12/21/12

I. EXORDIUM:

Will the end of the world happen on December 21, 2012?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

All people: believers and unbelievers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To prove that no one knows the end of the world, only GOD knows.

IV. TEXT:

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (New Century Version)

You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be a surprise, like a thief that comes in the night.

V. THESIS:

Only GOD knows the end of the world, because only He knows when it started.

VI. TITLE:

12/21/12

VII. EXPLICATION:

Will the end of the world happen in December 12, 2012? Well as you can see, the date today is December 23, 2012 so it didn't happen. I believe there are several reasons but these are the major ones.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. It's unexpected. (1 Thessalonians 5:2, Matthew 24:43)

GOD's timing is not our timing. If we think we already figured the time of GOD, be warned that it will not happen. We can't outsmart GOD. Before it happened, it was announced that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012 even a whole show was made because of it, and people are really expecting the world to come to an end because of that Mayan prophecy or Mayan calendar where they ran out of space to create more days.

Matthew 24:43-44 (New Century Version)

Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time of night a thief was coming, the owner would watch and not let the thief break in.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time you don’t expect him.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (New Century Version)

You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be a surprise, like a thief that comes in the night.

Luke 17:30 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

B. End of the age vs End of the world.

We are in the last days therefore we're waiting for one last age to happen and it's our time, where the Church age will be replaced with the Tribulation age here on earth and Rapture age or Wedding feast age in the heaven.

Matthew 24:3 (New Century Version)

Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his followers came to be alone with him. They said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that it is time for you to come again and for this age to end?“

Matthew 28:20 (New Century Version)

Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.“

1 Peter 4:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

2 Peter 3:8 (New Century Version)

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: To the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.

1. end of the age is the end of this age, the Church age, where it will be replaced with the Tribulation age while end of the world is where this world will be burned by fire.

2 Peter 3:10-12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

C. No one knows

No one knows the end, only GOD, the Father knows it. If you think you know it, then perhaps you really, really don't know. Be not deceived.

Matthew 24:36 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

Mark 13:32 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

Matthew 24:24 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

IX. CONCLUSION:

Only GOD knows the end of the world, because only He knows when it started.