Luke 12:54-56 – Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, 'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but you can't interpret these present times.

Matthew 24:1-2 – As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, His disciples pointed out to Him the various Temple buildings. 2 But He told them, "Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another!"

3 Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to Him privately and asked, "When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?" 3 Part Question

1. When will the destruction of the Temple happen? 2. What will be the sign of Your coming? 3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Just Asking?• Why do we park on a driveway and drive on a

parkway? • Why do we recite at a play and play at a recital? • Why do we ship by truck but we send cargo by ship? • Why do our feet smell but our nose runs?• Why are boxing rings square? • If con is the opposite of pro, what is the opposite of

progress?

1. Spiritual Signs4 Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you. 5 For many will come in My Name, saying, 'I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray.

1) The Rise of False Messiah’s 2) Spiritual Deception

1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal [abusive], haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (NASB)

Revelation 9:21 – And they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. (NASB)

Revelation 9:21 – And they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. (NASB)

Revelation 9:21 – And they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. (NASB)

sorceries = pharmocon = pharmacy = the use of drugs for any purpose to alter your state of mind

Sorceries = witchcraft

Good NewsActs 2:17-18 – In the last days, says God, “I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.

• More people have come to Christ in the last 10 years since the Day of Pentecost.

• There were 30,000 believers in Latin America in 1900. Today, there are around 100 million!

• 3 out of 4 believers live in a Non-western nation.• 50%+ of all believers live in the So. Hemisphere &

are either charismatic/Pentecostal. • More Muslims have come to Jesus in the last 10

years than in the previous 1,000 years.

2. Natural Signs7b . . . and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 1) Earthquakes2) Signs in the Heavens & on EarthLuke 21:25 – And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.• Strange tides = tsunami’s

Matthew 24:8 – But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

3) Political Signsvv. 32-34: Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know His return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.

3) Political Signsvv. 32-34: Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know His return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.Fig tree = Israel (May 1948)

Amos 9:15 – “I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Part Two: How are we to live in this hour?• Y2K• Hanging Chads• 9/11• Anthrax Scare• Market “Corrections”• Rising Gas Prices• War: Iraq & Afghanistan• Christmas Tsunami• Japanese Earthquake to Nuclear

Why are we afraid of the Last Days?

4 Things to Free us from Fear of the Last Days1. Make sure your life is established on the WordMatthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear. • B.I.B.L.E = Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

2. Guard Your HeartLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap. (NASB)

2. Guard Your HeartLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap. (NASB)

2. Guard Your HeartLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap. (NASB)

Dissipation = excess

2. Guard Your HeartLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap. (NASB)

2. Guard Your HeartLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap. (NASB)

2. Guard Your HeartLuke 21:34 – Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap. (NASB)

3) Watch & PrayLuke 21:36 – But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place.

Luke 22:46 – Watch and pray, so you won’t give into temptation.

4) Stay Focused on the Task

Matthew 24:14 – And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.

ConclusionLuke 21:34-35 – Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap!On March 17, 1980 . . . "Nobody knows more about this mountain than Harry, and it don't dare blow up on him!" "I am having a [great] time livin' my life alone. I’m king of all I survey; I've got plenty of whiskey; I’ve got food enough for 15 years. I am setting high on the hog; I am not going anywhere."