Participants: Pr. David Asscherick
Series Code: DP
Program Code: DP000011
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00:14 I've had this conversation with the Lord already
00:16 but I've let the Lord know when I get to heaven 00:18 I want to sing bass. 00:19 I'm tired of this tenor thing, I want to sing bass in heaven, 00:23 and so you pray that my voice won't go out, 00:25 I don't think it's going to, but in the mean time 00:29 I get to sound cool. 00:30 I'm looking forward to our presentation tonight 00:34 and what I'm really looking forward to... 00:36 did you all get this handout, Scotty gave that out? 00:38 Praise the Lord! Amen! 00:40 This is so exciting, so you're all invited to be here 00:44 tomorrow morning for the Inaugural Worship Service 00:47 of our New Discovery Bible Fellowship, a brand new 00:49 spirit filled Bible believing church, right here in 00:52 Sterling Heights, all invited to attend, I'll be here 00:55 and our message tomorrow morning is entitled 00:56 Discover How to Get and to Remain Undeceived. 01:01 I'm looking forward to that, Scotty will be teaching 01:03 a class on Sabbath School, that will be very nice as well, 01:06 then tomorrow night we will get into the topic of 01:09 The Judgment, and that's going to be very, very exciting 01:12 I'm looking forward to it all. 01:13 But lets begin with a word of prayer. 01:14 We've got quite a bit of information to cover tonight 01:18 and I want to remind you that immediately after the message 01:22 just like we did last night, we'll have about fifteen minutes 01:25 of questions and answers, that's right. 01:28 If a question comes up, and you think oh, 01:30 I wish I had an answer to that, just quickly write it down, 01:33 and get those questions out and we will just take them 01:35 just like that from the floor, just as we did last night. 01:38 That seemed to be very enjoyable, I enjoyed it 01:40 and there seemed to be a real sense of enjoyment 01:41 among the group as well, so lets pray together 01:43 and we'll dive right into our message ok: 01:45 Father in Heaven, we come before you, 01:48 and we are anticipating a blessing. 01:50 Father we ask that as the two ladies have sang so beautifully, 01:57 so wonderfully, that you would come soon, 01:59 that you would return, with your Son in Glory 02:02 to take us home. 02:04 Father we know this world is not our home, as the old song 02:07 says we're just a passing through. 02:09 Our treasures are laid up somewhere up beyond the blue, 02:13 so Father tonight as we look at this topic, 02:16 the topic of the second coming, what some refer to 02:20 as the Rapture, we pray that you would come and open 02:24 our hearts as we open your word. 02:26 Father tonight we want more than knowledge, 02:28 tonight we want more than information, 02:30 tonight we need a heart transformation experience 02:35 with you, and your Son, and your Word, 02:39 through your spirit, so be with us now as we open your word, 02:43 we ask it in Jesus name, let everyone say "Amen. " 02:46 Alright lets open our study guides, right to the first 02:51 little bit there, and you'll see our message is entitled, 02:54 our presentation is entitled: Discover How Jesus Christ Will 02:59 Defy the Skeptics and Return to Earth. 03:03 Now let's begin by reading at right there at the outset. 03:05 It says the Word, what is that Word everyone? 03:08 The word Rapture does not appear where? 03:13 In the Bible. 03:14 How many of you just by a raising of hands, 03:15 have heard that term before, the Rapture? 03:17 Ok, good, I remember before I was a Christian I used to 03:19 see a bumper sticker on a car, or a van, or a truck, 03:23 that would say in case of Rapture, car will be unmanned, 03:27 and I wasn't a religious person, I didn't know anything about 03:29 the Rapture and I always wondered what that meant. 03:32 When I became a Christian and I heard that term in a 03:35 religious context, the Rapture I said oh, so that's what 03:37 all those bumper stickers meant. 03:39 Now you will notice here it says, the word Rapture does not 03:41 occur in the Bible, yet correctly understood it is a 03:44 what kind of teaching? 03:45 Biblical teaching, but notice the emphasis there, 03:48 correctly understood, like the words Trinity, or Millennium 03:53 which also do not appear in the Bible. 03:54 Some words essentially become synonymous 03:58 with certain Bible teachings, there is nothing wrong 04:01 with this per se, but we must labor to be sure 04:04 that our beliefs and teachings all come from the where? 04:07 >From the Bible. 04:08 The purpose of this lesson will be to demonstrate from the Bible 04:10 how and when the Rapture will take place in relation to 04:14 other end times events, it will be a great lesson. 04:17 So notice here on the screen the word Rapture defined, 04:20 although the word itself doesn't appear in the Bible, 04:22 the idea of the Rapture is simply this: 04:30 You write that right in the blank there. 04:31 It's the transporting of believers to heaven at the 04:36 second coming of Christ, that's what the word Rapture means. 04:40 So you won't find the word there in your Bible, 04:43 but the concept is definitely a very Biblical concept. 04:47 You will notice there also in your study guides, 04:49 right in the middle of the first page, this theme 04:51 of the Rapture of God's people to Himself is found throughout 04:55 the book of Revelation, consider for example 04:57 the following text, we have given you many of them there, 04:59 but let's just look at a couple of them, Revelation 1. 05:02 Ok we're going to the last book of the Bible, 05:04 and the first chapter of that book. 05:06 Revelation chapter 1, chapter "what" everyone? 05:09 Revelation 1, and I'm noticing in verse 7, Revelation 1:7. 05:15 The first word is Behold, "what's the word everyone?" 05:21 Behold, now what does the word behold mean? 05:23 It means to "look" right? 05:26 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in other words 05:29 beauty is in the eye of one who is looking, 05:31 and so here it says behold which means look. 05:34 He is coming with "what" everyone, clouds and most eyes 05:39 What does it say, every eye will see Him, even they who 05:45 pierced Him in all the tribes of the earth will mourn 05:48 because of Him, even so Amen. " 05:51 So right here in the opening chapter of the last 05:52 book of the Bible, it says that when He returns 05:55 every eye will what? 05:58 Every eye will see Him, now you are still there 06:00 in Revelation, go to Revelation chapter 22. 06:02 >From the first chapter of Revelation to the last chapter 06:04 of Revelation, and notice that this is a consistent and 06:08 prominent, and pre-eminent theme throughout 06:10 the entire book, I'm in Revelation 22:7, 06:15 Revelation 22:7, it says "Behold I am coming 06:18 quickly. " Blessed is he who keeps the words 06:21 of the prophecy of this book. " 06:23 Notice verse 12: "And behold I am coming quickly, and my reward 06:27 is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work, 06:29 I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, 06:31 the First and the Last. " 06:33 So you have this idea, this saturating here of the 06:36 book of Revelation with the second coming of Jesus. 06:38 Notice also verse 20: "He who testifies to these things 06:41 says surely I am coming quickly, Amen, even so come 06:46 Lord Jesus, the grace of our 06:48 Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen!" 06:49 There are many other passages there, 06:51 we've given you several of them: Revelation 6, 06:53 Revelation 14, Revelation 19, Revelation 11. 06:55 The idea here is that the second coming of Jesus 06:59 is the grand climax of the entire Bible, 07:02 and particularly of the book of Revelation, 07:04 and so as you study the book of Revelation, this idea 07:07 of the Rapture, or the second coming is a consistent 07:11 powerful theme. 07:13 Now if that makes sense I want you to say Amen. 07:15 Amen! 07:16 Ok, let's continue on there, you are still in your study guide. 07:18 We're going to look tonight at second coming essentials, 07:22 second coming or "Rapture essentials. " 07:24 One of them is that a full one: 07:31 It is a very consistent, prominent theme in the 07:35 New Testament, for every 25 verses in the New Testament 07:38 one of those verses has to do directly with the second coming 07:41 of Jesus Christ, and so what we're going to be looking at 07:44 is the essentials, that is how will He come ect. ect. 07:48 I learned in Journalism class, that whenever you are 07:50 going to cover any event you have to ask these essential 07:53 questions, who, what, where, when, why, and how. 07:59 Well many of these are very easy to answer, 08:00 for example the question of who, "who's coming," well 08:03 Jesus Christ is coming, what are we talking about? 08:05 We're talking about His coming or His return to earth. 08:09 "To where?" Well we just answered that 08:10 question a moment ago, to earth. 08:13 "When is that coming?" We've already studied in our 08:15 lesson when we looked at the image of Daniel 2, 08:17 in the signs of the times, all of those converging signs 08:20 indicate that Jesus' coming is near. 08:23 Is "what" everyone? 08:24 Near, and so that's the answer when, of course we don't know 08:26 exactly when 08:27 Jesus Himself says, No man knows the exact day, or the 08:30 exact hour, but we can have indications or "signs" that 08:34 it is rapidly approaching. 08:35 Who remembers those two analogies that Jesus gave 08:38 we've already studied it, what were the two analogies that 08:41 Jesus gave that alerted us to how near it was? 08:44 "Birth pains" and "the fig tree" that's right, 08:48 remember, and both of those were visible and progressive 08:52 and climactic, and so, they are not new signs, wars, 08:55 and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, 08:57 but they were the same signs, but they would increase in 09:00 both frequency and intensity just as labor contractions, 09:04 until eventually you have a climactic event, 09:06 in the case of pregnancy of course that's the birth of 09:09 the child, and the case of the second coming of Jesus 09:11 it's "His actual arrival" on planet earth and 09:13 so that's when? 09:14 Why is He coming, well that's very simple Jesus said in 09:17 John 14, I'll just quote it for you. 09:19 John 14 beginning in verse 1, Jesus said "Let not your heart 09:22 be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. 09:24 In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, 09:27 I would have told you, and I go to prepare a place for you, 09:29 and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again 09:34 and receive you unto Myself, 09:36 that where I am you may be also. " 09:38 Jesus basically says I want to live with you for eternity, 09:41 and so the reason of the second coming 09:42 the why of it all is so that He can take us to live with Him, 09:46 forever. Can someone say "Amen?" 09:48 The real question that we want to focus in on tonight 09:50 is the question of "How?" 09:52 "How," that is really where the rubber meets the road, 09:56 If you would like to turn there to the second page of 09:59 your study guide. 10:00 I would like to draw your attention..., where's Glenda? 10:04 I'm looking for Glenda Cinnamon. 10:05 Where are you at? 10:07 Ok Glenda you recognize that picture don't you? 10:09 She painted that picture, absolutely beautiful! 10:11 So as we consider our forebears the Jews, we must consider 10:16 a very powerful and a very sober lesson, ok. 10:20 Top of page two in your study guide, one reason that it is 10:24 so essential that we start from the very basics 10:26 is that our forebears, the Jews, that's what you would write 10:31 in there, our forebears the Jews provide a sober example for us 10:35 to consider. 10:36 Think of it, the Jews preached and anticipated the coming 10:40 of the Deliverer, the Messiah, for more than how many years? 10:42 More than a thousand years, they longed for His coming 10:46 they prayed for His coming, they trusted in His coming. 10:49 They knew many of the details about His coming, 10:51 they taught, promoted, and heralded His coming, 10:54 yet amazingly on the whole, they missed His coming. 10:59 It almost defies reason, how could it have happened? 11:05 The answer to a great degree lies in the fact that 11:09 they missed the "How. " 11:12 That's what you would write in there. 11:14 The answer..., how is that possible, I mean really, 11:17 they had been looking and anticipating for the 11:19 second coming of the Messiah, or the first coming of the Messiah 11:22 the Mashiah for more than a thousand years, 11:24 they knew almost all of the details about it 11:27 but many of them missed it, why? 11:30 The answer to a great degree lies in the fact that 11:32 they missed the "How," that is the manner of His coming. 11:36 That's what you would write there, the manner of His coming. 11:40 How or could the Christian church be poised to do the very 11:43 same thing today with His "second coming?" 11:47 The Jews looked for a coming military deliverer who would 11:52 rescue them from their humiliating 11:54 subservience to Rome. 11:55 They understood many things about the Messiah's 11:58 first coming, but they missed the manner. 12:01 We must ensure that we do not commit the same folly, 12:04 as there are millions of dear people today, most of them Jews, 12:09 still looking for the Messiah's first coming, while you and I 12:12 await His "what" "second coming!" 12:14 So do you see how absolutely essential it is that we 12:18 understand this idea of how, yes or no? 12:21 Absolutely essential, so our forebears, the Jews 12:25 are a very sober example for us to consider. 12:32 and when in relation to end time events? 12:36 How is it actually going to happen? 12:39 That's what we are going to be spending the rest 12:41 of our time on, and so you see on your study guide 12:43 the middle of page two it says, we will answer this 12:46 question of how from the Bible text by text, we will discover 12:52 that the second coming will be characterized by how many 12:54 important elements? 12:55 6. be sure to list each one of them, with 12:58 Bible verses for support, because this is very important 13:01 stuff, so here they are, you can quickly write them down: 13:17 I'll give you time to write that down, 13:18 and while you are writing that down, you can make your way 13:21 to the book of Acts. 13:23 Acts chapter one, you say how am I supposed to do that? 13:25 Well you figure that out, that's why I fill mine out before hand. 13:29 Acts 1, that's the fifth book of the New Testament, 13:34 I will give you a moment to get there, by the way, 13:35 this slide is going to be up there several times tonight 13:37 so if you don't get it all right now, that's fine. 13:39 Visible, literal, powerful, audible, inevitable, and joyful, 13:43 I'm in Acts chapter one, here we find the story 13:49 of "The Ascension of Jesus. " 13:51 We pick it up in verse eight, chapter one verse eight. 13:55 Jesus speaking: "He said but you shall receive power 13:58 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 13:59 and you shall be witnesses to me 14:01 in Jerusalem and in all of Judea 14:03 and Samaria and to the outer most parts of the earth," 14:05 these are Jesus final departing words. 14:07 Verse 9, Now when He had spoken these things, 14:11 while they watched, now here is something I want you to do, 14:15 If you have a habit of underlining in your Bible, 14:17 I want you to notice that there are five occurrences 14:20 over the course of the next three verses, 14:21 that all relate to "sight. " 14:24 That all relate to "what" everyone? 14:25 Sight, see if you can pick them all of them up ok. 14:27 Verse 9. Now when He had spoken these things, 14:32 while they watched, He was taken up 14:34 and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 14:37 And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven 14:39 as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel 14:42 who said "Men of Galilee why do you stand 14:45 gazing up into heaven? 14:46 This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven 14:50 will so come in like manner as you so saw Him go up 14:53 into heaven. " 14:54 Did you pick all of them up yes or no? 14:56 Let's look at number 1, in verse nine it says: 14:59 While they watched, a cloud 15:02 received them out of their sight. 15:04 2. Verse 10, and while they looked. 15:07 3. Steadfastly towards heaven. 15:08 Verse 11. Men of Galilee why stand ye gazing, 15:11 4. Look right there at the end of that verse, 15:14 He will come in like manner as you saw 15:16 5. Him going to heaven. 15:18 So five times in these three verses, they saw Him, 15:20 they saw Him, they saw Him, they saw Him, they saw Him, 15:23 and then they said, in like manner, as you have seen Him go 15:27 He will come again. 15:29 English is my only language, ok, it's my mother tongue 15:32 and they say that if you can speak three languages, 15:34 you are tri-lingual, and if you can speak two languages 15:37 you're bi-lingual, and if you can only speak one language 15:40 that means you are from the United States of America. 15:41 And so this is the only language I know, 15:45 but as I understand the English language, in like manner 15:50 would mean in the same way. 15:53 Are we clear on that, are we comfortable 15:56 with that conclusion? 15:57 Is that the conclusion that is supported by the language 16:00 yes or no? 16:01 Ok, so Jesus is having a conversation with them 16:03 and He is saying you are going to be witness unto me 16:04 in Jerusalem, Judea and all over the place, 16:06 and then He begins to just lift right up off the earth 16:08 like a helium balloon, and they're watching, whoa! 16:10 Never saw that before, and they are watching Him and 16:12 they probably begin to squint, and where did He go, 16:15 and then they would have been startled by these two whoa! 16:17 Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 16:20 This same Jesus, not another Jesus, this same Jesus, 16:26 will so come in like manner, as you have seen Him go. 16:32 In other words, the same way you saw Him leave, 16:35 is the same way He is going to come back. 16:38 When He left was it visible yes or no? 16:41 So when He returns will it be visible, yes or no? 16:45 And we already read that didn't we in Revelation 1:7, 16:47 it said every eye will see Him, Revelation 1:7. 16:52 Every eye will see Him! 16:55 Notice it also says here that it will be literal, 16:59 that it will be "what" everyone? 17:01 Let me go back to that slide, literal. 17:02 Notice the words of the angels, this same Jesus. 17:09 Was that the actual person of Jesus that was taken up 17:12 from them, yes or no? 17:13 That was the real Jesus, that was the literal Jesus, 17:16 that was the physical Jesus, that was the only Jesus 17:18 that there is, and they said this same Jesus, not 17:22 some spiritual Jesus, not some ghost Jesus, 17:24 not some strange mysterious invisible Jesus, no! no! no! 17:29 This same Jesus that you literally saw go up 17:31 will literally come back. 17:34 Are we all clear on that everyone? 17:35 Ok, so that's what we are looking for, 17:37 not just a visible return, but a literal return. 17:41 Now we go to powerful, and this is quite powerful, 17:45 as you might have imagined. 17:46 Luke 9:26, you can write these verses down, I'm going to 17:49 put several up on the board tonight in the interest of time. 17:51 Jesus speaking, He says: 18:08 Now beloved, that's a lot of glory. 18:10 Notice when He returns, He returns in His glory, 18:13 He returns in His Father's glory and the glory of the angels. 18:18 Notice this, Matthew 25:31: 18:32 Now you might remember the story there, when Jesus 18:34 had been laid in the tomb, and there was a group 18:38 of Roman guards that were sent there to guard the tomb. 18:43 Some say four, some say sixteen, it depends on how 18:45 you read the language there, but let's just imagine 18:47 for our purposes, that there are sixteen guards there 18:50 guarding the tomb of Jesus, and the Bible says one angel, 18:54 how many angels? 18:56 One angel came, and the Bible says that those sixteen 18:59 hardened Roman soldiers fell down like dead men 19:04 for one angel, one angel. 19:06 Now beloved the Bible says that there are thousands 19:09 of thousands, and ten thousand times 19:11 ten thousand angels in the Bible. 19:13 Now I don't know if you know your math, but ten thousand 19:15 times ten thousand is one hundred million 19:16 but it's really even more than that, because the largest 19:19 demarcation, the largest numerical demarcation 19:21 that you will find in your Bible is thousand, and so 19:24 when they wanted to say something it was "great," 19:26 they would say thousands of thousands, and ten thousand 19:29 times ten thousand, you don't find the number trillion, 19:31 billion, quadrillion in your Bible, and so a thousand 19:34 times a thousand, and ten thousand times ten thousand 19:36 is a way of saying, a whole lot. 19:39 Now if one angel can make sixteen hardened guards 19:44 fall down flat on their faces, dead men 19:46 what will happen when all of the holy angels return 19:51 in all of their resplendent, incandescent glory? 19:54 Is that going to be a marvelous powerful experience, yes or no? 19:58 And as if that wasn't enough, where do the angels get their 20:00 glory from? 20:01 "From God!" The Bible says in 1Timothy 6:16, 20:06 you can write that down, 1 Timothy 6:16 That God dwells 20:10 in light that is so powerful that no one can approach it. 20:13 That is going to be glorious, it reminds me of the story 20:17 of Moses 1Timothy 6:16. 20:19 It reminds me of the story of Moses, Moses was there 20:21 on the top of Mt. Sinai, and he said God I want to see 20:23 what you look like, I want to see your Glory, 20:25 and God said ok I'll show you my Glory, on three conditions, 20:27 1. I'm going to put you in the cleft of the rock. 20:29 2. I'm going to put my hand over you. 20:30 3. You can not see my face, because no man can see my face, 20:35 and live, you can only see my back parts. 20:37 Now think about it, that's going to be a lot of glory, 20:39 look at it there: All the holy angels with Him 20:42 then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 20:44 So when God returns, when Jesus returns, 20:46 He comes with Himself, that's Jesus, with His Father, 20:49 in all of His glory, and every single last angel in heaven 20:54 That's going to be a mighty powerful, glorious experience, 20:59 can you say "Amen?" 21:00 So it's powerful, visible, literal, and what's the next one 21:07 powerful, now open your Bibles to the book of Matthew 21:11 first book of the New Testament. 21:13 Matthew, notice with me chapter 24, 21:19 Matthew 24, we've actually spent quite a little bit of time 21:23 in this chapter for those of you who are with us tonight 21:25 for the first or the second time, we've been here many times 21:27 but I want to show you a quick verse here Matthew 24, 21:31 and notice with me verses 30 and 31. 21:33 Matthew 24:30-31, Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear 21:38 in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 21:41 that's by the way the second time that we heard that, 21:43 that all the tribe will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man 21:50 so there it is again you see it's visible, 21:52 they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds, 21:54 by the way there's the second time we saw clouds today, 21:57 coming on the clouds of heaven with what, power and 22:01 and great glory, and He will send His angels with a great 22:05 sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect 22:10 from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other 22:12 so here even in verse 31 and verse 30 of Matthew 24 22:15 it says it's going to be powerful, and in the context 22:18 it says it's going to be powerful because there is 22:20 going to be such great glory there. 22:22 So far so good. 22:24 Notice our next one that it will be audible, 22:26 now we have already seen here in verse 31, that He returns 22:33 with the great sound of a trumpet, in fact there are 22:38 several times in the New Testament where Jesus 22:40 is referred to as returning with a sound of a trumpet. 22:43 You want to write another one down 1 Corinthians 15:52 22:47 you can write that down. 22:48 1 Corinthians 15:52 says He will return with the sound 22:54 of a trump, ok, a trumpet. 22:57 I used to play the trumpet and I taught myself how to 22:59 play at the age of 21, when I was living in my Mom's house. 23:01 She will tell you that trumpets can be obnoxiously loud, 23:05 any trumpet player here tonight? 23:07 Ok, you know, I should have had you bring your trumpet 23:09 and play for me. 23:10 I did that one time except there was a nice sweet older 23:11 lady sitting in the front row, and I blew it as hard as I could 23:13 and it looked like she was going to die on the spot 23:15 that's why I decided I wouldn't do that anymore. 23:17 I just remind you that trumpets are very loud. 23:19 Jesus said He will return with the sound of a trumpet, 23:23 so it's visible, yes, it's literal, yes, it's powerful, 23:27 yes, what else is it, it's audible, that's exactly right. 23:30 Open your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians, we go from 23:33 Matthew, we'll be coming back here by the way, 23:34 so if you would like to slide a little pen or something 23:36 in there, if you've got one of these fancy dancy red ribbons 23:39 like I've got, you can put it in there, 1 Thessalonians 23:42 chapter 14, 1 Thessalonians, that's Galatians, Ephesians, 23:47 Philippians, Colossians, then you come to the Timothy's, 23:50 pardon me, then you come to the Thessalonians just before 23:52 you come to the Timothy's. 23:53 1 Thessalonians 4:16, what verse everyone? 24:02 16, it says for the Lord Himself, there it is again, 24:07 this same Jesus, right, the Lord Himself will descend 24:14 from where everyone? 24:15 >From heaven with a shout, a shout is loud or a 24:20 shout is quiet, it's loud, that's exactly right. 24:23 If you would like a demonstration I could bring 24:24 either of my two boys in here and they can show you what 24:25 it's all about. 24:27 Better yet I'll send them to your house at 5:00 24:28 in the morning, which is when they get up at my house. 24:30 I have two little alarm clocks that don't let me sleep in. 24:32 With a shout, with a voice of an arch angel, 24:36 now has anyone here ever heard an arch angel? 24:38 Me neither, but I'm going to imagine in context, 24:41 that it's quite loud. 24:42 With a shout, with the voice of the arch angel 24:46 and with the trumpet of God, there it is again. 24:49 The trumpet of God, in fact this is so loud, 24:51 my Mom used to say to me, you know I get up in the morning 24:53 in fact my wife still says it to me to this day, 24:55 she'll say sweetie you were loud, 24:56 but I feel like I'm being so quiet, but my mom would say 24:58 your loud, you are so loud you could wake the dead. 25:01 Well that's exactly what happens when Jesus comes back, 25:03 notice this it says in verse 16, the trumpet of God 25:07 and the dead in Christ, "what?" They rise first, they wake up. 25:12 Verse 17, And we who are alive and remain shall be caught up 25:14 together with them in the clouds, there it is again 25:16 clouds, that's the third time we've seen that tonight 25:19 We will meet the Lord "where?" in the air, and thus we shall 25:22 always be with the Lord, verse 18, Therefore comfort 25:24 one another with these words. 25:25 So there's a shout, there's the voice 25:28 of the arch angel, and the trumpet, trumpet, trumpet. 25:30 In other words, it's not going to be a quiet event, 25:33 It's going to be a loud event, are we all clear on that? 25:35 So it's visible, it's literal, it's powerful, and it's audible, 25:41 that's exactly right. 25:42 Now we're going to continue on here, 25:43 it's also inevitable, notice this Psalm 50:3: 26:01 By the way, that fire is His glory. 26:03 The Bible says in Hebrews 12:29, you want to write that down, 26:07 Hebrews 12:29, Our God is a consuming fire, 26:13 that light, that unapproachable light that surrounds God. 26:16 is perceived by the wicked, as being like fire, 26:20 that's exactly right. 26:21 It appears also as fire to the righteous, but the righteous 26:23 are not burned up by it. 26:45 Notice what He says, God will come and He will not 26:50 keep silent, so far so good everyone. 26:52 Ok, lets go back to Matthew 24, back to Matthew 24, 26:58 and notice with me, verse 23, Matthew 24 let's go back there. 27:04 Notice with me verse 23: Then if anyone says to you 27:11 words of Jesus in red, then if anyone says to you, Look 27:14 here is the "Christ" or there Jesus says, run out as quickly 27:20 as possible, is that what He says? 27:23 Do not believe it, so if someone comes and says oh yeah 27:27 by the way Jesus is here, you didn't hear that, 27:30 Jesus is here, He's in Tokyo right now, Jesus is in Miami 27:33 right now, no! no! no!, in fact we actually looked at that 27:35 the other night, in our Signs of the Times message, 27:37 and we looked at that man, do you remember his name? 27:39 Dr. Jose Louis De Jesus Miranda who today claims to be Jesus 27:45 and has somewhere between the most conservative estimate 27:47 let's say two million followers and some say up to 10 million 27:50 people who think he's Jesus on earth today. 27:52 Jesus said hey listen, if they say to you, oh by the way 27:55 Jesus is here and He lives in the suburb in Miami, 27:58 what did Jesus say? 28:00 Don't believe it. 28:02 Don't go, well why not, why not Jesus, 28:04 how can we be sure, maybe this guy is the guy. 28:05 Verse 24, For false Christ's and false prophets will arise 28:10 and show great signs and wonders to deceive if possible 28:15 even the elect. 28:16 Verse 25, See I have told you before hand, 28:18 Verse 26, Therefore, remember in the Bible when you see 28:20 the word therefore, ask yourself, 28:21 hey what's that there for? 28:22 What's it doing there? 28:24 Therefore if they say to you look He's in the desert, 28:27 do not go out, or look He's in the inner rooms, 28:29 do not believe it, look He is in Miami, no! no! no! no! 28:32 don't believe any of that why? 28:33 Verse 27, For or because as the lightning comes from the 28:40 east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming 28:43 of the Son of Man be. 28:44 Now lightning is one of those things in a true 28:47 lightning storm, you can literally close your eyes 28:51 as still see the flash of brightness, 28:53 is that true yes or no? 28:55 So Jesus says hey listen, listen, listen. 28:56 They say to you oh yeah, Jesus is in Miami, 28:59 Jesus is in Jerusalem, Jesus is in Tokyo, 29:01 bla bla bla, don't believe it, don't buy it for a moment 29:04 because when Jesus returns, every eye will see Him, 29:06 it will be like lightening flashing from the east 29:08 to the west, it will be literal, visible, powerful, audible, 29:12 you will know, you won't have to put it on CNN 29:14 beloved when Jesus comes back, you're going to know. 29:17 "Amen!" You'll know! You'll know ok! 29:22 So look at this, we're still there in Matthew, 29:24 well actually we'll just go beyond that verse, I think 29:27 the point is well made. 29:28 Now the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, 29:30 this is an essential concept that we grasp 29:33 and what we're going to be doing here, 29:34 is sort of debunking a very popular but non-Biblical idea, 29:40 I want to say something about that, 29:41 ideas may be popular, but, popular ideas are not 29:45 necessarily Biblical ideas, can you say Amen. 29:47 Now we learned that just yesterday about the Sabbath, 29:49 I mean Sunday is a hugely popular idea, 29:52 but we looked last night to see if there was any evidence 29:54 from the Bible that Sunday observance is Biblical, 29:57 or that it's taught in the Bible. 29:58 No, there's not one iota of evidence, in fact last night 30:00 I told you I would give you ten thousand dollars cash 30:01 for every text you can produce on that. 30:03 So and idea might be popular but that doesn't mean that it's 30:07 true or Biblical. 30:10 Go to Matthew 13, and let's ask the question 30:12 well when does all this happen, and how does this happen. 30:15 We've seen this is visible, we've seen this is literal, 30:17 we've seen it's audible, we've seen it's powerful, 30:19 we've seen it's inevitable, and of course it's going to be 30:22 joyful for the believer, we'll come back to that point. 30:24 Well look at Matthew 13, we've been to this parable many times 30:27 let's re-visit it. 30:28 Verse 24, Matthew 13:24, another parable He put forth 30:31 to them saying, the kingdom of heaven is like a man 30:34 who sowed what kind of seed in his field? 30:35 Good seed, but while men slept, his enemy came and 30:38 sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 30:40 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, 30:41 then the tares also appeared, so the servants of the owner 30:44 came to him and said: 'Sir, did you not sow good seed 30:47 in your field? How then does it have tares?' 30:49 Where did the weed come from, is what they wanted to know. 30:51 Verse 28, He said to them, what were those five words? 30:53 an enemy has done this, you've got it, very good class. 30:58 How then does it have tares, an enemy has done this 31:00 do want us then to go gather them up? 31:02 What did he say? 31:03 No, don't do that, lest while you gather up the tares 31:05 you might also root up the wheat with them. 31:08 Now look at verse 30, look at verse 30, 31:10 don't miss verse 30, verse 30 is so easy to understand 31:14 my little five year old boy Landon could understand this. 31:16 Let both, who's both? 31:19 The wheat and the tares, let both grow, 31:21 what's the next word? 31:22 Together, what does the word together mean? 31:24 The word together means together, that's exactly right, 31:31 alright! Sandy we need you to write a dictionary 31:34 that we all can understand. 31:36 Here we go, let both grow together until the harvest 31:40 at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 31:44 first gather together the tares and bind them in bundles 31:47 to burn them, but to gather the wheat into my barn. 31:48 Now I'm going to ask you to do two things here: 31:50 1. The main point: notice that they both grow together 31:52 until the harvest, now here's the second thing 31:55 I'm going to ask you to do 31:56 take that word first, see where it says first 31:58 to gather, does everyone see that, first take that first 32:03 and hang it on a hook in your mind because we are going to 32:05 come back to it, just hang on to that one. 32:07 So who's gathered first, the tares which are the wicked, 32:11 oh I wonder what this parable means, Jesus spoke in 32:13 such a mysterious language, such cryptic imagery, 32:16 what could it possibly mean, well let's have a vote 32:19 and decide, no! no! no! Jesus tells us what it means. 32:21 Look at verse 36, Then Jesus sent the multitude away 32:24 and went into the house, and His disciples came to Him 32:26 saying, explain to us the parable of the Tares and 32:28 the field, and He said ok, he who sows the good seed 32:31 the Son of Man, who's the Son of Man? 32:33 Jesus, the field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of 32:37 the Kingdom, the tares are the sons of the, 32:39 I'm going to ask you again real quick, just to be sure 32:42 it's on that hook in your mind, who was bound first? 32:44 The tares, we're going to come back to that, 32:47 and you're just going to be blown away. 32:48 I guarantee that many of you in this room are going to be 32:50 floored tonight when we come back to that verse. 32:52 Verse 39: The enemy who sowed them is the Devil, 32:55 the harvest is the end of the age, or the end of the world, 32:59 the reapers are the angels, therefore as the tares are 33:02 gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end 33:04 of this age, the Son of Man will send out His angels 33:07 they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend 33:10 and those who practice lawlessness, 33:11 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. 33:13 There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 33:15 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the 33:18 kingdom of their Father. 33:19 He who has ears to hear, let him hear! 33:21 Can you say Amen? 33:22 Now this is not a difficult parable to understand, 33:24 not at all. 33:25 Jesus says basically there was a man, he went out he 33:28 sowed some seed in his field and the weeds came up with the 33:31 good stuff, and they said hey do you want us to gather all up 33:34 no! no! no!, don't gather them up, because if you gather up 33:36 the bad, you might pull up some of the good, 33:38 let both grow together until the harvest, ok, now the harvest 33:43 is the "when," the end of the age,that's exactly right. 33:47 I want you to notice this, that the same time 33:51 that the wicked are gathered out of the kingdom, is the same 33:55 time that the righteous shine forth. 33:57 Do you see that yes or no? 33:59 There is no different timing here, they are all having 34:02 the same experience. 34:03 What did it say there? Every eye will see Him, 34:07 so the righteous and the wicked, is that right? 34:11 We've actually already seen twice tonight, 34:12 that when every eyes sees them it says they will all mourn. 34:16 Now how many people in this room think they are going to be 34:19 mourning when Jesus returns? 34:20 How many people are going to be shouting for joy 34:24 when Jesus returns? 34:25 So who is mourning when Jesus returns? 34:28 That would be the wicked, so that would mean then 34:31 that the wicked see Jesus come. 34:33 Yes or no, are we all clear on that? 34:35 That's what it must mean, that's what it must mean. 34:37 Now let's continue, this is going to get better, 34:39 as my friends in Australia like to say, the penny 34:42 is about ready to drop. 34:44 That's what they say, wait until the penny drops. 34:48 as we have already seen. 34:49 So the second coming of Jesus is let's say it together: 34:58 Ok, that's what we are looking at, how is it going to happen? 35:00 Now what about the so called secret rapture, 35:02 you're there on the third page. 35:04 How many of you have heard of this idea of the secret rapture? 35:06 Raise your hand, secret rapture, alright, let's see. 35:11 I'm at the top of the third page. 35:13 The concept of the secret rapture as we have seen 35:15 is very difficult to harmonize with the Biblical picture 35:18 presented, there is simply nothing secretive or clandestine 35:22 about it, in fact it will be the most non-secret event 35:25 the world has ever seen. 35:26 Every eye will see Him, says Revelation 1:7, 35:30 some kind of secret that is, a secret that everybody knows. 35:33 It defies both grammar and logic, yet this idea is rather 35:39 popular in this day and age, it has been made so in no small 35:42 part by a series of fictitious scenarios depicted in the novel 35:45 series: Left Behind, we've got that here for you, written by 35:47 Timothy Lahaye and Jeremy Jenkins. 35:49 Now I don't know these men, fine Christian men, 35:51 I don't doubt they might love the Lord Jesus Christ 35:54 with all their hearts, but I want you to notice what I say 35:55 here, while this series may make for exciting reading 35:59 and gripping adventure fiction, it makes for poor theology. 36:03 If you want to know what the Bible says, be sure to spend 36:07 some time actually reading the Bible, not just books 36:11 about the Bible. 36:13 Now these books were hugely popular, and still maintain 36:18 much of their popularity to this day, 36:19 in fact it's the number one selling book series 36:22 in the history of the human race. 36:24 The number one selling book series in the history 36:27 of the human race, I mean it was amazing when they 36:29 were in their zenith, they were out selling even Grishim 36:32 and Danielle Steele, and other secular authors. 36:35 I remember going into airports four or five years ago, 36:37 as seeing all kinds of people suddenly very interested 36:41 in religious topics, everybody had the Left Behind series 36:44 looking into it. 36:45 Now listen I didn't actually read the books myself, 36:47 but I know what's taught there and the idea is this, 36:50 I did see the movie though with Kurt Cameron, 36:52 it was kind of interesting, I give it a thumbs down. 36:57 Back to the point, the idea here is this, nothing wrong, 37:01 I shouldn't say nothing wrong, if you want to read a book 37:04 for just pure enjoyment, for pure entertainment purposes 37:06 knock yourselves out, though I would say 37:08 we should be sure that the things that we are reading 37:10 are consistent with the principles that God 37:12 has laid out for us in His Word, Amen. 37:13 I'm not saying go out and look at any old nasty thing 37:16 I mean why would we want to be entertained by the very thing 37:18 that put Jesus Christ on the cross, this is unclear to me. 37:21 Why would a Christian want to go to a rated R movie? 37:22 Some people say to me, well, I'm a Christian, 37:24 I'm free in Christ. 37:25 Why would you want to? 37:27 Why would you want to go watch the very thing that 37:29 put Jesus on the cross, why would you want to look at 37:31 illicit sex or terrible viol..., I'm confused about that 37:34 the Bible says in Philippians 4:8 whatever things are true, 37:37 and just, and pure, and holy, these are the things 37:39 we should be thinking about, Amen! 37:41 So many good Christian people read this series and said oh, 37:45 well maybe that must be what's true, 37:46 but beloved, you can not do any better than this book 37:50 to know what this book teaches, Amen! 37:53 So again, this is not an effrontery to these men 37:56 they might be fine Christian men as I've said, 37:57 I've never met them, but I just want to talk about this 37:59 theory that's been popularized, this idea of a secret rapture. 38:03 In the movie there Kurt Cameron and others were just sitting 38:06 in their chair, just sort of minding their business, 38:08 and all of a sudden, fooom people were gone, 38:10 I mean all over the world people just suddenly 38:12 disappeared and he looked over and there was neatly 38:14 folded clothes, I don't find that anywhere in the Bible, 38:17 just, oh, oh, what happened and the pilot was raptured 38:21 fortunately the co-pilot was a sinner, and he wasn't raptured 38:23 so he could still land the plane, these kinds of things. 38:25 Now I'm not just saying these things to make fun 38:28 the reality is, is that, this is an idea that many people 38:32 believe, but I want you to know there is not one scintilla of 38:36 Bible evidence that supports the idea that people are going 38:38 to suddenly disappear and leave their clothes folded. 38:40 Ok, it's just not there, now you say well wait a minute 38:44 explain then, well I'm going to do my very best to explain. 38:46 A thief in the night, we are in the middle of page three, 38:50 how many have heard the term that Jesus is going to come 38:52 like a thief, ok, now He is going to come like 38:55 a thief, but you have to be clear on what that means. 38:58 Look at what it says, the Bible does in fact teach 39:01 the second coming will resemble in some sense a thief 39:03 in the night, but what does this mean, that it is a secret 39:09 that no one knows. 39:10 Is that what it means? 39:12 Now let us see, we are going to look at two passages here 39:14 Matthew 24:36, Jesus speaking: Jesus says, 39:27 but who only knows, ok, so what only does the Father know? 39:30 The day and the hour, you've got it, so let's continue. 39:44 In other words, if the individual who was guarding 39:47 his house knew when it was going to happen, 39:49 he wouldn't have left the thief come, so watch this: 39:59 Now let me ask you a question, what comes like a thief? 40:01 The event or the timing, according to this verse 40:05 it's the timing that's like a thief. 40:06 Come on, in what possible sense could it be like a thief 40:11 in the terms of His manner of coming, it's visible, 40:13 it's climactic, it's loud, it's audible, it's powerful, 40:17 all the holy angels, the glory of God, 40:19 everything is happening in one cocofinism, 40:22 amazing tempestuous event, that's not a secret. 40:25 What is apparently a secret, or what appears to be somewhat 40:28 like a thief in the night, is the timing, 40:30 is the "what" everyone? 40:32 Look, Jesus says it there for you, Be ready for the Son of Man 40:36 is coming at an hour that you don't expect. 40:38 Now look at this one, here's the other passage that's 40:40 sometimes sited, there both right there in your handout. 40:44 But the day of the Lord will come as a what? 40:47 Notice what it doesn't say, it doesn't say the Lord 40:49 will come as a thief. 40:50 Look at the verse, it says you have to learn the importance 40:54 of the English language, does that verse say that the Lord 40:56 will come as a thief in the night? 40:58 What does it say will come as a thief in the night? 41:00 The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night 41:03 and it always helps to read the context. 41:05 Ok, look at this: in which the heavens will pass away 41:08 with a great noise, that's some secret isn't it. 41:11 The heavens will pass away with a great noise! 41:14 It's going to be a secret! 41:15 It doesn't make any sense, it's not that the Lord comes 41:19 as a thief, but what comes as a thief? 41:21 The event, the day, the timing, comes as a thief, 41:24 in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. 41:25 The element will melt with fervent heat: 41:27 Why, why are they melting? Because of the fire that 41:29 surrounds God, His amazing glory, both the earth and 41:32 the works that are in it will be burned up. 41:34 Look at your study guide here, notice what it is that comes 41:38 like a thief, it's not the Messiah, but the day 41:41 and the hour, you've got it. 41:44 That is to say that the timing is like a thief, 41:47 no good thief calls ahead to alert you of his arrival. 41:50 Unfortunately all of those thieves are in jail, 41:53 the good ones are not in jail, right! I just want to 41:56 let you know that I'll be over tomorrow night at about three, 41:57 will three work for you? Three works for me, ok, 41:58 I'm going to rob your place, no! no! no! 42:00 He times His coming so that you won't expect it 42:04 only in this sense is the second coming like a thief. 42:07 Notice the last paragraph here, A word of caution is in order 42:11 here, God is not out to get us, or to surprise us, 42:15 can someone say "Amen?" 42:16 So that we will be lost, no! no! no! 42:18 In fact as we remember in our presentation 42:20 on The Signs of the Times, we see that He is actually 42:23 trying to do the very opposite. 42:24 Remember what Jesus, and Peter and Paul, and John urged 42:26 us to do, they said watch, you remember, that's right, watch. 42:31 Why! So we would be aware of the lateness of the hour, 42:35 so that we would be prepared. 42:36 This highlights and important point, the second coming 42:40 is a surprise only to the unprepared. 42:43 That is a critical point, the second coming is a surprise 42:47 to the unprepared, not to the committed watchful believer, 42:51 this makes the thief in the night text so very easy 42:54 to understand: 42:58 Can you say "Amen?" 42:59 Can you imagine the thief coming with a great noise, 43:01 the thief announcing! no! no! no! no! 43:03 What comes like a thief is the timing, the day, the hour, 43:07 not the event itself, if this makes sense say "Amen!" 43:09 You think that's good, buckle your safety belts, 43:13 ok there you go, Dot's got her safety belt buckled. 43:17 Be sure to buckle your safety belts, because you are about 43:19 ready to a bomb shell of a Bible truth right here, ok. 43:22 Here we go, at the last page at the top: 43:25 One will be taken, the other will be left, 43:27 how many have heard that before? 43:28 That's what the whole title of the series comes from, 43:30 "Left Behind,"you want to be taken because the wicked 43:34 are going to be left and suddenly wished away. 43:37 Right, ok, I'm going to show you something fascinating, 43:40 you do not want to be taken! 43:43 If you believe the Bible, you don't want to be the ones 43:49 that are taken away, you're thinking, What! 43:50 what's he talking about, he's talking in parables, 43:52 ok, watch this, this is phenomenal. 43:55 The Left Behind series that we mentioned earlier 43:58 derives it's name from Luke 17:36, The claim is made 44:01 that the righteous will be wished away in a secret rapture 44:03 we have seen that this imaginative scenario 44:06 simply cannot be harmonized with the teaching of scripture. 44:08 Once more it utterly fails to grapple with the issue of who is 44:12 taken and who is left. 44:15 Watch carefully as the picture unfolds in the Bible. 44:18 Go to Matthew 24, ok are you ready for this? 44:21 I hope you are, I think some of you are just going to be 44:24 floored, but it's good to be floored, as long as it's by 44:27 Bible truth, "Amen!" 44:28 Matthew 24:36 I want everyone there, you've got to see this 44:37 for yourselves in the Word. 44:38 Matthew 24:36, Jesus says: But of that day and hour, 44:44 no one knows, not even the angels of heaven 44:46 but My Father only. 44:47 37. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the 44:53 coming of the Son of Man be. 44:54 So He gives us here an analogy as the days of Noah. 44:56 38. For as in the days before the flood, they were 45:00 eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 45:02 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 45:04 Now there's nothing wrong with eating and there's nothing 45:05 drinking, there's nothing wrong with being married, 45:07 or giving in marriage, but what Jesus is saying here 45:09 is that their lives are just going on and on and on 45:11 same old, same old, day in day out, with no expectancy 45:14 no plan for the return of Jesus, so far so good everyone? 45:18 They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, 45:20 until the day that Noah entered the ark, 45:22 39. and they did not know, by the way, did Noah know the flood 45:26 was coming? That's exactly right! 45:28 So no one knew, did the righteous know? 45:31 Just like the second coming, ok. 45:33 until the day the flood came and notice this verse 39, 45:36 you've got to see this, and did not know until the flood 45:40 came and took them all away, now I want to ask you a question? 45:45 in context, who is taken away? 45:49 Now you hang on this is phenomenal, ok, let's read it. 45:52 until the flood came and took them all away, so also 45:55 will the coming of the Son of Man be. 45:56 Then, now He's talking about the second coming, 45:59 two men will be in the field, one will be taken, 46:02 the other will be left, Two women will be grinding 46:05 at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 46:08 42.Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour 46:11 your Lord is coming. 46:12 Now keep you finger, if you've got one of these ribbons, 46:14 right here, go to the book of Genesis, let's go look at the 46:17 story of Noah, let's see who was taken in the days of Noah. 46:19 Are you ready for this? Go to the book of Genesis, 46:23 Genesis 7, ok I want everyone to see this, we're going 46:32 to go right back to Matthew 24. 46:33 Genesis 7, I still hear those pages turning, first book 46:36 of the Bible, seventh chapter, Genesis 7:21, 46:39 It says and all flesh died, I'm in verse 21, Genesis 7, 46:45 all flesh died that moved on the face of the earth, 46:47 birds, and cattle and beasts and creeping things, 46:50 that creeps on the earth, and every "what?" 46:52 Man, by the way, how many were in the ark? 46:54 Eight, that's exactly right! 46:56 Verse 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of 46:59 the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 47:05 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face 47:08 of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird 47:11 of the air. They were destroyed 47:14 from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him 47:19 in the ark remained alive. 47:23 You watch something, do you see in your Bible, 47:27 the word alive is italicized, do you see that? 47:30 Do you know what that means? 47:32 It means that it was supplied by the translators 47:36 to help it make more sense in English. 47:38 What we are going to do is we're not going to read that 47:40 word, because it's not in the Hebrew, listen to what it says 47:43 now, the last part of verse 23, only Noah and those who were 47:47 with him in the Ark remained. 47:50 That's interesting isn't it! 47:52 Noah remained but the wicked were destroyed from the earth. 47:57 Do you see that yes or no? 48:00 Ok, go back to Matthew 24, it gets incredible, 48:04 this is just the beginning, Matthew 24. 48:06 Now go to your study guide, in Matthew 24:36-42, 48:13 Jesus compares the second coming to the days of Noah, 48:15 He said that in the flood scenario, the flood came 48:18 and took them all away, ok, who was taken away? 48:22 The wicked were taken away right? 48:24 Who remained? 48:26 Noah remained, you've got it, one group remained, 48:30 one group was taken away. 48:31 Now remember it is the very next verse that Jesus says 48:34 one shall be taken and one shall be left. 48:36 It's the very next verse in Matthew 24, 48:40 He's using the example of Noah, and as we have already said 48:43 the flood took them away, Noah remained. 48:48 Notice it goes on here, in Noah's day who was taken 48:52 away by the flood? 48:53 The wicked, you've got it, see Genesis, 48:55 we just looked at that, see especially verse 23 48:58 it says that Noah only, and those who were with him 49:00 remained alive, notice that alive is in Italics, 49:02 and that it was supplied by the translators. 49:04 The verse actually reads, only Noah and those who were 49:07 with him in the ark remained, Wow! 49:09 Noah wasn't taken, he remained, the wicked were taken 49:13 swept away by the flood. 49:14 But it gets even more amazing. 49:17 Go look at Luke 17, Luke 17. 49:20 Matthew 24 and Luke 17, are the same chapters, 49:27 their describing the same event, The Olivet Discourse, 49:31 is what it's called, that's what the theologians call it. 49:33 We're in Luke 17 and we're looking at verse 26. 49:38 Are we all there Luke 17:26, Jesus speaking, you will 49:43 recognize the words immediately: And as it was in the days 49:46 of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 49:49 now watch this, They ate... is this sounding familiar? 49:52 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were 49:55 given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 50:00 and the flood came and destroyed them all. 50:04 That's the same language that Jesus just used in Matthew 24 50:07 but in Matthew 24, he said until the day that Noah entered 50:09 into the ark and took them all away, and here he said 50:12 until the day that Noah entered into the ark and destroyed 50:14 them all. 50:15 So those that were taken away were "destroyed!" 50:19 Just as plain as can be. 50:21 But it gets even better, it goes on and he talks about 50:25 the day of Lot, now jump down to verse 34. 50:29 I tell you that in the night..., this is phenomenal, 50:32 I tell you that in the night there will be two men in one 50:34 bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 50:38 Now just based on the context, just based on the "what?" 50:41 not based on novels, not based on ideas, 50:44 not based on David Asscherick's words, based on the context, 50:47 If that series of books had never been published 50:50 and you never saw the movie with Curt Cameron, 50:51 based on what the Bible says, would you want to be taken 50:54 or left? 50:55 You would want to be left, because the wicked were taken 50:59 to destruction. 51:01 But it gets even better, ok, so verse 34. 51:03 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: 51:05 the one will be taken and the other will be left. 51:07 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken 51:09 and the other left. 51:10 Two men will be in the field: The one will be taken and 51:12 the other will be left. 51:14 Now look at verse 37, phenomenal! 51:16 And they answered and said to Him, this is the disciples, 51:19 they say to Jesus, what do they ask Him? "Where, Lord?" 51:24 Ok, now I want you to think about the question 51:27 that they are asking, Jesus has just said, 51:28 one's going to be taken, one's going to be left, 51:31 one's going to be taken, one's going to be left. 51:32 And then they say where, what are they asking, where what? 51:37 Where are they going to be taken, they wouldn't be 51:39 asking where are they going to be left. 51:41 Does that make any sense? 51:44 Jesus where are they left? 51:45 What do you mean where are they left? 51:46 They were left in the same place they were before the others 51:49 were taken, of course what they are asking is "taken!" 51:51 "Where" 51:53 Look at this, what's Jesus' answer? 51:55 Taken away to glory! 51:56 Verse 37 He said wherever the body is, the eagles will 52:02 be gathered together. 52:04 Do you know what Jesus is describing? 52:05 He is describing exactly what's described all over 52:08 especially in the book of Revelation, where there will be 52:11 all of the wicked. 52:12 The Bible says in the book of Jeremiah, there will be so 52:14 many that they won't even be gathered, there will be no one 52:16 to bury them, and the vultures and the eagles and the 52:19 birds of prey are feasting on their flesh. 52:22 They are taken away to destruction. 52:26 Jesus says one will be taken, and one will be left, 52:28 one will be taken, and one will be left, 52:30 one will be taken, and one will be left. 52:31 "Where Lord?" 52:32 Where are they taken? 52:34 They are taken to destruction where the eagles 52:35 will eat their bodies. 52:37 Now let me ask you a question? 52:38 Based on the Bible, on the "what" everyone? 52:41 You want to be taken or left? 52:43 You want to be left beloved! 52:46 What was that word I told you to hang on a hook in your mind? 52:49 First! Go back to Matthew 13, you remembered it, good for you. 52:54 Look at this, ok, go back to Matthew 13, this is powerful! 53:00 So let's get the picture in our mind, 53:01 This man plants a field, there's the wheat and the tares, 53:06 and they are all growing how? 53:08 "Together!" Until the time of the harvest, 53:12 so far so good? 53:13 Now this is Phenomenal! 53:15 So then Jesus says, He is going to send His reapers, 53:19 and His reapers are the angels, now look at verse 30. 53:25 Let both grow together until the harvest, at the time of the 53:29 harvest I will say to the reapers, so Jesus is speaking 53:32 to the angels, first gather together the who? 53:38 - "Tares!" - Who's gathered first? 53:40 - "Tares!" - Exactly as it was in the days 53:44 of Noah, the wicked were taken away to destruction. 53:47 Notice that, first gather together the tares, 53:50 as if that is not enough, look over at verse 47. 53:52 Look over at verse 47: again Jesus tells another 53:56 parable, He says the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet, 53:58 they threw a net out into the sea, it was cast out into 54:01 the sea and they gathered some of every kind. 54:03 48 Which when it was full they drew it ashore and they 54:06 sat down and gathered the good in the vessels, 54:08 but they threw the bad away, so it will be 54:10 at the end of the age. 54:11 49. The angels will come forth, separate the "who?" 54:16 Wicked! Now notice the language here. 54:18 from "among" the just. 54:21 Is that what your Bible said? 54:23 The wicked are separated from among the just. 54:27 Picture in your mind here, just imagine with me, 54:28 there are ten people standing right here. 54:30 Ten people, five are righteous, and five are wicked. 54:33 Here's the ten, and it's just like the dragnet, 54:37 it's thrown out, and we gather them all in, 54:38 oop! here's ten, five righteous, five unrighteous. 54:41 Now it's the second coming the angels are going 54:43 and here's the ten, who many? 54:44 Ten, five are wicked, and five are righteous 54:47 and the angels are told to go and gather who 54:50 from among who? 54:51 The wicked from a..., so if I gather the wicked 54:55 from among the righteous and I take them away 54:58 to bind them, to destruction, who is left? 55:00 - "The righteous!" - You got it! 55:02 This is the consistent teaching of scripture beloved. 55:04 Easy to understand! 55:06 Easy to understand! Yet we all get swept away 55:09 because somebody writes a novel and it's fascinating. 55:11 The second coming of Jesus will be "what? 55:21 Most of all for the righteous, for those who put their faith 55:24 in the Lord Jesus Christ, "it will be joyful. " 55:28 Hallelujah! Behold I tell you a mystery 55:30 said Paul, we're not all going to sleep, that means 55:32 we're not all going to die, but we shall all be changed. 55:36 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 55:41 It doesn't say the last flute, it doesn't say the last piccolo, 55:44 it says the last trumpet. 55:55 That means you are going to trade in this old rickety body 55:57 for a righteous, glorious, heavenly body like the 56:00 Lord Jesus, "Amen!" 56:01 I'm still young, thirty four, but I tell you what, 56:04 there's not as much spring in my step as there used to be. 56:05 You're thinking really, man he must have used to have a lot 56:07 of spring in his step. 56:08 My back even hurts me every now and then, 56:10 anyone in here have a sore back? 56:11 The Lord's going to give you a new back, Amen! 56:14 You got sore lungs, the Lord's going to give you new..., 56:16 I mean the Lord is going to take care of you, 56:17 and we are going to live forever, that's what it says. 56:20 Amen! Whew! 56:22 Look at this Isaiah 25:9: 56:38 Is it going to be joyful? 56:40 It is going to be joyful, Jesus said I will come again. 56:44 Beloved I want to be ready for that day. 56:47 How about you? 56:48 Jesus will defy the skeptics and return to earth, 56:51 and I want to be ready, how many of you want to be ready? 56:53 Let's pray together, Father in Heaven, 56:56 we want to be ready, and not because of who we are. 57:01 We have no righteousness, we don't have one ounce 57:05 of righteousness on our own, but we are trusting in the 57:09 righteousness of Jesus our Savior. 57:10 Father we want to thank you for your mercy and kindness, 57:15 we believe that this day can not be far away. 57:18 Father this earth is going crazy and it's out the window, 57:22 and it's coming apart at the seams, upside down, 57:25 and black is white, and white is black, 57:26 and it's insanity oh God. 57:29 I fear, I think of trying to raise my two boys, and 57:34 this culture gone insane. 57:37 Father we have children, and we have loved ones, 57:42 outside of the faith, and we're saying oh Father as soon as 57:45 can be, "come home!", come and take us home. 57:50 We ask in Jesus name, let everyone say "Amen!" |
Revised 2014-12-17