“Times of the Signs”   7/23/06

Matthew 24:36-51

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”  Titus 2:11-13

Can we Know?                        NOT DAY OR HOUR  (Matt 24:36), but SEASON 

1 THESSALONIANS  5:1-4    Also, HEBREWS 10:25

 POINT 1-  To be called a faithful Christian we must be WATCHFUL   Vv.36-42

MATTHEW 16:1-3                We are not Date Setting.

A.     Being watchful warns us that we don’t know the EXACT TIME.

B.     The days preceding His return are like the days of NOAH   (2 Tim 4:1-5)

Filled with VIOLENCE and IMMORALITY  (see 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-4)

1.       Other signs include apostasy (leaving the truth faith) 2 Thess. 2:3;        1 Timothy 4:1.  READ MATT 24:4-6 

2.       Signs of wars (world), ethnic strife, famines, earthquakes mark the beginning of the end of the age as birth pains (Matt 24:4-6).

3.       We have the signs of technology (Dan 12:1-2, Rev. 13:18; 11:9)

4.       The sign of the nation Israel’s existence (Ezek 37; Jer 30:7; Rev 12)

5.       The fact that a temple in Jerusalem is ready to be rebuilt.

6.       The sign of Europe as the revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2 & 7)

C.     All these signs should cause us to look for the RAPTURE

POINT 2-   To be called a faithful Christian we must be READY     Vv. 43-51

A.     Faithfulness and readiness require us to be doing God’s WORK

B.     If faithful, we will be given the honor of ruling in Jesus’ KINGDOM

C.     Those who aren’t genuine will be PUNISHED  (Matt 7:21-23; Titus 1:16)

Luke 19:13  Do business until I come

Being watchful and ready: 1) praying; 2) studying; 3) evangelizing; 4) teaching our kids; 5) focused on God’s kingdom, not Ours; 6) using our time, talents, treasure; 7) multiplying the word of God  (Acts 12:24); 8) Be pure and holy (1 John 3:3).

If genuine believers, we have the assurance of escaping the future judgment (Rev 3:10; Luke 21:34-36).

 REVIEW the points.  WATCHFUL and READY

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved (look for) His appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:8   AGAPE