 Most Christians aren't prepared for the last days because they think it ends in defeat for the church Now we may not say that out loud But much of what we've been taught has postured us to believe that ultimately everything for us ends in defeat Again, we don't say that exactly but that's what's implied. I'm weary of the fear mongering. I'm weary of the doomsday sayings Yes tribulations will come. Yes, we will face trials. Yes darkness covers the earth and yes light ultimately Overcomes darkness, but we have to understand that even in the midst of this battle that Jesus is Lord No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit those who are spirit-filled know and understand that Jesus reigns Dominion power and authority have been given unto him So I want to take this time to challenge you and to encourage you and I pray that after you hear this word That apathy is broken from off of you fear is broken from off of you I'm so tired of messages that teach us to just throw our hands in the air and say well There's nothing that we can do that Inspires apathy and that's exactly what the enemy wants. So I want you to write in the comment section right now Jesus is Lord make that a public declaration even if in your heart you've been struggling with fear concerning the times in which we're living I want you to write that in the comment section. Jesus is Lord We have to get away From demonically inspired doctrines of defeat We have this idea in our minds that when the Lord returns that the church will be huddled into some dark corner Begging for him to come and bail us out. Well, that's not victory. That's retreat. That's not moving forward That's moving backwards and the reason that we picture it this way is because we lack Understanding regarding the kingdom of God and the authority that has been given to Christ now. Let me be very clear Yes, tribulation is coming Whether you're pre-mid or post tribulation in terms of your belief on the rapture doesn't matter tribulation is coming We can all agree that tribulations come and of course we are looking forward to the second coming of Christ We as the church agree that we are looking forward to the second coming of Christ We are looking forward to the rapture of the church. I am very much looking forward to his return But we must understand that while we are placed here upon this earth that we've been given a task not fear and retreat But advancement and victory Jesus told us that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church So again, yes, we're looking forward to the Lord's return. Yes, we're looking forward to the rapture of the church Yes, trials and tribulations will come Keep going Be filled with peace be filled with boldness the gospel doesn't lose its power the commission will not fail Jesus is victorious now perhaps you're someone in the Younger demographic of this audience and you hear teachings that just fill you with discouragement And maybe you wonder why did God even place me on the earth if I'm not gonna fulfill the call that he showed me? Or should I not even get married? Should I not even have kids? Should I not even work to affect the next generation and this is precisely what the enemy wants? He wants us to think Short-term so that we're not investing in the next generation now I want to be very careful about the way I say this because I don't mean to say that Jesus can't come in any moment Of course he can come before I finish this sentence And I was kind of hoping he did right then and there but you get what I'm saying So it's it's prepared to go and prepared to stay we are to take dominion while we are waiting for his coming And we don't just pull back on the throttle because we anticipate that he'll be coming today or tomorrow Because the reality is that when he returns he should find us faithful and working and advancing the kingdom So yes still think generationally Even though we believe these are the last days think generationally because I think it's really arrogant to say It can't possibly get any worse. I also think it's arrogant to say it can't possibly get any better We don't know the timing of his return. We just don't know now We're given signs for the season But who knows according to heaven's records how long that season exactly will be So we must take a balanced approach to this not huddling in the corner in defeat and fear Throwing up our hands and saying lord get us out of here and not being apathetic and saying Oh, we have plenty of time both of those perspectives are ungodly both of those perspectives cause you to neglect the task at hand So we are to be working. We are to be thinking generationally We are to be thinking in terms of dominion power authority and victory and may he find us faithful when he returns So again Yes, he can return at any moment, but that doesn't mean we take our hand off the throttle We pull back. We retreat. We must continue to advance. So if you're in the younger demographic of this audience I want you to make sure that you are investing in the future for the kingdom of god Don't surrender potential future generations to the enemy. Don't fall for what I call eschatological nihilism And this nothing matters because we're in the last day's mentality That is not at all what the scripture is meaning to inspire. So why aren't most prepared? Why aren't most christians ready because they think like victims? I'll just put it to you bluntly Why aren't most christians ready for the last days because they think like victims because they're filled with fear because they're hyper paranoid Because they're fretting and wringing their hands going. Oh, no, what's going to happen? How are we going to overcome this? Did you forget who is lord? Did you forget who sits upon the throne? I'm here to remind you this evening of who is in charge. So How should we prepare? We're going to cover that in just a moment But first I want to really help to lay this foundation and establish this thought So that peace and joy and boldness might flood your heart philippians 2 9 through 11. Here's what the scripture says Therefore god elevated him to the place of highest honor And gave him the name above all other names that at the name of jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth And under the earth and by the way If every knee is bowing on earth That means we're not yet in eternity So every knee will bow in heaven and on earth So there's still activity in the earth continuing and under the earth And every tongue declare that jesus christ is lord to the glory of god the father So here the scripture is describing that jesus has dominion power and authority in heaven and on earth acts 2 32 and 33 God raised jesus from the dead and we are all witnesses of this now not then Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven at god's right hand And the father as he had promised gave him the holy spirit to pour out upon us Just as you see and hear today. How did he achieve this victory? Colossians 2 14 and 15 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. I love this verse. I'm going to read that again. Listen to this In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities as past tense by the way He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross So in his death and resurrection, he publicly shamed the powers of darkness now This of course does not mean that we shouldn't be engaged in spiritual warfare What this means is that the enemy doesn't fight from a place of victory The enemy fights from the desperate position of defeat. In other words, he's clamoring To hang on to whatever he can knowing that he has been defeated decimated put to shame publicly by the power of the cross and the resurrection of our lord jesus revelation Shows us something interesting. Watch this now Revelation chapter 5 i'm going to read verses 4 through 6 Listen very carefully to what's revealed here Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it But one of the 24 elders said to me Stop weeping Look The lion of the tribe of juda the heir to david's throne has won the victory He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals Verse 6 this is peculiar watch this now verse 5 says That he's told to look at the lion so commanded look at the lion And then verse 6 shows us then I saw a lamb That looked as if it had been slaughtered But it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the 24 elders He had seven horns and seven eyes Which represent the sevenfold spirit of god that is sent out into every part of the earth so Look at the lion and when he turns to look at the lion. He sees the lamb. So here we see this prophetic parallel Jesus became or always was the ruler always wasn't authority, but in terms of The legalities and the the the timeline in which god was working in the earth jesus becomes the conquering lion Through being the slaughtered lamb So through his death that he put to shame the powers of darkness So through christ the kingdom of god was established matthew chapter 12 verses 27 to 29 And if i am empowered by satan, what about your own exorcists they cast out demons too So they will condemn you for what you have said But if i am casting out demons by the spirit of god watch this now But if i am casting out demons by the spirit of god Then the kingdom of god has arrived among you For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods Only someone even stronger someone who could time up and then plunder his goods So here we see that jesus is describing the kingdom that has come and that was demonstrated through his acts of exorcism So he says look if i'm driving out demonic powers by the power of the holy spirit And this is a demonstration to you that the kingdom of god is here at work among you And notice that he refers to himself as the stronger man who binds ties up the enemy He has bound satan now. I don't mean that satan can't do anything Here when jesus talks about the binding of satan He is talking about it in a general sense or I should say a specific sense in this sense that The enemy can no longer prevent the gospel from going to the ends of the earth He no longer has the power to deceive the nations as a whole now He can still work through disobedience. He can still work in the hearts of those who refuse the gospel But again, he's grasping at straws the enemy is clamoring to hang on to what little he can So yes, the enemy of course finds his dominion in the disobedience of men and women But general but specifically speaking as it pertains to the gospel and the advancement of that message He has been bound and now the work of the gospel has begun So again satan still works in the general sense. He still deceives. He still tempts. He still torments. He still attacks He still is very much involved with even some of the power structures that have control over various parts of society today So there's still work to be done But when you look at the position from which we are fighting We are not we are not the ones desperately trying to hang on to dominion power and authority That's been secured in christ It's the enemy who's working through the disobedience of wicked men and women Who is trying to desperately cling to what little he has left and the gospel can now move forward Jesus the stronger man has tied up the strong man And now the gospel has power to transform nations But there's still work to do because the kingdom of god expands The kingdom of god begins small and grows and grows It's an ever-expanding kingdom here upon the earth. Matthew chapter 6 verses 9 through 10 says this pray like this Our father in heaven may your name be kept holy May your kingdom come soon may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven So jesus instructs us to pray this way Precisely because it causes an effect in the earth You and i as ambassadors of heaven are to pray that the kingdom of god be established There is still work to be done. Matthew chapter 13 verses 31 through 33 say this here is another illustration jesus used The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field It is the smallest of all seeds But it becomes the largest Of garden plants it grows into a tree And birds come and make nest in its branches So here jesus says the kingdom of god is like that small seed But then it becomes the largest tree it doesn't stay small It starts in one place and then expands. It is an ever-expanding kingdom verse 33 jesus also used this illustration The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour It permeated every part of the dough So again, we see another example of the kingdom of god the kingdom of heaven Being described as beginning small and then becoming an ever expanding influence And so we understand that the kingdom of god is within us the kingdom of god Is in the heavenly realm where jesus is seated on the throne the kingdom of god is being established here in the earth But if you're talking about the legal position Jesus is lord of all and we as his servants work to bring about his kingdom here So christ reigns now and the kingdom is ever expanding now. How long does this last? We'll look at psalm chapter 110 verses 1 and 2 The lord said to my lord sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies Making them a footstool under your feet. So Sit at my right hand until your enemies are a footstool The lord will extend your powerful kingdom. Watch this now from jerusalem You will rule over your enemies. So the kingdom of god began Right there the center Jerusalem and then was ever expanding we'll compare that to acts chapter 1 verse 8 But you shall receive power after that the holy spirit has come upon you and you should be my witnesses Where does it begin in jerusalem and where does it go all around the world? So there again we see that ever expanding kingdom psalm 2 79 the king proclaims the lord's decree the lord said to me You are my son today. I've become your father only ask And I will give you the nations as your inheritance The whole earth is your possession You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots So here we see that the kingdom of god is is the nations that the nations become his inheritance First Corinthians 15 24 through 26 makes it very pointed here After that the end will come When he will turn the kingdom over to god the father Having destroyed every ruler and authority and power for watch this. This is so key verse 25 for Christ must reign until when until he humbles his enemies beneath his feet And the last enemy to be destroyed is death So here we see that the rain continues until he puts all enemies under his feet now Just so that I don't cause any confusion. We of course are still looking forward to a new heaven to a new earth to this To this reigning with christ in a more literal sense here. We're talking about spiritual dynamics I don't mean that christ doesn't rule literally But I think we understand that there's different realities that the scripture describes when it comes to the reign of christ So jesus is lord He has dominion power and authority and because of that we are given the keys to expand his kingdom here upon the earth And while we're doing this, we of course look forward to The new heavens the new earth reigning alongside him where we can touch him and see him and hold him And that's of course something that we as the body of christ look forward to with great joy But again, we occupy until he returns so he continues to reign over all And he will put all enemies under his feet. That's how it ends His kingdom is eternal and he is already upon the throne daniel 7 13 through 14 As my vision continued that night. I saw someone like a son of man Coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the ancient one and was led into his presence He was given authority Honor and sovereignty over all the nations of the world so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him Watch this now. His rule is eternal. It will never end His kingdom will never be destroyed. So we've got work to do We do that work with the confidence knowing that this kingdom cannot be destroyed. Watch this matthew 28 18 through 20 Jesus came and told his disciples. I Had been given all authority in heaven and on earth Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations Baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands. I have given you and be sure of this I am with you always even to the end of the age Let's look here At the fact that jesus very plainly tells us I have been given all authority In heaven and where on earth that's what jesus said and so it's like he's saying I reign over heaven and earth So I give you the authority to go and make disciples So this of course begs the question. What doesn't satan rule this world? Isn't he the prince of the power of the air? Well, let's look at one of the key scriptures here second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 4 Satan who is the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don't believe They are unable to see the glorious light of the good news They don't understand this message about the glory of christ who is the exact likeness of god So here, of course, we see as I said a moment ago that satan can still deceive those who refuse to believe the gospel But this doesn't mean that he can stop the gospel from spreading to the nations of the world This is describing a sub domain. So satan has rulership and authority In wherever there is disobedience. So where disobedience is at work? That's where satan has authority Why because men surrenders that to him man surrenders that dominion to him But if we're talking about the overall dominion the overall power the highest authority Then of course, we understand that this is still belonging to christ. So This of course begs another question. Doesn't the bible teach that things will get worse? Yeah, absolutely Tribulation trials chaos We're talking about systems of antichrist. We're talking about Power structures that turn on the church persecution a great deception. I mean, it's very obvious the bible is plain on that Yes, of course things will get worse But here's what I want to talk about. I'm gonna I'm gonna actually cover some of those key scriptures there in a moment But we have to understand that things come in seasons and cycles Now as you study the history of the church the history of the world really You'll notice that there are kingdoms and powers that come into come into being they Gain great power. They they they begin to form and they attack the church. They attack the people of god They they they attack christ again through attacking his people. So these systems do form but ultimately The church always overcomes ultimately Babylon falls and the gospel goes forward and we inch closer and closer to dominion power and authority now Even though history has these various cycles One of those cycles will be the final one. We understand this There will be a time when christ returns and says that's it time is coming to an end He's given people plenty of time to repent. There's a final judgment a resurrection of the dead a rapture of the church We get that But but again also recognize that this comes cyclically That powers rise and powers fall powers rise and powers fall and at some point We will find and be upon the last cycle But persecution and trials that doesn't mean that we don't have victory. In fact, it is in our suffering That we find victory. Let's go here to a key scripture 2 Timothy 3 1 through 9 So of course, we can't deny that tribulation comes. We can't deny that things get really really bad That's that would be naive to deny that that happens But we have to put that in its proper context Lest we become dismayed and discouraged in fear field And lest we become apathetic toward the great commission thinking that the gospel somehow lost its power A second Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 through 9. You should know this timothy By the way, he's talking to timothy. It's something timothy should know that's very key that in the last days There will be very difficult times for people will love only themselves and their money They will be boastful and proud scoffing at god disobedient to their parents and ungrateful They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving They will slander others and have no self control. They will be cruel and hate what is good They will betray their friends be reckless be puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than god They will act religious, but they will reject the power that can make them godly stay Away from people like that. So here the bible clearly is telling us This intensification of wickedness this increase of sin Verse six, they are the kind who work their way into people's homes And win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires Such women are forever following new teachings But they are never able to understand the truth These teachers oppose the truth just as janice and jamborees opposed moses They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. Okay, so we've heard this before. Yes There's an intensification of wickedness. Yes, there's an increase of sin. Yes in the last days Darkness in the hearts of men and women will permeate but look at verse nine This is something that we always skip and I don't understand why verse nine But they won't get away with this for long I mean, it's right there, but they won't get away with this for long someday Everyone will recognize what fools they are and again just as with janice and jamborees. I think I I I think I when I when I read this verse I think part of me Can how do I want to word this? We have to remember That the seeds of the gospel That are sown They do bear fruit And though the powers of darkness come against the church Though wickedness increases those sin increases We have to remember that those seeds still have power And when I look at this, I think sometimes the church can become so discouraged If they don't have the proper perspective on what's being described here Yes, this yes, it's absolutely true Tribulation trials, but we get stuck on that. Don't we and that's what I wanted to be careful about saying I didn't want I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing the body of christ That's why you heard me hesitate a moment ago. I don't want to come across as just some Know-it-all who's bashing the bride of christ saying you got it all wrong I want to encourage you and challenge you because this this holds so many back from really Going all in for the great commission going all in with kingdom expansion Because we kind of get this added to where we just go. Well, it is what it is. There's nothing we can do I mean think about it when you talk about winning souls, people say well, there's only so much you can do Oh, well, don't even try some well, you know, they're not going to really receive it I mean my goodness Isn't he willing that none should perish now? Of course, there'll be some who perish Because in order to be saved you have to receive christ as lord. He's the only way you have to turn from your sin That's a narrow road But to just throw up our hands and say there's nothing we can do look at what the bible's describing And we just gloss over for some reason. I don't even know why Verses like this is verse nine, but they won't get away with this for long Yeah, the systems of the world will gain power, but they always fall Babylon always falls the beast always falls And these seeds that we're sowing we have to remember they will grow So evil systems of today. Yeah, they're going to gain power But they won't hold it for long Matthew 24 4 through 14 is another portion of scripture that describes this intensification Jesus told them don't let anyone mislead you for many will come in my name claiming. I am the messiah They will deceive many and you will hear wars You will hear of wars and rumors of wars threats of wars, but don't panic Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately Nation will go to war against nation and kingdom against kingdom There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world, but all this Is only the first of the birth pains with more to come Then you will be arrested persecuted and killed you will be hated all over the world because you are my followers And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many sin will be rampant everywhere. I mean it's right there Sin will be rampant anywhere and the love of many will grow cold He but the one who endures to the end will be saved watch this now And the good news about the kingdom will be preached throughout the world so that all nations will hear it And then the end will come So Jesus tells us not to worry Yeah, these things will happen, but the end is not yet. He says the end is not yet For this gospel shall be preached to the ends of the earth and then the end will come So again, we have to approach this with the balance not eschatological nihilism And not this uh to where we're just you know, well everything's gonna go And fall into darkness so there's nothing we can do and not this naivety either where we're saying well everything's always gonna be Perfect. I mean both of those are just not biblical views Yes, things will get worse that comes in cycles and seasons But ultimately the gospel spreads. So suffering hear this now, please and I want you to write this in the comments So you get it in your mind memorize this Suffering is not how we lose It's how we overcome Suffering is not how we lose. It's how we overcome the lion and the lamb He overcame how because he became the slain lamb How did he overcome through the work of the cross and the power of his resurrection? They overcame by the blood of the lamb And the word of their testimony the testimony of what well, they had given their lives to they love not their lives unto death So those seeds that are sown Are sown with the blood of the martyrs You don't think god will cause those seeds to be reaped. I mean look at the church for the past 2000 years There were always seasons of suffering Look at the places where saints have suffered in generations past and then you can see How the seeds that they have sown affect future generations So we have to be hopeful not naive but hopeful Again, this is a balance. Here's something I wrote helped me to resolve this in my mind and I think it could help you I'm not saying that the song of the last days doesn't have low notes I'm saying the malady Resolves on a high note. I want to say that again I'm not saying that the song of the last days doesn't have low notes I'm saying that the malady resolves on a high note Revival not retreat Victory not defeat will be the posture of the church in the last days. So how do we prepare? So again, oh, let me just recap and then I'll tell you how to prepare for these last days Who reigns christ? Where does he reign heaven and on earth? Does the enemy still reign? He has sub dominion working through the disobedience of those who refuse to believe the gospel And then we looked at this question of well, doesn't the bible teach that everything gets worse? Yes, and that comes in cycles babel on rises babel on falls babel on rises babel on falls And someday we're going to reach the last cycle personally. I believe this is probably the last cycle But it would be arrogant of me to say it can't get worse and it's arrogant of me to say it can't get better We simply look at the signs look with hopefulness and say lord. We're ready for you We're ready to go but also prepared to stay. We're ready to be raptured. We're ready for your second coming But while we wait, we're going to be about our father's business not hiding in a corner saying it's all over and we're doomed And there's nothing we can do that says not what the scripture meant to inspire So how do you prepare number one think and live soberly? You need to know that christ can return at any moment again Going back to that point. I made just a few moments ago that it's arrogance to say it can't get any worse than this It's arrogance to say it can't get any better than this now. We have to be careful Because in the last days scoffers will come Mockers will come and we don't want to be like that either But it's also important to think soberly about it. I mean almost every generation thought this is it The second coming of the lord is going to be now Now i'm not saying that that's definitely going to be us that we're going to be just like them that We're going to be saying it and he's not going to come so don't hear what i'm not saying Personally, I believe this is it. I believe this is the last cycle But I could be wrong and because of that I say, okay, I'm looking at the signs. I think he's returning soon But that doesn't mean I'm just going to stop doing the work just in case I'm wrong Maybe it does get even maybe in another 10 years from now. We're going to be looking at it going Okay, now it's really really bad and it's much worse than it was a decade ago But who knows so we are prepared to go and ready to stay Looking to his coming, but also being about kingdom work So think and live soberly think and live soberly acts chapter 1 verses 9 through 11 After saying this he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching and they could no longer see him As they strained to see him rising into heaven two white road men suddenly stood among them men of galley They said why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go So very clearly here the scriptures telling us that in the same way that Jesus ascended In physical form where we could see him with our visible eyes that one day he will descend That is the second coming of the lord and we look forward to that day And anyone who teaches you that he already came back in physical form and that there's no second coming That's heresy. You need to stop listening to that again. We got to balance this That's heresy to say we are not looking forward to that second coming. He will come He will establish a new heaven and new earth. That's bible guys. So we look forward to that So we have to think and live soberly. He can return at any minute and and by the way Again, I want to emphasize that he will return just as he ascended. It'll be a physical visible return of the lord Now off on a tangent here. This is just something to help arm you when you're doing your study On these things sometimes when the scripture describes the coming of the lord It's talking about judgment in general and other times when it's talking about the coming of the lord It's talking about this the return where he physically returns to this earth Now in order to know which is which you simply study the context and look for context clues Now look at second peter Chapter three versus one through thirteen This is my second letter to you, dear friends And in both of them in both of them, I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory I want you to remember what the holy prophet said long ago And what our lord and savior commanded through your apostles most importantly I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come Mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say What happened to the promise that jesus is coming again from before the times of our ancestors? Everything has remained the same since the world was first created They deliberately forget that god made the heavens long ago by the word of his command And he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water Verse six then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with the mighty flood And by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire They are being kept for the day of judgment when ungodly people will be destroyed For you must not forget this one thing, dear friends A day is like a thousand years to the lord and a thousand years is like a day And this by the way is why I say we we have to Tether our confidence in our own our own abilities and our own perception Because god doesn't look at time the same way we do. So if we start seeing the signs now Naturally, if you're like me, you're looking at today and saying this is it I mean, I would not be surprised me personally if three months from now a week from now if 30 seconds from now The lord returns that's my posture. That's my perspective but again In case I might be wrong I have to still think generationally because we don't know And maybe the signs begin now. We're saying, okay, we're in the last days. Well last day Day is like a thousand years to the lord or a thousand years is like a day to him So the timing is just not quite what we think it is. And so we have to be humble in our approach So not so overconfident that we have tomorrow that we're not sober-minded But not so sure that he's coming today that we're not doing anything for the kingdom of god balance We simply don't know we can look at the signs Know the season But be ready for anything the lord isn't really being slow. I love this verse nine The lord isn't really being slow about his promise as some people think no He is being patient for your sake. I love that He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent But the day of the lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief Then the heavens will pass away with the terrible noise and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire And the earth and everything in it will be found deserving of judgment Now, obviously this has not happened yet. So anyone who tells you he's already come Just needs to read this portion of scripture since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this What holy and godly lives you should live Looking forward to the day of god and hurrying it along On that day, he will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames But we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth He has promised a world filled with gods righteousness So again, this can happen at any moment and we have to think and live right stay close to him Stay close to him Now something interesting that that I've observed at least in the in the in the christian community at large Is we have our debates about eschatology, don't we? And I think a lot of it stems from ego To where we just want to assert our view and make sure everyone else knows they're wrong and we're right I'll give you an example this idea of pre-mid and post-tribulation people argue. Well, maybe The rapture happens before maybe the rapture happens in the middle. Maybe the rapture happens after And I've heard arguments from all sides. I think that there's a legitimate biblical framework to each position Obviously, somebody's right. Somebody's wrong. Uh, but that's debated hotly debated among the christian community But why should that inform the way that we live? Really think about this if you believe the rapture happens before the tribulation You ought to live holy and win souls If you believe the rapture happens in the middle of a tribulation You ought to live holy and win souls If you believe the rapture happens after a tribulation You ought to live holy and win souls. So In terms of the application of what we think is going to happen How does that have any bearing whatsoever on our everyday lives? All believers have the responsibility to think and live soberly All believers have the responsibility to live holy to win souls to cling to jesus in times of tribulation And so in so doing We cause ourselves to be prepared no matter what is coming And so no matter when you think he's returning we all we all need to live the same way No matter when you think he's returning we all need to live the same way. So stop arguing Who cares? Who cares about who's wrong? Who's right? Obviously we ought to study to show ourselves approved. Obviously these are important doctrines But to debate over them and to fight each other and to argue and to allow ego and pride to cause us to turn against one another Well, you believe it happens after you believe it happens in the middle You're all false teachers and heretics like why why is that? something that we're arguing over so angrily We ought to be sober minded live holy and win souls no matter what we believe in terms of the rapture So that's something we have to get right as the body of christ being prepared is different than being scared There are christians who'll get mad at you if you're not scared And there are christians who'll get mad at you if you tell other believers not to be scared because they live in fear They don't understand the power of the holy spirit. They don't understand the power of the kingdom of god They don't understand the spiritual dynamics at work in the world They don't understand the cycles of tribulations And they look at everything through the lens of fear and if you're not afraid in their minds You're not prepared Well, whoever said we have to be scared to be prepared. You don't have to be scared Why because you recognize that ultimately christ is lord. Let me read another portion of scripture to you If this is encouraging you and challenging you let me know in the comments and tell me what specifically is challenging you First Thessalonians 4 15th to 18 says this we tell you this directly from the lord We who are still living when the lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died or who are asleep Some versions say for the lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout With the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god First the believers who have died will rise from their graves Then together with them. We who are still alive will and we who are still alive and remain on the earth Will be caught up in the clouds to meet the lord in the air Then we will be with the lord forever So encourage each other with these words. So this is the promise of the resurrection This is the promise of the rapture. This is the promise of the second coming This is the promise of the new heavens and the new earth and and even new bodies To where we're one with him being with him forever that Is a joyous occasion That's not a reason to fret or to worry. We look forward to this. So think soberly recognizing That he can return at any minute number two Think victoriously stop acting like god doesn't ultimately win again tribulations will come of course That's true in every season But we're still going to see a victory much and in romans chapter 8 verses 31 to 37. I want to read this to you Really let this settle in your spirit romans 8 31 to 37 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If god is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own son but gave him up for us all Won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom god has chosen for his own no one for god himself has given us right standing with himself Who then will condemn us no one for christ jesus died for us and was raised to life for us And he is sitting in the place of honor at god's right hand pleading for us Can anything ever separate us from christ love? Now this is a key question here Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity or are persecuted or hungry or destitute or in danger? Or threatened with death as the scriptures say for your sake. We are killed every day We are being slaughtered like sheep. No despite all these things Overwhelming victory is ours through christ who loved us now looking at verse 36 and 37 Some people might see a contradiction They might look at the The the slaughtering of sheep and say well, that's what we are. We're we're slaughtered like sheep Well, that means we lose well. No, what is verse 37 say? No despite all these things Overwhelming victory is ours through christ who loved us so in times of tribulation Yes, there is persecution But the seeds of persecution become a harvest of souls Let me say that again because you need to get that in your spirit write that in the comments actually The seeds of persecution become a harvest of souls So when you look at persecution when you look at a tribulation Don't look at that and say well, this is it for the church We're not going to succeed. Oh the enemy is going to win big time No, look at that as a setup against the enemy for those seeds are being sown That blood is being spilled on the ground the blood of the martyrs Is what's planted in the ground that ultimately results in a harvest Now Psalm 2 1 through 6, why are the nations so angry? You see the systems of the world will plot the systems of the world will plan the systems of the world will build themselves up But Babylon always falls. Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The king of the earth the kings of the earth prepare for battle The rulers plot together against the lord and against his anointed one Let us break their chains. They cry and free ourselves from slavery to god Verse four, but the one who rules in heaven laughs. I love that The lord scoff set them then in anger. He rebukes them terrifying them with his fierce fury The lord laughs at the plans of the nations See We fret don't we? Oh, look at what the systems of the world are doing. Oh, look at what they're trying to accomplish Oh, look at how they're trying to take our children. Look at how they're trying to take over the systems Look at how they're trying to increase darkness Look at how they're trying to push back on light and we get worried not recognizing that the lord is laughing at their plans He's laughing at their plans. What they think is their setup is actually their setback He uses it against them. Let me prove it to you exodus 14 1 through 4 Then the lord gave these instructions to moses Order the israelites to turn back and camp by pi by piha hayrath Between migdal and the sea camp there along the shore Across from bale zephan Then pharaoh will think the israelites are confused. They're trapped in the wilderness. So It's in the lord's plan that pharaoh attacks So he wants pharaoh to see where the children of israel are and say i'm gonna take him now But that's the lord setting a trap And once again, I will harden pharaoh's heart and he will chase after you I have planned this in order to display my glory through pharaoh and his whole army After this the egyptians will know that I am the lord. I love this So the israelites camped there as they were told so so pharaoh thought i'm gonna go get these these these um I'm gonna get this nation back and subject them again under my power I'm gonna i'm gonna take back our our slaves. I'm gonna take back our servants and god is the one who set him up So he baited pharaoh in by making the children of israel look weak and confused. Let me say that again He baited pharaoh in By making the children of israel look weak and confused And pharaoh took the bait and because he took the bait the glory of god was displayed through him Ultimately it ended in his demise and pharaoh's demise. So we have dominion power and authority christ reigns now Challenges will come. Yes, but it's an ever expanding kingdom. Whatever the enemy does We'll backfire on the kingdom of helm However much ground the enemy thinks he takes He's gonna have to repay double ten times what he took However, the enemy thinks he's influenced a generation. It always backfires study the scripture It always backfires on the enemy Think about when jesus was crucified. He thought he successfully killed the son of god Boy, look at how that backfired for every crucifixion. There's a resurrection for every every time that the blood of the martyrs is spilled There is a seed in the ground that will grow So Think victoriously stop acting like god doesn't win again. Yes tribulations come with babelon always falls number three preach with faith and I think this is so important that we get our eschatology right because The enemy would like nothing more than for christians to be apathetic About the coming of the lord He would like nothing more than for christians to be discouraged In the spreading of the gospel. What did jesus tell us? Look at this matthew 16 18 through 20 And I say also unto thee that thou art peter and upon this rock I will build my church And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was jesus the christ The gates of hell will not prevail against us We Will win through the preaching of the gospel now. I know that's not popular to say I know that that's not um something that you commonly hear, but we will win We will win through the preaching of the gospel tribulations will come and that's the big misunderstanding really whenever you say We win through the preaching of the gospel people say no no brother david In the last days it gets worse and I agree with you we agree on that But what I am saying Is that it ends on a high note the end is not yet for this gospel shall be preached And then the end will come the gospel shall be preached to the ends of the earth Again too many have their hands thrown up in the air lord get us out of here Any view hear this now, please any view of the end times that encourages us to rejoice when the world gets worse Cannot possibly be of god's spirit I'm gonna say that again Any view of the end times that encourages us to rejoice when the world gets worse cannot possibly be of god's spirit Now again, we understand that ultimately we win and we can rejoice in the fact that despite the world getting worse that we win But to rejoice in the darkness itself To to just kind of almost like mockingly like real cynically just like laugh like oh, yeah, they're getting theirs and and this is just like Where where is that passion for souls? Where is that fire that drive that that that vitality about your evangelism? Where is that belief that the gospel works Where is that belief that we have a job to do where is that belief that souls can be snatched from hellfire? You don't see that in certain views Yes, we should be looking for is coming and i'm there's a lot of things i'm repeating because i don't want to be Misquoted because again, we have this either or mentality either it gets worse or we have victory It can't be both. Yes, it can it's just a matter of what order you put those in Yes, we should be looking for is coming but we have work to do the gospel still has power Reinhard Bonke said i want hell empty and heaven full This of course raises the question well, didn't jesus say that there would be few who find it Look at matthew chapter 7 verses 13 through 14 You can enter god's kingdom only through the narrow gate The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult and only a few will ever find it So let me make this clear The way is narrow and the way will always be narrow people get upset with me and they call me narrow minded And i say yes i am narrow minded because jesus said narrow is the way Jesus said i am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father but by me There's no name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved other than the name of jesus salvation Is found in christ jesus alone the only way to the father is jesus the only way to heaven is jesus The only way to be to be forgiven of your sins is to repent of your sins and receive jesus so What is he describing here? Well first of all this takes place before the crucifixion and resurrection of the lord jesus And he's speaking specifically to a very stubborn audience that will not receive his message In fact, if you look just in the next chapter Does not the scripture also say in matthew 8 11? And i tell you this that many gentiles will come from all over the world from east and west And sit down with abraham isek and jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven So i'm not saying that the way isn't narrow I'm saying god can lead as many down that narrow path as he wills So jesus says few will find it and then in the very next chapter He says many will find it do we have a contradiction here by no means He's talking to two separate very specific groups at that time One that was being very resistant to what he was saying and one that was being open to what he was saying So it's not a contradiction in the lord's statements He says few to one group many to another Second peter chapter three verse nine says the lord is not slack Conturning his promise as some men count slackness But his long suffering to us were not willing that any should perish But that all should come to repentance Now of course free will makes it that some will choose hell. That's absolutely a fact In fact on the day of judgment some will be resurrected Unto everlasting life or unto unto reward and others will be resurrected unto judgment And that's a frightful thing indeed matthew chapter nine verses 35 to 38 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area Teaching in the synagogues and announcing the good news about the kingdom and healed every kind of disease and illness When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless Like sheep without a shepherd watch this verse 37. He said to his disciples the harvest is great But the workers are few So pray to the lord who is in charge of the harvest ask him to send more workers into his field The issue is not that the harvest isn't great let god be true and every man a liar. Jesus said the harvest is great The issue is we don't have enough workers. Why oh lord just get me out of here Oh, you know the world is the world and that's just the way it's going to be Did you forget who has dominion power and authority? Did you forget what he told you to do go and make disciples of what all the nations? That was the command from the lord. Why because i've been given all power. He said All power all authority heaven and on earth. So we've been given that mandate based on the standing of christ Let me ask you something Will the gospel fail? Has the gospel lost its power? Will the church fail? Will the great commission fail? Will the antichrist be more successful than jesus christ? Or does the scripture describe tribulation and victory at the same time? There's no better time to be preaching the gospel Think of the opportunity we have oh my goodness. I pray you get this in your spirit. This really is the the the The the pivotal point of my message I want you to understand That there should be a fire in you to win the lost And some of these things we believe about the end times Again, it's eschatological nihilism. It's this giving up. It's this well Let's just retreat and let let let the devil have this world My friend, I understand darkness will abound. We understand sin will increase But the gospel doesn't lose its power The commission does not fail Jesus is still on the throne, isn't he? And so May there be a fire in you May you be reinvigorated with the passion for souls May you look and say lord if you come today i'm ready If you should rapture us today, we're ready to go But lord until you do i'm gonna think eternally about souls I'm gonna be think generationally about children and grandchildren who will be here upon this earth I'm gonna think about the calling to which you have called me I'm gonna think about the ministry to which you have called me I'm gonna think about what you've given me to do here And some of you are discouraged about your calling and some of you are discouraged about your future And some of you are discouraged about your marriage and your children and your grandchildren Freading and wondering what's going to happen. I'll tell you what's gonna happen. Jesus is gonna win Victory will be ours the gospel will advance and I rebuke every lying spirit that would tell us otherwise I rebuke every lying spirit that would inspire apathy that would inspire us to give up Know my friend pick up your sword of the spirit Put on your shoes of peace be armed with the armor of god get out there and win souls We have got to plunder the kingdom of hell. We have got to snatch souls from hellfire We have got to give a warning to the world that sin destroys, but Jesus saves It's time to remember who we are in christ We are the church And the nations belong to jesus the nations are his inheritance I am sick and tired of the fear mongering. I am sick and tired of the doomsday saying I am sick and tired of weak faith It's time that we as the body of christ rise to our rightful place and recognize That the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church type amen If you agree with the word of god John 1 5 says the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it roman's chapter 8 versus 18 through 19 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later for all Creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when god will reveal who his children really are Preach with faith my friend. Yes, the world gets darker, but masses will be saved. Yes, Babylon rises But Babylon will fall it is time to step into who you are in christ It is time to remember our task at hand It is time to remember that he has all dominion power and authority And therefore we go and make disciples of all nations preach with faith Think about eternity think about souls. My goodness. I believe your children will be saved I believe your grandchildren will be saved and should the lord terry he might he might not Again be ready to go prepared to stay should the lord terry I'm not going to surrender another generation to the devil just because I believed we were defeated I'm going to stand here with you your brother in christ right here right now and make this promise We're going to win souls. We're going to be about our father's business We're not just going to give up and say well the world's getting darker. There's nothing more we can do Maybe the lord will give us a little more time. Maybe the lord will give us another month or another year or another decade Who knows? Yes, the signs of the times point that we are in the season of the last days But let's go out fighting my friend. Let's go out looking to the future Let's go out with victory because he's given it to us The devil is a liar the devil is defeated the devil is a loser Jesus christ has won the battle and I want you to give up fear mongering give up doomsday saying Give up that weak faith and it's time to embrace again who we are in christ. Jesus christ reigns And anyone who says that jesus isn't lord you got to question what spirit they're coming in Anyone who says that jesus doesn't reign you got to question what spirit they're coming in Because the bible says that those who have the holy spirit say jesus is lord and those who don't have the holy spirit Well, you get where we're going with that father I pray in the name of jesus that you would embolden your people Lord we rebuke the lies of the spirit of fear We rebuke the enemy who taunts and we declare that our god who sits in the heavens Shall laugh at the plans of the enemy shall laugh at the plans of babelon Shall laugh at the plans of the systems of this world and lord we thank you That the gates of hell shall not prevail lord forgive us for apathy Forgive us for throwing up our hands in defeat forgive us for living in fear and lord We pray let there be a fresh power come upon us let there be a fresh fire lit within us And may we go and declare your gospel to the nations of the world Knowing that in the last days tribulation shall come But in the last days the gospel shall not lose its power We thank you father Strengthen us and free us from deception. We pray in the mighty name of jesus. We pray I want you to type it in the comment section if you believe it. Just write jesus is lord Jesus is lord. Let the devil hear you say it. Jesus is lord. I'm fired up. I'm telling you I'm ready to win souls. I'm ready to expand the kingdom I'm not going to hide in a corner and throw up my hands. I'm not by the way I'm not going to get my beliefs about the end times from the headlines. I'm going to get them from the scripture Let god be true and every man a liar. Let god be true and every news report a lie Let god be true and every doomsday article be a lie. We are heading to victory. Yes We are heading to tribulation. Yes, we are heading to trials But isn't that true of every generation? So let us rejoice knowing that when he returns He's going to find us being about our father's business If you think other christians need to hear this like you're tired of christians living in defeat and fear And they're just biting their fingernails going lord. What are we going to do? We don't know. We'll just give it to the devil Now I refuse to surrender the devil is a loser and you believe that other christians need to hear this message Do me a favor leave a like on this video right now. That'll do that'll spread it. That's that simple Just leave a like it spreads the video and don't forget to subscribe To receive more faith filled content like what you're hearing now I know it's not popular to say what I'm saying But it's the truth of the word of god and don't forget as I said to subscribe But when you do make sure you leave that notification bell on so that you can receive notices when we release new content Now as I said we have a job to do I don't know about you, but I'm going to be about my father's business I'm tired of that defeated mentality I refuse to let that lie of the devil overtake my mind. I'm not going to be discouraged. I'm not going to be dismayed We have the light and light will always defeat darkness. So if you're with me, you want to stand with me Join this this effort. Let's march forward. Let's win the generation. Let's spread the gospel Let's see the darkness dissolve Join me in this great soul-winning work if you're looking for a ministry that isn't throwing up its hands in defeat If you're looking for a ministry that the that believes what jesus said that the job can be done You found it. Let's partner. Let's win souls. I'm asking you To partner with us in the winning of souls and let me make this clear There is no cause that you can find that is greater than the cause of soul-winning And sometimes I understand there's other things we want to get involved with but let me tell you Make sure that while you're getting involved with other things that you are supporting the gospel It is the most important cause hear from the holy spirit today Jump into what god is doing. Let's win the soul of this generation. We're ready. We're ready There's no greater time to do this technology is in place Culture is in place. It may not look like that to you But look with the eyes of the spirit that pendulum is going to swing the enemy may have done some things Yes, the enemy may be affecting certain areas But that pendulum is going to swing people are waking up to just how evil that darkness is And that pendulum is going to swing they're going to come looking for light And we're going to be there to receive that harvest you want to be on the forefront You want to be involved in that you want to just be Involved in the battle against the enemy get involved here. David Hernandez ministries.com slash partner Sign up to become a monthly ministry partner and let's win souls to the kingdom Let's preach the gospel with great power I don't know about you. I believe the job can be done. I believe the job can be done And that's why we're putting our best foot forward Events and media around the world. We're seeing guys. We're seeing it work People are being saved healed delivered empowered. David Hernandez ministries.com slash partner Maybe you've been praying about partnering with us. Do it now. There's some urgency Now where is my urgency? Look, I personally believe we're living in the last days But whether or not these are the last days I know that today is somebody's last day And that's enough to cause me to preach the gospel with urgency So if jesus comes back a week from now, but somebody dies today That's caused for me to preach the gospel with urgency. So get involved Help us win souls sign up to become a monthly partner cancel a streaming service if you have to cancel something else if you have to But sign up get involved Join this effort Faith filled empowered by the holy ghost. We believe the job can be done. That's the kind of ministry you want to back I'm telling you if you're not led to partner at this moment You can go to david hernan's ministries.com slash donate to give a single donation But whatever you do large or small single or monthly everything counts So ask the holy spirit how you can get involved go to the website and give And then pray for this ministry pray that god will continue to expand our territory pray that god will continue to lead us to the Right places pray that god would continue to bring resources in so that we can do Larger and larger events and reach more and more people through media The harvest is ready guys the harvest is ready Laborers are few that pendulum will swing Listen to me babel on will fall the pendulum will swing victory is coming in these last days I believe it with all my heart and so get involved today If you're giving on the website from another country do try the website first You will see your currency your country There's different giving options many of you asked about giving crypto and even stock We have those options there on the website But if the website doesn't work then and only then Use youtube and facebook for your giving but do give through the website first if that doesn't work Then you can give through social media. I'm fired up and I mean it when I say Nothing is impossible with god