Resurrection Sunday Message - Is The End Really Near?

Text: Luke 17:22-37 & Various

We hear so much about the world coming to an end. Are we really in the end times? People make all kinds of dates, sell all they have, and then the date passes without incident. Let's see what Jesus had to say about the matter.

He compared the end times to:

1) The Days of Noah

A) They ate and drank.

B) They planned and had weddings.

C) They did this until the day that Noah entered
into the ark.

2) The Days of Lot

A) They ate and drank.

B) They bought and sold.

C) They planted.

D) They built.

What does this tell us about what to expect concerning life on the earth? Everything seems perfectly normal.

So what are the signs of the end times? We cannot know the date or hour, but we will know the season.

There are 2 representations of Israel in scripture: 1) the vine and 2) the fig tree. The vine refers to Israel when they're in a good state spiritually and serving God. The fig tree represents them when they've turned away. Daniel said the temple will be rebuilt in the end times. Israel will follow God after religion not the Spirit. They'll be sacrificing when the ultimate sacrifice had been made by Jesus.

During the Tribulation, the AntiChrist will desecrate the temple. An image will be set up and come alive. People are being set up to believe in this image by all the bleeding statues, crying pictures, etc. They'll fall for the image as well.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to reassure them they were not in the Tribulation. Being a Christian in Thessalonica was a hard thing. They were suffering for Christ. Someone had written a letter, supposedly by Paul, and gotten them all upset. Paul tells them that day will not come unless: "the falling away - apostasia - comes.

To fully understand the word, "apostasia," we must look at how it's used in various scriptures. First of all the teaching that there will be a widespread apostasy is inaccurate. He says that some will depart from the faith. Paul is talking about a great departure - the Rapture of the church. We are going to meet Him in the air. At this coming, Jesus' feet never touch the ground.

At the Second Coming, His feet will touch the ground on the Mount of Olives.

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If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 A.M. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. The church phone number is (215) 343-7686. We'd love to meet you!