Eschatology: Understanding the End Times Week 2

and you'll want to hold on to this throughout the study and refer back to the chart of kind of the timeline of what's happening. Then on page one, we've given you a number of terms that we will go back and define them and and do as part of our Bible study. But it's one of those things where to talk about this, we got to talk about that. But we got to explain that before you can understand this. And so these are terms you're going to need to at least have a little bit of familiarity with as we go through the study. And then uh and then we'll bring them into more depth as we continue through. And so we talked last week about uh the first five terms uh and first four terms there.

And uh I want to talk about the judgment seat of Christ just a little bit more here. and then we'll continue on to last terms and get into our notes. Um the judgment or the bema seat of Christ. Now there's two judgment seats and we'll look at the other one there. Number eight, the great white throne judgment. And the great white throne judgment if you look at that that's the judgment of the unsaved and that's when they're cast in the lake of fire for eternity. And and right after that's done that's when the eternity actually begins. And and so this is when those that are not saved are judged. So you and I will not be judged.

If we're saved, we will not be judged at the great white throne judgment. We will be there. And there will be tears as we watch people that we knew and love being cast into the lake of fire. But we will not be judged at that time. But we will be judged at the judgment seat. The word in the Greek is the bema seat of Christ. and the beimma back in the Greek times that's when at the Olympic games that the they would come to receive their their award for being the victors. Now remember back then they didn't get a a gold medal. Uh they got a wreath uh made of uh flowers and and and yet this is when you would would you would award reward those who had won the race.

And the Bible talks about in 1 Corinthians chapter nine that we are in a race. So we want to finish that race and strive for that prize and and the prize is hearing well done now good and faithful servant. Now at the bema seats when we'll receive uh our reward. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3 it talks about there'll be loss for some loss of reward and then there'll be reward for those who have been faithful and uh and and and so we are going to be judged not on whether we're going to heaven or hell but we're being judged at the beacy of Christ on how we live the Christian life. And um that's when we'll receive reward or we'll we'll have loss of reward.

we could have, you know, had this, but we didn't. And and um and so we'll be judged on four things at that time. And and one is our actions on how we lived the Christian life and what we did and did not do. Secondly, we'll be judged on our thoughts, uh the things that we we think and and also the things that we say and our words. And then finally, we'll be judged on our motivation. So when we stand before Christ, he will show us and it's kind of like if you there's a program on when I was a kid called this is your life and they would take somebody and show videos and have people tell about them and all the things from their life and in some way or another God will re you will be revealed how we lived our life and um and then the things that are done for Christ those will be rewarded and the things that are not there'll be a loss in that where as as if by fire.

The Bible says and um now the things that will not be judged there is the things that we confess. The Bible says if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. And so when I say or do something wrong, if I stop and say, "Lord, that was wrong and ask you 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all righteousness. And if when I confess it, I'm cleansed and he forgets it and it will not be brought up again. But the things that I do not confess will be judged by him at that time. Again, not whether I go to heaven or hell, but whether I receive reward or loss of reward.

And and that is happening after the rapture. If you look at your timeline, it's after the rapture. It's going to be during the time of tribulation on the earth. And that's seven years. And then then after that will be a thousand years of of the rule of Christ. And we'll talk about that in just a moment. And that's when part of our reward will be to rule with him during that thousand years. And then number six is the second coming of Christ. That's when Jesus Christ returns to the earth as a conquering king leading a mighty army of believers at the end of tribulation period. So the rapture happens.

We're taken up to heaven and then seven years later we come back with him to conquer this world and to conquer Satan. Now we will be the army but we won't do the fighting. Jesus is going to do the fighting. We're going to be there, but we're not. He's going to do it all. Uh, but that's going to be the second coming of Christ. So, there are two different things. The rapture, he comes in the air, but never comes down to earth and we're brought up to him. And then you have the second coming where actually comes back. And that's when after that point is uh the things like the judgment and all that.

And then number seven is the millennial kingdom. And that's the thousand-year rule of here on earth. It begins after the second coming and ends at the final rebellion of Satan and the great white throne judgment. Faithful Christians will rule over him that during that time. So at the end of seven years he comes back conquers the world and then it begins a thousand years of a perfect world. He the world is all renewed and uh he rules and we will rule with him and uh people are the only ones come into that kingdom are those that are saved. But then those that are alive when he comes again, you and I when we're raptured, we get our new body.

And uh but those that are alive, they will go on marrying and having children and things. And some of those children that are born during that time will at the end of that thousand years rebel against God. And then that will be the end of that thousand-y year reign. So that's a thousand years of a perfect world. You ever had somebody say to you, "Boy, if this were if if I just lived if this were a perfect world, I believe in God." Well, he's going to have a thousand years of a perfect perfect world, and people are still going to rebel against God. And then we have um and [clears throat] with that, there's three terms that we'll talk about.

Uh premillennius believes that the rapture and tribulation, the second coming will occur occur before the millennium. So, we will be raptured. The tribulation happens and Jesus comes again and then the thousand-y year reign starts. The a millennialist does not believe in a literal earthly millennium. Uh they believe the Christians will bring in the millennial kingdom through efforts. In other words, the kingdom of God is in us and if we're all really really good, then everything will become better. And it it just kind of happens that way. They don't believe in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ.

And then number three is the postmillennials and that's someone who believes the second coming is after the millennium. So the second coming of Christ doesn't happen to them. And we are premillennial. We'll talk about that uh later. And then the last thing on the calendar is the great white throne judgment. And that's where the unsaved are judged and cast into hell. And then that's when eternity, what we call eternity or eternal life really begins. And and that's when God makes a new heaven and new earth and everything starts over fresh and there's no more sin and we will live with him forever in in heaven.

And and so that's literally when it starts. All right. So those are the terms you need to be aware of. Uh again, what I would do is keep this handy, refer back to it as we talk so you can kind of compare it. But but what we're going to do is we're going to go back in and talk about these in more detail. So if you'll look at page three of your notes and if you need a page three raise your hand. If you are watching online you can download it at ohana.urchlive. Um but just kind of introduce esquetology. The word esquetology is again a theological term and it comes from two Greek words. Escos is last or latter.

So when they would say that word they mean well that's the escos that's the last thing. That's the latter times. And the word logos where we get ology from is means word or study. So esquetology is a study of the last times. It's a study of the latter days. What is next on God's calendar? What's going to happen at the end? And that's what we're studying now. Our knowledge of the specific details is limited. Go over to Acts chapter 1 if you would. Acts chapter 1 and look at verses number six and 7. Acts chapter 1 and verses 6 and 7. Now remember this is when Jesus is now uh he's he's he's finished.

He's died. He's been buried, rose again, spent uh number time with his disciples, and now he's going to go up into heaven. And he says to his disciples, they're gathered together. In verse six, when they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the father put in his own power. He said, listen, you're not going to understand all of this. God [clears throat] has given us a lot of information about the end times and and and and part of it is so we can understand it, but part of it we're not going to understand.

But he's given us that information to show he knows. Even though we don't understand, he knows. And so he says, "Listen, there's certain things you can see." And he told him in in the New Testament, when you see these things, those are signs of the coming of Christ. And he gives us certain things that we can understand. But there's a lot that we're limited on. And uh and and so it's important to understand that. Uh what I say there is you cannot we cannot know. for example, the the the identity of who the Antichrist is. In my lifetime, I have heard probably dozens of names. This guy's going to be the Antichrist, and that guy's going to be the Antichrist, and and and all the rest of it.

And and we don't know who he's going to be. He we will not know until he's revealed. And even then, a lot of people you it'll be a while before they realize that's who he really is. Uh we don't know. And every time somebody comes to the promise back when in the 70s 60s and 70s it was Kissinger was going to be the antichrist and then and then later on Obama was going to be the antichrist and it just goes on and on and on. We don't know. And when somebody says they know, they don't know. And don't try to figure it out. Um we don't know dates. You'll hear people say, "Well, yeah, he's going to come.

He's going to come in Octo." I I remember there was a book written 88 reasons why Jesus is going to come in 1988. And this book was a bestseller. It was amazing how many books he sold. And then when he didn't come in 88, the same guy wrote a book saying 89 reasons why he's really going to come in ' 89. Now I can understand why people maybe bought the first book, but I have no clue why people would buy the second book. When he's wrong, the Bible says when a prophet's wrong, he's not of God. And when somebody says,"I know when Jesus is coming again." Whether it's a specific date or even he's going to come again this in, you know, I I believe the Lord's going to come and I believe he's going to come soon.

But my whole lifetime, I'm going to be 70 a couple weeks. My whole lifetime I've thought he's coming soon. And my whole lifetime, I thought it was going to be within next year or two or it had to be, you know, it couldn't be very long. And and that doesn't mean he's not coming. It just means that we don't know when. And anytime you read somebody starts giving you dates or giving you time periods even then you just turn them off because they're they're not of God because he said you don't know this and you can't know this. Um the USA in prophecy. Oh this very popular all is this is who we don't the United States was not even an imagination back then and we can see certain things but in some ways I as I read prophecy I don't know I think USA is not going to be even part of it.

I I because we're not going to be any longer a power or whatever. It may be it may not be. We can certain things we can tell well that's probably Russia or that's probably the Far East and China area or that's probably Europe. We can certain things we can see but certain things we cannot. And one of them we don't know for sure is how the United States of America fits into prophecy. There's some things you read them and you say boy that does make sense but we may be gone. We may be blown to smitherines by that. We don't know that. And and when somebody again says, "Well, here's the US United States in prophecy," they're they're guessing and they're making it up and it's not that that's not coming necessarily from God.

Specific details. When somebody starts giving too specific details, I get nervous with them. Now, there's some things the Bible's very specific about, but in prophecy, very little specific. It's more general, broad terms. It's enough that you can see, yeah, this is going to happen, but we don't know the details of it. And so when people start giving you specific details, then that's a problem. And and one of my problems is when they start, you know, any new thing comes along, oh, that's prophecy. When when when social security numbers when they first came out, everybody, that's the mark of the beast.

You can't get a social security number because that's that's the mark of the beast. And then when they first started scanning stuff in the stores, oh, that's how the beast is. That's how they're going to do the the mark of the beast. They're going to put these codes in you and and and it goes on and on and on. I I remember reading a track one time years ago and the track said, "Why are the buzzards gathering in Israel?" And according to this guy, there were more buzzards in Israel than there ever had been. And so that meant God was bringing them there to get ready for Armageddon when all these people were going to die.

And he needed buzzers there to eat all their dead bodies. It didn't happen. And I don't know if the buzzers are still there or not, but that's not Bible. And it's fun to make these conjectures. And it's kind of fun to think about it. And it does make sense. I think a lot of the things are happening with computers and AI and all this does show us how, you know, back when I was growing up, remember I grew up in a time of, you know, manual typewriters and I grew up in a time when you had dialup phones and all the rest of it. And imagine how could you know there be a mark of the beast that you had to have.

You couldn't even imagine now it's easy to imagine that. It's easy to imagine how that that they could have a mark and and you see the world over they got all these things coming up now if you don't get registered you know you got to have the real ID and you got to have we're going to Europe next year for a trip and and they've got you got a registered you and an online registration and stuff and all that can be used by Satan in the mark of the beast but that doesn't mean it happening and so be careful with that it makes you stop and think and say wow and and what I love two is reading the Bible and conjecturing.

When you read about in in Revelation about some of the beasts, uh there's one in there sound just like helicopters and there's another one sound just like a tank. Now, if you were somebody living back in the Bible times and saw that in prophecy, that's how you you would describe it that way. But is it going to be helicopters and tanks? I do not know. So, it's fun, but when people start being very specific, that makes me nervous with prophecy. And that makes me kind of back off from them and say, "Wait a minute. These things are interesting. They're fun." And I I like to look at them and stuff like that, but we got to be careful with that.

And nothing has to happen before all of this starts. The rapture can happen as a thief in the night. There's nothing that has to happen for the rapture to happen. There are certain prophecies that are going to come true, but they're more geared towards the tribulation and during the tribulation and the second coming of Christ. But Jesus could come again today. Now, again, what would happen is when when like when when Israel first started becoming a nation again after World War II, everybody's like, "Oh, it's going to happen within 40 years." Nothing has to happen for the prophets for Jesus to come again and and remember that.

Okay. Number C, the importance of study. So why should we study esquetology? If God doesn't want us to get all these details, why should we study it? Number one, it is one of the dominant themes of the Bible. There's more in the Bible about the second coming of Christ than there is about the first coming of Christ. And and so it's a very dominant theme. In fact, there's so much about the second coming of Christ that for a lot of the prophets in the Old Testament, they got them blended together. Have you ever been driving on the mainland in one of the mountain ranges like the Sierra Neadas or the Appalachian or whichever one it is, and you're driving towards the mountains and you can see, man, wow, that's way up there.

And then you get there and you go over the first peak and you come down in a valley and you see, oh, there's another mountain. It all looked like one mountain until you got over the first one and got in that valley and then there's the other mountain. And that's kind of like you see when you look in prophecy from the Old Testament, they would see the first coming of Christ and the second coming of Christ and they looked to them like it was all one thing. And that's why a lot of them when Jesus came the first time, they said, "Well, you can establish your kingdom because they had it all kind of blended together."

And and and so we have to understand that when we look at these things, they're two separate things. And that's where some of the confusion was for the Old Testament prophets and for those that lived when Jesus came the first time. But there is more about him coming again. And so if there's more about him coming again, the first coming was so important than the second coming is is even more so if there's more in the Bible about it. Number two, go to Acts chapter 3 and look at verses 19 through 21. Acts chapter 3:es 19- 21. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which was before it was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began it. When when you teach and preach and talk about the second prophecy of second coming, people get saved. Now again, a lot of you'll see advertisements. We're having a big prophecy conference and a lot of that is really about being um kind of I'm trying to think of a word. I can't think of the word right now, but it's just kind of putting on a show. But you know, when you really truly preach about Jesus is coming again, you preach it right, people get convicted and say, "Well, if he's coming again, I want to be ready.

I I want to be ready to go. I want to be ready to go in the rapture. I don't want to be left behind. There was a a movie many years ago. I think it was again back in the 70s. It was a movie called Left Behind. Anybody ever see that one? You can still download I think on the internet and and all. And u it's not 100% accurate. There's some things that got wrong in there, but but overall it was a pretty good movie and a lot of people watched that and they started asking questions. It's kind of like what happened with Charlie Kirk. You know, that made people ask questions. Well, when you when people start hearing about what's going to come in the future, they start, well, what do I got to do to be ready for that?

And so, it's a good way to open up the door with people say, you know, to talk about because people want to know what's going to happen. What the world is, the world is crazy. You know, Russia's talking about nuclear and China's talking about war and this is happening. You see all these things happening. The world's going crazy. And you can tell, well, the Bible prophesied that. The Bible said there were going to be wars and rumors of wars. There was going to be famines and all kinds of disasters and and and it's an opportunity to open the door to talk to people about the Lord. Third reason we should study esquetology is it brings comfort to Christians.

Go to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verses 13 and 14. But I would not have you be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with them. Now sleep is course just a way of saying those who died. And then look at verse number 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. You know, Pastor Enter right now is going to lose a man that was so important in his life, his grandfather. If you've been around very long, you've heard him talk about his grandfather, how he influenced his life in so many ways, and he's saved because of him and all the rest of it.

And and so his grandfather's dying, but you know, he's comforted. He knows that when his grandfather dies to be absent from the body of President Lord, and he understands that. You say, "Well, how does that all work? Because the rapture is not going to happen until over here. If I die here, what about that?" And and we'll we'll talk about how that works. But when you understand that then when people die it it's not it you know it hurts. When we lost my wife's dad and her mom it was tough because she lost somebody she loved. He's not going to be able to call him and talk to him on phone. One of the hardest things for my wife is not be able to call her dad and talk to her talk to him.

But she knows he's in heaven and she knows he's not in pain now. When Chris Real died here at the church, you know, when he passed away, you know, I I miss Chris. I miss looking out there and seeing him sitting out there, but he's in heaven. He's no longer in pain like he was. And so that brings comfort. Uh look at John chapter 14. John chapter 14 and uh we'll not look at all this, but verse one says, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. If we're not so, I would have told you. I go to and and I go to prepare a place for you.

If I go and prepare a place for you, I I will come again receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also. And whether I go, you know, and the way you know. He says, you can comfort each other with these things because you know that you know that I'm coming again. You know that you got a home in heaven. And when you understand what's coming next, you don't have to worry as much. You know, reals on Facebook and Instagram. Every day you know I hear people talk, well I got this real and it said now this is happening and this is happening and all rest of it and and and sometimes you want to panic with it and I look like you know what I'm going to heaven and God's got a plan and when he comes he's going to come and I don't have to worry about all this and you don't have to panic.

You don't have to worry. You know you're going to heaven and when this life has troubles I know what's coming. I know who's in control. I know the end of the story. I I use the illustration. It's like here in Hawaii because of our time difference. A lot of times football games like the Thursday night or Monday night football game is played on the mainland. It's afternoon here and then it but it's but it's shown on TV in the evening here and but the game's already over. And I had a good friend that every Monday I I would ask him I'd say, "You want to know what the score was?" Because when they didn't announce the score in the radio, they would say, "Uh, if you don't want to hear the score, turn your radio down."

And I'd turn it up and I'd find out scored. And I'd find out who's playing, I'd call my friend and say, "You want to know what the score in the game was?" He said, "Don't don't tell me." And I love to go watch him. One guy was a Buffalo fan and I love to go I love to go to his house after the game was already played and he was watching it because he'd sit there watching the game and his team would make a fumble and he'd go [screaming] and I think but you win anyway or his team would make a touchdown. He'd be jumping up and down all excited I think but you guys lose. I already knew the end results.

And and when you know the end results you don't have to panic over what you're seeing happening. And so when things happen in my life, in this world, I'm thinking, "Yeah, but I know who wins. I know who the victory is." And I've got that peace. And when you know that, it brings a peace to you, a comfort. It brings strength during testing. Uh 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 14- 18. 2 Corinthians, so I can get over there. My Bible's sticking together here. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verses number 14 through 18. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus shall present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redown to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not. But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for the moment, workketh for us a far more exceeding eternal way of glory. While we look not at things that which are seen, but things which are not seen. For things which are seen are temporal, but things which are not seen are eternal. You know, when I'm going through trials, I can stop and think, you know what? This world is a lousy place.

But for a thousand years, I get to live a thousand years in under G King Jesus. And then after that, I get to live for eternity with him. And it just brings comfort knowing those things even in the testing. And then it brings rebuke to the lazy, unfruitful Christian. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verses 9 and 10. Wherefore we labor that whether present or absent, we may be accepted him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done his body according to that he done, whether it be good or bad. Was talking to somebody this week, you know, about salvation.

And they said, "Well, yeah, but you know, just if you get saved, it means you can do whatever you want to do." No, because you're going to stand before Christ. And yes, you're still going to go to heaven, but you're you're going to be judged and you're going to lose that reward you could have had just to hear him say, "Well done, now good and faithful servant." You're not going to get the crown to lay his feet. You're not going to get the reward for a thousand years. You're not going to be able to rule with him. You're going to be a street sweeper. I don't know what. But you lose. And when you understand that the judgment seat of Christ is pictured in the Bible is both a a wonderful thing and a terrible thing.

It's a wonderful thing because we're standing before Jesus. And we're going to be able to hear him say, "Well done." If you taught a sentence through a class, you say, "Man, thank you. That was a that was great." If you served him, if you lived for him, you're going to hear, "Well done." But you're also going to hear not so good. And it's not that you're going to be hit or beat over it, but he's going to look at you with that disappointment because you did not live. And when a Christian understands that, it changes the way they live. You know, when a kid's home alone and his parents say, "I'm coming back.

I don't know when, but I'll be back and this better be done." When mom and dad walk in the door and you haven't done it, you know, you know you're in trouble. and and and so we understand esquetology. It really says, "Hey, Jesus could come again tomorrow. Am I ready? There's certain things I don't want to be doing when Jesus comes again." Now, again, you can take that extreme. There's, you know, I don't want to be sitting watching TV when Jesus comes again. You know, even if it's just the news, I I, you know, I don't want to be in the bathroom when he comes again. That's a terrible time to be raptured.

But I you know what I don't want to be doing when he comes again is saying a swear word and use his name in vain. The next thing I'm looking into his eyes. I I don't want to be doing something I shouldn't be doing and all of a sudden there he is. So it motivates me that if he could come again at any time I need to be ready and living for him. Okay. Um number six, it brings stability to the Christian. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse number uh 58. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse number 58. If I can get the right place. 15. Chapter 1558. I'm sorry. Chapter 15 and verse number 58. Be therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord and and the therefore is there because he's saying listen oh death where's saying oh grave where's the victory death is not the final death is the time of victory and that's when I get to be in heaven with him and I get so it it it says listen just be steadfast unmovable no matter what this life brings you're going to heaven you have cancer That's a terrible thing to hear from a doctor. But you know what? If I die of cancer, I'm going to heaven and I'll be cancer-free for eternity. You know, no matter what this life brings, I know I've got heaven.

I've got Jesus. He's coming again. And then it brings correction to the worldly Christian. Look at second Peter chapter 3 and verses 10-2. Second Peter 3:es 10-12. But the day of the Lord, remember that's about the time period, will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening onto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

I know this is coming, so I should be ready for it. It just as a Christian, it says don't be living the worldly life. Don't be living for this world because this is not what it's all about. Uh 1 John chapter 3:es 2 and 3. 1 John 3 2 and 3. Beloved, now are we the sons of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know when that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purify himself even as he is pure. Again, when I know I'm Jesus is coming again and I know I'm going to be like him, that motivates me and helps me to endure now and not to quit, not to give up and not to give in.

And then Titus chapter 2 and verses 11 through13. Titus chapter 2 verses 11-13. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and the worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope in the glorious appearing of the great God and our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifying himself with good people, zealous of good works. Again, that motivation to live the life that God wants me to live. Um, it also brings reprove for the Christian who becomes doctrally careless.

Look at second Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse number five. 2 Thessalonians 2:5. Remember ye not that when I was with you, I told you these things. And what he's talking about in this passage is is what would about Jesus coming again. Probably one of the areas that churches and religions get most messed up on is this whole thing of the coming of Jesus. And when you mess up on that, you messed up on everything else. And that's why we need to understand the what the truth is. And part of it is understand what we do and do not know. We want to know everything. You know, it's just human nature to know what nobody else knows.

And uh and and yet there's certain things we cannot know. And so you know when you understand these things you you're you have that right direction. Look at second Peter chapter 1 and verse number 19. Second Peter chapter 1 and verse number 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy where unto you do well that you take heed as unto a light that shines in the dark day until the day dawn and the day star rise in your hearts till he comes again. This is what we have. So again, when we're studying esquetology, there's things that are interesting and good to know, but if it doesn't say it here, then it's not truth.

And we need to be able to go back to the word of God in understanding this area and all doctrine. All right. And then um just a couple more here real quick. It brings cleansing the Christian with unconfessed sin. Look at First John chapter 3 and verses 2 and three. 1 John chapter 3 and verses 2 and three. Beloved, now are we the sons of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. and every man that hath this hope in him purify himself even as he pure. One day I'm gonna stand before Christ and the Bible says I'm gonna be like him.

Should that not motivate me now to live the life that God wants me to live? And it just it just for me it just really is a way again of if I'm not dealing with that sin. Again, we'll look at this later but in 1 Corinthians 11 it talks about if we do not judge ourselves we shall be judged. And what it means there is if you don't look at this to say this was wrong and confess it and get right with God, then it's going to be remembered and brought up again at the beacy. So isn't it better just to go ahead and get it right now rather than wait till then? Because he says when you confess he cleanses and forgets it and then it brings desire to be soul winners.

Romans chapter 13 and verse number 11. If I truly believe that Jesus could come again tomorrow, then why am I not talking to my family or friends about Jesus today? When you really believe Jesus is coming again, it changes your attitude towards lost people. Romans chapter 13 and verse number 11 and 12. than knowing the time that now it is high time to wake out of our sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believe. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let's therefore cast off the works of darkness. Let's put on the armor of light. And then 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verses 10 and 11.

Bible says, "For we must all appear before the judgments of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, and we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your conscience. For we committed, we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion and glory on our behalf, which may be somewhat. And goes on, but here's the point. If I truly believe Jesus is coming again, and I believe that one of those things that's going to happen is that great white throne judgment, and people are going to be cast into hell for all eternity if they don't know Christ.

Why in the world am I not witnessing everybody I can witness to? Why? It would motivate me, especially knowing that I will be there. I will be at that great white throne judgment, not to be judged, to be cast into hell, but I'm at the watch. There goes my neighbor that I never waited to. There goes my friend I never told about Jesus. That ought to motivate me. But you know, in this passage, it's not talking about the great white throne judgment. He's talking about the be judgment seat of Christ and knowing therefore the terror of the Lord. Again, the beimma seat is a is a good thing and I'll talk about that.

But it also is going to be a terrible thing to stand before Jesus and I don't know if everybody else will see but my life is going to be revealed and say say for example you looked at pornography that's going to be revealed and maybe and maybe in front of everybody I don't know but if not in front of everybody it's in front of Jesus. I remember one time I said a curse word when I was a kid and my mom made me tell her the word I said and when she said tell me the word I said no I don't want to say you said it in front of everybody else you can say it in front of me I don't want to say it in front of you mom the worst thing that she could she better more than spanking just making me say that word in front of her and if I have to stand in front of Jesus that's a terri terrible thing.

I don't want to do that. So, that motivates me to not sin. It motivates me to confess my sin. And it also motivates me to tell you, this is why I preach. Listen, one day you're going to stand before God. And you better you better change how you're living now because you know, I'll tell people that, would you want to stand before God? He's going to ask you like I talked to one guy that was wanting to go get divorced and I said, "Well, God's you're going to stand before God one day and God's going to look at you and say, why did you get divorced?" and you're going to have to answer him. So, you better have a good answer.

And and and so it's important. And then the last thing, it encourages faithfulness. Uh 1 John chapter 2 and verse number 28. 1 John chapter 2 and verse number 28. And now, little children, abide in him that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, not be ashamed before his coming. Just be faithful. You know what? If Jesus came during a church service and I wasn't in church, it'd be kind of embarrassing, you know, to be faithful in my prayer life, to be faithful. I I want to be, you know, nothing better to have the rapture happen while you're down on your knees praying. I want to be faithful and it motivates me.

Look at in in Matthew chapter 25, he he gave these talents and and you know, which was money to different servants. He left, came back, and he said, "Okay, what'd you do with it?" And one had he gave him had given 10 talents 10 amounts 10 amount of money and he doubled it. Next one he given five and he doubled it. Last one he given one and that guy took it wrapped it up in a napkin and buried in the ground and came back and said here's what you gave me. And he says thou thou unfaithful servant. He said you could have at least put it in the bank and gotten interested. Even if it's only 0002% nowadays you could have done something with it. And that's where the big part of it's not just being judged by sin. Jesus, I'm gonna stand before Jesus is why didn't you do anything? Why did you just go to church and sit and do nothing? And it motivates us. So all these are reason why we should study esquetology and just challenge you with