Abomination Part 4

You will turn with me to Matthew 24, where we started this series four weeks ago. As you know, this is Abomination Part 4. In case you didn't know that, that's what it is. It's actually for a series of messages on the abomination of desolation, or even on the word abomination. So if you weren't here, hopefully you can catch those on our website, also on the video. All of them, except for the very first one.

Matthew 24 is the chapter of the Olivet Prophecy, as Jesus Christ is asked His questions, and He actually gives the answers to His disciples. What will it be like at the end time? Or what do we need to look for in the last days? And so He proceeds to go through those. And He comes down to what I want to talk about and finish up today. It's Matthew 24 and verse 15. He said, Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then you'll know it's the last days. And He said, He, whoever reads, let him understand.

That is what I want to stress about today, is what is this point? Because we have people worried all over the place in every religion about Jesus Christ's return. And they have this sign and this sign, and you can go all across the Internet and find this has to happen. Oh, wait a minute! There's a red heifer over here in the field to stop the world! All these things, people running to and fro. Is it really something that Christ and His disciples tell us to worry about?

I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I just read something from the Pew Research. It's an older Pew Research. They do a poll. They call people and ask them about various things, and they do a lot of religious polls. This came out in 2013, which is rather old. But they asked about those who believe. They called Christians. E-mailed them and called them by the thousands and asked the question, Do you believe Jesus Christ is going to return? Christians only. They didn't ask you if you weren't a Christian. And they gave the percentage of those Christians who believe Jesus Christ will return.

Anybody have a guess? How many? 60%. No, you're a little high. You're a little low. 48%! Less than half of all professing Christians, according to the pupil, they have no bias in this, actually said that they, 48%, believe Jesus Christ returned, which basically says a 52% what? Then believe it. As a matter of fact, of that 40 is really, take the little percentages out of it, 27% of that, 48% said definitely, and 20% said probably. They read the same Bible we read, supposedly, right? So there's one thing that I want to bring up today here.

The very first part of this series was on the word abomination, and we found out that it was a word that talks about something break down to its smallest element, something that stinks, stinks to God, something God detests. We understood that from the very first one. Part two, we talked about the desolation, and when that took place in 167 BCE. And last week we talk about Antiochus IV, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist from 160-some years before Jesus Christ came, who put down everything of God that he could at Jerusalem in 11 verses 8-11.

We read that last week. We don't need to do it again. But we understand, hopefully you do, because Christ pointed back to this time, because all the Jews of that time definitely knew what the abomination of desolation was. It was one of the low points of their entire founding of a nation in 167-168 CE. And that it actually showed what Antiochus, this tyrant, how he acted and how he was a type of Antichrist.

But Christ, in Matthew 24, was predicting end-time events, not the past. May reference a past, but he's talking about what's going to happen in the last days at the end time, as the Bible calls it. As the abomination of desolation occurred 167 years before Christ's actual birth, so a future abomination of desolation will occur three and a half years before Jesus Christ shows back up on the scene.

You can definitely read that. I won't go through it, because that is not the purpose of this sermon. You can read Daniel 9.27 as it talks about the sacrifices will be cut off halfway through, three and a half years, and talks about Jesus Christ in the return at that time. But that is not my purpose today. It's not a purpose or a sermon about prophecy, but it is a gospel sermon, a study of Christ's words for us to live by. But then again, brethren, are not all of His words to live by in the entire Bible?

Hopefully we will be going through that this year, as the theme is the Gospels, and hopefully we will be touching on that. But too many in this world, and sad to say, over the years in the church, too many people have lived in fear of the last days. Is that what God wants us to do? His people who have His knowledge, did He say, well, wait a minute. Paul, I did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

So fear is not for us, no matter what happens. What David talked about today, are we worried? Are we concerned? Are we willing to endure to the end? To see the hard times through and let God do His work and see what comes out on the other end? Ever since I was a child, remember before my parents even, they never even read the Bible, didn't know anything about it, didn't care, but we had one around the house.

It's what we were supposed to have, you know? And so they would talk about end-time things, and just scare the daylights out of me when I was nine, eight, nine, ten years old. That's going to happen next year, that's what they thought. Well, sad to say, even though sometimes in the Church of God, it's even older, we've had fear mongers amongst us.

Now, are we supposed to watch? Yes, He actually says that. Right? But to fear? No. We're to live...what did Christ say? I came that you may have life and live at what?

Fearfully? No. But you said, abundantly. Is that sitting around going, oh, what's going to happen today? No. As a matter of fact, I do have for Bill, we'll hand out something if we...because we have quite a few new people here. I actually have one of these for those of you who want to know.

Enquiring minds want to know when it all comes about. So, most of the brethren in here have one, but if you've come in the last six months to a year, I actually have some of these, and if you'll raise your hand, Bill will actually give you one, as it actually lays out for you the book of Revelation and these predictions, also in Matthew, that have gone through here. And you can actually study those, and you will see that the time period in which we need to be concerned with is a time period called the Great Tribulation. It's a three and a half year period of time.

It's called Jacob's Trouble, and you can find it as it starts with the fifth seal.

That's what the Bible says. That's what this points out. So, if you need to need one or get one... As a matter of fact, Ampe did a great job of redoing this. If you...I couldn't find yours. I gave it away, I guess. So, if anybody wants a up-to-date one, see, Anthony, she'll be sure and get you one. It's nice to study. I keep it for when I need it. But is it something we need to fret over? It's something we need to...oh, I got to know! Get up every morning before I brush my teeth, see if I need to or not.

Whether I'm going to make it through the day. No, it's not. It's not the intent.

So, I want to look at what Jesus Christ laid out for us here. For us to look at and to really watch, not even study, about this. Because until you see things happening, what Jesus Christ said, because He actually gives the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which is actually a booklet I have over here if you want to look at that, where it says these things have been going on ever since His time, and they will go ride. These Four Horsemen will ride all the way into where He returns. But then it takes a turn at the fifth seal. Okay. And the tribulation, because that is when everything starts heading downhill fast. But are we there yet? I can't see it. I can't see it.

Because this Scripture actually tells us the only true sign of when it starts is the abomination of desolation. That's it. Do you see it? I hadn't. I've seen a lot of abominations.

Walk up and down Miami Beach, right, Mike? You can see a lot of abominations. Okay. Abomination everywhere. Okay. But we're talking about this and a certain Antichrist coming.

So what I would like to do in the time I have left today, and I'll make sure we get you out of here at a decent time today as I try to wrap this up, is I want to look at the names that are actually laid forth, laid out for us, laid forth for us in the Bible by the Word of God so that we can understand or we will know when the Antichrist is here. Because that is the only thing we're going to know. That is the only time in history this kicks everything off, and a lot of stuff has to happen before then. So if you're thinking about buying a new car but you don't know whether four years will get you and you have to make that final payment, I think you better, I think you better make sure you got the payment. Not that I'm predicting. Okay. So I'd like to look at, actually, seven names used for this type of Antiochus that will show up in the future.

And we'll be here. That is our sign when we see it, that everything is about to accelerate and we are at the very end time.

So that's the reason I want to give that. So these are seven names used for him in Scripture, and I want to look at those seven names today. The Antichrist. Antiochus, Antichrist.

Synonymous. But you can actually turn and read about those. I won't because you can read as John is describing in 1 John 2, chapter 2, and chapter 4. He actually describes a type of Antichrist, even a spirit of an Antichrist. What does Antichrist mean? Anybody?

Against Christ, yes. Unbeliever of Christ.

Opposite of Christ, yes. Actually can also mean an enemy of Christ. The Antichrist, anything against, anti-pro, anti-you ought to get that. Okay. So this is what we will know.

The Antichrist looks like, when what? He teaches against Christ.

He doesn't teach what Christ taught. How do you know that?

If 52% of supposed Christians don't even believe he's coming back, when he said, how many times, Jeff, did he say he's coming back? I don't know, but it's a lot.

Right? He kept saying he's coming his second time. But yeah, at 52%, so you think it's going to be easy to fool these people? I think so. You don't read your Bible, how are you going to know?

How are you going to know what it says? How are you going to know what Jesus Christ taught?

You hear, and I hear all the time on TV, radio, all these people will say something, and they make it sound biblically sound, and it's not. It's not even there. False teachers, yes, one of the divorcements. Anti-Christ, an enemy of Christ. So we're going to have to look for that. When we see that, what? I think it's time to learn. I think it's time to say, okay, let's make sure that I know what I'm looking for. Let me make sure I'm sure what the Bible says.

That's number one. That's the first name that we're going to use. Second name, Son of Perdition. You may have heard that before. It's another name for this anti-Christ that's going to show up, the Son of Perdition, also the man of sin. That's what's going to happen.

We're going to know him, okay? I hadn't seen him yet. Contrary to two different points of view, he was in Barack Obama, and he's not Donald Trump. Okay? That clears that.

Let's go! It says, second Thessalonians. Let's go to second Thessalonians, if you will, with me.

Second Thessalonians.

Second Thessalonians.

Chapter 2 and verse 1. Here you have the first in chapter 1. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes a letter to the church telling them about end-time things. And they're getting all concerned, and they're just way out of whack! It's coming, it's coming, or it's already come.

So he has to write the second letter as they slow down, folks. No!

Kind of like what I'm trying to do to you today.

Not saying there's anything wrong with prophecy. He says, do not despise prophecies.

But you don't put your eggs all in the prophecy basket. You don't just say, oh, well, this, and I've known people. They couldn't talk to me about anything else.

Except prophecy. Oh, what about this? What about this? What about this? I don't mind talking about it. I can talk about prophecy all day long, but that's not my focus.

My focus has to be on what? My daily walk. Practical Christianity. It doesn't matter because, what did Paul say of chapter? You can have all knowledge. Know all prophecy.

Unless you have agape, you have nothing. We have to take care of ourselves first, and make sure where we are at ourself here. So, let's go. We'll read from the New King James Version of the 2nd Thessalonians 2. As he writes this, you can imagine writing this to the church as they're standing up in church reading this. He said, now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or trouble. Hmm. Paul's saying this after he already said, well, wait a minute. Christ is going to come.

And they got all out of balance, either by the Spirit or by the Word or by the letter, as if it were from us, as though the day of Christ had already come. Some of them were worried they missed the boat. Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come. What day?

Day of Christ's return. That day will not come unless the falling away comes first. Okay, there you go. Bingo! One. How do you know? Falling away. Falling away from what? The belief, the truth, the Word of God. Fifty-two percent of people don't even know it. You think it's going to be easy to fall away? If you don't? It sure looks that way, doesn't it? Wow. So, unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, man of sin, our lawlessness, is revealed, the son of perdition. The son of perdition. What does perdition mean? Anybody?

Destruction. Destruction. Absolutely right. Utter destruction. That's right. So, whoever this is, when he shows up, there's going to be destruction. You say, well, there's destruction already? No. Like the world has never seen before. And what else will he be destroying? Everything's sacred to God.

Okay. So, the son of perdition. So, he's the man of sin, and he's the son of perdition.

Man of sin means lawlessness. That means he's not going to be all about God's law. He's going to be law, what? Less. Lawless. You know any lawless people? You do? Are they your best friends?

Okay. I-95. He said, okay.

So, you see how important this is? That we know this scene. The one thing that Christ puts his finger on for the start button is this. Abomination of desolation, and the man of sin.

As he said, and let's finish up here with that, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called, what? God. Or that is worshiped so that he sits as God in the temple of God.

Okay. It says he's going to sit in the temple of God. Oh, well, wait a minute. Well, aren't we the temple of God? No, we're not. Well, we are the temple of God, but there is going to be a temple. Otherwise, there's too many things here that just do not make sense. It doesn't fit.

So, whoever this is is going to sit there, and he's going to rule as God. He's going to think he's God. What did Antiochus do? He thought he was God. He even coined money.

He made coins that had his face. Theos, epiphanies with his face. You can't get bolder than that. But the man of sin will. The antichrist will. Now, when he talks about a spirit of an antichrist, yes, they're a spirit of antichrist. It's been around ever since Christ.

You know, those who speak against it, yes, there's a spirit. When you see that spirit, it's something that we just don't really need to be jumping in the car with, is it?

Because it should go against our grain. It should just...

So, we need to be able to recognize that, and we recognize that by knowing what the Bible says. It's that simple. And we need to read it. Right, David? We need to read it. Some scriptures every day.

So, he sits as God in the temple, showing himself that he is God. So, you are going to have an individual who will manifest himself or pretend to be, or make everyone think he is. If he's not God, he's the closest thing to it. Do you not remember that I told you when I was still with you that I told you these things? And now know you what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time? Yes, he's going to be revealed. This is what we should recognize when it happens.

For the mystery of the lawless one is already at work, only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one, lawless one, okay? That's what he is. The lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all the power, signs, and lying wonders.

So, this man is going to make people go, wow, he must be it. Look at that. Look at that.

But they won't be looking at their Bibles. They're not going to be looking at the Word of God because they're going to be looking at a man who is going to be doing these amazing things and performing all these things. And they're all just going to be, wow!

It interesting to be that there actually, as a scripture, it takes place in 1 Thessalonians as Christ is telling the church about something's going to happen about this time that just before Christ's return. And he says all the people in the world are going to be saying three words, peace and safety. Peace and safety. Peace and safety. Peace and safety. Don't worry about it.

It's okay. Everything's great. And they're going to believe it. So when you hear peace and safety, guess what? Certainly destruction. Something's coming.

Except this is going to be on a global scale. You must understand a global scale. The lawless one.

And you can actually read about that as it talks about Antiochus, whether you want to talk about in Daniel 7 or whether you want to talk about in Daniel 11 verse 31. They're both talking about Antiochus or a type of antichrist that will show up again and be a lawless one.

Another fifth name. I'd like you to turn there with me if you go to the book of Revelation, chapter 13. Because this is relatively simple. I mean, people get tied up in the book of Revelation and get lost in this and this and this, but it's not really something that you need to get your doctorate in. Okay? You're going to see things happening. You need to doctorate in the Word of God and walking the walk. It'd be nice if everybody here had a doctrine. I'm still working on mine.

Okay? I think you probably are too. But here we have the chapter of 13 of Revelation. And in chapter 13 of Revelation, you have at the end time, you have this beast that shows up in chapter 13 verses 1 through 10. And it is a military. It is an authoritarian beast. It is a beast, a government power, a throne, great authority, headed by an individual that is referenced as the beast. But he will actually set on a power. Okay?

Symbolically, it pictures him coming out of the ocean, out of the water. Okay? We know that this beast's power will form a league of nations, and I'm not going to get into that. That's not my purpose today. Okay? That's another one. But I want to come down to, after it talks about this power, this authority, these thrones coming together under this one individual known as the beast who has so much power, it says, and all who worship on the earth will worship him. I mean, it's going to be this great power. Okay? But then it says in verse 11, if you will go there, in Revelation 13 verse 11. After this beast, the first beast here, this nation of this thunderous power and great authority, then, anytime you see then, it ties into, or therefore, it ties into what was previously said, then, after this comes up, I saw another beast.

Here is another beast. Another word for the Antichrist. Another word for the son of Perdition. Another word for the son of man, the lawless one. He's called a beast. Another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb. He looked like a lamb! Everybody looked, oh, look at that! He is a nice guy! But he said what? He spoke as a dragon. Spoke like a dragon.

There is venom and power coming out of his mouth. This League of Nations will be together. This beast power, this one individual will have power as he's beginning to want to take over the world. And then all of a sudden there is a religious figure who shows up, who is another beast.

And he brings a religious aspect to it, but not the kind we would like to see.

Okay, then another beast coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and spoke like a dragon, a true Antichrist. And he exercises all authority of the first beast in his presence. So this authority gives him authority, too. And causes the earth and those who worship, those who dwell it, to worship the first beast, whose deadly womb was healed. You're going to see a womb that is healed. We'll do that at another time, because that's a sermon in itself.

He performed great signs, this Antichrist. He performed great signs so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. Woo!

We're going to see that on the internet. That'll be all over YouTube. Man, look what he did, called fire down from heaven. Woo! And everybody's going to go, wow!

This has to be. This can't be human.

Okay, verse 14, and he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, and that image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Well, we don't worship any image, right? So he's saying those that don't, guess what? Trouble's coming your way. That's what's going to be ended. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads, 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. Another whole sermon. I'm not going there. We can go there with those six, six, six, and you can, we can have all the, you don't have enough time for what everybody's guess what six, six, six means. But what I'm saying is that is a sign. This is how we're going to know. This is an individual that's given seven names and a plethora of descriptions.

So we can't miss it. We shouldn't miss it when this comes on the scene. And to me, that's what's very, very important. One more. One more. As we covered Revelation 13 verse 11, we have another name. The final name I will list because that's what the Bible lists and matters. The false prophet.

So he is what?

Anacen, lawlessness, sign of perdition, beast, but he is a false prophet.

Bible says he is. So we know what a prophet is because Daniel was one. So what's a false prophet? Non-believer.

Speaking lies. Okay, anything else?

Claiming to get words from God because he could say, I am God, or I got those. A false prophet. Does a false prophet tell you false stuff all the time? No. No? I think he's coming through. Oh, because who's behind him? It said earlier, where does he get his power from?

Satan. Did Satan always tell lies? No. He would mix a little truth in. Just like if you want to be a good liar, you have to do what? Tell the truth. Occasionally, much as you can, and then just put something in. This is what's going to happen here. The false prophet. There's going to be some, wow! He told us it's got to be true, or he can predict something and make that prediction come true. You know that's possible, right? It can be done, and it's actually done by politicians all the time. Well, you have to know, is the inside workings, and they're all, this is going to happen, and well, sure enough, they've been working on it for the last year to make it happen, and then they make it, I did this! Except this false prophet's going to be so impressive!

It says pompous words. He's going to have everybody falling all over him! Wow!

Until God decides to destroy. But he is going to be so impressive that many are going to follow him. What does it say about the whole world? The whole world's going to do it! There's going to be very few! Let's go to Revelation as we wrap this up today. Revelation 19 and verse 20, another name, and this is after Jesus Christ returns. You know Revelation 19 is where the saints are resurrected, and you have a wedding supper, and then you have the armies of God come down, and with Christ leading and destroying all the armies of the world that had come against him. And that's chapter 19, and it says Christ on a white horse, but then you come down to verse 20. He said then, what, after Jesus Christ had put everything under his feet with his saints, okay? He said then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet. So these two individuals who had brought destruction and mass murder to an entire world, they're going to be captured. It's the end for them, who worked signs in his presence, so the two of them worked together, as we saw earlier in earlier verses, by which he deceived those who received the what? Mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These two men were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

So we have seven names of this anti-Christ who is years ahead of us. We don't know how long.

Okay.

Does anybody here think they know how long? Besides Kobe, Kobe usually has an answer.

No, Kobe didn't have one today. Okay.

But many people have thought, oh, it's going to be this, it's going to be that, and I've never, you know, at one time I had a sermon and I listed and I actually read all the predictions from the of the end of the world when Christ would return or the end of the world from 1900, and it took like 18 pages of just reading a few lines about each one of them.

Many have predicted it. Oh, it's got to be this, and it's got to be this. This is the only, this is how we will know that we're in the end times. But what has to happen? He comes and sitting on his throne, but we must look at what the Bible said, and it said it in 2 Thessalonians, and it says it in Matthew, and it also says it in Revelation, is what the apostasy must first come. Now, apostasy must come. False religion must come first. And as it says, apostasy is the great falling away, the falling away from the truth. I mean, any of you look at a story, read the internet, read any of this stuff, and do you see people getting into their Bible more? No. It's going to be easy for people to fall away from God's truth, from what is right and wrong, if you don't know what right and wrong is. And you don't care, because so many today says it doesn't matter.

As long as I treat you well, Janaye, I can repossess your house and everything else, but as long as I treat you good and you're just like that, you're my best friend.

That's the world's view. They look good to your face and everything and stab you in the back. Oh, I didn't mean to do that. Haven't you seen that so many times? Oh, I didn't mean for that to happen. I remember the young girl when I had my business in Tennessee, and I caught her. She was running my office, did a great job, and everything was great. I mentioned this before.

She was running my office first. She worked at my bank, hired her. She did a great job.

About two years into that, I found she was actually stealing. Her husband was stealing from me.

A tune of at least $88,000. When I actually brought all the evidence, brought it to her, sat her down and everything else, and she signed for this stuff. And her husband signed, and they just stole all this stuff. I asked her what she goes. What? Well, I didn't mean to.

That didn't put money back in, right? I didn't mean to, but isn't that the answer we're going to get from people when they rationalize the world in which they live in? They don't need God, right?

They don't do that. You make your own rules. Who are you to judge?

That's where this is going to. And so you're going to see the great apostasy.

Where even people who read the Bible and supposedly are Christians will fall away and just follow.

That's a sign to look for. You say, well, it's pretty big today. Brethren, you ain't seen nothing yet. This is worldwide. It is going to be so big.

And then you have this the man of sin who will show up after and even during the apostasy. But that is preceded by the nations coming together and the other beast power. And then, of course, the abomination of desolation. You know, at that time there's three and a half years from the time of Jesus Christ's return. So do we have things that we can look for down the road? Yes. Yes. There are signs. Yes. It's something we need to have a prophecy sermon every week here in service for the next year. No. If it is, you need another pastor because it ain't happening here. Because practical Christianity is what Jesus Christ taught the majority of his lessons, majority of his sermons. Sermon on the Mount, there's a reason.

It's called a sermon. It had that practical application for all of us.

Abomination and desolation. Will we see a temple built over there? I think we will.

Not the base of my salvation, huh? I just know that there's going to be a man. He's going to show up there. He shows he's going to be sitting there, whatever form it takes.

And then there is 42 months, three and a half years, 120 days, and we can get into another message on the 1290 and Daniel 12 and the 1335 and all this. But this is what we need to be watching for. That's it. And don't get all bent out of shape on the other stuff. Where are we? And so forth like this. Because only God knows when it's time. But he sends this sign to make sure that we know. So watch world events. Yes. Become obsessed with world events. With prophecy? No.

Please don't. You know how many people used to keep God's truth, used to know his way, and they got so lost in prophecy that they're scattered to the full winds.

And they don't even know what they believe anymore.

Some of those kooks, actually one guy, one time, just knew it was the end and wanted to go to Jordan to Petra and was in England and sold everything and packed up a big old RV to drive down to Israel. A drive down to Jordan so he could park his RV in Petra. That was about 20-something years ago. Thankfully, they turned him back and said, you must be a nut. You're not going in there. I don't know whatever happened to him. But you had him. You had people at the turn of the century. You had those at the year 2000 that did what? They drove over here. They knew that it was it, Y2K, and all of a sudden Christ is going to come back and a bunch of them went out into a desert.

It was 140-something went into this desert and just knew they didn't carry any water because they didn't eat it. They were going to be changed. Well, they were able to help them out because they thought it only took enough gas to get out there. Not to get back. They didn't need to. You see, this is what we need to be. Stable, secure Bible-reading Christians who look at God's Word, and we try to live by it every day. And we treat each other, and we treat even people in the world to where they say they may be different, but boy, I know they won't lie to me. I know I can trust them.

Watch your walk with Christ. That's the thing most. Watch your walk with Christ. As a matter of fact, in 1st Thessalonians, it actually says, watch and be sober. Now, for all those of you who are going to party tomorrow night, hopefully you won't. Or is it tomorrow? When is it? Tomorrow night is winter 1st. I can't even keep up on Monday. So I guess everybody thinks they're going to party. Okay, so this says in 1st Thessalonians, it actually talks to watch and be sober. What sober me? Clear minded. The actual word that's used in the Greek that is actually in some better translation is actually self-control. Watch and be self-controlled. Isn't that interesting? So it isn't just watching what's going on. It's watching ourselves and making sure that we're self-controlled. That we can control ourselves. That we actually live as a Christian should live.

Paul admonished, in closing, the brethren in 2nd Thessalonians 3, verse 3, he said, But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Isn't that a pretty good one? Pretty good. After he had gone through and said what's going to happen, he is the one. And he said, Now, may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Jesus Christ. It's going to require some patience because, you know, 20 years ago, they told me Christ is coming in my time. It may be 20 more years. No, no, I may not be here. I am. My mind will be like this. Yeah, he's coming. Right? I don't know.

But for me, I could die this year. And when I die, he's coming. Because my next moment will be at a trumpet, hopefully, moment in Twinkling of an Eye, for those who are here.

So he gives us plenty of things to think about.

But he tells us a whole lot not to worry about.

So, brethren, enjoy your Bible study this week. Enjoy your life.

Know that he's got you. He's got you in his hand.

This is what people worry about.

This is what he wants us to worry about. Let's make sure we have plenty of this so that we can set the example to the entire world.