Signs of the End 7 th Grade Bible Class Lesson 27: “Beginning of the End” © 2013 Bennie

The disciples said to Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” The Disciples’ Question

Jesus’ Answer Wars and rumors of wars Famines and earthquakes Faithful followers will be persecuted and killed False prophets will deceive many Many will claim to be the Christ

Jesus’ Answer The sun will be darkened The stars will fall from the sky The moon will not give its light

Overview

1 st Sign: 1260-day Prophecy 1 st Sign: 1260-day Prophecy Daniel 7:24, 25 “Another king will arise… He will speak against the Most High and oppress His saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”

1 st Sign: 1260-day Prophecy In the Bible... –1 year = 360 days So... –3.5 years x 360 days = 1,260 days And if... –1 prophetic day = 1 actual year Then... –1,260 days = 1,260 years One “time” = 360 days + Two “times” = 720 days + Half a “time” = 180 days Total Time = 1,260 days “The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”

1 st Sign: 1260-day Prophecy Began in 538 A.D. –Roman Empire armies drove the Ostrogoths out of Rome because they opposed the Church –Emperor Justinian issued a decree that assigned absolute preeminence to the Church of Rome 1798 – 538 = 1260 Ended in 1798 A.D. ̶ The French captured Pope Pius VI and removed him from power

1 st Sign: 1260-day Prophecy Beginning of the Dark Ages Millions of God's true people were martyred The Church taught the following: –Pope acts as sinners’ mediator (instead of Jesus) –Long pilgrimages, acts of penance, and the worship of relics reduce time spent in purgatory –Indulgences forgive sins

2 nd Sign: Signs in Heavens: The Dark Day WHEN? May 19, 1780 WHERE? New England WHAT? Massive black cloud covered 25,000 mi. 2 Eyewitnesses: –“The darkness was so thick it could be felt.” --Anonymous –“Between the hours of ten and eleven, a.m., and continued until the middle of the next night... persons could not see to read common print in the open air, for several hours." --Samuel Williams, Harvard Revelation 6:12 “the sun turned black” Matthew 24:29 “the sun will be darkened”

2 nd Sign: Signs in Heavens: Blood-red Moon WHEN? May 19, 1780 Eyewitness: –“My father and mother, who were pious, thought the day of judgment was near. They sat up all night, during the latter part of which they said the darkness disappeared, and then the sky seemed as usual; but the moon, which was at the full, had the appearance of blood.” --Milo Bostwick What makes May 19, 1780, so spectacular? –Both the mysterious darkness of the sun and the redness of the moon occurred on the same day. Revelation 6:12 “the whole moon turned blood red” Matthew 24:29 “the moon will not give its light”

2 nd Sign: Signs in Heavens: Falling Stars November 13, 1833 Meteors showered North America from Mexico to Canada Over 60,000 meteors fell every hour –How many stars fell per minute? –About how many fell per second? Matthew 24:29 “the stars will fall from heaven”

3rd Sign: Rise of the United States Revelation 13:11 “I saw another beast which rose out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.” Characteristics of nation: –Arise toward end of 1260-day prophecy –Become a world leader –Rise in a relatively uninhabited place –Lamb-like or Christ-like traits (at first)

3 rd Sign: Rise of the United States The U.S. appears to be the lamb-like beast –Immigrants sought religious freedom in America –First country to establish separation of church and state in their official laws –Constitution guaranteed church and state separation starting September 17, 1787

All Signs Considered = Prophecy Fulfilled

What next? Matthew 24:27 “As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Be ready! Matthew 24:44 “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Here’s the Good News: Jesus Saves! John 11:25 - “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”John 11:25 - “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 14:6 - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”John 14:6 - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 6:40 - “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”John 6:40 - “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus Saves! Acts 26:18 - “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Romans 10:13 - “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Galatians 3:26 - “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Acts 16:30, 31 - “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So Paul and Silas said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 NKJV

Guided Notes 3 Signs of the End: 1. _______-day Prophecy * Began in _______ A.D.:Emperor Justinian decrees Church of Rome as preeminent * Ended in _______ A.D.: Pope Pius removed from power 2. Signs in the __________ * Dark _________ * Blood-red ________ * _________ __ ___ Stars 3. Rise of the _________ _________ * Rev. 13:11 “I saw another ______ which rose out of the earth. He had two horns like a _____, but he spoke like a ________.”

Guided Notes (cont.) Years of Prophecies Fulfilled: _______ = Dark Day & Blood-red Moon _______ = U.S. Constitution _______ = Pope Pius Removed _______ = Falling of the Stars Be Ready Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that ____ or _____, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the _______.” Jesus Saves John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the ____, the ______, and the _____: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ___.”