Eschatology, a Broad Perspective From Genesis to Revelation 8/7/2016

Our Considerations The Northern Invasion: Ezek 38-39 Conditions at the Time of the End: Matt 24-25, Mk 13, Lk 21 The Great Apostasy: II Thess 2, II Tim 3, II Pet 3 The Rapture of the Church: I Thess 4, I Cor 15, Rev 4:1 Christ with His Church in the Parable of the Wedding Feast The Book of Revelation

When will the end come?

Rapture & Second Coming Are Separate Events The Rapture of the Church The Second Coming of Christ Christ returns in the air (I Thess 4:17) The Rapture brings comfort (I Thess 4:18) The Rapture concerns the church – “In Christ” (I Thess 4:14,16) The Rapture changes the bodies of believers (I Cor 15:51-53) Christ returns to the earth (Zech 14:4,5) The Second Coming brings judgment (Rev 19:15) The Second Coming concerns Israel & the nations (Zech 12:2-9) The Second Coming changes the hearts of Jews (Zech 12:10) 8/7/2016

Avoiding the Tribulation - Mark Lowry 11/16/2018

Matthew 25:1-13 Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 11/16/2018

Matthew 25:1-13 (cont’d) But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. 11/16/2018

A Jewish Wedding A young man selects the woman he or his father wanted He comes to her house with a marriage contract defining the terms of marriage, including the bride price Bride price paid the girl’s father for labor of daughter and loss of a son who would have been more helpful in the heavy work of farming Christ’s offer of Himself to Israel as their Messiah and King Girl & her father consider the offer & if they agree, bride & groom drink a cup of wine together sealing the arrangement Cup of the New Covenant at the last supper Groom pays the price for his bride, which might be substantial to ensure the groom’s commitment to his bride to be Christ’s death on the cross to save his people from their sin Groom leaves and says that, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Christ’s return to heaven at the ascension A Christian Love Story by Zola Levit Ref: A Christian Love Story by Zola Levitt 11/16/2018

Preparing a Place (Jn 14:2-3) Groom would return home to build bridal chamber, where they would spend their honeymoon of seven days A separate building on his father’s property or an extension on his father’s house Includes provisions for the bridal week which they would spend together alone in the room while the wedding feast went on Father of the groom is the one to approve the son’s work before he could get his bride God the Father’s command for Christ to return for the church The bride would wait for the groom to come Would have a lamp ready for a night time arrival of the groom Was set apart or consecrated to her groom as one “bought with a price” Would also wear a veil showing publically that she was taken Church’s preparation for the rapture and the Lord’s return for us 11/16/2018

Waiting for the Groom Bride assemble her sisters & bridesmaids who would also have oil lamps ready for a night time visitation When the chamber was complete, groom & his men would come suddenly at night to get bride & her attendants Try to surprise her and steal her away to the wedding Bride would sleep in her wedding dress to be ready Church’s readiness and anticipation of the Lord’s return Groom would give a shout to announce his midnight coming “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (1 Thess 4:16) 11/16/2018

Five Wise Virgins Provided oil for their lamps Fell asleep Bridegroom was away for a long time It has been a long time since the ascension Responded quickly to the bridegroom’s call Refused the plea of their five foolish friends Were ready at the moment of the announcement having been prepared well before Went in to the wedding 11/16/2018

Five Foolish Virgins Provided no reserve of oil for their lamps Fell asleep Were late in responding to the bridegroom’s call Asked five wise virgins for an allocation of their oil, but their refusal required them to go to market and buy more Were excluded from the wedding. Door was shut and their relationship with bridegroom & wedding party denied Jesus’ words “I never knew you” are hard, denying even a relationship with the five unwise virgins Strong warning – Keep watch you don’t know the day or the hour (also in Matt 24:42) 11/16/2018

Take-aways Jesus is coming again We don’t know when We are His bride We must be ready For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thess 4:16-17 11/16/2018

The Next Several Weeks Aug 14 TBD Chris Aug 21 21st century Missions Tom A Aug 28 TBD And then begins the Revelation of John

See you NEXT week!

11/16/2018

When will the end come?