Power Point - August 3, 2005

August 3, 2005

 

[Jesus said,] “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry before hand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved…”

--Mark 13:9-13

 

In the next part of Mark 13, Jesus spoke of tribulation miseries, both personal and national. Again, I truly believe that the church of Jesus Christ will be raptured, but there will be people who will come to believe in Jesus during the tribulation. The book of Revelation tells us that 144,000 Jewish evangelists will cover the earth with the message of Christ (Revelation 14:1-5). Those who are left behind will be persecuted.

 

The early Christians went through severe persecution, and many were martyred for their faith. Jesus said to expect it through all the generations. Be prepared, because persecution will increase, there will be an increasingly adversarial position against the Christian faith, and every believer will be targeted. This is why it is so very important for us to strengthen our faith in these tough times, and stand for truth and righteousness regardless of the cost.

 

There will also be national miseries. In verses 14-23 of Mark 13, Christ talks about the desolation of the temple. The national miseries of Israel will take place during the tribulation, and the temple will be active during this time. You may say, “Well, as long as the temple’s not in place, then I’ve got some time.”

 

I went to Israel several years ago, and I visited the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, and they were fast at work building the tools for the temple. They had even gone to the Mediterranean Sea to get various shellfish for the dyes that are cast for the vestments of the priests. The future is now!

 

What would you do if you were told to follow the world or die? What would you do if times got as tough as this? Would you be a lukewarm, half-hearted Christian? Or would you be sold-out to go as far as it took to uphold the Gospel of Christ? I can’t express enough the importance of being a true believer in Christ. Decide that you will stand for Christ all the time. Pray that He would keep you strong and in the race until the very end.

 

NO SIGN NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED TO KEEP CHRIST FROM COMING BACK TODAY, SO BE PREPARED TO GO WITH HIM WHEN HE COMES TO TAKE YOU AWAY!