1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 – “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”

Pew Research Center:
47% – “We are currently living in the end times.”

76% historically black
63% evangelical Protestant

49% – “We are not currently living in the end times.”

70% Catholics 65%
65% mainline Protestant

Belief that “we are living in the end times”:

Protestants (55%) vs. Catholics (27%)
Non-Christian/Non-Religious (30%)
Black Americans more likely than Hispanic, White, and Asian Americans
Southern American more likely than Northern Americans
Republican/Republican-leaning Independents more likely than Democrats/Democrat-leaning Independents

Eschatology – “The part of theology concerned with the end of all things.”

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ,”
“revelation,” Gk. ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis), “revealing or appearing”

Mark 13:1 – “And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!””

Josephus – “…thirty-seven feet long by twelve feet high by eighteen feet deep.”

Mark 13:2 – “And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Destruction of the Temple (A.D. 70), led by Titus

Truth: “Some of the end-times prophecy in Scripture has already been fulfilled.”

Luke 21:20 – “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.”

Mark 13:3-4 – “And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Two Questions:
1. When will
2. What will be the sign when

Mark 13:5-8 – “And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

What are the signs?
1. “False messiahs” who will “lead many astray”
2. “Wars and rumors of wars”
3. “Earthquakes” and “famines”

Jesus: “Do not be alarmed, the end is not yet. These are the beginning of the birth pains.”

Signs in the 1
1. False Messiahs: Theudas, Simon Bar Kochba
2. Wars: Siege of Jerusalem (A.D. 66)
3. Earthquakes: Laodicea (A.D. 61), Pompeii (A.D. 62), Corinth and Cyprus (A.D. 70’s)

Mark 13:9-13 – “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

TAKEAWAYS

1. Quit panicking over old news.
Mark 13:7 – “Don’t be alarmed.”
“alarmed,” Gk. θροέω (throeō), “to cry aloud, to be terrified”

2. Quit ignoring current events.
1 Thes. 5:6 – “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”
Mk. 13:9 – “Be on guard!”
1 Pet. 1:13 – “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

COMMUNION

1 Corinthians 11:26 – “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

1. This is a practice for believers (1 Cor. 11:18, 33)
2. This is a practice that demands self-examination (1 Cor. 11:27-29)

a. The Bread – 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

b. The Cup – 1 Corinthians 11:25
“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”