Church Camp Message 8 - Doctrine of the End

The signs of end-times, the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:4-19. 

Thank God that He promised to come again. If all prophecies were fulfilled in Christ's first coming, then we can be assured that those of the second coming will also be fulfilled. 

- War and rumours of war: the world is gearing up for war, with terrorism more organized and wide spread. (Verse 6)

- Famine, pestilences and earthquakes: these are more frequent and more intense, signifying that Earth and human kind is not well, repent while we can. (Verse 7)

- False prophets proclaiming they are saviour of human kind. They come to confused, deceive and destroy. (Verse 11)

- The gospel reaching all the corners of the world. With technology, this is already possible and happened many times. Once all the elect has been saved, the end time will come.

Jesus, when He next come, He will descend on Mount of Olives, the same manner that He has left in the first coming. God will fulfil His promise to Israel. Jesus will sit on the throne of David when He comes again - a fulfilment towards the throne of David. For all these to happen, Israel must be back as a country, and that has already happened. The time is ripe for His return, it can be anytime now.

What happens during the end times? 

Wrath - Matt 24:21 - this happens during the Great Tribution. The antichrist will come and set himself as king. This will last for 7 years, known as Jacob's trouble, where Israel will be persecuted greatly from the second half of the period (42 months, Rev 7). The antichrist will break the peace with Israel And persecuted them.  Prior to that, there will be 2 witnesses sent to the people, calling them to repent. They will be carrying out their ministry for 1260 days. 

What happen to the church? We will be caught up in the air with the Lord - I Thess 4:16-17. God will save us from the wrath that is to come during the tribulation.

Reign - Rev 20:4. Christ will reign on earth for for 1,000 years. Rev 5:9-10. This is the Millenium - Isaiah. There will be a judgement of the great white throne of the unbelievers, and will then be castes into the lake of fire. 2 Peter 3:7 - destroying the current earth and heaven. 

Eternity - New heaven and new earth -  Rev 21 - the former things will all pass away and God will create a new heaven and earth, where there will not be any tears and sorrow.

Our affliction now in our lives are but light and brief, compared to the happiness in eternity. It is temporary; we need to set our eyes towards the future and live according to God's doctrine to our final blessings.