Faith

An Unlikely King

The King of Peace

Isaiah 9:2, 6 (NIV)

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” ...“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Luke 2:14 (KJV)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men.”

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and worn out from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest! I am gentle and humble, and you will find peace and rest for your souls.”

John 14:27 (NIV) 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Romans 5:10 (CEV)

“Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son.”

A Life Changing Sermon to an Unlikely Congregation

Luke 2:8-18 (NIV)

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’”

Verse 13

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,”

Verse 14 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Verse 15

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’”

Verse 16

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

Verse 17

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 

Verse 18

and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

God’s message through the shepherds to you: 

1.      You don’t have to be afraid anymore. 

Luke 2:10 (NIV)

“the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.”

2.      God’s love for you is not earned, it is freely given. 

Luke 2:11 (NIV)

“Today…a Savior has been born for you”

John 3:16 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

3.      You are never alone. 

Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us).

4.      You have a lifelong invitation to come closer to God. 

Luke 2:12 (NIV)

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

An Unlikely Choice – The Magi

Mathew 2:1 (NIV)

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem" 

Daniel 2:48 (ESV)

“the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.”

Matthew 2:2 (ESV)

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Numbers 24:16-17 (NIV)

“the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

    who has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

“I see him, but not now;

    I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob;

    a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

Isaiah 60:1-6 (NIV)

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look about you:

    All assemble and come to you;

your sons come from afar,

    and your daughters are carried on the hip.

Then you will look and be radiant,

    your heart will throb and swell with joy;

the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

    to you the riches of the nations will come.

Herds of camels will cover your land,

    young camels of Midian and Ephah.

And all from Sheba will come,

    bearing gold and incense

    and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.”

Matthew 2:3-4 (ESV)

 “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.”

Matthew 2:11a (ESV)

“going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”

Matthew 2:11b (ESV)

“Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

The Church and Israel – End Times Prophecy

Why do Christians disagree about the End Times?

Has the church fulfilled or fulfilling the plan of God's salvation for the world that was a part of the Abrahamic covenant?

Will the church fulfill God’s plan for the future?

Has the church fulfilled God’s purpose for God’s people?

Who are the people of God?

 “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

Galatians 3:7-9 (ESV)

"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ”

Galatians 3:16 (NIV)

"In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."

Galatians 3:26-29 (ESV)

“For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

Romans 9:6-8 (ESV)

“What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea,

Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
    and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’

And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’

And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted,’”

Romans 9:22-27 (ESV)

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew…So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace…But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”

Romans 11:1-2, 5 (ESV)

“So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!”

Romans 11:11-12 (ESV)

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved”

Romans 11:25-26 (ESV)

“Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved”

Romans 9:27 (ESV)

“And in this way all Israel will be saved”

Romans 11:26 (ESV)

The Salvation of Israel and the second coming of Christ. 

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Matthew 23:37-39 (ESV)

"The Deliverer will come from Zion,
    he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; 

and this will be my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

Romans 11:27 (ESV)

Is this a return from the heavenly Zion to save Israel?

Is this referring to spiritual salvation offered from Zion? 

“and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb”

Revelation 14:1 (ESV)

“’Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Romans 10:11 (ESV)

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 10: 12-15 (KJV)

Unlikely Choice – Mary

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)

 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’

‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’

The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.’

‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her. 

1.     The Choices of God can be troubling to our human understanding. 

“God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee…The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”

2. Surrendering our plans to God always leads to something ultimately eternally greater than our original plan and expectation.

Luke 1:30 (NIV)

But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.’

3. God’s choices and way leads to miracles. 

Luke 1:31-33 (NIV)

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

“The mind of man plans His way, But the Lord directs his steps”

And as he directs your steps you hold on to the promise that

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

verse 34.

“Mary asked the “But How can this happen? I am a virgin” NLT

Verse 37. 

"Nothing is impossible with God!”

Luke 1:38 (NLT)

 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

End Times – Why do Christians disagree about End Times?

Why do Christians disagree about End Times?

Big picture questions:

1.     What is the relationship of Israel to the Church?

1. Should we believe in Rapture?
2. Are there two comings of Jesus or just one?
3. Will there be a 1000-year millennial earthly Kingdom or not?
4. Is the Kingdom here already?
5. What is the nature of the Abrahamic Covenant?
6. The Abrahamic Covenant. 
7. Should we interpret prophecy, literally, or in some other way?
8.  Is there a literal third temple? 
9. What do the seventy weeks of Daniel mean? 

Topics that produce sparks between Christians. 

1.     The Nature of the Kingdom of God

1. The Rapture
2. The 70th week of Daniel
3. Has the Church replaced Israel?
4. Should we interpret prophecy literally or nonliterary and why?

End Time Positions:

Futurist

Historicist

Idealist

Preterist 

1.     The Nature of the Kingdom of God

Millennialism 

Amillennialism 

Postmillennialism 

- The Abrahamic Covenant 

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 15:5,18 (ESV)

“And he brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ …’To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates’”

Conditional or Unconditional?

Genesis 17:1,8-10 (ESV)

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.’”

Genesis 22:15-18 (ESV)

“And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, ‘By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.’” 

Genesis 26:3-5 (ESV)
“I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-24 (ESV)

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the western sea.”

The nature of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. 

Leviticus 26:27-33 (ESV)

“But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you. And I will lay your cities waste and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your pleasing aromas. And I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled at it. And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.”

Leviticus 26:40-42 (ESV)
 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.”

Leviticus 26:11-12 (ESV)
"I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

Leviticus 26:45 (ESV)
“But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 6:15-18 (ESV)
“What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’”

Acts 1:6-7 (ESV)

“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.’”

An Unlikely Choice - Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel [which means God with us].’

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

1. God isn’t looking to use heroes He’s looking for humble servants. 

Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

And I will put enmity

                         between you and the woman,

                         and between your offspring and hers;

       he will crush your head,

                         and you will strike his heel.”

Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

What Paul is saying is that the son of God and the seed of the woman are the same thing. God does something in humanity to rescue humanity.

2.      Whatever God asks of you, He will give you the ability to do it. 

Matthew 1:24 (ESV)

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him”

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel [GOD WITH US]”

Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.”

Unlikely Choice – Unlikely Choices

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV)

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

God’s unlikely choices.

·      Not many wise

·      Not many powerful (might)

·      Not many of noble birth.

“God chose what is foolish in the world”

“God chose what is weak, low and despised in the world”

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Psalm 51:17 (NIV)

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.”

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV) 

“because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

End Times – When Will These Things Be

Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV)

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Matthew 24:3 (ESV)
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Question 1:             When will these things be (happen)?
Question 2:            What will be the sign of your coming?
Question 3:            What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

___

Question 1:             When will these things be (happen)?

Matthew 24:4-28 (reference only)

1.      Many claiming to be Christ. 

2.      Wars and Rumors of wars.

3.      Famines. 

Matthew 24:7 (ESV)
…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Acts 11:28 (ESV)
“Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world [this took place in the days of Claudius].”

4.      Earthquakes.

Matthew 24:9 (ESV)
”All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

5.       Persecution.

Matthew 24:9 (ESV)
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.”

Acts 8:1 (ESV)
“there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

6.      Many will fall way and be deceived by false prophets.

Matthew 24:10-13 (ESV)
“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

John 1:14 (ESV)
“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”

2 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
"False profits also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you who will secretly introduce destructive heresies.”

7.      The gospel will be preached to the whole world.

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Romans 1:8 (ESV)
“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”

Romans 10:18 (ESV)
“But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’”

Romans 16:25-26 (ESV)
“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—“

Colossians 1:5-6 (ESV)
“the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing…”

Colossians 1:23 (ESV)
“if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Isaiah 66:18-20 (ESV)
“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.”

Acts 13:46-47 (ESV)

“we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Eusebius (300 AD)
“The teaching of the new covenant was borne to all nations, and at once the Romans besieged Jerusalem and destroyed it and temple.”

John Chrysostom (The Ancient Christian Commentary, 2002, Ib:191)

“You will preach everywhere…Then he added. ‘This gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all Nations, and then will come.’ The sign of this final end will be the downfall of Jerusalem."

Justin Martyr (The Ante-Nicene Father, 1989, First Apology, XXXIX) 

“From Jerusalem, there went out into the world, men, twelve in number… By the power of God, they proclaim to every race of men that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the word of God.”

Charles Spurgeon (Exposition of Matthew, 1979, p211) 

“There was a sufficient interval for the full proclamation of the gospel by the apostles and evangelist of the early Christian Church, and for the gathering out of those who recognize the crucified Christ, as the true Messiah. Then came the awful end, which the Savior foresaw and fortold, and the prospect of which wrung from his lips and heart the sorrow-full lament that followed his prophecy of the doom awaiting his guilty capital.”

8.      The Abomination of Desolation. 

Matthew 24:15-20 (ESV)
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.”

Luke 21:20-21 (ESV)
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”

John Chrysostom (Early church father 400AD)

“The abomination of desolation means the army by which the holy city of Jerusalem was made desolate”

Daniel 9:26 (ESV)
“the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.”

9.      Counterfeit Christ’s 

Matthew 24:23-26 (ESV)

Christ is King

Civil Government

Colossians 2:15 (NIV)

“having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Governments created by God. 

Self
Church

Family

Civil 

Romans 13:1-7 (NIV)

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)

“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”

Bringing Glory to Christ the King in Civil Government. 

1.     Pray for our civil government. 

1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

2.     Honor Jesus in everything you do and say. 

Mark 12:17 (NKJV)
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

3.     Act from the Kingship of Christ. 

Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV)
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."