Matthew 24:32, Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
- We don’t know the day of Christ’s return, but we can know the season.
1 Chronicles 12:32, from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.
The Rise of the Antichrist
Daniel 7:7, After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
Daniel 7:17
2 Thessalonians 2:4, He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped so that he sets himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God.
- The Antichrist’s goal is to be worshipped and rule the world.
Revelation 13:8, All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:11, For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.
- Those who don’t know the truth will believe a lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:7, For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
The Reign of Christ
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore, encourage each other with these words.
- Rapture – Jesus comes for his church
- Second Coming – Jesus comes with his church
Revelation 1:7
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (ESV), 51 . . . I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep – in death, but we shall be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
- Evangelical end time scholars believe the rapture will precede the antichrist and tribulation.
Daniel 7:21-22, 21 As I watched this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
Revelation 19:20, 20:6, 20:14
Daniel 7:10, A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated and the books were opened.
- Those whose names are not in the book of life will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Role of the Believer
- Anchored not drifting – Hebrews 2:1, We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Hebrews 6:19
- Focused not Distracted – Mark 4:19, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
John 15:8
- Encouraged Not Discouraged
Hebrews 10:25, Not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing – but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Luke 21:28