KoreanRetreat                                                                                        Dr. Robert C. Newman

February16, 1991                                                                                           Biblical Seminary

 

HOW NEAR IS THE END?

 

Introduction

 

            Isaac Asimov, A Choice ofCatastrophes

            MiddleEast turmoil: Gulf War, Israel

            Six-thousandyear theory of human history

                        Adam:c4000 BC; Abraham: c2000 BC;

                        Jesus:0 BC; 2nd Coming: AD 2000

 

Can We Tell?

 

            Not exactly:

                        Matt24:42‑44: be on alert; don't know when; when you don't expect it

                                   24:36:no one but Father knows day or hour

                        1Thess 5:2: day of Lord comes as thief in night

 

            But should be able to recognize its approach:

                        Matt24:32‑35: parable of fig tree (misuse to calculate year, 1988)

                                   realmeaning (cp Luke 21:29: all trees)

                                   signsindicate approach

                        1Thess 5:1‑6: though like thief, shouldn't surprise believer, since not indark; stay awake!

 

Signs of the End

 

            Jesus' message on Mt. of Olives (Matt 24):

                        3:sign of coming, end of age

                        4‑6:false Xs, wars, etc, but not yet end

                        7‑8:nations at war, famines, earthquakes

                                   beginningof "birth pangs"

                        9‑14:persecution, general hatred of Xns, betrayal, false prophets, increasedlawlessness, love growing cold, Gospel preached to all nations

                        15‑28:The Great Tribulation

                                                Abominationof Desolation, Dan 9:27; 11:31 (Antiochus); 12;11

                                                getaway quickly

                                                nothingto match it in human history

                                                continuedappearance of false Xs and false prophets

                                                Lord'sreturn will be unmistakeable

                        29‑31:Christ's Second Coming

 


            Paul'spredictions of moral collapse & Man of Lawlessness:

                        2Tim 3:1‑5: compare Matt 24:12

                        2Thess 2:1‑12: apostasy and Man of Sin (antichrist)

                                   compareMatt 24 on abomination of desolation

                                    vv11-12:God will allow delusion as judgment

 

            John's predictions of world government &religion:

                        Rev13: one world govt under beast (antichrist)

                                    666in 13:18 probably symbol for Serpent's Christ

 

Where Are We Now?

 

            Technology

                        unprecedented:one‑second communication, few hour travel has produced one world &possibility of one‑world govt; has also speeded up spread of Gospel towhole world

                        populationgrowth due to medical & agricultural advances has put severe strain onresources and environment, making famine, disease & environmental disastermore severe if anything goes wrong

                        allowslarger scale, more disastrous wars; danger of nuclear proliferation; thesefavor one‑world govt as solution

 

            Scientism(Evolutionism, etc.)

                        underminesall traditional religions & their concepts of moral absolutes

 

            Ecumenism

                        desireto unite all religions, partly to avoid conflict, assisted by loss of absolutes

 

            Israel

                        regatheringhas produced tensions in Middle East, which superpower confrontation and oilembargo have spread to whole world; may be setting stage for abom of desolation

 

            Disasters

                        notmuch yet, some famines, usual earthquakes, tho even San Francisco type earthquakewould be far more destructive to human life today, and much bigger earthquakeshave occurred (New Madrid, MO, 1811)

                        AIDSis feared by some to reach proportions of Black Death

 

What Should We Do About It?

 

            How near is the end? 

                        Don'tknow, but it may be close

                        Whetherthe end of the age is close or not, your end may be close

 


            Repent! 

                        Recognizethat you won't make it on your when you stand before God to answer for everything you've done or thought

            Trust in Jesus: 

                        heobeyed for us and paid for us

                        explainhow to trust in Jesus

            Livelike each day is important