ENDTIME PROPHECIES OF THE CHURCH “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should over take you as a thief…” 1st Thessalonians 5:4

Church As A Human Organization Human organization or visible church: Can be a simple or complex organization Mix of true believers in Christ and those who have never been born again. Referred to more than 100 times in New Testament

Church As A Spiritual Entity Composed of only true believers in Christ Composed of those born into God’s family Have been baptized (or placed) into the spiritual body of Christ by Holy Spirit

Defining “End Time” A phrase that refers to the closing events of the church, Israel, and unsaved Gentile world. “the end”, “the end of the age”, “end times” “the time of the end”, “the latter days”, “the last times”, “the latter years”.

“Lo, I Am With You Always, Even To The End Of The Age.” In Matthew 28:19, 20 Jesus made this promise to the those who became the first church, the 120 disciples To the end, churches will be winning souls, baptizing and teaching His commands.

Good and Evil Will Be Present Jesus gave seven parables about the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 13:11 Good Things: Good seed, Good soil, Good fish to be kept Bad Things: The evil one. The enemy, the devil, the tares (weeds), leaven, bad fish. Angels will separate the bad from the good.

The Church Age The first three chapters of Revelation reveals seven churches in Asia These represent the organized (or visible) church Each has a message for us today

The Seven Churches The church at Ephesus. Means “desired”. The betrothed bride of Christ that left its first love by end of apostolic period. The church at Smyrna. Means “Myrrh”, a sweet fragrance. Suffered great persecution from Domitian to Constantine

The church at Pergamos. Means “objectionable marriage” The church at Pergamos. Means “objectionable marriage”. The church was married to pagan idolatry under Constantine. The church of Thyatira. Means “continual sacrifice”. Worshipped idols of the formerly pagan temples, not the “once-for-all” sacrifice of Christ.

The church of Sardis. Means “remnant” or the church that started anew in the 14th and 15th centuries. The church of Philadelphia. “Brotherly love” or the one before whom Jesus set an “open door.” From this came the greatest revivals and missionary outreaches in the history of the church

The Final Church of the Age The church of Laodicea. Means “people’s rights” –organized to accomplish what members want, rather than seeking mind of Christ. It is neither hot nor cold and Jesus spews it out of His mouth.

Church No Longer On Earth John saw “a door standing open in heaven” and a voice saying, ‘Come up here…’” The church is not mentioned again until Jesus returns with His bride-the church. Revelation 19

Church Departs From Faith 1st Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith…” 2nd Peter 2:1,2 “…There will be false teachers among you…denying the Lord Who bought them…”

Effect of the Church The truly saved within the organized church keep the church from a total departure from the faith. The Anti-Christ cannot be produced until the Holy Spirit (working through the truly saved) is taken out of the way.

Jesus Comes for True Believers 1st Thessalonians 4:15-17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven.. ….and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 15:51, 52 “…in the twinkling of an eye”. Christians, living or dead, become immortal and incorruptible. Every Christian will receive their crown