Back to the Future (Part 1)

This is a message from leading the way with Dr. Michael. You sat we pray that it will encourage you in your walk of faith. If you would like to learn more about Dr. you Seth for leading the way, please visit LTW.or whatever the subject of the Lord second coming is in place to find the categories of people. Those who are forever trying to fix a date on which the Lord will return.

Then there are those on the other extreme, who are skeptical and there are apathetic about the value of the return of the Lord about the whole matter of Christ's return.

And yet the Scripture repeatedly urges us urges every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to live every single day with the expectancy of the day of the Lord. Every generation must do that because we do not know exactly what is coming back, and therefore, it is our joy to live expectantly of the coming of the Lord, there can be very little doubt think in the mind of anybody who's studying the Scripture to know that the return of the Lord is imminent. Jesus himself said while only the father knows that our nonetheless, Christians must look forward to the return of Christ every single day. In Matthew 2444.

I'm gonna get you to turn to it in a minute. He said always be ready for the return of the Lord, because you don't know the hour in which you will return. You don't know the hour to expect second Peter chapter 3 verses three and four tells us that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming. But here's the irony and the irony is that the scoffers of our day. The scoffers of today are in a state of frightful expectation of a cosmic collapse as so many scientists who are warning us that of frightful world wide catastrophe is around the corner. It's inevitable. But for those of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Those of us who believe his word and longing for his return that they is not frightening to us that they is a day of eager expectations on our part. We have joyful anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

We have gleeful anticipation of the day and we had daily praying, Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, every single day. That is what categorized a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are afraid of the day of judgment. Then you have not committed your life to Jesus Christ. You do not know him as a savior of your soul on the Lord of your life and I pray to God that today will be the day in which you commit your life to him. Your name will be written the book of life and heaven will rejoice, but that does not mean that we sell everything put on white robes head for the mountains and wait for the spaceship that is not the Christian faith.

That is not the Christian faith.

I work 14 to 16 hours a day at least and yet every single day.

I live with longing for the return of the Lord. In fact waiting for the Lord means that we work harder that we serve faithfully that we give generously that we witness intensely that we love passionately that we forgive easily that we labor for Christ devotedly that we join the spiritual battle courageously.

That's what it means to be waiting for the Lord. And so when he returns, he finds us busy working serving not idly sitting by the Lord Jesus Christ and what is known as the Olivet discourse Matthew 24 and 25 and here they are. There was sitting on top of Mount of olives and looking at that magnificent structure of the building of the temple. The temple itself and there. The disciples as they were looking at.

This was one of the wonders of the ancient world and they said to him, verse three tell us when were all these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age. Jesus replied by giving them the longest answer. He has ever given in all of the recorded Gospels is the longest answer. In fact, Matthew 24 and 25 is the second longest sermon that Jesus ever preached the longest sermon was known as a sermon in the mountains.

In Matthew five, six and seven. This is the second longest sermon is ever preached one of the clearest signs of the nearness of the return of the Lord. One of the clearest signs for the eminence of the return of the Lord is found in Matthew 24 beginning of 37 as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be prior to the return of the Son of Man. Right after he told them that no one knows our not even the angels in heaven. Not even he himself in the flesh when he was on this earth that he knew exact hour.

Only the father knew and yet he immediately goes on to say, as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be prior to the return of the Son of Man.

In other words, he is saying that as the prevailing attitudes were in the days of Noah before the flood, so shall be the prevailing attitudes prior to the return of Christ. What are these prevailing attitudes well you have to go back to Genesis chapter 6 to find out what the prevailing attitudes were at least I found five prevailing attitudes that are very similar to the prevailing attitudes of our day. First, there was a rapid increase in the population of the population explosion verse one of chapter 6 of the book of Genesis and it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth not listen to me, increase in population population explosion is neutral.

It is neither good nor bad about often.

With the increase of the population. There is an increase in moral decadence in today's world population is over 6 billion people in 1973 there were only 3 billion people. So we doubled in less than 35 years prior to that it took 73 years for the population to double before that more and more we are hearing of this dire prediction, but listen again in the time of Christ. World population was 200 million people 200 million during the time of Christ, and it took 1600 years, more than 1600 years for that number to double the 500,000,200 years later 1850 doubled again to 1.300 years later in 1950, doubled again. 2.5 million. 30 years later. 1980 doubled again for 4.5 in the doubled again and somebody predicting that we will double the population in 15 years whatever it may be. We know who's in control. Whatever happens, those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ know that this world is not our home, that sooner or later we gotta be caught up with him in the cloud and we were rain and rule the universe with him forever.

Amen belongs here. The second prevailing attitude that characterize the days of Noah is the unprecedented accumulation of knowledge.

Genesis chapter 4 tells us about the development of megacities for the first time ever, metallurgy arts and sciences. Even if you look at the size of Noah's Ark new. Just think about this when you think of the size of Noah's Ark. It is comparable to one of our modern-day ocean liners 450' x 75'. This increase in knowledge contributed to an increase in self-indulgence increase in complacency, increasing greed, an increase in lecturers and indeed was happening today. Today, the sum total of human knowledge is doubling every 22 months and that number is getting shorter and shorter that within a very short period of time. The total sum knowledge of God be doubling every year as someone estimated that from the beginning of history until 1845 just to illustrate it in your mind so you you you got it.

Knowledge would be equivalent to an inch from 1845 to 1945 that knowledge was equivalent to 3 inches from 1945 to 1975 knowledge was as high as the Washington Monument and from 75 till today. Knowledge is not equivalent to the Empire State building just give you an idea of the vast increase in knowledge said characteristics of the date of Noah. There was increasing wickedness.

The Bible said that God saw the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continuously beloved, that's what brings about the judgment of God is evil and wickedness in the world and today we are seeing more and more men and women are living without regard to God, we are seeing more and more men and women who are living without moral absolutes.

And God's judgment could not be far from around the corner. Today there are so many genocides and and gratuitous bloodshed all over the world from for one that the conduct of Sudan to dozens of other places. Today we have a whole new generation of young churchgoing called themselves evangelicals who are minimizing the enormity of the shedding of innocent blood in America. In these abortion clinics younger generation saying yes abortion support was not all that important wickedness in general is on the increase worldwide. You would have to be living in space.

If you have not seen how within churches.

These are churches at once preach the gospel within churches. They are deemphasizing of sin and morality and they are growling the people in this Bible Cir., Bible believing churches, sexuality is seen as a civil right not as affront to God and a rebellion against his created order sexual immorality among young so-called Christian young people is rampant, and as they blissfully rationalize their promiscuous lifestyle. Many pastors are winking at it. Not only that, but biblical truth is so watered-down that the average person can walk into a church and does not know that is Jesus alone who can say from eternal judgment. There are no longer part and parcel of churches belief that so many of those are called emergent churches saying you don't have to believe Dr. you don't have to believe the Bible you don't have to receive Jesus as your Savior. Just imitate him, pray tell me how can you imitate Jesus if you don't go to him today more and more churchgoers no longer believe in moral evil. They no longer believe in a personal Satan, that they no longer believe in the coming judgment and that that is the time Jesus said, when people are living their lives without regard to God in the coming judgment and death when he comes suddenly in the meanwhile the hearts of being hardened and are being hardened, being hardened as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days prior to the return of the Son of Man and Paul tells us that in these last days. You gonna find Christians are going to be running around from church to church, from preacher to preacher, from teacher to teacher looking for what looking for somebody who tickled her ears. What does that mean they're looking for somebody who tells them what they want to hear, not the truth known to say more about that in the coming days. Fourth characteristic is that there will be eating and drinking ready and giving in marriage. Verse 38. What's wrong with eating and drinking and marrying nothing. These are gifts of God food and drink as a gift from God as well give thanks before we thank you for his gifts. Nothing wrong with marriage so great gift of God are recommended. So what is Jesus saying is saying one food and drink becomes your obsession with food and drink becomes your focus with food and drink becomes a master of another slave, then your priorities a lopsided look at what is happening today. One of these cooking shows that are saturating the airwaves. Have you noticed that you just have one show telling you how to cook all this woozy Guzy fattening food and as soon as it finished. You get a show that tell you how to exercise to get rid of all the poor people that you could commit. This is a schizophrenic of the virus seen one. When we are obsessed with self gratification when their annual money that was spent on pet food and there's nothing wrong with that but when annual money was spent, is twice as much as the entire budget of the nation of Uganda.

There's something wrong with that when people get in and out of marriage at the whim. There's something wrong with that. When selfishness dominated marriage relationship is something wrong with her when immorality is just as rampant among Christians and churchgoers as it is among the nonbeliever. There's something wrong with that and the judgment could not be far away as it was in the day of no so shall it be before the return of the Son of Man.

As 1/5 characteristic of the date of Noah and it was this was mockery was a mockery of the preaching of the truth. Second Peter 25 tells us that we know is building the ark and inviting people to come and escape the judgment in the flood that is coming people mocking him the water, ridiculing him that were laughing at him, probably were saying.

For although he lost.

We've never seen a cloud little on a flood. We don't even know what that is where living just like our forefathers lived. Why should we respond to your invitation. Why should we listen to you and get into the dark and the Bible said 420 years. Noah preached warning and inviting warning uninviting, but to no avail.

In many ways is what Jesus is telling us that as we invite people to come to him as we invite people to come to Christ as we lovingly warn them of the judgment that is coming as we lovingly witness to the fact that only Jesus can save them eternally.

That only Jesus can change your eternal direction from Paul meant to bless that only Jesus is the one who promised freedom from sin and guilt and damnation. And as we do that we going to face rejection but that's all right were going to face mockery.

But that's all right were going to face polite snob. But that's all right. Remember that for every one of those you got to be rewarded in heaven, but those who persist in the rejection of Christ not disclose responsibility report is to tell him assert decision but those who persist in the rejection of the gospel one day will be terrified. One day the be horrified as they face the final judgment of God in the book of Revelation. John tells us that as these catastrophes unleashed upon the earth. You would think that this would lead them into repentance, but he said no it hardens the hearts as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the day of the coming of the Son of Man. You know something about the whole story of Noah that always gives me a lump in my throat. It said that after Noah entered the ark. It didn't say Noah shut the door. This is God shut the door, now you know why you know why Noah is a human, but you are not would feel bad when you see people. Can you imagine a loved one outside of the ark screaming for help facing certain death. We know his heart being human would want open the door. The Bible says God shut the door he see God has a door wide open now and is saying come now come now come now, but the days going to come when God is gonna shut the door but you, not me. God is going to shut the door and he said you've heard the good news. You do not respond to it. Now it's a day for judgment.

When Jesus told the story of Lazarus and the rich man one man basically lived for self. The other one didn't he live for God and then Jesus said, immediately when they both died. They went to their eternal destination.

There was no waiting time the no purgatory, no waiting room.

They immediately went into the destination. Jesus ought to know what he's talking about one with the paradise and the other one to the place of settlement and the man who went to the place of torment was begging father Abraham on the other side of the divide and he said father Abraham if Lazarus will rise from the dead and tell my brothers. The good news that he might have come here.

Someone said after two minutes and help to become a great evangelist remember what Abraham said. He said they have the Bible, and if they do not believe the Bible even if someone rises from the dead, the dark and the belief beloved. The judgment is not something to tamper with.

It's a serious matter because it's about people who will be in the dark, bottomless, lonely pit for ever and ever and ever. That is why we plead with everyone come receive his invitation receive forgiveness of all your sins and guilt, receive eternal life with his hand so when is Jesus returning nobody knows the hour, but we must be on the lookout every single day.

Every single moment, though, be on the lookout.

Jesus prophesied in this all of the discourse of chapter 24, 25, he prophesied two different things. He told him the some things are going to happen right away and he said this generation shall not pass without these things happening and then he said those other things are going to happen prior to his second coming in one of the things that he told him is going to happen in their lifetime. He said to them this magnificent temple that Solomon built, it will be torn down and not one stone and top of the evidence he visited there.

You've seen these might fasten huge stones and I'm trying to think time put myself in the place of the disciples of the first century as if this is inconceivable. This is unbelievable. That cannot be this magnificent building is going to follow and is not a stone left on top of the other. This magnificent building with one of the wonders of the ancient world. And yet, in 70 A.D. that prophecy came about with meticulous detail fulfillment in my beloved friend listen. Make no mistake about it, the day is coming when some of these signs of the Lord Jesus talked about there's going to be immediately prior to his return is going to take place is going to be fulfilled and needed with meticulous precision someone here might say I'm gonna wait until things really get bad then I'm gonna come right with God doesn't work that way, my beloved friend doesn't work that way. You might never have another chance to respond. Why don't you come now while the door is open while you come now while the opportunity is available, because his return will be sudden and there will be no second chances, it will be over will be over because the next few verses, Jesus tells he talks about that suddenness. The quick and you notice he didn't say now the believers are going to be out in the mountains with white robes, waiting for me in Agra, put them out there and then the others will be working in the field is another be working together to be working in the field together. We in the mills together. The Christians are be working continuously working but their eyes the heart, the mind is in anticipation of the return of Christ, and thus the difference between the two. One is taken to heaven. The other was left to face the judgment of God. Jesus's own words should be alert and otherwise to home go to sleep. Don't fall in the trap of living just like everybody else does living Dr. nonbelievers to live with such urgency in your heart live with such expectancy in your heart if you know Jesus.

If you've never committed your life to him to be someone here today with sites and a member of a church or a mental religion. I got a master I do this I do that that's not what's all about in the last day.

That's not what is going ask you is going to ask you have you received the gift of eternal life that was offered to you that you heard in this very message is going to serve as a testimony on the day and it is my heart cry.

It's about you coming to know Jesus as the savior of your soul and the Lord of your life where you can experience the joy of heaven. Even here on earth. And then you're prepared to be with him, writing a ruling for