America and Armageddon | Sunday Message

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Grigori podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry.

Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast, but the title of my message that we can look at right now from the book of Revelation is simply America and Armageddon and were looking at Revelation 15 to 16, I heard about an airplane that was having some severe engine trouble. So the pilot contacted the nearest control tower and gave this message.

Piloted tower piloted tower were 400 miles from land and 800 feet above water. Please advise. Please advise a message came back from the control tower tower to pilot tower to pilot. Repeat the following our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your unity.

There comes a moment in life when that is actually what you should do, you should turn to God and here in Revelation were coming effectively to the end. The grand finale. When the final blows are going to come against planets. Earth is literally trying to say our father, but by and large, people will not say that the pretty much die as they have lived hardened against God. This is why you never want to say, I'll wait until I'm on my deathbed to accept Jesus Christ. No, if you call and God on your deathbed.

If you have the luxury of a deathbed because not everyone does. Sometimes death comes quickly and unexpectedly, but if you have the luxury of a deathbed. Why do you think if you live the life opposed to God for years and years that you would suddenly want to call on him, chances are you would be pretty hardened in your sin. No, don't wait until then, because the sender this there is a point of no return either know when it is only God does. But there can come a moment in a person's life with a per the gospel and rejected it heard the gospel and rejected it so many times their heart is become Arab terribly hardened is a you mean so hard were God wouldn't forgive them.

That's not the issue. So hardware they don't want to be forgiven.

The Bible says he was often reproved hardened his heart and he will be cut off that without remedy.

So listen I'm talking to somebody right now was heard the gospel before you've said no to it.

Don't say no again at the end of my message will extend an invitation for you to believe in Jesus and be forgiven of all of your sin, but at this point historically, which is in our future, the earth is rejecting God reminds you of a cold. I read from a French chemist who said in 1869. His name is Pierce Barth a lot you wrote these what I think are prophetic words quote in 100 years of science. Men will know what the item is remember you wrote this in 1869, men will know what the item is when science reaches that stage rights birth a lot. God will come down to earth with this big ring of keys and say to mankind, gentlemen. It's closing time." Well, how true is that so cures were we are chronologically were looking at what the Bible describes as the great tribulation.

It lasts for seven years.

It begins with the emergence of a charismatic world leader that appears to be the greatest peacemaker of all time. I'm sure they will award Jim the Nobel Peace Prize, but in reality he is not a peacemaker is a troublemaker and the Bible says to Pease.

He will deceive many. This coming leader identified in the Bible is the beast a description of his character, the Antichrist, which means not only instead of Christ, but against Christ will help the Jewish people rebuild their temple, but then he will a resurrected image of himself in the temple and commend people to worship him.

Kim and I will be the abomination of desolation and a will mark the halfway point of the great tribulation. The last 3 1/2 years of this time that is coming upon our planet will be like hell on earth one God's judgment will fall upon the world you think Antichrist would turn to God, the opposite Antichrist is hunting down believers and is engaged in bloodshed on another level.

Judgment is coming in full force.

But know this when God sends judgment. It's never off of a whim or haphazard know there's always a reason for judgment and understand God takes no pleasure in judging people.

God says in Ezekiel 3311.

I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live.

You think God is loving God is gracious God is forgiving but if you don't respond to his love. If you don't receive his forgiveness, then you are effectively bringing judgment on yourself because God is also just.

And God is also righteous and now judgment is coming on the earth, described as bowls of judgment you've heard of the Super Bowl. These are like the super Bowls of judgment coming upon mankind. Jeremiah said of it in Jeremiah 30 verse seven. This day is so great, there is none like it understand God's given warning after warning for people in the year at the turn to him. Don't forget he raises up the hundred and 44,000 messianic believers combing the planet proclaiming the gospel. I've described him as kosher Billy Graham's telling people to believe in many do, but not all do. God sends an angel flying to the heavens, preaching the everlasting gospel.

It's sort of like an angelic mop up operation in case someone missed it because people often question what the person was never heard the gospel how good a God of love, send them to help everyone will hear the gospel. The Bible says the whole world will hear the gospel them of the income. If this is not enough. God raises up these two witnesses. Remember we look at them in Revelation 11 and they speak to the people know there are so many that still do not believe so now judgment is finally coming. The story is told of the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He was known to sleep a lot and his kids had a surefire way of waking their dad, they would go to piano and play a composition. I guess that's what you do when you're the son of composer they would play the composition all the way through, he would still be sleeping in it. We get to the end and not play the last note every time Buck would get up out of his bed, walk over, sit down at the keyboard and hit the final cord just drove him crazy here in Revelation. In effect, God is plain. The final cord, but something is missing from this prophetic puzzle limit restated someone is missing to will the United States of America, you know, one of the more interesting things about Bible prophecy is not who it mentions, but also who it doesn't mention in the last days at this moment in time.

America is still the greatest superpower on the planet. That, of course, could change in time is you are aware with the emergence of China and other shifts that are happening globally. But right now we are still the reigning superpower but yet as we look at the end times events. You really don't find America in the UC Israel clearly you find. I ran there you find Livia there you can make a pretty good case of finding Russia and even China, but I can't find any passage that clearly identifies United States of America. So where are we, how could a nation of ours stature in our size and are significant not be mentioned in the prophetic scheme will all talk about that in a few moments. But first, let's understand what we are here in Revelation 15 were in heaven and were viewing what is coming to the earth from a heavenly perspective, and we get a better handle on the why of judgment. Let's read Revelation 15 starting in verse one John writes in I saw another sign, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete and I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass playing harps of God. They sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty just and true are your ways, O King of the saints who shall not fear you will Lord, and glorify your name. Are you alone are holy and all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been manifested will stop there.

So who are these people singing the song. These are believers who have come through the tribulation. They been martyred for their faith and their before a sea of glass mingled with fire know that either symbolizes the fiery trials they went through on the planet, or the fact that they were martyred for this may be referencing the fact with this water and fire mingled together. That judgment is about to come on the earth. Perhaps it's referring to both reminding is that God takes it personally when his followers are attacked. Remember Saul of Tarsus. This was a religious dude who thought he was doing the will of God by hunting down followers of Jesus. He presided over the death of the first martyr of the church. The courageous young man named Stephen but the reality is a Saul of Tarsus was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Lord was calling him and he was fighting with God and one day as he was on the Damascus Road on his way to arrest more Christians.

The Lord spoke to him and his statement was Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me interesting why you persecuting me. The reality is, Saul was persecuting God's followers.

Christians. But Jesus took it personally. Hey man your persecuting me. Then the Lord says it's hard for you to kick against the goats was that even mean while gold was a sharp instead. So back in those days before they had extra horsepower. If you wanted your horse to move you poker with the stick and they would move faster. The idea God is saying is I'm trying to get your attention, your kicking against it. Why you doing that. And of course always converted that day and became the great apostle Paul. But God doesn't like it when his people are persecuted.

So here we have this fiery link this sea of glass, God's people will stand in a sea of glass and nonbelievers will stand in the lake of fire. 90 when you mention the fact that there is a lake of fire or a place called hell, or a final judgment that in the minds of some seems unfair, but is it I love the statement from JI Packer who writes and I quote Scriptures sees hell as soap shows colored peers is God's gesture of respect for human choice. All received what they actually choose either being with God forever worshiping him or without God forever worshiping themselves." CS Lewis made this statement along the same lines. Quote there are only two kinds of people in the end those who say to God, thy will be done in those to whom God says, thy will be done all wore and held choose it without that self choice there could be no help soap you wind up in this lake of fire that's on you. I'm sorry it's on you because you've rejected God's offer of forgiveness you projected his salvation, and you've effectively sealed your own fate.

As I've often said God doesn't send people to hell. They send themselves there. Don't be that person. Now as we come back to our account. We find that these believers have prevailed over the antichrist. Verse two how by not taking his mark in holding on to the very end lesson. It is my firm conviction that Christians will not go through the great tribulation.

I don't think will go through any of it I think will be removed before the tribulation begins. Why the Bible says God is not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation to the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about it. Will God sent judgment during the days of Noah.

First, he got Noah and his family safe in the yard and the door was shut. And as the water came down the ark went up, but Noah and his family were delivered from the judgment that came upon the earth. Take the story of Lot and his wife God. God Lot and his family safely out of Sodom before the judgment fill the tribulation period, is God's judgment coming on the earth.

God does not pour his judgment on his people to see and so we will not be here for this tribulation. Having said that Christians will go through tribulation, not the seven year. For him to go through hardship working to go through trials a Jesus said in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And not only will we have tribulation will be persecuted just like these folks were maybe not to the extreme. They were persecuted, but we will face persecution. Second Timothy 312.

Of course reminds us that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution and we need to like these believers must press on and not be discouraged, but instead be encouraged. I love the statements of Jesus on what we call the Beatitudes.

This was the beginning of his message that we know as the sermon on the Mount. He starts with the word blessed and the word blessed can also be translated happy so he said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake origin translated differently. Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Notice Jesus is that they say all kinds of evil against you falsely.

Just make sure you're being persecuted for righteousness sake, let's be honest, sometimes Christians are persecuted for being jerks for being mean overly judgmental condemning harsh and that's not for righteousness sake. Note let that persecution come because your a representative of Jesus Christ B because you're living a godly life infected people want to find something they don't like about you. Let it be because you live a godly life. They have to attack you for that member. The story of Daniel.

He had people that hated him. He was very influential in this role advising the king and so they were looking for something to nail him on. And the problem was there were no skeletons in Daniel's closet fact, he prayed in his closet and open the windows of his house and pray, then they said the only where were going to nail this guy is it we find something regarding him and his God, and of course he got the kingdom unwittingly signed a decree that no one could prayed when he God but him and die. But you know that story ended up in the lion's den. He was delivered by the Lord, and so forth. But he lived such a godly life that they had to make stuff up about him yes. Happy are those who are persecuted member when Paul and Silas were arrested for preaching the gospel. They were put into a Roman dungeon and at midnight we pray act, 16 verse 25. Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Listen to this one. A believer can praise God during times of difficulty.

A lost world pays attention and what are we going to be singing and a heaven. Revelation 53 gives the answer.

We have two kit songs in heaven will sing again and again they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the land. These are two songs the song of Moses and the song of the lamp sing great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty just and true are your ways a king of the saints. The song of Moses is basically declaring how the Lord delivered Israel from the Pharaoh. The song of Moses, as you may remember, was sung at the Red Sea, the song of the Lamb is sung at the crystal see the song of Moses is a song of triumph over the Pharaoh. The song of the Lamb is a song about triumph over antichrist.

The song of Moses is about how God brought his people out of Egypt. The song of the Lamb is about how God brought his people into heaven, the song of Moses is the first song in Scripture. The song of the Lamb is the last.

These people have died for their faith, but the rejoicing in heaven. You know sometimes people say when I get to heaven.

I have a lot of questions for God. Okay, go for. I suggest you when you get to heaven, you're standing there and you see God in his glory, you see Jesus at the right hand of the father you see your loved ones and have died before you, that you're reunited with and you're in this place of complete paradise. They are going to say praise you Lord.

I think you just join the chorus of worshipers. I don't think you're going to barrage God with a bunch of questions because I think when you see him in his glory. Everything's going to make sense and in the same way sometimes in life it will just get our eyes off of our problems and off of our circumstances. A look at the Lord. Everything can come into focus as we remind ourselves.

God is in control. God is not forgotten about me. Even when hardship comes, we can still rejoice know the Bible says in everything with prayer and supplication and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God that passes all understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus never knows ever since.

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to weaving Thanksgiving comes after the prayer is answered after God hopefully says yes, but no, Paul is saying offered Thanksgiving before you have the answer thanksgiving for the fact that God is on the throne in these pain attention look at Job look at all the horrible things that happened to him. It all started when God was bragging on Job in heaven. And the Angels of the Lord were there and listen for a fallen angel was there as well. God said, have you considered my servant Job, a perfect and upright man, one that fears God and shuns evil Satan in a loosely paraphrased and don't ship me a break. Job praises you because you bless him, because you've given them so much cool stuff let me have some time with Joe Pelosi. What is really made up no. When I look at what happened to Job after that and make sleazy Lord of your ever for a fleeting moment, feeling a little proud of me. Please don't brag on me, especially if Lucifer is around four Job had never read the book of Jehovah he didn't know how the story ended. He did know about some cosmic conversation between God and Satan.

All he knew was one day things are going well and the next day everything fell apart. But through all of this, we read Job worship the Lord.

He worship the Lord and that's what these believers are doing in heaven there worshiping God and it's happening in heaven look at Revelation 16 one. I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels roll and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on earth. Listen, there's a temple in heaven heaven is a real place for real people.

And sometimes we forget that. See, there was a temple built in Jerusalem, but it was a copy of the genuine article affecting Hebrews 85 it says they serve in a place of worship. That's only a copy of the shadow of the real one in heaven. I bring this up because we have these weird views of heaven is been reinforced by Hollywood and songs and even cartoon people laying around on clouds plucking harps little beady fat angels hovering around. I don't know where those even came from and you think, well, what a boring place heaven must be done is not biblical.

Heaven that's imaginary heaven or a caricature if you will of heaven heaven is a real place for real people. We will do real things. The best stuff earth offers his appeal. Imitation of heaven, it's a lesser version. It's a shadow of things to come. CS Lewis, to quote him again made the statement. I love all the things that ever deeply possessed your soul have been, but hints of heaven. Tantalizing glimpses promises never quite fulfilled echoes that died away just as they caught your ear.

Lewis concludes if I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy but to arouse it. To suggest the real thing." He just kneeled with the same basically the best experiences of earth will be better in heaven what you love about her 12 fibula beautiful sunsets while you can see a lot of those in heaven under the sunsets would you get to see God's glory on display. Maybe a fine meal with your friends. All you're going to have the finest meals you ever had because the Bible promises the wedding feast and times that we will eat together with the great men and women of God. All I like to be with my family. Will you will be reunited with your family will believe in heaven is see the thing is is on earth. Things can fall apart families can have dysfunction in conflict and friends that you we with Canon 1D no longer be your friend, sometimes even turn into your enemy and eating well, that just produces weight gain. It seems like all the food I like is threatening. Why could I not like kale more. Why can I not like these things that are healthier, more weed some vegetables. I don't want to eat vegetables.

I want to eat pizza.

I want to eat Mexican food. I want to eat Italian food and pasta and meatballs and all that stuff when that's not good for you will in heaven whatever were eating. It's going to be awesome and I don't think were going to get fat eating it.

And if we do and that is the new glorified body lobby fat together.

I don't think so but anyway the real thing is heaven. This temple is in heaven.

And this is where the judgment is emanating from, but now we come to Revelation 16 verse 12 were looking at the final battles coming upon the planet. The battles of Armageddon, the military with the word Armageddon even came from.

By the way, it's only mentioned one time in the Bible.

So let's read Revelation 16 verse 12 then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon now we know the Dragon is Satan not of the mouth of the beast. We know that the antichrist out of the mouth of the false prophet.

That's the religious leader Guru type sidekick of the antichrist reporting there. The spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty now in the middle of all of this, Jesus gives us a personal word. Verse 15 behold on coming as if the Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame and number 16 and he gathered them together in a place called in Hebrew, Armageddon, Armageddon know actually Armageddon is a place from the root word Meg ghetto and we get the word Armageddon from it. It's a location but we know this as a word that speaks of finality. Whenever someone invokes Armageddon that means something big and epic in destructive signing the peace agreement with Japan and bringing World War II to a close. Gen. Douglas MacArthur standing on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo made the statement and I quote. We've had our last chance.

If we do not now devise some greater in equitable system. Armageddon will be at our door."

Pres. Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States was astounded by the complexities of the Middle East after he took office, and on May 15, 1981 present O'Regan scribbled in his diary. These words sometimes I wonder if were destined to witness Armageddon." I wonder would Gen. MacArthur and Pres. Reagan would think of what's happening in the news today again Armageddon is talking about the location of the final battles which will happen in the valley of magenta I've stood at the valley of Megiddo. It's a massive plane.

Many biblical battles were fought in the place such as Gideon defeating the Midianites and Deborah and Barack fighting their enemies, but why is Megiddo the location of the final conflict.

Or maybe we get a clue from one of the greatest military figures of all time. You probably heard of them. His name was Napoleon Bonaparte, and standing at the ghetto in 1799, he made the statement and I quote all the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast claim there is no place in the world more suited for war than this. It is a natural battleground for the whole earth." So there you have now there is demonic power behind this conflict. Verse 13 mentions unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon out of the mouth of the beast. You know I was in a pet store the other day and they have a lot of lizards and snakes and some amphibian, some frogs even a frog that was like this big.

It was like this big beat and it is not an aggressive frog good is so creepy look at his notes.

Of these, only spirits like frogs. These demon spirits motivating them to go and fight this massive battle. You know the devil is behind the war in our world today, and now the church is going to be removed. I mean think about how bad things will be when there's not the presence of Christians speaking up for what is true. This is how all hell is able to break loose so quickly look back historically at the atheistic communist governments. How many of their own people live kill a historian say at least 100 million people have been murdered by atheistic communist regimes. Think about this of the atheistic Joseph Stalin believed that he would stand before a holy God. You think he would've done what he did. You think he would've been as cruel as he was, as Dostoyevsky said, quote if God is not everything is permitted." If there is no God. If there's no afterlife if there is no final judgment. Why would a person not do whatever they wanted to do mouth the tongue did it in China.

Hitler did it with Nazi Germany. Stalin did it with Russia and now the antichrist will do it on the level like no one has ever done it before.

So now we have two superpowers facing up in the battle of Armageddon, the forces of the antichrist.

That's 10 nations confederated under him and another force identified as the kings of these. This is big this is bigger than Godzilla versus King Kong. This is the biggest battle of all time and they come to the Euphrates River. We were first introduced to the flask. The superpower called the kings of the east in Revelation 916, which says the number of the army of the horsemen was 200 question what nation on earth could field an army of 200 million is only one answer. That's China. I'm not saying that China is certainly the kings of the east, but that the only nation that could field an army of 200 million people understand when John wrote this on the island of Patmos 2000 years ago there were not 200 million people on the face of the whole earth, and that he's speaking specifically about an army of 200 million.

The population of China is 1.98 billion and the population of America is around 318 million. China announced in 1997.

They could raise an army of 352 million soldiers so they can put 200 million on the battlefield and have 152 soldiers left to defend China.

We don't know. We'll see. Well maybe well multi-I don't expect to be here if I'm seeing that I'm seeing it from heaven along with you.

That brings us to the question I raise in the beginning. Where is the undisputed superpower united states of America how good a nation of our stature and size not even be mentioned in the prophetic scheme okay so let me offer a few ideas number one and I don't like this idea, but I have to put it out. United States may not be mentioned because our country is decimated by a nuclear attack. Now we know there's just arsenals of nuclear weapons. We know that there are rogue nations like Iran and North Korea who threatened to use those nuclear weapons or someone around 1700 to 27,000 nuclear weapons.

No one really knows with certainty, and if they do, they're not really telling us but clearly there is enough firepower to blow our planet up multiple times is impossible. One of these weapons is launched against the United States. I hope not but it was.

That would explain our absence from the last days scenario another possibility. This is far more likely America simply declines as a world power. We know historically, nations rise and fall every nation has a beginning, middle and end the might of ancient Babylon only lasted 86 years.

The powerful Persian Empire did better. They went on for 208 years.

The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268 years mighty Rome ruled for nine centuries and the United States well were moving on in the years but we could be getting closer to the end that we may think Isaiah 40 verse 15 says all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket so we might just decline as a world power. It's possible we could be one of the nations united behind the antichrist.

I certainly hope not, but I can't rule it out as a possibility. There's 1/3 option and I have to say this is my favorite choice, America may not be mentioned in Scripture because a great spiritual awakening happens.

A rogue Bible spreads and cause our country.

That's not the Cear� Bible would eliminate us as a world power. But if one were to sweep America we would have a godly influence in our time left right and we were suddenly ruptured of millions of Americans were rapture and millions of Americans suddenly were caught up to heaven.

Certainly that would affect our country. Think about the people in the military people in the economy, people and commerce.

Just suddenly taken suddenly removed. That would certainly cause a country to potentially collapse. Listen America has spiritual roots.

The only other nation in the world that we are like is the nation of Israel that was established by God. I believe God wanted America to exist.

Imagine a world without the United States of America.

Imagine what could've happened in World War II when Kittler with his military machine was marching across Europe, England, and her sites other nations that they had already conquered like Norway even France and it would've continued on. Who knows, whatever hat would have happened so many Jewish people we already know. 6 million of them were murdered by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

But America stepped in them. Some would say we should step in sooner but when the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor. We entered the war declared war on the Empire of Japan and then Germany declared war on us. We went in with everything we had to change the world, what with the world of look-alike of America and not stepped in at that critical moment in time God raises nation up against all odds, this nation came into being. In 1776 with some people realizes our nation was built on the foundation of his spiritual revival, a preacher from England named George Whitfield came to our shores and proclaim the gospel in thousands and thousands of colonists came to believe in Jesus and it was in that soil of revival that the seeds of liberty were planted in the great American experiment began our first president, George Washington made this statement and I quote anyone who believes you can explain our victory and the American revolution without the hand of Providence completely misunderstands what happened." It's right Washington knew, as he let our troops in the battle against the mighty British Empire that God was with us. We had a flag that we would fly back in those days and it had the branches of a tree pointing up in the words on the fly work appeal. They haven't because the soldiers in our military who were fighting the British knew they needed God's help the Continental Army. Yes, our nation was born in revival and we need another revival you know we seeing God bless America land that I love stand beside her and guide her to the night with a light from above. We need that light from above. We need God working in our nation again is a really any hope for America or streets, ever be safe again we see good prevailed over evil.

Again, is it going to end up that way what is going to happen. It is my belief that America basically has two options before her revival or judgment revival or judgment.

So we need to choose revival. He said I don't even know what you mean when you say revival means that choose God.

It means that we say Lord we need a spiritual awakening in our nation and we need it now and let that revival begin with me.

Judgment is coming to the earth. We know that that's what we see in the book of Revelation is not a matter of if it's only a question of when. But my hope is booked for this judgment that we read about in the final book of the Bible comes that we will have at least one maybe two maybe three spiritual awakenings. We had four great revivals in American history. The last was called the Jesus movement. The Jesus revolution is been over 50 years since that awakening don't you think it's time for another one. Let's pray.

To that end, let me close of the verse.

We already read. It contains the words of Jesus to you and me right now the middle of all that Scripture is saying about Armageddon. Jesus says in Revelation 1615 behold I'm coming is at the Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and see his shame. So this is a word to us in the middle of all of this, Jesus is saying listen to this. I'm coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches what does it mean to watch it means to be awake.

This is a reference to the rapture in the rapture. Jesus comes as a thief in the night, we don't know when the rapture is a good happen at any moment. But in the second coming. We know when that is happens at the end of the tribulation. After the bottles of Armageddon and I get to this in the future. Sony says I'm coming as indeed it means I'm coming to you unexpectedly. If you're not ready. So it really comes down to this. The come like a thief to the unsuspecting become like a friend to those who are watching and waiting. If you're not ready. He will be like a thief, a thief doesn't call you up until your mother coming hey how's it going man my name is Josie I'm coming to your house. This is the phone by the way I'm coming to your house at around 312 in the morning, so be aware. Note these going to do that they're going to come when you're not ready.

The mechanic keeps your house and figure out the best time to get an income in well for those that are not ready, Jesus will come as a thief in the night for those who are ready will welcome his return will look forward to his return.

Then when we read we should keep our garments, that simply means be ready to go at a moments notice. BB. Reading it known around the house in your PJs and your hello Kitty slippers while I were hello Kitty slippers exit but is you want to be ready to go. Your pre-closing ready. You have your bags packed.

You got your cell phone charger ready that � out the door, you got your car keys or whatever it is you need, let's say that somehow we knew that Jesus was coming back at 3 o'clock in the morning tomorrow.

I think all of us would have our Sunday smiles and come quickly. Jesus attitude around 245. Don't you but we don't know when he is going to come he could come to like you come tomorrow we could come in a week and a month in a decade. We don't know but we know that we should live every day as though it were our last day because someday it will be either the day Christ comes for the day when our time is up.

So we need to be awake. Ever notice when someone wakes you up in the middle of the night. You always deny it never got a call late at night and I like those late-night calls. I think 9 o'clock is a cut off time don't call anyone after 9 o'clock but do you get a call it, you know, 12, 15 your heart jump to think this can't be good. No one calls at this time so you get that call or maybe it's like four in the morning you enter hello and they always ask you this. Did I wake you, and we do not know know know to see how you woke me up why you calling me at this hour to this is the idea that we want to be awake. We want to be alert.

Listen, I think these words of Jesus are really relevant to all of us, but I think they're especially relevant to older believers is he when you are a younger believer you're willing to take risks.

You're willing to leave your comfort zone. You're willing to do bold and audacious things for Jesus. But when you get older you become more conservative you become more careful you become more cautious and I think the person that maybe really needs to listen to this word of Jesus about waking up is the older believer in Romans 13 the apostle Paul says, knowing the time. It's time for us to awake out, of our sleep for our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

So let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light wake up and be ready.

Coming back to my illustration about Johann Sebastian Bach.

He woke up when the final court had not yet been played got his plane.

The final cord were listening to the last note. Now is the time to believe in Jesus Christ.

Don't put it off. I mentioned this earlier than we come back to it. My close with this now. Every time you hear the gospel and say no, your heart gets harder to say what we mean the gospel hears the gospel.

The gospel simply means good news is good news. The good news is, God loves you. The good news is got is a plan for you. The good news is you can spend all eternity in God's presence and find the meaning and purpose of life here on earth.

If you believe in Jesus, here's the bad news are all sinners, we all fallen short of God's glory. We've all broken his commandments. So if we will turn from our sin and put our faith in Christ we can be forgiven because Jesus died on the cross for our sin because we could not save ourselves. As I've said, the same Jesus who died on the cross and rose from the dead is ready to come in your life and forgive you of all of your sins.

In a moment I'm in a prayer. Prayer did this earlier in our service for them and to do it again because sometimes people tune in early and tune out and sometimes we will tune in late so this is for you were not sure if you're ready for the return of the Lord.

This is for you were not sure if Christ is living inside of you.

This is for you or MT and lonely and afraid. This is for you, who had suicidal thoughts lately, and you're even thinking of taking your own life.

This is for you that feel like you have a big hole inside of you. This is for you who deal with the guilt that keeps you up at night. This is for you want a fresh start in life. Want to begin again, you can begin again if you're born again. Jesus said you must be born again. Which means born from above a spiritual rebirth, a new beginning, a fresh start.

The how does that happen by simply asking Christ to come into your life so on the prayer. Prayer and I'm in as good if you need Jesus in your life right now that you would pray this prayer as well so again if you want your sins forgiven. If you want Jesus come into your life if you want to be ready for the Lord's return and you want to go to heaven one day, just pray this prayer out loud after me. Let's pray pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you are the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. Now invite you to come into my life. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray in that everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast and the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show. Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org