Are We Living in the End Times

Happy Sunday. Happy Thanksgiving week. Next Sunday I will share with you my Thanksgiving message, but today we'll continue our study of the happenings in Israel. Two weeks ago we looked at the question, whose land is it? Last week we talked about Palestine, Hamas, and I tried to answer the question, why is there such hatred of the Jews?

Today we will look at a popular question that's been asked a lot lately: are we living in the end times? I have mentioned before that when we see war in Israel, we naturally wonder if the time is near for the return of Christ. When the nation of Israel was reestablished in 1948, the prophetic clock started ticking. So when War breaks out in Israel, as it has, the ticking gets louder and louder and louder.

Back to the question: are we living in the end times? 2,000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote these words. They're found in second Timothy chapter 3. He wrote this to Timothy, a young pastor, and he said, "You should know this, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will only love themselves and their money. They'll be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrate ful. They'll consider nothing sacred. They'll be unloving and unforgiving. They'll slander others and have no self-control. They'll be cruel and hate what is good. They'll betray their friends, be Reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They'll act religious, but they'll reject the power that can make them Godly."

Although those words were written 2,000 years ago, it sounds like the time we're living in, doesn't it? Now we'll read from Luke chapter 21: "And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its Destruction has arrived. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. For those will be days of God's Vengeance, and the prophetic words of the scriptures will be fulfilled."

Now this has yet to occur, and the question comes to mind: with fighting there and armies there, is this the beginning of the end? In the Book of Ezekiel, in chapters 38 and 39, it's clear that Israel would be attacked, attacked by a coalition of Nations, including Russia. And Ezekiel, it's the land from the north. And Iran will be there. They were known as Persia in the Bible, and Iran changed its name from Persia in 1935. So that's not occurred as of yet. However, it's interesting to see that Iran and Russia are now working together like never before in history.

When I was a freshman in college, I lived in a house that belonged to my parents. They lived in Atlanta, and I lived in acran, Mississippi, some 300 miles away. I was not the best housekeeper. That's an understatement. I would clean on occasion, and it usually happened after I would get a phone call.

My folks would call and say, "We'll be there next Monday," and I'd spend a couple of days before their visit cleaning and washing and vacuuming and sprucing up the place. A surprise inspection would not have been a good thing. We need to know that when Christ returns, it will be a surprise inspection.

Matthew 24, beginning verse 42, tells us this: "So you two must keep watch, for you don't know what day your lord is coming. Understand this: if a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the son of man will come when least expected."

The point really is, we must be ready. We need to live a life that's always pleasing to God. As I've studied the end times over the last month or so, the consensus seems to be that the Rapture is certainly closer than ever. If you're a believer, that is great news. If you're not, you'd better get ready.

We read of the event, the Rapture, in first Thessalonians chapter 4, veres 15 and 18. There we find these words: "We tell you this directly from the Lord: we who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding Shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with a trumpet call of God. First the Believers who have died will rise from their graves, and then together with them we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and then we will be with the Lord forever."

Verse 18 says, "So encourage each other with these words." I'm encouraged by those words. I'll be there. The clock is ticking. As you gather around your table this week with your loved ones, pray, pray for them, encourage them, show them Jesus. Make sure they make it.

Pray with me. Father, help us to live expectant lives. Help us to live lives that are ready for your coming, so we won't be ashamed of whatever we are doing when you call us home. Is it soon? We don't know, but father, we anticipate and we look forward to that time. And as we see this world in such a mess, we are so thankful that we belong to another kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus. In your name we pray, amen.

God bless you. Happy Thanksgiving.