Who Is Worthy?

Mike Sullivan
Revelation 5:1-13

The fourth and fifth chapters of Revelation focus on a period of history when God judges sinful humanity. These chapters address the question of who is worthy to judge the whole world. Only a perfectly sinless being could stand in judgment of another being. God is holy and perfect; he has never sinned. He is qualified to judge. \r\nA morally perfect God must judge sin. His perfect justice does not allow sin to go unpunished. So, he sent his perfect, sinless Son to pay the penalty we all deserve.

What Is Wrong with the World

Ben Foust
2 Timothy 3:1-15

Paul charges Timothy to confront false teachings in the church. Paul tells him the false teachers are on a path divergent from Timothy's path. The false teachers' path is based on lies and will not lead to fulfilling God's purpose, but Timothy is on a true and better path that, though it includes suffering and persecution, will accomplish God's purpose. \r\nPaul calls Timothy to do three things: To realize, to avoid and to continue. \r\nTimothy must realize the trajectory of the world. Because people are fallen and have rejected God, the world will only go from bad to worse. The world is full of people who are lovers of self rather than God. \r\nTimothy must avoid the influence of the way of the world. Do not be captivated by the worldly allure of living for self. It is a powerful current that must be resisted. \r\nInstead, continue in the better way, the way Timothy had been taught since youth, the way of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the antidote to the life built on self.

Jesus and the Future

Mike Sullivan
Revelation 1:1-18

In Revelation, John the Apostle relays a message about the future that he received by direct revelation from Jesus. It is a message to the suffering first century churches in what is modern day Turkey. The question is what did the message mean to John's original readers? They recognized that John used Old Testament imagery and symbols throughout his letter. They would have known the lamb imagery was referring to the suffering savior and the glowing description of Jesus implied a sovereign king. Where the Old Testament does not identify the imagery, John explicitly reveals it.

Are You Ready?

Chris Hearty
Mark 13:28-37

Jesus moves from prophecy of the end to the practical implications for us. Together we will consider how we should live in light of the end.

The Return of Christ

Chris Hearty
Mark 13:24-37

In this passage Jesus describes his second coming. He gives us a well-rounded understanding of this incredible future event.

Signs of the End

Chris Hearty
Mark 13:1-23

Chapter 13 is devoted to one of the final teachings Jesus gave his disciples. He answers the question, "what will be the signs of the end of the age?"

The Day of the Lord

Mike Sullivan
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Paul continues his discussion of what will happen at the end of history. He describes "the Day of the Lord," when Christ will return to judge and eradicate evil. Though the Bible makes clear no one can know when that time will come, we can prepare for it by receiving Jesus' salvation and being watchfully alert and sober.

The Waking Dead

Scott Risley
Daniel 12:1-13

What will the end of the world look like and what comes afterward? Daniel describes this seven-year period. We'll see the Antichrist's role where things turn from peace into war; the final world war, which will last until Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist. In Matthew 24, Jesus quotes from Daniel, describing the Abomination of Desolation and the Great Tribulation. The world will be wracked by anguish, but everyone whose name is "written in the book" will be saved. At the end of time, everyone will be brought back from the dead; some will be awakened to everlasting life and some to "shame and everlasting contempt."

Exploring Eternity

James Rochford
Daniel 12:1-13

Daniel's final chapter speaks both of "everlasting life" and "shame and everlasting contempt." Several reasons are presented about why we can be confident in an afterlife. Popular misconceptions of Hell and God's judgment are clarified.