Introduction
This message today addresses the events and circumstances of the end times, or the end of the church age. These prophetic and authoritative words were delivered by the “Word” Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to His disciples as He sat atop Mount Olivet. And with overtones specific to the subject of eschatology: teachings about destiny and the final events that will bring about the termination and disintegration of the secular world as we know it. Signs, warnings and advisories by Jesus are inclusive as He describes events of cataclysmic proportions that have never been witnessed, nor will they ever be witnessed again.
Subsequent to His death and resurrection, Jesus charged His apostles with what has been acknowledged as the “Great Commission”: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen“ (Matthew 28:18-20).
Signs of The Tumultuous End Times
Before rain drops begin to fall from the sky, and prior to our experiencing the physical effects of rainfall, there are always signs that suggest to us that rain is imminent: accumulation of darkening clouds, a sudden drop in temperature and changes in the direction of the wind. A fever is typically a sign or symptom of an infection, and lust or anger is a sure signal that sin has taken the telltale and unpredictable heart hostage: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
As the foregoing example suggests, Jesus also communicated to His disciples the absolute necessity of knowing the signs of the end of the New Testament church age. This would ensure that they were fully equipped to respond rightly, readily and effectively on the basis of truth. Otherwise, they would be rendered products of deception, ruin or annihilation while drowning in a cesspool of sin and societal degradation. At best, a famine of righteousness, rebellion, bad intentions and violence will rule the day.
Let us hear and heed the call of Jesus: "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:). For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not." (Matthew 24:5-8,10-15,21-23).
Of course, the Old Testament was referenced as well so as to establish and retain strict harmony and proper context in the delivery of biblical truth. This notion is substantiated by the faithful apostle Paul: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The objective being an earnest intent to saturate minds and hearts with these truths for the ministering of the soul. Incidentally, if you have not had the occasion to do so, my beloved, I would encourage you to studiously read the following passages. They are an insightful supplement to this sermon message: Mark, Chapter 13 and Luke, Chapter 21, verses 5-37.
I humbly and gratefully offer sacrifices of honor, adoration, praise and glory to the One, and only One, who is worthy to be praised. The savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the name that is above every name. He is the sole source of our very lives, and coupled with each and every breath that we breathe. Thus, He is the mainstay of our very being: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
These timeless truths depict both accurately and graphically the return of God incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, who descended from heaven in skin, and to accomplish the salvation/emancipation of humankind from the enslavement of sin: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17).
Christ came to this world as a SUFFERING SERVANT, and with strict adherence to the truth of His prophetic Word: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5).
Nonetheless, King Jesus will return to this sinful world as our CONQUERING KING: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords." (Revelation 19:11-16). As He ascended from the mount of olives, heaven bound, He will descend from heaven and return to the mount of olives, earth bound (Zechariah 14:4).
Preparedness and Readiness
In keeping with the context of this message, the value of being properly prepared and resting in a state of readiness cannot be overemphasized. Because of the truth, wisdom and infinite love of our coming King, He furnishes us with these parables: the parable of the 10 virgins stressing individual preparation, and the parable of the talents emphasizing the dire need for sustained faithful and sacrificial service. These are truly blessings within themselves (Matthew 25:1-12, 14-36). In addition, Jesus communicates the grim consequences of the lack thereof. That is, NOT being properly prepared flippantly going about the business of serving. Shameful, as Christ is beyond WORTHY!
The Rapture of the Church
The subject of this section of the message brings into focus the glorious gift of eternal redemption that awaits the "Bride of Christ", the Rapture of His church. Though the word "rapture" is not found in the English version of the Scriptures, interestingly enough it is contained in the Latin version. the Latin word used is "raptus", which means to carry off. The verb denotes being caught up or seized (the Greek translation is snatch): "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). I would encourage all to comfort yourselves, and one another, with the preceding words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
A Final Advisory and Authoritative warning: "WATCH"
In view, consideration and with vast appreciation for all that the the Lord Jesus Christ is and always will be, His Word urges all, and with the utmost care and caution, to WATCH: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:35-37; Matthew 24:13; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
My Beloved, as a final departing and closing statement, I earnestly, sincerely and lovingly express that we all who cease not to WAIT, WATCH, SERVE AND SACRIFICE will be richly rewarded. We are HOMEWARD bound to glory, and bound and determined to live throughout eternity in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39).