God's Final Countdown

These are notes from my pastor's sermon series entitled "Last Days."  While I am a copious note-taker (and don't want them to go to waste!), I do NOT intend that they replace Pastor Bryan's preaching! Hopefully they will serve as a helpful outline as you listen to the actual sermon, which is available for viewing here:  http://www.firstroanoke.com/HTML/Resources/0410-LastDays/04-18-10/Viewer.shtml
This is the FIRST sermon in the series.

GOD'S FINAL COUNTDOWN 
Apr 18, 2010 - Dr Bryan Smith, First Baptist Church Roanoke VA

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."
2 Tim 3:1-7

We live in interesting times, times of danger and uncertainty. The eruption of an Icelandic volcano in the spring of 2010 has affected hundreds of thousands of people around the world. The National Day of Prayer in May was been determined to be unconstitutional. A Russian nuclear plant is scheduled to open in August 2010. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has openly declared that Israel should be "wiped off the map" and it's reported that Iran will soon have the necessary components to build nuclear weaponry. Fifty-three percent of Americans believe that something will happen in this century that will fulfill Biblical prophecy. Interesting fact: 27% of the Bible relates to prophecy, and God is revealing it to us!

The study of Bible prophecy is valuable. No Christian would doubt the truthfulness of any Old Testament prophecies that pertain to the incarnation (birth) of Jesus because those prophecies have come true, but understand this: there is THREE TIMES as much prophecy regarding the SECOND coming of Jesus! We should study prophecy not only to grow in knowledge, but to increase our love for the Lord and be better prepared to serve Him.

1. The Importance of Bible Prophecy
Rev 1:3 teaches us that studying prophecy brings blessing.
 - It reminds us that God is in control (Rev 19:6). We can face tough times with greater confidence and peace knowing that NOTHING happens to us that hasn't been filtered through the hand of God. Regardless of what happens in this life, we know He is on His throne and love us perfectly. (John 14:27)
 - It motivates us to live holy lives. We will want to be ready for His return. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
 - It helps us keep proper priorities: making right decisions, knowing Christ and making Him known (2 Peter 3:10-13). Like the final minutes of a game, we should keep our eyes focused on our goal as time runs out.
 - It gives us hope for troubled times. God's promises are trustworthy and encourage us in godly living (1 John 3:3, Titus 2:13-14).

2. The Immediateness of God's Final Countdown
Many of us may be a part of that final generation when Jesus returns. Some of the signs that Jesus' return is near:
   revolutions (Luke 21:9),
   rise of false prophets (Mark 24:4-5),
   wars and rumors of wars (Matt 24:6),
   earthquakes in strange places (Matt 24:7),
   persecution of believers (Matt 24:9), etc.
The Bible is dependable and we can look forward to Jesus' return because the Bible says so!

Three Views of Biblical prophecy:
Postmillennialism - the thousand year earthly reign of Jesus isn't a literal period of time. This view is that now is the golden age of the church and things should become more and more Christian before Jesus returns.  This was a view at the turn of the 20th century, but has isn't widely held today.
Amillennialism - no literal thousand year earthly reign of Jesus and believes that Satan was bound at the first coming of Jesus. It teaches that at the end of time Jesus will return and usher in eternity. There isn't a Great Tribulation period.
Premillennialism - the thousand year earthly reign is a literal, future event that will occur after Jesus returns for the Church.
    Additional premillennial positions: 
        Pre-trib(ulation): Jesus will return before the 7 year tribulation period, and then reign on earth 1000 years
        Mid-trib: Jesus will return in the middle of the tribulation period (and then the millennial reign)
        Post-trib: Jesus will return at the end of the tribulation period (and then the millennial reign)

Other terms we'll study:
Rapture: 1 Thess 4:15-17, Jesus' return for His church
Antichrist: Satan's superman (2 Thess, 1 and 2 John, Revelation) who rises to power during the Great Tribulation
Great Tribulation: 7 year period & reign of the antichrist
Mark of the Beast: sign of allegiance to the antichrist. It will be require to buy or sell goods.
Armegeddon: site of a tremendous battle that will occur near the ancient city of Meggido, where Jesus destroys the enemies of God and of Israel
Second Coming: bodily, glorious, literal return of Jesus to earth to reign from Jerusalem as King of all the nations
Millennium: 1000 year earthly reign of Christ following the Great Tribulation
Great White Throne Judgment: the final judgment of the nations (Rev 20:11-15) when God resurrects ALL people and judges them, and then delivers His people to glory before He banishes the lost to an eternity in hell.

One CLEAR sign of the last days: the formation of the state of Israel in 1948.  Much of what has been prophesied in Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3 is happening NOW. While it's obvious that things are getting crazy, we need to remember that earth is not our home - our FINAL home is in Heaven! We shouldn't just GET ready, we should STAY ready! Pray! Be in God's Word! Live a holy life! Remember: His return will be a surprise, like a thief in the night.

3. The Importunity of God's Invitation
2 Cor 6:2 teaches us that NOW is the time to believe and trust in Jesus because He could return at ANY moment!

If you DON'T know where you stand with God and where you'll spend eternity, click HERE to read my testimony. Whether you believe it or not, Jesus IS Lord!