Luke 21:24

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. When they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.

But you, brethren, are not of darkness that the day should overtake you as a thief. You are the children of the light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you that tonight we are those that have been appointed to obtain salvation. As we stand here at the end of a year and at the beginning of another year, we thank you for the great and precious promises and the grace that you have given to us. Lord, I thank you that we are the children of light and that we are no longer in darkness.

Jesus, you have called us to be priests to this world, as Peter spoke of, that we would proclaim the praises of you who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. So, Lord, I pray that tonight you would enlighten us, that you would speak to us through your word, that you'd give us insight, and that you would ready us as we step into 2010 to declare your word to those that are in darkness. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all God's people agreed, saying, "Amen." You can be seated.

Well, 2009 is one for the history books. It has been a historic year, really. It has been a year of stimulus packages and swine flu.

A year of climate change and tea parties. A year when pirates, real pirates, came into the news quite a bit. One year ago today, the nation of Israel was 72 hours into their strike against Gaza, the Gaza Strip. You may remember that the Israeli Air Force, as we were gathering together at the New Year last year, was bombing the Gaza Strip because the Palestinians had been firing rockets into Israel for a number of weeks leading up to that.

At the beginning of this year, we were preparing for the inauguration of a historic president, the first African-American president in the United States of America, Barack Obama. A president who this year won the Nobel Peace Prize. A president who is focused on bringing peace, especially in the Middle East. He has been talking quite a bit lately about bringing peace to the Middle East. Many of you perhaps saw his speech given at the UN Security Council on September 23rd of this year. There, he talked extensively about bringing peace to that world body assembled in New York.

It is interesting to note the wording he used three times in his speech, as he called for peace and security or peace and safety. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, we read in verse 3, "For when they shall say peace and security or peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." When I listened to portions of that speech back on September 23rd, my ears perked up every time he mentioned peace and security, peace and safety.

At one point in the speech, he said, "The time has come to relaunch negotiations without preconditions that address the permanent status issues: security for Israelis and Palestinians, borders, refugees, and Jerusalem." The goal is clear, said President Obama: two states living side by side in peace and safety. Very interesting. Two states living side by side in peace and security—a Jewish state of Israel with true security for all Israelis, and a viable independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967 and realizes the potential of the Palestinian people.

Now, it sounds very good what he said. It is a desire that has been going on for many, many years. He is not the first to speak about these things; actually, he is one of many who have been calling for peace in the Middle East. The scripture foretells in Zechariah 12, verse 2, that in the last days, Jerusalem would become a cup of trembling to all peoples. God, speaking 2,500 years ago, tells us that Jerusalem would be a cup of trembling for all peoples in the last days.

We also read in Zechariah 12, verse 3, an interesting prophetic promise that the people of this world need to take note of. It says, "And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people." Is this not being fulfilled in our day? God has made Jerusalem this little piece of land in an insignificant part of the world that really has no major natural resources as far as we know. He says, "I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people." Notice this: all those that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces.

I hope our president knows what he's doing when he says that we want to establish two states living side by side in the land of Israel. He mentioned that he would like to do away with the occupation of the children of Israel that began in 1967. For those of you who have studied the nation of Israel, you know that this took place in June of 1967 during the Six-Day War. It was at that time that the people of Israel took control of Jerusalem.

So, when he says that we want to do away with the occupation that began in 1967, he is saying what many are saying: for there to be peace in the Middle East and in the land of Israel, the Jews have to give up Jerusalem. How many of you think that will ever happen? If you do, you've been drinking the Kool-Aid. It's not going to happen. Barack Obama said, "Now, as we pursue this goal, we also pursue peace between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria, and a broader peace between Israel and its many neighbors."

Again, I know that he is very ambitious and has a lot of desires in this area. To bring about peace between Lebanon and Syria and their many neighbors, this little country, Israel, reestablished in May of 1948, has just reached, just this week, a population of 7.5 million. It was big news in Jerusalem that they have reached 7.5 million people in that little country. They are surrounded by nearly a billion enemies who really don't like them. One of their biggest enemies, the nation of Iran, and the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made it very clear that his goal is to wipe Israel off the map, to push them into the Mediterranean, to get rid of them.

So, in Obama's speech at the UN on September 23rd, President Obama is seeking to bring about peace and safety, peace and security in the Middle East. He is calling for the division of Israel, and this is really what the UN is calling for as a whole. Many European nations are saying that for there to be peace in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Israel needs to be divided. They need to go back to the pre-1967 borders, back to the 1949 armistice that was set up there.

The call for this division began to be sounded in a big way in 1993 with the Oslo Accords. You remember that famous handshake in front of the White House with President Clinton at the time, Itzhak Rabin, and Yasser Arafat. That same picture of Yasser Arafat and Itzhak Rabin shaking hands was published in every major newspaper throughout the world. However, it was even before that, at the Camp David Accords in the fall of 1979, that they were pushing for and trying to establish a recognized Palestinian territory and going back to the pre-1967 borders.

So, Barack Obama is calling for it. Many European nations are calling for it. Really, the UN, in a large way, is calling for the dividing of the nation of Israel. President Bill Clinton was trying to bring that about. Remember the land-for-peace deals? Yet, every time the children of Israel have given up land, has it won them peace? We have seen since 1993.

There have been many portions of land given, and it has never brought peace. Prime Minister Netanyahu is even calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Just last month, he spoke at a number of different universities in Israel, advocating for this establishment. It is amazing to consider that this prime minister is doing this because the last two prime ministers who sought to do the same received the judgment of God.

You may remember Itzhak Rabin in 1993 when he established the Oslo Accords with Yasser Arafat. Shortly thereafter, he was assassinated while trying to divide the land and give land for peace. The last prime minister to give land for peace was Ariel Sharon. In August 2006, he gave up the Gaza Strip on the 9th of Av, the saddest day in Israel. It was shortly thereafter, in December 2006, that he suffered a massive stroke. I believe this was truly the judgment of God because God tells us in Joel chapter 3 that He will judge those who seek to divide the land.

I do think that Benjamin Netanyahu, or Bibi as they call him, is a very smart and intelligent man. I believe he is really trying to call the bluff of the Palestinian Authority when he says that he wants to establish a Palestinian state. He has stated two conditions for this to happen. First, the Palestinians must recognize the Jewish state. That will never happen; he knows it will never happen. Secondly, for the establishment of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu has said that the Palestinians need to be completely demilitarized and give up all of their weapons. Again, those two conditions are ones the Palestinians will never agree to.

So when he says that he wants to establish a Palestinian state, I believe he is sincere about that, but he is presenting two conditions that they will never accept. Remember what President Obama said in his speech; he wants there to be no preconditions. Therefore, the two conditions that Benjamin Netanyahu is bringing to the table are really against what the president is calling for, as well as what the world body is advocating.

Very interestingly, just today in Tel Aviv...

There in Israel, a group of rabbis met with the Ambassador of the United States to Israel, Ambassador Cunningham. They met with him because they are calling for the United States to completely reassess its policy as it relates to Israel and Palestine. This meeting took place just this afternoon. The group of rabbis that met with the ambassador in Tel Aviv has signatures from over 350 prominent rabbis in the land of Israel, urging the United States and our president to rethink our plans and policies regarding Israel.

The past 17 years have proven, as these rabbis stated, without a shadow of a doubt that every square inch ceded by Israel to the Palestinians has been transformed into a platform of hatred and terrorism. In other words, the land-for-peace formula in Israel and Palestine, besides being a formula that goes against the divine will of God, is ineffective, obsolete, and an exercise in futility. These rabbis told Ambassador Cunningham that it is forbidden to give up even an inch of the territory controlled by Israel today because it will bring bloodshed and instability to the region.

They noted that from the day they started ceding and withdrawing, they have not had one day of rest and peace. They questioned why their enemies would want to make peace when they see that through terrorism, they get everything they want. In the name of the overwhelming majority of rabbis in Israel, they presented this letter to our president today. They stated that God gave the United States the power and influence to affect the rest of the world, and supporting Israel is the key to America's success.

Interestingly, only 13% of Israelis polled just last week by the Jerusalem Post believe that the administration of the United States is pro-Israeli. They feel like their best friend in the whole world has left them high and dry. When they say that America's success has much to do with the land of Israel, I do actually believe that is the case. God gave a prophetic promise to Abraham.

The Father of the children of Israel, in Genesis chapter 12, verse 3, states, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." These rabbis have called upon the United States to deal with Israel according to what the Bible says. The ambassador asked the rabbis, "What is the solution to the problem?" One of the rabbis spoke up and said, "You must switch the entire approach to the situation. We all believe in the Holy Bible, and up until now, we have tried every formula except that which is delineated in the Bible. Let's try what it says and see what happens."

"Mr. Ambassador, maybe this is your defining moment," they told him, "that God Almighty has placed you in the capacity and order to precipitate a new course which will bring true peace to the entire region." This is very interesting. Just today, in the Jerusalem Post, his words to them were rather interesting. He doesn't think that it will really work, but their view is this: they said, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." God gave the land to the children of Israel. They cited the scripture in the book of Genesis where God gave it to them and their descendants. They said, "God has given this land to us, and all of it is ours, and we should not give it up. We should go back to what the scriptures have to say."

Well, what do the scriptures have to say? As I mentioned previously, in Joel chapter 3, God makes it very clear that those who seek to part the land of Israel will be judged. Turn in your Bibles to Joel chapter 3. As you're turning there, I want to read to you the promise that God made to His people in Genesis chapter 15, verse 18. God said, "In the same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying unto him, 'Unto you and your seed I have given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river, even the river Euphrates.'" God says, "I have given you this land."

Then we read in Joel chapter 3, verse 1: "For behold, in those days and in that time..."

When I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. I will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and divided my land. God says, "In those days when I bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, when I bring the people back into the land."

This has happened on a couple of different occasions. First, after the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC, seventy years later, the children of Israel were allowed to go back to the land of Israel and rebuild. But it happened once again on May 14th, 1948. It began to happen before that in the 1890s as the modern Zionist movement started to return to the land of Israel. On May 14th, 1948, after the resolution and the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the children of Israel were able to establish their homeland once again. They have been regathered. In fact, in 2009, another 16,000 Jewish immigrants resettled in the land of Israel. They are coming back in droves every single day.

God is prospering the nation just as He promised He would do in Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37, and just as we see He promised He would do here in Joel chapter 3. However, He tells us that when He begins to bring them back from their captivity, He is going to gather all the nations and bring them also back to the land of Israel. God is going to enter into judgment with them. He will plead with them because they have scattered His people and divided His land.

There is a promised judgment, a prophesied judgment in the scripture on more than one occasion, that those who divide the land of Israel will be judged. We also see in the scriptures, in Genesis chapter 12, verse 3, that those who curse God's people will themselves be cursed. Over the last several years, we have heard curses directed at the people and the land of Israel, most specifically by the nation of Iran. In his inaugural address this year, President Obama spoke very clearly to the people of the Muslim world.

And specifically, the people of Iran. He said, "We will extend a hand if you will be willing to unclench your fist." How many of you remember that phrase? We will extend our hand if you will unclench your fist. Well, Iran has made it very clear since 2009 that they have no intention to unclench their fist. They do not intend to back down from their move to acquire nuclear weapons, to develop or acquire them. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stated his desire to develop or acquire nuclear weapons for the express purpose of wiping Israel off the map.

All along the line, the international community, the United Nations, and the United States have basically done nothing about this. The only one that is really rising up to do anything is the people of Israel. There was a very interesting article in the New York Times on December 23rd, just last Wednesday night. It was an op-ed by Alan Cooperman, and he said that the United States faces a stark choice: military airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities or acquiescence to Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons.

America stands at a very interesting point at this time, as we are sitting here on December 30th, 2009. We have a decision to make. Our president does. Are we going to do anything about the move by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for nuclear weapons? Earlier in the year, the plan was to wait and see what would happen with the elections in Iran mid-year. How many of you remember the elections? They were supposed to be very civil elections, but it didn't really work out that way.

Alan Cooperman says that we have a decision to make. Are we going to strike militarily as the United States of America against the nuclear facilities in Iran, or are we going to allow them to acquire these weapons? He finishes his op-ed by saying that negotiation to prevent nuclear proliferation is always preferable to military action. However, in the face of failed diplomacy, eschewing force is tantamount to appeasement. We have reached the point where airstrikes are the only plausible option with any prospect of preventing Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons. Postponing military action is not a viable strategy.

Merely providing Iran a window to expand, disperse, and harden its nuclear facilities against attack. The sooner the United States takes action, the better, says Alan Cooperman of the New York Times. The question is, will we take action?

It was in the fall of this year, just at the very same time that the UN was meeting and President Obama was speaking at the UN, that we had the G20 the following week in Philadelphia. At that very same time, it was released that we had found another secret location in Qum, Iran, where they are developing nuclear weapons and material to build them. Yet, the international body has done nothing. We want to have negotiations without preconditions. Only one nation is gearing up to stand up to this problem: the nation of Israel. We are waiting to see what is going to happen.

Some very interesting things have happened within the last two weeks in Israel. A historic event is taking place at this very moment. A conference of all the Israeli ambassadors to the world has been assembled in Jerusalem from December 27th through the 31st. They are meeting right now in Jerusalem. It is the first time since the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in 1948 that all the ambassadors of Israel have been called back, summoned back to Jerusalem by the Prime Minister to have a security briefing. This seems to intimate that the government in Israel is planning something and is gearing up their ambassadors for the fallout of what is going to come about.

Not only that, there was a very contested election in Israel at the beginning of this year. You may remember that there was a big question about who was going to be Prime Minister: if Benjamin Netanyahu would become Prime Minister or if Zippy Livni would take the position. Ultimately, Netanyahu was able to build a big enough coalition to become the Prime Minister in the land of Israel. Just in the last week and a half, he has been calling upon the opposition government led by Zippy Livni to unite with him in a coalition government because they are gearing up for war with Iran.

We need to keep our eyes open, just like we were told by the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Let us therefore be watchful and sober because we are living in the last days. We are living in times that correspond with what the Scriptures say about the coming of Christ, and all the things that are happening over in the Middle East.

They are, really, the barometer of the end times. The nation of Israel becoming a nation once again was the next domino to fall in the prophetic calendar regarding the coming of the Lord. There are several other things, as you look at the Scriptures, that deal with the coming of the Lord and have yet to be fulfilled. One of them is in Isaiah.

If you turn to the book of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah chapter 17, we will see that as we study through the book of Isaiah on Wednesday nights. In just a few weeks, we will observe that Isaiah chapters 13 through 23 contain prophecies that are largely fulfilled, speaking about the judgment of God upon the nations that surrounded the children of Israel. However, in Isaiah chapter 17, verses 1 and 2, we read a prophecy that is yet to come to pass.

Isaiah 17:1 states, "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aror are forsaken, and they shall be for flocks which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid."

I want you to notice in verse 1 that it speaks about a city that is still inhabited today. The burden of Damascus indicates that Damascus is taken away from being a city. It shall be a ruinous heap, God says. Did you know that of all the cities in the world, Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city? They have found in their excavations ruins dating back to about 8,000 BC. It is the longest continuously inhabited city. You can even look it up on the internet and find that Damascus is at the very top of the list. It has never, in all of history, ceased to be a city. It has never been made a ruinous heap.

So, when we read here in Isaiah chapter 17, verse 1, that God is going to take it away from being a city and it will be a ruinous heap, this is yet to come to pass. I believe that this will occur before the Lord returns, and we will witness the destruction of Damascus.

There are many ways we could surmise that this could happen. There are a lot of different things we could speculate about, but all of that would be speculation. Looking at this from an inductive point of view, we can see that God has prophesied the complete destruction of Damascus, which is the capital city of Syria. Syria has been at odds with Israel for a very long time.

After Saddam Hussein was removed from power and Baghdad is no longer an issue for the people of Israel, do you know what Israel's first strike option is if someone comes against them in war? It is Damascus. If someone attacks them with nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, they have stated that the very first city they will launch their missiles at is Damascus. Israel has nuclear capability, and this is a significant point to consider.

It is clear that the people of Israel are planning an attack against Iran and their nuclear facilities in the same way they attacked Iraq's nuclear facility in 1981. If they attack Iran and take out their nuclear facilities, you can be sure that Syria will strike at the people of Israel. They have already made it clear that they will, because where do they get their weapons? It is Iran. It is believed that Syria possesses chemical and biological weapons. If they launch these weapons at Israel, Israel will respond by launching their nuclear weapons at Damascus and destroying the city. This outcome seems guaranteed, and it could happen in the very near future.

Israel is already stating that they are going to attack Iran. They are gearing up for an attack and have called all of their ambassadors back to Jerusalem this week to give them a security briefing. They are trying to build a coalition government to go to war. There are significant events on the horizon.

Another prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled is what we read in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. Many of you who are here tonight are likely prophecy buffs and have probably read through these chapters before. In Ezekiel chapter 38, it says, "And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Son of man, set your face against Gog and the land of Magog, the chief prince...'"

Of Meshach and Tubal, and prophesy against them. And say, Thus saith the Lord God, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshach and Tubal. I will turn thee back and put hooks in thy jaw, and I will bring thee forth in all thine army, horses and horsemen, and all them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords, Persia and Ethiopia and Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet, Gomer and all his bands in the house of Togomar of the north quarters and all his bands and many people with thee. Be thou prepared and prepare thyself, thou and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them."

As you read through Ezekiel chapter 38, you see that this alliance of nations comes down against the children of Israel. They come into the mountains of Israel, most likely the northern portion of the nation, into the Golan Heights, and they are destroyed in a miraculous destruction, a destruction that seems to almost appear to be a nuclear annihilation because the land has to be cleared out and cleaned up for seven years. It's kind of a hot zone for the next seven years after that point.

The nations mentioned in this prophecy are rather interesting. Some kind of contest who they are when we read about Gog and Magog, Tubal, Meshach, and Gomorrah, and Togomar. However, there are a few nations listed here that are very clear. One of them is the nation of Persia. What nation is Persia? Until 1935, Iran was called Persia.

We also read of Ethiopia. Now, we think of Ethiopia as that nation on the eastern portion of Africa. But at this time, Ethiopia encompassed pretty much the entire Nile River Delta area, going all across the northern portion of Africa. Libya is mentioned here as well, which is also in the northern portion of Africa and not very friendly to Israel.

So, we read about these nations mentioned here and how they will come against God's people in the last days, and God will destroy them with a sore destruction. It is noted that one sixth of the armies will be destroyed. Some people believe that Gomer...

Sorry, Gog and Magog, Meshach, and Tubal are references to Russia, and there seems to be some indication that this may be the case. We look at Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, which contain prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled. It is interesting that Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37 speak about the regathering of the nation of Israel, the dry bones given life once again. We have seen Ezekiel 36 and 37 come to pass since 1948. You can actually watch the prophecy of God being fulfilled, a 2,500-year-old prophecy coming to fruition.

The next stage mentioned is in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, which speak about the invasion that will come. Ezekiel chapter 40 goes on to discuss a rebuilt temple, a third temple being built. Additionally, Isaiah chapter 17, which is yet to be fulfilled, speaks of the destruction of Damascus. Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 also mention the invasion by Persia, Ethiopia, and the northern African nations, which are predominantly radical Muslim nations that are against the children of Israel, possibly allied with Russia.

In the last couple of years, we have seen strong ties forged between the Russians and the Iranians. These developments are very interesting and point to the fact that we need to look up because our redemption draws nigh. The Lord could come at any time.

Another prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled is in Isaiah chapter 24. Isaiah chapters 13 through 23 speak about judgments upon the nations that surrounded the children of Israel. Most of those judgments have come to pass, except for the one mentioned in Isaiah 17. However, in Isaiah chapter 24, we read of a much broader judgment upon the whole earth.

Isaiah 24, verse 1 states, "Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof." It continues, "And it shall be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with the master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury."

What all of this means in verse 2 is that it speaks about a total judgment upon every class and every group of people. The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled, for the Lord has spoken His word. Then the earth mourns; it mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away.

The haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, the curse has devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate. Consequently, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and a few men are left. The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, and all the merry-hearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceases, the noise of them that rejoice ends, and the joy of the harp ceases.

So God removes, with this judgment, all the joy of the world. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to those who drink it. Read Revelation chapters 5 and 6, and you will see many of these things come to pass in that passage as well. The city of confusion is broken down. Every house is shut up, so that no man comes in or out. There is a crying for wine in the streets, and all joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone, and the city is left in desolation. The gate is smitten with destruction.

When it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be a shaking of an olive tree and a gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice and sing for the majesty of the Lord; they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore, glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

When we read about the vintage being gone and the gleaning of grapes in verse 13, along with the shaking of the olive tree, it is saying that men will be so few because of the judgment upon the earth. It will be like after they have gone through the vineyard and harvested all the grapes, leaving just a few scattered and left. Or, as when they have shaken the olive tree and all the olives have fallen off, except for a few little olives at the very top of the tree. This illustrates that the judgment of God will be so vast that there will be few men that remain.

From the uttermost part of the earth, we have heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, "My leanness, my leanness! Woe unto me!" The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yes, the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, very treacherously. Fear, the pit, and the snare are upon the inhabitants of the earth.

It shall come to pass that he who flees from the noise of fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare. For the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. No one will be able to escape.

Judgment, God says in verse 18. He states that the one who flees from the noise of the sphere will fall into a pit, and if they are able to get out of the pit, they will be taken in a snare. There is a very similar prophecy spoken, and I believe it is in the book of Amos, where it says that if you escape from the lion, the bear will get you. If you escape from the bear and come into the house, putting your hand upon the wall to lean upon it, the snake will bite you. There is no fleeing from the wrath of God when He comes.

Revelation chapter 6 tells us that when the wrath of God begins to be poured out upon the earth, men will cry out for death, but it will flee from them. They will call out to the mountains to fall upon them, but it will flee from them. The earth is utterly broken down; it is clean dissolved and moved exceedingly. Peter speaks about this also in the New Testament, stating that the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed like a cottage. The transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall and not rise again.

It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the kings of the earth upon the earth. They shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in prison. After many days, they shall be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously.

We are told at the end of chapter 24 that God will gather together all the proud of the world, all the haughty, and all the wicked of this world, and they will be cast into a prison. After that, we are told that they will be visited, just as we read in the last chapters of the book of Revelation, where all the wicked of the earth will be gathered together at that last judgment and will be cast bound into the lake that burns with fire.

In verse 23, when we read that the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed, Revelation chapters 21 and 22 speak about this as well. The glory of the Lord will be so bright upon the earth after these things come to pass that the sun will be diminished because of the brightness and glory of God. You may ask, will these things come to pass? I say, read the rest of the prophetic calendar, because Isaiah chapters 13 through 23 have almost all been fulfilled. God has made good on His word, and He will fulfill the prophecy made in Isaiah chapter 17 about the destruction of Damascus and Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39.

The invasion of Gog and Magog, along with Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya, will lead to the destruction that will happen upon the mountains of Israel, particularly in the Golan Heights. God will fulfill the prophecy mentioned in Isaiah chapter 24, and I believe that these events could soon come to pass at any time.

Why do I believe this? Turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 21. In verse 10, Jesus said unto His disciples, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven."

But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. It shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist.

You shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren, kinsfolk and friends. Some of you shall be caused to be put to death, and you shall be hated by all men for My name's sake. But there shall not one hair of your head perish. In your patience, possess your souls.

When you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that desolation is near. Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of it depart out. Let those who are in the countries enter there, for these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days, for there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. They shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations. Jerusalem shall be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. There shall be signs in the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity, and the sea and the waves roaring. Men's hearts will be failing for fear and for the looking after of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. The same thing is recorded in Matthew chapter 24. There, Jesus is asked about His return, His second coming, and the end of the world. He said, "Take heed that no man deceive you, for many shall come in My name saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they shall deceive many."

You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see that you be not troubled, for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. All of these things are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and kill you. You shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. Many will be offended, shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Many false prophets shall arise and deceive many. Because of iniquity, the love of many shall grow cold, but he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. Jesus gives us the sign of the end, the last days, the coming of the Lord. In verse 15, He says, "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, whoso reads, let him understand."

When you see that, He says, let them which be in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down or take anything out of the house. Neither let them which are in the field return back and take his clothes. Woe unto them that are with child or to them that give suck in those days! Pray that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath day.

For then shall be a great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be. Except those days should be shortened, the length of the period—not the physical day itself—but the length of the period should be shortened.

There should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. And then, if any man says unto you, "Lo, here is the Christ" or "There," believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, in so much that if it were possible, they would deceive even the very elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand.

Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, "Behold, he is in the desert," do not go forth; or "He is in the secret chambers," believe it not. For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. When He returns, every eye is going to see, like when the lightning lights up the night sky. For wheresoever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light. The stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn. They shall see the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven and with power and great glory. He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

He will come again. As I study through the prophetic passages of Scripture, whether it's in Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, or here in Matthew or in Luke, we see things that are coming to pass in our day, coming to pass before our eyes, setting this up for the time of the return of the King.

When the children of Israel became a nation once again in 1948, they began the prophetic calendar anew. For the abomination of desolation to take place in the temple, there has to be a temple. And the temple can only be in one place: Jerusalem. For there to be a temple unto the one true God in Jerusalem, there must be the people of that God in Jerusalem, the children of Israel.

Prior to 1948, they were not in the land of Israel. And prior to 1967, they did not have Jerusalem. Now, the United Nations, the European Union, and many others throughout the world are calling for them to give up Jerusalem. I say it will not happen. It will not come to pass, because the Lord's word will stand.

And God is true. Let every man be a liar. Amen? He will come again. When we see these things come to pass, Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Luke to look up, for our redemption draws near. He could come at any time.

For some here tonight, that might be a very scary thought. Perhaps when you hear of the coming of the Lord and His return, you feel a little fearful, thinking, "Uh-oh, what's that going to mean for me?" In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, Paul speaks about the coming of the Lord and says to comfort one another with these words. It is a comfort to those who are looking up because their redemption is drawing near. However, it is a fearful thing for those who have not found salvation in Jesus Christ, who have not come to the knowledge of the truth and put their faith in Him for redemption and salvation.

For someone in this room tonight, you might be saying, "This is a very fearful thing. I don't know that I want to see that day come to pass in my lifetime." I would say to you tonight, repent and turn to the Lord. Get ready, because He is going to come. There are many family members and friends of ours who, when we begin to share prophetic things, say, "Stop sharing that stuff with me. That stuff scares me. That stuff freaks me out." Good. Scare them a little bit more. Share with them what the Scriptures say, but also share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew chapter 24, verse 14, we read that this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then the end shall come. We have a commission from God to take the gospel of the kingdom into all the world until He comes and returns. Matthew chapter 25 goes on to tell us that we need to be those who are watching, waiting, and working—doing the work of the Lord until He returns as good stewards. When He returns, we want Him to find us doing what He called us to do.

So the question comes to you and to me tonight: Are we doing what the Lord called us to do? Are we preaching the gospel of the kingdom? You might say, "I have so many things to think about, so many things to worry about. I've got a job that's kind of on the line."

I don't know if I'm still going to have a job mid-year 2010. I've got to provide for my family. I've got to pay my mortgage. I've got to do this and that. All those things are good, and the Scripture says that if you don't provide for your family, you're worse than an infidel. However, we were given a commission from God to preach the gospel and to share the truth with those who are in darkness.

We are the children of light, as we began the service tonight in 1 Thessalonians 5. Let us be sober, but let us put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. Yes, God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be those who bring the light of the gospel to those who are in darkness.

As we prepare to finish 2009 and step into 2010, I want to end the year by giving you an exhortation to preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season; convince, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. There will come a time, Paul tells us in Timothy, when men will not endure sound doctrine. They will heap up for themselves teachers having itching ears, and we are seeing those things come to pass.

He says to the church, preach the word. They will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their lusts, they shall heap up for themselves teachers having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and be turned to fables. But you watch in all things, endure afflictions, and do the work of an evangelist.

Now, you may say, "Well, I'm not Billy Graham. I'm not Greg Laurie." Those guys are the exception, not the rule. An evangelist is merely one who gives forth the good news, the gospel. It doesn't mean that you need to stand before thousands or tens of thousands. It doesn't even mean that you need to stand before hundreds or fifties. It may just mean that you need to stand before your neighbor and share the good news.

They shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned to fables. Watch, therefore, in all things, endure afflictions, and do the work of an evangelist. Make full proof of your ministry. I don't know about you.

But when the Lord returns—and He very possibly could return in our lifetime—I want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And if He doesn't return for the whole church corporately in our lifetime, He is coming for you individually one day. Me too. Ten out of ten people die. It's an incredible statistic. He's coming. Amen?

Let's stand and pray. Amen.

Lord, perhaps a half dozen times in the prophetic passage, we read of a caution that You give to us, Your people. A caution when we hear people saying, "Peace, peace." Because, Lord, we know that there is no peace until the Prince of Peace comes.

We read in the Psalms, in Psalm 122, that we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and tonight we do pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It is the desire of this fallen world that there would be peace, but, Lord, it is the desire of the church as well that there would be peace in Jerusalem.

We may not be saying the same things when we pray for that because, Lord, when I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I am praying that You would come and that You would stand upon the Mount of Olives, as we read in Zechariah chapter 14, and that You would establish peace in the world.

So, Lord, we pray, Prince of Peace, come quickly. We ask that You would bring peace to Jerusalem.

And, Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters here tonight that You would stir our hearts to look up because our redemption draws nigh. But, Lord, may we also reach out with the gospel of truth.

If there is anyone in this room tonight who is fearful about Your return, I ask, Lord, that You would stir their heart to cry out to You right now. Lord, to repent. If you are in that position tonight, do not leave this place without coming and talking with me or with one of the other pastors, or even just with the person that you came with tonight or someone standing in the row next to you. Because the King of Kings...

And Lord of Lords, He will come again. He will fulfill His word. Lord, we thank You that You are faithful and that You accomplish Your word. Keep that fresh in our minds as we step into 2010.

Lord, I pray that 2010 would be a bountiful year for the Kingdom of God here in Escondido and throughout the world. May we see the increase of Your government and peace, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.