THE END: The End Is Near
Matthew 24:3 (ESV) As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
The End Told From The Beginning
Genesis 3:15 (ESV) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Acts 2:16–21 (ESV) But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days…
John 6:40 (ESV)…and I will raise him up on the last day.” (x3)
2 Timothy 3:1 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days…
2 Peter 3:3 (ESV) …scoffers will come in the last days…
SIGNS: False Saviors - Matthew 24:5 (ESV) For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
More than spiritual, this is also political
SIGNS: Increased Wars - Matthew 24:6–7 (ESV) And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,
SIGNS: Increased Natural Disasters: Matthew 24:7 (ESV) …and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
SIGNS: Increased Persecution For Believers - Matthew 24:9 (ESV) “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
SIGNS: Departure From Faith
Matthew 24:10 (ESV) And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
SIGNS: Increased Deception - Matthew 24:11-13 (ESV) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
This is not just the church
Prophets OT delivered the news on behalf of God
Modern Day - news
SIGNS: Increased Knowledge - Daniel 12:4 (ESV) But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
SIGNS: Gospel Preached Worldwide - Matthew 24:14 (ESV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
SIGNS: Restoration, Regathering of Israel, Rebuilding of Temple
Ezekiel 38-39; Zechariah 12-14, Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 11:1-2
SIGNS: Mark of the Beast - Revelation 13:16–18 (ESV) Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
SIGNS: One World Government - Revelation 13:6–8 (ESV) It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
1 Corinthians 15:24 (ESV) Then comes the end…