October 22, 2006
"Star Trek—It's Not The Future Anymore"
God is Not Slow in Keeping His Promise—Part 4
Selected verses
"I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
—Matthew 26:29-30
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
—2 Peter 3:9-10 NASV
Prophecies offer proof of the power of God to perform His promises. Therefore, they must be fulfilled just as they are given.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."
—Matthew 23:37
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
—Matthew 24:1-3
The Disciples' three questions:
- When will the destruction of the temple take place?
- When will the kingdom be fulfilled?
- When will the end of the present age take place?
General prophecies concerning the "End Times":
1. Prophecies will become more clear as the end approaches.
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
—Daniel 12:4 (NKJV)
2. Transportation or stress will increase.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
—Matthew 11:28-29
3. Knowledge will increase but truth will be missed.
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.
—Amos 8:11-12 (NKJV)
"What a tragedy to have plenty of "religion" but no Word from the Lord! That means no light in the darkness, no nourishment for the soul, no direction for making decisions, no protection from the lies of the Enemy."
—Dr. Warren Wiersbe
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power...always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
—2 Timothy 3:1-7
Application
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
—2 Peter 1:2-3
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
—John 14:27
"Understanding The End Times"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- Growing up, what hot buttons did you push to get your parents mad? What hot buttons do (did) your children use on you?
Digging Deeper: Read Matthew 23:33—24:14
- In what ways are these religious leaders condemned to repeat the past, because of their failure to learn from their forefathers?
- How is the punishment described in verses 33-39, appropriate to the crimes?
- What emotion does Jesus express? What does that tell you about how he was feeling as he was teaching? Why?
- What prompts Jesus' next lesson (verses:1-2)? What bombshell does Jesus drop on His disciples? How do you imagine this made the disciples feel? How did the disciples feel about the temple?
- What questions do the disciples ask? What events might mislead the disciples, making them think the end had come?
- What are the general signs of the end of the age? Compare Luke 21:5-19.
Applying It To My Life
- Some people think this passage anticipated the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. Others think it refers to the end of the world. What do you think? Could it be both?
- How is this passage meant to influence your lifestyle? What gets in your way of taking this passage seriously?
- If you could ask Jesus one question about the second coming or the end of the world, what would you ask? Which of the signs mentioned in this passage do you see being fulfilled today? In what way? How do you feel about this?