Today we will lead off in the direction that God has been taking me for sometime now in my private study; and I believe that the time is here and now to begin teaching on the importance of understanding where we are in the world.
I have to give you a sad fact that ought to touch the heart of every believer here: Some members in our churches today that call themselves Christians will in fact spend their eternity in hell.
You may ask me, “Bro TJ, how can you say this?” To that I have to give you the simple answer, “Because they do not know the real Jesus Christ.”
They have head knowledge about Jesus
They have pictures and religious articles in their homes
They donate to the church
They know all the church phrases
Yet, they do not know who He is because they have allowed their own pride to keep the real Jesus away – sadly, they have been deceived by Satan himself.
Once we get past Christmas this year, we are going to delve into the Book of Revelation with all eagerness – we are also going to discuss the impending fact of Ezekiel’s War (Ezek. 37 and 38), and I want to encourage you to make it a point to be here and invite your family and friends to get a hold of these messages.
We are going to look at what is going on in the Middle East and the importance of watching the spiritual clock hands move forward towards the return of Jesus Christ. Let me tell you that collectively this is the most important set of messages you will ever hear – and it has nothing to do with me. It has to do with your salvation and those who you love, and now is the time to ensure your house is in order.
I am convinced that we do not have much time left. My study has been showing me that we are closer than we think, and the time to come to the Lord and ask forgiveness is now. While many in today’s pulpits may try to convince you that we have plenty of time with “nice” messages of encouragement, I do not believe we can do that any longer.
I need to first, ask your forgiveness on where I have not done this. I have been in error. Over that past few weeks I have been reading and studying different interpretations, and each time I study and pray I have one thing on my mind – that now is the time to confess to God your sins and get things right with Him.
Go with me to Matthew, Chapter 24: 4-8, 14 - Pray
I. A time of warning is upon us – it is not coming, but it is here! (Matthew 24:4-8)
Jesus is speaking here and he shows us the things that will happen towards the end times. The maker of heaven and earth has given us a roadmap and all we need to do is read it and understand what it is saying. These first few verses are so pivotal that I will attempt to break them down today.
Rumors of wars - Nation will rise against nation - Kingdom against kingdom
Right now, most of the world is somehow involved in a physical war in the Middle East, whether troops are on the ground or not, the world is involved because of the importance of a little sliver of land smaller than Rhode Island.
This is a war that will end all wars. Israel is being threatened at this very moment with being separated and divided before our very eyes under a flag of “peace” – and I want to tell you that God is not happy about it. The “Roadmap for Peace” treaty signed in 2002 has three parts to it: Israel is to withdraw from Gaza (done), Israel to withdraw from the West Bank (working), and Israel to give a portion of Jerusalem to the Arabs for the new Palestinian state (discussed).
I stand before you today to tell you that God is not happy– and let me give you this as well, Iran’s leader has gone on record and said that “Israel must be wiped off from the map of the world.” Do you see the agenda? Destroy Israel …
Look at Psalm 48:1-14 - This is God’s promise of Jerusalem (Zion is the biblical term for Jerusalem).
All the synagogues face Jerusalem in Israel – It is the very heart of Israel
Here is another example of the importance of Jerusalem: 2 Chronicles 6:6, 7:16, 33:7
“I [God] have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there … For now I have chosen and sanctified this house [the temple], that my Name may be there forever; and my Eyes and my Heart will be there perpetually … In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen … I will put my Name forever.”
One final thought – America insisted and urged that Israel give up Gaza in the name of “peace”, we as a nation violated Joel 3:2 which says “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.”
America is now in Sin with God’s very Word.
We need to pray and ask for God’s forgiveness on behalf of our nation, more than ever.
Jerusalem is the key to the whole thing. We will talk in another sermon about the importance of May 15, 1948 when Israel became a state again – but keep in mind – that Israel is the key to the whole thing.
Famines and Earthquakes – I will save this next week’s message.
Beginning of birth pains
I have not given birth, but I do understand it and have seen it for myself. There is an uncomfortable feeling as the baby is prepared to be born – a pressure. There are pains that come and go. And once the water breaks – once we reach that point – there is no turning back. The baby is going to come.
This baby will be the birth of the heaven and the new earth – this is the land that is promised in Revelation 20 and 21. When the baby is born – the time for repentance will be too late – those who are saved will be in heaven and all the others will face the final Judgment at the Great White Throne from Rev 15. We cannot wait for that time to try to get right with God – the time to do that is upon us now.
Why do I say this? Look at all the other signs – what is left?
II. What is our calling (Matthew 24:14)
I read this to say that once the Gospel has gone out to every nook, to every corner, to every dark hole in this world – the end will come.
The age of technology is making this more and more relevant. Even in the little town of Wetumpka we have electronic billboards – now, how tough would it be to place an electronic message on there with voice and video to go along with it? Mass communication is the key to getting the Word out.
I can place this sermon on the web this afternoon and it can be downloaded by anyone who would visit our website, anywhere in the world. Now, what does that mean to the millions of preachers who do the same thing?
It means that the Gospel is going out, at a rate faster than John or Paul could have ever imagined (even though Acts 2:41 says “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day”) and with that I believe that we are very close to giving every person an opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Jesus said that no one knows the day and the hour that only the Father knows, but what if, just what if today is the day? What if the last person alive who needed to hear the Gospel hears it today and Jesus is sent back to gather His church – would you be ready?
Matt 24:27 says, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” This means – it will be a flash of light, and if you are still here, it is too late.
You will see the events of Revelation unfold – you will see what has been promised in the Bible – and now, now you have a chance to repent of your ways and look to a forgiving God, before he becomes a God of wrath because we deserve every bit of His anger.
The mercy we have is just that – mercy – because we did not earn it.
Conclusion
III. Who is Jesus? (Rev 1:8)
The beginning and the end - The author and the finisher of your faith - The only one you will answer to for your thoughts and your actions – He is the forgiver of your sins.
He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and without His blessings, we are doomed. We can no longer turn a blind eye to this world and the events going on. I am going to ask you to do something this week. I want you to look up what I have said today – and ask God to reveal to you what it means.
Then, I want you to pray. I want you to pray that our Nation would be forgiven for our actions and that we may turn away from the things we have been guilty of. It is time today, to repent and turn away – and no more can we turn a blind eye to the events of the world.
Invitation
Note: Research inspired from the book "Jerusalem Countdown" by Pastor John Hagee.
