Are we living in the end times

The Bible prophesies of many events that will occur in the end times. These events can be categorized as natural signs, spiritual signs, sociological signs, technological signs, and political signs. We can look to what the Bible says about these things, and if the signs are present in abundance, we can be certain that we are, in fact, living in the end times.

Luke 21:11 lists some of the natural signs that will occur before Jesus’ Second Coming: “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” In 13 years, between 1991 and 2004, the United States alone has experienced 5 of its costliest hurricanes in history, 3 of its 4 largest tornado

swarms in history, and 9 of the 10 greatest disasters as determined by FEMA. We have recently seen Hurricane Sandy, which some have called the “perfect storm.” There is a huge upswing in the prevalence of sinkholes. As for great signs from heaven, we’ve seen the Chelyabinsk meteor, which exploded over Russia, emitting a powerful shock wave. All of these events seem to be a warm up to what is coming next—“birth pangs,” as Jesus called them (Matthew 24:8).
The Bible lists both positive and negative spiritual signs. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 we discover that many people will follow false teachers. We see now an increase in cultic groups, heresy, deception and occultism, with many choosing to follow new age or pagan religions. On the positive side, Joel 2:28-29 prophesies that there will be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16), and we are still seeing the effects of that outpouring in revivals and Spirit-led Christian movements, worldwide preaching of the gospel message, and the emergence of Messianic Judaism.
Along with the signs in the natural and spiritual realms, there are signs in society. The immorality rampant in society today is a symptom of mankind’s rebellion against God. Abortion, homosexuality, drug abuse and child molestation are proof that “evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse” (2 Timothy 3:13). We are now living in a hedonistic and materialistic society. People are lovers of themselves – “looking out for number one” – and doing what is right in their own eyes. All these things, and many more, can be seen around us every day (see 2 Timothy 3:1-4).
The fulfillment of some end-times prophecies seemed impossible until the advent of modern technology.Daniel 12:4 foretold an increase in knowledge. Some of the judgments in Revelation are more easily imagined in a nuclear age. In Revelation 13, the Antichrist will control commerce by forcing people to take the mark of the beast, and, given today’s advances in computer chip technology, the tools he will use may very well be here already. And through the internet, radio and television, the gospel can now be proclaimed to the entire world (Mark 13:10).
And there are political signs. The restoration of Israel to her land in 1948 is the single most impressive fulfilled prophecy proving that we live in the end times. At the turn of the 20th century, no one would have dreamed that Israel would be back in her land, let alone occupying Jerusalem. Jerusalem is definitely at the center of geopolitics and stands alone against many enemies; Zechariah 12:3 confirms this: “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” Matthew 24:6-7 predicted that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” “Wars and rumors of wars” are definitely characteristic of this present age.
These are just a few of the signs that we are living in the end of the age. There are many more. God gave us these prophecies because He does not want anyone to perish, and He always gives ample warning before pouring out His wrath (2 Peter 3:9).
Are we living in the end times? The rapture could occur at any moment. God will deal with sin either by grace or by wrath. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their savior will remain under the Lord’s wrath.
The good news is that it’s not too late to choose eternal life. All that is required is acceptance, by faith, of God’s free gift of grace. There is nothing you can do to earn grace; Jesus has paid the price for you (Romans 3:24). Are you ready for the Lord’s return? Or will you experience His wrath?

Contributor :http://www.gotquestions.org/living-in-the-end-times.html

Hebrews 4:1-11: A Sabbath-Rest for God's People

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

1Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.

1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

1Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.

2For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.

2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

2For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith

3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.

3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3(for we who have believed enter the rest), in keeping with what He has said: So I swore in My anger, they will not enter My rest. And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world,

4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "On the seventh day God rested from all his works."

4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

4For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS";

4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

4for somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.

NIV

ESV

NASB

KJV

HCSB

5And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."

5And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

5and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."

5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

5Again, in that passage He says, They will never enter My rest.

6Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,

6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

6Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

6Since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,

7God again set a certain day, calling it "Today." This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

7again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

7He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

7again, He specifies a certain day--today--speaking through David after such a long time, as previously stated: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

9So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

9Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God's people.

NIV

ESV

NASB

KJV

HCSB

10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

10For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

10For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.

11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

11Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

11Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

Operating at Divine speed

TEXT: PSALM 18:25-36

INTRODUCTION: The speed of something is the rate at which it moves or travels. It is the rate at which something happens or is done. When something is provided by (coming from) or relating to God, it is said to be divine. DIVINE SPEED therefor, is speed (progress) that is provided by God, regulated (controlled) by God and associated with God. When a child of God allows God to determine when and how he “moves”, he is said to operate with divine speed. For maximum blessing, we all must move with divine speed in 2014 and the rest of our life.

A. HIND’S FEET: This is a commonly-used phrase that derives from the Bible, and it is used in the Holy Text to describe a person’s ability to overcome a challenge that has been affecting them or worrying them with ease and success (Ps.18:33). A hind is a female red deer. This kind of deer is able to move easily and rapidly across the rocks and uneven terrain of the mountains and mountainous landscape. It will leap from rocks without losing footing, suggesting that those with hind’s feet are able to overcome things easily, and elegantly. Thus the bible verse means that God has inspired his believers and empowered them to overcome the obstacles which confront them, doing things that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without divine aid.

Question: According to Psalms 18:33, who secures our feet? Compare this with Proverbs 3:1-12. 

B. DIVINE TIMING: The reason God likes to make us wait from time to time is to not only test our faith in Him and to properly prepare us for what He is making us wait for, but to also develop the fruit of patience and determination in us. The fruit of patience is one of the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit, and it is one fruit that He loves to try and develop in all of us, especially in the fast-pace world in which we all now live. This very valuable quality lines up with God’s own character and how He likes to work things out. In His dealings with us, God considers The Timing Factor. It is very important when He will want to make something specific happen.

Discuss: The following verses: Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Lamentation 3:25-26; Psalm 130:5-6; Psalm 145:1; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 31:15; Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6; Psalm 39:7-8; Psalm 40:1-2; Psalm 37:34; Psalm 37:7; Psalm 25:5, 21; Habakkuk 2:2-3; Ecclesiastes 3:11, 17; Isaiah 8:17, 40:31; Proverbs 27:18; Titus 1:2-3; John 7:6; Mark 1:14-15; Acts 1:7; 1Tim. 6:14-15; 2Thessalonians 2:6-8.

As you can see from reading each one of these verses, God does like to work on a specific set timetable – and even Jesus Himself had to wait for God’s timing on some of the things He ended up doing. And not only did Jesus, the apostles, and many in the old testament have to abide by God’s specific timing on when He wanted them to do something, but there are verses showing that God will still continue to run things according to His own set timetable in the years ahead, including how He will work your life and when He will want to make certain things happen in your life.

C. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: Jesus Himself had to wait until He was 30 years old before God baptized Him with the Holy Spirit and anointed Him with His power to go on His three and half year miracle ministry before He went to the cross to get all of us saved. Jesus had to wait again for 40 days before He ascended to the Father after His resurrection from the grave. Moses was in the back side of a desert for 40 years before when was sent in by God to rescue the children of Israel from the Egyptians. The Israelites had to wait for 430 years before God delivered them from the Egyptians. David had wait for 13 years before he became King of Israel. Abraham had to wait 25 years for the birth of his son Isaac. Noah had to wait for 120 years from the time God told him to build the ark until the time of the flood actually occurring. The apostles had to wait 10 days after Jesus had ascended before they had received the Holy Spirit in the upper room.

As you can see from these specific examples from the Bible, God likes to make us wait for some of the major chess moves He will be making in our lives.

MEMORY VERSE:

In God’s strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall (Ps. 18:29 NLT)

Church of Eternal Life Jos- Plateau state.

The World and the Church Part 2

                                                              

TEXT: Jn. 17:6-19

INTRODUCTION: God’s first requirement of Christians in this world is that they be different from those around them, observing God’s moral absolutes, practicing love, avoiding shameful license, and not losing their dignity as God’s image-bearers through any form of irresponsible self-indulgence (Rom.12:2; Eph.4:17-24; Col.3:5-11). A clean break with the world’s value-systems and life-style is called for, as a basis for practicing Christlikeness in positive terms (Eph.4:25-5:17). Christians are to involve themselves in all forms of lawful human activity, and by doing that in terms of the Christian value system and vision of life they will become salt (a preservative that makes things taste better) and light (an illumination that shows the way to go) in the human community (Matt.5:13-16). As Christians thus fulfil their vocation, Christianity becomes a transforming cultural force.  

A. IN THE BIBLE, SEPERATION USUALLY MEANS DIFFERENCE RATHER THAN DISTANCE (Read Lev.18:1-5)

In the Bible, separation usually means “Difference” rather than “Distance”. The Israelites move from one idol-infested country to another. AS God helped them form a new culture, he warned them to leave all aspects of their pagan background behind. He also warned them how easy it would be to slip into the pagan culture of Canaan, where they were going. Canaan’s society and religions appealed to worldly desires, especially sexual immorality and drunkenness. The Israelites were to keep themselves pure and set apart for God. God did not want his people absorbed into the surrounding culture and environment. Society may pressure us to conform to its way of life and thought, but yielding to that pressure will (1) create confusion as to which side we should be on and (2) eliminate our effectiveness in serving God. Follow God, and don’t let the culture around you mold your thoughts and actions.

Discuss some of the cultural practices of our day that the church should avoid. Why?      

B. SEPERATION, FOR A CHRISTIAN, MEANS STAYING CLOSE TO GOD

Separation from the world involves more than keeping our distance from sinners; it means staying close to God (see 2 Cor. 7:1-2). It involves more than avoiding entertainment that leads to sin; it extends to how we spend our time and money. There is no way to separate our self totally from all sinful influences. Nevertheless, we are to resist the sin around without either giving up or giving in.

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (2Cor.6:14). Discuss this command from God.

C. GOD INTEND FOR US TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD AND STILL REACH OUT TO UNBELIEVERS?

1 Corinthians 5:9-11. . . When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or abusive or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with such people.

Living in isolation from unbelievers is impractical and undesirable. God loved the world and so should we. But we must avoid becoming one in heart and spirit with the ungodly.

Comment on Mark 2:15-17

D. WHAT IS GOD’S PURPOSE OF SETTING HIS PEOPLE APART? Read Exo.19:5-6; Deut.14:2; 1 Pet. 1:1-2, 15

God wants us to have a covenant love relationship with him. To have it, we must obey him, accept Jesus Christ as Savior, and live godly lives on earth. By doing this, we set ourselves apart as being different from those who don’t know the Lord. Some people will want to know what makes us different, and we will be able to tell them about the love of god and our future with him in eternity. We must live like Christ on earth!

MEMORY VERSE: James 4:4

Church of Eternal Life Jos, Plateau state.

What the bible teaches about the world and the Church Part 1

   TEXT: EPH. 5:1-21

A. CHURCH                                                          

The word “church” is used in the New Testament to refer to the people of God who have obeyed the gospel by immersion into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In the New Testament the word “church” is used primarily to God’s people who have been called out (Greek : ecclesia) of the world. The church is God’s special holy nation of redeemed people whose citizenship is in heaven (Acts 20:28; Ph. 3:20-21; Tit.2:14; 1Pt. 1:18-19; 2:9). The church is made up of those on earth who have submitted to the reign of Jesus from heaven. The church is composed of those in whose hearts Jesus now reigns (Lk.17:20-21). Wherever the will of God is done on earth in the hearts of men as it is done in heaven (Mt.6:10), then the church exists. As a body filled with the Spirit of God (1Cor.6:19), the church is a vibrant community in this world to accomplish the work of God to bring men into eternity through obedience to the gospel.   

B. WORLD

World in the New Testament sometimes means what it means in the Old Testament, namely, this earth, the good natural order that God created. Usually, however, it means mankind as a whole, now fallen into sin and moral disorder and become radically anti-God and evil. Occasionally, the two senses seem to blend, so that statements about the world carry the complex touch of perverse people incurring guilt and shame by their misuse of created things.

C. THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

Christians are sent into the world by their Lord (John 17:18) to witness to it about God’s Christ and his kingdom (Matt. 24:14; cf. Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:6,23) and to serve its needs. But they are to do so without falling victim to its materialism (Matt.6:19-24,32), its unconcern about God and the next life (Luke 12:13-21), and its prideful pursuit of pleasure, profit, and position to the exclusion of everything else (1 John 2:15-17). The world is at present Satan’s kingdom (John 14:30; 2Cor.4:4; 1John 5:19; cf. Luke 4:5-7), and the outlook and mind-set of human societies reflect more of the pride seen in Satan than the humility seen in Christ.

Christians, like Christ, are to emphasize with people’s anxieties and needs in order to serve them and communicate with them effectively. They are to do so, however, on a basis of motivational detachment from this world, through which they are momentarily passing as they travel home to God and in which their single-minded purpose must be to please God (Col. 1:9-12; 1Pet. 2:11)

Discuss: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Also discuss 1 John 2:15-17

MEMORY VERSE: Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you (1 John 2:15 NLT).

Resource by Church of Eternal Life Jos, Plateau state.