A Picture of Prophecy

about what was going to happen in the future.

You know, they had something, they had a timeline that they thought,

and now Jesus is explaining to them what this timeline really is.

Because we always need to know that we need to have Jesus,

or have the Scripture, describe and to stick with what the Scripture says about the timeline.

Because as soon as we start injecting things, or assuming things,

we begin, we're going to get in trouble because things are going to get out

of order. But as we see here, that the disciples were captivated by this mindset,

their understanding of what they had been taught about Scripture.

You know, a lot of things we can think about the future is things we've been taught,

and that's the reason we need to make sure what we've been taught lines up with the Word of God.

And how does that balance and not go into areas that God doesn't speak about?

You know, we don't get the option to fill in the blanks.

That's God's job to fill in the blanks of what He didn't tell us.

And to understand that, I think, is very important.

And to distinguish those things, what we're going to see here,

because their understanding of what they'd been taught was,

when the Messiah was going to come, when the Messiah would come on the scene,

their mindset was, the kingdom was going to come with it.

This is what they were thinking, and that's the reason as we look here in Mark chapter 13 this morning,

Mark 13 · chapter mention

we see that's the reason the disciples asked Jesus this question.

When they asked Him the question about the when and the what,

they were asking in the mindset of how soon is this going to take place?

Because in our mind, this is how it's going to happen.

This is how it's going to be set forth.

And so as we begin looking here, as they were really caught off guard,

when Jesus told them, in the beginning of Mark chapter 13 here, if you remember there,

Mark 13 · chapter mention

He mentioned something very dramatic that was going to be a very,

an event that was going to just totally throw things out of kilter for them, you might say.

It turned their thought process upside down.

He said they're going to destroy the temple and not leave a stone on top of another.

In a Jewish mind, that was something that definitely flipped their mindset of going,

okay, what's going on? That doesn't make sense to me.

The temple is the central focus of all that's happening, of all we've done.

Everything we've known has been focused around that.

And suddenly they're questioning what's happening.

And so they inquire about it.

And they say, when shall these things be there?

And what sign is attached to its fulfillment?

And we understand that Jesus gives them an answer,

and He tells them, as we've looked already, to be prepared.

He says, hey, don't worry so much about what's going to happen.

Be prepared and ready for what's going to happen.

As a believer, you are prepared for what's going to happen next.

A lost person, one that has not accepted Christ,

is unprepared for what's going to happen next.

That's really the basics of it.

You're either prepared or you're unprepared for what.

And Jesus focused them not so much on telling them all the details of what's to come,

but He focused them first of be prepared.

Be prepared.

Be prepared because if you're prepared,

what happens doesn't make near as big a difference

than if you're unprepared.

And because Jesus talks about the wars and the conflicts that were going to happen,

you know, and He says these are not assigned to themselves.

In verse 7, He says, these things must needs be.

In other words, He says, hey, these things are going to happen.

Don't overread things into it.

And so Jesus doesn't leave them, though, without a reference point

from which to understand this, though,

because the next portion directs them to understand the end

that has been outlined for us.

Because Scripture does tell us how things are going to end.

He does line some things out for us.

And He gives it to us.

And so as we're going to look here this morning,

if you found Mark chapter 13,

Mark 13 · chapter mention

let's stand together in honor of the reading of the Word of God.

And we'll pick up here this morning in verse 14.

And we'll pick up, go down through verse 27 here.

And so we see here in verse 14, it says,

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation

spoken of by Daniel the prophet,

standing where it ought not,

let him that readeth understand.

Then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains.

And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house,

neither enter therein to take anything out of his house.

And let him that is in the field not turn back again

for to take up his garment.

But woe to them are with child

and to them that give suck in those days.

And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

For in those days shall be afflictions,

such as not from the beginning of the creation

which God created unto this time,

neither shall be.

And except that the Lord had shortened those days,

no flesh should be saved.

But for the elect's sake,

whom he hath chosen,

he has shortened the days.

And then if any man shall say to you,

Lo, here is Christ,

or lo, he is there,

believe him not.

For false Christs and false prophets

shall arise

and shall show signs and wonders

to seduce,

and if it were possible,

even the elect.

But take ye heed.

Behold, I have foretold you all things.

But in those days,

after that tribulation,

the sun shall be darkened,

and the moon shall not give her light,

and the star of heaven shall fall,

and the powers that are in heaven

shall be shaken.

And then they shall see the Son of Man

coming in the clouds

with great power and glory.

And then shall he send his angels

and shall gather together his elect

from the four winds

from the uttermost part of the earth

to the uttermost part of heaven.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers,

we come before you this morning.

Lord, we're thankful for your word.

We're thankful for what you've given to us.

Lord, help us to understand,

Lord, what you would have for us here today,

to understand what is to come

as you have revealed it to us.

Lord, help us not to be drawn away

or deceived by false prophets

or even false messiahs

as you have declared,

you know, the false Christ.

And Lord, help us to focus

on what your word says

and not what we want to speculate

or to put in.

Lord, we pray just have your hand

upon each heart.

Lord, if there's one here today

that doesn't know you as Savior,

that today they'd realize the need

to be prepared.

And Lord, we just give you all the praise

and glory and honor

in Jesus' name.

Amen.

You may be seated.

You know, as we look here this morning,

we see something important

because as Jesus looks through this,

I put this picture up here for a reason

because I want you to understand

the framework of Mark chapter 13

Mark 13 · chapter mention

for a moment.

Some of you may recognize this picture.

I'll tell you where it is in a moment.

But I want you to understand

is there's an overview

that's happening in Mark chapter 13.

Mark 13 · chapter mention

An overview, just like you see an overview now.

This is the camp down in Kansas,

an aerial picture,

and it gives you an overview of the camp.

You can kind of get a layout.

You can kind of get a basics.

But you know what?

You miss something with an overview.

You don't have all the details

that happen on the ground.

I want you to understand

Mark chapter 13 is an overview

Mark 13 · chapter mention

of what is to come.

It doesn't include all the little details

and things that take place on the ground.

So when you're thinking about this

as we go through this,

I'm going to go through a lot of stuff

pretty quickly here this morning.

I want you to understand

we're looking at an overview,

the big picture of things

and not the details.

Okay?

Because oftentimes we get drugged down

into the details

and God wanted us

to understand a big picture here.

There's other passages

we could talk about

that cover details.

But in Mark here,

he doesn't cover details.

So we're going to give you

and stay with an overview

this morning, okay?

So if I don't answer

all your questions

about everything in the text,

that's the reason why.

Because we're staying

at altitude

and flying over this passage

a little bit, okay?

We're not dropping down

to see all the details

along the way, okay?

And so now that we got

that figured out

and everybody's on the same page

this morning,

we're going to look here

at what Jesus tells them

because in answering

his question

to the disciples,

look here at verse 14

because verse 14,

I believe,

is a very critical verse

that we find in this passage.

Because notice here,

it says,

but when you shall see

the abomination

of desolation

spoken of by Daniel the prophet

standing where it ought not,

let him that readeth understand.

Then let them that be in Judea

flee to the mountain.

I want you to see here

something important

this morning

because oftentimes

people get confused

about prophecy

because they try to put

wrong things together.

I want you to understand

Jesus tells us

that the framework

of prophecy here,

he gives us a picture

that is hung on Daniel.

Daniel is important

when it comes to prophecy

because Daniel got an overview

of what was going to happen.

Daniel was given an overview

just like the picture

I showed you,

an overview of things to come.

Daniel got an overview

of the things

for the children of Israel.

And we have to understand

it's God giving Daniel

that picture

and he directs their question

and notice he gives

a charge to them.

He says,

let them understand.

Now understanding

is different than knowledge.

You know,

you can shove a lot

of information

and knowledge in

and not have a clue

how to use it.

Okay?

I think we all understand

that part of it

that you can know a lot

and have no clue

how to put it together.

When Jesus said understand,

understand how it fits together.

Understand why it's important.

And he references Daniel.

And specifically in Daniel,

he goes back to Daniel chapter 9.

Daniel 9 · chapter mention

You know,

I want you to turn over there

and look this morning

because whenever you're looking

at prophecy,

I want you to understand,

you know,

for those that have been to school,

you know,

you have to write a paper sometime.

And one of the things

they make you do

when you write a paper

is do what?

The first thing you do

is you do what?

An outline.

Daniel chapter 9

Daniel 9 · chapter mention

gives us an outline.

To hang everything else on.

Okay?

So we can see what's happening.

Notice what he,

Daniel tells us

in Daniel chapter 9.

Daniel 9 · chapter mention

He says,

Seventy weeks are determined

upon thy people

and unto thy holy city

to finish the transgression

and to make an end of sins,

to make reconciliation

for iniquity

and to bring in

everlasting righteousness

and to seal up the vision

and prophecy

and to anoint the most holy.

Know therefore

and understand

that from the going forth

of the commandment

to restore,

to build Jerusalem

unto the Messiah,

the Prince.

Now let's stop there

for a moment.

Who's Messiah,

the Prince?

Jesus.

Shall be seven weeks

and threescore and two weeks

and the streets

shall be built again

and the wall

even in troublous times

and after threescore

and two weeks

shall Messiah be cut off

but not for himself

and the people,

the Prince that shall come

shall destroy the city

and the sanctuary

and the end thereof

shall be with a flood

and unto the end

of the war

desolations are determined

and he shall confirm

the covenant with many

for one week

and in the midst of the week

he shall cause the sacrifice

and the oblation to cease

and for the overspreading

of abominations

he will make it desolate

even unto the consummation

that determined

shall be poured upon

the desolate.

Now, we read all that

and most of you are going

there's a lot in there

but I want you to understand

it's an outline.

It gives us times

and frames

and sequences

of events

but it's very important

to understand

that this is for

Daniel's people.

Now, let's answer a question.

Who's Daniel's people?

Israel.

Israel is Daniel's people

so God's dealing

with Israel here

is being lined out

all the way to the end.

All the way to the end

and to make everything

coming together

and he's revealing

to his disciples

the framework

or the timeline

for what is to come

concerning Israel

because remember

the disciples

were in a mindset

they were

how does this play out

to us?

They were in a Jewish mindset

and giving them

that information

to how they would

understand it.

Later we know

scripture gives us

and starts filling in

these blanks.

things are filled in

for us

throughout

the answers

that you find

in Jeremiah

and Isaiah

and Zechariah

and Ezekiel

and all these other

passages with prophecy

we understand

that God

in the New Testament

through the Apostle Paul

and John

and others

especially in the book

of Revelation

fills in a lot of blanks.

He begins to put

meat on the outline.

Not every detail

but he puts something there

and we find here

that he wants

the disciples to know

look back into

Mark chapter 4

Mark 4 · chapter mention

for a moment.

Mark chapter 4

Mark 4 · chapter mention

here in verse 11

because we need

to go back

and look at what

Jesus told

the disciples.

Jesus told them

this in Mark chapter 4

Mark 4 · chapter mention

in verse 11

he said

unto you is given

to know the mystery

of the kingdom of God.

In other words

Jesus is telling

the disciples

he says

as we go through

you guys are going

to get some understanding

I'm going to give you

what you need

as we go through

that you might understand.

You know

God wants people

to understand

what he's done for them.

He wants us to understand

what the plan is

and why there's a plan

in place.

You know

this plan comes about

very directly

and Jesus speaks here

specifically about

the abomination

of desolation

that Daniel speaks.

He gives a warning

of the coming destruction

of Jerusalem

and the temple

and he speaks

of a specific event

on the timeline.

But I want you to

just for clarity here

I want you to not

get caught up

in the fact

of what Jesus predicted

because one of the things

you'll find

is people will take

this passage in Daniel

and point to an event

that happened

in about 70 AD

where Titus

the Roman emperor

came in

and he destroyed

Jerusalem

and he took

and fulfilled

what Jesus said

was going to happen

earlier.

What did he do?

He took every stone

of the temple

and turned it upside down

off it.

But I want you

to understand

what happened

in 70 AD

is not the fulfillment

of Daniel.

You say

how do you know that?

Well

there's other things

attached to that event

that didn't take place.

So when you see prophecy

I want you to understand

you have to take it

as a whole

of what he says

everything associated

with that event

if it is that event

it has to be tied to it.

Just because something

similar happened

doesn't mean

that's a fulfillment

of this particular item.

Now I want you

to understand

I believe

very clearly

from scripture

this is how I understand

and I want you

to grab a hold

because I think

it makes sense

Titus fulfilled

what Jesus said earlier.

Titus fulfilled

that Jesus said

the temple

was going to be destroyed

and there wasn't

going to be a stone

left upon it.

Titus fulfilled that

but there's still

coming another one

spoken of by Daniel

the prophet.

A different one.

One that's tied

into some more

specific things

that take place.

But I want you

to see here

to understand

what's happening

here is important

because

as we look

at this passage

today

we see

that he gives

a decree

a direction

here

of prophecy

he says

that these things

are tied to Daniel

and these things

of Daniel

are going to happen

and people need

to be aware of it.

You know

we see here

this morning

that we know

that after Titus

destroyed

the temple

in Jerusalem

and destroyed

the city

that those things

Israel was no more

for many

many generations.

you know

it wasn't

until 1948

with the establishment

of Israel

once again

in a nation

did it come

back together.

I believe

that's another

step of God

setting the stage

for what's to come

because when you

look at prophecy

you look at

what's to come

what does God

say?

One of the

requirements is

Israel needs

to be

identifiable

again.

So is it

setting the stage?

Yes it is.

It's getting

all the pieces

in place.

God knows

what's going

to happen.

God's putting

those things

together

and prophecy

is revealed

by Daniel's

timeline.

So as you

study prophecy

I want to

encourage you

to always

go back

and hang

it and say

where does

it hang

on Daniel?

Why do

we do

that?

Because

Jesus

hangs it

on there.

And if

Jesus said

to hang

it on there

that's where

we need

to hang

it.

That's where

we need

to put it.

And so

we see here

next this

morning

we're going

to see here

the days

of the

prophecy.

because notice

down here

in verse 19

it says

for in

those days

shall the

affliction

such was not

from the

beginning of

creation

which God

created

unto this

time

neither

shall

be.

You know

the days

that Jesus

moves from

he moves

through here

and this

abomination

that is

spoken of

by Daniel

the prophet

happens about

midway through

the tribulation.

salvation.

I want you

to see

remember that

picture as we

showed at the

beginning we're

doing an

over flight you

don't get all

the details in

between.

In other words

Jesus is going

toot toot toot

he's jumping

through the

timeline.

He's not

giving them a

detailed timeline.

We always must

keep that in

mind as you

read scripture.

Even Matthew

Matthew 24 · chapter mention

chapter 24

Matthew chapter

Matthew 25 · chapter mention

25 is a

parallel to this.

Luke chapter

Luke 21 · chapter mention

21 is a

parallel to this.

those things

give you just

additional little

bits of

information but

they're still

overviews and

they're directed

towards a

Jewish how

God's going to

deal with

Israel because

I want you

to understand

God's not

done with

Israel.

God is not

done with

Israel.

God makes

it very clear

he's going to

deal with

them to

fulfill what

he promised.

And that's

important because

if God doesn't

fulfill his

promise to

Israel how

can we have

confidence he's

going to

fulfill his

promise to

us?

That's an

important element

to consider

because some

people think

that God is

not going to

fulfill the

promises to

Israel.

They have

some crazy

theologies that

move away from

that.

I want you to

understand God

is fulfilling

what he

promises because

we have a

faithful God.

Now we might

not understand

the wear and

the wind but

I'm going to

tell you that

God will

fulfill it.

That's the way

it's going to

happen.

But the days

of prophecy

here, the

tribulation, he

moves in to a

portion of the

tribulation that's

to come, the

days he move

into here is

described in

Jeremiah 30 as

the time of

Jacob's trouble.

Jeremiah 30

in verse 7

says,

Alas, for that

day is great,

so none is like

it as at even

the time of

Jacob's trouble,

but he shall be

saved out of it.

The tribulation

is a time that

fulfills God's

timeline regarding

Israel.

Israel.

You know, the

mistake many, I

think, make

today is they

try to take the

New Testament

church and

equate it with

replacing Israel.

The New Testament

church is distinct.

The Bible calls it

a mystery.

You can see

elements and

pictures of it in

the Old Testament,

but it's like

anything else.

You know, have

you ever noticed

sometimes as you

get older, you

know, you learn

something and it's

like, yeah, I got

the information and

I think I understand

it, and then you

look back and say,

how did I miss

that?

That was obvious.

I want you to

understand that's

the same thing we

have when we look

at prophecy.

People in the Old

Testament, when they

received that prophecy,

they were understanding

it in the context

that they had, the

blinders that they

had, you might say,

had on of what

they understood, and

we can look back and

say, how do they

miss it?

And they're going,

we didn't know that

yet.

So as we look back

and understand these

things, this time of

Jacob's trouble, it's

going to be a

terrible time that's

coming.

The New Testament

church is a called

out assembly.

Israel is a nation

and a people.

God is dealing with

them directly and

distinctly.

You know, if you

want to look at

something, you can

read Romans chapter

Romans 11 · chapter mention

11.

Romans 11 verse 25

Romans 11:25

tells us this,

for I would not,

brethren, that you

should be ignorant of

this mystery, lest you

should be wise in your

own conceits and the

blindness in part is

happening to Israel

until the fullness of

the Gentiles become in.

In other words, I want

you to understand, God

is going to return to

fulfill his promise to

Israel.

The seven years of

tribulation known as the

time of Jacob's trouble

that Jesus is referring to

here in Mark chapter 13,

Mark 13 · chapter mention

we see that in those days

there's great affliction.

That's a tribulation

that's happening.

And when we understand

the picture of what he's

telling them that's going

to happen, he's warning

them to run and to flee.

He's telling them of the

days of prophecy.

Those days are going to

be terrible days.

You know, if you have any

questions about how

terrible they're going to

be, Revelations reveals

it.

The judgments of God

being poured out upon

the earth are a horrible

time to be here upon the

earth.

when God's judgment is

upon us.

Notice what he tells us

here.

Look in verse 20 here in

Mark chapter 13, it says,

Mark 13 · chapter mention

except that the Lord had

shortened those days, no

flesh should be saved.

You know, that's a pretty

powerful statement.

In other words, God said he

limited those days for a

reason.

He said if the things that

take place during the

tribulation were allowed to

continue any longer, there

would be nobody survive it.

I want you to understand

that's another picture of

God's mercy.

God's mercy and his grace is

pictured there even through

this.

You know, we see here to be

a time that people are

seeking somebody to rescue

them.

They're seeking a savior.

They're beginning to look

and to see and to say, how

do I get rescued from this?

You know, whenever something

terrible happens, people

look and want to have a

savior, don't they?

They want somebody to step in

that's going to make a

difference.

The problem is people look in

the wrong direction.

We need to look to the

savior.

It's a time to look for the

savior to appear to seduce

people by signs and wonders.

Look in verse 22 of our

passage.

For false Christ and false

prophets shall arise and show

signs and wonders to seduce, if

it were possible, even the

elect.

In other words, those that

know the truth, those that

understand the truth, those

that understand who Jesus is,

could even be deceived by the

signs and the wonders because

it's such an amazement.

You know, today people are

fascinated by those things.

People get caught up in it.

I want you to understand the

Bible doesn't tell us to look

for signs.

It tells us to look for the

savior.

The next thing on God's event is

as a believer is not the

tribulation.

If you're a believer, what Jesus

is talking about here is a time

to deal with Israel.

The time that he's dealing with

the New Testament church.

He's dealing with believers of

this age and he says we're going

to be caught up and we're going

to be taken out of this.

That's what we're looking for.

We're looking to be taken out, to

be taken away, to be with him.

He foretells those things.

But I want you to understand the

days of prophecy are going to be

some dark days.

Those days are going to be dark.

The darkness and the end is near

when the darkness has arrived.

Look down here in verse 24 of our

passage.

It says, but in those days after

that tribulation, the sun shall

be darkened and the moon shall

not give her light and the stars

of heaven shall fall and the

powers that are in heaven shall

be shaken.

The darkness of the prophecy.

You know, the end is near when the

darkness arrives.

It says the sun will be darkened.

It says the stars won't be seen.

The moon won't give its light.

I mean, think about the picture

that Revelation 6 gives.

Of what's going to happen as we look

at this tribulation that Jesus is

talking about.

Revelation 6 and verse 12 says,

For I beheld there, he had opened the

sixth seal, and though there was a

great earthquake, and the sun became

black as sackcloth of hair, and the

moon became as blood, and the stars of

heaven fell under the earth, even as a

fig tree castes her untimely figs, when

she is saken of a mighty wind.

I want you to understand that Jesus

says, what's to come?

He's telling the disciples, he says, what's

to come is going to be some dark days.

There's going to be some days of

desperation.

There's going to be a dark time, both

physically and spiritually, until Christ

comes.

Because I want you to understand, as we're

going to look here, Jesus makes a

declaration here about his coming again.

The second coming, I want you to

understand, the second coming of Christ

is different from the believers being

caught up.

That's two events.

When people conflate them together, it

gets real confusing.

I've had conversations with people, I

said, well, when's this supposed to, oh,

he's going to catch all the saints up, we're

going to come right back down.

I'm like, that doesn't even make any

sense.

What's the purpose of meeting him there

if we're just coming right back down

here?

God has a purpose in taking us out.

We don't have time to get into that

this morning.

Like I said, I'm trying to stay at

elevation.

There's a lot of material to cover

here, and I want you to whet your

appetite to really think about it.

Because that's what Jesus is doing to

the disciples.

He says, I want you guys to understand.

Because there's some things revealed

you need to understand.

That you need to put in the right

context, in the right perspective.

Just as us today need to have a right

understanding of the Word of God.

God.

Because we find here that when it's

the darkest time here upon the earth,

that the light comes.

Because notice here what happens next.

The declaration of prophecy.

Because notice what it says in verse

26.

And then shall they see the Son of Man

coming in the clouds with great power

and glory.

glory.

And then he sends his angels and shall

gather together his elect from the

four winds of the uttermost part of

the earth unto the uttermost part of

heaven.

The declaration of prophecy.

Notice this clear and concise

declaration.

I want you to see here, this has

different attachments to it.

Because instead of catching to meet

the saints in the air, he says he's

going to gather the elect from the

four corners of the earth.

That's a different event.

There's a distinction that Jesus is

making here.

And I want you to understand, Jesus is

literally coming again.

First to catch us up, there's going to

be a seven year tribulation.

And then he's physically going to come.

Look over to Zechariah, the prophet.

Zechariah chapter 14.

Zechariah 14 · chapter mention

Tell you what, after having been through

a major earthquake, I'm glad that as a

believer, I'm going to be coming down

with him and not upon the earth when

this happens.

Because when you look at Zechariah 14,

notice what happens here.

We don't have time, but I'll just cover it

over you.

It says, feet shall stand that day upon

the Mount of Olives, which is before

Jerusalem on the east.

And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in

the midst thereof towards the east and

west.

And there shall be a very great valley,

and half the mountain shall remove towards

the north, and half of it towards the south.

When Jesus comes and puts his feet on

the Mount of Olives, there's going to be a

major separation of earth.

Things are getting reworked.

Like I said, I'm glad I'm coming down with

him and not staying on the earth when it

happens.

We see a major thing happening.

It's going to be clear.

Nobody's going to doubt Jesus' return.

It'll be visible.

The Bible tells us it's just as a lightning

comes and can be seen.

You know, if you think about how far

lightning can be seen.

They shall see the Son of Man coming in

the clouds with great power and glory.

It tells us there in verse 26.

The next verse there in Zechariah chapter

Zechariah 14:5

14 verse 5.

I'll just give you a little insight.

Notice what it tells at the end.

It says, and the Lord shall come and all

his saints with thee.

You know, there's a lot of things that the

Old Testament tells us is what's going to

happen, but the understanding.

They didn't have the perspective of how it

was going to fit together that we have

today because we've been given more to

fill in the details.

We've got more information.

You know, just like we understand things by

the amount of information that we have.

You know, when you learn and you grow and

things change, it's because the information

you've been given today.

We've been given a completed canon of

Scripture that we might understand.

But I want you to see here the pinnacle of

prophecy is when Christ returns.

It's a sign that supersedes the other as

it sets the stage for eternity.

You know, as we read this passage, we always

need to keep the context and the audience in

mind.

Jesus was answering a question regarding the

temple, a Jewish question concerning Israel.

You will not find the catching up of the

saints mentioned here.

You don't find the rapture mentioned here

because Jesus isn't dealing with that.

You know, oftentimes people say, well, we

don't find that other places.

Well, I want you to understand it wasn't

revealed yet because it wasn't important for

them to know what was going to happen.

They just come in confused more.

How does this fit?

Today we have we understand how those things

fit together by God's revelation to us

because we live in a time that's different

from the Old Testament.

I want you to understand when Jesus came,

things changed.

I want you to understand some very clear

pictures in Scripture in the Old Testament.

The temple was a physical building and

location in the New Testament.

If you're saved, you are the temple of God.

God dwells in you.

His Holy Spirit dwells in every believer.

There's no need for a physical temple

because in this age, God says that we are

the temple of the Holy Ghost.

I want you to see and understand the

importance of that.

You won't find certain things there, but

it's relevant for us today to concerning

the temple.

It's a big event on God's timeline.

And one day he will come and take those

that are the temple of the Holy Ghost

and preserve them from the wrath to come.

I want you to understand God's going to

take his temple out of here

before the tribulation.

God's dealing with those things.

He's revealing those things.

The Word of God is telling us that he's

going to come.

That is the next big event on God's

timeline.

The disciples thought the next big event

was Jesus setting up the kingdom.

I want you to understand Jesus wants to

redirect them, help them to understand

that the next big event, the Bible goes on

and reveals through Scripture the dynamics

that the next big event is the saints being

taken out to preserve us from the wrath to

come.

I tell you what, the tribulation he describes

here.

I don't know about you, but people that say,

well, we're going to go through the

tribulation.

I'm like, man, what are you, a fool?

Why would you want to?

Why would you even desire to?

It's going to be a time of horrible things.

But God says you don't have to.

He says if you're prepared, notice over in

1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

1 Thessalonians 4 · chapter mention

1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 16

1 Thessalonians 4 · chapter mention

says,

And notice what he says,

Wherefore, comfort one another with these

words.

You know, if we're supposed to have something

to be comforted and encouraged, hey, you're

going to suffer for seven years is not

comfort and encouragement.

If you might live through it, that's not

comfort and encouragement.

That's just grit.

God doesn't want you to have grit.

He wants you to experience his grace.

He wants you to know that he's there.

Romans chapter 5 and verse 9 says this,

Romans 5 · chapter mention

For much more than being now justified by

his blood, we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

You know, the reality is we live in a time

when I hope you're prepared.

But you know, there's many, and there may

be some here today that are not really

prepared for what's to come.

Because the time to prepare is now, you

know, if you're not saved, if you've never

called upon the Lord, you're not prepared.

You're not prepared for what's to come.

Because the Bible makes it very clear that

if you have not accepted Christ, you're

lost and you're headed for a place called

hell that was reserved and made for the

devil and his angels.

But God says, I don't want you to go there.

I've made a way for you to not go there.

I provided the door.

This morning, if you're lost, I encourage

you, you need to come to Jesus and receive

him while there's still time to do so.

You need to be sure that you'll go up in

the rapture and the catching up should

Jesus come before you die and that you'll

go to heaven if you die before he comes.

You know, either way, you know, Paul says

to be absent from the bodies, to be present

with the Lord.

Those are words to comfort you.

This life is going to pass.

If you're lost, if you're not sure, if you're

not prepared, I encourage you to be prepared

by calling upon him today.

You know, if you're saved, you ought to

praise the Lord for the fact that you are

not going to face those things that he has

saved you.

He has redeemed you.

He has prepared a way.

He has prepared a place.

You know, you should do everything in your

power to help others to know what Jesus

has done for them.

This world needs witnesses of the saving

power of an almighty God to go and tell

those trapped in sin that Jesus can do for

them.

Because Jesus is the one that's going to

make a difference.

You know, today, what's the Lord spoken

to you about?

Maybe you're here today and not sure that

you're saved.

There's no greater day than today than to

call upon him.

But maybe you know you're saved and you know

you've settled that with God, but maybe God's

encouraged you to say, I need to do my part to

help others be prepared.

I need to do my part to understand and to do

what I ought to do, what God has told us and

instructed us to do.

If he's spoken to you today, I encourage you to

spend time with him to know that you're ready.

Heavenly Fathers, we come before you today.

Lord, we just thank you and praise you for the

day, for the opportunity.

As we look at an overview of a scripture, an

overview of these things to come.

Lord, I pray that you have your hand upon each

heart, each life here today.

Lord, you know each one.

Lord, you know each heart here today.

Lord, you know those that have called upon you

as Savior.

Lord, you know those that are putting on a

facade.

Lord, you know those that are just blatantly

understand that they're not.

Lord, I pray that you just work upon hearts and

lives today.

Lord, for those that they don't know that today

would be the day they would call upon you.

But Lord, for those that know your Savior, Lord,

that they might live in light of the reality of

what is to come.

And Lord, we just ask it all in your precious name.

Amen.

Heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.