Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any nation”
Hebrews 12:17-18 “Everything that can be shaken will be shaken”
The bible is a book that looks forward to a new age
The Bible also looks forward to the future: a world where Jesus comes back to rule in this world
- Phase 1: Rapture – Jesus appears, and those who walk right with LORD will be called up to be with Him
- So churches need to preach the Second Coming for the people to be ready for it
- To be spared the wrath of God that will be poured out on the Earth
- Phase 2: Jesus comes back to the world
- The Millennium (rule on earth for 1000 years), we will co-rule with Him
- This life is meant to prepare us for when Jesus comes back, so be faithful, “invest” in your future
- God does not want a one world government without Christ
Daniel 2:34-35 You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them… and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
- The feet of iron and clay represents “the ten kings that are to rule during the last days”
- Not a trace of them (the sinful kingdoms, injustice etc) would be found (during the millennium)
- The stone (who is Jesus) became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (mountain = governments)
Why is the bible so eschatological?
- Because God wants us to get on board with His agenda! Which is the Millennium
- God wants us to look forward, forgetting those things that are behind
- God wants us to manifest the Kingdom of God, today.
- Hebrew 6:5 You have tasted the powers of the age that is to come
Admonishments from the lord
The story of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
- The foolish virgins are believers who are not prepared for the coming of Christ (Rapture)
- Christ must be first in our lives, look forward to His coming, not cares of the world
Some signs of his coming
- The Syrian civil war – a microcosm of what is going to happen to world
- Geopolitical tensions
- False doctrines – E.g. Rise of an apostate church, a false church, Universalism (there’s no hell)
- Disturbing technological trends: E.g. Cashless society, Surveillance
In Summary
- Get ready for the return of Christ
- Look at things that are happening in the world today as a proof of the truth of the Bible
- Be prepared to be part of the end times harvest