Prophecy for Today

Thanks, Ken and Erin, for the special music. Really appreciate that. You don't often get an opportunity to hear trombones playing special music, so that is a special treat to hear some brass players. In fact, I know we've got quite a few brass players out in our congregation, so maybe next time they could do a brass quartet or continue to add to the group. So really appreciate sharing your talents with us.

Well, events in the world continue to move ahead, it seems, at quite an alarming rate. There's definitely been plenty of items in the news in the last week and even in the last several weeks.

And sometimes it causes you to step back and wondering, where is it all heading? What is it all about? And perhaps you've even wondered, what is God's perspective when it comes to things that are happening in our world and in our country today?

Especially as you consider America. What is God's perspective on America? And maybe you'd even wonder, is America even mentioned in the Bible?

Well, not by the name America, but when you understand what God has done in the past and what He continues to do, we can see indications of prophecies that are meant for today. Prophecies that were not just relegated to ancient Judah or ancient Israel, but actually have a dual fulfillment that are on the horizon for us today.

And there's several sections of Scripture that certainly point to that very thing. And of course, one of the things that can be a challenge is that religion often misses those prophecies and misunderstands where they apply.

When the Bible talks about Israel and prophecies for Israel, all too often people associate that with modern Israel today, the country of Israel.

But if you know your history, Israel today is not all of Israel. In fact, they're basically only the tribe of Judah.

And so that begins to set the stage for what is modern Israel today. It's not the country of Israel. That's the tribe of Judah mainly.

But when you look through Scripture, you can understand what is prophesied for America when we understand the key to those prophecies. Now, my point today is not to take a lot of time to talk about determining who is America or who is Britain today.

We have lots of literature that discusses those things. We have many articles and, in fact, study aids that deal with those things.

The United States and Britain in Bible prophecy is certainly one of those that detail those indications and those proofs that point to America being part of modern Israel today.

And so when you follow Bible prophecy, what we would find is that the descendants of Manasseh would become a great nation.

Genesis 48 certainly points to that. It also points to the fact that Britain would be a company of nations, a group of nations.

And so those prophecies that were designated for Ephraim and Manasseh, today they would apply to America. They would apply to Britain.

So when you look through the various articles and study aids that we have, you'll find archaeological indications. You'll find linguistic proofs.

You'll find other historical information that helps detail those very facts that point and, I believe, confirm those identities.

So when we begin to think about that, we can look at various sections of Scripture that certainly had a fulfillment in the past, but even have a greater fulfillment just down the line for us today.

We could call them prophecies for today.

And one of those books that has a lot of indications of that is the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel was a prophet used by God that he sent to the house of Israel.

In fact, God told Ezekiel that he was to be a watchman to the house of Israel.

Now, certainly many of those prophecies applied back in that day, but there are certain ones that certainly weren't strictly fulfilled at that time.

And so when we look to the book of Ezekiel, we find quite a few indications that are coming prophecies, prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled.

And Ezekiel makes an interesting argument, I guess you could say, or maybe begins to establish a court case against modern Israel as he outlines some of the indictments against Israel today.

And that, of course, would include the United States of America.

So if you make your way with me over to Ezekiel 22, we'll jump into some of this court case, I suppose you could say, that indicates the indictments.

Or in other words, the charges against modern Israel that God cannot overlook.

That God certainly has a standard that he judges by. And Ezekiel begins to outline those standards of God's judgment.

And so here we see very clearly God talking to Ezekiel and in fact outlines to Ezekiel what those charges, what that indictment would look like.

So Ezekiel 22, beginning in verse 2, God speaks to Ezekiel and he says, Now, Son of Man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city?

So God outlines the judgment, the indictments, the charges. And he says, show her all her abominations, her abominations. Those are the sins, the national sins that Israel has committed. And notice these things and maybe we can even begin to kind of connect. Are these things associated in any way with what our country is like? Looking down to verse 4, one of those indictments, it says, So do we have to go very far back in our history to find violence and bloodshed?

How about a week? And mass shootings that have taken place in our country. And the violence that have been committed. We don't have to go back very far to look at what's happened on our streets of our cities. And the violence and the bigotry and the injustice that has occurred in our country. Certainly, this indictment, this charge certainly stands against America today. But that's only one of the charges.

It goes on and says, you've defiled yourself with the idols which you've made. Are we a country that really honors the one true God? Or do we honor the God of self and selfishness and self-interest?

What in our country has taken the place of God? We could probably name all kinds of things. Maybe our careers. Maybe our finances are most important. Of course, we've got our old celebrity culture and the whole aspect.

Even when you think of freedom, it seems to, in a way, become an idol. That we're free to do what we want to do. And don't tell me I can't do what I want to do because that's the American way. And so, in a way, that's even become an idol that takes the place of the one true God. And as we look down this list of charges, verse 7, it says, In you they have made light of father and mother. Of course, we've just gone through Father's Day.

It seems like we've honored the fathers, haven't we? Well, what is a father today? In America, can we actually define what a family is? I think we'd be hard-pressed. This is talking about the breakdown of the family structure. If you were to say in America today, a family is a father and a mother, a husband and a wife. One man married to one woman with their children, most of America would say, No, that is not a family.

And so, we certainly fit the bill of making light of father and mother. And in fact, it goes on and says, In your midst they've oppressed the stranger. In you they've mistreated the fatherless and the widow. And so, today in America, do we find abuse? Do we find those, the elderly, who have been wronged and burdened, and we overburden the needy and those that really can't defend themselves? Who stands for them? I think we'd be hard-pressed in America to say that, Well, that's what we're about.

And so, when we look at these indictments, it becomes pretty evident that we do fit the bill. America is not what it used to be. In fact, we look down to verse 9, it says, In your midst they commit lewdness or immorality. And of course, that would include fornea, that would include incest, that would include adultery, licentiousness, sometimes the Bible calls it, harlotry, Old Testament.

Today, we could call it a number of different things. In fact, we have a special month in the United States of America that has been proclaimed, maybe we could even say, a month of lewdness? Is that fair to say? If you look on the WhiteHouse.gov website, the president made a proclamation for the month of June. Anyone read that proclamation? It's an interesting one because the president says, quote, I will always have your back as president so that you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential. And I read that and went, yes, absolutely, that's what God's about, that we all reach our God-given potential.

What is God's way? What is His will? What is His purpose? God wants that for all of us. And when we read something like that, we go, absolutely, that is what true religion is all about, reaching your God-given potential. But that's not what this proclamation is about because you continue to read it. And the president wrote, quote, we reaffirm our belief that LGBTQI-plus rights are human rights. And we recommit to delivering protection, safety and equality to LGBTQ-plus families so that everyone can realize the full promise of America.

But that's not biblical. That's not God's standards. But it's become America's standard. And does that fit the indictment that God gave Ezekiel?

I mean, it's not about the people. It's about the lifestyle. God loves the people, but He doesn't want them to live that way. And yet in America, we proclaim a month to this very thing. And so the president went on to proclaim June 2022 as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex pride month. And the president says, I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQ-plus community and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people and to wave their flags of pride high.

So it's not just that these things that I think fit the bill of verse 9 of Ezekiel 22, the lewdness and immorality, but we're to be proud of that. We're to be proud of that very fact rather than to repent of that fact. And that's who we've become. We've become that kind of people. But God says, that is unacceptable. That is unacceptable.

And that's only the beginning when we look at how we have committed lewdness in our country today.

You know, the United States of America can take pride. I suppose if you look at the statement here of this proclamation and I'm being facetious, actually, but the United States has become the largest provider, or you could say the largest supplier of pornography in the world.

That falls on us. Not only that, but you can Google the statistics. Most surveys show that the United States is the most porn-obsessed country in the world.

Do these indictments fit the United States of America?

I mean, we even look at what's happened just yesterday. Just yesterday, the Supreme Court made what seems to be a monumental decision when it comes to abortion.

But what actually is going to happen? Is it a little bit of a reprieve? Well, it may very well be.

In fact, reading the Wall Street Journal online, they said, The article went on to say, And that's an interesting statement when you consider that. Don't be fooled by the decision. This does not automatically make abortions illegal in the United States. Not at all. In fact, there's 24 states where it's perfectly legal, even though this has been overturned at the level of the Supreme Court. Now, it's up to the states. And if you look at different articles out there, you'll see very quickly there are many legislatures that are quickly moving to institute the freedom to have an abortion in their states. And so really, what do we find happening here? We see the divide in our country. That we are a divided country. And this will lend itself to further divide our people. And that's what we've become, haven't we? When we disagree today, even politically speaking, when we disagree, these days, do we have the loyal opposition any longer? Maybe some of us older folks can remember that term. We had the loyal opposition. If some senators voted against something, others disagreed, others agreed with it, well, they were the loyal opposition. But once a decision was made, it seemed like we would come together and support a decision. Is that the way it is today? If you disagree with me, I hate you. And it seems our political system has become that, that if you don't agree, then you're my enemy. And so when we look at this decision, in a way, it reminds me a little bit of what happened when Josiah became king. If you remember your biblical history, Josiah's father and grandfather, some of the most evil kings of all time. Josiah becomes king and he made all these amazing changes, and he got that country back on track. But what happened when he died? Yeah, there was a little bit of a reprieve from all the evil that had happened. But the people had set their heart to disobey God. And as soon as he was gone, it was just a matter of years before they were taken into captivity and they disobeyed God. And really, that's the ultimate indictment that's made here in Ezekiel. If you look down at verse 8, it says, You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths. And so collectively, collectively in our country, we have turned further and further away from God in our actions. Most people don't know God's will. They don't know His way. They don't even know His commandments. And yet, He is a God that holds us accountable. And our national sins cannot be anything else but an affront to Almighty God.

And so when we consider this, it's such a paradox, really, when you consider what God has done for America. We have been one of the greatest nations of all time. God has blessed us so thoroughly. And not that we've deserved it at all. But yet He has blessed us and He's poured out some of the choicest blessings of all time. I think those blessings poured out from heaven. Certainly He has done that. And yet, what has been our reaction to receiving those blessings? Well, it certainly hasn't been obedience. It hasn't been turning to God. And so, since He by no means overlooks iniquity, lawlessness, and sin, we can only conclude the results of these prophetic statements that are made throughout the Bible, in Ezekiel especially. There is coming judgment on modern day Israel. Certainly the problems and the issues and the results of those national sins, it's going to be one of those things we can scarcely imagine the calamity that is going to occur. And we've moved ever closer to that. If we have your eyes open, we're edging ever closer to that very timeframe. And so those problems will ultimately be judged. And history is clear in itself when we read through the Bible. When people lose their sense of values, of morality, of reliance on God, bad things happen. Bad things happen. And so God certainly inspired Ezekiel to speak to that very case. If we look back a little bit, notice Ezekiel 12.

Ezekiel 12.19, we see the consequences of God's judgment and ultimately what is in store because these prophecies weren't completely fulfilled in ancient times. They have aspects that can only be fulfilled in the future. And so in Ezekiel 12.9, Ezekiel was told by God to say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel. Of course, we know modern Israel today. The United States and Britain, Canada, these peoples that certainly are offshoots from those tribes of Israel who were prophesied about. It says, Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate. And you shall know that I am the Lord. And so when we look at these prophetic messages, it's talking about a time of famine. It's talking about difficulties with water shortages. Any of those things been on the horizon lately? Anyone look what's happening? The Hoover Dam and the Colorado River and the challenges that they've been facing there? They've got bathtub lines, they call them, around the canyon that are 70 feet above the water level that is today. Is that any indication of what's on the horizon? And we've almost forgotten about cities being laid waste. You know, nuclear warfare? Well, we haven't talked about that since what, the 50s or 60s, right? But then this thing with Russia and Ukraine is now happening. And Vladimir Putin is talking about this very thing, laying cities' waste if we get in his way. You know, are those indications of these prophetic things? I mean, it's almost unthinkable when we consider those things. And yet, God says, it's coming. It is coming.

And all too often, we as Americans have become complacent. We've become materialistic. We've become self-focused. And so when we consider these things, we only can conclude we've forgotten God. We've forgotten our Creator. We've ignored His instructions. We ignore the Holy Bible. And yet, God doesn't pardon iniquity that isn't repented of. And so, absolutely, we're told there is a day of reckoning that is coming. Now, it's not what God wants. It's not what He desires. Because ultimately, He'd like us to change. He wants repentance. He doesn't want punishment. Time and time again, we're told He is merciful. He is gracious. He is forgiving. 2 Peter 3, 9 tells us He's not willing that any perish. That's not what God wants. But it does tell us He wants all to come to repentance. He wants people to change. And yet, for most, we don't want that. That's not what I want. That's not what I'm going to do. And so, here we see these prophetic indications, prophecy for today, that are showing the fact that God will finally get people's attention, and maybe only get their attention, once there's some severe national punishment. And it is on the horizon, because people don't pay attention otherwise. And the warning's out there. But until it begins to happen, it seems like people just don't want to hear it until their world comes crashing down.

Of course, it begs the question, what about us? What about us? When we realize these are prophecies that are just around the corner, they begin to fall in place and they paint a pretty grim picture. That can be kind of discouraging. And it was very similar to the time when God's people were coming into the Promised Land. When the tribes were coming into ancient Israel, coming into the Promised Land. In fact, some very similar instructions that were given to them, that could easily apply today as well. When we look at Leviticus 26, here's one example of God instructing the people as they were to come into the Promised Land, as they were to be a model of a nation dedicated to God. What would that look like? Well, God gave them instructions for the good life, for the means to be a people who would reflect God's values, who would be blessed because of their connection to God. So Leviticus 26, verse 14 certainly ties in to where we're at today. He told them at that time, He says in verse 14, Leviticus 26, So God doesn't overlook sin. He says, So God doesn't overlook sin. He says, And so when we look at this, I mean, is this a fair description of our modern Western nations despising God's statutes? Certainly we've had our challenges even with terrorism and violence, attacks, mass shootings, injustice. Some of these things maybe remind you of the pandemic, disease and fever and what's that new thing on the horizon now? Monkey pox? What's that going to do? I don't know, maybe nothing. But I think it's another indication that should make it plain. Without God in the picture, we're as vulnerable as, well, even more than ever before. And so what lies ahead if there's no change? I mean, all we can look at is catastrophe, disastrous results, economic problems. We've seen those things, haven't we already? How much is gas these days? In some areas of the country, it's already $10 a gallon. You Google that. Did you Google this? Our gas price is going to go down. I Googled it, because I'm hoping they're going to go down, right? Every article on that first page was, nope, nope, nope, it's going to get worse. If there's not going to be any relief. It wasn't very good news looking down all of those headlines on that first page. Well, where is that going to take us? How are we going to keep up with that? It began to make me think a little bit about where we're at. Can we just continue to go in further and further debt in our country?

Not if we're realistic. It's just another indication of the indictments against America. We're living so far beyond our means. Do we even realize how big the national debt is? You know, it's already crossed the $30 trillion mark. $30 trillion. So imagine if you had to pay your portion of the national debt. We've had it good. So what if it came down to that? Fork out the money. You have to pay your portion. Well, I'd just go to my back room and dig out my spare $91,000 to pay off my part of the debt.

No, I can't do that. But that's what it would be. How many of us have $91,000 in the bank or in the back room or under the mattress that we could pay our share of the national debt? That's how much it would be for each and every man, woman and child living in the United States today. Over $91,000. Of course, that's $234,000 per household. So imagine that. And just try to put that in context. That amounts to almost seven times the intake, the revenues that come into the federal government every year.

Seven times almost. The revenue. So if we took every dollar that came into the federal government and set it aside for seven years, we could pay off the national debt. Of course, we wouldn't have roads and we wouldn't have any services.

There'd be nothing else. So we know that's not going to happen. And so how far off is economic collapse? I mean, I was reminded of it the other day. I was in the bank. And there was this it was supposed to be a reassuring sign. It was on the counter at the bank. It looked very official. You know, it had this logo that looked like, oh, this is a secure place. And I went up to it. It had FDIC in big letters. You know, it's the federal deposit.

It's supposed to protect your money, right? And so underneath it said, your money is fully. That's what I say. Fully, completely in other words, completely protected by the United States government. And I felt worried. Yeah, it didn't really reassure me that it's fully protected. Well, look at all the money we owe. How are they going to pay it? Yeah, it's amazing. Amazing to think that. And so you add not only the economic issues we have, the social issues we have. Boy, we see that on the front pages and the headlines every day right now.

And so it doesn't stop there. We are just set up for the fulfillment of these prophecies. And I don't think we should kid ourselves and ignore the clouds of prophecy that are on the horizon. The warning signs are all around us. And so there is this time that is just ahead, that ultimately God will hold us accountable. And in fact, it used to be so different. It used to be so different. God blessed America. God blessed Great Britain. We were the leaders of the world. We were supposed to inspire the world to greatness. I mean, even at times we were the police of the world. That we were to stand like Superman for truth, justice, and the American way.

And that was everything. That time is over. It's not that way anymore. I mean, Britain, the British Empire, it would be hard to say it's even a shadow of its former glory. And the United States, economically, politically, the social troubles we have, we are challenged at every corner. And are we really a superpower anymore? Well, in the world it doesn't seem to be debatable. There was a Pew Research study that was done recently that asked different nations of the world about that very question. Is America today's superpower?

Now, out of the 22 nations that they polled, how many do you think said, no, they're not? 16 out of 22 said, the United States, they're gone. They're done. It's over for them. Specifically, they polled 16 out of 22 that believe China will replace, or already has replaced, the United States as the world's leading superpower. So even the world recognizes, yeah, there are dark clouds on the horizon.

It's not going to continue this way. And so it certainly should help us to realize for a nation to still have on its currency and God we trust, and yet reject His commandments, reject His ways and His will, it just cannot continue to receive the blessings of God. In fact, instead, I think if we just turn a couple of pages over to verse 19, at least in my Bible, you turn the page.

Verse 19, Leviticus 26, God says, I will break the pride of your power. I'll make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. So there's not going to be rain in due season. And so we see that these things are already happening around us. And there is this coming time of judgment that seemingly is getting closer and closer all the time.

In fact, we're not quite there yet, but how long till we are? In fact, the prophet Jeremiah gives that time a special name. He names this time that's just ahead. If you turn with me over to Jeremiah 30, notice what he records God telling him.

Jeremiah 30, verse 5, we find Jeremiah talking about this same timeframe that Ezekiel was prophesying about. In fact, prophecies that couldn't apply anciently, that could only be applied in the future from where we are right now, they couldn't apply to ancient Israel. They couldn't apply to ancient Judah. Jeremiah 30, verse 5, notice what he says. He says, He says, Maybe even a couple of years ago we would have thought, well, that's not happening. How could that be? And then Russia invades Ukraine. And then we hear about the threats of nuclear warfare. We hear about those things. We hear about the tragedy that goes on. And yeah, this is talking about that time that's coming of a national calamity. He says in verse 7, So it wasn't for the time of Jacob. It wasn't even for the time of Jacob's sons, the tribes of Israel and Judah. It wasn't for that time because it tells us there's no time like it. A time of Jacob's trouble. Jacob was long gone, so he was saved out of it. But it's pointing to a time that is worse than any other time in human history.

This is the war, and there can only be one worse time. And in fact, Jesus Christ spoke of that same time, certainly showing that didn't apply to ancient Israel. It didn't apply to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Christ spoke of that very same time in Matthew 24. He called it, not Jacob's trouble, but he called it the Great Tribulation. And he talked about Great Tribulation, not since the beginning of the world until now, this time, nor ever shall be.

So obviously, Jacob's trouble and the Great Tribulation are the same thing. There can only be one time that is the greatest time of tribulation and trouble and distress. And that is that coming judgment on Israel, on modern Israel. It's talking about prophecies for today. So how far away can that be? Well, we know we're getting closer. I mean, we know for a fact, just as God punished ancient Israel for its sins, He will punish the modern descendants of Israel for their persistent, consistent disobedience. We know God doesn't change. We know God will not be mocked. We know God will hold people accountable.

And He responds consistently and He responds impartially to our behaviors, human beings. He's not going to favor people. He blesses obedience. He punishes disobedience. Now, God is a just God and God is a loving God and He is merciful. And there is a way of escape. There is no doubt a way of escape. In fact, Ezekiel spoke about that way. And we consistently see that mentioned throughout Scripture. Notice back in the book of Ezekiel, if you turn back there, Ezekiel 18, verse 23, it begins this particular prophecy talking about God's mercy and talking about His long suffering, talking about His real will, what He wants for people.

Ezekiel 18, verse 23, notice God's perspective. He says, do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? And of course, that's not hoping the wicked will die. That's a rhetorical question. He's saying, that's the last thing I want. I don't want the wicked to die. I don't want to bring punishment and calamity on the people. That's not my will. That's not what I want. Because then he goes on. It says, it says, the Lord God, not that He should turn from His ways and live.

The other part of the rhetorical question, that's what God really wants. He wants people to turn from their ways to His ways. That's what God's will and His way is all about. Follow Him. There are blessings for obedience.

Turn from your ways, turn from your self-perspective and live God's way. That's what God takes true pleasure. There is a way of escape. Change. Change. We know judgment is coming, verse 30, therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to His ways. And so God is so amazing and so merciful and so loving. He even tells us, He doesn't say, well, figure it out on your own.

Well, what can I do? What should I do? How should I respond to the difficulties around me? How should I respond ultimately to sin? Well, He says, verse 30, repent. Repent and turn from all your transgression, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Yeah, the sin, in other words, will be forgiven. It won't be held against us. He says in verse 31, cast away from you all the transgressions which you've committed, all the sins that you've...

Yes, have them washed away. You need a Savior to do that. He says, get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore, turn and live. Turn and live. And that consistent message we find throughout Scripture. This wasn't something that was just preached to ancient Israel. This was the same message that Jesus Christ Himself came preaching and teaching.

You know, when He began His earthly ministry. You can look that up in Mark 1. When He began His ministry, He began by preaching the Kingdom of God. And so today we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. Because Christ said the time is fulfilled. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Do you remember His next statement? He said, repent. Repent and believe the Gospel. That although there's all these difficulties and the calamities on the horizon, it doesn't have to be like that.

There is good news. There is the Gospel message. There is the message of hope. And God gives us that message of hope. Because all of these things just force us and lead us to make a choice. To make a choice. I mean, we know the consequences of choosing to ignore God. He makes it very clear in these prophecies for today. But when we see what's on the horizon, and even in our country today, around the world, those that recognize these signs, is this something you just dismiss?

Just say, ah, it's not going to stay this way. It'll get better. It'll get better. You know, if we just want to overlook this and dismiss those prophecies for today, I mean, it's going to cause us, I hope, to ask a question. I mean, either God tells the truth and He does keep His promises, or the only choice is He doesn't, that God lies and He doesn't keep His promises.

But if God is truthful, and the whole record of the Bible proves that over and over and over again, fulfilled prophecy proves that very point, that God is truthful and He keeps His promises, that means that every prediction that we read about, every promise that He makes, will come to pass. And that includes the bad stuff as well as the good, both, both. And so when we remember that that's what God wants, He commands men everywhere to repent. That was a message right after the early church began, after Acts 2.

He called us to repent and change our ways. And yet He gives us the freedom. He gives us the choice. And if we choose to ignore His guidance and His commands, yeah, the storm is on its way. The storm is coming. And yet, God does make a way of escape. He does offer His guidance and offers His protection.

And when we consider that, we certainly have to remember what Christ Himself talked about. And Matthew 24 details many of those prophecies for today. But one of the things that Christ said, I think just rings so true in my mind and probably in yours as well. Christ said, when you see all these things, you see these things that He detailed, He said, know that it's near. Oh, I got time. No worry. Wait a second. How near is near? Well, Christ detailed that.

He said, at the very doors. It's at the door. It's right here. It's getting closer all the time. And pretty soon those doors are going to swing open. And then it is too late. Then it is too late. So no wonder in that section of Scripture He admonishes us. Because our reaction to this should cause us to look at our own lives. When you read what Luke 21, which kind of mirrors Matthew 24, maybe turn over to Luke 21 for just a moment.

Luke 21 verse 36. Luke 21 verse 36 has a kind of a conclusion to these prophetic things that Christ talked about for today that certainly mirror what Ezekiel talked about. They mirror what Jeremiah prophesied as well. Christ detailed some of those prophecies for today as well. And then he said in verse 36, Luke 21, 36, he says, Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. And so he details this idea of watching the fulfillment of prophecy. And maybe it caused you to wonder, well, what does watching prophecy accomplish?

Okay, so what? I see these things happening. How is that helpful? Well, I think Christ said this for a number of reasons. First of all, is to realize that self-sufficiency isn't going to help us. We have to rely on God. We better have Christ living in us.

We better be right with God. And so as we watch prophecy and its fulfillment, it accomplishes great things, amazing things when you really begin to think about it. Because when we recognize these things happening around us, we shouldn't be fooled. It's going to be hard to deceive us when we recognize what counterfeit religion looks like, when we see prophecies being fulfilled, when we see people making false predictions that don't match with the Bible. But we understand what prophecy says, and we see it being fulfilled around us. It'll help us not to be taken in by those things.

In fact, as we recognize these things, we see what Ezekiel said. We see what Jeremiah said. We see what Christ prophesied. And as we watch these prophecies being fulfilled, we already have a warning about it. That that should help us, then, to endure what is to come. There is going to be persecution. There is going to be trouble. There is going to be calamity. Knowing that it's on the way can help us to withstand what is to come. To really be able to count on God to help us through this time, to see us through the eye of the storm.

And so we can endure because we know. We know what's to come about. And in fact, we can know what to do. As we watch these prophetic things come about, we can know what to do. In fact, we have a role in helping and serving as these things are coming about.

Because these promises and these warnings, they're not just to us or not just to warn us. They're to warn the world. In fact, that is part of our mission of the church is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the coming kingdom of God.

There is a solution. There is good news on the horizon. And so we have a part to play. And these prophecies should motivate us then to support the work of God, to be a light that's shining in this dark world, to be that witness to our neighbors, to our families. And of course, collectively as a church, to get to behind the preaching of the truth so that we can be a witness to the nations.

Because we're told it's going to be preached in the world and then the end will come. And so these times should motivate us in that way. In fact, should motivate us to inwardly look at our own lives. And do I really focus on God's will and His way? Or do I get all into the trivial kinds of things, the things that don't really matter that much? Do I waste time on the temporary things that are going to be over? They're not going to continue on. The materialistic things that can become a part of who we are?

I mean, these prophecies and following these prophecies should help us then to be prepared, to be prepared for the coming kingdom of God, the return of Jesus Christ, to be able to stand with Jesus Christ, to not fear the judgment, because our sins should be forgiven, that we'll be right with God. We have a close relationship, that we're faithful, wise servants. We could even think of this time as a special time of preparation. I don't know if you've ever thought about it in that way.

We've been given a time of preparation. We see the clouds on the horizon. Now's the time. Now's the time to prepare. Now's the time to spiritually work diligently. Now's the time to serve God wholeheartedly. Not half-heartedly. Wholeheartedly. So I can't be complacent like the rest of the world. I can't be oblivious. Spiritually, I better not be lazy and I better not be self-focused. I better not be selfish, because we've been given this time. I've been given this time to prepare.

And so this knowledge and understanding of prophecy should move us and provoke us to strive to be people of God. People that are holy in conduct and godliness. That's the goal, to put on Jesus Christ. To truly be spiritually prepared at all times. And so we can watch prophecy and ultimately, as we do, it should give us hope. That we have hope. It's not going to stay like this. We're not doomed to destruction.

Ultimately, God has the solution. And we can be a part of the solution. So prophecy should motivate us and help us to change. That we'll always be seeking the Kingdom of God. Draw ever closer to God the Father and Jesus Christ. Prepared to meet our Maker. You've probably seen those signs, you know, be prepared. The world is about to end. Well, we should be always prepared to meet our Maker.

Because prophecy says we, if we're prepared, we will welcome Jesus Christ. And it scored Him to this earth. So He will set up His Kingdom and we will serve Him for eternity. And so these things should motivate us to continue to watch our own spiritual condition. Because as we do, we know living God's way automatically places us in opposition to the prevailing philosophy of this world. It just does automatically. And so as God's people, it should cause us not to take sin lightly. Not to be like those around us. Not to fall into the trap.

Not to take sin lightly. Certainly not to condone immorality, but to root out every form of it in our life so that we can recommit our ways. We can change our ways. And as we look out at the world, rather than condemning the world and its selfishness and pride, make sure we turn that around and look, well, do I have selfishness? Do I have pride? Am I envious? Am I complacent? Because it should cause me to look at my own life so that I realize it could be in my life too.

You know, don't be all high and mighty. It's in me too. And that's unacceptable before God. And so it's a reminder, stop thinking you've got time. Stop thinking it's a long way off. Because these prophecies for today remind us now is the time to light that spiritual flame on fire. And don't be content with where you're at today. Don't be content spiritually with who you are today because that means you'll never be better than you are. You'll never be more spiritual than you are.

And the Bible warns about that. If you're not growing spiritually, you're apt to slide backwards. And so we're told to hunger and thirst after righteousness and be filled with Jesus Christ. Because really it points to the solution. In fact, the only solution is a spiritual solution. And so let's dedicate ourselves to fully commit every area in our life to God and look to Him and His coming Kingdom as we watch prophecy for today.