Pathway to Victory

Speaker 1

Hey, podcast listeners, thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. Our mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word through the most effective media available, like this podcast.

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Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 2

Hi, this is Robert Jeffress, and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day. This Bible teaching program. On today's edition of Pathway to Victory.

Speaker 3

There is one prophet who makes perfect predictions about the future. We can trust every word he says about the future. He knows the future perfectly because he has planned the future. And that prophet is named Jesus.

Speaker 1

Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. The accuracy of God's Word can be clear, seen in the fulfillment of biblical prophecies. In fact, every single prophecy about Jesus Christ's first coming came to pass, exactly as foretold.

Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress shares what Jesus revealed about the Rapture, the End times, and his second coming.

Now, here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message: Dr. Jeffress.

Speaker 2

Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. Do you ever find yourself getting bogged down by the news cycle these days? Gratefully, we're witnessing a glimmer of good news, but the bulk of the legacy news outlets are burying us with dreadful news. So how do we maintain any measure of peace and calm when it appears that our world is coming to an end? Or at least that's what the pundits tell us.

Well, I'm convinced there's no better way to elevate our thoughts than to revel in the truth that Jesus is coming soon to make all things new. Along those lines, I'm pleased to offer one of the most important books I've ever written. My new book is titled *Jesus Revealed in the End Times*. Yes, it's a book about Bible prophecy, but not a typical one. Rather than taking a deep dive on future events, I've chosen to focus on the key character of Bible prophecy, Jesus Christ. And by the time you're finished reading my book, you'll have a greater sense of calm and courage because you've come to know the one who holds our future.

Ask for my new book, *Jesus Revealed in the End Times*. It's yours when you give a generous gift to support the growing ministry of Pathway to Victory. And as a bonus, when you respond today, I'll be sure to include a collection of encouragement cards as well.

Now, let's get started with today's study. Today we'll resume a message that started Thursday about Jesus the Prophet.

Speaker 3

And so what I want to look at briefly today are three predictions Jesus made about the future, his future and your future that we can bank on and know are going to come true. What are these three future events? First of all, the Rapture. Secondly, the end times, and finally, his second coming and kingdom.

Let's first of all talk about Jesus and his prediction about the Rapture. The Rapture, we believe, is the next event on God's prophetic timeline. It could happen at any moment. Now, what did Jesus have to say about the Rapture? Now, those of you who've been around here for a while have heard me preach on the Rapture, and you probably heard me make this statement that nowhere did Jesus say anything about the Rapture. Now, I'm going to stand by that comment with one asterisk. There is one verse in which Jesus may be alluding to the Rapture, and it's the verse we're going to look at right now.

The context is the time before Jesus was crucified. He said to his disciples in John 13:33, "Little children, I am with you for a little while longer, you will seek me. And as I said to the Jews, now I say to you, where I am going, you cannot come." What do you mean you can't come? Well, you can't come now. And to clarify that, when the disciples were upset, he continued in chapter 14 with these familiar words, "Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

I want you to underline the words "come again" and "take." Some translations say "receive." When is it that Jesus Christ is coming again to take his disciples? Well, there are really two stages, two fulfillments of that, two different events that share some things in common. One is the Rapture. At the Rapture, Jesus comes again in the air and takes believers, snatches them away to be with Him. We'll talk about that in more detail in a moment. But there's a second stage of the second coming of Christ, and that is his visible return to earth when he doesn't come into the clouds, but he comes to earth.

The first time he comes at the Rapture, he comes to take believers. The next time he comes, seven years later at the second coming, he comes with believers to the earth to establish his kingdom. So in that sense, this phrase, "I will come again and take you unto myself" has its ultimate fulfillment in the second coming after the tribulation. But there's a partial fulfillment at the rapture of the church.

Now, you know there have been people who have tried to time when the rapture's going to happen. Some people believe it happens before the tribulation. Some people believe it happens after the tribulation. Sometimes people believe it happens halfway during the tribulation. I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture that this happens before not problems, but before the great tribulation. Every Christian has experienced problems and tribulations throughout history. But there's a special tribulation coming that I believe we're exempt from.

Why do I say that? Why do I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture? I think the strongest argument for a pre-tribulation rapture is the promise of God to keep believers from his wrath. We never have to fear the wrath of God. First Thessalonians 1:10 says Jesus came to rescue us from the wrath that is to come. In First Thessalonians 5:9, Paul says God has not destined us for wrath. In his letter to the church at Philadelphia, Jesus said in Revelation 3:10, "I will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth."

Now listen to me carefully. Jesus is not promising to keep us out of problems. In fact, he guaranteed we're going to have problems. He said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have tribulation, pressure, problems. But be of good cheer. I've overcome the world." No, being a Christian is a guarantee you're gonna have problems. But the problems of this world are nothing compared to the wrath of God. And that's what we've been exempted from. If we had to fear some future judgment, anger by God being poured out upon us, then the death of Jesus Christ was totally worthless. The reason Jesus suffered on the cross was he took that wrath that you and I deserve. On that cross where Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. We sing that often. It's a theological truth. There is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. That's why I believe we're going to get out of here before the tribulation. Aren't you glad for that? We don't have to fear the wrath of God.

Jesus made a prediction about the future. First of all, the rapture of the church. And that ushers in the second event. And that is Jesus predicts the end times. The end times technically begin after the rapture. We see the end times outlined in Matthew chapter 24. Remember, Jesus had just taken his disciples on a tour of the temple and he says, "Not one of these stones will remain untouched. Every stone of this place will be toppled over." And after they took their tour of the temple, they walked across the Kidron Valley that many of us have walked across and sat on the Mount of Olives. And the disciples said, "Now Jesus, about this temple thing, exactly when will these things take place? And what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?"

Well, Jesus skipped over the when question. That wasn't for them to know. But he gave a detailed explanation of what would happen. And it seemed to follow exactly what Zechariah in the Old Testament prophesied, that Jerusalem would be destroyed, Messiah would come, and he would establish his kingdom. What Jesus said in Matthew 24 is in keeping with what Daniel predicted 700 years earlier in Daniel 9:27. Remember, Daniel was talking about the Antichrist. And he said, "And he, that is the Antichrist, will make a firm covenant with the many, that is Israel, for one week." We've studied before how he's talking about a week of years, seven years.

Why is that important? Seven years. Because remember God had told Daniel, from the time that the decree goes out to return from Babylon to Jerusalem, from the time that order goes out until Messiah is presented will be 483 years. But then there's going to be a pause. Messiah will be killed, terrible things will happen. But God still has seven years on that time clock to be fulfilling God's plan for Israel. Seven years remain for God to finish up his work with Israel. And that period of time is what we call the Great Tribulation. He will make a treaty with Israel for one week or seven years. But in the middle of the week, after the first three and a half years, he'll put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering. And on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate. Halfway through the tribulation, the Antichrist will turn against Israel and then will be unleashed the final judgments on the earth by God himself.

Now Jesus said the same thing. He talks about the first three and a half years of the Tribulation and then the last three and a half years. Look at the beginning of birth pangs. That's how he describes the first three and a half years of the Tribulation. You ladies know that when those labor pangs appear, it doesn't mean you're going to deliver right then, but it means you better stay near a hospital because something big is about to happen. Right? That's how Jesus described the end times. There'll be the birth pangs. What are those birth pangs? Well, the rise of false messiahs, verses 4 and 5 of Matthew 24. "See to it that no one misleads you, for many will come in my name saying, 'I am the Christ' and will mislead many."

Secondly, there'll be rumors of war. Now, again you say that's nothing new. There have always been wars. Well, Thomas Hobbes, the British philosopher, said war is the natural state of mankind. But like birth pangs, these wars will increase in frequency and intensity. There are hotspots all over the world right now and nuclear weapons that could blow this world apart. There'll be a rise in natural disasters. Chapter 24, verse 7, Jesus went on to say, "And in various places there will be famines and earthquakes, but they will become more intense." That's the first three and a half years.

But the second three and a half years marks the end of the Tribulation. And I want you to notice the five characteristics of those final three and a half years. There will be an intensification of persecution of Christians, verse 9. "Then they, i.e. unbelievers, will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you. And you will be hated by all the nations because of my name." Now again, Christians have been persecuted in every age. And yet it's intensifying. There were more martyrs in the 20th century than all the other centuries put together. It is increasing. It just hasn't hit the United States yet. But make no mistake, it's on the way. It's coming. We need to be prepared for it.

Secondly, the inclination toward apostasy, verse 10. "At that time, many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another." We see this all the time. Christians who are no longer followers of Jesus Christ. They call themselves ex-evangelicals. They are giving up the beliefs, the basic beliefs they've had in the past. Thirdly, the inflation of falsehood, verse 11. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many." The rise of artificial intelligence will make it possible for people to be deceived. Remember, even the Antichrist will appear to have been assassinated and will appear to rise from the dead. I think all of that will be a deception that very well could be fueled by AI.

The increase of lawlessness, verse 12. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold." Lawlessness will increase because of the man of lawlessness. That's how the Antichrist is described. He has no regard for the rule of law, and neither will his followers. And fifthly, an interesting twist, the influence of the gospel will actually increase in the end times. Matthew 24:14. "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations. And then the end will come." How will the gospel go out? It will go out mainly through the witness of 144,000 Jewish missionaries who are saved and supernaturally sealed at the beginning of the tribulation. And they will preach the gospel.

Now, this is just conjecture on my part, but I think it's grounded in reality. You know, I say to you often, and this church believes that one of the greatest platforms we have to preach the gospel is through media, through our iCampus, through Pathway to Victory. We've got an unprecedented opportunity right now. We have an open door to preach the gospel to everyone. But I believe it's a temporary window. Why do we put so much emphasis on it? Because I think the time is going to come when that door of opportunity to broadcast is going to be over, and it's going to be during the reign of the Antichrist. He will put a stop to it.

We're already seeing that begin to happen right now by some smaller Antichrists that have arisen. You may not know this, but did you know that when we broadcast a program in Canada, we have to edit out any references to homosexuality? We can't broadcast anything you say. Well, just tell them no, you're not going to cut it out. They'll say, we'll substitute another program on. You don't get to preach anything if you preach that. If I go into Canada to appear on a Christian talk show, I have to sign a disclaimer that I'll say nothing against same-sex marriages. You say, well, why not say no? But I don't get to preach the gospel. That is not coming someday. It is coming now.

And I told a Canadian pastor just last week whom we met on our tour, I said, in the United States, we're just 10 years behind where you are. That's exactly where we're going. I think the time is coming soon when we'll have no longer the opportunity to broadcast. That's why Jesus said, "Work while it's still day, because the night is coming when you'll not be able to work." And so I think in these last days, the only way the Gospel will be preached will be old school with these supernatural missionaries that will go around proclaiming. But we need to take advantage right now to share the gospel with everyone we can while we can.

The influence of the gospel. These are going to be terrible times. In fact, in Matthew 24:21 it says that so terrible will be this last half of the Tribulation, that these things have not occurred since the beginning of the world until now or ever will. The extermination of 6 million Jews was horrific, but it's again nothing compared to what is yet to come, the persecution of believers. Jesus makes a curious comment in verse 22 of Matthew 24. He said, "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved." If he didn't cut it short, everybody would have been killed during the Great Tribulation.

Well, what is it that cuts short those days of judgment? That's the third event Jesus predicted, and that is his second coming. The second coming will result in earth's last days being cut short, Matthew 24:27, and his return visibly to Earth. Listen to Matthew 24:29. "But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from their sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." And then we have the descent from heaven and glory of Jesus Christ when he comes. Matthew 24:30, "The whole world will mourn who have not accepted Christ, his coming." Everybody will see him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But if they've waited until then, it will be too late.

And then finally there's a gathering of his people at their second coming, when all of the resurrected saints he brings back with him, and all those who have survived the tribulation and the Jewish patriarchs in their resurrected bodies, all will be invited to come into the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Now, Jesus foretold all of these things and treated them as absolute fact. The question is, how should we be living now in light of these prophecies that we know are going to come true?

May I in closing, suggest three words for you to write down. First of all, we need to be vigilant, watchful, attentive, observant. Just put down the word "be vigilant." Jesus gave four parables at the end of Matthew 24 to tell us why we ought to be vigilant. We ought to be on guard. We ought to be watching. You get no points with God for being ignorant of what's happening in the world. We're to observe the signs. If we see these things starting to take place for the Tribulation and the Second Coming, then we know the Rapture is even closer than it's ever been.

And that leads us to a second application, to be prudent. That means to be sensible, careful, and wise. The fact that he's coming back soon means that we need to be sensible in how we live. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil." Knowing how short of time we have here on earth, we ought to make sure we're investing our treasure and our time in those things that will outlast our life here on earth.

And finally, be faithful. Jesus gave a parable about two servants in the parable of the talents in this passage, reminding us we need to be loyal, true, diligent, and most importantly, obedient. That's how we remain faithful. Last week, a man came to visit me. I'd never met him before. He lives in another city, but for years and years he's watched our Pathway to Victory broadcast, and he talked about the impact our church has made on his life. He's a very soft-spoken, very humble man. But he said, "I've been diagnosed with cancer and I don't know how much longer I have." He said, "I'm not a wealthy man, but I want to be sure that the Gospel gets out to as many people as possible, as soon as possible." And he handed me a check for $100,000 to say, "Use this to spread the word of Jesus Christ."

That’s a man who's vigilant, who's prudent, and who is faithful. Are you being faithful to do that? One thing Jesus commanded you to do before he left was to go into all the world and make disciples. Jesus is the perfect prophet. Everything he said is going to happen can be trusted to happen. His intelligence is not artificial; it's omniscient. That'd be enough to frighten us, what we've gone through this morning. But remember, Jesus is not only our prophet, he's our Savior. He's the one who promised to rescue us from the wrath that is to come.

"Let not your heart be troubled," Jesus said, "neither let it be afraid. You believe in God, believe also in me. For in my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again to take you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be always."

Speaker 2

We're just getting started in what promises to be an encouraging study together. Our brand new teaching series is called *Jesus Revealed in the End Times*, and as we conclude our first week of studies on this all-important topic, I'll remind you that I've written a brand new book by the same title. It's my gift to you when you include a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.

My new book, *Jesus Revealed in the End Times*, takes a new approach to looking at the end times. While many teachings on prophecy focus on events such as wars and natural disasters, my new book addresses prophecy through the lens of Jesus Christ, the very center of human history. My new book explains how Jesus alone is the connection point throughout history in eight different roles: Messiah, Prophet, Lamb, Conqueror, King, Judge, Lord, and Friend. This is a critically important message I want to help you truly understand and share with others. It's a beautiful message of hope, not fear. People who are fixated on darkness desperately need to hear the message of this book.

Will you give today to help me share that good news? By doing so, you'll introduce others across the country and around the world to Jesus Christ and gain a clearer and more truth-filled view on Bible prophecy. When you do, I'll say thanks by sending my new book to your home again. It's called *Jesus Revealed in the End Times*.

As we come into the weekend, don't forget you can watch Pathway to Victory on television on Saturdays. You can catch us at noon Eastern on TBN, the Trinity Broadcasting Network. On Sundays, we're on hundreds of stations including TBN at 10 Eastern.

David, thanks, Dr. Jeffress.

Speaker 1

You're invited to request the brand new book *Jesus Revealed in the End Times*. When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory or when you sign up to become a Pathway partner, call us toll free at 866-999-2965 or visit our website ptv.org. When you give an especially generous gift of $100 or more, we'll also include the complete *Jesus Revealed in the End Times* teaching series on audio and video discs, plus a study guide to use for personal or group study. Call 866-999-2965 or go to ptv.org now. You could also send your request by mail. Write to P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222. One more time, that's P.O. Box 223609, Dallas, Texas 75222.

I'm David J. Mullins wishing you a great weekend. Then join us again next week when our series called *Jesus Revealed in the End Times* continues right here on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.

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