Miles to go before I sleep

End times how close are we?

This is the question that has been affecting the church since the ascension of Jesus. Where are we scripturally in history? Well let’s take a look at this from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus preached on this very topic. The disciples were asking Jesus how will they know what his coming would be like and then he told them.

(Mat 24:3 KJV) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

(Mat 24:4 KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

(Mat 24:5 KJV) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

(Mat 24:6 KJV) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

(Mat 24:7 KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

(Mat 24:8 KJV) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

(Mat 24:9 KJV) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

(Mat 24:10 KJV) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

(Mat 24:11 KJV) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

(Mat 24:12 KJV) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

(Mat 24:13 KJV) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

(Mat 24:14 KJV) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

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(Mat 24:37 KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(Mat 24:38 KJV) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

(Mat 24:39 KJV) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Lets have a look at what is happening in the world that we live in and what Jesus said would happen at the time of the return.

1. Many shall come in my name saying that I am Christ.

A. Let’s just look at the last few years,

a. Elijah Mohammad - The founder of the Nation of Islam, and now Louis Farikon claims to be the Messiah.

b. Branch Davidians – David Koresh, told everyone that he is Jesus and that he would raise from the dead, well he is still dead.

c. Heavens Gate cult – The leader said that she was the savior, and she knew the way to heaven.

d. Jim Jones

e. Hali Salasi – The founder of the Rosterfartarianism, his followers believed that he is the Christ returned.

f. There will be wars and rumors of wars –

Viciousness of wars compared to other wars lets look,

In the revolutionary war about 36,000 people died,

In the civil war 620,000 died.

So in the 1700’s with all of the wars that happened about 40,000 people died in wars.

In the 1800’s about 750,000 people died in war.

a. In the last 100 years the wars have increased dramatically, this may shock some of you but this is the beginning of sorrows.

b. In WW1- 10 million people died.

c. WW2 – 100.5 million died.

d. Korea – 5.5 million died.

e. Vietnam – 580,000

f. Iran/Iraq – 300,000

g. Gulf war – 35,000

That is a total for this century of more than 117 Million people killed in war. Let’s put this in prospective, Japan has a population of 121 Million people. Imagine the whole country of Japan disappearing. Can you imagine this? 100 years ago people could not. From the 1700’s to the turn of the century approximately 1,400,000 people died that is a fraction of last century100 times the number of people. This should give a hint at what the future holds in store.

g. Famines and pestilences:

a. Just a few years ago scientist made the declaration that by the end of the 20th century all childhood diseases would be eradicated. Well that has not happened, once minor diseases have become drug resistant or immune and are now very dangerous. But we should not be surprised, Flu is a major killer now, Right after WW1 there was a flu epidemic that killed millions. There is Flesh eating bacteria, drug resistant sexually transmitted diseases. Smallpox was eradicated in the 1970’s Polio, ect. Now all of these are showing up again and the threat of terrorist using these plus Ebola, Aids, ect. Is a real possibility.

b. Earthquakes:

a. From 1900 – 1969 there were 48 large earthquakes, an average of 6 per decade.

b. 1970- 89 there were 33 for an average of 17.

c. 1990-92 there were 133.

Do you see how this is increasing? Just a few weeks ago I was watching the news and the lead story was the increase of earthquakes in diverse places. This was predicted 2000 years ago by Jesus.

Lets look a one more thing before we continue, There is a killer that is on track to kill more people than all the wars in the last century. It has taken more that 30 million in the USA since 1974. I am talking about abortion. Generation X would be 30 million people stronger if this had not happened. If we look at the bible we can see this in the past also, In Egypt satan had pharaoh, kill all the newborns to get to Moses. He had Herod kill the males for Jesus. In the old testament God commands(Lev 18:21 KJV) And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. They were sacrificing their children to Molech which is the chief diety of the Ammonites. As the bible says: (Eccl 1:9 KJV) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Now back to the sermon, Jesus said that these are the beginning of the sorrow. That is a sobering though. The beginnings, wow. You mean to tell me that things can get worse? YES!!!!!! Not only can they but they will. How do I know? Because Jesus said so. So for all of you who think that they can wait till there sure about Jesus before making a commitment remember that time is short. All of these prophesies have come to pass, the stage is set for Jesus return. Are you ready? Jesus gave us the signs 2000 years ago. If he were to return at this moment would you be face to face with him, or would you see all of your friends disappear. It is so easy to be sure, just ask Jesus to cleanse your sins and turn from them and live for Jesus. Please think about it.

Jesus said that the gospel shall be preached to all the world, well we are there. The gospel has been preached, it does not say that everyone will receive it just that it is given to them. Well the last that I heard is that there are 3 countries in the world that has not had the opportunity to hear. Lets pray that happens soon.

As it was in Noah, man that is so much like today. What was it like? People did their own thing, they disobeyed God, they were sexually promiscuous. They were exceededly wicked. Well look at LA and Times square and Ropungi and you can see that has not changed. People are lovers of themselves. Homosexuality was another one, well just this week a large protestant denomination voted to remove the reference in its constitution that says leaders must be holy, and not have to be faithful or celibate if single and allows homosexuality. We are without excuse!

Jesus said that we would be hated for his name well we are, look at all the martyrs that are happening around the world.

There is so much more that can be covered that is written about these days that we are in. But now ask are you ready for Christ’s return? Are you living for him or for yourselves? How close well there here now, as is written:

(1 Th 5:2 KJV) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.