What’s going on?

The End Times

David Yun

Apr 7, 2007

Outline

• Signs of the End Times

• Timeline

• What are sure

• Conclusions

Signs of the End Times (I)- Matthew 24

• False Christs• Wars & rumors of wars• Nations vs. nations• Famines, earthquakes• Persecution, hatred & apostasy• False prophets• Increase of wickedness• Decrease of love

But Not Yet!

Signs of the End Times (II) - Matthew 24

• Gospel preached to whole world

• Then the End will come. (v 14)– Abomination of Desolation– Great Tribulation– False Christs & false Prophets– Heavens are shaken– Christ comes again – Rapture

Timeline

1. Jesus’ death & resurrection 2. Church age3. Tribulation4. Heavenly objects are shaken5. Jesus’ second coming6. Rapture 7. Judgment8. New heaven & New earth

Jesus’ Death & Resurrection

• Jesus defeats Satan – “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power

of death—that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14)– Rev 20:1-2; Jn 12:31; Col 2:15

• Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings– “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”

(Matt 28:18)– “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev 19:16)

• Jesus promised he would come back. – Acts 1:10,11; Rev 22:7,12,20

• Jesus is the first fruits– “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits

of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Cor 15:20)

Church Age

• The period of time the gospel must be preached until Christ’s return– “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.”

(Mark 13:10)– “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20)

– “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Tribulation (I)

• Terrible times– “There will be terrible times in the last days.” (2 Tim

3:1); Matt 24:21

• The rise of the Antichrist– “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be

released from his prison” (Rev 20:7)– Abomination - “He will oppose and will exalt himself

over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 The 2:4; Dan 9:27)

– Deceiving, persecution, temptation (1Tim 4:1; Rev 13:14; 1 Pet 5:8)

Tribulation (II)

• Great distress – “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from

the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Matt 24:21)

– A fourth of the earth will be killed by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Rev 6:8)

– “A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur…The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands ” (Rev 9:18,20)

Immediate Signs of Jesus’ Return

• Heavenly Objects are shaken up– “Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun

will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” (Matt 24:29)

– “The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.” (Rev 6:12,13)

Jesus’ Return

• Jesus comes in glory– “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in

the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” (Matt 24:30)

– “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God ” (1The 4:16)

– “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11)

Rapture

• Christ gathers his people– “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call,

and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matt 24:31)

– “and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 The 4:16,17)

– “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Cor 15:52)

• Unbelievers are left behind (Matt 24:39-41)

Judgment (I)

• Christ judges antichrist, false prophets, Satan & death– “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into

the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev 20:10)

– “The time has come…for destroying those who destroy the earth." (Rev 11:18)

• Destroys the world by fire– “That day will bring about the destruction of the

heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” (2 Pet 3:12)

Judgment (II)

• Christ judges each person– “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was

seated on it…and each person was judged according to what he had done.” (Rev 20:11,13)

– Second death “If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:15; 21:8)

– “The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great" (Rev 11:18)

– “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt 25:46)

New Heavens & New Earth

• The coming of the kingdom of God– “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the

first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea... They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. …There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Rev 21:1-5)

– “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power…so that God is all in all.” (1 Cor 15:24,28)

Timeline

Church Age

Tribulation

Advent & Rapture

JudgmentJesus’ deathResurrection

New HeavenNew Earth

The Coming of the Kingdom of God

What are sure

• No one but God knows the day of Christ’s Coming – Matt 24:36; 1 The 5:1-3; Mk 13:32

• But Jesus gave us plenty of signs to watch (Matt 24)

• Jesus is coming soon (Rev 22:7)

• He will come suddenly (2 Pet 3:10a; Lk 17)

Conclusion

• Keep watch and be ready– “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on

what day your Lord will come.” (Matt 24:42-44)– “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps

the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Rev 22:7)– “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the

saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Rev 14:12)

– “This calls for a mind with wisdom.” (Rev 17:9) – Keep preaching urgently (Matt 24:42-51; 28:19,20)

Q & A