The Truth About The End

The Truth about the End

July 27, 2014 Evening Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: The return of Jesus is imminent. You better be ready.

Focus Passage: Matthew 24:36 - 25:13

Supplemental Passage: For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; (1 Thessalonians 5:2-5)

Introduction: A few weeks ago, in preparation for our children’s church camp, I told everyone that the news was reporting a very strong cold front coming through and that we would have temperatures in OKLAHOMA in JULY where the high would be less than 70 degrees. I told them that there would be rain and it would probably disrupt our water game recreation time. I told them that they need to prepare for weather unlike anything they had seen in July before. Sure enough, it ended up being described as a “summer polar vortex”. One day, the high was 66 degrees. The kids were shivering. It was exactly has I told them. The only problem was I didn’t prepare myself for the cold. I didn’t bring any long sleeve shirts, only one pair of long pants, and certainly no rain gear. I was freezing along with the kids, yet I was the one who told everyone else how to prepare. We mustn’t be caught like this when Jesus returns. It has been widely publicized. There are no secrets about it. Jesus is coming back!

I. We know all we need to know

a. Jesus went to great lengths to tell us about the things that would happen

b. There isn’t a great conspiracy to keep us in the dark

c. There is no new information that will be released as the time gets closer

II. We know the signs

a. Wars and rumors of wars

b. earthquakes & famines

c. lawlessness will increase

d. false Christs & false prophets

e. signs in the heavens

III. We don’t know the day

a. It has been comically tragic to see people in the past trying to set dates for the return of Christ. eg 88 reasons in 1988, Harold Camping, Harold Camping 2.0.

b. Only the Father knows the moment

Application/Invitation: If you are not ready for the return of Christ, you better get ready. It is imminent. Be saved TODAY!