The End
The Church
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We just want to welcome you to our worship experience. If you are a guest we are glad
that you are here, if you are a regular... thank you for your faithfulness.
We are 6 weeks away from the Christmas parade… We need some candy to give out
with the invite cards. If you will pick up candy canes or any candy that goes on sale
today… we would ask you to pick some up.
Last week we began our series... “The End”... This is a sermon series that was requested
by the church body.
It is a very serious topic or study... I take this on with a Godly fear...
I believe that we need to be alert as the church... We need to be aware of the signs that
are pointing to the hour in which we live.
I think a lot of us take signs for granted.... Can you imagine what the roads would be like
if there were no signs?
Can you imagine trying to travel to a destination without signs?
Signs are for our safety and signs are for direction...
Signs have always been important to God’s people.
In the O.T. God used signs at times to demonstrate to His people that He was in the
upcoming events. Judges 6; Gideon... (weakest tribe) (Manassah/ Midianites)
Matt 24:32-33 (NLT) “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its
leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all
these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.
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Last week, we looked at five signs of what the culture would be in the last days.
This morning for a moment, I want to look at signs that the scriptures give concerning
the church.
When we these signs in the church...then we know the time is near!
Signs in the Church
1. People will say that they are Christian but they will not live like it.
Titus 1:16 (NLT) “Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.
They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.”
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They say that they know God... but the fruit of their life speaks differently.
He says something is wrong?
Paul’s letter to the Colossian Church... Shed light on this...
Col. 3:5-10a (NLT) “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing
to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy
person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger
of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked
deeds. Put on your new nature...”
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Jesus revealed this to John in Revelation 2:20-21...
The Church of Thyatira...
The church had a Jezebel spirit... teaching doctrine that led to idolatry and sexual
immorality...
That spirit perverts the message of Grace...
Jesus told this church to repent...
Rev 2:22 (NLT) “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit
adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds.”
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Paul said to Timothy... that in the last day’s....
2 Tim. 3:5 (NLT) “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them
godly. Stay away from people like that!”
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They reject the work of the spirit that would transform their lives...
Jesus dealt with this in His day:
Matt. 23:27-28 (NLT) “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the
inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. 28 Outwardly you look like
righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
 How do people who profess Jesus get this way?
2. People will embrace deceptive doctrines.
1 Tim. 4:1 (NLT) “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away
from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.”
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Since the creation, the earth has been a battle ground between God and Satan.
God has called mankind to respond to His Son and His Word.
Satan the deceiver twists and perverts God’s truth.
In the Garden, Satan twisted the truth in the temptation of Adam and Eve.
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He tried to twist the truth when tempting Jesus in the desert...
Deception of the scriptures are nothing new.
Paul wrote in 2 Thess. 2:3... That before the “Day of the Lord”...
2 Thess. 2:3 (KJV) “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first...”...
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The words “falling away” in the Gk. is apostasia.
Apostasy is simply when men reject divine revelation of the scriptures and embrace
false teachings of men...
One of the biggest false doctrines in the early church and today’s church... is works...
When we believe that our works earn us favor we have left grace...
The Church of Ephesus in Revelation was rebuked for this very thing:
The Church of Ephesus...
Rev.2:2 (NLT) “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient
endurance...”
Rev. 2:4-5 (NLT) “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other
as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me...
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These people were doing all kinds of good works... They might have impressed the
people around them...
However, they were not impressing Jesus...
The works became their idol... They had forgotten about grace...
So their love for Jesus and other’s grew cold...
Throughout the scriptures people have embraced deceptions and lies...
Judas rejected truth for a lie... John 6:70-71
Demas departed from the faith... 2 Tim.4:10
Hymaneaus and Alexander departed from the faith... 1 Timothy 1:20...
It is not saying that people have no faith... It says they depart from “The Faith”...
What do I mean when we say a person or church departs from the faith? It means
they depart from the doctrines of Christ...
Jesus is God in the flesh! Born of the Virgin Mary...
Jesus was the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
He was the express image of the Father.
He walked among us without sin.
He was the payment for our sin...
He took our sin upon Himself and took the full brunt of God’s Wrath...
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He died and was buried...
On the third day He came out of the grave...
He was seen of men...
He ascended and He is coming back...
He is the way, the truth and the life...
We are saved solely on His work alone... Our works will not help us!
It is Grace through Faith...
We are charged as the church to contend for the truth!
Jude 1:3 (NLT) “I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith
that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.”
3. People will have itching ears.
2 Tim 4:3-4 (NLT) “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and
wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will
tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after
myths”
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Many churches in the last days will choose to compromise.
Personal beliefs and revelations will trump the truth.
Sound doctrine will be rejected... Truths such as Godliness, Holiness, Righteousness,
Virtue, and Morality will be tossed out the door...
In Revelation 2:12-17 Jesus rebukes the church of Pergamum for mixing the doctrines of
Baal and the Nicolaitans with grace.
In 2 Peter 2:15-16, Peter rebukes those in the church for mixing these doctrines as well.
What are the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans? That Idolatry and sexual
impurity are permissible under grace!
That is a rejection of truth and chasing a myth.
When we compromise in order to comfort those bound in sinful behavior we are
embracing the same doctrines.
If people want to worship Golden calves... they will and they will find an Aaron to lead
them!
They reject all truth that that would change them.... They deny the power!
Preachers of truth become the enemy!
Gal. 4:16 (NLT) “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
Faithful Church
Philadelphia and Smyrna
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They were obedient: Rev. 3:8
They did not deny Christ of His power to change them: Rev. 3:8
They persevered: Rev. 3:10
They are working to build the Kingdom. Rev. 2:9
They understand their richness in Christ despite their material lack. Rev. 2:9
They will not fear tribulation and persecution. Rev. 2:9
What do we need to do in order to be the Faithful Church?
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Recognize and run from evil.
Pursue righteousness and a Godly living.
Pursue our faith in Christ.
Pursue love for God and others.
We must persevere amid persecution.
We must fight for the true faith.
Hold tightly to the eternal life that we have been promised.
1 Tim 6:11-12 (NLT) “But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things.
Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.12
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called
you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.”
Bottom line: “Faithful people make up a Faithful Church which preservers till the end!”