Sermon of 03-22-03

"Obey the Signs or Pay the Fines! #2"
by Dr. David A. Farmer, pastor

Scripture - 2 Peter 3:10-14; "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. V:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, V:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? V:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. V:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 

I have at home a wooden MISSISSIPPI WEATHER GUIDE that a friend from Iowa gave Kathy and me. It comes with these simple instructions: 

"Hang outside and Check Daily. 
If the Rope is Dry - Fair. 
Rope Wet - Raining. 
Rope Moving - Windy. 
Rope White - Snowing. 
Rope Gone - Tornado." 

It sort of cute, but hopefully you realize each forecast is true. I was looking at the weather guide one morning. I thought; Jesus gave us some sure signs, which foretold of His 2nd Coming. They are mentioned in Matthew 24. They are:

  • Signs in the world of religion;
  • Signs in the world of politics;
  • Signs in the world of nature;
  • Signs in the world of social life;
  • And Signs in the world of knowledge.

We looked at the 1st two last week. I would like to look at the last three this morning and finish with what I feel is the most important fulfilled sign of them all. If you were not here last week, please seek a copy of the tape or go to our web page and download it and read over it. In order to completely comprehend and appreciate this morning's topic, you will need to know what we looked at last week.

Last week I gave the story of how I came about our title. Please allow me to repeat it for the sake of those that were not here.

A few weeks back I was over in Little Rock, AR. As many of you know they are under heavy road construction there. They are trying to widen I-30 to 6 lanes through the city. While driving I saw a sign that caught my eye. It read; "Obey the signs or pay the fines".

That sparked something in me. A sermon if you please. You know how we pastors are. Always looking for sermon titles. We will continue our study of Nehemiah next week. But last week and today, I want to look at the signs of the 2nd Coming of Jesus. 

Just what does the Bible say about Jesus 2nd Coming? And do we see any of those signs today? Last week we looked at the Signs in the world of religion, and the world of politics. This morning we will start with the: Signs in the World of Nature. We looked at the 1st part of verse 24 last week but in conclusion of this verse, we find Jesus turns His attention to the natural world: "There will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places" (Matthew 24:7). 

Do we see famines today? For several years we know that North Korea is experiencing a famine so bad that millions are facing starvation. The North Korean government estimates that over 55,000 people have died from the famine. In Somalia, one million people are facing serious food shortages, with over 400,000 at risk of starvation. Jordan has been hit by the worst drought they've had in decades. Experts estimate that about a sixth of the world's population is suffering and facing starvation.

Jesus also said in Matthew 24:7, "There will be famines and pestilences". Do you know what a pestilence is? They are strange diseases on crops or diseases that run out of control among human beings and animals. CDC, The Centers for Disease Control, says that the air we breathe is filled with pestilences. Strains of diseases are developing everyday. Many resist any known antibiotic used. Seems like every week a new diseases pops up for which scientist cannot find a cure. Look at the new disease that is in the news right now. Some sort of flu-like illness that has already killed several around the world. It's being spread through the planes and is highly contagious. 

Jesus also said there would be earthquakes in the last days. Did you know that we have around 35 earthquakes per day? That is around 12,000 to 14,000 earthquakes per year. Some earthquakes that caused significant loss of life are listed here by their location, date, magnitude and approximate number killed:

  1. China; July 28, 1976; 7.8 to 8.2; 240,000
  2. Japan; September 1, 1923; 8.3; 200,000
  3. China; December 16, 1920; 8.6; 100,000
  4. Northern Peru; May 31, 1970; 7.7; 70,000
  5. Northwest Iran; June 21, 1990; 7.3 to 7.7; 50,000
  6. Chile; January 24, 1939; 8.3; 28,000
  7. Northeast Iran; September 16, 1978; 7.7; 25,000
  8. Northwest Armenia; December 7, 1988; 6.9; 25,000
  9. Guatemala; February 4, 1976; 7.5; 22,778
  10. Valparaiso Chile; August 16, 1906; 8.6; 20,000
  11. Central Mexico; September 19, 1985; 8.1; more than 9,500
  12. Northeast Afghanistan; February 4, 1998; 6.1, 5,000
  13. Northern Iran; May 10, 1997; 7.1; 1,500

The "big one" is on its way scientists tell us. I remember not too many years ago we here in this part of the country got ready for a big one. I watched over in Memphis, TN, how they fixed their overpasses so that if an earthquake came, the bridges and overpasses will fall on people below.
Remember also last week we looked at what the Bible said in Luke 21:26; "Men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken." Yes we live in a world of fear. But as long as we have our eyes on Jesus we have nothing to fear.

The next sign we will look at is; Jesus said there would be Signs in the world of social life. So far we've looked at signs in almost every area of life. Signs abundantly fulfilled. But no signs are more obvious or inescapable than those in the social world. Jesus plainly predicted in verse 37: "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark" (Matthew 24:37).

Do you have any idea what was life like in Noah's day? Listen to Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13; "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. V:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. V:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. V:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. V:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."

Life was so bad that God was sorry He made mankind. Moral values were low. Marriage vows were broken. Divorce was common. God's standards that were once kept, were no longer accepted. The Bible says in Genesis 6:5, "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

Let's compare Noah's day with our day. I don't have to tell you how the moral foundation of society is in the 21st century. For years, living together outside of marriage is commonplace. The National Centers for Health Statistics report that 30.1% of all births in America are to unmarried women. What about divorce rates? Did you know that the marriage rate has fallen nearly 30% since 1970, while the divorce rate has increased about 40%. Over 50% of marriages end up in divorce court.

Also like Noah's time, we live in a nation of violence. I'm sure you are aware that violence is sweeping our nation. In April of 1999, do you remember the two students wearing black trench coats, massacred 23 teachers and students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado? And since then all over the country we have had copycat attempts.

And it's no wonder. Children watch an average of three hours of television per day. By the time they're 12, they've witnessed 1,400 murders on the tube. Friends, it shouldn't be surprising that our moral values are decaying! Because children mimic what they see us adults doing.

Now listen to how Daniel 12:4 reads: "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4).

I think this is a two fold prophecy. 1st, I think this verse says knowledge in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation would increase. Today we have more knowledge of the Bible and what it says than ever before. We understand more and more everyday what God told us so many years ago. 

2nd, I also think Daniel meant knowledge would increase in the medical world, transportation and everyday life. Just look what we can do in the world of medicine. How we have the ability to transplant an organ from one person to another is beyond me. 

Think of transportation. Some of you here may remember traveling by horse and buggy earlier in life. Many of us lived through the first moon walk. The last of this month I will leave in Little Rock, Ark and be in Miami Fld. within a couple of hours. We've gone from fountain pens to E-mail. From party-lines to cell phones the size of your palm. From adding machines to computers. Technology is changing so fast that what is the newest and hottest in technology today, is obsolete and outdated tomorrow. Daniel's prophecy, "and knowledge will increase" has been fulfilled right before our eyes.

I would like to end with what I feel is the most important sign of all. Jesus predicted His return would take when the Gospel has gone around the world. Listen to Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew. 24:14).

Last week we looked the 1st Angels Message of Revelation 14. Listen to it again; "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-to every nation, tribe, tongue and people" (Revelation 14:6).

Jesus said that before His 2nd Coming, many doors of opportunity to proclaim the Gospel would open. Kathy and I still find it hard to believe we had the opportunity to travel to Russia and give the Gospel to so many lost souls. And that was just us. Think of all the others that have been there before us. And think of the ones since then and are there right now.

There is a spiritual revival in Africa, South and Central America. In India, scores of former Hindus are turning to God's Word. In spite of fierce persecution, God is doing something special in China, because the church continues to grow there. Tens of thousands hear God's Word everyday. Think of the millions who watch 3ABN and Safe TV around the world. Yes, we see the sign of the Gospel going the world fulfilled right before our eyes.

But remember there are 2 more Angels in Revelation 14. The 2nd Angels Message found in verse 8 says; "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." 

Jesus says before He comes that Babylon will be exposed. The word "Babylon" means "babble" or "confusion." In other words, the false churches that have been spreading counterfeit truths will be exposed. 

Remember I said last week for every truth God has in His Word, the devil has a counterfeit. Let me ask, where would the devil be able to do his best work in deceiving people? But of course, in the church. Who looks for the devil in the church? Let me give you a few examples on how the devil is working in the churches right now; 

  1. God told us to keep the Sabbath Holy in Genesis 2:2-3; the devil says it was done away with and rose up his counterfeit day
  2. God told us what happens to a person when they die in Ecclesiastes 9:5-10; the devil calls God a liar in Genesis 3:4-5. 
  3. God tells us in Revelation 20:9; 2 Peter 3:10; Ps. 146:20 and many others places, that the devil, his imps, sin and sinners will be burned up for ever and ever. But most people believe sinners will burn for eternity.
  4. Jesus says He is coming with the brightness of lighting in Matthew 24:27, and with a shout and the trumpet of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. But the devil says Jesus is coming in a Secret Rapture. The devil even uses Scripture trying to prove his lies. 

And these are only a few examples of how the devil has confused people in to believing his counterfeit truths.

Friends, the signs we have looked at all point that Jesus is about to come. And as I said last week if you don't obey the signs you will pay the fine. Do you know what is the fine is if you don't obey the signs?

Listen to the 3rd Angels Message of Revelation 14:9; "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, V:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" 

Friends the fine is you will be lost! I have proving that the prophetic signs of Jesus' soon return are being fulfilled right now. So, ask yourself, is there anything in your life which would keep you from being ready for His soon return? Jesus longs to save each of us. He longs to have us live together with Him forever. This is the time to prepare. Why not fully commit your life to Him right now. Don't delay another day, come to Jesus. 


Texarkana SDA Church
3100 Pleasant Grove Road
Texarkana, Texas

 

 

Printed From Texarkana SDA Church Website http://www.tagnet.org/texarkana