Sermon for the Sullivan SDA Church

October 16, 2004

Last Day Delusions I

Ephesians 4:11-16

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

our mission - our sense of what God has called us to do

Under God’s guidance, we meet people where they are, and lead them to experience a growing relationship in Christ with us.

our vision - what our church will look like when we are accomplishing our mission

To be a growing church that transforms our community, models singular devotion to Christ, and is prepared for His coming.

our core values - principles that define how we do ministry together as we pursue our mission

1 Empowering Leadership - Many people are leaders and don’t even know it; we lead in a variety of ways. (e.g. parent/child, father/family, teacher/student, Christian/unbeliever) Leadership is influencing people toward something better in their lives. Not that we are better, but we participate with God in directing them to the happiest life possible with Him. We “empower” leaders by apprenticing new leaders. We guide and equip them so that together we multiply our influence for good and accomplish God’s mission.

Ephesians 4:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:2; RH 8/24/86; 11/6/88; 9T 82

2 Gift-Oriented Ministry - We serve the Lord in our areas of giftedness through appropriate ministries so the Body of Christ “grows and builds itself up in love.”

Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1,4-6; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Peter 4:10; Letter 19, 1901; 8T 186,7

3 Passionate Spirituality - We believe continual spiritual growth should be normal for all Christians. Hence, we encourage Christians of all walks and religious persuasions to become more devoted to Christ by taking delight in the spiritual life. This includes daily renewal through the personal disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and obedience.

Psalm 119:148; Mark 12:30; Romans 6:22; 13:11; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15

4 Functional Structures - Our church’s ministries, systems, programs and policies work optimally through well-defined objectives which are regularly evaluated to ensure functionality and excellence.

Exodus 18:14-22; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16

5 Inspiring Worship - We gather for worship first and foremost for our heavenly Father. We worship Him in spirit and truth because of His beautiful holiness, creative power and loving kindness. The blending of spirit and truth reveals our commitment to authentic expressions of praise and adoration that are biblical, decent and orderly.

Psalm 29:2; 96:6,9; 99:5,9; 138:2; John 4:23; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Revelation 4:11; 5:9,10; 14:7

6 Holistic Small Groups - We desire everyone to be involved in a small group that ministers to their spiritual, mental, physical, and social needs. Since leadership is vital to this ministry, we equip them through regular training, encourage them through monthly briefings, and evaluate them through annual reviews. While these discipleship groups vary, they are primarily focused on life transformation and evangelism.

Matthew 18:20; Acts 2:46-47; Philemon 2; RH 5/30/71; 9/29/91; 7T 21-22, 195

7 Need-Oriented Evangelism - People are at the heart of our existence as a church. We authentically and intentionally cultivate friendships with pre-Christians to lead them to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. We use Jesus’ own method of mingling with people desiring their good, showing sympathy, ministering to them, winning their confidence, and inviting them to follow Him.

Matthew 25:34-40; 28:29,20; Luke 19:10; Revelation 14:6; MH 143

8 Loving Relationships - People matter - they’re the only thing going to heaven. We are known for our love for all people without regard to gender, race, social or economic status. We accept people as they are and desire for them the happiest, highest and holiest life possible with God. We hold special regard for those who are destitute, without loved ones, and in need of our sympathy.

I Ideas – What’s the Idea? 1

Is that a good Idea? 2

Who thought of that? 3

II The Idea of Astrology

A. Your life is determined by the positions of the planets among the stars.

III The idea of Prophecy 1 2 3

IV Hermeneutic Principle.

A. Context

Amos 3:7

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. [1]

V Under God’s guidance, we meet people where they are, and lead them to experience a growing relationship in Christ with us.

VI Dispensational Prophetic View

1. Generally believed by Conservative Protestant Christians.

2. Popularized by a continuing sequels of the “Left Behind” books

3. Popularized by a number of “Left Behind” movies.

B. All true Christians will soon vanish in the rapture.

C. Seven years of apocalyptic terror will overtake those left behind.

D. One sinister man – the antichrist will take over the world.

E. The antichrist will enter a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, claming to be God.

F. The nations of earth will attack Israel at Armageddon.

VII The Secret (silent) Rapture:

A. The most quoted text

17 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.[2] 1 Thessalonians 4:17

B. The entire Text:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 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.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Matthew 24:30-31 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. [3]

C. Thief in the night

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 [4]

D. The entire Text:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.[5]

E. One Taken one “Left Behind”

Matthew 24:41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. [6]

F. The Entire Text

Matthew 24:35-44

35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.38 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,39 “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.40 “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.44 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [7]

VIII Antichrist -- One sinister man – the antichrist will take over the world. The Evil Dude

A. The Texts

1 John 2:18-26

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. [9]

1 John 4:1-6

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

[10]

2 John 7-10

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; [11]

B. Not of the Flesh?

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.[12]

Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,[13]

C. The Immaculate Conception

1. This is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the firs moment of her conception, by a singular grace privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.

2. When Christ was born, He took Mary’s perfect nature, and not our nature.

IX Common Ideas:

1. All true Christians will soon vanish in the rapture.

2. Seven years of apocalyptic terror will overtake those left behind.

3. One sinister man – the antichrist will take over the world.

4. The antichrist will enter a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, claming to be God.

5. The nations of earth will attack Israel at Armageddon.

2 Timothy 2:15-17 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: [14]

2 Timothy 2:14-17 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.17 And their message will spread like cancer. [15]

[1]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[2]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[3]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[4]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[5]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[6]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[7]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[8]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[9]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[10]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[11]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[12]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[13]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[14]The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

[15]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.