Hebrews 12:15-18
Don’t reject God who has spoken to us in the Word. Those who rejected God in the past did not escape His punishment, and you also will not escape if you
do not listen and obey. God’s message is like an earthquake, because He promised, “Next time, I will shake not only the earth, but I will also shake
heaven.” There will be one final earthquake that will shake everything that is made by man. But the kingdom of God will not be shaken. We have been given the promises of the kingdom that won’t be destroyed in the coming earthquake. Therefore let us serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, because God is a consuming fire.
A. THE COMING CULTURAL EARTHQUAKE WILL SHAKE
HUMAN LIFE AS WE KNOW IT
The Five Institutions of Society
1. Government
2. Schools
3. Church
4. Family
5. Business
1. Legislators will not properly legislate. Good laws will be reversed and violated. All laws will be ignored. Bad laws will be approved. “When good becomes evil, and evil becomes the standard of life.”
a. Politicians no longer serve the people.
b. Bribes, sexual sins, hidden agendas.
c. Lawlessness.
d. Protection of lawbreaker.
e. Paves the way for strong political ruler.
2. Educators will not properly educate. High standards will be rejected. All standards will be ignored. Poor education and falsehoods will become the
standard.
• Not committed to truth.
• Government schools.
• Children are wards of the state.
• Those who control government control the minds and future.
• Eliminates voices against a strong world ruler.
3. Christianity will not lead to God. The only way to God (John 14:6) will be rejected. No one will seek God. All religions will be accepted.
• Deny biblical standards; ordain women, homosexuals, etc.
• Minimize doctrine and Bible knowledge.
• Teach the opposite of biblical truth.
• Claim many ways to Heaven.
• A strong man with miracles will come claiming his way is the only way of salvation.
4. The family will no longer pass on culture and be a place of security and love. Parents will not protect their children. Family relationships will disintegrate. The government will assume family duties.
• Laws will not protect family integrity.
• Families will disintegrate.
• Loyalty to government, not the family.
• No opposition to strong political ruler.
5. Businesses will no longer be dictated by the market. Produce and sell what the government allows, not what people want. People will not keep their profits from their work and investments. They will support the government who controls them.
• Individual initiative lost, i.e., entrepreneurial business.
• High taxes.
• Security in government retirement, health care, guaranteed wages, etc.
• The one who controls government rules the world.
B. IT’S DANGEROUS TO LIVE AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
1. Houses destroyed: people live and sleep outdoors, afraid buildings will collapse.
2. No travel: roads are clogged with debris, landslides, bridges fallen, terrible cracks. What results?
• Can’t go to work.
• Cut off from family and friends.
3. No initiative. Government takes away the rights of individuals to protect their interests. “Perilous days” (I Tim. 4:1), means dangerous.
4. No growth. People are in a survival mode, no one cares for education, entertainment or the arts.
5. Financial collapse. Businesses can’t operate and fail. No gasoline, no food, no electricity, no clean water, no money.
C. CHRISTIANS MUST BE RESCUE WORKERS IN LAST DAYS
(THE BOOK OF JUDE)
1. Make sure you are grounded in scripture, even when the whole world denies God and His Word. “Building up yourselves in your most holy faith” (Jude 20).
2. Become intercessors for yourself, your family and others. “Praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).
3. Do all we can to save as many as possible. “Serve with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 23).
4. Get them to triage, i.e., the place to diagnose their problems.
• First, love them, “On some have compassion” (Jude 22).
• Second, let them tell you how they were hurt, i.e., their story.
• Third, tell them your story.
Your Story
It’s His story
It’s rich and life giving
It’s healing
Its inspires hope
5. Clean up their wounds. “Even the garments by the flesh” (Jude 23).
6. Give them hope. “Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).
7. Keep your confidence because you can’t lose your salvation. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
8. Worship God. “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
To receive this lesson, log on to www.elmertowns.com. You will find it under Sunday School lessons. To email Dr. Towns, eltowns@liberty.edu. For more information on the class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.
