PAUL’S LESSON OF THE 24 SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. kyfingers@aol.com
I DO THIS LESSON IN TWO PARTS.
I. PAUL WARNS AND EXHORTS HIS SPIRITUAL SON TIMOTHY TO PRESS ON AND CONTINUE WITH THE GOOD NEWS EVEN IN THE FACE OF INCREASING OPPOSITION AND EVIL.
A. Paul is a unique character of the Bible. Paul was very educated for his day.
B. 1 Timothy and II Timothy are called THE PASTORAL EPISTLES.
Paul at the time of the writings of these epistles is an old man, and he writes to his spiritual son Timothy.
C. Timothy had a very godly Mother and Grandmother and becomes the third generation to love and serve Jesus. Because Timothy was a good student he had great potential. Paul saw this potential and invested time to mentor this young man.
D. Paul’s education and ability with words, uniting his talents with the anointing of the Holy Spirit writes some very powerful points to ponder and dwell upon 2,000 years later.
E. Paul dealt with many themes he wanted Timothy and us to deal with in our minds and hearts.
II. PAUL WAS GOD’S SERVANT AND HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH GOD’S PLAN. Paul had some powerful points in dealing with:
A. Paul wanted to encourage all believers to grow and be overcomers.
B. Paul saw false teaching of false doctrine and Paul wanted Timothy to avoid spiritual blindness and the errors that were so popular in his day.
C. Paul had known great problems and trials and he had learned to overcome, so Paul wanted to prepare Timothy and the church to expect problems and lean to the cross for solutions.
D. Paul had learned the anointing breaks the yoke, and that all Christians must value the presence of a Holy God. We must have the word of God to do the work of God.
E. You can not feed others if you have not received spiritual power and nourishment for your self.
F. Paul knew the church had to be ready and prepared for whatever may come. We must practice carefulness and seek wisdom.
G. Paul warned that God’s people must have spiritual vision and be watchful.
H. There are lessons that we need to arise beyond MILK FOOD, to MEAT AND STEAK. God desires His people to have Power and Strength beyond human ability. Bible study and deep prayer will move the heart of God.
I. More than dedication, Paul wanted us to operate in the realm of commitment. We must be totally committed when we reach beyond the moment of excitement for the new.
J. PAUL HAD EXPERIENCED MANY OF HIS FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES DESERT HIM AND THE CROSS.
Paul wanted Timothy to rise above QUITTING AND FALSE TEACHING.
K. One real lesson for this master teacher was BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR POST OF DUTY and serve God with zeal and great effort.
III. WITH GREAT ZEAL AND FEVOR PAUL ADDRESSES A GREAT NEED OF THE CHURCH TODAY, GET READY, BE READY, STAY READY,…JESUS IS COMING AGAIN.
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
IV. JESUS HAD BEEN IN JERUSALEM 7 TIMES. THE LAST TIME JESUS STEPS INTO JERUSALEM IT WAS CALLED THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY.
A. Jesus was riding a little donkey that he had borrowed from someone.
As the donkey was approaching the city, people cut branches off the trees and laid them before the Son of God.
B. They threw their coats before the little donkey, as the Master drew near. There was a chant and a cry that arose…
BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.
Peace in heaven and Glory in the highest!
HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.
HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST
C. Then some in the religious crowd said this is too noisy, this is too much, TELL THEM TO BE QUIET?
Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
D. WHAT BREAKS OUR HEARTS?
WHAT BREAKS JESUS’ HEART?
V. THERE IS COMING THE DAY OF THE EIGHTH VISIT TO JERUSALEM BY GOD’S ONE AND ONLY SON…YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY, PREPARE YOUR HEARTS AND MIND, THE WHITE HORSE IS COMING.
A. There is written in the Holy Word, there is a day coming when Jesus shall return.
B. A prince rides a donkey, THE KING RIDES A WHITE HORSE.
Rev. 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
C. THERE IS A SPACE OF TIME THAT ALL OF HEAVEN GETS QUIET. A CHAPTER OF HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CLOSE AND A NEW CHAPTER IS ABOUT READY TO OPEN.
Rev. 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
D. Note: The rider on the white horse is wearing a crown, not a helmet. For battle any good soldier would have on a helmet, but the battle has already been won. The victory is sure.
E. Rest assured that Jesus loves His church and He is coming again.
F. We need to preach the second coming to purify and refine the heart of God’s people. We need to have our hearts so in tune that Jesus is coming again to burn out laziness, apathy, and a lack of revival.
VI. WITH THE SECOND COMING IN MIND, PAUL UNDER THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES PEN IN HAND AND WRITES TO TIMOTHY THE SIGNS OF THE TIME THAT WILL OCCUR BEFORE THE SECOND COMING, THE EIGHTH ENTRY. PAUL LISTS 24 APOSTASY SIGNS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAST DAYS.
1. PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME.
Peril is to be in serious and immediate danger.
Perilous means hard, difficult, grievous, fierce.
Full of great risk, gamble, liability.
Dangerous – to bring or put in danger
Hazardous
Exposed to imminent risk of destruction.
Vulnerable – easily wounded or harmed, exposed to damage by weapon or criticism
Jeopardy – to expose to harm, danger or loss.
2. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES.
We say: TO YOUR OWN SELF BE TRUE? What about being true to God’s word?
I call this: US FOUR AND NO MORE?
Not giving, uncharitable, greedy.
Self- indulgent – permissive.
FOND OF ONE’S SELF, SELFISH,
INCONSIDERATE, THOUGHTLESS
To use others to enrich and bring power to yourself.
Look how mirrors are every place.
Preoccupied with one’s own affairs.
Self -deception --- where one deceives self and cares about only their own feelings.
3. Covetous
To be envious, to not be satisfied or content with what you have, always desiring more. GREEN EYED?
Jealous, bitter,
To greatly desire what belongs to another
Extreme greed for money, gain, power.
To long for, to crave.
To wish and dream and not be active
To begrudge.
4. BOASTERS, BRAGGART
Show off, loud mouth
To desire attention,
EXCESSIVE PRIDE
Brag
To be assertive, demanding
To be puffed up, blown up and ready to blow up?
Trophies and accomplishment orientated
Toot one’s own horn.
5. PROUD, EGO
ID, EGO, AND SUPER-EGO…
ID – inherited instinctive impulses of the individual of the unconscious.
EGO – The part of the mind that has to do with self- awareness.
Ego trips?
EGOISM – THE FOUNDATION OF MORALITY IS THAT OF SELF -INTEREST.
SUPEREGO – That part of the mind that acts as a conscience.
Feeling greatly honored or pleased.
Well pleased with self.
Conceited – I am not conceited, I am convinced?
Egotistical
Self- admiring
6. BLASPHEMERS
To pervert, to turn aside from the proper use.
To lead astray from right.
To talk profane.
To use religious terms and not be serious.
Curse, swear, damn, to use God’s name in vain.
To take nothing holy or sacred, to see all as secular or carnal.
To be irreverent, to pollute.
To focus on temporal things not eternal.
To be impure, unclean, dirty, filthy.
Foulmouthed, coarse.
7. DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS
Troublesome.
Not wanting to apply effort, not easily pleased.
To fail to obey and respect.
To disregard.
To be abusive, or to be neglectful.
MUTINY – open revolt against authority.
To rebel, rebellion.
A person that fights against and resists established authority.
Non conformist.
Defiant, difficult.
8. UNTHANKFUL
Not giving thanks, not expressing gratitude.
Not holding oneself responsible.
Not showing or expressing appreciation.
9. UNHOLY
Wicked, evil, outrageous.
Sacrilegious, irreverent, godliness.
Immoral, sinful.
Indifferent or hostile to religion.
Lacking a commitment to religion.
Not devoted to God.
Nothing considered sacred.
Disregard for concern of Divine law.
10. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION.
Contrary to moral and natural laws and norms.
To lack natural feelings for what is acceptable.
Artificial, cruel, wicked.
Strange, weird, abnormal, perverse.
Deliberate or stubbornly separating from what is reasonable and good.
Persistent error.
Willfully wrong headed.
11. TRUCEBREAKERS.
Not willing to keep temporarily or permanently be with what was agreed.
Not willing to cease from hostilities.
Not accepting responsibilities to contractual or legal agreements.
No personal responsibilities to keep your word or vows.
Divorce is a truce breaking.
12. FALSE ACCUSERS.
To make intentionally false statements about people.
To be deceptive about things to get one out of a situation by not telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
To make up fabrications to help your cause.
To twist truth and half truths, to distort the evidence or facts.
To use exaggerations to make things appear larger or greater.
To form too high an estimate of a person or abilities to elevate one and lower the opinion of another.
To try to pass the buck or blame to others without accepting personal responsibility.
To prosecute with reference to a crime or claim.
To charge the innocent with faults or crimes.
To indict or accuse without evidence.
13. INCONTINET
Drunk, out of control.
Driven by drugs, alcohol, or sexual desire.
Lack of self- control, unable or lacking in desire to control.
Incited or evoking desires.
Appetites and desires, lax, loose, wild, uninhibited.
Disorderly, confusion, savage, unrestricted.
14. FIERCE
Vehemently aggressive, frightening, violent, brutal, hot anger, burning, pressing, demanding.
To work in panic or distress caused by exposure to danger.
Anxiety.
Terrorism, horror, fright.
By force to gain your way.
15. DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD.
To look down on others, and elevate self worth.
To cause good people to feel worthless.
To hate, loathe people that are trying.
To not respect or honor those that put forth effort to do that which is right.
In the 50’s TV characters helped Zorro, Lone Ranger, Superman.
In the 2000’s Boss Hog and Eons are stupid jerks.
Preachers are made to be greedy perverts.
They laugh today at virgins?
16. TRAITORS
A person that is not loyal or faithful.
Double crosser, Judas, Nathan Hale, turncoat.
Snake in the grass.
Rebel, rising in revolt, not loyal to the leaders or organization.
Fighting against authority.
Independent spirited.
Mutiny, open, vocal revolt and rebellion.
17. HEADY.
Powerful, potent, intoxicating.
To be ruled by the head, not the heart or emotions.
To build complete trust in mental aptitude.
To expect the top and high places.
To excite and elevate above and beyond self control.
18. HIGHMINDED.
To think yourself better than others.
To not see right or wrong, but to define by situation ethics.
To practice and reinforce attitudes and behavior of supremacy.
To feel superiority and excellence over others.
Intimidate and subdue others by terrorism and threatening.
19. LOVERS OF PLEASURES.
To lust, to have passionate desires.
To seek good feeling and emotional highs.
Happiness, pleasure, and joy as goals.
Seeking sensual gratification of the 5 senses: sight, hear, touch, smell, taste.
To seek recreation and amusement.
HEDONISM ---THE BELIEF IN PLEASURE AS THE HIGHEST GOOD AND PROPER AIM FOR HUMANS.
20. MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD:
A lack of proper respect for the word of God and the commandments.
A belief system that the commandments are suggestions or optional pick as you choose?
Wrongful priorities.
Not giving or not charitable.
Outward lip service or eye service for pleasing people and popularity.
21. HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS
Do that which satisfies the carnal or fleshly.
Making outward pretenses and ritual ceremonies but not from the heart.
We walk in a day when no one wants to be exclusive.
In our desire to be inclusive we compromise and accept everyone and everything as right. There are standards and truths that the church must never compromise.
Some think God is like Burger King and ordering a Whopper? HAVE IT YOUR WAY?
False teachers and false doctrines are very popular and you can have God your way.
WE HAVE FALSE PROPHETS THAT BYPASS THE WORD OF GOD AND STILL LAY CLAIM TO GOD?
THERE ARE SPIRITUAL IMPOSTERS AND PREACHERS WEARING MASKS TO HIDE WHAT THE REAL TRUTH IS.
Whole groups of individuals will write their own Bibles and their own teaching to degenerate and weaken the Gospel.
22. BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.
To accept the form but to honestly declare as untrue or nonexistent.
Having little to no faith.
Destitute of Godliness.
Refusing the reality of the power of the word of God.
23. FOR OF THIS SORT ARE THEY WHICH CREEP INTO HOUSES, AND LEAD CAPTIVE SILLY WOMEN LADEN WITH SINS, LED AWAY WITH DIVERS LUSTS.
There are spiritual leaders that use the distorted word of God as bait to trap and lead people astray.
These distortions often cause leaders to gain access to people and their bank accounts, and their ministry is for personal gain.
They are like the magicians in Egypt that duplicated Moses actions, but they used trickery, not the anointing.
24. EVER LEARNING, AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
We live in a day of great knowledge and little wisdom.
We have books by the thousands, good books that take the place of the Bible.
We have powerful, edited sermons, lessons, and entertainment on tapes and CD’s.
There can be no substitute for the anointing and the presence of Jesus.
We are learning more and more about less and less until finally we know everything about nothing.
Will we know and accept Paul’s lesson on the 24 signs of the second coming of Jesus?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on?
