Things to Do Before the End of the World: Preparing for His Arrival

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue coming up today on a new beginning. Read more he speaks with Bible scholar Don Stewart about matters of the end times on the rocks or something scary.

So to be afraid of these things wasn't home from times 230 were not afraid of it looking for the coming of the Lord is a realistic hope is something to be very excited about signs right now we don't know when the Bible even tells us that none of us knows they are the our. But it also advises us to be ready come suddenly happen when we least expect today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie will Bible scholar Don Stewart revealing discussion of what the Bible says about God and times.

Although we don't know the day or the hour of the rapture. So much we do know talk about Jesus is coming.

The Bible talks about this people being caught up into the presence of the Lord, but I we sure this is much as we want to talk to Don Stewart about this a little bit to my future. Like his young people like Jesus could come at any time and Bible prophecies are being fulfilled you this much. No, not really got me and I feel like whenever anyone brings up any kind of like religion especially like the return of Jesus Christ. Like people, I kind of just on that away, probably more because there like nervous or scared about it and they don't want to face that yes, I think. Also, sometimes you know the people that will sometimes give this message are kinda crazy people write the guy standing there with the end is near.

Sign right you know so all these people are nuts.

Or maybe they set dates all Jesus is coming back in this particular time and nobody knows the day of the hour. Of course I think you know for our generation will talk about the little bit later, but there was a big deal to us like to feel like I want to bring this back to your generation into people today like Jesus is coming to guess what is coming.

There's never been closer than it is right now. Anybody also thought you guys. I filling nonbelievers are just not ready to accept the fact that Jesus could come back any time.

Just they don't want to be responsible for their sin. Yeah, like you know there like if there is running at time like that's not good because I want to keep sending I went on up into like the very last like you I think that's right you one of the reasons were uncomfortable with the subject is because kind of freak shot a little bit like a wild Jesus is coming back because you need to be ready, but that's the whole point. That's one of the reasons why we should teach it because number one it's biblical. Of course it's true, which is a part of that, but it does impact you in the way that you live release should so let's all welcome Don Stewart right now. So Don, when you I just found out talking with on the back room that we both came to Christ, and we both came to Calvary Chapel. I think in the same year yet pretty much 97, which is to love your hair, and I don't what happened. No so you know, here we are poking the Lord in the middle of this, a full-blown Jesus revolution. This thing that we I didn't know it was a revival to do know the fate me to. I had no idea what was going on. All I knew is Greg. I needed to be there every night just something was happening that you could not explain yeah we were actually right at the door. We would line up a half-hour before the doors of the church open get in because the place would be filled right away because God was doing some something wonderful.

What are some of the things you remember of that time. Don, like you know maybe in the worship maybe in the messages maybe and just the overall atmosphere. What will coming. Do you remember the thing that got me the most great excitement that was there. People actually believe what was being taught in their lives are being changed every night we see people come to Christ right and we saw lives you know that word hopeless right now became withhold and just watching the Lord work and just being part of that and not realizing it was something supernatural. And that's something that no really get me something's going on never seen before and only God could be that we pray will happen again. But, you know, so I said before, you want to see a revival do revival like things like I got the marriage you want a strong marriage and think you be romantic.

You don't wait to feel romantic just do those things that I think in the same way will it looking so which sought to kind of re-create a little of the sense of it, but I know big deal.

And this is what I want to talk to you about a big deal at that time was the teaching that Christ could come back any moment. The number one book of the entire decade of the 70s was the legal right lateral file mentality which is a book about the end times why we believe that back then what why was that such a big thing and what impact do you think it had what we believe it because it struck a chord in our hearts great things were happening in the world is just the 60s. We had all the revolution sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll needles that transcendental meditation. It didn't work. We tried everything and work someone told a simple message about Jesus and Christ coming back and that he is alive. I never heard that before my entire life that there I never heard anybody say, praise the Lord my life. I never went to a church where people believe what was being taught my entire life and I got there I found this is it. You know the night I came to Christ great. I came in I set the audience and about halfway through I just looked up to God. Whatever these guys want.

I want to have, and I knew I was going to be doing that I was March 1970 and that the rest of my life and I have been with almost 49 years now. Well done. The rapture he was taught a lot back then and you know a lot of it was things we still talk about David everything is move forward dramatically course you May 14, 1948 and this we talked about before Israel, the regathering of the Jewish people is not just a sign of the times it's a supersized super site and we were relatively close to back then and then there was various wars. It is really the war of Independence is 67 war when their attack. The 73 war also called the Yom Kippur war right at with the backing of Russia and went why did we care about a war fought on Yom Kippur war holiest day in the Jewish calendar that the Egyptians and others came against Israel, with the backing of Russia.

So what because the Bible talks about a war that is going to happen. Ezekiel 38 and 39 that those participants edit and so when that happened in 73 that was huge because we had been taught 1967 Jerusalem's United at the next big war. Maybe the war that Ezekiel talked about and we had a lot of the players in this. We are very very thrilled to get dress rehearsal.

Yet it shows you how quickly things can fall in the play totally in my understanding of Leslie's events are sort of like dominoes that are closely stacked together when the first one falls are going to start falling in rapid succession act like and so were waiting for the big Domino and ended seems in the prophetic calendar the next event that can happen. We talk about the emergence of antichrist or the attack against Israel is regathered in the land or the rapture would you think would be the next event.

But that is an excellent the dead in Christ rise first rapture the church animal simultaneously outside Scripture, but there's other things, it could happen you have to happen. Greg you Christ could come back tonight and we don't know so you know you mentioned how many years it's been so here we are today.

There been so many things that have happened not only in the decades since, but in this decade and the last even five years things that Sotelo some things that are happening right now for someone that maybe is the same thing will I don't know I've heard this whole thing about Jesus is coming forever, and I think my mom believe that my grandmother believed that her mother believed it but tell them why this is a more relevant teaching than ever.

What is more relevant. A number of ways. Number one, the stage is set so precise, so well.

It is literally mind-boggling. For example, in the 38th and 39th chapter of Ezekiel talks about the last days battle when you read through the chapters. There 10 specific things that are said the world would be like in the last days how this is 2500 years ago that's written so you go and read those chapters. Israel will come back with thinking home, why not come back to the land that's been made desolate that they will make into great wealth which will cause this invasion to come.

There is 10 specific things in those chapters. The Bible says will happen before this invasion. Every single one of them has already happened. Right now, in other words, miraculously fulfill see if got that number one the players number two in 1973 when we were there Greg with the Yom Kippur war Iran was Israel's best friend. But as our Pastor Chuck taught a certain become Israel's worst enemy. Someday how can that be the best friend of America. While we have the Reagan revolution, 79, the Shah was deposed and now the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the entire world list of tears over to the explosion of technology with the emergence of the smart phone. I mean… Take one particular prophecy, in particular in the book of Revelation after antichrist is revealed.

The Bible talks about how the Lord raises up to profit trick I and we don't know who they are, Moses and Elijah. Maybe we do know, but they and the prophets are killed by the Antichrist and their laying dead in the street of Jerusalem and the Bible says all the world will see them back in the day we had satellite technology ready now. Literally all the world could see them because we reach in our pocket and pull out the little smart phone and we can all watch something stream simultaneously. This is a fairly recent development and assumes that's the case because all the world not only see them W3 days when the whole world will rejoice over their death.

How the work of the word get out all of the world in three days, you know, 2000 years out or even 100 years ago.

50 years ago. Now we see the real time right so that assumes a worldwide technology when real-time people can be seen and how it happens. What we know now because of the technology interesting.

I was relieved Bible commentators 100 years ago Was fast and he said one guy said I don't know how it's gonna happen.

I can imagine that I don't want to twist God's word. Someday, somehow this will come to pass. He never sought. We did in that age right now. Okay, so this is all very exciting. Likewise, talk with some of these young kids appear, but sometimes it's scary. Jesus is coming antichrist is coming, so I mean if I'm a Christian drive to be afraid of these things. Snow is called our blessed hope. In Titus 213 were not afraid of it or looking forward to the coming of the Lord. Now let's face it, the world which we live and it's getting worse and worse all the time and think we can all acknowledge that. Won't it be great when there's no more sin no more death no more tears. No more dying. That's what it's all about and that's something to look forward to.

It's a wonderful time and so as believers we have a fabulous hope we see it in our lifetime, or whether we go to meet the Lord working to be there in his presence. It is a realistic hope, a blessed hope and something to be very excited about particular great signs right now.

Pastor Greg Laurie is guest Don Stewart will have more of this presentation, just a moment.

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Pastor Greg is joined by author and Bible scholar Don Stewart they're talking about the questions. Many have about the end times.

Let's continue the rapture. You know I've mentioned this last week in the critics of the ruptures that we can find the word rapture in the Bible, you can't your testimonies for 17 it's there.

Yeah, but it's yes insulin repertoire is a repair is the verb, and you up. I always did know first thing it was our paws over pots. It was great preparing the Greek, so I always ask him is that my pronouncing it right, you can tell us what about the hot pot so tell us about the rapture.

What is it, how long does it take could happen at any moment.

What will be like when it happens the other three passages. It teaches John 14 1 to 3. Jesus alluded to it on the night of his betrayal. He says I'm going to prepare a place for you and if I prepare a place I will come again and receive you unto myself. I didn't develop that it's developed by the apostle Paul in first Corinthians 1551 to 58 and first Thessalonians 413 to 18 and basically what he says is this come a time when the dead in Christ will rise first are those who have died in Christ will rise it will receive their glorified body at that time. Right now they're in the presence of the Lord but in non-bodily form. They will rise and as they arise in from the dead.

We who are alive will be caught up. This is the word her pods over.

That's the rapture we made a noun out at the rapture will be caught up, as were caught up were transformed from mortal to immortal from corruptible incorruptible first Corinthians 15 tells that and so not everyone will sleep in death. There will be people a generation that will see the coming of the Lord face-to-face as quick as you can.

Blinker snap your fingers, you're gone just like the song, I wish we'd all been ready, you know, one, one second are there the next second you're not.

That is what the Lord promises and it's gonna happen sometime you guys do you have any questions you get and this is making sense to you guys now so it's very simple pretty straightforward teaching. Why is it important to believe that the rapture could come in our lifetime because you know it's fallen out of fashion with some and some don't teach at all anymore. Why does that matter. It's really important because it gives us something to look for two to hope because you know we can live with a lot of things, but a table. We can't live without. That's hope got to have hope to keep going and this is not realistic hope like again. It's called a blessed hopeless of him and so we need that. It's true, it's you don't, you know, sometimes Greg you read something here. This is too good to be true. Not this is true, it is actually true.

Someday we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Those of us are alive those who have passed will go to be with the Lord with their bodies and spiritual joint and the be at one great reunion and what first Thessalonians 418 says comfort one another with these words because someday to be that great reunion in heaven, or those that have gone before us will see him again. What was different. The word goodbye is not in the Christian vocabulary for believers in Christ was to see you later because I miss each other, working to see our loved one someday again face-to-face with the Lord.

That's very true. Thank you so much Don. How does a person know that the ready for the rapture are, and for that matter.

Just ready if life would end if they were to die. How can you know I'm ready to meet God to matter what happens today real simple.

The Bible gives us the answers to the three basic questions whom I why my here what's gonna happen to me after I die. We can know that we have eternal life. First John chapter 5 verse 12 says the one that has the son of God has life, one that does not have the son of God does not have life within verse 13 of chapter 5.

Since this I've written these things that you might know that you have eternal life. If you believed on the name of the only begotten son so all of us tonight can know by faith, we have eternal life. If we have believed in Jesus, Greg, it's a real simple thing to do. I'm going that night for me at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in March 1970. I just said I wanted you know that was that you know God it's like the thief on the cross is a member made so it's it's not so much the words it's just God reads her heart rightly say that's why when I get the sinners prayer III tell people repeat these words. Lord, I want to believe in you and trust you. The best way that I know how you are just the best way I can do it and got daughters that that's right that's right that's right. Father, thank you for this hope we have this blessed hope that one day everyone will be there. That is put their faith in you were so thankful for that.

The only of God over generations will all be united. We ask you to speak to us as we open your word now speak to us.

We pray in Jesus name, amen wanted to grab your Bibles and turn with me over to the gospel of Luke the 12th chapter. You know, many years ago over legal documents and especially financial documents that use the write these words. Momento Mori and Momento Mori means think of death. It was not there in a morbid way but there is a reminder like hey you may have a lot of money in the bank but Momento Mori think of death, and I think in the same way we should just remind us of God's great whatever you have going on in life, but make sure you're living curable form.

The Bible says he that has this hope that is the hope of the Lord's return, purifies himself, even as he is pure. So I think a lot of times will we will study these events like the rapture and the tribulation. I got Armageddon the antichrist but it won't affect us and if it doesn't affect you in the way that you live, man, you've missed the point heard a story about an old man was walking along and suddenly he heard a voice say to him, pick me up and kiss me and I'll become a beautiful princess.

He said that he thought. I'm imagining things and watch a little bit further years again picked me up and kiss me, I'll become a beautiful princess he looks again.

He sees a fraud for the third time. This is a true story for the third time the product is pick me up and kissed me and I'll become a beautiful princess and he reached down and he picked up the fraud got up from him and tucked it in his pocket and kept walking. The frog said didn't you hear what I said I said kiss me and I'll become a beautiful princess he said at my age, I'd rather have a talking frog talk about missing the point right and so that is how it can be.

So we don't want to miss the point.

It's interesting to talk about these things. Like Don and I just did.

How does this affect you. Jesus gives us the answer in Luke 12. This is our Lord telling us how we are to live in light of his imminent return be trust for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in. The moment he arrives in the servants who are ready and waiting for his return be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will see them put on an apron and serve them as they sit in the he may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn, but whatever.

He comes over award. The servants already understand this, Jesus is coming so we need to be ready to go.

Are you ready for the Lord's return.

Salient question from Pastor Greg Mori.

That's the point of studying Bible prophecy to help us be ready for this soon return of the Lord and there's more to come from Pastor Greg presentation called things to do before the end of the world with Don Stewart if you missed any of today's discussion here on a new beginning. You can hear the study again by going to harvest.org or request a CD by calling 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 hours a day, again at 1-800-821-3300 and again the title is things to do before the end of the world with Don Stewart and Anna were excited to make available Pastor Greg's book on the Jesus movement, the spiritual awakening of the 60s and 70s. The book is called Jesus revolution yesterday. Recently I've been more interested in the great awakening of the early 18th century.

I recently learned that my relatives came to America about that time so mouse really piqued my interest, but that revival was one of four that have swept this country is not right. That's right. Most historians agree there have been for great spiritual awakenings in the history of the United States.

The first preceded our formation as a nation happened in the colonies free American revolution George Whitfield and evangelists from Great Britain came and preached on our shores and brought the gospel of thousands of people and many, many people believed in. It was a spiritual awakening and then America was formed in the aftermath of it so you could say that America was born from a revival.

If we did not have that spiritual awakening, I seriously question if there could have been an America case and now you've mentioned the second revival, and I've heard that the Pres. Lincoln when he was a younger man made a commitment to follow Christ during that great awakening then of course I you fast-forward to the Fulton Street revival. The New York City revival where a man named Jeremiah Lanphier.

I decided to start a prayer meeting that was a very well attended. Then the stock market crash and then it was very well attended and theaters in Broadway were packed to the gills.

Churches were packed. People were gathering every lunchtime in New York City and praying and thousands of people came to Christ and then the last great awakening was the one that I've written a book about it was called the Jesus revolution in the Jesus movement. It's a funny thing Dave in the day we called it the Jesus movement but time magazine dubbed it Jesus revolution gets interesting because you know you hear a lot of talk these days about revolution. Our nation was born from a revolution, but this was a spiritual revolution and I feel like the fact that it was called a Jesus revolution because that's what it was and not even a Christianity revolution or a religious revolution. It was that Jesus revolution.

It was about Jesus people were talking about Jesus people were coming to Jesus and in the habits where our focus needs to be. We need another spiritual awakening. We need another Jesus revolution. So in my book on this topic. I tell my story is a lot of historical backdrop given so you can understand what the culture was like.

And I think as you read it you can say wow that parallels at times there were living in right now riots in the street. Social upheaval racial division and more. Yes, it was all happening but God stepped in thousands and thousands of young people came to Christ I might also add the Jesus revolution. This is not common to every revival, but the Jesus revolution was a youth awakening that specifically started with younger people. Other votes were impacted as well of all ages, but it was primarily young people coming to Christ, and we look at our youth today all how they need a relationship with Jesus Christ. How they need a touch of the Holy Spirit how they need their own Jesus revolution so I'm hoping that you'll order a copy of this book that I'll send you at no charge. I'll ask in return is that you send your gift of any size that will help us to continue to teach the word of God as we do, and preach the gospel and come more people to Christ. By the way last year was almost spiritually fruitful year in the history of harvest ministries.

Let's pray that 20, 21, is our greatest year ever and that's going to happen if we all work together and pray together and will happen if you will help us financially as well. I'm sure so in advance. Let me say thank you and I look forward to sending you your own copy of the Jesus revolution now. That's right, we have a copy waiting for you here in a new beginning. So I hope you will contact us today will be glad to drop it in the mail right away. Hey Dave, let me just interrupt from one moment, don't forget to tell them that there's a study guide that we prepare yet to go along with Jesus revolution you will be automatically sent with the book, you can really help you and your spouse or you in your small group dive more deeply into the insights and principles. Pastor Greg shares in the book. So take advantage of this extra help again will send both of these resources to thank you for your generous donation to help us continue this important work right us today at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or you can call her 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service.

It church in your home for your people to get out your church right now. If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home.oh well, next time Pastor Greg brings us more insight on being ready for the Lord's return will see a biblical picture of those who are ready and those who aren't good counsel coming next time, new beginning.

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