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The future: the rest of God’s story

The other side, part 4 of 4
Pastor Vince DiPaola

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” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? “ (Matthew 24:3)

I Some views of events in the future

What do people believe about the future?

View 1. Idealism: The world will gradually get better.

“Jesus answered, ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many… Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:4–5,7–8)

View 2. Fatalism The world is ultimately hopeless.

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” (Matthew 24:6)

View 3. Realism: The world follows God’s revealed plan.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:35–36)

II Key visions of events in the future what does God say will happen?

1. The love and faith of many will grow cold.

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. “
(Matthew 24:10–12)

2 The people of God (Christians) will be “raptured” home.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven…and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18)

3. The people of the world will go through “Tribulation”.

“For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now–and never to be equaled again . If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22)

4. Jesus Christ will return to earth to rule and reign.

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the Earth will mourn They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30, see Revelation 19:11-16)

“[The people of God]… will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6b)

III. Real victorious living for the future
What can we do now?
(Mathew 25:1-13)

1. Make sure you are spiritually related to Christ

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’… The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead…buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way the bridegroom arrived. And the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:1–10)

2. Make sure you are morally ready for Christ.

” Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)