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 Return of the King: Week 1Could Jesus Be Coming Soon?Scripture: Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 66; Zechariah 12; Luke 24; Revelation 11 [Notes to pastor: (1) Text that is in bold italics is meant to be made into slides, if you have the ability to do so. (2) Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are in the CSB.]IntroductionGood morning everybody! Open a Bible, if you will, to the very final page of the very final book: Revelation, chapter 22. Jesus speaks 3 times in this final chapter. In verse 7, He says…7?“Look, I am coming soon!?Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7In verse 12, He says…12?“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me?to repay each person according to his work.?Revelation 22:12And in v. 20, it says…20?He who testifies about these things?says,?“Yes, I am coming soon.”Revelation 22:20aThe word, “soon,” in Greek is, “tachu.” It sounds like “taco,” but it’s a very different word. The only thing “tachu” and “taco” have in common is that “tachu” means quickly, and Taco Bell makes tacos, quickly. In Matthew 24, Jesus says, “For as the?lightning?comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27– If you’ve ever seen lightning, you know it comes quickly. When Jesus comes back, He’s not going mess around. He’s going to come in a flash.NEED:Ever since Jesus ascended to heaven, people have been asking, “How soon is King Jesus coming?” In the last few months, many people have been asking, What is God up to right now? And…Are we living in what the Bible calls “The Last Days”? And…If we are in the Last Days, what should I do?I want to answer those questions for you over these next several weeks together. And it’s going to be a ride! For most of my life, I thought, “Jesus would return soon,” but not very soon. I now believe He may return very soon. I believe we are within shooting distance of the return of Christ. Which makes this the most strategic time in all of history.I believe that over these next few months, and possibly years, you and I have a greater opportunity to influence the eternal destiny of more people than any previous generation before us.I believe that our generation faces a greater temptation to fall away from our faith than any previous generation.And I believe that if we are in the last days, we have nothing to fear, because perfect love casts out all fear. And God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and love and sound judgment (2 Tim. 1:7).So over these next six weeks, I want to do everything I can to prepare you to walk with Jesus and shine for Jesus and help others come to Jesus in the days leading up to His return.Main TeachingNEED/FORECAST:If you are over 53 years old, in a few minutes I’m going to show you how the most significant day of your life happened on June 7, 1967.And if you’re younger than that, I’ll help you understand why your most significant day was May 14, 2018.Why these dates? Because significant things happened to the nation of Israel on those days, and what happens to Israel always influences the world.CAVEAT:As we begin, I want to make clear that I am not a prophet, nor a son of a prophet. But, I am a student and I have studied. And while some of what I will tell you today is my own opinion, my opinion has been informed by God’s Word. NEED:In every subject you can study, there is one key concept, or formula, or principle you must understand if you’re going to master that subject.To master math, you’ve got to understand addition. You can’t get to calculus without addition.To master English, you’ve got to understand the verb.To master music, you’ve got to understand notes.The same is true when it comes to the study of eschatology (which is the fancy word for the study of the end times). If you want to understand the events of the end times, you’ve got to understand Israel. Israel is the key to eschatology.GOD’S PURPOSE IN HISTORY:Ever since the fall in Genesis 3, God has been laser-focused on building a community of people who relate to Him by faith. If you’re going to have a community, you’ve got to have a people. So, 4,000 years ago, God began to build a people. He started with one person, Abraham. “Abraham,” He said, “I want to bless you, and through you, bless the peoples and nations of the world.”I will bless those who bless you,I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,and all the peoples on earthwill be blessed?through you.Genesis 12:3Abraham responded, and the plan of God began.Abraham is the founder of the nation of Israel. Israel was Abraham’s grandson. Through Israel, God has blessed the world. Through Israel, God has given us a Savior. Through Israel, God has given us His revelation, the Bible. (64 of its 66 books were authored by Jews.)ISRAELStudy the history of Israel and you’ll find some surprising and astounding things.FORECASTIn today’s message, I want to show you seven events that have already happened to Israel and will help you see just how close we might be to the return of Christ.Are you ready for this? Here’s where you want to start taking notes. Call this…Seven Signals that Jesus is ReturningSignal number 1 is:1. Israel has blessed the world. Genesis 12:2-3; Luke 24:44-49The 4,000 year-old prophecy of blessing has been fulfilled, and continues to be fulfilled every day. Every time an individual puts their trust in Jesus, through Him, the nation of Israel is blessing the world. Every time someone reads a scripture, the nation of Israel is blessing them.“Alright,” you say, but Jesus died for us 2,000 years ago, and the last portion of scripture was written 1,900 years ago. Has anything happened more recently to lead you to believe that Jesus might be coming soon?”Well, 72 years ago, something else happened that fulfilled an ancient prophecy.In Ezekiel 37, God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones. Ezekiel says, “In that moment, God said:5?This is what the Lord?God?says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.?6?I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the?Lord.” Ezekiel 37:5-6What’s this talking about? It’s talking about something dead coming back to life.Verse 21 makes it more clear. Israel was conquered and scattered in the 6th century B.C., but God brought them back together 70 years later. It was a miracle.And, that same thing happened to them a second time. In 70 A.D. the Israelites were living under Roman rule. They rebelled and then defeated and exiled them, scattering them throughout the nations. God wanted everyone to know that He wasn’t done with Israel, so He said to Ezekiel, “Write this down.”I am going to take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone.?I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land.?Ezekiel 37:21Here’s the second signal. It happened in 1948.2. Israel came back into their land. Ezekiel 37:5-6, 21They were scattered by the Babylonians in 606 B.C. Under King Cyrus of Persia, they were reunited with their land in 536 B.C.Fast-forward 2,500 years, and God did it again. The Israelites were scattered by the Romans. But after the Holocaust of World War II, Jews from around the world needed a place where they could be safe and free. So in 1947, the British, who controlled what was then called the Transjordan region, granted the people of Israel the right to constitute their own nation. On May 14, 1948, this is what they did. Not only did Ezekiel foretell this event, Isaiah did too. And if Ezekiel’s prediction of Israel becoming a nation seems miraculous, Isaiah’s prediction seems over-the-top. Because Isaiah asks:Who has heard of such a thing?Who has seen such things?Can a land be born in one dayor a nation be delivered in an instant?Isaiah 66:8aYet that’s exactly what happened to Israel on one day in 1948. On May 14, 1948.3. Israel was reborn in one day. Isaiah 66:8Israel went from being a people scattered with no homeland, to a self-sustaining, self-sufficient nation recognized by the General Assembly of the United Nations. God said it would happen, and it did. Once Israel was back in her land, the rest of the world went nuts. Because of the spiritual undertones of what is always happening with God’s plans for Israel, there is always an underlying level of irrationality when it comes to these people.God predicted that too.In Zechariah 12, God said, once Israel was back in their land, the nations around them would reel around as if they were drunk. He says:“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering?for the peoples who surround the city….” Zechariah 12:2Do you know what kind of people surround the city of Jerusalem? Muslim people. In 1948, when Israel was granted statehood, every one of her Muslim neighbors went nuts. Since that day4. The surrounding nations have been staggering. Zechariah 12:2The nations that surround Israel have vowed to drive her into the sea. From 2006 to 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council criticized Israel 68 times – three times more than any other nation.Enemies go berserk over Israel. They send suicide bombers. They rain mortar fire. They dig stealth tunnels. They bring resolution after resolution to the U.N.God predicted this, through the prophet Zechariah. And in case you’re wondering, Zechariah lived around 500 B.C. – At a time when Israel wasn’t a threat to anybody. They weren’t driving anyone crazy. And once the Romans scattered them, there was no Israel to drive anyone crazy. This prophecy, this prediction from God in Zechariah 12, could only be fulfilled after Israel was reconstituted as a nation. May 14, 1948 was a significant day in history. It was a day God foresaw and planned for. On that day, God sent a signal to say things were coming towards the end.Another significant day came 19 years later. In Revelation 11, the Bible predicts that before the Messiah returns, Israel will own its Temple Mount.“Go?and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there.?2?But exclude the courtyard outside the temple.?Don’t measure it, because it is given to the nations,?and they will trample the holy city?for forty-two months.?Revelation 11:1-242 months is 3 ? years. The book of Daniel tells us that the final 7 years of the history of our planet will be a time of Tribulation. And the final 3 ? of those 7 years will be the Great Tribulation. During that time, all sorts of judgments will come on the peoples of the earth. An interesting part of this time is, according to Revelation 11, Israel will possess a Temple. But, Israel won’t possess the property around the Temple. That property will belong to “the nations.” RECAPSo Israel is back in their land. And Israel controls the land where the Temple will reside.Follow this: something astounding happened in 1967. In May of that year, Egypt’s president Gamal Nasser ordered the U.N. Security Forces that were serving as a buffer between Egypt and Israel to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula. He then cut off Israel’s access to the Straits of Tiran, severing Israel from a shipping route that was vital to Israel’s interests and endangering their national security. As Nasser did that, he began lining his elite troops along Israel’s southern border.At the same time, Jordan and Iraq mobilized forces on Israel’s eastern border.At the same time, Syria mustered her troops on Israel’s northern border.Israel has no western border. That’s called the Mediterranean Sea.Sensing an imminent attack, Israel launched a preemptive strike. From June 5th to June 10th, 1967, Israel pushed back their Arab enemies on all three sides. They won on every front.An unexpected result was that Jordan’s forces were so overwhelmed, they feared the annihilation of their entire armed forces, so instead of just withdrawing into their section of East Jerusalem, they moved their troops all the way back to the Jordan River, conceding East Jerusalem to the Jews without a fight.Without meaning to, on June 7th, 1967, Israel found herself in possession of the Temple Mount.Without fanfare or acknowledgement from the world, June 7th, 1967 may be the most important day of our lifetime so far. Because since that day, 5. Israel owns the Temple Mount. Revelation 11:1-2In Luke 24, Jesus explains the significance of this. Speaking about what will come for the Jewish people for the next 1900 years.“They [Israel] will be killed by the sword?and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles?until the times of the Gentiles?are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24Listen! From the time of the Roman occupation until June 7th, 1967 Gentiles ruled Jerusalem. But on that day, East Jerusalem was united to West Jerusalem under the sovereignty of the Jewish nation. And the time of the Gentiles was fulfilled.ANNOUNCEMENTLadies and gentlemen, according to Jesus, we are no longer living in the “times of the Gentiles.” Because Jerusalem is no longer being trampled by Gentiles.The next step is for the Temple to be rebuilt. There’s great opposition to that ever happening. But, there are two groups in Israel that are diligently working on it.Next, let’s check off signal number 6:6. Today, the capital of Israel is Jerusalem. Luke 21:24Because here’s another interesting event.For 50 years, there were claims that Jerusalem wasn’t really ruled by Israel, because the capital of Israel was Tel Aviv. No one was willing to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s legitimate capital.But, on May 14th, 2018 President Donald Trump did what the previous 4 presidents promised to do, but never followed through: he moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to downtown Jerusalem. Google it and you’ll find a picture of our embassy there today.After Trump’s lead, several other nations followed, so that today, Jerusalem is recognized as the capital of Israel. Why is this important? Because the city of Jerusalem is no longer ruled by, or “trampled by” Gentiles. It’s ruled by her own people for the first time since 70 A.D.ADDRESSING SEEKERSIf this is the first time you’ve been exposed to Biblical prophecy, all of this might sound crazy to you. But it’s all true. People like me have spent their lifetimes studying and verifying the veracity of Scripture.NEEDLet me give you one more signal before we talk about what all this means for us.According to Numbers 19, the only way to cleanse and sanctify the Temple is by the ashes of a red heifer – a red cow. According to Jewish tradition, there have only been nine red heifers sacrificed since Moses, and the tenth will herald the Messianic Age. Two years ago, on August 28, 2018, a red heifer was born in Israel for the first time in 2,000 years.7. A red heifer has been born. Numbers 19:2 Here’s the Scripture that talks about this:The?Lord?spoke to Moses and Aaron,?2?“This is the legal statute that the?Lord?has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red cow that has no defect and has never been yoked…. 4?The priest Eleazar is to take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.?Numbers 19:1-4TRANSITIONSo maybe Jesus’ return is near. We have so much of the Bible to learn from on this subject friends. Next week, I’ll cover with you seven signs that have or will happen soon to foretell His soon-coming. The week after that, we’ll cover the four most prevalent views of the rapture, and what that might be like.I believe this series will be like no other we’ve ever done, so I hope you’ll commit to being with us every Sunday, and I hope you’ll do your best to invite others to be part of this as well.ENCOURAGEMENTI am aware that the idea that Jesus might be near could seem scary, but one of the main reasons God foretold His coming is not so that we would be scared, but that we would be encouraged. Listen to this:For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,?with the archangel’s?voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ?will rise first.?17?Then?we who are still 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.?18?Therefore encourage?one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17We’ll unpack this entire passage in two weeks, but for now, look at the final sentence again:18?Therefore encourage?one another with these words.God didn’t tell us about the end to scare or discourage us, but to encourage us.If we’re going to live in it, or through it, God wants us to be encouraged!Conclusion/ApplicationSo if the end is near or if the end is here, how do we prepare?Let me give you four ways...How Do We Prepare?1. Don’t be deceived. Matthew 24:11Jesus warned us that during the end,Many false prophets?will rise up and deceive people.?Matthew 24:11We’re already seeing that today. Friends, the truth of God never changes. What God says in the Bible is always true. If you hear someone claiming something counter to scripture, don’t be deceived. One reason we’re doing this series is so that you won’t be deceived. I hope you’ll be here for every message in the series. Your second way to prepare is to…2. Remain faithful. Matthew 24:13Keep following Jesus. Don’t turn to the right or left. Resist thinking that this is a time to withdraw from following God or serving God or assembling together for worship. Don’t let Him sink to a secondary priority. Jesus’ promise in that Revelation 3 passage isHold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown. Revelation 3:11Remain faithful!Jesus’ promise in the Matthew 24 passage is…But the one who?endures to the?end?will be saved. Matthew 24:13Endure! Remain faithful!Your third way to prepare is to…3. Pray for Revival. Two things happen during revival. One is that Christians turn to God in deep sincerity and flush out any sin that has been hindering their relationship with Him. The other is that people who don’t know God come to Jesus in large numbers. Many times in history, when a civilization was at a moral low, like we are today, God’s people prayed and God sent revival. I believe these are our two choices: Either we revive or He returns. Either we come back to God, or God comes back to us. Revival never comes by surprise. Revival always comes in response to concerted prayer by God’s people. So I ask you again this week to join me every day in praying for revival, and praying that it starts with us.Your fourth way to prepare is…4. Draw people to Jesus. Acts 1:8The reason God will let all kinds of terrible judgments loose in the final years is to cause people to see their need and turn to God. If we are here during that time in history, it means we have a chance to be more fruitful than any other generation!I hope you’ll be thinking and praying now about who and how you can invite someone to church during this series. PRAYERAs we conclude this message in prayer, I’d like you to pray this with me:Come Lord Jesus.Use me until You come.Guide me in Your truthAnd protect me from deception.And find me faithful when You come.In Jesus’ name, Amen!SALVATIONIf today you find yourself wondering whether you truly are a child of God or not, I have good news for you: you can know for sure that you are a child of God and a member of His family by praying this simple prayer:Pray these words after me:Lord Jesus, I want to be your son (or daughter).I want You to be my Lord.I want You to live Your life through me.And I purpose to live for Your for the rest of my life.I admit that I have done things wrong.I have sinned.And I ask Your forgiveness. I mean this with all my heart.In Jesus’ name. Amen. ................
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