SM150531/Antichrist, America, and Armageddon

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Let's grab our Bibles and find out what Jesus did teach about the last days regular target to passages today. Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapter 602 there with me if you would in the title of my message today is antichrist America and Armageddon heard a story about a blonde girl who showed up at work where you laughing so you're laughing in a blonde girl that shows up to work – he excitedly said to all of her coworkers, 61 days 61 days and only took me 61 days.

Only one of her coworkers cousins is what what took 61 days. The blonde said.

I just finished a jigsaw puzzle in my house last night and the bond said 3 to 6 years and I finished it and 61 day a blessing. Goodbye will look at puzzle right now. In many ways. Bible prophecy is like a puzzle and it's hard to put together, especially if your blonde but seriously for anybody would try to make heads or tails of all of this that Jesus says about the end times and other passages, we hear words like Armageddon and Apocalypse in the four Horsemen we hear about the tribulation period of the Antichrist and the millennium of the rapture and where would think and what is this all fit in a moment.

My grandkids have been really interested lately in putting puzzles together more than the girls.

The mental much the boy Christopher.

He just destroys whatever they build, but the they love to put these little puzzles together and there so please when it's all done let's see if we can put this puzzle together little bit better as we look at these verses before is here in Matthew chapter 24. But let's start with prayer father as we again come to this amazing subject sometimes an overwhelming subject, even an ominous topic but yet there's hope in it because we have your words about our future and that reminds us that you know what is coming. Nothing catches you by surprise, and as crazy and as chaotic as our world is you are in control of the world and of our lives personally so would you speak to us now as we open Scripture for we ask us now in Jesus name met Kylie right now in our world. We are seeing will to be described as the four shots of Armageddon you know if Rorschach is what comes before the earthquake arrives overseeing these four shots all around us.

Jesus said in the last days right here in Matthew 24. There will be wars and rumors of wars every time you turn around, there's new conflict.

Isis is creating chaos in the Middle East, North Africa and Nigeria and they only continue to grow.

Syria is effectively under siege by Isis in a rat about one third of the country is now under Isis control and under Isis control and you know we that Al Qaeda was bad and indeed they are, but these people and Isis are part Eric they said people on fire. They crucified people baby head people they they were great been it's just unbelievable. I recently read that people from Isis forces 17-year-old girl, to recite the Koran as they raped her and when she refused, they poured scalding hot water on him are her this is just one expression of Islamic terrorism. Yemen has no functioning government now, nor does Libya, Nigeria is in a mess as well is not Isis is eating (which is another terrorist group to destabilize the government.

Are they just killed 30 people in a terrorist bombing and in the last six years.

13,000 people have been killed in Nigeria alone by Bogle ran meanwhile theirs. I ran and you know Isis is a problem but I read is even a bigger problem because there a nation and on getting hold of a nuclear weapon that they have threatened him more than one occasion to use on both United States and Israel.

I ran funds proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas to engage in acts of terrorism and then there's Russia that's becoming as aggressive as she used to be in the old days, and now we see China beginning to grow as well. They want to dominate Southeast Asia seizing territories that don't belong to her. And China is developing its military in a dramatic way. Meanwhile, Nino appears to be doing nothing. So what does this all mean it's wars and rumors of wars. These are four shots of Armageddon and I'm not the only one who thinks that by the way I read an interesting article from a group of atomic scientists, and they put out something called the doomsday clock in at a given moment, they will say how close they think we are to a potential nuclear war. By the way, this organization is made up of 18 Nobel laureates and now they say that we are 11:57.

The last time I mentioned the atomic clock. We were 11:55 but they've moved it up why the reason is quote global nuclear weapons modernizations outsize nuclear weapons arsenal pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity they can. They go on the state and world leaders have failed to act with the speed or the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe." Yeah world leaders the world is ripe right now for a charismatic leader for a man of peace, some of it can bring solutions to FOC's coming is not what you want is the antichrist also called the man of sin, the son of perdition. The little horn, the wicked one is also known as the beast in many ways, antichrist will initially appear to be a good guy but it's all a mask hiding who he really is the most evil man who ever lived in.

Satan never had a son. This would be him. The antichrist, the only person who even comes close to antichrist on the level of evil would be Judas Iscariot.

You know sometimes you disses characterizes a guy who wanted to do welding things just got out of his control. Known, though Judas was a wicked man who betrayed our Lord affect the Bible says, Satan filled his heart. Sometimes people ask you think will see Judas in heaven no, I don't think we will, and antichrist is just like Judas, you know, by the way a lot of people believe that antichrist could be alive today. U.S. News & World Report revealed a 49% of Americans say the be some kind of antichrist in the future and usually pull 19% of Americans said they believe antichrist is an earth right now is a no one can say, but you might be surprised to know that there are more 100 there that there are more than 100 passages of Scripture describing the origin, nationality, character, career kingdom and final doom of antichrist. So I would talk about him a little bit in this message. Antichrist Armageddon in America in Bible prophecy. This is sort of a miniseries of that's part of a bigger series or bigger series is called God came near, it's a chronological look at the life of Christ from all four Gospels we are walking with the Lord. Event by event teaching by teaching miracle by miracle of culminating in his betrayal. His death his resurrection and his ascension, but now were looking at this little series in Matthew 24 where Jesus answers the question of his disciples. What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world. Needless to say you cannot have a more credible source in Christ himself giving an answer to this, of ask question that just brings us back to a very important point, the Bible. This is the one book that dares to predict the future. That's what sets it apart from all other so-called holy books or writings. This is the book that dares to predict the future, not once, not twice, but hundreds of times with amazing attention to detail, and we've seen what is already happening in fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Thus, we can be certain what the Bible says about our future will take place just as Scripture says all I've heard that before someone might say, my grandmother used to tell me that you will maybe she did. But guess what granny was right. It's, in fact, I don't know if there's ever been an alignment of advanced technology and global conflict like we have today. Where would not be a stretch at all to imagine the end time events unfolding before our very eyes felt what is next on the prophetic calendar. I mentioned this to Mike last message is my opinion at the next event on this prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church. That's all true believers are caught up to meet the Lord in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

In fact I don't even think the tribulation period can begin until the church is first removed so you don't need to buy anymore supplies done at the market and you don't need to keep building your bomb shelter and get ready for the tribulation. Because I believe prices going to come back before that takes place and also I don't think antichrist can emerge until the church is first removed. See right now in this world we followers of Jesus.

One of the few voices of reason and culture that would dare stand up for the rights of the unborn. I would dare stand up for the sanctity of marriage that would dare stand up for what is right and what is wrong. We are sort of like a preservative keeping the lid on a boiling pot right now. That's ready to open up at any time and when were removed. You could see how quickly all hell could break loose so as a restraining force were doing our work. The one for God antichrist can emerge. Second Thessalonians to seven, says you know what is restraining antichrist that he may be revealed in his time for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken away and then will the lawless one be destroy by the brightness of the Lord coming now this is speaking of the fact that the Holy Spirit is working for the church once were removed. Antichrist can emerge. So here's my point.

There's no reason to be trying to figure out who antichrist it. The Bible does not tell us to be looking for antichrist. It tells us to be looking for Jesus Christ, so that should be our focus right now is believing Jesus said in Luke 2128 when you see these things begin to happen.

Stand up straight and look up for your salvation is near in Hebrews 928 we read Christ was offered to bear the sins of many of those that look for him he will appear the second time without sin on the salvation what is. I mean look for him something were supposed to stand around at street corners staring at the sun like a bunch of crazy people? To look for him is a phrase that would mean that we are to live in eager anticipation of his soon return. Let's say you had someone you really loved coming back home. Maybe they were overseas. Maybe it was a son or a daughter serving in the military and and they finally were coming home again or or maybe it's someone you haven't seen in years and and you drive down to the airport and you just waiting in the moment you see their face here filled with excitement. That's how we should be what we hear the cries could come back at any moment it eager anticipation is that how you feel right now if you don't something's not right and I don't think the church will go through this tribulation. As a number versus all psyched to prove that Revelation 310 Christ himself says because you have kept my command to persevere. I'll keep you from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world to test those that dwell on the earth.

That was a promise to the church because you kept my commitment to keep you from this hour that is coming so might save it.

Didn't Jesus say in this world you will have tribulation, yes, but there's a difference between personal tribulation and the great tribulation. We as Christians will go through times of trial times of difficulty times of tribulation, but the great tribulation is different. The great tribulation is a period of time. Would God Almighty will pour his wrath and judgment upon the world and you cannot find an instance in Scripture. When God was judging people. He poured the judgment also on his own people affect over and second Peter the apostle writes about how God spared no one in his family and got them safely in the ark before the flood began when the rain came down, the ark went up also. Wheat cites the story of how God delivered righteous lots from Sodom and Gomorrah before the judgment game so the same is true of us, for God, according to first Thessalonians 59 is not a weighted us to wrath, but to obtain salvation for the Lord Jesus Christ. Second Peter 29 also says the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and reserve the unjust, for the day of judgment. Okay, so the church's rapture, then what then what then antichrist emerges, then the great tribulation period begins.

Let's read about it.

Matthew 24 starting numbers for Jesus answered and said, take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ will deceive many who hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you're not troubled for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and the be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in different places. All of these are the beginning of the sorrows see this hasn't quite started yet we see the four shots of it, but this is a particular period of time. The last for seven years, called the great tribulation. Our already seen things that show us how close he could be. Earthquakes are mentioned course earthquakes are happening all around our world affect the Paul is just recovering from the massive quake that hit them that killed 8000 people there were recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China, 80,000 people were killed in the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 16 M 9000 people died in the China earthquake at tragically for the world.

The worst is yet to come. So these natural disasters will increase as we get closer to the return of Christ. Now Matthew 24. What were reading is as I said, a description effectively of the great tribulation. The begins with antichrist and ends with the return of Jesus Christ. A parallel passage to Matthew 24 is Revelation chapter 60 let's go over there for a moment and look at that Revelation chapter 6 the book of Revelation. As I mentioned to you before means unveiling Revelation means unveiling or revealing. So were seen the future and that's an overview of things that are to come that parallel what we've already read here. Let's read it. No Revelation 6 starting verse one I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals I could one of the four living creatures saying with a loud voice like thunder. Come and see, and I look to behold a white horse. He that sat on it had a bow and a crown was given to them and he went out conquering and to conquer. Verse three that he opened the second seal, I saw the second living creature saying, come and see in another horse, fiery red went out and it was granted to the one who sent it to take peace from the earth that people should kill one another was given to him a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say come and see, and behold a black horse. He that sat on it and a pair of scales in his hand and I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying a quart of wheat for it then areas in 3 quarts of barley bread in areas but don't hurt the oil and the wine. When he opened the fourth seal are the fourth living creature saying, come and see. Behold, I looked a pale horse in the name of him who sat on it was death, and Hades followed with them. And power was given to them over 1/4 of the earth, to kill his sword, with hunger, with death by the beasts of the earth stop there. The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It starts with a rider on a white horse suddenly have mistakenly thought this could be Jesus Christ because after all he's presented in Revelation 19. Also riding a white horse, but this is not Jesus Christ. This is antichrist and the fact that he rides a white horse shows sort of what his agenda is because the prefix anti-not only means against as in he's against Christ. But it also means instead of using the anticrisis sort of an imitation Messiah.

Satan's version of Jesus by Pentecost the great writer on end times events made this statement and I quote Satan is seeking to give the world a ruler in the place of Christ will be in opposition to Christ so we can rule the world. Instead of Christ." Yeah, that's the antichrist, so is he against Christ or offering himself instead of Christ. Short answer will he's doing both, and he's going to come in economically difficult times. The be war in different parts of the world and through some brilliant political moves in with the personal charisma go do it. No other is ever been able to do so brings solidity to the economic system in a bring about global peace affect the Bible even says through peace.

He will deceive many. Here, something that may surprise you. The tribulation period does not begin violently. It begins peacefully see the church is caught up to meet the Lord.

Along comes out dry Christ Jesus Sauve individual a great world leader and he gets a cessation of hostilities around the globe. I mean imagine that that he gets the Jews in the Arab nations to sign a peace treaty. They actually abide by. He stops the conflicts around the globe and people begin to hail him as the very Messiah is like a satanic Superman sees doing what many others of trying to do. Pres. Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush all help to broker peace agreements between Israel and her neighbors, but in time they were all violated. I have no idea what Pres. Obama is doing in the Middle East right now.

But here's my point.

All of these folks have failed for the antichrist will succeed, but it's a ruse it's a deception because through this piece he's going to get the, the love of the people the support of the people, and then he is going to effectively show his true colors after he commits what is described as the abomination of desolation. What is one of the things that antichrist will do as he will rebuild the Jewish temple and the Jews will be delighted by this and are able to come and approach God again. But then he desecrates the temple at the halfway point of the tribulation. Erecting an image that he commands people to worship and this is the point of the tribulation with the judgment of God begins to fall on the earth, so he's coming with his agenda that we've seen others attempt things that remind us what the antichrist will eventually do the pharaohs Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon Alexander the great the Caesar's Napoleon and certainly Adolf Hitler. They emerge on the scene with their agenda. Here's a good sort of forerunner of antichrist. The way that Rome gained power in the world around came along when the world was in turmoil. It was just a lot of warring tribes and Rome built this amazing military that they used to bludgeon the world into submission and they discover something that was known as Pax Romana was a forced piece. They also build an amazing road system and establish a common language that everyone could speak, which was Greek and so Rome controlled the world and in many ways. It was an improvement but then the emperors began to demand worship and of course this was quite problematic for the followers of Jesus Christ because they would not bow down and say Caesar is Lord and thus many of them died and were martyred for their faith, but my point is wrong comes initially with overtures of peace and then shows her true colors. A more contemporary example would be Adolf Hitler in 1930 Germany was in financial straits after the devastation and humiliation of World War I Germany was in chaos. Inflation was out of control. Thousands of people were virtually starving. Add to this effect. The Communists were stirring up riots in the street and then along comes this man Adolph Hitler a seeming voice of authority in the midst of chaos. He told the German people that they were people of destiny. He promised Gloria to come. He said that one day Germany would rule the world and the Roman Empire would be revived with Hitler as its head, and he was able to lead Germany out of a failed economy five years Hitler built schools he recovered German pride lost in World War I. He built freeways even came up with the car, he called the People's car you might known as the VW bug. That's right it was invented by Adolf Hitler.

So if you drive a VW bug.

Your anoxic know your you be surprised to know that the original version and the modern version are not that different but really it was amazing what he did the people didn't really know what Hitler's agenda was yet course chamber of the Neville Chamberlain from England negotiated with them should never negotiate with the terrorist with a man that evil a dictator like Hitler. But then I Hitler got some of the churches to come on board and to support his cause, but some were wise and opposed him like Dietrich Bonhoeffer was eventually killed because he spoke out against Hitler, but in time Hitler showed his true colors in his persecution to sin against the Jewish people first, forcing the were those little yellow armbands with the Star of David then graffiti was scrawled on the front of the shop. Some people were told to not buy things from Jewish people. Then they started breaking the windows of the shops and then they set their synagogue on fire and soon they were loading of Jewish people and sending them off somewhere. No one knew exactly where but now we know of course they were being sent to concentration camps with names like Auschwitz and many others.Kyle in Treblinka and 6 million Jews died but you see initially Hitler came up like a good guy, only to show his true colors later. The same will be true of antichrist. First, he seems good, but then he shows himself for what he is the most evil man is ever left in his wake, comes war, pestilence, and famine represented by the red horse the black horse and the pale horse, and antichrist is a sidekick he's called the false prophet.

He's a religious leader. A guru, a man that is even able to perform miracles or something that looks like a miracle.

Revelation 1920s as the beast was captured with him the false prophet who worked signs in this presence, by which he deceived those and receive the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. And they were both cast alive into the lake of fire. See antichrist religion will be a mixture of many beliefs intertwined with occultism. So when we hear of the desire of many to have a one world religion that concerns me. I'm also concerned by interfaith prayer services. I'm fine sitting down with fellow believers from different stripes and praying of interest to me to sit down with someone from a different religion and pray because "we all worship the same God." I have a problem with that is I don't worship the same God that a Buddhist worship. I don't work, they don't even believe in a personal God to the point I don't worship the same God that he can do worship.

They believe in thousands of God. I certainly don't worship the same God that the Muslim warships we serve the Lord God, the Lord our God is one God and he's worthy of our worship. The voters the problem we are not popular right now we do believe in Jesus Christ, pretty much everything is tolerated except what we believe because we believe in absolutes.

We believe in the Scripture you know media could hardly contain his glee of the findings of findings of a survey of what Americans believe the Los Angeles Times trumpeted in a headline US is become noticeable noticeably less Christian major study fine. Did you read that serving and so it looks like there's less Christians in America today. The article went on to say for probably the first time in US history. The total number of Christian adults has declined. Is that true things are not always as they appear is what I think is really happening. I think cultural Bible Belt Christianity is becoming a thing of the past that was a day when most Americans in the 50s of the early 60s if asked what their faith was they would think I'm a Christian, even if they didn't go to church except for Easter and Christmas. They would say I'm a Christian. That was a certain qualifying biblical worldview were we understood that a man and a woman married, raising a family was a good thing.

We understood that there was right there was wrong with the 10 Commandments were true now as we drifted further away from those things versus a lot of people that are playing the game anymore. They're no longer saying of a person that said I'm not a Christian or or I'm an agnostic and then come up with a new designation for this category.

They call them the nuts, not in UMS but NONES there none there just in the spirituality. They're not really sure what they believe. So what we have no our people were being more honest about their lack of faith in God.

Listen, that doesn't leave me hopeless. That leaves me hopeful is my friend Russell Moore said, commenting on this.

He says Christianity emerge from a Roman empire also have the core to the idea of a crucified and resurrected Messiah. We been on the wrong side of history since Roman yet it was enough to turn the world upside down." I just see more people to evangelize. Now I do see greater opportunities. Jesus said in Matthew 24. This gospel will be preached in all the world and then will be income so we clearly have our marching orders. But here's the thing. The Bible warns that in the end times that will be an apostasy.

What is the means that people will fall away from the faith. Matthew 2412 because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Second Thessalonians to visit table, but first will be a great rebellion against God. First Peter four says the spirit clearly teaches in them the last time. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and the doctrines of demons teach.

But here's the deal.

I don't think were so much seeing people who are believers ceasing to be believers. I think these are people were never believers to begin with, or just walking away right now because here's what I believe. If you're a true believer, you may go astray for a time but a true believer will always come back home again always come back home. It may take him a while like my mother raising a Southern Baptist Church. She went to church on Sunday morning and Sunday night and Wednesday night. So when she was of age. She couldn't get out of that house fast enough and ran from her faith pretty much for her entire life. She didn't teach me anything about the Bible.

She never took me to church.

He didn't want it to have any influence on me at all. So what happens why become a Christian, and even more I become a preacher. Some things were working out so well for my mom, but in reality they were working out very well because thankfully at the end of her life. Only a month before she died. She came back again. That's because a prodigal will always come home.

So here's a question, ask yourself, are you a pig or a prodigal thing is that the say they're both in the Bible and Peter we read about a pig returning to its law or the Meyer and a dog returning to its vomit. See you can make a pig a pet fix make good pets. I'm told, and so you can take your pig out. Get them a little outfit. I had a friend once at a pig is up and I'm not making this up. They would take it to the beach, he says, but the problem is they get really sunburned, so I said what are you doing since we put lotion on it. Who would want that job. Time to put the sunscreen on the pig again I be like you that spray stuff.

I'm not touching it, but the reason the pig will go back to the Meyer's because that's the way they cool themselves off using so it's the nature of the pit and a dog will return to its own vomit. This is one of the reasons I know the Bible is true because it predicts the future, but also because I've seen dogs eat the room barf them into what goes through a dog's mind. Does he think I'd really like a hot meal right now and he said he's happy then he'll go wash it down with toilet water summonses. All dogs are very clean. Now okay you little acute them in the face. I don't want to. I see people like kissing the dog always give this to Say don't return to their own vomit. Always putting Some of their always choking on football, that's their issue, but one is a dog returned to its own vomit. White is a big return to the Meyer because that's their nature.

A pig is a pig just like a horse is a horse of course. Of course you don't know what that meant. That means you're too young as I was an old TV show called Mr. red that had a talking horse and the all the time. He was a old Wilbur Wright, you know, a true Christian by where they end up in a true believer will always come back. I would've there's not some people here right now listening to me that have been going astray, and it isn't time for you to come back home again and recommit your life to the Lord over some others that have never committed their life to Jesus Christ. While this message is almost done and I did give it the title antichrist Armageddon in America salutes close with a little bit about where America might be in the last days story. As I look at the prophetic puzzle. I cannot personally find a piece that says America I think you can make a very good case for perhaps finding Russia in Bible prophecy. I think you can make a pretty good case for perhaps finding China in Bible prophecy we have an airtight case for the place of Israel in prophecy, and even I read in the in prophecy but yet there is no mention made of the reigning superpower United States of America. So why are we not in this end time scenario, let me offer three options. Option number one I don't like this option but have to throw it out there.

The US may not be mentioned because our country is decimated in a nuclear attack was I read the scenarios of what can happen in the tribulation. It sounds very much like what would happen in the aftermath of a nuclear war so we can see it could never happen.

It could happen affect these atomic scientists that I cited earlier say there are 17,000 nuclear weapons on this planet and the concern is these rogue nations like North Korea that is a nuclear weapon in Iran that will probably soon have a nuclear weapon and their threats to use them. I read an article the other day that said Isis even claims to be obtaining a nuclear weapon God for bit, but if this were to take place. I could decimate us and many others.

That's option one option number two, which is quite possible, we simply decline as a world power.

Every nation has a shelf life. The might of ancient Babylon lasted only 86 years.

The powerful Persian Empire went a little bit longer 208 years. The glory of Greece was eclipsed after 268 years mighty Rome ruled for almost 6 centuries the British Empire endured for almost 250 years United States of America were Rome with 235 years or so and counting every nations days are numbered. The Bible says righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to the people. We could just go into a state of decline and by the way, I think were on the trajectory right now militarily and economically. Certainly morally without a doubt spiritually. America is not going up going down. Could we change the course. I think we could but I'm just saying we could continue in the trajectory. This downward turn. But here's option number three and this is my favorite of all America may not be mentioned in Scripture because a great revival takes place.

Let me explain what I mean with a revival or spiritual awakening is a sovereign work of God were people start coming to faith in Jesus Christ. We've had for great awakenings in American history that change the course of our country. The most recent being the Jesus movement in the late 60s and early 70s if we had another revival that means thousands, perhaps even millions of Americans would come to faith in Jesus Christ. Now the population of America is over 300 million villages say that a great revival broke out in 150 million Americans were real followers of Jesus Christ. Can you imagine that would affect our country of 150 million people in this country were caught up to meet the Lord effectively taken off this earth, how it within affect industry, education, medicine, government, the military, business, agriculture, all those people just suddenly remove all the press and Hollywood would be largely untouched but would certainly affect our nation. Whatever the scenario is no one can say with certainty were no longer going to be the superpower. One of the superpower. In the end times whole new group of Murch, the 10 Confederated nations of antichrist. The kings of the East and others, and so that is yet in the future, but again I want to emphasize enclosing G Scripture does not tell us to be looking for antichrist. It tells us to be looking for Jesus Christ. We're going to be looking up looking up and living right. So instead of going down to the store and buy more AR 15's weather to crack open your Bible to John 316 and start fulfilling the great commission in preaching the gospel because those of the marching orders for the church. I don't care if you have an AR 15. I just wanted to run something which John 316 but you get my point were not supposed to go into a bunker mentality were supposed to go into an outreach mentality. That's what were doing the Crusades that we do the summer in Angel Stadium again and of course in dollars in the month of March for harvest America. Let me close with this thought it would Christmas is approaching.

It seems earlier every year doesn't years learning outcome and sent first pumpkin shows up when the pumpkins around here we go, and you know then those Christmas decorations are up, I think you're ready have Christmas decorations up something they will soon if they don't. So when you see all the Christmas decorations and in the all the pressure to buy things you know Christmas is coming, but here's something to consider when you see those signs of the times, if you will, reminding you that Christmas is coming that says something else if Christmas is closed, then Thanksgiving is even closer.

Okay, so here's my point.

We see the signs of the times in the Scripture on the news and it seemed antichrist is coming, it's true, but if antichrist is closed and the coming of Jesus Christ for his church is even closer. That's good news. So let me close by asking, are you ready are you ready for his return. What if Christ came back today.

Would you be one of those ones that would be caught up to meet him.

As Jesus said in Matthew 24 two will be in a field one will be taken. The other left. Joe will be grinding in a mill one will be taken. The other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming be watching. Be ready and I mentioned backsliders. Maybe there's some of you that were raised in the church you for these things to me you but you're like my mom a little bit.

You're just rebelling and you're running from a but it's time for you to come back home so to close in prayer and I'm in no extend a twofold invitation. I want to invite you that have never believed in Jesus to do it today I want to give you an opportunity to pray and asked Jesus Christ to come in your heart will cleanse your sin and you'll be confident that when it comes it becomes in your lifetime you will be ready to meet him.

If he doesn't come in your lifetime when you die you my friend will go to heaven, and also extend an invitation to you that know what's right but you been running from it you that have been trying to live in two worlds you that have been ineffectively a backslidden state. I want to give you an opportunity to come back to the Lord. So let's all bow our heads for a prayer everybody praying by the referred your word now. You told us to watch and be ready. I prefer everybody here everybody listening everybody watching help them to see their need for you and help them to come to you at this moment, we pray that your Holy Spirit will convict and convince those that are not right with you to get right with you now and we ask it in your name on the heads about and her eyes are closed or praying.

How many of you would say today. Greg, I'm not sure if Jesus Christ lives inside of me.

I'm not confident my sin is forgiven. I don't know is certainty that if I were to die I would go to heaven but I want to change that. I want to believe in Jesus. I want Jesus to come into my life. I want to follow Jesus Christ pray for me. I'm ready to say yes to him. I want to go to heaven when I die affect your desire.

If you want Jesus Christ to come of your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want your guild taken away if you want to be ready for his return. If you want to go to heaven when you die, would you raise your hand up and let me pray for you right now. You want Christ to come in your life. Raise your hand up, I reckon see it please not pray for you accomplish anybody raise your hand on me. Pray for you, bless you, bless you. Even if I can see you. You might be watching the screen right now, would you raise your hand up.

Anyway, it's just a little step of faith saying that you want to get right with God were of your razor him up. I want Christ in my life. I want to be forgiven of my sin. I'll pray for you accomplish anybody else. Given lifted her hand yet lifted now, bless you. Anybody else, bless you, bless all of you when I have just about maybe some of you would be honest enough to say I'm a backslider on the prodigal. I've been trying to live in two worlds, and I know it's wrong and I want to get right with God. I would've recommitted my life to Jesus today. Pray for me that your desire would you raise your hand up you want to recommit your life to Christ, you want to come back to him again raise your hand up in a prayer for you accomplish nobody else is it a part reckon see it come bless each one accomplish all right nominally ask every one of you if you would please if you razor can seem that you want Christ to come of your life or you want to recommit your life to him.

I want you to stand your feet right there at your pew just stand up wherever you're sitting, stand up, lead you in a prayer to stand your feet were of you are going to pray together.

God bless you, that are standing by the way, others are standing, you won't be alone. Just stand your feet your razor again during that last prayer or you didn't razor him, but you want Christ right now. You want your sins forgiven you want to come back to him. Stand your feet.

Anybody else listen if you stand for him. Now he'll stand for you then anybody else but if you say no to him now. He will say no to you that this is a big deal. Eternity hangs in the balance. Anybody else you want Christ in your life you want to recommit your life to Christ. One final moment. Stand your feet wherever you are aware of your assuring me or see me to stand up. This is about me seeing you are using me. This is about you and God bless you, that are setting one final moment. Stand your feet, bless each one accomplish all right nominally join a prayer and I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me right where you stand again as I pray pray this out loud after me. Okay, wherever you are, as I pray for this out loud now pray this, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know you're a Savior who died on the cross and shed your blood for my sin.

I turned from my sin.

Now I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward as your disciple as your servant is your friend. Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. God bless you. Let's welcome these folks said pray that prayer God bless all of