I just watched a movie called “The End of the Harvest” where these college students who are Christians, try to convince Athiests that Jesus is coming soon, and that the world is going to “end”, which in our terms means that the Judgement is coming. It was based on this research paper by this man named Jeff Bartel and I don’t know if that is real person or not. To get all the Scripture verses I recommend watching the movie. It’s an older movie, you’ll have to go hunting for it. Anyway, the students were all interested about when the world was going to end. The Christian students made a presentation on when the world was going to end using the Scriptures.
The big hype this year is – will the world end in December 2012, according to the Mayan Calendar? Some people believe it, and the truth is we don’t know, but probably not because any time anyone makes a prediction about when the world is going to end, it never comes true, because nobody knows the day or the hour. No man on earth can predict when Jesus comes back again or when or if the world is going to end. But we do know the earth as we know it is going to “stagger back and forth like a drunken person”, and many calamities will happen during near the time of the Lord’s return. There many people who say “Oh it won’t happen in my lifetime.” It may be true for them if they die suddenly, that’s why their hearts need to be prepared to meet the Lord.
The important question is not whether the world is going to end or not, but “Do you know where you are going?”
Some people were behind me at the grocery store one day, and they said something like, “Why bother, we all know the world’s going to end.” I couldn’t resist the urge to ask them, “Do you know where you’re going?” Unfortunately, I did not have any gospel tracks at the time.
Jesus said, “When I return, will I really find faith on the earth?” That’s a question every Christian may ask themselves.
To be honest we don’t know when we’re going to die. Nobody does. Tomorrow, or the next second or the next moment is not guaranteed, so we all need to be prepared to meet the Lord when He comes.
There’s the parable of the 5 wise virgins and the 5 foolish virgins, and some were prepared and some were not prepared. These were the people who were going to meet with Jesus.
But the question remains for all of us, “Do we know where we’re going?”
God’s standards are for perfection and no one can attain perfection. Can any one of us say that we are not flawed in any way? That’s why Jesus came and took our sins on the Cross that He could bear the standards of perfection because He was a perfect man.
We need to hasten the spreading of the Gospel. I don’t how much more we can do Church. But the movie made it clear we have to spread the Gospel. Jesus made it clear that even if He did signs, miracles, and wonders people still won’t believe. That can be shown through the Rich man and Lazarus Parable.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[d] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
As summarized in the movie, from the time that the Bible says that the earth began to the the time that Jesus was born was 4000 years. Then from the time of Jesus birth to now is approximately 2000 years. There will be a millienial or thousand year reign which is about a 1000 years. The Bible also says a thousand years is as a day.
I did my own research.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it[d] is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
This is what it says in Genesis – about the branch and the leaves.
Genesis 40:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes.
Genesis 40:12
New King James Version (NKJV)
12 And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days.
ROMANS 11:
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,[f] if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved,[g] as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”[h]
So we are very close to the time of Jesus return.
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles.[a] These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 “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[b] before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate[c] 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. 12 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. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
The Great Tribulation
14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’[d] spoken of by Daniel the prophet,[e] standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
No One Knows the Day or Hour32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Luke 17:
Now Here’s something else the Bible says – It will be as in the days of Noah.
26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”[f]
37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
The body – the Body of Christ.
Genesis 6:
5 Then the Lord[b] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
That describes today to a tee. Only evil all the time.
What are we to do, we can ask and pray that the Lord spare the Judgment from the nations, as Abraham did. We need to start praying and stop wasting time. At the same time, we need to start getting serious with the Lord ourselves. We are all guilty. Make sure we have oil, the Holy Spirit, lest the Lord find us sleeping and we are not able to make it in.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because[a] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
What is the fruit, – Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Goodness, Meekness and Self-Control. Yes I know that even unbelievers can have these, but for believers, this is what is referred to testing the fruit. They need to believe in the repentance and turning away from the sin and doing a 180 degree lifestyle. That’s why prayer is very important, because we can get caught up in weaknesses of the flesh which we are all subjected to and unless someone confesses and repents their sin at the first sign of problem with the conscience and grievance of the Holy Spirit, then we will not be condemned.
Another point – Jesus took our sins on the Cross, why should we sin, any more if that brings only pain to Jesus. Yes it was out of His love that He died for our sins, and we do have grace for the days that we need extra help. But that leaves us no excuse to live a licentious lifestyle like some believers in extreme grace seem to think. Thank God for Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that helps us. One thing about the Holy Spirit, He is Holy.
So this is another are we ready? Time is getting shorter, Jesus is coming everyday. Christians are getting persecuted and what are we doing? People are perishing. Watching tv, fireworks, and going on facebook, Lord forgive us.
singingsinglev4 