MESSAGE 3: THE RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS
HOW WILL THE WORLD END?
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Query: Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt. 24:3). The Reply: 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matt. 24:6-8).
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Beginning of Sorrows: Wars and rumours of wars. Two of the greatest destruction to mankind: World War I (1914-1919): 8.5 million killed. World War II (1941-1945): 60+ million killed.
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Beginning of Sorrows: Wars and rumours of wars. Israel-Arab Conflict: Israeli War of Independence (1948). The Sinai Campaign (1956). The Six-Day War (1967). The Yom-Kippur War (1973). Palestine Intifada (2000).
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Beginning of Sorrows: Famines.
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Beginning of Sorrows: Pestilences. Widespread diseases: smallpox, HIV, mad-cow, SARS, H5N1 (bird), H1N1 (swine), MERS, etc.
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Beginning of Sorrows: Earthquake. The Great Sumatran Earthquake (26 Dec 2004) 169km west of Sumatra at a depth of 30km along a 1,200km faultline slipping 15m at 9.0 on the Richter Scale Effects: Tsunamis Power: 23,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE Spiritual Persecution: 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (Matt. 24:9-10). Apostasy (falling away) in the Last Days (1Tim. 4:1; 2Tim. 4:3-4). The Antichrist was once within the church (1John 2:18-19).
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE Gospel Preaching: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matt. 24:14).
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Abomination of Desolation: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matt. 24:15). The Abomination of Desolation will be erected by the Antichrist in the Temple during the End Times.
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE The Great Tribulation: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24:21). The Antichrist will manifest his true colours and persecuted the people of God severely.
THE SIGNS OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE Cosmic Signs: : Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken (Matt. 24:29).
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS The Seven Seals (Rev. 6:1-17): The opening of each of the seals in the 7-sealed scroll will give a glimpse of the events unfolding in Revelation.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 1: On a white horse with a crown and bow without arrows a time of peace.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 2: On a red horse given a great sword to take away peace a time of war.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 3: On a black horse with a pair of balances in his hand a time of war.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 4: On a pale horse name Death a time of death.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 5: A vision of the souls of the martyr under the altar a time of spiritual persecution.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 6: A great earthquake and the powers of heaven shaken.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Interlude: Four angels holding on to the four winds of the earth and the sealing of the 144,000.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS Seal 7: A vision of 7 angels coming out of the Temple in heaven preparing to sound the trumpet.
RECONCILIATION OF THE SIGNS The Opening of the Seals: Revelation of events leading to the End Times. Seal #1 Seal #2 Seal #3 Seal #4 Beginning of Sorrows Spiritual Persecution Seals: Glimpses of Events (e.g. Table of Contents) Seal #5 Seal #6 Gospel Preaching PEACE Abomination of Desolation Cosmic Signs Great Tribulation PERSECUTION 3 ½ years 3 ½ years Daniel s 70 th Week Second Coming
ASSURANCE IN TROUBLOUS TIMES The Parable of the Fig Tree (Matt. 24:32-35): Jesus used the fig tree to represent Israel and called us to use it to discern the seasons of the End Times.
ASSURANCE IN TROUBLOUS TIMES Be Not Troubled: We must not be troubled to see the signs of the End Times unfolding (Matt. 24:6). The Truth of the Scriptures: The unfolding events will demonstrate unto us the truth of the Scriptures and will strengthen our faith in the Word of God. The Promise of the Scripture: The End Times will be a judgment day for the wicked but it will be a deliverance for the saints (1Thes. 5:9-11).