Sunday Service at Calvary Boulder Valley in Louisville Colorado. Pastor Brent Lewis’ teaching on January 1, 2023 titled ”Prophecy Study”

I.              A.G.

a.    Morning People vs. Night People (illus.) There are two types of people in the world: Morning people and night people. Morning people are awake and ready to get up and go when the clock goes off. Then there are evening people. When the alarm goes off they are ready too…to go back to sleep. Sometimes it is a little more challenging for them to get up and get going. Night-time is when they are fully awake. Sometimes when the alarm goes off you just don’t want to wake up. But the day is calling

                                              i.    Romans 13:11–12 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

                                             ii.    Titus 2:13 – looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

II.             Intro. This morning we are going to take a look at a couple of scriptures that speak to some of the events we see taking place in our world. And we want to be aware of some of them in order that we might know the time that we live in. Knowing our times enables us to wake up and see what the actual state of the world is at as it compares to what the Bible says will happen in the last days.  

III.           Preview

a.    Israel as a Nation

b.    Global Economy

c.    Apostasy in the Church

IV.           Body

a.    Israel as a Nation

                                              i.    Theodore Herzl (illus.) In 1897 Theodor Herzl (the creator of the Zionist movement) invited 204 Jewish leaders to Basel, Switzerland, for the First Zionist Congress. He opened the conference by saying, “There is a land without a people, there is a people without a land; give the people without a land to a land without a people.” He added, “In five years or fifty years, we will have a homeland of our own.” It was on May 14, 1948 that his words were proven to be true.

                                             ii.    Bible Prophecy Teachers – During the 1800s there were only a handful of Bible teachers who looked at the prophecies of the Bible regarding Israel returning as a nation as something that would actually come true. John Walvoord was one of them.

                                            iii.    Super Sign - This is referred to as the Super Sign of the fact that we are living in the last days.

1.    Joseph Zeiss 1856

                                            iv.    Israel’s Sudden Birth - May 14th, 1948

1.    Isaiah 66:8 – Who has heard such a thing? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children.

a.    Isaiah lived during the 700s-600s BC. Isaiah saw Israel coming back as a nation. This happened on May 14th 1948. Suddenly Israel was a nation again in fulfillment of this prophecy.

b.    God has blessed Israel so that half of the Jewish people of all the world now live in Israel. At the beginning of the 20th century there were only a small group of Jews living in the land during that time.

2.    Israel will remain a major player on the world stage in the Last Days.

                                             v.    Anti-Semitism – The Rise of Anti-Semitism.

1.    Zechariah 12:3 – 3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

2.    God will bring Israel back into the land, but it will be during a time of tension, a time of conflict.

3.    Jesus said, there will be wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet. IOW when you hear of saber rattling, when you hear of the Russian War against Ukraine, it doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world. But it does mean that we should look up, because our redemption draws near.

                                            vi.    Peace of Jerusalem/Invasion of Israel -

1.    The Bible warns that a time of crisis will arise in the middle east and the western nations will have to get involved in some way to resolve it.

2.    In Ezekiel 38-39 the lands of Tarshish (western Europe) will object to an invasion of Israel, by Russia and Iran in the last days. But these nations of Tarshish will not get in the middle of the conflict. Some of the Arab states will object, but will not intervene. Israel will have to rely upon God to work on their behalf.

3.    Expect Anti-Semitism to continue to grow. God predicted Israel will continue to be a heavy stone for all peoples. 

4.    We need to continue to support the people of Israel and pray for the peace of Israel. But when we see that the peace of Israel is jeopardized, we need to look up because God is working.

b.    Global Economy

                                              i.    Global supply chain Vulnerability – the availability and transportation of goods from other nations to America. Covid19 and the war in Ukraine has shown how there is a ripple effect and how small the world has become.

                                             ii.    What Role Does a Global economy Play?

                                            iii.    We have a global economy that exists electronically, but the economy isn’t global politically yet. When that time comes, we will have a one-world government that will be able to control the global economy.

                                            iv.    Right now, what happens in other parts of the world impact our stock market. This has an impact on our economy.

                                             v.    This is what the end result will be that is spoken of in Revelation.

1.    Revelation 13:16-18 – 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

                                            vi.    World Economic Forum - There is a group of what is called the World Economic Forum that offers what they call The Great Reset. It is a forum, world leaders, who want to capitalize on the recovery from Covid 19 all across the world. What they want to do is to bring all the world together to them in order to, “Shape the recovery…and inform those who are determining the future state of global relations, the directions of national economies, the priorities of societies, the nature of business models (changing the way business is done), and the management of global commons.”

1.    This is a group that wants to impact the following:

a.    Future State of Global Relations – Prepare nations to become part of globalism and global relations. Surrender their nationalist identity for the sake of the economic and political ideologies of a global community. A one-world government is the goal.

b.    Directions of National Economies – If these people want to shape the direction of national economies, they will be shaping it to an agenda that will benefit the final world leader, known as the anti christ.

c.     The priorities of societies – They want to shape the priorities of societies. That’s what is happening in America with the religious liberties. How has that worked out for believers? It doesn’t look so good.

d.    The nature of business models – Change the way business is conducted.

e.    It all sounds a little bit suspicious and sinister.

                                          vii.    Conspiracy Theory – There are those who believe that there is a conspiracy that theorize that there are major players who intend to move the world toward one-world government and economy by intentionally creating global crises:

1.    Economic Problems

2.    Energy Shortages – American’s power grid seems to be continuously in jeopardy.

3.    Food Shortages - American farmers complain about being pushed out by the government. Inflation, bad weather, and federal regulations are causing a strain to farmers. Supply chain shortages. Bird flu is causing a shortage in eggs and rise in prices in eggs and food in general.

4.    Political Crises – There is so much political division, it doesn’t even need to be addressed. It is so evident.

5.    After the conflict or crises are created, they will have people in place to come with technology or a new paradigm as to how to handle those problems.

c.    Apostasy in the Church

                                              i.    Apostasy – apostasia – to stand away from something. To claim to believe and then walk away from that.

1.    The Rise of the Nones – This is a growing segment within our culture. People who said that they were apart of the church before, but now claim to not believe in God.

a.    They now say that they think they can re-interpret the Bible to accommodate what they think it should say.

b.    There has always been a challenge to the faith.

2.    But today we see this happening on a greater scale

                                             ii.    1 Timothy 4:1 - 4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

1.    Depart – GK. To distance oneself or to abandon something.

2.    This is a phenomenon that will occur more and more as we see the Last Days approaching. Do we see this happening?

a.    The church is still waiting for people who left during the pandemic to come back.

                                           iii.    2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed.

1.    There has always been differences between Christians as to how we disagree about different doctrines. But we all agreed on the basics, the fundamentals of the Christian life.

d.    Apostasy in Europe - 1900s Apostasy in Europe was widespread. There was a broad brush denial of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. The consequence was that apostasy has run through many of the European churches. And there are many that are still that way. The majority of people in Europe don’t have faith in the God of the Bible. It has been spreading to America since the 20th century.

                                              i.    Question – Do you know where the churches began to die? Liberal churches.

1.    Those who don’t believe that the Bible is true.

2.    The only exception to this rule are the evangelical churches.

a.    Those who believe Jesus is the Son of God, who died for our sins. Those who believe in spreading the Gospel.

b.    Those who departed from believing that the Bible was the inspired word of God.

3.    And because of that they got out into the streets and shared the Gospel with others. And because of this the evangelical churches have grown. And they are influencing the nation.

e.    But now as you get to the end of the 20th century, the beginning of the 21st century, the apostasy is creeping into evangelical churches.  

                                              i.    Maybe we shouldn’t take the Bible so seriously.

                                             ii.    Maybe Jesus wasn’t FULLY divine.

                                           iii.    Maybe we shouldn’t call people to salvation, but encourage them to a better life of being a family-oriented person, a better spouse, etc.

                                           iv.    Now we see people who are walking away from the Gospel.

f.     Conservative Christianity is the last standing Christian in the last days. The more people who walk away from that, walk away from biblical commitments to family, morality, Israel, religious liberties, etc.

g.    Now churches are watering down the essentials and are moving away from what is true. Now churches are trying to fill their buildings instead of making disciples. They are trying to have talks, instead of studying the Bible. The wave of apostasy is already in the church when we forsake the truth.

                                              i.    2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 - 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way

1.    The restrainer is both a what and a He in these verses.

2.    There is only one Person who is restraining the AntiChrist, restraining evil in the world today. That is the Holy Spirit of God who is working through the church. This is done through the Gospel and through the preaching, the sharing, the living out of the Word of God.

3.    This will continue to happen until the time of the rapture. That’s when will Satan be free to reveal someone to be the AntiChrist.

                                             ii.    Satan is limited by God’s timing.

                                           iii.    We need to be aware of the eroding of what the Bible teaches. Hold fast to those things that God has given to us in His Word.

h.    Ephesians 5:13-17

                                              i.    Expose the Darkness – Don’t be overcome by darkness. You need to be willing to call it what it is. We don’t reveal when something is dark by simply being a light. If we are believers then we will be:  

                                             ii.    Awake from Sleep –

                                           iii.    Walk Wisely –

                                           iv.    Redeem the Time -

                                             v.    Understand God’s Will -

V.             Conclusion

a.    I heard a story about a meeting that Satan held with his most influential demons. They wanted to come up with ways to keep people into eternal damnation.  One demon said, “I’ve got a plan. Let’s whisper in people’s ears that there is no God.” “No,” Satan said, “creation declares the reality of God. People are too smart to deny His existence. A few idiots might be sucked in, but not the masses.” “I’ve got it,” a second demon said. “We’ll say there’s no hell.” “No,” said Satan. “People innately understand the need for retribution and judgment. People won’t buy that.” A third demon said, “Let me suggest how we might trick them. Instead of saying ‘No God’ or ‘No Hell,’ we’ll just say ‘No Hurry.”’ “That’s it!” Satan said gleefully. And he commissioned his demons to go throughout the world whispering, “No hurry.”