a. Jesus life before the crucifixion spanned 33 years. b. His ministry lasted approximately 3 ½ years.

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1 Two Primary Themes in the End-time Church I. INTRODUCTION A. Why look at the church at the end of the age? 1. First, we study it for the sake of love. If Jesus is the deepest longing of our heart then we will carefully look into the events that are required for His return. Though it only lasts a few hours, a bride thinks about, plans for, and talks about her wedding even if it is a year or more out. It dominates her thinking. If we love Jesus above all else, the time period that results in His appearing to be with us forever will dominate our thinking as well. 2. Secondly, it is the penultimate church and as such is the interpretive key for the church in every generation. It is the God defined finish line for the church and, if we are going to aim at the same target He is aiming at, we must be familiar with how the church finishes. 3. The generation at the end of the age is the most described generation in the Scripture. Especially in a time when biblical signs of the times surround us, though trying to set a date is unscriptural, we must ask the question, Am I living in the beginnings of the most described generation in human history? If so, are we preparing for the most dramatic upheaval the earth has ever seen? B. We can better understand the significance of the end of the age for the church by looking at the way we understand the life of Jesus. 1. You can divide the timeline of Jesus life in the gospels into three broad spans of time. a. Jesus life before the crucifixion spanned 33 years. b. His ministry lasted approximately 3 ½ years. c. His suffering and resurrection occurred within a window of 3 ½ days. 2. Of these different spans of time, it is the one that is the shortest and that occurs at the end that ends up being the interpretive key to all the rest. 3. Though it is an incredibly small unit of Jesus life and is does not even occupy most of the space in the gospels, the gospel authors expect you to understand what they wrote in the context of the events related to Jesus suffering and resurrection in just 3 ½ days. 4. We understand His entire ministry, His teaching, and ultimately all the material we have on Jesus by understanding what happened in those 3 ½ days. Those few days overshadow all of the other material we have describing Jesus life and ministry in the

2 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 2 C. Just as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in 3 ½ days are the primary themes of Jesus ministry, even though they were preceded by a 33 year life, in the same way the final 3 ½ years of the church are a grand climax that are the interpretive key for the church though there are generations before that final 3 ½ years. D. If we do not understand the church s final 3 ½ years then we do not understand all that we can about the church s life and ministry in every generation. 1. While there are many things about the end of the age that we will not know, the Bible has given us a tremendous amount of information about the last 3 ½ years of the age. This information was given to us, not only to prepare us for that period of time, but also as a plumb line to help us express the church rightly in any generation. a. Imagine if the disciples had walked with Jesus for years having a full understanding of the suffering and glory of His last 3 ½ days? The gospels repeatedly highlight the fact that the disciples misunderstood Jesus precisely because they either did not believe or did not understand what He was saying about the final 3 ½ days. b. We have been given a tremendous gift in the wealth of information we have about the final 3 ½ years of this age. This is why Paul taught the Thessalonians the unique dynamics of the end of the age even though he had very little time with the church. Paul knew that a proper understanding of the final 3 ½ years was critical for the discipleship and survival of this fledgling church. If Paul considered this critical to the establishment of a new church, should we not follow his apostolic paths in the discipleship and establishment of churches? 2. God intends that we seek out and understand what has been given to us. The example of the disciples in the gospels is given to us to instruct us to walk with the Lord with understanding. If they had understanding of what was going to ultimately happen to Jesus, their life with Him would have been very different. Their lack of understanding is intended as a strong rebuke to us to both believe and have understanding concerning what the Lord says about the end of things. a. We have been given the opportunity to know the church s final days ahead of time so that it can influence our understanding of the church in every generation and that is a precious gift. b. Whether we take advantage of that gift determines whether we are among the people of understanding (Daniel 11:33) or whether we will walk with the confusion that affected the disciples. 3. The point is not to crack a secret code or figure out every single detail of the end of the age. No doubt there will be surprises that will cause us to live by faith, just as there were at His first coming. However, it is required of us to understand the things that God has given that are plain in Scripture and, by understanding the life of the church in the final 3 ½ years, we can properly understand the church in every generation.

3 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 3 II. TWO MAJOR THEMES IN THE CHURCH AT THE END OF THE AGE A. There are two major themes related to the expression of the church at the end of the age that we must know and be familiar with. 1. Unparalleled Suffering Jesus specifically warned of unequalled suffering, echoing the language of Jeremiah 30:7 and Daniel 12:1. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21 22 NKJV) 7 Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7 NKJV) 1 At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1 NKJV) 2. Unparalleled Glory There is a great multitude that comes out of the unparalleled suffering of the end of the age, a clear indicator that God matches unparalleled suffering with unparalleled glory on the church because an unequalled release of the power of the Spirit will be required to overcome the flood of iniquity at the end of the age. The release of supernatural power on the two witnesses in Revelation 11 also clearly points to an unmatched time of signs and wonders in the entire church. Then, just before the antichrist steps on the stage of history in Revelation 13, angels announce an unusual release of power in Revelation 12. The sudden demonstration of power in the heavens will also have a corresponding expression on the earth. When the power of Jesus is come, it will come upon His body as well. 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from? 14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. So he said to me, These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9, NKJV) 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11:3, 6 NKJV)

4 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 4 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:10-11, 17 NKJV) B. The two themes are the ultimate themes of the church in this age, because they were the ultimate experience of Jesus in this age. His life in this age is ultimately defined by His experience of suffering and glory in His own death and resurrection even though it occurred within a very small window of time. The pattern of the church ultimately follows the pattern of the Head of the Church. We have to understand that the life of the church is ultimately formed and fashioned after the life of Jesus. 24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master (Matthew 10:24 25a NKJV) C. The neglect of either of these themes produces a distorted eschatology. Because eschatology is ultimately our definition of the goal or finish line for the church, our eschatology influences our thought and behavior far more than we realize. Therefore, a distorted eschatology causes the church to labor towards goals that are unbiblical will lead to a distorted praxis. 1. When we neglect the reality that the final expression of the church on the earth is a suffering church then we labor for an expression of the church that avoids suffering at all costs. We seek the avoid the very thing that God says is unavoidable for the last days church. a. The church also ends up becoming too comfortable with the systems and structures of this world and ultimately ends up in some sort of uncomfortable cooperation with them. We end up laboring for and seeking to perpetuate an expression of Christianity that God has not called us to perpetuate. b. This is often expressed theologically as Dominionism, which is the idea that the church conquers the governments and institutions of this age for God before Jesus returns. c. A comfort-based approach to Christianity ultimately misses the full expression of the power of the Holy Spirit because the preservation of comfort and safety at all costs is a humanistic pursuit, one which human strength pursues and embraces and the Spirit draws back from. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit often leads us to suffer for the sake of love and it takes the power and might of the Holy Spirit for the church to overcome through suffering.

5 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 5 2. On the other hand, when we neglect the unparalleled glory that accompanies the end-time church we end up fatalist and gravitating towards a survival mentality rather than operating in the power of the Holy Spirit and advancing God s mission in the age. a. When we take a pessimistic view of the end-times church, we can end up being very fatalistic and lack vision for God s agenda for the church. We then naturally tend towards isolationism because, if the church will barely survive the last days, then the primary goal becomes the preservation of a remnant rather than the expansion of that remnant. b. The return of Jesus becomes something to be feared and avoided rather than something to embrace and labor for with all our strength. c. A preservation mindset that does not expect a great influx of the power of the Holy Spirit also can tend towards building the church in the strength of men. The great harvest at the end of the age requires an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but if we do not expect this harvest we can continue building the church in our own strength rather than pressing for something that only an infusion of God can bring to pass. D. These two themes, rightly understood, and held in biblical tension will prepare the church to come to its last day s maturity. When they are neglected, we end up laboring to produce a church that is not the same as what God is laboring to produce. III. THE TRANSITION OF THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK A. According to the Scripture, the age ends in a 7-year period of time during which the church experiences great suffering and great glory. This period of time ends with the return of the Lord. The Scripture divides this period of time into two 3 ½ year periods, with the final 3 ½ years being known as the time of Great Tribulation. The book of Daniel describes this period of time as the last of several sevens which many English translations translate as weeks. Thus, the final 7 years is often referred to in English as the final week. This is why the transition from the first 3 ½ years to the second 3 ½ years is often referred to as the middle of the week. B. A dramatic transition occurs in the middle of the week or 3 ½ years into the final 7 year period at the end of the. The key event that marks this transition is the event commonly known as the Abomination of Desolation that occurs as several dramatic events transition history into the final 3 ½ years of this age. This final 3 ½ years is referred to biblically as the Great Tribulation. C. Revelation 12 gives us the perspective of what happens in the heavens as the final 3 ½ years begin. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and

6 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 6 Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:7 9 NKJV) 1. John sees a specific day in the future when satan and his angels are cast down out of the heavens to the earth. 2. While Jesus presently has all power and authority, there remains a day in the future when He uses His authority to thrust satan to the earth for the final conflict of this age. D. Immediately after this event, Revelation 13 records the emergence of The Beast, also known as the antichrist, and the beginning of the last 3 ½ years further establishing the timing of this event in the prophetic timeline. 1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1 2 NKJV) E. When this event occurs, we suddenly see the crescendo of suffering and glory related to the last days church. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time. (Revelation 12:10 12 NKJV) 1. First, we see that the accuser of the brethren is cast down. Accusation is one of the primary ways the enemy assaults the church. However, the accuser will be cast down and the church will begin to experience what the church in history has never known a global open heaven. It is impossible to anticipate what life in the Spirit is like with a global open heaven. No generation in history has experienced this. a. The voice prophesies, Now salvation has come! Who is this salvation for if it is not for the church? b. Verse 10 tells us that the accuser who has accused the brethren day and night is cast down. This indicates clearly that this is not his initial fall in sin because there were no brethren to accuse at that time. 2. Secondly, we see the increase of suffering on the earth as history transitions into the time of unequalled trouble. The church, like Jesus, enters a period of ultimate suffering for the sake of love. It is the power of a global open heaven energizes the global church to overcome even unto death. The devil comes down with great wrath, but the prediction concerning the church is clear: they overcame him.

7 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 7 F. Isaiah also describes this fall and connects it with the ultimate defeat of satan that is set in motion by this event. Thouugh there are shadows of satan s initial fall in Isaiah s prophecy, Isaiah calls him the one who has weakened the nations. There were no nations to weaken before the garden. Isaiah also presents describes his final judgment as a man on the earth and we know that satan s final defeat in this age comes when he inhabits a man who then becomes antichrist. 12 How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners? (Isaiah 14:12, NKJV) G. Many understand the near far or double fulfillment aspect of biblical prophecy where a prophecy has a limit application to an event in history and a fuller and final application in the future. For example, the beginning of Daniel 11 gives details of the reign of Antiochus while the second part of Daniel 11 uses the reign of Antiochus as a prototype for the reign of the antichrist. 1. While many understand how this phenomenon affects the understanding and interpretation of the prophetic books, it is often missed that this is not limited to prophetic literature in the Scripture. 2. Much of what is in the Scripture is actually given to us in such a way that, though it is a record of past history, events unfolded and were recorded for us in such a way as to be a prophetic instruction for the church in the final generation. 3. God is a poet and a prophet and books in Scripture that may not seem to be prophetic on the surface end up being prophetic instruction when the Spirit gives us revelation. IV. THE INSTRUCTION IN THE GOSPELS FOR THE END-TIME CHURCH A. The fact that Jesus entire ministry is contained within a 3 ½ year period of time is itself an indicator that the example of His life will ultimately have its ultimate application in one generation that also lives within the context of a 3 ½ year ministry. The gospels also repeatedly show Jesus emphasis on these two key themes of the end-time church. B. Jesus prophesies the transition of Revelation 12 and the accompanying release of power in the gospels. 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. 18 And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:17 20 NKJV)

8 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 8 1. Many read Jesus words in Luke 10 assuming that Jesus is referring to a time in prior history, but Jesus is making a prediction concerning the future. This is a prophecy by Jesus that is set in a very specific context and that context is key to understanding the passage. 2. Jesus is enjoying the report of the seventy, which centers on the demonstration of power in their ministry. Jesus, as He is reflecting on this demonstration of power, looks forward to the day when, not just seventy, but an entire global church will see a release of power in ministry and He connects that event with the fall of satan from the heavens. 3. In other words, Jesus sees the ministry of the seventy as a small down payment of the day when satan will fall like lightning from heaven and the church will experience a season of power unlike what they have previously known. 4. Jesus finishes this promise of power with a warning their confidence is not to be in the release of power, but in the certainty of their salvation. The release of power will not be, and has never been, complete immunity from suffering. Overcoming unto death will be required in the same day that satan falls like lightning from heaven because he must fall somewhere. Isaiah 14 and Revelation 12 both predict, he will fall from heaven to the earth and earth will become the final background. C. Jesus also gives us very specific predictions of the suffering at the end of the age. As He approaches His final 3 ½ days, which prefigure the final 3 ½ years of the church, He begins to ask for the love of the disciples even unto suffering. 1. Matthew and Mark both record the request of two prominent disciples to join Jesus in glory. This request appears just before the triumphal entry (Matthew 20; Mark 10). As Jesus is approaching His death and resurrection in Jerusalem, He answers their request with a prediction that they will drink a cup that is similar to His and undergo a baptism that is similar to His own. The position of this discourse clearly connects it to Jesus final suffering. 37 They said to Him, Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory. 38 But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 They said to Him, We are able. So Jesus said to them, You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared. (Mark 10:37 40 NKJV) 2. Jesus instruction regarding the cup of suffering and being close to Him in glory is not intended for James and John only but for those in every generation and especially for those in the final generation who want to experience the unique favor and glory of those who come out of the tribulation.

9 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 9 3. Jesus connects His reward to His unequalled suffering and offers an unequalled reward to those who live in a time of unequalled suffering. Revelation 7 specifically predicts that a company will come out of the great tribulation and receive the privileged place that James and John desired. This means some of the greatest rewards for access to Jesus in the age to come are still available. 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from? 14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. So he said to me, These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. (Revelation 7:13 15 NKJV) D. Throughout His ministry, Jesus gives the apostles and the church an invitation to follow Him into suffering for the sake of love and to operate in power. This invitation is for every generation, but the fact that His ministry was 3 ½ years is a clear indicator that His ministry is ultimately pointing to a ministry of the church that will also occur in the final generation. 1. Jesus repeatedly invites the disciples to take up their cross and follow Him for the sake of love (Matthew 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24 NKJV) a. Jesus embraced the cross throughout His life, but there was one specific time when He had to embrace His cross. In that moment His love faced the ultimate test and His life s heart posture was acted out during several agonizing hours. b. Just as He did for the apostles, Jesus invites the church in every generation to take up their own cross and follow Him. It is an invitation to every generation, but there is one generation for whom it will be the ultimate invitation and that is why Revelation 7 predicts an unequalled reward for those that endure this period. 2. Just as He invited His followers to embrace the same suffering that He did, He also commissioned those who followed Him to operate in the same power that He did. 1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. (Matthew 10:1 NKJV) 1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1 NKJV) 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. (Luke 10:1 NKJV) 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them

10 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 10 out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: (Mark 3:14 15 NKJV) V. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOOK OF ACTS A. The book of Acts is critical for our understanding of the church, and it is significant that this book is the only description of the life and ministry of the church that is given in the New Testament. B. We have already seen how the life of Jesus, as recorded in the gospels, prepares the church for the final 3 ½ years, and the story in the book of Acts is also uniquely structured to prepare the church and give it a picture of the life of the church at the end of the age. God very carefully and intentionally began the New Testament church with the same general storyline that He will use to bring the church to final maturity. C. God specifically gave us the example of the church in the book of Acts for our instruction. He could have given us many other expressions of the life and function of the church, but He chose to give us this particular one and we must note the significance of it. 1. Because it is what God has given us, the book of Acts describes what is normal for the church. We should understand it, and if we do not see the church in our generation functioning in that way, recognize that our experience of church is abnormal. 2. God places each believer in a unique location and generation and many find themselves in a biblically abnormal expression of the church. We must understand when we are in an abnormal expression of the church so that we do not build theology that depends on that abnormality or adopt missiology that seeks to propagate an abnormal expression of the church. 3. The book of Acts is given to us as a great plumb line for the church and this plumb line is incredibly important for the church at the end of the age because the church of the final 3 ½ years is God s final expression of the church in this age. Therefore we must align with the God-given pattern given in Scripture, receive it as what is normal for the church and labor towards it or we will drift towards a different finish line and expect the church to come to maturity in a way that is different from what God expects. D. If we take Acts as the plumb line that God intended it to be then we will consider any church that does not experience the same life as the church in Acts to be deficient and abnormal. When we recognize this deficiency and abnormality we will resist this abnormality and, rather than accepting it as an unbiblical normal, we will drive the church towards the Scriptural definition of what is to be the normal expression of the church. 1. Only the church that experiences the life and power of the book of Acts is to be considered normal. 2. In the same manner only the church that provokes the same response of opposition from the powers of this age is completely normal.

11 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 11 VI. THE ESCHATOLOGICAL TIMELINE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS A. Not only does the book of Acts reiterate key themes for the church in the end-times, even the overall timeline in the book is intended to give us significant insight into the expression of the church in the last days. B. The book of Acts was not primary written as a historical record for early believers. It was written for future generations and especially as a road map and encouragement for one final generation who will live in a transitional period and see the church come to final maturity. C. The book of Acts begins with the disciples summary question about Jesus 40 day teaching on the kingdom: 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6 NKJV) 1. In answer to this question, the Lord gave the apostles a mission of an aggressive expansion of the gospel into every culture. In Romans Paul provides the theological underpinnings for the mission, but in Acts we are simply given the mission. 2. Luke recorded this key interchange for us because it shows us what was on the mind of the Lord and the apostles as the book begins. The mission in Acts was given so that Israel would ultimately be saved. D. The book of Acts then opens with the explosion of power known as Pentecost. As we have already seen, the dislodging of satan in the heavens that is recorded in Revelation 12 will produce a Pentecost in the church unlike any other event in redemptive history. Peter immediately puts this amazing burst of power in an eschatological context. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool. (Acts 2:16-17, NKJV) 1. Peter immediately knew by the Spirit that this was more than a revival meeting. The Holy Spirit was initiating an eschatological move of God. This kind of rending of the heavens was for the Lord s purposes in the last days. 2. While Peter probably would have recognized that this was not the complete fulfillment of Joel s prophecy, he knew that it was the kind of thing spoken of by the prophet Joel. Peter immediately connected this outpouring of the Spirit to the end time drama. E. Immediately after this, the book of Acts begins with power, preaching, and persecution the primary themes of the end of the age. Miracles are done and men are martyred as God launches the apostolic witness. If God made such a special effort to set the character of the church by launching it this way, will He not make the ultimate effort to bring the church again to this ministry?

12 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE 12 F. The book of Acts goes on to recount the aggressive ministry of the church while also recording the pressure and opposition that came against that witness the same themes that Daniel 11 and Revelation 12 emphasize. 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:22 24 NKJV) 11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:11, 20 NKJV) 1. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will sweep the church into the last 3 ½ years of this age with great missionary zeal and power for the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, Isaiah 42:10-13, and Malachi 1: This is why Daniel predicts that the church at the end of the age will do great exploits (Daniel 11:32-35) while many of them also fall to persecution. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:32 35 NKJV) 3. Suffering and power will be known in the church again, only this time on a scale far exceeding the books of Acts. The church at the end of the age is not passive, marginalized, or defeated. It will be alive just as the church in Acts was. As we read the book of Acts Jesus would say to the last day s church, Greater works than these shall you do. G. The final drama recorded in the book of Acts revolves around the decision of the book s chief apostle to return to Jerusalem even though it is prophesied that the journey will come with great suffering the same exact way the Scripture predicts the age will end. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. (Acts 21:11 NKJV) H. When this suffering is prophesied, Paul s friends pleaded with him not to avoid this suffering and not go to Jerusalem. The heart posture of Paul s response to their plea is critical for the church at the end of the age. The church must be brought to this apostolic heart that was also expressed in Romans 9:1-3.

13 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE Then Paul answered, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 21:13 NKJV) 1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, (Romans 9:1 3 NKJV) 1. The pleading of the people to avoid the controversy that would come in Jerusalem actually broke Paul s heart because they were more burdened for his personal safety than for the purpose of God. 2. The apostle s driving burden was for a witness that had to be given in Jerusalem over and above the personal cost of that witness. Paul was driven to Jerusalem, though it would cost him personally, for the sake of what was dear to Jesus. I. It is Paul s attempt to give a witness to the Jews of his faithfulness to the covenant of Abraham that ultimately leads to his arrest and imprisonment. One of Paul s last recorded statements in the book is that he is in chains for the Hope of Israel. The book of Acts ends in the tension of what will be required of the chief apostle for Israel s salvation and the tension is unanswered because that question belongs to the end of the age. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. (Acts 28:20 NKJV) J. The church s own life as recorded in the book of Acts mirrors the history of the church as God intended it. At the same time it also recounts the same basic storyline that the prophets predict for the last 3 ½ years. 1. It is born with power in Jerusalem. The last 3 ½ years also begin with a release of power. 2. It is cast out of Jerusalem and rejected by the Jewish leaders. In the same manner, the Jewish political leaders make a covenant with death rather than turning to the Lord at the beginning of tribulation. 3. The apostolic church grows and expands among the gentiles while maintaining a witness to Israel among the synagogues. A church with great strength emerges among the nations at the end of the age that maintains a witness to Israel (Isaiah 24:14-16; 42:10-12; Malachi 1:11; Romans 10:25-26). 4. Nearing the end of the apostolic witness, the focus again returns to Jerusalem and an apostolic man, a prophetic signpost of the final, apostolic church that understands the prophesied trouble that will come in Jerusalem decides to proceed anyway because of love for Jesus the Lord brings the apostolic witness back into Jerusalem even in the threat of suffering.

14 SESSION 1 Two Critical Themes in the End-time Church PAGE That apostolic witness given in Jerusalem again ultimately results in the loss of life for the apostolic vessel that gives the witness. Jerusalem s time of unequalled suffering also means suffering to the church joined to Israel s hope. VII. CONCLUSION A. What do we say to all of this? Even more what do we do? B. God has given us so much information about the church and this is intended to help us build the church in agreement with Him. There is far more information than we realize if we will take time to seek it out. Knowing the end of the church is required to labor properly just as knowing the destination is critical for planning a journey. God has given this information in the form of prophecy, instruction, and historical events that have prophetic parallels. C. This expression of the church in a narrow window of time at the end is significant to understanding the church just as understanding Jesus final 3 ½ days is critical to understanding His entire life in the gospels. D. The church begins and ends with the same primary themes in order to establish what is normal for the church. If the final 3 ½ years are God s grand finale of church history then it is His definition of normal. E. To prepare the church to expression of the the church that God is preparing for the final 3 ½ years, we must embrace both themes of suffering and of glory. Both are present in the life of Jesus and in the only biblical model we have been given for the church. They must be present in the church to fulfill the purpose of God.