Heaven Rules - What to Expect Towards the Finishing Line | Elder Ang Peng Hoe

You're listening to a message to go from acts Church. We hope this message

will light up your deay. I simply entitled the message Heaven Rules what to

expect towards the finishing line, because towards the finishing line is the second part

of our team for this year. Of course, Heaven Rules is the main

part. If it's the banner, we took it down for Christmas. Okay,

if you all don't notice, at the bottom there's the towards the finishing

line, and everyone's like, what finishing line? No finishing line, there's

nothing mentioned on finishing line. No, there is no Heaven Rules towards the

finishing line. And so I want us to keep our eyes on scripture and

keep our eyes on the finishing line. I'm going to be teaching mainly from

Matthew chapter twenty four to twenty five. These two chapters I would try to

keep to time. There's going to be a lot that may be downloaded.

Please don't stone me, but just take it as it is. And I

want to encourage all of your go back and read the word for yourselves.

Don't just take what I have to say. I repeat this all the time.

It's not sufficient for you to receive the word just from a speaker once

a week. And you know, even if I don't do your justice,

you must do your own life justice and read God's work. Don't just take

what I have to say. I may be telling you lies for all you

know, And of course God will have to work on me if that's happening.

And of course with fear and trembling, sometimes all of us preachures.

We share God's word, but take whatever I have to say, please check

it with God's word, because you've got to be convinced. Nothing I say

can convince anyone here. But when you read it on your own, you

will know that His word is the truth. Amen. And so Matthew.

Of course, Chapter twenty four twenty five, it talks a lot. It's

one of those chapters that we like to skip on. It's like, oh

so much doomsday kind of jargon. But today we're going to be delving a

little bit deeper into it. But basically I want to start off by saying

this, No, what does the Bible have to say about the last days?

That is something that we got to take note offers. And the Bible

has already recorded about seven hundred plus separate forecast that means when you read the

Bible against I understand, I've repeated this many times. The Bible is not

a book that was written at one point of time. It's a compendium of

books. It's a library of books written in a span of about fifteen hundred

years. Okay, and so we in the Bible there have been about seven

hundred maybe thirty something separate forecast. That means things that are not yet happen.

So it talks about something that is to come. And if you read

the Bible true and true, you realize out of the seven hundred forecast,

about five hundred plus close to six hundred have already taken place. That means

what the Bible says. Then you see because it's again within the span of

fifteen hundred years. And then up until today where we are about probably about

eighty percent of the forecast have already happened, which some people will say,

well, looks like the Bible is eighty percent accurate, because only eighty percent

has come to pass. Well, the forecast events that have not taken place

are mainly concerning with the end of days, basically the end of the world

or armagadden or how you want to look at it. Okay, I know

there's a lot of terms going around because of different series and different books that

have been written all through out the few decades. But you know, those

that have not taken place are those concerning the end of times. Basically,

the Bible will say that those are things that have not yet happened, those

are things that will happen in the future, which basically tells me that if

you want me to assess the accuracy of the Bible in terms of the predictions

and the prophecies, I would say it's one hundred percent accurate, which then

tells me that whatever that it says about the end of days, we better

take it seriously because it's not just eighty percent accurate. It's one hundred percent

accurate because the four Custer events that have not come to pass are in the

future. And so I believe the Bible is one hundred percent accurate, and

I believe that we can glean a lot of truth from God's word. Of

course, I will be the first to admit that not every church is agreeable

on some of the interpretations of especially the Book of Revelations. But suffice to

say, I just want to prepare us. That's that's the most important thing.

And really, if it happens this way or that way, I'll show

you that. You know, whatever it is, just be prepared for the

words. Na. Okay, So Jesus's written and the end of the world.

So the end of the world is more frequently predicted than any other matter

in the Bible, but it's not so much what is the world coming to?

A lot of times when we talk about the end of the world,

we're like, see wars, lad that you know, everything's falling apart.

Know, this place is in ruins, you know. So what is the

world coming to? Is how we like to view the end of the world.

But in reality, the question that we should be asking is who is

coming to the world, because that's when it marks the end of times.

Not so much what is the world coming to? But who is coming to

the world. And in theory, the Church gives Jesus return a central place

because all the different creeds, all the different Christian creeds that you can dig

up, whether you are a Roman Catholic or you are from any other denomination,

nor the apostles create the Nicene creed or whatever, create all of it.

This mentioned about the end times one. It's part of our belief system,

is part of our faith, and it will definitely include the return of

Jesus. If you all don't believe in the return that Jesus is coming back

again, better believe it because it's in scripture and faith, hope and lover.

Faith, hope and love all very important elements of our Christian foundation.

Faith is focused on the past, historical truths, and that's why when we

read God's word we read of the things that have happened. What does it

do? It develops and it builds our faith. When we read the chapter

on faith in Hebrews chapter eleven, we read of the different characters who have

experienced God. What did they do? You know, by faith? They

did this by faith, They did that by faith. You know as we

are reading that, what is in the past, what has happened before,

How God has worked in Abraham's life. These are the things that stirs us

in the present to continue to have faith. And that's how faith works.

Love always emphasizes on the present. Love is always in action. Love is

what you do right now, and that is something that is also strong in

Christians know we can have faith, we can have love because right now,

God says, the only way in which we can identify ourselves as Christians is

when we love one another and when we love God. And so it's in

the present. But hope, and I can tell you this faith, hope

and love. I know, I know, love is the greatest of them

all. But hope is the weakest of them all, only because it's in

the future. Our hope is actually in what is to come. And that's

why sometimes it's the weakest because as humans we can't see, we can't it's

not tangible. It's something that we can't fully grasp what is to come.

And when we read Scripture, it's like things that are yeared to be and

we're like, oh. And that's why when it comes to hope. You

know, when we use the word hope as believers, as Christians, we

use it quite wishy washy, and hope is like hopefully. It's like,

there's no certainty where else the word hope. If you study the word hope

in Scripture, the word is elpist. It's actually and assured certainty. That

means when the Bible uses the word hope, it's certainty, not a hope.

Fully it will happen, and so hope must be the anchor for the

soul of us. Believers must be firm and secure our hope, our hope

in what's to come, because if it's not, then the raging storm of

world events will get worse rather than better. And take this as a warning

because I believe one day every part of the globe is going to be affected.

And I pray that we will know the truth and may the truth continue

to anchor us down as believers. A lot of us have not truly or

really experienced what hardship is being a believer, but it's real. It's real

in many countries, it's real for many people. And so you know,

while we may not have personally experienced it due to different freedoms that we have

here in Malaysia, let's never take it for granted. Amen. So let's

make sense of Jesus' return. So this is where I'm going to be teaching

today. Okay, let's make sense of his return because that's something that we

are hopeful for, aren't we. Any of you are life you know,

you know we're always saying when Christians are Jesus come back to digital, come

back soon. But sometimes we say like, we don't really mean it.

It's a perfunctory statement statement, let us really mean it. But what does

it really mean when Jesus, When we say Jesus come back soon? Well,

there are actually three hundred over references to Jesus written again to earth a

lot of references. That means a lot of it is being talked about in

scripture. Sometimes fitting it together is like putting a jigsaw puzzle. And I

can't understand why different people will have different ways of interpreting, especially you know,

maybe where maybe when all all these things know, But we need to

make sense of it. And if you are able to make sense of Jesus'

written by answering some questions, we may have a clearer idea of what to

expect and how to prepare ourselves. That's basically the gist of why I'm teaching

it this today. Okay, So there are some questions that we need to

ask, and I've got slights. Okay, So I hope it helps you

all, but it will go a little bit deep. Okay. So the

first thing is this, who who will he come as a pre existent son

of God or the incarnate son of men? Okay, I will explain as

I go on, Where will he come to the whole world at once or

just one place? How will the second coming be like the first or totally

different? When well, technically only God knows. But will he come soon

and suddenly or only after clear signals? You know, we got to ask

ourselves these questions. Why what can he only achieve by coming back here?

And how long will that take? I mean, these are sound of questions

that we have to ask ourselves. And today I'm going to ask those questions

and I'm hoping to provide some answers and hopefully it will make sense to the

rest of us. Okay, who is the first question we ask? And

firstly we have to emphasize this. Know that the divine Christ and the human

Christ are one and the same person. Can we accept that the divine Christ

and the human Christ one and the same person. Even Christians sometimes assumed that

the Son of God was only made flesh incarnated, That means incarnations made flesher

for thirty three years and now has gone back to his former state. Let

me see, went back wherever his former state is? I mean science,

we're also like not too sure, but the truth is he became human and

he keeps his resurrected body for the rest of eternity. Scripture actually tells us

that Jesus retains his humanity, his human form, and I believe when he

comes back, that's how he would look like the d three year old Jesus,

still with scars, but with a whole new body. But we must

point out one major change in his humanity even before he left the earth,

and that is exactly what I just mentioned. God actually gave him a new

body when he raised him out of the tomb. We agreed, because they

really beat him up to a pup. That is the that is the truth.

But he didn't come out of the tomb broken. He came out whole.

He came out well, he did come out with scars, because we

know Scripture records that he showed sound the scars to the disciples. But we

also need to remember that Jesus was not always a human being. Indeed,

he was not always Jesus. There was a name he acquired when he was

embodied, when he was given the body, then only he was given the

name Jesus. Remember when you when you read scripture, that that is something

that comes to mind, right and Basically, Jesus was the only person who

chose to be born. No one else had that kind of choice to make,

because if we read the scriptures, we know that he was there from

the very beginning. In Genesis, we actually can read and we can tell

that Jesus was there. One day I'll teach on how you look at the

scriptures and how you study. But trust me, Jesus was there right from

the very beginning. In John chapter one, he says, in the beginning

was the word that is in reference to Jesus. But he wasn't always known

as Jesus, and that is the reality of it. But he was the

eternal son of God, the Lord of Glory, the logos. He was

divine being before he was human being in that censer, when he became incarnate.

And therefore it's quite significant that the angels use his human name when promising

his return to planet Earth, because it is the son of Men who will

appear in the clouds. You see those references in Daniel chapter seven, verse

thirteen. You see the referencing in Mark seventeen, verse sixty two, the

Son of Men. And so we must face one implication of believing this basically

and embodied. Jesus can only be at one place at one time. Makes

sense because we read of that. You know, even in his glorious resurrected

body, he could only be at Imaus, or he could only be at

Jerusalem, or he could only be at Galilee, one place and one time.

He never appeared in two places at the same time. We don't see

the record of Jesus ever appearing in two places at the same time. Even

after his resurrection, he moved quite quickly. Let me s he can get

from one place to another place. Maybe in heaven we'll have some sort of

superspeed, which I think is pretty cool, like flesh. But that's the

reality that we need to accept. He can only be at one place and

one time, and therefore when he returns to this earth, he can only

come to one geographical location. Can we agree on that? So where will

that be? So if answered the first question, who it's the son of

Men that were written? The second question is this where If the return of

Jesus is physical, and we know that he can only be at one place

at one time, then it must also be local. His spirit can be

everywhere, but his body must be somewhere before he ascended Jesus himself. I've

really said that could not be at two places at once. And that is

why he told his disciples it was for their good that he was leaving them

and sending another stand by to take his place, because if Jesus remain here

on planet Earth, we will never experience God's presence all the time. And

so he said, I will send you a stand by to take my place.

And who is that stand by? He promised the Holy Spirit. And

he had promised to be with them always, even to the end of age.

Yet they will be scattered to the ends of the earth. The Disciples

were scattered, we read it XT Chapter one, verse it. And the

only way in which God could be with them all the time was the Holy

Spirit was now working in operation, and the only way he could do this

was to remove his body and replace his physical presence with his ever present spirit,

which we know is unlimited by space and unlimited by time. That's the

Holy Spirit, and the situation will not be reversed when he returns. Believers

will not lose his spirit, but we will enjoy his physical presence as well.

Basically, when Jesus returns, we stand to be doubly blessed we get

his physical presence, and the spirit will always be the Trinity has been there

all the time. Amen. Can we accept that as Christians? We can?

But since his body, like ours, must always be at one point

on the surface of earth, that means that he returns. His return means

that his disciples will have to be gathered from every part of the globe,

right, because if we read the scriptures, we know that we will all

see him coming back, and so that means that we all got to be

gathered together from every part of the globe. And only then can we actually

experience the bodily presence of Jesus coming back. And that is precisely what the

New Testament promises will happen. And where will that be exactly? Anyone want

to take a while gas Jerusalem. It is from the city that he departed

two to return home in heaven, and it is to this city that he

will return from heaven. And he called it the City of the Great King

Matthew Chapter five, verse thirty five. And this is Jerusalem or Zion,

where the Lord will rule and reign sovereign and supreme. And that's why,

no matter how much you may not like what is happening in the Middle East.

I know sometimes the Church can be very divided with what's happening. And

I'll be the first to tell you keep our eyes on the Middle List and

what is happening. Yes, you may not agree on all the actions of

political Israel, but I pray that that will never cloud your judgment on the

providence of God for his people. Please please go back to scripture. And

I know there are many Christians who, no matter what, they try to

ignore this part of Scripture or they find ways around it. But our eyes

must be on the Middle East. We have to, and I'll tell you

why later as well. But one of the main reasons is when he returns,

that's where he's going to be. Okay, how is the next question

we got to ask? His second coming will be like his first going,

but it will be unlike his first coming. Makes sense? What's a John

Canna? So it will be exactly how he ascended. We don't talk and

we don't teach much about the ascension. But the traditional churches they actually celebrate

the ascension. Uh, that's there's a festival of the ascension. We yeah,

we don't always talk about it. Okay, when's the ascension. Basically,

Jesus hung around after his resurrected body ride for about forty days I think,

right, and then after that he ascended to heaven and then before yes

and say hey guys, your children, uh wait, wait, terry until

the spirit comes. So the ascension, how he went off during the ascension,

go back, and really I believe X chapter one will have the record

in there. So how he's coming back is exactly how he ascended. Accept

that it's in the reverse. Okay, so now he can okay like that.

So his written it will be visible, it will be audible, it

will be tangible. Bear that in mind. Basically, Scripture tells us that

thousands of angels will accompany his written Matthew twenty five June fourteen. It will

be so noisy first Thessalonians for sixteen, unlike the first time, he came

in a manger when no one knew. And I know the reason why I'm

sharing this is also because no times we over celebrate Christmas. He came quietly

the first time. He came quiet, quiet, But it's not going to

be like that when he comes the second time. He's going to be really

noisy. There's going to be a party. There will be a universal awareness

and instant recognition, and everyone will know that he has come, and everyone

will know who he is. Basically, it will be public and it will

be publicized. Scripture tells us that amen. So at the second coming,

Jesus will appear at the scene to be beside us. That's how it's described.

Actually, basically, to bring us come and support. You'll go back

and read Thessalonians is also a very interesting letter to read. He will appear

at the sin to be beside us, to bring us comfort and support.

You know, the reality is this one will only need comfort and support if

he or she is uncomfortable and going through a trying situation. So basically,

he is coming as he really is. Basically, the world last saw him

crucified. Now it will see him crown at last. Every need will about

every tongue confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the

Father that's in Philippines. But when will he come? And how much longer

do we all have to wait? Is the question that we have all been

asking since the very beginning. In fact, even the early Church, the

earliest of the early church will expect what's expecting him when when well, basically

no one knows except God. Even Jesus knows his father's calendar. We see

that in Matthew Chapter twenty four, verse these six. He says, I

don't know those times. Will his coming be sudden and totally unexpected? And

you want to take a while, guest sudden and totally unexpected? And sways,

yes and no, yes and no. Okay, I'll explain why.

Basically, Jesus could come back at any moment, but there will be events

preceding his written things that have to happen first, which are signs or even

signals announcing that he is at the door. That is something that you see

a lot in scripture Matthew Chapter twenty three, twenty four, twenty five.

You see he's at the door about to step through into the stage of history

again to reintroduce himself. And if we look at scripture, we could see

that there will be two groups of people at the one coming to the unbelievers.

It will be a shock to the believers. It should not be a

surprise, I say, should not so, as believers, please not be

a surprised Jesus company it's almost like cut your pends down kind of situation.

Don't no, no, no, we should be anticipating it, right,

So what are the signs of his coming? What are we watching for?

And there is so much data scattered throughout the New Testament, some in the

Gospels, they are more in the epistles, and there's a whole lot of

it in Revelations. And so today I'm going to look at the signs from

the Gospel of Matthew. Okay, I'm halfway through. Everyone still with me,

don't lose me, Okay, Gospel of Matthew, because this is where

we can actually find the clearest framework, clearest outline is a four full framework

of future events that will signal He's written. Like I said, this is

the portion it Mathew that we like to skip one because it doesn't it doesn't

read nice. But there are four basic signs in the sequence, and Jesus

adds to each warning about his dangers and advice on what the disciples proper response

should be. He didn't just give us signs. He told us what the

dangers are and he told us how to respond. So basically, for each

sign there is a description, there is a danger and then there is a

duty makes sense. Each of it is in preparation. He highlights exactly what

it is, He describes it. He tells us what the danger is,

and then he tells us how we respond a duty sign number one. Let's

go into it. We're going to read Scripture Matthew, chapter twenty four,

and I'm going to read verse four to eight. First, Jesus told them,

don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name claiming

I am the Messiah. They will deceive many, and you will hear of

wars and threats of wars. But don't panic. Yes, these things must

take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nations will go to war

against nations, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be femines and earthquakes in

many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the

birth pains, with more to come. Really, the first part we all

like that, but three are specifically mentioned, wars, earthquakes, and femines,

And true be told, we have actually seen an exponential increase in all

these catastrophes. Will What it usually does is it spreads alarm and it spreads

insecurity amongst people. Right wars, earthquakes, femines. People will therefore be

looking to a savior to avert the tragedy. And this is where people will

take the opportunity, and many will take the opportunity to pretend to be Christ.

That's why the warning there is the false Messiah. Beware, be careful.

You know, in Korea there's so many cults, so many actually,

they're everywhere. And I can tell you some of the cults are I really

take my hands, my heads off to their fervency. They can stand in

the minus seven code with tracks and trying to evangelize to people. I mean,

I in the nicest comforts of Malaysia, So I don't do that.

They are really really, you know. But this is what the disciples must

protect themselves from such deception. And you must do that by not allowing panic

to kick in, because the minute panic kicks in, we become vulnerable.

And you can only do this by understanding these calamities. And this catastrophe is

in an opposite manner of how the world usually reacts. Because the world usually

reacts this way, man is the end of all good things. Whenever we

see catastrophes, whenever we see wars. Whenever we see earthquakes famines. In

our minds, the only focus is this is the end of all good things.

But scripture actually tells us to change that perspective. We must look at

it as the beginning of much better things. And that's why the appropriate response

is not alarm and anxiety. But it actually puts in a description on childbirth.

I know not many of us can fully empathize with what childbirth is.

But for all the amazing mummies here, you know you know what to anticipate.

You know what you had to go through. Basically, you don't.

You don't think that's the okay, let maybe some you're thinking is this is

the end of everything? During childbirth so painful, it's gonna know, there's

always that sense of anticipation, no matter how trying it is. That's how

that's the travels of childbirth in reality. You don't think it's doom and gloom.

You are actually no, you know that once I go through this,

there will be something brighter ahead. And that is the perspective that we must

take when we read and see these signs. And this sign is clearly visible.

Actually, there have been multiple international conflicts, actually since World War two.

Earthquakes are actually on the rise. Like I said, I know,

being in different parts of the world, you just get earthquake. Someone was

telling me in Japan, I know he was. He was just there.

There was an earthquake, and then people just went or went about with their

lives. It is like so common, uh, you know, until something

really shakes them, until you know they can't continue their life. The life

just goes on. It just happens and it's like normal, but it's happening.

There's a lot of shaking femine. You'd be surprised that there is femine

in this world. When the Lord actually already told us that there will always

be enough there were or he will never destroy earth again. That is the

promise in Noah that tells me simply that there will always be enough food to

go around. That's why the sign of Noah was what it was. The

rainbow. Rainbow is what what does what the rainbow signify? Sun like an

water. These are the two things that you need to grow food, which

means that there will always be enough. And you know, any sociologists will

tell you right now that there is more than enough food to go around.

The whole population, But yet so many places in this world people are still

going to be hungry. Why why is this happening? It is the brokenness

of the world that we are living in, But it is happening. And

so how long will this state of affairs continue? How much worse can it

get? We cannot guess. But this is the first major sign, okay,

and we already are experiencing it. I can't say that it has come

to pass, but I believe we are experiencing it. The second one is

this. I'm going to read from verses nine to fourteen. Now, everyone'

stear me. Then you will be arrested. Hm. They will like you.

We don't like, persecuted and killed. You will be hated all over

the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me

and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will

deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many

will grow cold. But the one who endials to the end will be saved.

And the good news about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world,

so that all nations will hear it, And then the end will come

First, there will be opposition in that the followers of Jesus will be hated

by all nations, which will bring a corresponding increase of those who will die

for their Christian faith. Like I said, we don't see it here in

Malaysia, but in reality is no. I read a report that every single

day hundreds are martyred for their Christian faith around the world. We don't experience

much of it here in Malaysia, but all I can say is not yet.

I believe it will come. And so if you see around the world

today, we're already seeing so many believers coming under immense pressure for their faith.

Churches everywhere need to prepare their members for suffering and sacrifice, because that's

what Scripture says. And then from here we will see the number of believers

reducing. And that's how I look at it. In reality. You know

why is the church diminishing? Because all this pressure will reveal the difference between

a genuine and a nominal liver. It will there will be those who will

struggle to remain faithful. I mean here in Malaysia that a lot of things.

Actually, our laws are not very favorable in all honesty, especially when

it comes to us sharing the gospel. Our proselytization laws are quite strict,

and that's why we just choose not to go against it. That's why we

have been doing all this world. But if you do choose to go against

it, which is the command of God to go and share, are we

ready to take our faith to the next level? I ask myself that question

all day long, all the time. There will be those who will struggle

to remain faithful. But those who remain faithful and stepfast will cause the church

to expand that's why it says that it will there will be a diminishing.

But the diminished number who knows that whatever Scripture says is true, they will

go out with a fervency like never before because they will hang on to their

faith and they will go out and they will be renewed. They will be

bold, they will be so zealous to preach Jesus more confidently, and then

the task of world evangelism will one day come to pass, because that is

what Scripture says. Only when the ends of the world knows Christ, then

he will return. You see how it's gonna work, and you understand how

why sometimes the church is going less and less. A lot of times in

church we are like questioning, God, why you allow this to happen?

Why you allow this to happen. We've got to look beyond that. Really,

we've got to look beyond. But at the same time, the warning

now is there will be an increase in false profits who will preach peace when

there is no peace. They will also reassure us with all sorts of comfort

when trouble is there. It's almost like, hey, don't worry, bad

times will never ever happened. By so doing, many Christians will be left

unprepared for the challenges. And that's why sometimes I don't want to be doomsday

picture, but I want us to be prepared, not in fear and trepidation,

but be prepared. I mean, I don't want to not teach on

all this because it's in scripture. It's the most talked about thing in scripture.

If you read the Gospels, is peppered with what is to come,

what to expect, And so I don't want to just tell you, you

know, become a believer. Your life is going to be smooth, flowing,

everything is going to be awesome. There's going to be no worries.

You can seal your way through to the horizon and meet Jesus at the end

of it. I wish it was like that, but scripture doesn't tell me

is that. So I don't want to teach anything that will make like of

sin in our lives. No, I don't want to tell you that.

Hey, you can do whatever you want because your God's chosen people. Basically,

his forgiveness has nothing to do with your personal choice. Whatever it is

that you choose to do, God will forgive you. I don't know,

man, I'm not the judge at the end of it. All I know

is that we are justified by faith, but we will eventually be judged by

our actions. That's the reality of it. Justified by faith by at the

end of the day, when God judges us, what do you think He's

going to be judging us on our actions? Yes, there is nothing that

we can do to get faith, that's why, or nothing we can do

to receive his salvation but faith. But eventually, with the faith that we

have, he will look and he will ask, what have you been doing,

my son? What have you been doing my daughter? So the sad

thing is many will turn away from the faith. And that's why it says

the love for many will grow coal. Second sign are we seeing that now?

I believe it's begun. Ready, it's begun, not widespread, but

it has begun. Signumber three, don't don't be so down, Ah,

It's okay. One later our end on a high Signum three fifteen to twenty

eight Verses fifteen to twenty eight, or Matthew twenty four. It says,

the day is coming when you will see the Daniel. What Daniel the prophet

spoke about the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the holy place? And

then he says in bracket reader, pay attention. Then those in Judea must

flee to the heels. A person out on the deck of a roof must

not go down into the house to peck. A person out in the field

must not return even to get a code. How terrible it will be for

pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight

will not be in winter or on the sabbath, for there will be greater

anguish than at any time since the world begins, and it will never be

so great again, in fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened.

Not a single person will survive, but it will be shortened for the sake

of God's chosen ones. Then if anyone tells you, look, here is

the Messiah or there he is, don't believe it, for false messiahs and

false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive,

if possible, even God's chosen ones. See, I have warn you

about this ahead of time. So if someone tells you, look, the

Messiah is out in the desert, don't border to go and look, or

look he is hiding here. Don't believe it. For as the lightning flashes

in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the

sun of Man comes, just as the gathering of vultures show there is a

carcass nearby. So these signs indicate that the end is near. There will

be troubles, especially in the Middle East, and the troubles that have always

affected God's people will reach a climax. Basically is saying that it will reach

a climax, and if you read the Book of Revelations, it is known

as the Great Tribulation. I'm not going to go into Revelations today, there's

a whole, a whole thing on his own. But Jesus said more about

this penultimate sign, the second last one, than any of the other three.

But he's sitting in a less straightforward manner. He based his warning on

the phrase abomination that causes desolation, and you see that in Daniel chapter nine,

Daniel Chapter eleven, Daniel Chapter twelve. Basically, Daniel was referring to

a human conqueror who in the very city where God had been honored, would

start uttering blesphemious words and commit obscene deeds, provoking this great mental and physical

distress among God's people, and Daniel realized that there would be such a terrible

event at the time of the end, basically during the end times. That's

how Daniel saw it, and it's actually recorded in scripture, and clearly Jesus,

speaking in Matthew twenty four, still endorses whatever Daniel is saying as future.

That means it has not happened yet and it will be for a period

of time. Revelations actually records the period of the Great Tribulation about three and

a half years, about thousand, two hundred plus days. In Revelations twelve

fourteen, and it will be at the same place. And that's why Jesus

advises all those living in Judea at that time to live as quickly as possible,

without even waiting to pack. They must not remain in the vicinity of

this man. That means there will come someone in the Middle East, and

someone who will be spewing blesphemous words, and someone who's going to be in

power, and someone who's going to make believers, especially suffer. Know there

are many passages in the New Testament that speaks about this last dictator, also

known as the Antichrist. Okay one John two speaks about it as well.

The Book of Revelations gives us the most information, sometimes calling him the beast.

I know, I know, I'm not going to go into revelations.

You all don't worry so much. But he will, together with the false

Prophet, set up a regime which only those who submit to their authority.

And then it goes on to say in Revelations by being branded, that means

there will be a mark placed on those who submits to his authority. And

what's that mark? We all have ready before, right, the triple six,

the six sixty six mark, Basically, that mark will enable you to

trade, to buy and to sell food. That's in Revelations again, chapter

thirteen. You can read it again. Like I said, don't have to

take what I have to say, go back and read your Bible and so

that you know what to expect. There will come a point of time,

a tribulation time, and we thank God that is not a long time because

the way Jesus describes it is nothing like it that anyone has ever experienced before,

and no one will ever experience anything like that after. Basically, it

will be such great pressure on the followers if they are alive that time.

Okay, if you are believers and you die ready and you're a waiting,

then that. But if you're alive at that time, it's going to be

terribly fierce, but mercifully brief. That is the promise of scripture. And

there will be many rumors that Christ has returned, and believers will be told

where they can find him. They must not listen to these rumors. They

will see the sign that He has come eventually wherever they are at that time.

That means, don't listen to the rumors. You'll know when Jesus comes

back and Scripture tells us only those in Judea must travel, not to encounter

Christ, but basically to escape the Antichrist. The rest stay where we are,

keep our ears shut and our eyes open. That's why scripture keeps on

saying watch and pray. It doesn't tell you to hear and pray, because

if you hear, then in Malay it's called danas. You start listening to

all sorts of rumors, all sorts of things that are untruth. Our ear

goes wherever. But it says watch, the signs are given. The signals

are given for you to watch and pray. Make sense, and we thank

God that this crisis can be measured in days, and you will soon be

over. And then there's only one last sign to come. I know some

have thought that believers will not go through tribulation, will be raptured. I

don't subscribe to that believe I know there are some good will Christians who believe

that, which is I'm fine if that happens. Really, I'll be the

happiest if that happens when I'm living in that time right who doesn't want it

to happen. If it happens, great, all of us be raptured and

we are we don't have to go to tribulation. But if that really doesn't

happen, I want to prepare us. What if we have to go to

tribulation is more It's the more important question. What how are we going to

face that? And so, like I said, I'm all for it if

that really happens. No, if you can subscribe to that teaching, and

I believe, no problem, no issues. No, if that happens,

I'll be the first to say Hallelujah, praise the Lord. But if it

doesn't, then I pray that as the Church, we would remain step fast.

It's going to be so important because the last sign is going to be

it will happen very quickly, from the third to the four. It's going

to be quick because it's numbered already. Amen. And so it says from

verses twenty nine to thirty one, immediately after the anguish of those days,

again immediately after the tribulation days, the sun will be darkened, the moon

will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the

powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign

that the sun of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there

will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth, and they will

see the Sun of Men coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great

glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a

trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world,

from the furthest ends of the Earth and heaven. Basically, this will follow

immediately after the distress of those days. There will be no more delay.

This means that those who actually live to see the third Sign and experience it

will have a very good idea about when Jesus will come back, and this

knowledge should encourage them to hold on during those trying, terrible months. Hold

on. I don't know who will leave to see that. But basically,

if you live to see that means I believe that you will you won't experience

death, because when Jesus comes back, we will all be taken up.

That is my understanding of the rapture. I'll explain. So the final sign

is actually unmistakable. All natural sources of light will be extinguished. Whatever the

time of the day you are at, it will be like the darkest night,

sun, moon, stars, everything shaken out of the orbits, no

longer able to shine upon planet Earth. And then the nations will see the

lightning come from the east and flashing to the west, and they will see

Jesus riding on the clouds. It's in first Tassalonians. You can actually see

that the believers who have waited so long for this day to arrive. No,

this was a call to the Lord's people together together, and angels will

escort believers from all four corners of the Earth to the Holy Land. They

will already have their new bodies, as will the date believers who precede them

to this meeting of all meetings. That means those who are no longer around,

believers who are no longer will be given their resurrected bodies first. That's

what scripture I understand from a literal reading of scripture. Okay, again,

you can contend with me, but go back and read the scripture and I'll

let you decide for yourself. But this is my understanding of how the rapture

happens. Basically, wherever we are on Earth, we will be taken.

Basically, you'll get you get to fly lad you get to fly to Jerusalem

if you're still alive. And of course, as believers are being transported to

Israel, unbelievers will be left behind. As Jesus said, there will be

two men working together in the same field, one taken, the other left.

The same can happen to two women working in the same kitchen. You

see that. Actually, with the warning in Matthew twenty four, even families

will forever be divided you. Chapter twelve records that as well. But the

faithful followers of Jesus will be forever united, both with each other and with

the Lord wherever he is or will be. He has come back so that

they can be with him and see his glory. That is when. So

you got to see the signs, watch and pray. And of course the

final question is why why does all this have to happen? Well, here

are a few points. Okay, stay with me, stay with me.

I know it's a lot, But why does he need to come back?

Firstly to complete the saints. No, he will appear a second time,

not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for

him. At last, Christians will be fully safe. We will experience true

salvation. As we all know that salvation is a continuing process, not just

an instantaneous change at conversion. No, you will know it at the end.

When Jesus returns, that is the completion of our salvation. Behavior on

his first visit, completed his work for them on the cross, and that's

why he says it is finished. He completed the work for them, and

now when he comes back the second time, he will complete his work in

them. That's the difference in us, and that's why we are all being

changed and transformed from within inside out. But whatever he did for us in

the first coming, done accomplish, and later we will sing that song that

declares he already has the victory. But when he returns the second time,

he finishes the work that he began in us. Amen. The second reason

is to convert the Jews. I believe it with all my heart. Jesus

was and is Jewish. He was born, and he died as the King

of the Jews. Like it or not, no matter how much like said,

you may dislike political Israel, but that is the truth. We worship

a Jewish king. God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants was everlasting and therefore

unconditional. Be careful when we curse Israel, because there are promises in scripture.

You bless them, God will bless you you curse them. I don't

even want to begin to imagine so to remove all that. God later spelled

out what this would mean, because in Levetticus twenty six, verse forty four,

he says, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to

destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord,

dear God. There are many Jews who are not safeet and they need to

believe in Jesus. We need to pray for the salvation of God's people.

Do we do? We don't have to science in our minds, as Christians

were like, uh, God's chosen people, just let them be. No,

you still need to evangelize to them. Of course, you can say

I got no chance to Okay, fair enough, you've got no chance to

hear in Malaysia. But don't think that it's not our responsibility to That's why

there are many out in the different parts of the world, and they are

doing this work, and we pray for them. We ask God to use

them mightily to share to this amazing group of people. Amen. The third

one is this to conquer the devil? Why we are still on Why Satan's

days are numbered? His doom is already decided and dated. And when Jesus

returns, Satan has to live. That's in Matthew chapter twenty five. So

the world will at last be liberated from the devil and his oppressive forces of

evil. And then finally or second last, is this ge to command the

world. Why would Jesus come back? Well, he told his followers to

pray every day that God's kingdom and his room wou'd come. And that's why

when we pray the Lord's prayer, you realize this. We always pray this,

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done where on earth as it is

in heaven. Jesus is coming back to this earth to reign over it,

to rule over the world for an extended period of time. And that is

why we pray that prayer. Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done on

earth as it is in heaven. I know there are some like I said.

This is also another part of revelations where different ones are divided. Some

don't believe that Jesus will come back and reign for a thousand years. You

have all this millennial pre millennials. So some believe that he will come back

and reign for a thousand years here. I believe that he will. I

know sometimes in our minds all it's impossible. How can you rule and reign

in this broken world? No one can do it. I believe any if

anyone can do it will be Jesus, right, Jesus and his sayings.

I will never second guess that that Jesus and the saints in which he has

worked within can rule and reign this earth for a thousand years in accordance to

how it's supposed to be, not a democracy, tiocratically, God as the

heat. And that's why I prayed for only your kingdom come. Your will

be done on earth as it is in heaven. Again, like I said,

a lot of people may not agree on this, but I'll let you

read your scripture and understand it as it is. The good news is this

prayer will come to pass because both jew and gentle believers will reign on the

earth with Christ revelations five promises death. The next one why is to condemn

the ungodly, and it is necessary for history to conclude with the day of

judgment. There will be a day of judgment. The day of judgment must

come as well, because Jesus must himself be publicly vindicated. Do you know

we condemn him? His execution was probably the greatest injustice of all, probably

the darkest day of human history. And eventually human beings will be judged by

a human being. I think that's probably the most fair right. It is

Jesus who will sit on the great white throne and he will judge us.

I know people don't like it when I preach on judgment, but that is

the reality of our faith. Our Christian faith is not wishy washy. Every

choice that we make there is a consequence or a reward. That is the

reality. Amen, So are we ready? It is the all important question.

Why are we told so much about the second Coming? A lot like

I mentioned, A lot of it is mentioned in scripture, and I can

tell you this. The purpose is practical. It is for us to be

ready for Christ written that's all. Revelation for the future is given to affect

the present, not to satisfy your mental curiosity. A lot of us like

to read revelations and take it as oh man, this is a topic of

debate. Let's fight and see who's right and who's wrong. No, is

to stimulate moral consistency in our life. That's more important. It's not for

information, but for incentive, because like I said, it's either a consequence

or a reward. Let us knowing all that is to happen, prepare us

for the present, because the future must influence the present. And only God

knows the future. Anyone who tells you he knows the future, that's a

liar, because only God knows the future, and his word has ready give

us, given us a look at you know. You know, on the

streets of career, there a lot of self sayers and hil I don't know

what you call it in English, fortune tell us wanting that tell your future

big business. I'm telling you it's huge business. It's like everywhere you go,

in fact, all around the world, a lot of anyone who claims

to be able to see the future. I mean, of course, I'm

damn like looking at the fl like if you knew the future, you wouldn't

be sitting here, right. He probably go and figure out the low tone

number and make it big ready. But anyway, you know, I'm getting

it. Only God knows the future, and so the future must influence the

present. And that's why I hope for a Christian is always confidence, certainty

rather than wishful longing. That's why I started off by saying the Greek word

l peace hope. It connotes definite assurance. We got to be assured off

scripture. The only time we have to get ready for the future is the

present. To delay is to run the risks of being late. And so

how can we be ready for His written Well, I'm going to leave your

seven quick points individual faith. God put men on this earth so that they

will seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him. So it

is not enough simply to have become a believer in God and in Christ.

That is certainly the basic requirement. But Jesus himself made it clear that some

will be ready for His written and some will not. You need to have

your individual faith. What else is necessary? Continuous service? You see,

faithful service is an essential ingredient, ingredient in our readiness for the Lord's retten.

And that's why when you study on Matthew twenty five, Jesus at least

us to ellustrate three parables about a household, a wedding, and a commercial

trade. You'll remember that the wedding, of course, is the five foolish

brides and the five wise brides. The commercial trading is what did the person

do with the talent that they had? And the stories all have the same

plot, the same point. In each someone has gone away and is expected

to return, though the exact time is not known. And then there is

the wise who is ready and the foolish who is not. So the Lord

essentially one servants who are both faithful and fruitful. That's why the talent is

that don't go buried in the ground and do nothing about it. Continuous service.

He's looking for dependability, not just ability, and he will look for

those in whom he can say, well done, my good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in

charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness. Continuous service.

Don't complain when we serve the Lord. I know sometimes it's hard, but

really, when I read scripture is a reminder. The third thing is personal

holiness. See the Gospel is good news about holiness as well as forgiveness.

And it is now possible to have sins conquered as well. As canceled.

Our sins are conquered, not just canceled. A lot of times we think

it's just cancel. No, we have overcome it. We can have the

ability as well as the appetite to live right, to be righteous. No,

gifts such as forgiveness and holiness must be applied in our lives. We've

got to apply it. We will want to be holy here and now.

That's why I preach a lot about holiness. A lot of times when we

hear the world holiness the one in heaven only no here, it is possible

for us to live right for God here and now. It will, of

course involve effort, and effort is a combination of energy. It's a combination

of enthusiasm. It's a combination of endurance. You need all those and that's

why the fourth thing is this, we need communal fellowship. Believers are called

to be chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people

belonging to God. They are to demonstrate corporate identity in the broken and divided

will. There is safety in numbers. Don't think that all the church is

so be No, I'm glad the universal Church is still strong. I'm praying

that you will continue to remain strong, even though in all honesty, like

I said, the second Sign will tell you that there will be more diminishing

than there will be adding. And that's the reality of it. But I

pray that evangelism will continue, and that's another one of the points. But

there is safety in numbers. God's people will increase towards the end. But

it's vital. It's vital that we stayed together because if not, it's going

to be challenging. And we have to remember that the principle of judgment is

whether the least of this my brethren were cared for in a practical way,

whether their needs were met and their trials shared. We must have a concern

for the unity and the fellowship of the church. That's why the church remains

an important paramount pivot in today's world. The next one is this global evangelism,

and all four gospels have got the great commission to the apostles and through

them to the church and throughout time and space. Since the twelve Disciples could

not argually eleven, and then after that twelfth and thirteen they could not possibly

complete it themselves. Missions is not just for the early church fathers. It's

for us as well. We are all commissioned to the ends of the earth.

Not until every corner of our planet has hurt the good news, then

and in his own language, will the work be finished. That's why I

really take my heads off to Bible translators, because they are doing what they

can to complete the work. Six point is this social action, and there

is a clear biblical basis for service to an unbelieving world. Don't just think

of the believers unbelieving world, because Jesus endors the second Great commandment to love

our neighbors, and the way he interpreted neighbors basically, anyone who deserves help,

that's the Samaritan, anyone, even the one that is not a believer.

It sometimes we only choose to help our own know we are safe to

serve, and to serve in discriminary whoever needs us, whatever the relationship is,

however they choose to respond to us. And such unconditional love has a

special word for it. It's called agape love God love one another. The

seventh and the last one is this loyal endurance. And things will get much

worse before they get better. Remember childbirth. Things will get better after they

get worse. This is a basic structure of the whole revelations. I just

summarize it for you. Things will get much worse before they get better.

Things will get better after they get worse. Some of us may have to

face the great tribulation. I don't know. I hope not, but I'd

rather prepare us for it. What will enable believers to survive such pressures,

even to overcome them and be more than conquerors, is their sure hope of

Jesus's return, when they will receive their reward and share his reign. They

know that he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And so

the real test of our faithfulness is not how we behave if his coming is

sure and soon, but how we behave if he is long time coming.

Sometimes we want him to come sure and soon, Come now, and then

we all behave good. We are ready, Jesus, We are ready for

you. I'm helping the poor, feeding the poor. Know how will we

behave if he is long time coming? Because he's not looking for us to

be reacting in panic modal, but he's looking for loyal service, faithfulness.

It is not what we are doing when he returns that matters, but more

of what we have been doing all the time he has been away. Every

day we make choices, and this is surely why such passages such as Matthew

twenty four Revelations six to eighteen are in our New Testament, basically to get

us ready for the worst that can happen. I believe it, bey Ah

my heart. We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more information

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