Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cc37ca77-9049-4a9b-bd84-e2697b06db4e
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.
5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9“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.
10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
15“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
18and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
19And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.(Matthew 24:3–21 ESV)
Whether you like to eat bread or not, I guess most of us must have eaten sandwiches before! Do you know the origin of sandwiches?
It is commonly said that sandwiches were invented by an 18th-century British nobleman. His name is John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. As he was addicted to play cards in gambling houses, the 4th Earl of Sandwich didn’t care too much about sleeping and eating. For the convenience of eating, he ordered a valet to bring him salt beef between two pieces of toasted bread, so he could eat without a fork and a knife. Since the greasy beef were sandwiched in between two slices of bread, he would not get his cards greasy. This kind of eating method gradually became popular in London. Consequently, people called this kind of food sandwich.
Today’s sermon title is End Times Sandwich; perhaps, you might be confused by the topic, but let me explain it to you.
Among the events of end times, there are three major events. The first event is the first coming of Jesus Christ. The third incident is the second coming of Jesus the Messiah. The second incident is the rapture of Christians or the rapture of the Church, which is sandwiched in between the first advent and the second advent of Jesus Christ.
Ever since I was a new believer, I had a great interest in end times. When I was called to the ministry, and even before my seminary days, I had already spent a lot of money on books about end times. With the aid of these books, I studied this subject cautiously.
During my seminary years, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be the interpreter for Dr J. Dwight Pentecost in my seminary’s summer conference. He was an expert on end times, and he greatly influenced many of his students in Dallas Theological Seminary. Nowadays, many of his students have become the experts on this field. Although I am not a student of Dr J. Dwight Pentecost, I have been greatly blessed by his books.
In recent years, I have spent a lot of time studying the Book of Revelation and the end times. End Times Sandwich is a tiny tidbit that I have gleaned from my study.
- The First Advent of the Messiah
Christmas is to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ or His first advent to the world. Almost everyone celebrate their birthdays, but we are mortals after all. Jesus is different from all other people; at His birth, He is not an ordinary baby, but He is the Son of God. In a nutshell, He is God.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1–5 ESV)
The Word that John 1:1 mentioned is Jesus Christ. Because God loves the world deeply, through the virgin Mary, Jesus took a human body and was born into the world, so that He could fulfil the mission of redeeming humankind.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born into the world as a baby. Theologians called it Incarnation. This is quite an esoteric truth, which is difficult for many people to comprehend. When the Lord Jesus lived in the world, He repeatedly showed the Jews that He was the Messiah and God’s Son. Many Jews could not accept it. Even now, Jews still regard Jesus as an ordinary person, who is born in an ugly manger. I once shared the Good News with a Jewish gentleman. I told him that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah. I could clearly remember his response. He refused to believe it, because Jesus was born in a lowly manger.
Jesus, the Son of God, who resides in heaven, but why is He willing to give up His heavenly glory and born in a manger filled with the odour of filthy animal?
Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to buy a house, would you specifically ask the real estate agent to look for a house that is near the dirtiest and stinkiest public toilet?
Here’s what John 3:16 says: 16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)
Because of God’s endless love, the Lord Jesus was born in a dirty and smelly manger. Moreover, He lived in a world full of sins for more than 30 years.
As for human beings, what can we benefit from the birth of Jesus Christ?
Through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, as for those who trust Him as their Saviour, not only would they be forgiven of sins, but they would also enjoy an abundant life.
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:10–11 ESV)
Jesus Christ was the good shepherd. He came to this world to give up His life. He was crucified on the cross and accomplished the salvation of humankind. As for all those who believe in Him as Saviour and Messiah, they will be forgiven of their sins and enjoy an abundant life from heaven (John 10:10–11).
We often say, “Believe in Jesus”. What does it exactly mean?
Believe is not just a confession of the mind, but it also includes action.
6And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 ESV)
Genesis 15 talks about Abram’s faith. His faith was coupled with action. After he believed in the Lord, he immediately offered sacrifices to God.
In short, believing in Jesus Christ is not just accepting the fact that He is God’s Son and Saviour, but should respond with actions as well.
Let me give you an example to illustrate it. All people have a throne in their hearts. Before they come to know and believe in the Lord Jesus, they sit on the throne by themselves. When people are willing to admit their sins, repent and accept Jesus as the Lord of their lives and Saviour, only then they will allow Jesus to sit on the throne in their hearts. Only this kind of faith is genuine saving faith. Faith in Jesus is not only a mental cognition, but also an action.
10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? (John 3:10 ESV)
9–11 Answered Nicodemus and said to Him, How are these things able to come to pass? Answered Jesus and said to him, As for you, are you the teacher of Israel, and do not you have an experiential knowledge of these things? Most assuredly, I am saying to you, that which we are knowing, we are speaking, and that which we have seen with discernment, to that we are bearing testimony, and our testimony all of you are not receiving. (John 3:9–11 WUEST NT)
The Lord Jesus talked to Nicodemus about rebirth and salvation, but Nicodemus did not comprehend the truth of born again at all. Based on a paraphrased translation, Jesus told Nicodemus that he did not have any experiential knowledge about the second birth as a religious teacher of Israel.
The new birth that Jesus talks about is by no means a knowledge of the mind, but it is an experiential knowledge. Although John Wesley had already been a pastor for quite a while and he had also gone to the United States as a missionary, he had no born-again experience. Not until he went to a Moravian Brethren’s meeting, he realised that he came to fully trust in Christ alone for salvation that night. His heart strangely warmed. He was born again and saved.
Friends, how can we know that we are born again?
First of all, how can we know that we are not saved? Here are some traits of a unsaved person:
19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19–21 ESV)
If you claimed to be a Christian and behaved like that, for sure you are not saved.
On the other hand, the Apostle Paul spoke of the characteristics of a born-again Christian:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22–26 ESV)
The first slice of bread of the End Times Sandwich is the first advent of Jesus Christ. So, when does the end times officially begin?
28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 ESV)
The New Testament mentions the end times or the last days in numerous places; there are two occurrences in the Book of Hebrews (Herb 1:2; 9:26).
2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:2 ESV)
26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26 ESV)
The Apostle Peter mentioned that he was already living in the end times (1 Peter 1:5; 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Peter 3:3).
5And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (1 Peter 1:5 NLT)
20God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. (1 Peter 1:20 NLT)
3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. (2 Peter 3:3 ESV)
In short, the Church was officially formed when the Holy Spirit descended and filled the hearts of those Christians on the day of Pentecost; it ushered in the end times.
18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20 ESV)
Most Christians are familiar with the above passage (Matthew 28:18–20). We know the Lord’s intent is to make disciples of all nations. Christians call it the Great Commission. Spreading the Gospel to non-believers and leading them to become disciples of Jesus Christ is called the Great Commission of Christians.
Over the years, I have developed a curriculum for new believers. In the area of evangelism, I think there is a set of ABCD that is essential for the outreach of the lost. A stands for ask. We should ask God for the opportunity and wisdom for evangelism. B represents befriend. We should befriend non-believers, and act as their friends. Give them support and pray for them. Grab the opportunity to share the Good News with them. C is communicate. Christians should learn how to communicate the Gospel to the non-believers. Therefore, you have to learn how to share the Gospel with your friends and relatives. D is drill. Knowing how to communicate the Gospel to the non-believers is a must, but you have to put it into practice. As Christians, we need to preach the Gospel with words and deeds. In essence, we need to live out the Gospel.
- The Rapture of Christians
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV)
The first slice of bread of the End Times Sandwich is the first advent of the Messiah. When the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, not only He established a universal Church, but He also officially commenced the beginning of end times. The filling of the End Times Sandwich is the rapture of Christians.
At an unexpected time, the Lord Jesus will suddenly appear in the sky. All the deceased Christians will resurrect first and receive a glorious body. Then all the living Christians on earth, will not have to die, and their bodies will be transformed immediately. They will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus and the deceased Christians in the air. Likewise, they will also immediately receive a glorious body. This is what we called the rapture of the Church or the rapture of Christians.
When the church is caught up in the heaven, the whole world will enter a period of seven years of great tribulation, which will be the darkest and most painful hours for humankind.
21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. (Matthew 24:21 ESV)
11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
13It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,
14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:11–18 ESV)
At that time, terrifying disasters that human beings have never seen before would appear before their eyes. Satan is a fallen archangel. He will raise up his accomplices and workers—the antichrist and the false prophet. Consequently, they will deceive and destroy the whole world together. Due to time constraints, I cannot further talk about the details of the rapture of the church.
God loves His children, and He will not let Christians go through these seven years of great tribulation. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said:
9For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 ESV)
9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV)
Perhaps, you might ask, “Why does God so cruelly punish human beings and let them suffer so much? Does God not love them?
On the one hand, God is merciful, but on the other hand, He is righteous. The guilty will have to face the wrath and judgement of God, but the loving God will still give them a chance to repent.
Regarding the teaching about the rapture of the church, let me summarise its key points with a few English words. The first word is reassurance. The second term is resurrection. The third expression is reunion. The fourth appellation is reminder.
Reassurance
The loss of beloved Christian relatives and friends brought the believers of Thessalonica sadness and hopelessness. Therefore, the Apostle Paul spoke of the rapture as means to remind them, there will be a day that all the deceased Christians and the surviving believers will be reunited, and the people of the Lord will receive a glorious, immortal and sinless body.
Resurrection
As our dead Christian relatives and friends cannot be with us in this world, it brings much sadness to our hearts. At times, when I think of my dead Christian relatives, it always brings tears to my eyes. The Lord Jesus knows our pain, thus through the revelation of the Apostle Paul, He speaks to us about the rapture of the Church and the resurrection of believers.
Maybe you might ask, “How can the bodies of our dead Christian relatives and friends who are cremated be resurrected, and how can the bodies of the believers who buried with the Titanic in the deep ocean be resurrected?
My answer is very simple. God is a God who creates out of nothing. The above so-called problem is not a problem at all.
Reunion
As for those relatives, friends or colleagues, whom we have not met for decades, we would be very delighted to meet them again. The rapture of the church is a day of reunion. Not only can we see our Christian relatives and Christian friends who have passed away, but the most beautiful thing is that we can meet the Lord Jesus who loves us face to face.
Reminder
The message of the rapture of the church is a reminder. Since no one knows the time of the rapture, we should always be ready to meet the Lord Jesus at any time. Moreover, we should no longer love the world. Finally, we need to know whether we are true Christians and make sure that we are the candidates of the rapture. In addition, we should try our best to do evangelism with words and works.
Friends, are you sure you will be raptured? If you really love your non-believing relatives and friends, I guess you would try your best to evangelise them.
We don’t know when the church will be raptured, but we should be ready at any time. Many pastors have written many books about the end times and the rapture of the church. Many have produced audio-visual resources so that people who are trapped in the future Great Tribulation can put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. As for me, I’m doing the same. My endeavour is to produce as many new resources about the end times as possible, so that people who are caught in the future Great Tribulation can hear the Good News and be saved.
- The Second Coming of the Messiah
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11–16 NIV)
Finally, the second slice of bread in the End Times Sandwich is the return of the Messiah. At the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will return to the earth again. Due to time constraints, I can only point out two points. First, Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When He comes again, only God’s Kingdom will prevail over all other kingdoms. Second, Jesus Christ will execute justice and judge people of all ages.
Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As Paul said, 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11 NIV)
Jesus Christ will execute justice and judge people throughout human history. The following passage is about the future judgment.
11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11–15 NIV)
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV)
The judgment mentioned here does not include Christians. The Great White Throne judgement is meant for all the evil people of all generations and all those who do not know the Lord. As for Christians, we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ and the Lord will reward us based on our deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10). It is very likely that it would be carried out in heaven during the Great Tribulation.
Finally, how should Christians live in the end times? Let me sum it up with an English word: JOY. J is joy.
Paul says, 16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–19 NIV)
O is on fire.
The Apostle Paul says, 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11 ESV)
Serving the Lord with a fervent spirit is definitely not easy. I don’t like wasting my time. My aspiration is to try my best to serve the Lord.
Y is yield, which means to relinquish, hand over and to give up control of. In some countries, a yield sign is a road sign instructing drivers and other road users to give right of way to other traffic. As Christians, we should yield the thrones in our hearts to the Lord Jesus.
Just like the testimony of Paul said in Galatians 2:20. 20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20 ESV)
Kenneth Thumb Ministry 譚約珥事工 