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COULD THIS BE
THE BEGINNING OF THE END?

(1) Luke 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not        terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not      by and by.

   (a) commotions = Strong's Greek Number 0181 =  instability, a state           of disorder, disturbance, confusion

   (b) Bin Laden has called on Muslims to wage an holy war on the               United States

   (c) Egyptian Foreign Minister says "Bin Laden" does not speak for             Arabs and Muslims

   (d) We see Bin Laden has caused, confusion, a state of disorder,               and instability in our world

(2) Luke 21:9 (NIV) When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be        frightened.  These things must happen first, but the end will not            come right away."

(3) Luke 21:10-11
    10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation,                  and kingdom against kingdom:

    11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines,          and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be          from heaven.

I. BUT THE END WILL NOT COME IMMEDIATELY

   (1) Before the end comes the great tribulation must be

   (2) But before the great tribulation comes there is something that               takes place and it only for the church

   (3) Only for the true believers this blessing is not for the pretender

   (4) Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be           accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to             pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

       (a) This is the first plain reference in all Scripture of the rapture --              of some escaping all the terrible events of Lk. 21:25-28.

       (b) How they were to escape, if they met conditions, is stated                     here as "to stand before the Son of Man."  How could all                       worthy ones go to be before Him unless by rapture

   (5) John 14:1-3
        1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also           in me.

        2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I               would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

        3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and          receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.


II. THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE

   1.  Before the great tribulation

        (a) Luke 21:25-28
             25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and                in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with                        perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

             26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after                    those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of              heaven shall be shaken.

             27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud                with power and great glory.

             28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look                  up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

        (b) Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may
             accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come                to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

   2.  Before God pours out his wrath

         (a) 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath,                 but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

   3.  Before God starts dealing with Israel

         (a) Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was                    opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it                were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up                      hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

         (b) Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and                   the things which are, and the things which shall be                               hereafter;

   4.  Before the Anti-Christ is revealed

         (a) 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10
              6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be                         revealed in his time.

              7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who                 now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

              8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord                     shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy                 with the brightness of his coming:

              9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with               all power and signs and lying wonders,

              10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them                   that perish; because they received not the love of the truth,                   that they might be saved.
Message from the Pastor
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Bro. Lawrence Bradford
Archived from: December 2001