The End Of The Beginning Series

The End Of The Beginning

PPT 1 Series Title

We are beginning a new series today on what is popularly known as the end times. I think that a more accurate phrase would be the end of the beginning. Genesis begins with "In the beginning" and 1 Cor 15:24 tells us about the end.

PPT 2 text

1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

That particular end is still quite a bit down the road for us. (Millennium, minimum 1007 years). In fact there are a number of ends the bible talks about, and it is not always easy to distinguish between them. It is also difficult in MT. 24 one of the main end times passages, to decipher if Jesus is talking about the future for the Jews or all mankind, or the future for the church, (though some things are obvious) Prophecy can be a difficult area of study. In all honesty, I am more exasperated on this area of study, than any other I have looked in to. For example I want to ask you a question on something you think you already know the answer to, research this biblical question, "Who is taken, and who is left behind?", as in this passage:

PPT 3 text

Luke 17:34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

Luke 17:35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."

Who is taken? Who is left behind? Usual answer the saved are taken the evil are left behind. Now look at this passage and see how it addresses that question.

PPT 4, 5 text

Matthew 13:27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

Matthew 13:28 "An enemy did this, 'he replied. "The servants asked him, do you want us to go and pull them up?'

Matthew 13:29 "'No,' he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'

So who is taken first in that passage?

Here's another what is the difference between the fulness of the gentiles be brought in, and the times of the gentiles be completed? I will try to sort those things out in coming messages. But I am telling you studying this stuff can wrap you mind in knots. So why do it?

1. Because it is part of the inspired bible, which is written for our benefit.

2. Because of all the warnings about the end times that we are told to be aware of and alert about.

3. Because the bible tells us that knowing the future is a powerful asset and ally in our journey.

A study of the end times can get bogged down in looking at all the bad things that are going to happen, like the antichrist, and the 7 headed beast that comes up out of the sea, and the horrible plagues and disasters that are going to come to the earth. But in spite of all that the bible tells us to hold on to hope.

One of the things in the future for believers is the hope of heaven and being with Jesus. The bible calls that expectation the blessed hope, and it describes it this way:

PPT 6 text

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The bible tells us about the security and the importance of that hope

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Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hope means the expectation of something good to come. Even Jesus used hope to leverage against despair and suffering as Hebrews 12:2 tells us.

So while there may be a lot of things we don't understand about the end times, and a lot of things that may be scary about the end times, the best use of knowledge of the end times is to know and focus on the joy set before us. So I want talk a little bit about what we should focus on and future joy.