Thessalonians says the trumpet of God is going to sound. The dead in Christ will rise first, and those of us that remain will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. We are going to see Him, and we're going to be like Him. Would you rather get married first to that one that causes your heart to throb? Do you have goals, ambitions? "I'd like to at least get married." "I'd like to at least have a child" "I'd like to at least be a zillionaire." Would you want the Lord to wait a year if you knew you were going to hit the lotto tomorrow, to see how fast you could spend it because you knew the Lord was coming back? What means more to you than seeing His face and being like Him? Every man that has this hope purifies himself as He is pure.

Father, make it real to us. Cause us to look up, for our redemption is drawing nigh. The enemy is trying to distract us on every side. We're to be looking up, and we're seeing everything around us on the horizon. This is no time to look at the horizon; it's time to look into the heavens. On the horizon is this expectation and that plan and that goal and the future. We'll talk about how to approach the future in faith and in wisdom in the study. But the future, to properly be prepared for, must be secondary to momentary expectation of eternity in your life being evidenced. Eternal life being real to you takes away time and space. It doesn't need that to give us confidence, wisdom, or motivation.

Father, we ask that You would make it real to us. Cause us to look up, for our redemption is drawing nigh. Are you ready if the trumpet would sound? Are you ready? Are you an earth dweller? Where are your treasures this morning? That is the question that we have to answer. Give us wisdom, Father, to know our hearts and to make proper decisions, we ask in Jesus' name, amen. Well, it's an exciting day. Before you go, somebody find a mother, hug them, and say, "Happy Mother 's Day." Go in peace. God's love go with you.

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