Read The Signs

Read the Signs

October 12, 2008 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Jesus IS coming back.

Focus Passage: Matthew 24:1-14

Supplemental Passage:

Introduction: Look at the sky!

I. The Signs

a. V5 – false Christs – an estimated 1100 people have come forward claiming to be the Christ: most notable: Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Jim Jones of the People’s Temple, Moses Guibbory, David Koresh of the Branch Dividians, Christ Mytraya, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Marshall Applewhite of the Heaven’s Gate UFO Cult, Father Divine, Charles Manson, Maharaja Ji, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi of Transcendental Meditation fame, The Dalai Lama of Tibet, and Adolph Hitler himself ordered that he be presented as a deified messiah. – DON’T BE FOOLED – KNOW THE REAL MESSIAH!!

b. V6 – wars & rumors of wars - The Red Cross has estimated that over 100 million people have been killed in wars since the 20th Century began. This is not including genocide of Russians opposed to Stalin, the Jews exterminated during the Holocaust, Idi Amin’s or Pol Pot’s, or Mao Tse Tung’s Evil and bloodthirsty regimes. Up until 1914, war had never been universal, but in both World War 1 & 2, total war was waged.

c. V7 - Famines & earthquakes - The World Almanac tells us that there were only 21 earthquakes of major strength between the years 1000 and 1800. But between 1800 and 1900 there were 18 major earthquakes. In the next 50 years, between 1900 and 1950, there were 33 major quakes, and between 1950 and 1991 there were 93 major earthquakes, almost tripling the number of the previous half century, and claiming the lives of 1.3 million people around the world. This dramatic increase of severe quakes has led many scientists to predict that we are entering a new period of great seismic disturbances. In the 30 years since the great Alaska quake, there have been as many major earthquakes as in the entire previous 2000 years of world history! The Asian Tsunami alone is estimated to have killed over 280,000 people.

d. V9 – Hated by all nations - More than 70,000 Christians displaced in India, Seven Christians Killed in Mosul, Iraq, “Christian Persecution Expected to Continue in North Korea”, ERITREA – Students Imprisoned in Shipping Container, Bibles Burned,

e. V11 – False prophets – Joseph Smith (Mormons), Charles Taze Russell, (JW’s), Benny Hinn (falsely predicted that all the homosexuals in America would die by fire in the late 1990's. Benny Hinn has confessed that there are 9 beings within the Godhead. 3 beings (Tritheism) each having their own trinity of beings within each. Benny Hinn stated on TBN that after his crusade in South America in 2002, that he was certain that he would return to America with video footage of Jesus appearing on stage during the crusades, because Jesus had told him this was going to happen. Hinn also stated that very soon people would no longer need to take their deceased loved ones to the morgue. Instead, stated Hinn, they should be placed in front of the television during the airing of TBN and they would rise from the dead.), Carlton Pearson (support of the "doctrine of exclusion." This doctrine tries to reconcile Christianity and Islam, claiming the 2 religions are completely compatible. Now claims that no one will go to Hell),

f. V12 – Love will grow cold - Matthew 7:21-24 is the most frightening passage to me in the entire bible: in it Jesus says "Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’ Love for others, including our enemies is the surest indication that we are true disciples of Jesus. Let us not allow our love to grow cold.

II. The Command

a. V6 – Do not be frightened – “Do Not Fear” is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. That is a “do not fear” on a daily basis! Trust in the Lord!

III. The Promise

a. V14 – The Gospel will be preached to all nations – THEN the end will come.

Invitation: