Intro
1. Contractions — America and
the Beginning of Birth Pains
2. Examine events likely to happen
in near future that will set stage for birth of God's kingdom on earth
3. In particular, consider how
these events are likely to affect us in America
Approach
1. Begin with big picture, panorama
view of earth history, then zoom in on period we will study
2. Several benefits
a. Biggest benefit: helps prevent tunnel vision, preoccupied
with end time events
themselves and
lose sight of why everything is happening
b. Another important benefit: helps us overcome self-centeredness
of our sinful
nature
i. It's natural for person to consider end time events, want
to avoid
discomfort, hold on to American dream
ii. Ironic: great swell of interest in end time Bible prophecy in
last 25
years, but today many/most Christians not interested
iii. Too attached to American dream; materialistic, self-indulgent,
preoccupied with feeling good
iv. If end-time unpleasantries inevitable, develop escape mentality
v. That's natural; natural for our sinful nature
vi. Need to develop supernatural perspective
vii. That's why we're beginning study with big picture
Overview of Earth History
[review entire chart at end of notes first, then use following notes]
1. Deliberately used terminology
related to birth process, because it is a birth process;
besides, Jesus introduced concept
2. Subject: birth of God's kingdom
on earth, the very thing OT prophets and Jesus'
disciples anticipated
a. Jesus introduced kingdom
i. his first recorded preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is
near."
ii. kingdom was major theme of his teaching (ironic: today there's
virtually
no teaching on kingdom, yet on threshold of its birth)
iii. Jesus "impregnated" humanity with kingdom
(1) said kingdom is within us, not visible
(2) used parables to show kingdom growing until it affects
everything
b. More than 1970 years of development, apparent setbacks
i. Christianity formalized
ii. Dark Ages (largely caused by formalized church)
iii. Dark Ages officially ended hundreds years ago, but church still coming
out of Dark Ages today
c. As church approaches maturity, enter period Jesus called
BoBP
i. time getting near, contractions beginning, preparing world
for birth of
kingdom
ii. science program on Discovery Channel, short article about equipment
to
detect pregnant woman's contractions; discovered contractions begin
long before she notices them
iii. that's true for us, too
iv. church is not yet ready, not mature; but birth process will demand
growth
(1) some believers will mature during this time, but love of most
will
grow cold, great falling away
(2) church attendance may even increase, but clear distinction
between true church and false church
(3) no fence-riders, no middle of road
(4) Jesus said (Rev 3) lukewarmness is repulsive
(5) events of end times will force you to make decision and act on
it
v. I suggest: we're already in BoBP
(1) contractions already begun, we didn't realize it
(2) analogy of birth pains indicates contractions become more
intense, more frequent until world goes into labor — time of great
distress
d. Great Tribulation
i. time of intense birth contractions, labor, travail, distress
ii. world will convulse, severely agonizing events
iii. world system tries to retain control, on surface will appear to succeed,
but cannot stop birth of God's kingdom
e. Day of the Lord
i. Jesus returns, takes possession of what he won at Calvary,
destroys
enemies, sets up kingdom
f. Notice:
i. war between two kingdoms
ii. that's what human history is all about
iii. human history is not about people, your life is not about you; it's
about
God and his kingdom
g. Period we call "end times" is about warfare between 2 kingdoms
reaching
climax and God
destroying Satan's kingdom
i. Jesus defeated Satan 1900+ years ago, but destruction of
Satan's
kingdom is still future
Alignment of Major End Time Prophecies
1. Chart examines six scripture
passages about end times
a. shows how they describe same events from different perspectives
b. shows how each reinforces and clarifies other passages
c. in this study, will examine only BoBP
2. Read Mt 24:4-14 (if time permits)
3. Read Lk 21:8-19 (if time permits)
4. Apparent contradiction
a. Mt 24:8-9, Jesus describes BoBP, "Then you will be handed
over to be
persecuted and
put to death."
b. Lk 21:12, "But before all these, they will lay hands on
you and persecute you."
c. not contradictory.
i. "Then you will be handed over" can mean it happens during
that period,
not sequentially afterward.
ii. on chart, included "persecution, martyrs" in BoBP
Following weeks
1. Look at world events that may
cause many of things see listed on the chart
a. Most Americans, including believers, are oblivious, don't
have a clue about
what's happening
b. We see it on the news all the time, bits and pieces, but
don't understand
significance
c. I will give you foundational information
i. will help you to see big picture, understand what's really
happening
ii. will help you see fulfillment of end time prophecy as it happens
2. I'll use publicly available
information and official documentation
a. will avoid hearsay and accusations
b. will avoid spoken prophecies and prophetic writers
3. Not covered: Y2K
a. felt it's important to make this presentation before Y2K,
get people to think
long range
b. Y2K likely to cause problems; don't know exactly what or
how severe
c. Y2K not the big issue; may be only an initial birth pain
d. I expect people will feel relieved after Y2K, think the
sky's the limit for stock
market, think
we dodged the bullet and nothing can stop us; beware.
e. I recommend personal preparations for emergencies such as
Y2K
f. One thing certain: Y2K will look tame compared to what will
happen in
America in the
future.
| Overview of Earth History | ||
| Event | Time Line | Earth's Owner |
| Original creation | Garden of Eden
Man's kingdom |
Adam & Eve |
| 4000 years (?) | ||
| Jesus' teaching | God's kingdom impregnated humanity; not visible | |
| Jesus' death & resurrection | Jesus defeated Satan, won ownership of earth; Satan no longer owner, but still rules world system | Jesus (owner)
Satan (control) |
| 1970+ years of pregnancy;
war between two kingdoms |
||
| Beginning of Birth Pains;
escalation of war between kingdoms |
||
| Great Tribulation;
labor, travail, distress |
||
| Jesus' return | Day of the Lord; birth of physical kingdom on earth | Jesus |
| Millennial reign (1000 years) | ||
| Final revolt by Satan | ||
| New heavens & earth | ||
| God's eternal kingdom | ||