Title: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Part 5)
Meta: This sermon follows our Lord’s teaching on His Second Coming from Luke 17. Our Lord is very clear that His coming is going to be public, spectacular and terrifying. Just as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Tags: Eschatology,tribulation,Millennialism,Dispensationalism,dispensations,end times,Hermeneutics,Second Coming of Jesus,kingdom of God,rapture,Amillennialism,Tim Conway

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Luke chapter 17 verse 20.

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We are in the midst of an ongoing study concerning eschatology --

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the study of end times.

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The end of what?

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End times; the end in relationship to what?

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Eternity is going to go on forever. Eternity has no end.

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Why do we talk about the end when there really is no end?

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Well there is an end of something.

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Even though we are all going to exist forever;

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there are those things that are eternal;

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there are those things that are everlasting.

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There are also those things that come to an end.

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When we speak about end times,

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we are speaking about something that has closure.

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The Bible speaks about the end.

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The end of the ages. The end of the age.

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Scripture speaks about the last days and even the last day - singular.

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There is an end of time.

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There is an end of this world.

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Peter tells us very plainly. 2 Peter 3:7,

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"The heavens and the earth that now exist are stored up for fire."

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That's what we are talking about.

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We are talking about this world;

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these heavens and this earth, as we know them now,

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they are destined for fire.

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This is all going to come to an end.

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This is going to be destroyed.

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The world we see now, has an end. That's what we are talking about.

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End times -

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we're talking about as we move towards that closure of this age, this world.

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That's what we have in mind.(P)

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Today and Lord willing in the weeks ahead,

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we're going to examine, just like we find right here in Luke chapter 17,

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we're going to examine various places in Scripture.

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In the beginning, not Daniel, not Revelation, not Ezekiel.

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We are going to look, again what I've wanted us to do all along,

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look at some of the plain teaching.

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I want to stick to the Gospels for a number of weeks.

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I want us to see what Jesus said over and over and over again,

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before we launch off into the craziness of Revelation.

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I want you to see what comes from Scripture.

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Brethren, what we need to strive to do is this:

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Look at Scripture and exegete it.

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We need to have the Word speak to us.

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You know what the problem is?

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You have too many people that fly off to Daniel and to Revelation.

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They have been indoctrinated by a system, led to believe certain things,

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and now they can't read any of their Bible without reading those things into it.

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That is not a proper way to approach the Scriptures

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with you already having assumptions about what it means

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before you ever get there.(P)

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The proper way to approach Scripture is to go to Scripture,

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let it speak to you, and say, "Does my system fit with that?"

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And if it doesn't, what do you do with the system?

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You throw the Bible out the backdoor and say,

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"I'm holding to that system nevertheless"?

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Brethren, that is the easy way to end up going down a path you don't want to go down.

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That is a dangerous path.

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Let's let Scripture speak to us.

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And today, it's going to be out of Luke 17.

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Now, just for starters here,

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I want to hit you with this, time and again in the weeks ahead,

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because I just want you to get a basic framework in your head

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about what we are talking about.(P)

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Premillennial dispensationalism holds to an eschatology, a view of end times,

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we're talking about 'Left Behind,'

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most of the fundamentalist churches in this country,

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John Hagee touts this stuff, John MacArthur.

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We're talking about guys, believers,

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fellowship right up here on the north side of our own city.

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This is the eschatology they hold to.

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Let me tell you the timeline; just a basic timeline.

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Here we are now.

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Next major event in God's timeline is what?

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The rapture.

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That's what they are looking for next.

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Followed by seven years of tribulation,

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at which time the notorious Antichrist is going to take power.

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At the end of that seven years of tribulation,

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Jesus Christ is going to come.

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The battle of Armageddon;

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the defeat of the Antichrist;

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Satan bound.

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Now a thousand, literal thousand years is ushered in,

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at the end of which time is a rebellion: Gog and Magog.

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Devil is defeated, thrown in the lake of fire, the wicked are judged.

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Now we enter in to the eternal realm.(P)

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That is a basic timeline.

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Look, anytime you try to summarize a system,

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somebody is going to say,

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"Yeah, but I know so and so who believe such and such."

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Yeah I know.

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This is the basic timeline associated with dispensational premillennialism.

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I know there is a historic premillennialism

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but this dispensationalism is what I really want to go after.

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Over against what?

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What I believe the Scriptures teach is:

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We are in this age.

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The eternal age is coming.

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The only thing that separates us is the coming of Christ.

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All the dead are raised;

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all are judged;

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and the eternal kingdom is ushered in.

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That's what I believe Scripture says.(P)

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What I want you to all do is as we examine Christ's teaching on these matters,

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today and in the weeks ahead, I want you to be honest.

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Honest, not with what your system has taught you,

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but I want you to be honest with what you read.

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I am not saying it's all easy.

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There are some things I don't know if I am ever going to figure out in this lifetime.

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I am striving to.

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Those places that are really difficult are not the places we want to start.

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We want to start in the places that are not that difficult.(P)

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So, my question is this:

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Does Luke 17 verse 20 and following indicate a timeline

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like the dispensationalists hold to?

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Or like the one I just described.

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This age, the age to come.

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Separated by Christ's coming.

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The resurrection of the dead.

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A general judgment.

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And the ushering in of the new heaven and the new earth.

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New heavens - plural, and new earth.(P)

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Well let's read. Luke 17 verse 20,

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"Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,

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Jesus answered them,

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"The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,

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nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!'

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for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."

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KJV, NKJV says within.

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Now, there's no difference in the Greek behind different translations here.

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It can be translated either way.

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The kingdom of God is in the midst of you or is within you.

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Both readings are correct.(P)

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"He said to the disciples, 'The days are coming

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when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man,

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and you will not see it.

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They will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!'

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Do not go out or follow them.

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For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other,

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so will the Son of Man be in His day.

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But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

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Just as it was in the days of Noah,

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so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

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They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage,

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until the day when Noah entered the ark,

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and the flood came and destroyed them all.

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Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—

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they were eating and drinking, buying and selling,

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planting and building,

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but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom,

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fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—

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so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

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On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house,

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not come down to take them away.

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Likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

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Remember Lot's wife.

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Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,

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but whoever loses his life will keep it.

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I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed.

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One will be taken, the other left.

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There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken, the other left."

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Verse 36 found is some manuscripts, not in others, reads this way,

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"Two men will be in the field; one will be taken, the other will be left."

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That is definitely found in Matthew's Gospel.

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There's no debate about it being found there.

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"They said to him, 'Where, Lord?'

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He said to them, 'Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.'"(P)

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Now I just want you to notice verse 30:

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"So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed."

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That word 'revealed.'

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Sometimes we speak about the Apocalypse.

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That word 'revealed.'

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That's it.

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Apokalupto. That's where we get the Apocalypse from.

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The Son of Man is revealed.

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There's no question about the meaning of that word.

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It has to do with making something visible; uncovering.

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It carries the idea to lay open what has been veiled or covered up.

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There's something that is hidden right now;

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it is going to be revealed.

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Christ, the Son of Man is going to be revealed.

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That is what is being spoken about here.

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Brethren, we live between two comings of Christ.

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He came the first time incarnate; robed Himself with humanity.

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He came into this world to live under the Law.

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He came into this world to give His life a ransom for many.

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And He has been taken up.

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And He is seated at the right hand of the Father.

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But He is coming again.

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He is going to be revealed.

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The faith of the New Testament Church is dominated by this expectation.

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He came once, He has been taken up - passed through the heavens,

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ascended, seated at the right hand of majesty where He reigns now.

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And He will reign until all of His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.

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And He will come. He will come.

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That is our expectation.(P)

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But now here is the thing.

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Before we dive into the Second Coming, I want you to see something.

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Notice verse 20,

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"Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come."

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Now notice this: you have Pharisees.

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The Pharisees were by and large not friends of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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By and large, they did not believe He was the Messiah.

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But they have a question.

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Why would they ask Jesus about the coming of the kingdom

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when they don't even believe He's the Messiah?

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Why take your theological questions to somebody you believe is an imposter?

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Well, precisely for that reason.

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Because you do believe He's an imposter.

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By your question, you're trying to expose Him.

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That's what they were constantly doing with their questions.(P)

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But notice: "When is the kingdom of God coming?"

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He answered them,

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"The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,

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nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!'"-- concerning the kingdom.

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Nobody is going to be able to say, "Look, there it is,

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being established right over there."

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That's what He says.

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Nobody is going to say that.

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Why? Because it is not going to be established that way.

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"For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you (or is within you)."

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Jesus came and said, "Repent."

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He claimed that the kingdom of God had come.

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From the days of John the baptist until now, you know what?

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The kingdom of heaven is taken by violence.

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You press into it.

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Unless you become as little children, you don't enter.

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Unless you are born again, you don't enter.

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Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.(P)

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Brethren, let me tell you: The kingdom is not in food and drink.

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The kingdom is spiritual.

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The kingdom has to do with righteousness.

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You see, when we speak about the kingdom,

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we are speaking about the realm where a king rules.

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He rules in men's hearts.

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When you submit to Christ, that is where somebody is entering the kingdom.

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That is what the kingdom is all about.

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Brethren, most of these Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah,

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but you know what? He claimed to be.

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He said He is.

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You know what they had an idea about the kingdom?

243
00:17:11,773 --> 00:17:15,252
"It's going to be here, it's going to be observable,

244
00:17:15,258 --> 00:17:17,286
it's going to be recognizable."

245
00:17:17,291 --> 00:17:24,535
They put Messiah together with a physical, earthly kingdom.

246
00:17:24,540 --> 00:17:28,920
And so they said, "You are claiming to be the Messiah,

247
00:17:28,926 --> 00:17:32,899
where is your kingdom?"

248
00:17:33,729 --> 00:17:35,673
They didn't believe He was.

249
00:17:35,679 --> 00:17:39,579
And this was only confirming to them He wasn't.

250
00:17:39,585 --> 00:17:43,434
Because they expected when Messiah came, He's going to set up a kingdom.

251
00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,814
His own disciples believed that.

252
00:17:48,941 --> 00:17:50,220
But you know what?

253
00:17:50,226 --> 00:17:57,693
We are right to connect Messiah and kingdom, only not in the way they imagined.

254
00:17:57,699 --> 00:18:03,200
They thought the coming Messiah meant a physical kingdom on this earth.(P)

255
00:18:03,206 --> 00:18:05,045
In effect, they are saying,

256
00:18:05,051 --> 00:18:08,894
"You say you are the Messiah, where is your kingdom?"

257
00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:10,236
And you know what?

258
00:18:10,242 --> 00:18:15,644
We can tell, by the way our Lord answers their question,

259
00:18:15,650 --> 00:18:18,893
that the Pharisees did in fact expect an earthly kingdom.

260
00:18:18,899 --> 00:18:21,595
I mean, see how He corrects their thinking:

261
00:18:21,601 --> 00:18:27,860
"The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed."

262
00:18:27,866 --> 00:18:31,640
You see, obviously these guys are saying, "Where is it?"

263
00:18:31,646 --> 00:18:34,715
Well, for Jesus to answer this way and say,

264
00:18:34,721 --> 00:18:36,097
"Not in ways that are observed.

265
00:18:36,103 --> 00:18:38,171
You're never gonna say 'Look here it is' or 'There.'"

266
00:18:38,177 --> 00:18:43,760
Well, you answer this way only if when this is precisely what the Pharisees expected,

267
00:18:43,766 --> 00:18:48,698
but when what they expected is a wrong expectation.

268
00:18:48,704 --> 00:18:57,930
He is correcting them, "Guys, it's not like you think. It's not observable."(P)

269
00:18:57,936 --> 00:18:59,570
Let me ask you a question,

270
00:18:59,576 --> 00:19:02,170
if we are just going to be honest with Scripture.

271
00:19:02,176 --> 00:19:04,334
Just honest.

272
00:19:04,340 --> 00:19:08,607
Does it sound to you like Jesus is saying,

273
00:19:08,613 --> 00:19:15,218
"The kingdom of God is coming in a way that is observable,

274
00:19:15,224 --> 00:19:20,818
only after the rapture and after the 7-year tribulation"?

275
00:19:20,824 --> 00:19:24,197
Let us be honest.

276
00:19:25,267 --> 00:19:29,835
Our Lord interacted with Pilate, you remember that?

277
00:19:29,841 --> 00:19:35,126
Pilate, "Are you the King of Israel?"

278
00:19:35,132 --> 00:19:38,409
"You say that I am."

279
00:19:38,415 --> 00:19:50,307
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."

280
00:19:50,313 --> 00:19:55,399
Oh brethren, the kingdom is going to be most observable,

281
00:19:55,405 --> 00:19:58,014
but not in this world.

282
00:19:58,020 --> 00:20:01,287
His kingdom is not of this world.

283
00:20:01,293 --> 00:20:10,109
Nobody here is going to be able to say "It's over there, It's over there, it's observable."(P)

284
00:20:10,115 --> 00:20:20,174
I said to a dispensational friend of mine.

285
00:20:20,180 --> 00:20:28,245
I said, "Brother, Jesus Christ said His kingdom is not of this world."

286
00:20:28,251 --> 00:20:33,507
He said, "Not yet."

287
00:20:35,738 --> 00:20:39,275
You know what the dispensational guys want to tell you?

288
00:20:39,281 --> 00:20:45,018
"We are the ones who literally interpret Scripture."

289
00:20:45,024 --> 00:20:51,380
My dispensational friends, would you please literally interpret this:

290
00:20:51,386 --> 00:20:58,731
Not observable. Not of this world.

291
00:20:58,737 --> 00:21:01,815
I just want us to be honest with Scripture.

292
00:21:01,821 --> 00:21:06,472
The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking

293
00:21:06,478 --> 00:21:10,819
but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

294
00:21:10,825 --> 00:21:12,379
Can I tell you this:

295
00:21:12,385 --> 00:21:24,896
Our Lord Jesus Christ NEVER, NEVER gave even a single indication

296
00:21:24,902 --> 00:21:31,340
that His kingdom would ever be physically set up in this world.

297
00:21:31,346 --> 00:21:32,725
Ever.

298
00:21:32,730 --> 00:21:34,763
You cannot find it.

299
00:21:34,769 --> 00:21:39,350
You have to read it into His words if you are going to come to that conclusion.

300
00:21:39,356 --> 00:21:43,214
He never said so.

301
00:21:43,220 --> 00:21:49,581
Jesus Christ reigns in men's hearts.(P)

302
00:21:49,587 --> 00:21:52,631
Brethren, just very quickly before I leave this subject,

303
00:21:52,637 --> 00:21:56,181
turn over a page or two in your Bibles to Luke 19.

304
00:21:56,187 --> 00:21:59,692
I want you to see something.

305
00:21:59,698 --> 00:22:03,300
This was an ongoing issue about His kingdom.

306
00:22:03,306 --> 00:22:08,825
Now notice this: Verse 11 of Luke 19,

307
00:22:08,831 --> 00:22:15,559
"As they heard these things, He proceeded to tell a parable,

308
00:22:15,565 --> 00:22:19,700
because He was near to Jerusalem, and because - notice this -

309
00:22:19,706 --> 00:22:24,240
they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately."

310
00:22:24,246 --> 00:22:27,522
That's what everybody, that's what the Pharisees expected.

311
00:22:27,528 --> 00:22:33,203
They expected the Messiah to come in, set up an earthly kingdom,

312
00:22:33,209 --> 00:22:39,144
sit Himself back on David's throne, and take care of all their enemies.

313
00:22:39,150 --> 00:22:40,453
That is what they expected.

314
00:22:40,459 --> 00:22:44,602
"Is it here now Lord, are you going to set it up now?"

315
00:22:44,608 --> 00:22:49,340
You see they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.(P)

316
00:22:49,346 --> 00:22:57,837
Does our Lord say that it is going to appear immediately or anywhere in this world?

317
00:22:57,843 --> 00:23:00,371
Notice how He answers.

318
00:23:00,376 --> 00:23:02,257
"He said therefore,"

319
00:23:02,258 --> 00:23:06,506
Notice in verse 11, He proceeded to tell a parable.

320
00:23:06,512 --> 00:23:08,967
Now let's look at the parable, verse 12:

321
00:23:08,973 --> 00:23:11,430
"He said therefore, 'A nobleman went into a far country.'"

322
00:23:11,436 --> 00:23:15,708
Let me just tell you right off, you can look at this more in depth later,

323
00:23:15,714 --> 00:23:18,358
the nobleman is Christ.

324
00:23:18,364 --> 00:23:21,351
The far country is Him going to heaven.

325
00:23:21,357 --> 00:23:23,555
This is a parable.

326
00:23:23,561 --> 00:23:26,508
There is a nobleman that represents Christ.

327
00:23:26,514 --> 00:23:31,654
He goes into a far country, which means He goes away.

328
00:23:31,660 --> 00:23:35,195
He ascended up to His Father.

329
00:23:35,201 --> 00:23:36,597
Notice this:

330
00:23:36,603 --> 00:23:43,236
It is while He is far away that He receives the kingdom.

331
00:23:43,242 --> 00:23:45,713
Brethren make no mistake about that.

332
00:23:45,719 --> 00:23:48,483
The kingdom is being received by Christ now.

333
00:23:48,489 --> 00:23:50,573
His enemies are being put down now.

334
00:23:50,579 --> 00:23:55,667
Every time a sinner falls in repentance before Christ,

335
00:23:55,673 --> 00:23:57,429
there is an enemy subdued.

336
00:23:57,435 --> 00:24:00,863
And every time one of the wicked dies,

337
00:24:00,869 --> 00:24:04,663
there is an enemy subdued.

338
00:24:04,669 --> 00:24:07,907
His enemies are being put down now.

339
00:24:07,913 --> 00:24:08,638
He went.

340
00:24:08,644 --> 00:24:15,520
When He is far away, He is getting for Himself a kingdom.

341
00:24:15,526 --> 00:24:17,059
Make sure you see that.

342
00:24:17,065 --> 00:24:19,016
That's all the more I want to do with that right now.

343
00:24:19,022 --> 00:24:22,180
If you doubt what I am saying that that has to do with Christ,

344
00:24:22,186 --> 00:24:25,839
or that has to do with Him ascending and going away for now,

345
00:24:25,845 --> 00:24:30,055
you can look further at that later.

346
00:24:30,061 --> 00:24:31,698
I don't want to spend a lot of time.(P)

347
00:24:31,704 --> 00:24:32,460
But notice this:

348
00:24:32,466 --> 00:24:36,061
"A nobleman went into a far country to receive for Himself a kingdom

349
00:24:36,067 --> 00:24:37,749
and then return."

350
00:24:37,755 --> 00:24:41,296
You see, when He comes and returns, it is not to set up a kingdom here.

351
00:24:41,302 --> 00:24:43,101
He has already got the kingdom.

352
00:24:43,107 --> 00:24:47,890
It is at that point He ushers in eternity.

353
00:24:47,896 --> 00:24:53,582
It is at that point the new Jerusalem comes down.

354
00:24:53,588 --> 00:24:58,092
The place of His reign is a new heavens and a new earth.

355
00:24:58,098 --> 00:25:00,001
But notice that.

356
00:25:00,007 --> 00:25:02,711
Because I am going to make a case later on

357
00:25:02,717 --> 00:25:07,074
that this thousand-year kingdom of Revelation is now.

358
00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,289
You see, He is getting the kingdom for Himself now.

359
00:25:10,295 --> 00:25:13,611
The kingdom has come now.

360
00:25:13,617 --> 00:25:19,811
Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand (Now).

361
00:25:19,817 --> 00:25:23,456
It is not a physical kingdom in this world,

362
00:25:23,462 --> 00:25:27,542
nor will it ever be a kingdom that is going to be established in this world.

363
00:25:27,548 --> 00:25:29,313
This world is going to be destroyed,

364
00:25:29,319 --> 00:25:34,176
and then that kingdom is going to be brought here

365
00:25:34,182 --> 00:25:35,920
that He has earned and established.(P)

366
00:25:35,926 --> 00:25:43,901
Anyway, back to Luke 17.

367
00:25:44,877 --> 00:25:52,973
The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed.

368
00:25:52,979 --> 00:25:56,351
I think you all have to admit that just based on those texts,

369
00:25:56,357 --> 00:26:02,734
to come up with a thousand-year kingdom in this world before the end of this world,

370
00:26:02,740 --> 00:26:05,611
is not found there.

371
00:26:05,617 --> 00:26:08,164
You have to put it there.

372
00:26:08,170 --> 00:26:14,174
You have to come up with it from somewhere else and bring it here.

373
00:26:14,180 --> 00:26:15,672
It's not here.

374
00:26:15,678 --> 00:26:19,714
What Jesus says is, it's not observable.

375
00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:23,047
Okay, let's keep going.

376
00:26:23,053 --> 00:26:29,303
Verse 22, "And He said to the disciples, 'The days are coming

377
00:26:29,309 --> 00:26:33,176
when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man,

378
00:26:33,182 --> 00:26:36,294
and you will not see it.'"

379
00:26:36,300 --> 00:26:47,362
What Jesus is anticipating is that His disciples are going to yearn for His presence.

380
00:26:47,368 --> 00:26:51,460
Don't any of you ever find yourself longing for that?

381
00:26:51,466 --> 00:26:57,767
He recognized that such days were coming.

382
00:26:57,773 --> 00:27:08,636
Such days of sin, rampant wickedness,

383
00:27:08,642 --> 00:27:11,882
hardship, affliction, persecution.

384
00:27:11,888 --> 00:27:13,158
What do they want?

385
00:27:13,164 --> 00:27:16,027
They want His help, they want His presence.(P)

386
00:27:16,033 --> 00:27:21,698
Days are going to come when you want to see one of the days of the Son of Man.

387
00:27:21,704 --> 00:27:23,648
That means you want Him there.

388
00:27:23,654 --> 00:27:24,969
You want Him with you.

389
00:27:24,975 --> 00:27:26,884
He has gone.

390
00:27:26,890 --> 00:27:30,232
You want one of the days when He was here with you;

391
00:27:30,238 --> 00:27:34,036
or to jump forward to one of the days when He is going to be back with you.

392
00:27:34,042 --> 00:27:36,523
You want a deliverer.

393
00:27:36,529 --> 00:27:40,005
You want the help.

394
00:27:40,011 --> 00:27:47,109
In such times of difficulty, you know what's going to happen?

395
00:27:47,115 --> 00:27:50,136
You're going to have deceivers jump up

396
00:27:50,142 --> 00:27:55,207
and cater to people who are looking for help or for deliverance.

397
00:27:55,213 --> 00:27:57,952
In such times, Jesus predicts that men are going to rise

398
00:27:57,958 --> 00:27:59,582
pretending to be the messiah.

399
00:27:59,588 --> 00:28:06,521
And so, Jesus takes this occasion to caution His disciples against being led astray.(P)

400
00:28:06,527 --> 00:28:10,007
Notice what He says in verse 23,

401
00:28:10,013 --> 00:28:15,660
"They will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!'"

402
00:28:15,666 --> 00:28:18,753
He says, "Do not go out and follow them."

403
00:28:18,759 --> 00:28:22,424
Why not, what if it is Christ?

404
00:28:22,430 --> 00:28:28,563
He says it won't be. It won't be Me.

405
00:28:29,421 --> 00:28:33,488
Verse 24, "For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky

406
00:28:33,494 --> 00:28:36,593
from one side to the other,

407
00:28:36,599 --> 00:28:42,291
so will the Son of Man be in His day."

408
00:28:42,297 --> 00:28:44,877
Now I just want you to stop at those last two words.

409
00:28:44,883 --> 00:28:49,523
What does "His day" mean?

410
00:28:49,529 --> 00:28:52,478
What is the day of the Son of Man?

411
00:28:52,484 --> 00:28:55,265
And again, I would take you back to verse 30.

412
00:28:55,271 --> 00:29:07,052
We know what our Lord has in mind: "So will it be on the day".

413
00:29:07,058 --> 00:29:08,212
That is His day.

414
00:29:08,218 --> 00:29:20,406
The day when the Son of Man is apokalupto (revealed).

415
00:29:21,689 --> 00:29:24,744
That which is veiled is no longer veiled.

416
00:29:24,750 --> 00:29:30,259
His day is the day when the Son of Man comes again.

417
00:29:30,265 --> 00:29:32,710
He is revealed.

418
00:29:32,716 --> 00:29:33,825
What does this imply?

419
00:29:33,831 --> 00:29:36,365
It implies that He is not revealed right now,

420
00:29:36,371 --> 00:29:38,776
and that goes hand in hand with what He is expecting.

421
00:29:38,782 --> 00:29:41,136
You guys are going to get in difficult times;

422
00:29:41,142 --> 00:29:42,519
there is going to be persecution.

423
00:29:42,525 --> 00:29:44,230
You guys are going to find yourselves in prison.

424
00:29:44,236 --> 00:29:47,287
You guys are going to find this world is not a nice place.

425
00:29:47,293 --> 00:29:50,080
Wars and rumors of wars, and affliction.

426
00:29:50,086 --> 00:29:54,935
Those who put you to death are going to think that they are doing God a favor.

427
00:29:54,941 --> 00:29:56,923
That is what you have to look forward to.

428
00:29:56,929 --> 00:29:58,239
It is going to be difficult.

429
00:29:58,245 --> 00:29:59,717
Remember He said this to them?

430
00:29:59,723 --> 00:30:04,057
He said, "I am telling you these things so that you don't fall away."(P)

431
00:30:04,063 --> 00:30:07,801
That's why He is telling them these things because He is saying,

432
00:30:07,807 --> 00:30:12,569
"Look, there is going to come some days, He told them concerning fasting,

433
00:30:12,575 --> 00:30:14,616
they don't fast now, the bridegroom is with them.

434
00:30:14,622 --> 00:30:16,657
The day is coming, the bridegroom is going to be taken away,

435
00:30:16,663 --> 00:30:18,894
they are going to fast. Those are hard days.

436
00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:23,483
There is sorrow, there is longing, there is difficulty.

437
00:30:23,489 --> 00:30:25,585
You are going to long for those days.

438
00:30:25,591 --> 00:30:27,451
Brethren, if we are living the Christian life right,

439
00:30:27,457 --> 00:30:29,673
we ought to be longing for Christ's coming;

440
00:30:29,679 --> 00:30:36,532
longing to see Him; longing to escape.

441
00:30:36,538 --> 00:30:41,002
This is what His day [implies].

442
00:30:41,008 --> 00:30:46,920
He is not revealed now, He is out of sight now but He is coming again.(P)

443
00:30:46,926 --> 00:30:49,665
Remember the two angels?

444
00:30:49,671 --> 00:30:52,710
When Jesus Christ ascended, His disciples were standing there,

445
00:30:52,716 --> 00:30:55,511
they're watching Him go, He disappears into the clouds,

446
00:30:55,517 --> 00:30:57,201
two angels appear right there.

447
00:30:57,207 --> 00:31:01,220
They say in Acts chapter 1 verse 9, "As they were looking on,

448
00:31:01,226 --> 00:31:04,090
He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.

449
00:31:04,096 --> 00:31:06,710
And while they were gazing into heaven as He went,

450
00:31:06,716 --> 00:31:10,030
behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said,

451
00:31:10,036 --> 00:31:13,227
'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?

452
00:31:13,233 --> 00:31:15,629
This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven,

453
00:31:15,635 --> 00:31:22,206
will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.'"

454
00:31:22,212 --> 00:31:26,538
You know why it is foolish; it is absolute foolishness

455
00:31:26,544 --> 00:31:31,750
to believe when anybody tells you that Jesus Christ has already come?

456
00:31:31,756 --> 00:31:33,353
Why is it so foolish?

457
00:31:33,359 --> 00:31:34,752
Because when He does come,

458
00:31:34,758 --> 00:31:42,050
there is not going to be any doubt in anybody's mind that it is happening.

459
00:31:42,466 --> 00:31:44,277
That is why it's foolish.(P)

460
00:31:44,292 --> 00:31:48,141
Listen, if there is any kind of event that takes place in this world

461
00:31:48,147 --> 00:31:51,068
that you actually have to sit there and contemplate

462
00:31:51,074 --> 00:31:53,697
"hmmn, I wonder if He has come,"

463
00:31:53,703 --> 00:31:55,474
you can be certain He hasn't.

464
00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:56,756
That is what He is saying here.

465
00:31:56,762 --> 00:32:00,256
He says when He comes, it's not going to be a matter that anybody has to sit down

466
00:32:00,262 --> 00:32:02,832
and do calculations or try to figure out.

467
00:32:02,838 --> 00:32:05,336
Nobody is going to have to say, "He's over there!"

468
00:32:05,342 --> 00:32:08,905
It is going to be such an event that is going to take place,

469
00:32:08,911 --> 00:32:13,765
it is going to be so radical, it is going to be so bright.

470
00:32:13,771 --> 00:32:16,622
If you have to analyze whether He's come or not, He hasn't.

471
00:32:16,628 --> 00:32:20,094
Lightning, brethren, fills the whole sky.

472
00:32:20,100 --> 00:32:23,267
It's like lightning flashing from one end to the other.

473
00:32:23,273 --> 00:32:25,262
Everyone knows it, everyone sees it.

474
00:32:25,268 --> 00:32:29,066
And so it's going to be when the Son of Man is revealed.

475
00:32:29,071 --> 00:32:30,974
I want you to see this.

476
00:32:30,981 --> 00:32:33,990
There is nothing secret about this.

477
00:32:33,996 --> 00:32:37,429
It is like lightning that flashes, not secret.(P)

478
00:32:37,435 --> 00:32:43,723
You see, there is this very prevalent idea today that Jesus Christ is coming twice.

479
00:32:43,729 --> 00:32:48,063
Or, that His one coming can be broken up into two:

480
00:32:48,069 --> 00:32:50,916
the secret coming where He raptures the church;

481
00:32:50,922 --> 00:32:57,182
and 7 years later, this open coming where He defeats the Antichrist.

482
00:32:57,188 --> 00:33:02,494
Brethren, I'll just tell you this, and you have to be honest.

483
00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:06,620
From this, there's nothing about a secret coming.

484
00:33:06,626 --> 00:33:12,070
This coming right here is open, it's apparent.

485
00:33:12,076 --> 00:33:13,914
Nothing about a two-part coming.

486
00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:19,934
There is one coming, very visible; precisely what John tells us.

487
00:33:19,940 --> 00:33:24,937
Listen to this: Revelation chapter 1 verse 7,

488
00:33:24,943 --> 00:33:27,322
"Behold, He is coming with the clouds."

489
00:33:27,328 --> 00:33:32,456
This is just what the angels told the disciples, there in Acts chapter 1.

490
00:33:32,462 --> 00:33:38,073
"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him."

491
00:33:38,079 --> 00:33:39,570
You see how public it is?

492
00:33:39,576 --> 00:33:45,443
This thing is public, it is spectacular, and it is terrifying.

493
00:33:45,449 --> 00:33:48,551
Every eye will see Him. There will be no doubt.

494
00:33:48,557 --> 00:33:51,665
You don't have to wonder, "Oh I wonder if it's happening."

495
00:33:51,671 --> 00:33:53,733
Every eye will see Him.

496
00:33:53,739 --> 00:33:56,532
It's like the lightning. It's greater than the lightning.

497
00:33:56,538 --> 00:33:59,314
You can imagine lightning flashing.(P)

498
00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:04,110
You know what? It's the kind of thing that is instantaneous.

499
00:34:04,116 --> 00:34:10,186
You think about a bolt of lightning striking at midnight; black sky.

500
00:34:10,192 --> 00:34:14,429
A bolt of lightning could strike way over here on this horizon,

501
00:34:14,435 --> 00:34:19,179
and you would see it flash at night, probably in the day too.

502
00:34:19,186 --> 00:34:21,069
You can see the flash.

503
00:34:21,074 --> 00:34:23,416
Lightning is brilliant.

504
00:34:23,422 --> 00:34:25,255
Just bang! It's instantaneous.

505
00:34:25,262 --> 00:34:28,245
And the thing about it, well there are other things that happen instantaneously,

506
00:34:28,251 --> 00:34:31,708
maybe an earthquake happens instantaneously; a volcano erupts.

507
00:34:31,714 --> 00:34:37,576
But He is speaking about something every single one of us in this room

508
00:34:37,581 --> 00:34:39,870
are familiar with.

509
00:34:39,876 --> 00:34:42,989
We have all experienced lightning at night.

510
00:34:42,996 --> 00:34:47,023
Lightning, at all, we've experienced it.

511
00:34:47,029 --> 00:34:50,511
It registers with us.

512
00:34:51,096 --> 00:34:55,322
If we are all in here at night and a bolt of lightning strikes out there,

513
00:34:55,338 --> 00:34:56,469
you know what happened.

514
00:34:56,476 --> 00:34:58,805
Every eye is going to see it.

515
00:34:58,811 --> 00:35:00,653
You will know when it is happening.(P)

516
00:35:00,659 --> 00:35:04,534
Notice this, just listen to me.

517
00:35:04,540 --> 00:35:12,610
John says, "Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him,

518
00:35:12,616 --> 00:35:22,752
and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him.

519
00:35:22,758 --> 00:35:27,837
Even so. Amen."

520
00:35:28,439 --> 00:35:33,800
You know, as a young believer, I wondered at that verse.

521
00:35:34,170 --> 00:35:41,212
You get saved and you think, "I want to see the Lord.

522
00:35:41,981 --> 00:35:45,883
I have an expectation of seeing the Lord."

523
00:35:45,889 --> 00:35:48,402
And then you read right here,

524
00:35:48,408 --> 00:35:58,024
"All the tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him."

525
00:35:58,030 --> 00:36:01,934
Do you know what most men [think]? Oh I am sure.

526
00:36:01,940 --> 00:36:06,176
You talk to people on the streets,

527
00:36:06,182 --> 00:36:08,757
you come with us when we evangelize,

528
00:36:08,763 --> 00:36:15,522
you get a real clear picture about what people think.

529
00:36:15,528 --> 00:36:21,762
Almost every single person we speak with

530
00:36:21,768 --> 00:36:29,176
expects to be received by Jesus Christ.

531
00:36:30,475 --> 00:36:41,430
But the picture that our Bible portrays is a world full of wailing.

532
00:36:41,436 --> 00:36:43,778
I want you to imagine this.

533
00:36:43,784 --> 00:36:46,372
I want you to think about this.

534
00:36:46,378 --> 00:36:55,005
At the moment Jesus is revealed, think about what happens.

535
00:36:55,011 --> 00:37:01,762
That instantaneous moment. Every eye sees Him.

536
00:37:01,768 --> 00:37:04,126
Do you recognize what happens?

537
00:37:04,132 --> 00:37:09,318
How many ever billions of people are alive at that moment in time,

538
00:37:09,324 --> 00:37:13,573
something is happening to every one of them at the same instant.

539
00:37:13,579 --> 00:37:17,013
You know what is happening?

540
00:37:17,019 --> 00:37:22,586
You know what is happening. You know exactly.(P)

541
00:37:22,592 --> 00:37:27,384
We are talking people just like us.

542
00:37:27,390 --> 00:37:32,604
They have thoughts, they have hearts.

543
00:37:32,609 --> 00:37:40,649
A moment before, they were just living their lives.

544
00:37:40,656 --> 00:37:45,786
They had hopes, they had ambitions, they were going somewhere.

545
00:37:45,792 --> 00:37:50,734
Driving down the road; walking across the kitchen.

546
00:37:50,740 --> 00:37:56,794
Responsibilities, lives, hopes.

547
00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:58,066
Can you see it?

548
00:37:58,072 --> 00:38:04,837
Multitudes upon multitudes at the very same instant:

549
00:38:04,842 --> 00:38:07,493
Bang!

550
00:38:07,499 --> 00:38:20,801
They are hit with "I am not ready. It is all over. This is not good."

551
00:38:20,807 --> 00:38:23,841
I mean, it is happening to a world full of people

552
00:38:23,847 --> 00:38:29,287
spontaneously at the same moment.

553
00:38:29,293 --> 00:38:31,870
"I am undone."

554
00:38:32,465 --> 00:38:38,728
Brethren, why would John describe a whole world of wailing?

555
00:38:38,734 --> 00:38:41,663
Because, by and large, that is representative.

556
00:38:41,669 --> 00:38:48,221
It is only this little flock, just little flock,

557
00:38:48,227 --> 00:38:52,896
(the ones who, right now, are counted as fools and idiots and fanatics,

558
00:38:52,902 --> 00:38:55,794
who loved Christ more than life itself,)

559
00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:57,533
who will be the exception.

560
00:38:57,539 --> 00:39:02,773
This silly, little, stupid bunch of nobody's always reading their Bibles

561
00:39:02,779 --> 00:39:08,353
and talking about getting saved,

562
00:39:08,359 --> 00:39:17,452
who are going to marvel at His coming.

563
00:39:17,458 --> 00:39:21,340
Their shame will be turned to joy and gladness.(P)

564
00:39:21,346 --> 00:39:28,113
He says this, Luke 17:25, "But first He must suffer many things

565
00:39:28,119 --> 00:39:30,455
and be rejected by this generation."

566
00:39:30,461 --> 00:39:32,548
You see, Jesus needs to say this.

567
00:39:32,554 --> 00:39:35,216
Why? Because just like we saw,

568
00:39:35,222 --> 00:39:37,527
the Pharisees, "You're going to set up your kingdom now?"

569
00:39:37,533 --> 00:39:42,038
His disciples over in Luke 19, "Lord, is it at this time?"

570
00:39:42,043 --> 00:39:47,658
Remember even there when He is getting taken up in Acts chapter 1,

571
00:39:47,665 --> 00:39:49,465
"Okay Lord, is it this time?

572
00:39:49,471 --> 00:39:53,019
We thought it was when we were headed to Jerusalem but it didn't happen then.

573
00:39:53,025 --> 00:39:54,096
Is it now?"

574
00:39:54,102 --> 00:39:58,104
You see, it is the same question over and over.

575
00:39:58,974 --> 00:40:06,046
Jesus is trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together for these guys.

576
00:40:06,052 --> 00:40:13,517
You notice: "First I must suffer."

577
00:40:13,523 --> 00:40:16,374
They could not yet conceive of the cross.

578
00:40:16,380 --> 00:40:23,972
They fully expected Jesus to just come set up His earthly kingdom.

579
00:40:23,978 --> 00:40:29,862
But Jesus as He is speaking about His coming in glory,

580
00:40:29,868 --> 00:40:35,895
He is careful to mention first His humiliation,

581
00:40:35,901 --> 00:40:41,998
His suffering, His sorrow, which must precede His exaltation.

582
00:40:42,004 --> 00:40:45,749
Why? So that they don't fall away.

583
00:40:45,755 --> 00:40:48,614
For the sake of their faith.

584
00:40:48,620 --> 00:40:52,920
Wasn't it that way?

585
00:40:52,926 --> 00:40:59,033
Two on the road to Emmaus, "We thought it was going to be him.

586
00:40:59,039 --> 00:41:02,160
All disappointment now."

587
00:41:02,166 --> 00:41:04,021
What He is doing is He is telling them;

588
00:41:04,027 --> 00:41:07,640
He is seeking to teach them so that His disciples wouldn't be weakened

589
00:41:07,646 --> 00:41:11,245
by false expectations and misunderstandings.

590
00:41:11,251 --> 00:41:15,367
"Guys, I've got to suffer first."(P)

591
00:41:15,373 --> 00:41:20,781
Now notice this. Two examples.

592
00:41:20,787 --> 00:41:28,743
Our Lord is going to give us two Old Testament judgments.

593
00:41:28,749 --> 00:41:37,471
Real historical judgments that He is going to liken His Second Coming to.

594
00:41:37,477 --> 00:41:39,306
You have to remember this.

595
00:41:39,312 --> 00:41:44,517
Whatever glory there may be; how much we ever may marvel,

596
00:41:44,523 --> 00:41:47,023
(and there may be a time for worship among us believers,)

597
00:41:47,029 --> 00:41:49,967
you have to recognize it is a time of judgment.

598
00:41:49,973 --> 00:41:52,428
And when He wants to go back into the Old Testament

599
00:41:52,434 --> 00:41:55,859
and pull up two stories that resemble His coming,

600
00:41:55,865 --> 00:41:59,849
both are stories of judgment.

601
00:41:59,855 --> 00:42:04,929
This should shake us because of what stories they are.

602
00:42:04,935 --> 00:42:13,259
They are the two most devastating Old Testament examples of judgment

603
00:42:13,265 --> 00:42:15,980
found in our Bibles.(P)

604
00:42:15,986 --> 00:42:19,517
Let's read Luke 17:26, "Just as it was..."

605
00:42:19,523 --> 00:42:23,489
Brethren, I hope you catch those words.

606
00:42:23,495 --> 00:42:24,648
He's not saying,

607
00:42:24,654 --> 00:42:33,731
"Well when I come, it's going to just basically be a celebration.

608
00:42:33,737 --> 00:42:36,214
Yes, there will be a little bit of judgment going on,

609
00:42:36,220 --> 00:42:38,645
and a few wicked people cast away."

610
00:42:38,651 --> 00:42:40,206
No.

611
00:42:40,212 --> 00:42:47,438
He says, "Just the way it was in the days of Noah and the days of Lot.

612
00:42:47,444 --> 00:42:57,044
Just as it was, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

613
00:42:57,050 --> 00:43:01,626
They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage,

614
00:43:01,632 --> 00:43:05,089
until the day when Noah entered the ark,

615
00:43:05,095 --> 00:43:13,505
and the flood came - and notice this - and destroyed them all.

616
00:43:13,511 --> 00:43:17,917
Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—

617
00:43:17,923 --> 00:43:20,958
they were eating and drinking, buying and selling,

618
00:43:20,964 --> 00:43:22,614
planting and building,

619
00:43:22,620 --> 00:43:26,611
but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom,

620
00:43:26,617 --> 00:43:31,524
fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all."

621
00:43:31,530 --> 00:43:36,354
Same words: destroyed them all.

622
00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:45,568
Verse 30, "So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed."

623
00:43:46,122 --> 00:43:51,626
It is going to be a day for wailing.

624
00:43:51,632 --> 00:43:55,489
When those judgment rains began to fall,

625
00:43:55,495 --> 00:44:00,232
you can imagine as those waters rose, the people wailed.

626
00:44:00,238 --> 00:44:08,940
I don't know if anybody was even given a chance to wail in Sodom and Gomorrah.

627
00:44:08,946 --> 00:44:09,921
Not in this world.

628
00:44:09,927 --> 00:44:10,997
They are wailing now.

629
00:44:11,003 --> 00:44:17,538
They were wailing moments afterwards in the place they were.(P)

630
00:44:18,086 --> 00:44:18,919
Two things.

631
00:44:18,925 --> 00:44:25,885
Two things I would have us notice about these two stories.

632
00:44:25,891 --> 00:44:28,061
True stories.

633
00:44:28,067 --> 00:44:33,272
Historical accounts that Jesus likens His own revealing to.

634
00:44:33,278 --> 00:44:39,782
One is: I mentioned that God destroys them all.

635
00:44:39,788 --> 00:44:41,694
Do you feel the weight of this?

636
00:44:41,700 --> 00:44:43,258
I mean, think about it.

637
00:44:43,264 --> 00:44:48,613
Of all the stories that He could have brought,

638
00:44:48,619 --> 00:45:04,039
He brings one, the first one, eight souls were spared.

639
00:45:04,045 --> 00:45:06,923
All the rest died.

640
00:45:06,929 --> 00:45:14,106
The second story, four souls escaped Sodom and Gomorrah.

641
00:45:14,112 --> 00:45:21,861
All the rest were burned alive.

642
00:45:25,619 --> 00:45:29,291
He says in verse 30,

643
00:45:29,297 --> 00:45:34,637
"So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed."

644
00:45:34,643 --> 00:45:44,023
Just as it was in Noah's day and in Lot's day, so will it be.

645
00:45:44,029 --> 00:45:49,623
Our Lord said, "Few there be that find it." Did He not?

646
00:45:49,629 --> 00:45:54,145
Our Lord also said, "When the Son of Man comes,

647
00:45:54,151 --> 00:45:58,687
will He find faith in the earth?"

648
00:45:59,391 --> 00:46:05,232
Oh it is going to be a terrible day.

649
00:46:05,237 --> 00:46:08,007
Terrible day.

650
00:46:08,013 --> 00:46:09,960
That was the first thing, God destroys them all.(P)

651
00:46:09,966 --> 00:46:13,755
Notice the second thing about these two stories:

652
00:46:13,761 --> 00:46:17,392
The unexpectedness.

653
00:46:17,398 --> 00:46:20,482
That ought to jump out at you.

654
00:46:20,488 --> 00:46:26,981
Just look! Look what He wants us to see.

655
00:46:26,987 --> 00:46:30,073
It's not like you even go back into the Old Testament

656
00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:35,416
and find that these things were ever spoken about.

657
00:46:35,422 --> 00:46:39,766
These are things Jesus knows were true

658
00:46:39,772 --> 00:46:45,273
that He wants you to know were true.

659
00:46:45,279 --> 00:46:47,418
These are not things you go back to the Old Testament

660
00:46:47,424 --> 00:46:50,299
in the book of Genesis and read about.

661
00:46:50,305 --> 00:46:55,121
These are things that Jesus knew were taking place

662
00:46:55,127 --> 00:47:03,851
that are so much a parallel to when He comes.

663
00:47:03,857 --> 00:47:06,704
Just normal life.

664
00:47:06,710 --> 00:47:09,868
Just doing what you always do:

665
00:47:09,874 --> 00:47:18,230
eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling,

666
00:47:18,236 --> 00:47:23,630
planting, building, life as usual.

667
00:47:23,636 --> 00:47:26,641
It happens when you don't think it will happen.

668
00:47:26,647 --> 00:47:30,990
Notice both in the example of Noah and the example of Lot,

669
00:47:30,996 --> 00:47:33,792
they are just going along.

670
00:47:33,798 --> 00:47:36,478
And then what He says.

671
00:47:36,484 --> 00:47:40,105
He says they are just going along;

672
00:47:40,111 --> 00:47:42,548
eating, drinking, marrying, given in marriage,

673
00:47:42,553 --> 00:47:47,504
until the day.

674
00:47:47,510 --> 00:47:50,486
There's always a day.

675
00:47:50,492 --> 00:47:55,268
There's the day Noah went into the ark.

676
00:47:55,274 --> 00:48:00,373
Or how about with Lot? What's happening?

677
00:48:00,379 --> 00:48:03,726
Eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building,

678
00:48:03,732 --> 00:48:10,067
but on the day when Lot went out of Sodom.

679
00:48:10,073 --> 00:48:17,535
In verse 30, "So will it be on the day..."(P)

680
00:48:18,170 --> 00:48:20,993
Just going along.

681
00:48:20,999 --> 00:48:27,338
Most men get caught unaware.

682
00:48:28,655 --> 00:48:30,759
Just engaged in other things.

683
00:48:30,765 --> 00:48:34,155
They are not expecting this.

684
00:48:34,161 --> 00:48:40,960
I mean, look, think about how life is.

685
00:48:40,966 --> 00:48:44,521
We just had a wedding yesterday.

686
00:48:44,527 --> 00:48:48,574
You folks have plans.

687
00:48:49,392 --> 00:48:53,034
Buying and selling.

688
00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:57,134
You know, put it right where you live.

689
00:48:57,140 --> 00:48:59,661
"Yeah, I've got to go to the store."

690
00:48:59,667 --> 00:49:04,540
Or, "this is theology, that's kind of where I live."

691
00:49:04,546 --> 00:49:09,267
This Book has to do with where we live.

692
00:49:09,273 --> 00:49:11,839
You're going to go to the store.

693
00:49:11,845 --> 00:49:14,898
Some of you ladies probably would have thought today,

694
00:49:14,904 --> 00:49:16,089
"I've got to go to Walmart.

695
00:49:16,095 --> 00:49:17,113
I've got to go to HEB.

696
00:49:17,119 --> 00:49:18,187
I've got to go to Costco.

697
00:49:18,193 --> 00:49:19,639
I've got to go to Sam's."

698
00:49:19,645 --> 00:49:21,347
Buying and selling.

699
00:49:21,353 --> 00:49:23,545
That's what they are doing, just buying and selling.

700
00:49:23,551 --> 00:49:27,732
Marrying and given in marriage; we had a marriage yesterday.

701
00:49:27,738 --> 00:49:29,177
David was talking about marriage.

702
00:49:29,183 --> 00:49:33,439
Marriage sanctifying or not being married can be sanctifying.

703
00:49:33,445 --> 00:49:36,223
Some of you are married, you're thinking about your marriage.

704
00:49:36,229 --> 00:49:41,336
Some of you are not married, you want to be married.

705
00:49:41,342 --> 00:49:42,217
This is life.

706
00:49:42,223 --> 00:49:44,079
This is just the normal things.(P)

707
00:49:44,085 --> 00:49:47,917
Planting. Well we don't do much planting,

708
00:49:47,923 --> 00:49:50,513
we go get our food somewhere.

709
00:49:50,519 --> 00:49:53,270
Building.

710
00:49:53,276 --> 00:49:57,058
It's just the stuff of life.

711
00:49:57,064 --> 00:50:01,118
People thinking of making trip to the store.

712
00:50:01,124 --> 00:50:05,029
Business ventures; plans for a new house.

713
00:50:05,035 --> 00:50:13,113
Just life as usual, and it's going to be exactly like this

714
00:50:13,119 --> 00:50:16,958
on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

715
00:50:16,964 --> 00:50:23,166
Suddenly like a flash of lightning, bang! there it is!

716
00:50:23,172 --> 00:50:27,615
And the King in all His glory, Scripture says,

717
00:50:27,621 --> 00:50:32,746
He is coming with His angels in flaming fire,

718
00:50:32,752 --> 00:50:37,681
and He is going to carry out vengeance on His enemies.

719
00:50:37,687 --> 00:50:40,372
And when you figure that by and large,

720
00:50:40,378 --> 00:50:45,810
the vast majority of this world is going to be at enmity against Him,

721
00:50:45,816 --> 00:50:52,157
even people, Jesus said many religious people are going to say to Me in that day,

722
00:50:52,163 --> 00:50:53,896
"Lord Lord, we were there.

723
00:50:53,902 --> 00:50:56,113
We were in the church and we were doing many mighty works

724
00:50:56,119 --> 00:50:58,357
and prophesying and casting out demons.

725
00:50:58,363 --> 00:50:59,484
We were the religious folks.

726
00:50:59,490 --> 00:51:00,947
We were the ones saying Lord Lord.

727
00:51:00,953 --> 00:51:03,859
We were there. We were singing the songs."

728
00:51:03,865 --> 00:51:05,357
"I never knew you."

729
00:51:05,363 --> 00:51:06,343
And they are going to know.

730
00:51:06,349 --> 00:51:08,424
They are going to know the moment that they see Him.

731
00:51:08,430 --> 00:51:09,934
They are not ready.

732
00:51:09,940 --> 00:51:12,261
He is going to bring vengeance against those

733
00:51:12,267 --> 00:51:15,153
who obeyed not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.(P)

734
00:51:15,159 --> 00:51:18,633
I'll tell you what, men's hearts are going to fail.

735
00:51:18,639 --> 00:51:20,206
That's where the wail comes from.

736
00:51:20,212 --> 00:51:21,345
Imagine it.

737
00:51:21,351 --> 00:51:25,351
Imagine whatever it is, 10 billion, 15 billion people,

738
00:51:25,357 --> 00:51:27,878
or whatever it is, alive on the earth at that time.

739
00:51:27,884 --> 00:51:33,808
The vast majority, their hearts will fail in the same moment.

740
00:51:33,814 --> 00:51:36,701
It's all over. It's all over.

741
00:51:36,707 --> 00:51:42,138
My friend, men may count you a fool for following Christ now.

742
00:51:42,144 --> 00:51:45,516
Not in that day, they will not.

743
00:51:45,522 --> 00:51:48,958
In our day, men's lips are quick,

744
00:51:48,963 --> 00:51:53,484
they are quick to call us whatever they want to call us -

745
00:51:53,491 --> 00:51:58,084
"radicals, fanatics."

746
00:51:58,090 --> 00:52:01,357
They want to mock, they want to say their things,

747
00:52:01,363 --> 00:52:03,909
they want to ridicule, they want to slander.

748
00:52:03,915 --> 00:52:08,301
In that day, no tongue will wag against God's people.

749
00:52:08,307 --> 00:52:12,986
The richest, the most powerful people in this world will trade everything

750
00:52:12,992 --> 00:52:16,817
to be one of the followers of the Lamb. Everything!

751
00:52:16,823 --> 00:52:19,133
But it's too late.

752
00:52:19,139 --> 00:52:22,481
The door is shut.

753
00:52:22,487 --> 00:52:26,648
Their time of opportunity is gone.

754
00:52:26,654 --> 00:52:34,250
Oh, what fools! They were offered a Savior,

755
00:52:34,256 --> 00:52:39,455
not like the demons who had no chance.

756
00:52:39,461 --> 00:52:47,293
They were offered a Savior, and they said, "Nope."

757
00:52:48,230 --> 00:52:59,413
Oh brethren, we go to people's doors, you know it,

758
00:52:59,419 --> 00:53:04,216
"This Book, it was just written by men.

759
00:53:04,222 --> 00:53:07,724
It's a mirage. It's a myth.

760
00:53:07,730 --> 00:53:11,856
The Bible is just a bunch of stories."

761
00:53:11,862 --> 00:53:17,167
It will not be that.

762
00:53:17,173 --> 00:53:19,995
It will be all too real.(P)

763
00:53:20,001 --> 00:53:23,541
You remember John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress?

764
00:53:23,547 --> 00:53:28,267
Christian at one point in that story goes to the house of the Interpreter.

765
00:53:28,273 --> 00:53:33,403
You may recall, the Interpreter takes him to a man

766
00:53:33,409 --> 00:53:37,366
who had a dream about judgment day.

767
00:53:37,372 --> 00:53:42,557
And as that man described judgment day, he said, "I dreamt."

768
00:53:42,563 --> 00:53:46,509
And he said he dreamt that he heard this great sound of a trumpet,

769
00:53:46,515 --> 00:53:49,857
and there he saw a Man sitting upon a cloud

770
00:53:49,863 --> 00:53:53,601
attended with the thousands of heaven in flaming fire.

771
00:53:53,607 --> 00:53:56,528
He said also the heavens were in flaming fire.

772
00:53:56,534 --> 00:54:02,879
He said, "I sought to hide but I could not,

773
00:54:02,885 --> 00:54:07,915
for the Man that sat upon the cloud still kept His eye upon me.

774
00:54:07,921 --> 00:54:10,417
My sins also came into my mind

775
00:54:10,423 --> 00:54:15,376
and my conscience did accuse me on every side."

776
00:54:15,382 --> 00:54:27,142
You know what is happening to a world full of people?

777
00:54:27,148 --> 00:54:31,377
They are not just innocent people.

778
00:54:31,383 --> 00:54:35,145
They are guilty sinners,

779
00:54:35,151 --> 00:54:43,743
who when opportunity was laid before them to surrender to His mercy,

780
00:54:43,749 --> 00:54:48,588
raised their fist and said, "I don't want You."

781
00:54:48,594 --> 00:54:53,294
Remember those citizens who would not have Him to rule over them?

782
00:54:53,300 --> 00:54:56,604
He said, "Slay them. Slay them all."

783
00:54:56,610 --> 00:55:00,504
Oh they will want mercy then.(P)

784
00:55:00,510 --> 00:55:04,962
You have to recognize the Lamb of God,

785
00:55:04,968 --> 00:55:09,921
once His wrath is let loose against you and there is no hope,

786
00:55:09,927 --> 00:55:13,663
and that door is shut,

787
00:55:13,669 --> 00:55:19,046
that Lamb will become altogether a terror to you.

788
00:55:19,052 --> 00:55:29,401
Notice this: Luke 17:31, "On that day,"

789
00:55:29,407 --> 00:55:30,763
Let's stop right there.

790
00:55:30,769 --> 00:55:32,274
What day are we talking about?

791
00:55:32,280 --> 00:55:33,613
Go back to verse 30,

792
00:55:33,619 --> 00:55:38,510
"So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed."

793
00:55:38,516 --> 00:55:42,730
Make no mistake about what day we are talking about here in verse 31.

794
00:55:42,736 --> 00:55:46,367
"On that day, let the one who is on the housetop,

795
00:55:46,373 --> 00:55:47,985
with his goods in the house,

796
00:55:47,991 --> 00:55:50,145
not come down to take them away,

797
00:55:50,151 --> 00:55:56,182
and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back."

798
00:55:56,526 --> 00:56:02,001
It may do us well to remember that when Christ is revealed,

799
00:56:02,007 --> 00:56:06,471
it will be just as it was in the days of Lot.

800
00:56:06,477 --> 00:56:09,528
Just as it was.

801
00:56:10,225 --> 00:56:15,121
You know, some people want to come along and say,

802
00:56:15,136 --> 00:56:23,576
"Well, people on their housetop not coming down to take their stuff away,

803
00:56:23,582 --> 00:56:27,665
is this really speaking about the Second Coming here?

804
00:56:27,671 --> 00:56:32,202
Because it's not like men will even have a chance

805
00:56:32,208 --> 00:56:37,112
or an opportunity to do that on that day, will they?"

806
00:56:37,118 --> 00:56:39,882
Just make sure you see verse 30.

807
00:56:39,888 --> 00:56:45,343
"So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed."(P)

808
00:56:45,349 --> 00:56:49,344
"On that day, let the one who is on the housetop,

809
00:56:49,350 --> 00:56:51,890
with his goods in the house..."

810
00:56:51,896 --> 00:56:57,298
Let me tell you what Jesus is doing here.

811
00:56:57,304 --> 00:57:07,541
He is bringing the Second Coming home to how you live now.

812
00:57:07,547 --> 00:57:09,493
You'll see this,

813
00:57:09,499 --> 00:57:16,736
but it's evidenced by what is happening in the hearts of men when He comes.

814
00:57:16,742 --> 00:57:20,146
He immediately says, "Remember Lot's wife."

815
00:57:20,152 --> 00:57:21,357
Now you have to remember,

816
00:57:21,363 --> 00:57:27,436
He is comparing His coming to what it was like in the day of Lot.

817
00:57:27,442 --> 00:57:30,471
He came in the day that Lot went out.

818
00:57:30,477 --> 00:57:32,077
Who did Lot go out with?

819
00:57:32,083 --> 00:57:34,307
With his wife and his two daughters.

820
00:57:34,313 --> 00:57:37,337
But his wife did not make it to the place of safety.

821
00:57:37,343 --> 00:57:39,109
Why not? She looked back.

822
00:57:39,115 --> 00:57:41,876
She was turned to a pillar of salt.

823
00:57:41,882 --> 00:57:46,333
Remember Lot's wife.

824
00:57:46,339 --> 00:57:50,926
You say, "What does this have to do with the Second Coming,

825
00:57:50,932 --> 00:57:53,488
what does it have to do with it?"

826
00:57:53,494 --> 00:57:56,272
Brethren, there is going to be wailing,

827
00:57:56,278 --> 00:57:57,878
there is going to be tremendous fear,

828
00:57:57,884 --> 00:58:04,449
but at that very moment when He comes,

829
00:58:04,455 --> 00:58:09,316
something is going to happen in the hearts of men concerning their treasures;

830
00:58:09,322 --> 00:58:14,328
concerning what they are attached to.(P)

831
00:58:14,866 --> 00:58:21,383
Brethren, the loss, the loss.

832
00:58:21,389 --> 00:58:25,480
Do you recognize what that day is? It's a loss;

833
00:58:25,486 --> 00:58:32,424
and the men and the women that are wailing are going to lose their lives.

834
00:58:32,430 --> 00:58:34,997
What is a life?

835
00:58:35,003 --> 00:58:37,390
A life is all you do.

836
00:58:37,396 --> 00:58:39,067
You see, they are going to exist forever.

837
00:58:39,073 --> 00:58:45,174
How come they are not rejoicing, "Oh, I am going to exist forever"?

838
00:58:45,180 --> 00:58:52,403
Because the life they had is going to be taken away from them.

839
00:58:52,409 --> 00:59:00,228
Oh! If you're living your life where to depart and be with Christ is far better,

840
00:59:00,234 --> 00:59:03,184
it's no loss.

841
00:59:03,190 --> 00:59:06,959
But when your heart is set on all the things here,

842
00:59:06,965 --> 00:59:11,106
the goods in the house, think, think.

843
00:59:11,112 --> 00:59:13,650
Moments before He comes, what's it going to be like?

844
00:59:13,656 --> 00:59:18,395
I mean, if He came an hour from now, in the moments that led up to it,

845
00:59:18,401 --> 00:59:19,903
do you ever just drive down the road

846
00:59:19,909 --> 00:59:21,484
and look at all the people around you,

847
00:59:21,490 --> 00:59:23,463
and think about what they are thinking about?

848
00:59:23,469 --> 00:59:27,112
That's what people are going to be thinking about,

849
00:59:27,118 --> 00:59:30,353
right in the moments before Christ comes.(P)

850
00:59:30,359 --> 00:59:34,594
"I bought a new 50-inch LED Television.

851
00:59:34,600 --> 00:59:36,190
My favorite show is going to come on,

852
00:59:36,196 --> 00:59:40,295
I am going to be able to watch it in High Definition on Thursday night."

853
00:59:40,301 --> 00:59:43,585
Or they are driving along and they are thinking about,

854
00:59:43,591 --> 00:59:47,303
"I need to go to the gym, I am starting to get some flab here."

855
00:59:47,309 --> 00:59:50,655
Or they are thinking about, "I really like that new song,"

856
00:59:50,661 --> 00:59:54,509
and it's going through their heads and they are running the music through.

857
00:59:54,515 --> 00:59:59,550
Or they are thinking about what they are going to do next Friday.

858
00:59:59,556 --> 01:00:04,481
Or they are thinking about, "Is there enough food in the refrigerator?"

859
01:00:04,487 --> 01:00:07,300
Or, "My son graduates next year from high school,

860
01:00:07,306 --> 01:00:10,571
I really want him to become a doctor."(P)

861
01:00:10,577 --> 01:00:15,973
You know, when Christ comes, it's all over.

862
01:00:15,978 --> 01:00:18,333
It's done.

863
01:00:18,339 --> 01:00:21,328
"But wait, Lord, I am in my 20s.

864
01:00:21,334 --> 01:00:24,364
I expected to live through my 20s and 30s and 40s,

865
01:00:24,370 --> 01:00:27,739
and I expected to get a wife and get a home, and live my job,

866
01:00:27,745 --> 01:00:30,628
this is too soon!"

867
01:00:30,634 --> 01:00:36,328
It's just gone. Everything is gone.

868
01:00:36,334 --> 01:00:41,418
You see, we like to say, "Well, that's my son; that's my daughter.

869
01:00:41,424 --> 01:00:44,314
I hope to see them grow up and have grand kids."

870
01:00:44,320 --> 01:00:47,969
They are not your children.

871
01:00:47,975 --> 01:00:52,709
They belong to Him and He can take them away when He wants.

872
01:00:52,715 --> 01:00:58,311
And the wicked, to them that have not,

873
01:00:58,317 --> 01:01:03,579
even what they seem to have is going to be stripped.

874
01:01:03,585 --> 01:01:04,951
Everything.

875
01:01:04,957 --> 01:01:08,119
What He is dealing with here is our hearts.(P)

876
01:01:08,125 --> 01:01:11,687
Brethren, if you're walking through life and you're attached,

877
01:01:11,693 --> 01:01:15,883
and you're dug in, and you love the things here,

878
01:01:15,889 --> 01:01:24,634
and the cares of this world consume you, that's bad.

879
01:01:24,640 --> 01:01:25,768
There is this hesitation.

880
01:01:25,774 --> 01:01:28,274
Can you imagine the moment He comes?

881
01:01:28,280 --> 01:01:31,814
Undoubtedly, this thing is going to sequentially play out.

882
01:01:31,820 --> 01:01:35,749
There is going to be a moment when He first appears.

883
01:01:35,755 --> 01:01:39,809
How it's all been structured and how it all falls out, I don't know.

884
01:01:39,815 --> 01:01:44,043
But obviously, it's happening in a sequence of time.

885
01:01:44,049 --> 01:01:45,229
Things are happening.

886
01:01:45,235 --> 01:01:49,832
And the first impulse in some people's hearts, "Protect, protect this.

887
01:01:49,838 --> 01:01:51,114
Go hide.

888
01:01:51,120 --> 01:01:52,406
Keep this life.

889
01:01:52,412 --> 01:01:55,426
This can't be happening!

890
01:01:55,432 --> 01:02:00,503
This just messes up everything that I had my heart set on.

891
01:02:00,509 --> 01:02:03,562
Everything!

892
01:02:03,567 --> 01:02:05,558
My goods!"

893
01:02:05,564 --> 01:02:07,332
Can you imagine?

894
01:02:07,338 --> 01:02:11,137
The man on his housetop, and bang! there he is.

895
01:02:11,143 --> 01:02:15,305
And the things that are going through your mind is, "Oh no!

896
01:02:15,311 --> 01:02:17,433
What's happening?

897
01:02:17,439 --> 01:02:19,839
I got family Erlins downstairs.

898
01:02:19,845 --> 01:02:24,288
I got pictures, pictures when my grandchildren were babies."(P)

899
01:02:24,294 --> 01:02:26,792
Listen, if you don't think people will think like that,

900
01:02:26,798 --> 01:02:28,132
all you have to do is watch a person

901
01:02:28,138 --> 01:02:30,716
that is in the midst of losing their house to a fire.

902
01:02:30,722 --> 01:02:32,505
And suddenly where is their mind going?

903
01:02:32,511 --> 01:02:39,511
People lose their lives going back into fires to get stuff.

904
01:02:39,517 --> 01:02:41,406
You don't think it will be the same way?

905
01:02:41,412 --> 01:02:44,725
It's the same people with the same kind of hearts!

906
01:02:44,731 --> 01:02:46,144
And you know what?

907
01:02:46,150 --> 01:02:53,778
When your heart is set on, "Oh Lord, Lord come.

908
01:02:53,784 --> 01:02:55,971
I want you more than anything else."

909
01:02:55,977 --> 01:03:04,993
I'll tell you brethren, to see some, hopefully even many in this room,

910
01:03:04,999 --> 01:03:10,111
to have Him come; and there is not a moment's hesitation,

911
01:03:10,117 --> 01:03:15,703
there is not a looking back like Lot's wife, "Oh no."

912
01:03:15,709 --> 01:03:19,643
You see, you look back and it's like, "Oooh,

913
01:03:19,649 --> 01:03:24,811
there is something back there that I don't want to let go of."(P)

914
01:03:24,817 --> 01:03:28,366
Brethren, I can see many in this place.

915
01:03:28,372 --> 01:03:32,984
You're running across the field, you're not looking back.

916
01:03:32,990 --> 01:03:36,172
You're reaching out, "Lord."

917
01:03:36,178 --> 01:03:39,714
Scripture says we are going to be caught up, that's the rapture.

918
01:03:39,720 --> 01:03:42,285
It says it's coming and it's not secret.

919
01:03:42,291 --> 01:03:45,805
We are going to be caught up, probably instantaneously.

920
01:03:45,811 --> 01:03:49,621
But if it wasn't instantaneous, I can see some of us just running,

921
01:03:49,627 --> 01:03:52,112
we are running to Him, we are leaving it all behind.

922
01:03:52,118 --> 01:03:53,851
This is our hearts desire.

923
01:03:53,857 --> 01:03:57,169
This is what we've been hoping for.

924
01:03:57,175 --> 01:04:07,586
But oh brethren, you can see in verse 33,

925
01:04:07,592 --> 01:04:10,280
where your heart is, now, is going to be every bit evident

926
01:04:10,286 --> 01:04:13,046
of where your heart is going to be the moment He comes.

927
01:04:13,052 --> 01:04:16,282
"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,

928
01:04:16,288 --> 01:04:20,219
but whoever loses his life will keep it."

929
01:04:20,225 --> 01:04:23,461
Our Lord can just so naturally move from His coming,

930
01:04:23,467 --> 01:04:26,936
right into the condition of our own hearts.

931
01:04:26,942 --> 01:04:30,407
Will we at the heart level be ready for His coming?(P)

932
01:04:30,413 --> 01:04:35,770
Brethren, this is not any dry, dusty doctrine for the bookshelf.

933
01:04:35,776 --> 01:04:39,854
The Second Coming of Christ is real.

934
01:04:39,860 --> 01:04:43,137
It has to do with us.

935
01:04:43,143 --> 01:04:51,483
Some few will be ready and the masses will not be.

936
01:04:52,229 --> 01:04:53,623
Are you ready?

937
01:04:53,629 --> 01:04:59,836
Well, are you seeking to preserve your life and your stuff now?

938
01:04:59,842 --> 01:05:02,642
Are you daily dying now?

939
01:05:02,648 --> 01:05:03,643
You know what that means?

940
01:05:03,649 --> 01:05:10,363
I daily am surrendering to what He wants for me, not what I want for me.

941
01:05:10,369 --> 01:05:12,701
My life is submitted to Him.

942
01:05:12,707 --> 01:05:15,415
I am His.

943
01:05:15,421 --> 01:05:20,612
To live is Christ.

944
01:05:20,618 --> 01:05:26,726
And if to die is gain, the coming of Christ is the same gain.

945
01:05:26,732 --> 01:05:29,398
And that's how the Christian sees it.

946
01:05:29,404 --> 01:05:32,501
It is gain.

947
01:05:33,498 --> 01:05:39,009
Do you think of His coming and long for His coming?

948
01:05:39,015 --> 01:05:44,229
Folks, remember Lot's wife.

949
01:05:44,235 --> 01:05:50,284
If your heart is like hers, it will not go well with you in that day.

950
01:05:50,290 --> 01:05:52,406
You see what Jesus is doing?

951
01:05:52,412 --> 01:05:55,215
He gave us the story of Lot,

952
01:05:55,221 --> 01:05:57,579
and He said My coming is going to be just like that.

953
01:05:57,585 --> 01:06:04,910
And by the way, lest you forget one of the aspects of that story,

954
01:06:04,916 --> 01:06:06,916
you better remember Lot's wife

955
01:06:06,922 --> 01:06:12,023
because that figures into how Lot and what happened to him

956
01:06:12,029 --> 01:06:17,803
is going to be like My coming.(P)

957
01:06:18,451 --> 01:06:20,856
Notice this very quickly, those taken.

958
01:06:20,862 --> 01:06:28,184
Luke 17:34, "I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed.

959
01:06:28,190 --> 01:06:30,072
One will be taken, the other left.

960
01:06:30,078 --> 01:06:31,764
There will be two women grinding together.

961
01:06:31,770 --> 01:06:35,665
One will be taken and the other left."

962
01:06:35,671 --> 01:06:38,889
Verse 36, "Two men will be in the field.

963
01:06:38,895 --> 01:06:44,373
One will be taken, the other will be left."

964
01:06:44,379 --> 01:06:46,852
You be honest.

965
01:06:46,858 --> 01:06:50,510
This portion of Scripture says nothing about a secret rapture.

966
01:06:50,516 --> 01:06:53,397
Nothing.

967
01:06:53,403 --> 01:06:59,814
You can see what this is talking about if you're honest with the text.

968
01:06:59,820 --> 01:07:03,709
Nothing about a secret rapture.

969
01:07:03,715 --> 01:07:09,059
This has all been about the day in which the Son of Man is revealed.

970
01:07:09,065 --> 01:07:11,075
Can I tell you something?

971
01:07:11,081 --> 01:07:16,523
The same terminology is used over in Matthew 24.

972
01:07:16,529 --> 01:07:22,239
Do you know how Jesus goes forth from those words in Matthew 24?

973
01:07:22,245 --> 01:07:28,798
He goes forth telling us a parable about the wise and the foolish virgins.

974
01:07:28,804 --> 01:07:33,884
Five enter in and the door is shut;

975
01:07:33,890 --> 01:07:35,391
and five are left out.

976
01:07:35,397 --> 01:07:39,190
You want to know what being taken and being left is all about?

977
01:07:39,196 --> 01:07:40,410
That's what He says.

978
01:07:40,416 --> 01:07:41,837
That's what He tells us.

979
01:07:41,843 --> 01:07:44,251
We are going to look more at that in the weeks ahead.(P)

980
01:07:44,257 --> 01:07:45,302
You know what else He tells?

981
01:07:45,308 --> 01:07:48,706
He goes right on to tell another parable about servants.

982
01:07:48,712 --> 01:07:49,968
Two different kinds.

983
01:07:49,974 --> 01:07:51,737
You got the servants that were faithful,

984
01:07:51,743 --> 01:07:58,310
He says enter into the joy of the Lord.

985
01:07:58,316 --> 01:08:03,402
The one who is not faithful, He says throw them into outer darkness.

986
01:08:03,408 --> 01:08:05,809
You go right into the next.

987
01:08:05,815 --> 01:08:11,768
The Shepherd as He divides His sheep from the goats.

988
01:08:11,774 --> 01:08:15,183
The sheep, everlasting life.

989
01:08:15,189 --> 01:08:18,925
The goats, everlasting punishment.

990
01:08:18,930 --> 01:08:24,229
You want to know what it means to be taken?

991
01:08:24,236 --> 01:08:27,112
Remember what He is talking about?

992
01:08:27,118 --> 01:08:34,944
Noah is taken; put in the ark, the place of safety.

993
01:08:34,950 --> 01:08:41,912
Lot is taken from Sodom and Gomorrah to a place of safety.

994
01:08:41,917 --> 01:08:47,991
The wise virgins are taken behind the door into the banquet,

995
01:08:47,997 --> 01:08:51,111
a place of safety.

996
01:08:51,598 --> 01:09:01,153
Those good servants, away to the place of joy and safety.

997
01:09:01,158 --> 01:09:08,350
The sheep, taken to safety and eternal life.(P)

998
01:09:08,357 --> 01:09:12,578
This is no secret rapture folks.

999
01:09:13,102 --> 01:09:19,260
This is the day the Son of Man appears.

1000
01:09:19,265 --> 01:09:26,261
And if you get left behind, there is no more chance.

1001
01:09:26,268 --> 01:09:31,040
There is no 7-year tribulation to figure it out.

1002
01:09:31,046 --> 01:09:37,465
It's over, and you are undone.

1003
01:09:38,434 --> 01:09:44,394
Luke 17:37, "They said to him, 'Where, Lord?'"

1004
01:09:44,399 --> 01:09:49,852
You ask where all this is going to take place?

1005
01:09:49,858 --> 01:09:51,822
He says "I'll tell you where it's going to take place.

1006
01:09:51,828 --> 01:09:53,203
The things I am describing,

1007
01:09:53,210 --> 01:09:55,361
I'll tell you where they are all going to take place.

1008
01:09:55,367 --> 01:10:02,790
They are going to take place everywhere there is a corpse."

1009
01:10:04,132 --> 01:10:06,999
That's where it's going to happen.

1010
01:10:07,005 --> 01:10:12,247
What are these birds, these vultures?

1011
01:10:12,253 --> 01:10:19,526
They tear the dead to shreds.

1012
01:10:19,532 --> 01:10:21,183
You know where it's going to happen?

1013
01:10:21,189 --> 01:10:25,347
It's going to happen wherever you have the dead

1014
01:10:25,353 --> 01:10:31,251
who know nothing about the life of God in the soul of man.

1015
01:10:31,257 --> 01:10:36,616
You can look at these vultures as the vultures of God's judgment.

1016
01:10:36,622 --> 01:10:41,920
I think that very clearly squares with that interpretation.

1017
01:10:41,926 --> 01:10:43,895
"Where, you ask, are these going to happen?"

1018
01:10:43,901 --> 01:10:46,810
Just ask yourself where the corpse of the dead humanity,

1019
01:10:46,816 --> 01:10:48,922
devoid of the life of God.

1020
01:10:48,928 --> 01:10:51,218
It's the whole world.

1021
01:10:51,224 --> 01:10:53,228
It's the whole lost world.

1022
01:10:53,234 --> 01:10:56,689
They are not taken. They are left.

1023
01:10:56,695 --> 01:11:03,945
They are left to be eaten by God's vultures of judgment.(P)

1024
01:11:03,951 --> 01:11:12,732
Brethren, spectacular will be the vengeance,

1025
01:11:12,738 --> 01:11:18,679
and it says the children of God are going to marvel.

1026
01:11:18,685 --> 01:11:23,095
They are going to marvel at all of this unfolding.

1027
01:11:23,101 --> 01:11:26,018
But it is going to be terrible.

1028
01:11:26,024 --> 01:11:32,329
An awful day when God smites His enemies.

1029
01:11:32,335 --> 01:11:37,101
Fearful. Glorious. Certain.

1030
01:11:37,107 --> 01:11:39,331
It's coming.

1031
01:11:39,337 --> 01:11:41,627
We are 7 days closer than a week ago

1032
01:11:41,633 --> 01:11:44,379
when we met and talked about these things.

1033
01:11:44,385 --> 01:11:48,298
We are closer to that last day.

1034
01:11:48,304 --> 01:11:53,741
It is coming, brethren, it is coming.(P)

1035
01:11:54,535 --> 01:12:00,887
Father, I pray that these folks would be most ready for that day,

1036
01:12:00,893 --> 01:12:02,816
living in anticipation,

1037
01:12:02,822 --> 01:12:05,207
without being carried away by the cares of this world,

1038
01:12:05,213 --> 01:12:10,592
that they would not be found to be Lot's wife.

1039
01:12:10,598 --> 01:12:15,094
You would have us to carry out and work out our salvation

1040
01:12:15,100 --> 01:12:17,842
with fear and trembling.

1041
01:12:17,848 --> 01:12:25,748
Lord, I pray that you would work a real fear and trembling in the hearts of Your people.

1042
01:12:25,754 --> 01:12:34,018
You are a fearful, fearful God; but glorious and good; saving.

1043
01:12:34,024 --> 01:12:40,163
Oh we thank You that You have not just consigned us to wrath,

1044
01:12:40,169 --> 01:12:44,397
but You have sent us a Savior, a way of deliverance.

1045
01:12:44,403 --> 01:12:47,080
Thank You, thank You, thank You.

1046
01:12:47,086 --> 01:12:49,886
In Christ's name we pray, Amen.(P)