In a world filled with false prophets and counterfeit messiahs, it is crucial to remain vigilant and discerning. The allure of a new world order and false promises of peace can easily lead us astray. Our focus must remain on the true hope found in Jesus Christ, who will establish His kingdom of justice and righteousness. The teachings of Jesus and the warnings of Daniel the Prophet remind us that deception is a real threat, and we must be grounded in the truth of God's word to avoid being led astray. [04:19]
2 Peter 2:1-2 (ESV): "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed."
Reflection: Consider the sources of information and influence in your life. Are there any that might be leading you away from the truth of Christ? How can you ensure that your focus remains on Jesus and His teachings today?
Day 2: Recognizing the Signs of the Times
Jesus warned of wars, famines, pestilences, and natural disasters as signs of the end times. These events are not just random occurrences but indicators of the approaching fulfillment of God's promises. As believers, we must be aware of these signs and prepare our hearts for Christ's return. The world may seem chaotic, but these signs remind us of the certainty of God's plan and the need to remain steadfast in our faith. [20:49]
Matthew 24:6-8 (ESV): "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains."
Reflection: How do you respond to the chaos and uncertainty in the world around you? What steps can you take to prepare your heart and mind for the return of Christ?
Day 3: Rejecting the Counterfeit New Age
Satan's attempts to establish a counterfeit new age and world government are evident in today's society. These movements, rooted in the occult and deception, offer false hope and lead many astray. We must stand firm in our faith and reject these counterfeit promises, holding fast to the truth of God's word. The allure of these movements can be strong, but our hope and trust must remain in the promises of God, which are true and eternal. [17:22]
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (ESV): "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."
Reflection: Are there any beliefs or practices in your life that might be influenced by counterfeit spiritual movements? How can you align your life more closely with the truth of God's word today?
Day 4: Embracing the Hope of Christ's Return
Despite the chaos and destruction in the world, we have a glorious hope in the return of Jesus Christ. His coming will usher in a new age of peace and righteousness, where all the ills of this world will be no more. This hope is a certainty for those who trust in Him. The promise of Christ's return is not just a distant dream but a reality that should shape our lives and give us strength to endure the challenges we face. [44:13]
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's return influence your daily life and decisions? What can you do today to live in anticipation of His coming?
Day 5: Our Mission as Beacons of Hope
In the face of a world that is complacent and uninterested in spiritual matters, we are called to be beacons of hope. Our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ, leading others into the light and hope that is found in Him. We must remain steadfast in our faith and committed to our commission from Jesus. The world is in desperate need of salvation, and it is our responsibility to share the hope we have in Christ with those around us. [48:37]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ? How can you be a beacon of hope to them today, sharing the light and love of Christ in a tangible way?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound and prophetic teachings of Jesus Christ regarding the end times and the establishment of God's kingdom on Earth. We began by reflecting on the words of Daniel the Prophet and the warnings of false prophets and counterfeit messiahs. These deceptions are prevalent in our world today, as many are led astray by promises of a new world order and false hopes of peace and prosperity. However, the true hope lies in the return of Jesus Christ, who will establish a kingdom of justice and righteousness.
We delved into the signs of the times, as Jesus described them to His disciples. These include wars, famines, pestilences, and natural disasters, all of which are evident in our world today. The rise of counterfeit movements, such as the New Age and global governance efforts, are attempts by Satan to mimic the promises of God. Yet, these efforts will ultimately lead to chaos and destruction, culminating in the battle of Armageddon.
Despite the grim outlook, we are reminded of the glorious promise of Christ's return. When Jesus comes again, He will bring with Him those who have become the subjects of His kingdom, establishing a new age of peace and righteousness. This hope is not just a distant dream but a certainty for those who place their trust in Jesus.
In the face of the world's challenges, we are called to stand firm in our faith, to be beacons of hope, and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world in desperate need of salvation. Our hope is built on the solid rock of Christ, and it is our mission to lead others into the light and hope that is found in Him.
Key Takeaways
1. The Reality of Deception: In a world filled with false prophets and counterfeit messiahs, it is crucial to remain vigilant and discerning. The allure of a new world order and false promises of peace can easily lead us astray. Our focus must remain on the true hope found in Jesus Christ, who will establish His kingdom of justice and righteousness. [04:19]
2. Signs of the Times: Jesus warned of wars, famines, pestilences, and natural disasters as signs of the end times. These events are not just random occurrences but indicators of the approaching fulfillment of God's promises. As believers, we must be aware of these signs and prepare our hearts for Christ's return. [20:49]
3. The Counterfeit New Age: Satan's attempts to establish a counterfeit new age and world government are evident in today's society. These movements, rooted in the occult and deception, offer false hope and lead many astray. We must stand firm in our faith and reject these counterfeit promises, holding fast to the truth of God's word. [17:22]
4. The Hope of Christ's Return: Despite the chaos and destruction in the world, we have a glorious hope in the return of Jesus Christ. His coming will usher in a new age of peace and righteousness, where all the ills of this world will be no more. This hope is a certainty for those who trust in Him. [44:13]
5. Our Mission as Believers: In the face of a world that is complacent and uninterested in spiritual matters, we are called to be beacons of hope. Our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ, leading others into the light and hope that is found in Him. We must remain steadfast in our faith and committed to our commission from Jesus. [48:37] ** [48:37]
Matthew 24:15-27 - Jesus' teachings on the signs of the end times and the warning against false prophets.
Revelation 1:7 - The promise of Jesus' return in glory.
Daniel 7:13-14 - The prophecy of the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven to establish an everlasting kingdom.
Observation Questions:
What are some of the signs of the end times that Jesus mentioned to His disciples? How do these signs relate to current world events? [12:48]
How does the sermon describe the role of false prophets and counterfeit messiahs in today's world? [04:19]
What is the significance of Jesus' return according to the sermon, and how is it described in the Bible passages? [06:39]
How does the sermon explain the concept of a counterfeit new age and world government? [13:28]
Interpretation Questions:
In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers should remain vigilant against deception in the world today? [04:19]
How does the sermon interpret the current global movements and efforts towards a new world order in light of biblical prophecy? [13:28]
What does the sermon imply about the certainty of Christ's return and the establishment of His kingdom? How should this influence a believer's perspective on current world events? [44:13]
How does the sermon challenge believers to respond to the world's challenges and the promise of Christ's return? [48:37]
Application Questions:
Reflect on the current events in the world. How do they align with the signs of the end times described by Jesus? How does this affect your faith and daily life? [12:48]
In what ways can you remain vigilant and discerning against false teachings and promises of peace in today's society? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your discernment? [04:19]
How can the promise of Christ's return and the establishment of His kingdom bring hope and encouragement to you in times of uncertainty? [44:13]
The sermon calls believers to be beacons of hope. What specific actions can you take this week to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around you? [48:37]
Consider the sermon’s warning about counterfeit movements. How can you ensure that your hope and trust remain anchored in Jesus Christ rather than in worldly promises? [17:22]
How can you prepare your heart and life for Christ's return, as encouraged by the sermon? What changes might you need to make in your priorities or lifestyle? [20:49]
The sermon emphasizes the mission of believers to lead others into the light of Christ. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the message of hope in Jesus. How can you reach out to them this week? [48:37]
Sermon Clips
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is coming again to establish the kingdom of God upon this Earth, that one day the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of Our Lord and of his Messiah, and he shall reign forever and ever. Jesus spoke to his disciples here in this chapter about his coming with clouds and great Glory. [00:05:45]
God has promised a new age for this world, the kingdom age. God has promised that there will come a day when the kingdom of God will be established upon the Earth and it will be glorious because all of the previous ills that have resulted from sin will be gone. [00:08:21]
Jesus began to tell them the signs that they could look for, and first of all, he warned them of counterfeit Messiahs, the counterfeit world government, and the counterfeit New Age movement, for Satan would seek to establish a counterfeit New World Order before he would establish the kingdom of God. [00:12:41]
The New Age movement, Satan's counterfeit, and it is fraught with the occult, it is satanic in its origin. Those spokespersons for the New Age movement confess to having these Spirit guides who direct them in their writings, they purportedly have these ancient wise wizards of the past speaking through them in the process they call channeling. [00:15:38]
Man's attempt at this counterfeit new age is going to end in chaos. Jesus said that and there shall come a time of Great Tribulation such as never been since the world began or ever will be. Man's attempt is going to end in a great battle known in the Bible as the battle of Armageddon. [00:19:56]
Jesus said concerning the days before he would return that unless those days were shortened no flesh would remain upon the Earth. The potential for atomic war with Islam is far greater than it ever was with Russia because the people of Russia had enough sense to know that they're engaging in a nuclear war would ensure Mutual destruction. [00:26:27]
The World Health Organization estimates that some 15 million people are dying from causes that are related to malnutrition every year, that two-thirds of the world has insufficient diet, suffers from malnutrition, and that the resultant kinds of illnesses that come from a body weakened by malnutrition accounts for some 15 million deaths every year. [00:27:56]
I see no hope for this world in its present Direction. We're on a crash course with destruction, and I believe that the only hope in the world today, the only hope for the future, is that new world order that Jesus has promised that he would establish when he comes again. [00:43:46]
But there's a positive hope for you who are disturbed by the things that are happening in the world in which you live, disturbed by the statistics that we're reading. There's Hope, and that is in Jesus Christ, and my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. [00:45:58]
Lord may we be your instruments to lead people into the light and the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ, and may we shine forth Lord in this dark world as a Beacon of Hope. [00:48:00]
And yet it is our commission from Jesus to Bear Witness that God loves them and God will forgive them if they will only turn their lives over to Jesus Christ, they too can become citizens of his kingdom. [00:48:57]
There is hope for the future, great hope for the future, for those who are in Christ Jesus. May the Lord be with you and bless you as you bear witness of his love to others. [00:49:26]