Gtcotr/040322
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
Last Sunday we took a brief look at the coming New World Order God will bring to the earth one day and how we can help Jesus make that happen. Our conclusion was that we should:
Pay more attention to the Good News and not allow our eyes to be fixed on the world news.
At the same time it is important that we do not bury our heads in the sand and disconnect ourselves from the troubles of this world which Jesus told us to help remedy. I firmly believe we are living in the last days. However, I think I would have felt this same way if I had been living in any generation. For example, how about the days of Adolph Hitler’s genocidal campaign against the Jews?
Or what if I had been living during the reign of Emperor Nero when the Apostles were being openly martyred? I think I might have preached a strong last day’s message every Sunday. What about events like the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the earthquake that destroyed Colosse and tumbled down the buildings Laodicea, the complete destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the abominations committed against the Jews, all in the space of 7 years under the rule of Emperor Vespasian? Sounds like the last days to me.
Calamities and tragedies of all sorts have been on the earth since before the flood in Noah’s day. Destruction and loss are noted throughout history and yet the world continues, and the earth remains. New leaders replace the old, civilizations evolve, and people adapt.
There once was a city named Mariupol in the nation of Ukraine.
The city was teaming with life and the people enjoying the same things you enjoy today.
They went to work, sent their children to school, they shopped at grocery stores and malls, families went to Church, took walks and fun vacations to the beach, and they played with the family pets. Life was good.
The citizens of the city had every reason to feel safe and secure. Nice and caring policemen patrolled the streets, firemen stood guard to protect their homes and businesses, courts were just, store shelves were full, the malls were open, they could attend theaters, ballets, operas, go to the movies, watch tv, listen to music, go on to the internet, chat with neighbors, and build a future for them and their children.
Mariupol was the 10th largest city in the nation of Ukraine with 430,000 citizens. They were becoming more westernized than previous generations, and the nation had recently elected a former comedian as President. He had hopes of leading the Ukrainian people in a bold new direction, hoping to bring opportunities of freedom, increased wealth, and greater security to his people. Then, quite unexpectedly for the citizens of Mariupol, tragedy struck.
Thirty-eight days ago, on February 24, 2022, the city fell under siege and attack by land, sea, and air. Missiles continue to bombard the city today and thousands have been killed indiscriminately, both soldiers and citizens alike. Bombs have no boundaries and crumbling buildings care not if they fall on soldiers, the sick, the elderly, students, pregnant women, or infant children … no one is spared in this kind of war.
According to one estimate, 80 to 90 percent of the buildings in the city of Mariupol have been destroyed.
Apartment buildings, hospitals, theaters, government office buildings, and restaurants, and stores. Life has either ended or changed for everyone.
No food; no water; no electricity; no internet; no home; no work; no school; no money; nowhere to hide, and no one to call for help.
140,000 citizens have left the city, some putting themselves in even greater risks of being caught in the open during missile, tank, and rocket attacks from the air. Others sit in shock unable to comprehend the new world suddenly forced upon them.
The mayor of the city reports that there are still 170,000 citizens of Mariupol who are trapped in the city with nowhere to go and no way to get there and little means to survive for much longer.
The International Committee of the Red Cross attempted to send aid and assist the devasted citizens to evacuate the war zone on Friday and Saturday to no avail. The roads leading into the city were blocked and even the smallest amount of humanitarian aid was disallowed to pass. A convoy of 45 buses filled with much needed supplies was kept from delivering essential food, medicine, and care packages to those trapped with very limited supplies.
It is reported that on Wednesday of this week an aid warehouse for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine was hit by an air strike even though the building’s roof was clearly marked with a Red Cross.
As
I said earlier, there once was a city named Mariupol, and in only a few days,
life as the citizens of that
city knew it to be, vanished. If anyone asked me if we are living in the last
days? My answer is, I certainly hope so. Because the scriptures say that the
evil people of this world will wax worse and worse. (2 Timothy 3:13) Yet we
have a part to play, a job to do, and we are well able to accomplish the task.
No generation has ever been better equipped to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ than are we. Jesus said that the Gospel will be proclaimed in all the world for a witness to all nations and then the end shall come. Now, let’s continue to listen to what He told His disciples in the early spring of what I believe was the year AD30.
Today we are going to pick up where we left off last week in the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. This is the account of Jesus sitting on the Mount of Olives in the evening talking to His disciples just two days before He was going to be crucified.
People in Jerusalem had no idea what was about to happen. The one true and living Son of Almighty God was about to become the Passover Lamb sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. We continue with Jesus’ comments about the end of the age and what we imagine as the last days.
Matthew 24 NKJV
27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Some believe this will be the second coming
of Jesus and others, like myself, imagine this to be referencing what some call
His third coming. Allow me to explain without fostering dogmatic doctrine.
·
The First Coming – As a baby in a manger in
the town of Bethlehem.
·
The Second Coming – As a Bridegroom to take away
His Bride from the earth to the marriage supper and 7-year honeymoon in heaven.
· The Third Coming – As a Conquering King on a white horse to recompense vengeance on the devil and the evil rulers of this world.
Without respect as to which future event Jesus is referring … He continues
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
45 “Who then is a faithful
and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them
food in due season?
46 “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.”
Here are some things we can conclude about the last days:
1. There will be perilous times.
a. Perilous = hard to
take anymore; troublesome; dangerous; harsh; fierce; savage.
b. Paul said:
2
Timothy 3 NKJV
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous
times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers
of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
2. Some people will not even notice.
a. Jesus said, “Just like it was in the day of
Noah …
b. People will be going about their lives,
business as usual.
3. It might get worse before it gets better.
a. Wars and threats of war, earthquakes, and
pestilence …
b. 2 Timothy 3:8-13
i. People will resist the
truth
ii. Some will be corrupted
in their thinking
iii. Others will teach a
counterfeit faith
iv. Deceived people will
deceive people
c. Matthew 24:46 Blessed
are those Jesus finds doing what He said in due season. (“Do-Season” … it’s the
season to do!)
4. Suddenly, the end will come.
a. As sudden as lightning flashes
b. At just the right time, not one second early
and not one second late
c. God already has it on His calendar
5. Jesus will appear.
Matthew 24: 31 ¶ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”
We will pick up right here next Sunday should the Lord tarry …
I believe we are in the last days, but I know we are in “Do-Season”!
It’s always time to do what Jesus told us to do …
There
are two things you don’t want to miss …
·
The
Rapture!
·
Next
Sunday’s conclusion of Matthew 24 !!!
