political dominoes - christs return

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Bible PresentationBarleylands

13th September 2011

D MIN ESP LITICAL

World events signal Christ’s

return

What is happening in the world?

How do these things point to Christ’s return?

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What we intend to cover

• A review of the events of the past decade

• A look at what the Bible has predicted

~ Brief (5 minute) interval ~

• The return of Christ a clear Bible promise

• What Christ’s return will achieve

Conclude with why important TO YOU!13/09/2011

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A defining date...

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11th September 2001• Coordinated terrorist

attacks with 19 hijackers using 4 commercial airliners

• Twin Towers, hit within 17 minutes of one another, both collapse

• Pentagon also hit, 34 minutes after 2nd Tower

• 2,977 victims of attack

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26 days later... 7th October 2001

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• Beginning of so-called ‘War on Terror’

• Joint US-UK-Afghan United Front operation

• Starts with airstrikes on capital Kabul, plus Kandahar & Jalalabad

• A bitter struggle, leads to democratic elections in 2004

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1½ years later... 20th March 2003

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• The ‘Second Gulf War’• Alleged existence of

weapons of mass destruction

• Air/land/sea invasion: 248,000 US troops, 45,000 UK troops and 72,000 others involved

• Baghdad falls within 20 days (9th April 2003)

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2 years 4 months later... 7th July 2005

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• Coordinated terrorist attacks with bombs detonated on public transport targets

• 8:50am, 3 bombs explode on tube trains in space of 50 seconds

• 9:47am, 4th bomb explodes on bus

• 52 victims of attack

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Ongoing troubles...

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Conflict in the Middle East

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The last 9 months... • The ‘Arab Spring’ starts

18th December 2010• Revolutions in Tunisia

and Egypt, ongoing civil war in Libya and unrest and conflict in 13 other Arab states in Africa / Middle East

• Estimated 35,000 deaths already

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A fitting analogy!

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So where is this all leading?20

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What the Bible says

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“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

(Luke 21 v 25-26)

“the wicked are like the troubled

sea” Isaiah 57v20

“the greater light to rule the

day” Genesis 1v16

“the king of Babylon... fallen from

heaven, O Day Star” Ezekiel 14v4,12 ESV

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Sneak preview, what next?

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“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

(Luke 21 v 27-28)

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How we know it relates to our day

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“And they [the Jews] will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

(Luke 21 v 24)

Six day war, 1967State reborn, 1948

These things needed to happen FIRST......and they HAVE!

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Brief interval

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Welcome back!

The defining event of the 21st century

(so far)

A domino-like sequence of world events

Clear link with today,

Israel established

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A time of trouble

Unrest and trouble

Nation of Israel

Return of Christ near

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“...And there shall be a time of trouble,Such as never was since there was a nation,Even to that time...”

(Daniel 12 v 1)

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The Bible promises Christ’s return

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“And while they [the Apostles] looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

(Acts 1 v 10-11)

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Described in many other places too• “...I will come again and receive you to

Myself...”• “...to wait for His Son from heaven...”• “...the Lord himself will descend from

heaven...”• “...when the Lord is revealed from heaven...”• “...He is coming with clouds, and every eye

will see Him...”(In order: John 14 v 3, 1 Thessalonians 1 v 10, 4 v 16, 2 Thessalonians 1 v 7, Revelation 1 v 7)

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A change for the better!• Fed up with all the bad news?• Here is some good news!

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“...preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God...”

(Luke 8 v 1)

“...his appearing and his kingdom...”(2 Timothy 4 v 1)

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What will change at this time?

The kingdom set

up

Peace

Equity

Justice

Fruitful-ness

Joy

Blessed-ness

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“Now it shall come to pass in the latter daysThat the mountain of the Lord's houseShall be established on the top of the mountains,And shall be exalted above the hills;And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say,"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,To the house of the God of Jacob;He will teach us His ways,And we shall walk in His paths."

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations,And rebuke many people;They shall beat their swords into plowshares,And their spears into pruning hooks;Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,Neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2 v 2-4)

What the Bible says

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“Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement… Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (Isaiah 32 v 1,16-18)

“Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement… Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (Isaiah 32 v 1,16-18)

More of what the Bible says

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Who are these princes/co-rulers?

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“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

(Revelation 3 v 20-21)

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Two invitations TO YOU!

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From God

From us

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A final quotation, words of Jesus

Will we believe our own eyes?

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“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. "And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.”

(John 14 v 27-29)

World events signal Christ’s

return

What is happening in the world?

How do these things point to Christ’s return?

“Signs”

“Men’s hearts failing

them for fear”

“I have told you before”

“a time of

trouble”

“then they will see the Son of Man coming”

“Jerusalem will be trampled... until”

“Distress of nations”

“I will come again”

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