May we have a word of prayer?
Oh Lord, how we praise and thank Thee
for Thy precious promise.
Thy mercy and Thy goodness shall follow us
all the days of our life.
If we take Thee as our shepherd, desire
to commit ourselves to Thee as our shepherd,
as our King, to let Thee lead us,
rule over us, put us wherever Thou goest,
there will we go.
And we know Thy goodness and mercy shall
follow us all the days.
How we praise and thank Thee.
Lord, we do ask Thee to cleanse us
with the precious blood.
We pray that at this very moment may
Thy presence fill this place.
That we may see no one but Thee
the only.
We may hear no one but our Lord
Jesus speaking by His Spirit to every one
of us.
We do ask Thee, Lord, to open Thy
word to us.
Make it light.
Oh Lord, how we need Thy word.
The operation of Thy word in our lives.
Because we do desire that Thou mayest get
glory and to pray for thyself in the
midst of life.
We commit this time into Thy hands and
trust in the name of our Lord.
Fellowshiping together last night and this morning on
the gospel according to Matthew.
This is the gospel according to Matthew.
That is to say, it is the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
For Matthew knows personally any experience.
And the gospel of Jesus Christ that Matthew
knows is the gospel of Christ as the
King.
Our Lord Jesus is not only our Saviour.
He is also our King.
The gospel is not only something to receive.
The gospel is also someone to obey.
And this is the gospel according to Matthew.
This is his own experience.
Once he served the Roman Empire as a
tax collector.
Now he serves the Lord Jesus as his
King.
So brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus
Christ that is presented to us through evangelist
Matthew is the gospel of the King.
There is the call of the King to
all of us who believe.
That we may commit our lives to him
and we be his kingdom.
The reason why our Lord Jesus came to
this world according to the gospel of Matthew
is he came to this world to establish
his kingdom on earth.
Who is his kingdom?
Who are in his kingdom?
Those who hear his call.
Those who forsake all and follow him.
Those who put themselves under the authority of
the King of heaven.
They are the kingdom of the heaven.
And this is the kingdom that our Lord
Jesus is establishing on this earth.
And for this reason you will find when
John the Baptist came his message was repent
for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn
nigh.
It has drawn nigh.
The King is coming.
And even at the beginning of our Lord
Jesus' ministry he said repent for the kingdom
of the heavens has drawn nigh.
He has come but he hasn't got his
people yet.
A king without a people does not have
a kingdom.
So here you will find he is calling
for disciples.
And after he has gathered around himself some
disciples then in Matthew chapter 12 he says
from the John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of the heavens is to be seized
by violence and the violent seized.
Brothers and sisters so far as the spiritual
reality of the kingdom of the heavens is
concerned it is already here.
And it shall be forever.
The gospel of Matthew is the gospel of
the kingdom of the heavens.
We mentioned in the beginning that the kingdom
of the heavens sometimes is synonymous to the
term the kingdom of God.
And yet the kingdom of the heavens is
very specific.
It refers to that kingdom over which Christ
who came from the heavens and is yet
in heaven.
So in a sense we find the kingdom
of the heavens is referred specifically to those
who have not only believed in the Lord
Jesus but who have committed their lives to
the Lord.
Put themselves under the rule of Christ.
And there is the kingdom.
In the gospel according to Matthew you find
there are three peptoes or three peaks.
By seeing these three peptoes or peaks we
may have a better grasp of the meaning
of the kingdom of the heavens.
The first is found in Matthew chapter 5
through chapter 7.
It is the reality of the kingdom of
the heavens.
The spiritual principle of the kingdom of the
heavens.
What the kingdom of the heavens is really,
it really is.
The Lord Jesus said my kingdom is not
of this world.
We know what the kingdom of the world
is.
But we do not know what the kingdom
of the heavens is.
So the Lord is expounding, explaining, describing to
his own disciples what the kingdom of the
heavens is.
In other words, we who have the life
of Christ in us, if we put ourselves
under the authority of Christ our King then
what kind of life we will live.
All that we have found in Matthew chapters
5, 6 and 7.
These are the outflow of the life of
Christ in us.
No one can keep what is mentioned in
these chapters.
If we cannot keep the law of Moses,
who can keep the Sermon on the Mount?
The Sermon on the Mount is not set
up before us as a moral standard.
The Sermon on the Mount is a spiritual
expression of the life of Christ in us.
But that life of Christ can only be
expressed if we are under the authority of
Christ.
So here you find in Matthew 5, 6
and 7 the reality of the kingdom of
the heavens.
And the reality is first, it is spiritual.
When the spirit of Christ characterizes our life,
there is the kingdom.
The kingdom of the heavens is not in
letter, it is in spirit.
That is the reason why our Lord Jesus
said, you have heard it is said to
the ancient, thou shall not, but I say
unto you, he does not come to make
void the law, but he comes to fill
it full.
It is the spirit that matters.
The kingdom of the heavens is heavenly, it
is not earthly.
It is not something to do with man.
It is primarily and basically something to do
with our Father who is in heaven.
That is the reason why it is a
CE first, the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of the heavens and his righteousness
and all these things shall be added.
And thirdly, in chapter 7, the kingdom of
the heavens is very practical.
Not because it is heavenly, not because it
is spiritual, therefore it is no longer practical.
It is very practical.
It comes down to earth, but it is
heaven on earth.
It is the narrow gate, the straight that
leads to life.
So brothers and sisters, what is the kingdom
of the heavens?
Forever.
Upon whom?
The authority of Christ rules.
There you will find the kingdom.
In spiritual reality it has nothing to do
with time and space.
It is eternal.
It is forever.
And you know, when you come to spiritual
reality, that is the simplest thing that you
ever...
That is the reason why Matthew chapter 5,
6 and 7 do not need much explanation.
If you explain it too much, you explain
it away.
It is very simple.
When you read these, these are there.
And how can these be real in our
lives?
First, we must have the life of Christ.
Second, we must yield ourselves to our King.
And that will come out spontaneously.
Supernaturally, naturally.
And this is the kingdom of the heavens.
But unfortunately, the kingdom of the heavens is
not all reality.
The kingdom of heavens has an outward appearance.
And this confuses this people.
So here you find Matthew chapter 13.
Matthew chapter 13 are the parables of the
mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens.
And these parables have nothing to do.
They do not deal directly with the church.
They deal directly with Christianity or Christendom.
In the eyes of the world, Christianity is
the kingdom of the heavens on earth.
Christendom is the kingdom of the heavens.
Now you would ask anybody in this world.
They will say, well, isn't that the kingdom
of the heavens in this world, Christianity?
Christendom?
But what?
We find in these parables, the Lord comes
to sow the seed, the word of the
kingdom.
Even though most of the people are not
able to receive all their faith.
Yet thank God, there will be some who
have taken the word of the kingdom to
heart.
And they bear fruit patiently a hundredfold, sixtyfold
and thirtyfold.
And then in the second parable, you remember,
the Lord sows the seed.
And the seed is more than the word
of the kingdom.
The seed are the sons of God.
Those who have received the word of the
kingdom, they become the sons of the kingdom.
And the Lord sows them, plants them here
and there strategically for his people.
But when God's servants go to sleep, the
enemy comes in and sows the pears.
The sons of God.
The sons of the devil grow together.
Their roots are so intertwined, there is no
way to pull out the weed and leave
the weed there.
It has to wait until the time of
harvest, when God shall send his angels.
So on the one hand, you will find
the muskot seed.
Faith should be known as an insignificant vegetable.
But strangely, it grows out of divine order,
becomes a tree.
Christianity becomes a big institution and filled with
the power of darkness.
The birds.
And within it, there is leaven.
False teaching.
Wicked conduct.
That leavens the whole meal to make it
unfit as an offering.
And yet, thank God, on the other hand,
there hidden in the field is the treasure.
God has hidden the mystery of the Christ
that is the church in the world.
Christ has found it.
But he does not take it out and
make it visible.
Let everybody see it.
Instead, to the world, the church is still
hidden.
He has gone.
Sold everything.
He has bought the world in order to
get the treasure.
There is the precious pearl.
It is the pearl of the greatest price.
And the merchant is willing to sell everything
he has to get that pearl.
And this is the attitude of our Lord
towards his church.
And then the last parable of the kingdom
of the heavens is the parable of the
seed of the net.
That points to the end.
At the end you will find God will
send his angels to separate that which is
good from that which is bad.
And that which is good in his sight
will be taken, put into a vessel.
And that which is bad will be cut
out.
That refers to the end of this age.
When judgment shall come.
And there will be separation.
So brothers and sisters, here you will find.
When you come to the outward appearance of
the kingdom of the heavens on earth today,
it is to the world that can never
understand it.
That's the reason why the Lord uses parables.
But he explains these parables to those who
are his disciples.
In other words, he wants us to understand
it.
And if we do understand, then we will
not fall.
We will not be discouraged.
We know what the Lord is doing.
Now this evening, we would like to go
to the third pectoral, or peak.
And this is found in Matthew chapter 24
and chapter 25.
Maybe we will read just a little bit
before we go on.
Matthew chapter 24, verse 1.
And Jesus went forth and went away from
the temple.
And his disciples came to him to point
out to him the buildings of the temple.
And he answering said to them, do you
not see all these things?
Verily I say to you, not a stone
shall be left here upon a stone which
shall not be thrown down.
And as he was sitting upon the Mount
of Olives, the disciples came to him privately.
Saying, tell us, when shall these things be?
And what is the sign of thy coming
and the completion of the age?
Then we turn to Matthew chapter 24, verse
37.
For as the days of Noah, so also
shall be the coming of the Son of
Man.
For as they were in the days which
went before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day on
which Noah entered into the ark, and they
knew not till the flood came and took
all away.
Thus also shall be the coming of the
Son of Man.
Then two shall be in the field, one
is taken and one is left.
Two women grinding at a mill, one is
taken and one is left.
Watch therefore, for ye know not in what
hour your Lord comes.
But know this, that if the master of
the house had known in what wash the
thief was coming, he would have washed and
not have suffered his house to be ducked
through.
Wherefore ye also be ye ready, for in
that hour that ye think not the Son
of Man comes.
Chapter 25, verse 1.
Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be
made light to ten virgins, that having taken
their porches, went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Verse 14.
For he is as if a man going
away out of the country, calling his own
bondman, and delivering to them his sustenance.
That's all we'll read.
During the last week of the earthly days
of our Lord before his crucifixion, he revisited
Jerusalem.
And one day, as he and his disciples
left Jerusalem, coming out of the city of
Jerusalem, his disciples looked back, pointed to the
Lord, and said, Now look, look at the
buildings of the temple.
How it is adorned with precious stones, beautiful
stones.
The temple at Jerusalem was built by the
Jewish remnant who came back after the Babylonians.
But the temple they built was very small.
Rather insignificant.
It was Herod the Great who expanded the
temple at Jerusalem.
He beautified the city.
He used 46 years to build, to enlarge
that temple in Jerusalem.
So it was adorned with beautiful stones, dedicated
by different people to the temple.
It was a magnificent building.
To the Jewish people, the temple in Jerusalem
was their very life.
Their life centered upon the temple in Jerusalem.
It was their sacred spot.
So when Christ and his disciples were leaving
the city, his disciples could not help but
lingering, looking at the temple.
They were so caught up by the temple,
by the beauty, the magnificence of the temple.
They pointed out to the Lord Jesus and
said, Now look, look, look.
And you see how they admired.
But the Lord answered them very quietly, You
have seen these things.
But let me tell you, the day shall
come when no stone shall be upon.
And they walk off.
And this answer of the Lord shocked them.
They shocked the disciples.
They didn't know what to think about.
The temple in Jerusalem was the life of
the Jewish people.
It was the most sacred thing to them.
They took great pride in the temple of
Jerusalem.
And yet the Lord said, Not a stone
upon a stone.
In other words, total desolation.
Because they couldn't take it.
So probably they just followed the Lord and
walked on quietly and silently without saying a
word.
But they were thinking all the time.
They were disturbed.
They dare not say anything.
So after the Lord and his disciples crossed
the creek and climbed to the Mount of
Olives, the Lord sat down there.
And they could see the temple of Jerusalem
there in splendor.
A few of them came to the Lord
and asked him, Now when shall these things
be?
And what is the sign of thy coming
and the completion of the age?
They dare not even to ask openly.
Why?
Because if anybody should ask anything openly about
the temple, if anybody should even give the
slightest indication that this temple will be destroyed,
and if the Jewish people should hear about
it, they will be stoned to death.
So the disciples did not dare to raise
their question even openly.
They could only do it whispering to the
Lord and said, Now when shall these things
be?
If you say so, this is bound to
happen.
But when shall these things be?
How can it be?
Now today, as we read these words, probably
we cannot see the connection.
The disciples asked the Lord actually to us
two questions.
When shall these things be?
That is to say, when shall there be
no stone upon another stone of the temple?
That's one thing.
And the second question is, what is the
sign of thy coming and the completion of
the age?
Now to us, how can these two things
put together?
Why is it that the disciples, when they
heard the Lord say there will be no
stone upon another stone confirming the temple, immediately
they think of the return, the coming of
the Lord and the end of this age.
Now to us, it's difficult to understand.
But if you know the Jewish mind, to
the Jewish mind, is the temple in Jerusalem
to be destroyed?
That must be the end of the world.
What can it be other than that?
If the temple of Jerusalem should be in
ruin, then the world has come to an
end.
This is the completion of this age.
And then, surely, the Messiah shall come and
rebuild the nation.
You know, too, the Jewish people who read
the Old Testament, to the prophets of the
Old Testament, they prophesied the coming of the
Messiah.
And in their prophecies, they mixed up, when
we look back, we will say they mixed
up the first coming and the second coming
of Christ.
Why?
Because to the prophets of old, they saw
the coming of the Messiah.
But they could not see the first and
the second coming of the Messiah.
So then the Messiah does come.
That's all.
And some prophecies prophesy of the Messiah as
coming in splendor, in glory.
While other prophecies prophesy the Messiah as a
suffering Messiah.
And they could not harmonize.
That's the reason why they try to explain
the suffering of the Messiah as the suffering
of Israel.
Because they could not reconcile these two points.
How can the Messiah come into glory, and
yet he suffers so much?
They couldn't understand.
So, with the prophets of old, the coming
of the Messiah is just one event.
It is just one thing.
They did not see there is the first
coming and there is the second coming.
Why?
Because the church is a mystery hidden from
the ages.
And the church stands between these two comings.
So take away the church, the mystery of
the church.
Of course, the coming of the Messiah, you
cannot see.
There is a gap of the mystery of
the church.
It is only revealed to us by the
Holy Spirit, to the apostles and the prophets
of the New Testament times.
So brothers and sisters, in the mind of
the Jewish people, When the Lord Jesus said,
there shall be no stone upon another stone,
this must be the end of this age.
And the end of this age means that
the Messiah will come and build his kingdom.
It is the time of the restoration of
Israel.
So that's why these disciples just combine these
things together.
Because to them it was one event, one
thing.
One thing.
But of course today we know these are
two things.
When shall these things be is one thing.
What is the sign of thy coming and
the completion of the age is another thing.
There is the pill of the church in
between these two answers.
Another thing we should remember.
In prophecy, the rule of the fulfillment of
the prophecy is such that usually when a
prophecy is given, there will be first an
immediate partial fulfillment.
As a token.
That there will be in the future, in
the remote days, a full complete fulfillment.
Therefore you find, when shall these things be?
There will be a fulfillment.
But that fulfillment is just a token to
the final and full fulfillment at his coming
and the completion of the age.
For the sake of convenience.
That is to help us to understand easier.
May I put it this way.
The gospel according to Matthew.
In Matthew 24 and 25.
The answer of the Lord is directed more
to the second question.
While in Luke you find the answer is
more directed to the first question.
Now if you read it that way, that
will probably be a help.
Why?
Because if you read the gospel according to
Luke.
When shall these things be?
And the Lord began to say things.
Like there will be false prophets.
False Christ.
There will be wars.
There will be bannings.
There will be pestilence.
And there will be persecutions.
And they shall witness for the Lord even
before the kings.
And then Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies.
And they will be destroyed.
And they will be dispersed to all the
nations.
So here you will find.
Until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled.
And then the Lord shall return.
So here you will find in Luke.
Chapter 21.
The answer is more towards the first question.
But after he answers the first question.
He leads on to the second one.
Whereas in Matthew.
The emphasis of the Lord is more on
the second question.
But he uses something as an introduction.
Leading to the answer of the second question.
Now if you look at it that way.
I hope that will be a help.
Now if you read them very carefully yourself.
You will find the difference.
We do not have time to go through
the details.
But I just put it before you.
Anyway.
What is the sign and the completion of
the age?
First of all.
When shall these things be?
And if we know anything about history.
We know that.
In A.D. 70.
The Roman Prince Titus.
Surrounded.
Made siege.
Over the city of Jerusalem.
Because the Jewish people rebelled.
Against the Roman Empire.
So under Titus the Roman army.
Surrounded that city.
But they could not get in.
Until there was famine in the city.
People just died in the city.
Their corpses piled up in the houses.
And finally when the Roman army broke into
the city.
The Roman army was so furious.
They went into the houses.
Trying to find wealth and riches.
But when they opened the door.
They find it was just piled with corpses.
Piled corpses.
And those who came out of the city.
Trying to find some food.
They will be captured.
And crucified.
And the woods.
The trees.
In that area were all cut.
There was no more trees.
Because so many people were crucified.
Outside the city.
They broke into the city.
And the Jewish.
Zealots.
Those zealots.
They retreated to the last stronghold.
That is the temple.
Because the temple was built with massive stones.
So they shut themselves in the temple.
To make the last resistance.
And Josephus.
The Jewish historian.
The Jewish general.
Who surrendered to the Roman Empire.
He wrote in his Wars of the Jews.
Maybe for his influence.
Titus agreed that the temple should not be
destroyed.
But before his order was known by his
soldiers.
One soldier threw a torch into the temple.
And it started to burn.
So finally they crashed into the temple.
They got hold of the whole city.
But you will say the temple of Jerusalem
was burned.
Yes.
But it was built with stones.
You cannot burn the stones.
And the stone will still stand upon the
stone.
But remember one thing.
The temple was overlaid with pure gold.
When there was fire.
The heat was so such.
That the gold began to melt.
And they began to throw into the crevices
of these stones.
So the Roman soldiers wanted to get these
gold.
So they dig up every stone.
Until there was no stone upon another stone.
Literally fulfilled in A.D. 17.
Now this was just for the purpose.
If this is true.
Then what the Lord Jesus says.
About his coming and the completion of the
age.
Is found to be true.
Daughters and sisters.
When the Lord shall return.
He will establish in public upon this earth.
The kingdom of the heavens.
His spiritual reality is already here.
But the world does not know it.
To the world it is Christianity, Christendom.
It is a confusion.
But one day.
At the return of our Lord Jesus.
He will establish the kingdom of the heavens.
Publicly.
So that is the third aspect of the
kingdom of the heavens.
When shall be thy coming.
And the completion of the age.
We are living in this age.
But this age will come to the end.
Then there will be the age to come.
Which is the kingdom age.
And after the age to come.
There will be eternity.
What is the sign.
Of thy coming.
And the completion of the age.
Here you find our Lord Jesus began to
say.
He said.
There will be people coming.
False prophets.
False teachers.
Even false Christ.
And there will be wars.
And rumors of wars.
Kingdom shall fight against kingdom.
Nation against nation.
People against people.
There will be international war.
There will be national civil war.
And all kinds of wars.
And there will be famine and pestilences and
death everywhere.
But the Lord said.
This is not the end.
When you see these things.
These are the beginnings of the rest.
Of birth.
Birth pain.
Now brothers and sisters.
Whatever interpretation you may take.
Is alright with me.
I am not arguing with you about interpretation.
But personally.
As I compare the scriptures.
I feel that.
When the Lord said there shall be wars
and pestilences and false prophets and these things.
But these are not the end.
These are just the beginning of the rest.
The beginnings of birth pain.
To me.
I feel it begins at the ascension.
Why?
Because.
If you connect this with Revelation chapter 5
and chapter 6.
You will see the similarities.
Here in Revelation chapter 5.
You will find there is a scene in
heaven.
A lamb.
Merely slain.
Standing before the throne.
And he alone is worthy.
To receive from the man who sits on
the throne.
That little book.
That book.
That is sealed.
Why?
Because he is worthy.
He has redeemed out of every nation, tribe,
tongue and people.
By his blood.
To make them kings and priests.
Now this is the ascension scene of our
Lord Jesus.
If chapter 4 of Revelation is the creation
scene.
Then chapter 5 is the redemption scene.
Chapter 5 you find after the Lord has
completed redemption.
He was ascended up to heaven.
And there a song number 2 says.
Ask of me and I will give you
all the nations as your heritage.
I will give as your possession the ends
of the world.
Brothers and sisters.
After the Lord has victoriously accomplished his work
on Calvary's cross.
He has ascended up to heaven.
And there he received from the Father.
The title deed of this world.
He is worthy.
God has never given up his ownership of
this world you know.
Even though Satan is a usurper of this
world.
But he is not an owner.
God has never given up his ownership.
And here you will find he delivers the
ownership.
The title deed of this world to Christ.
For Christ to bring the world unto God.
He is worthy.
So here you will find he begins to
open the seal.
And what do you find in the first
four seals?
The white horse.
The red horse.
The black horse.
The crystal horse.
False teachers.
False prophets.
False laws.
Fanny.
Testaments.
Death.
So here you will find it is corresponding
with Matthew chapter 24.
When the Lord says these are the beginnings
of the rest.
Not the end.
After Christ has ascended up to high.
Sitting at the right hand of the Father.
He begins to claim the world as his.
And do you know one thing?
All the wars.
All the troubles.
All the sufferings in this world.
From the time 2,000 years ago.
These things on this earth everywhere.
They grow in intensity.
They grow in scope.
Formerly you have a war.
Maybe between two tribes.
Then you have war among nations.
Now you have global war.
Formerly you have an international war.
Maybe 40 years, 50 years you have one
war.
Now you have an international war.
Maybe within 10, 5 years.
In other words, these things began 2,000
years ago.
And they continue on, continue on up to
the present time.
They are always here.
But they grow in intensity and in scope.
That's the reason why some people get confused.
They say these are the signs of the
return of the Lord.
Then 2,000 years ago you have these.
The world has always been war.
The world has always been Fanny.
Brothers and sisters, that's true.
That's true.
But remember one thing.
These things will intensify.
Will speed up.
Because the end is approaching.
Those who do not know God.
Will say if there is God, how can
he allow war?
How can he allow bloodshed?
How can he allow Fanny?
How can he allow pestilences?
That's the reason why people who do not
know God, they say now there is God.
If God is just, if God is love,
then how come all these sufferings and things?
To the world, these things are waste.
Just suffering.
Wasted.
But to those who know the Lord, brothers
and sisters, these things are the beginning of
birth pain.
Birth pain.
It is a birth.
A woman who is with child, she has
to suffer birth pain in order to bring
forth the child.
In other words, out of death comes life.
The world is such.
It has to go through these things in
order to bring forth the kingdom.
It is not waste.
God has a purpose behind it all.
So when we look at the things happening
in this world, we are not as hopeless
as the people of the world will feel.
We can see this is because of the
sin in this world.
It has to go through these things in
order to be released.
In order to have the kingdom of the
heavens established on this earth.
It is birth pain.
But the end is not yet.
This thing will go on and on and
on and on.
And then, of course, in Matthew you'll find
many other things which we do not have
time to go into detail because this is
not my purpose tonight.
My purpose tonight is this.
What is the sign of thy coming?
And the completion in special relationship to the
kingdom of the heavens.
Now you know the word coming here in
Greek is parousia.
Parousia.
The word parousia means present.
Present.
What is the sign of thy presence?
And the completion of the age.
If we want to understand the coming of
the Lord, we have to know what parousia
means.
Parousia is not just one single event.
Parousia includes a period of time.
A number of events.
Just use one illustration.
When the Lord was ascending to heaven, he
led his disciples to the Mount of Olives.
And there he went up.
He was taken up.
And when he left Mount Olives and when
he went upward, his disciples, they all looked
up.
They saw him going up, going up, going
up.
But when he went up to a certain
distance, the Bible says a cloud took him.
He was in the cloud.
He was still going up.
The men of Galilee were still looking up.
They couldn't see him though because he was
in the cloud.
And yet he was still going up until
he ascended to the right hand of God
the Father.
And when these men of Galilee were looking
up and looking up, they couldn't see him,
but he was going up.
Two men in white appeared.
And said, men of Galilee, why do you
look up?
The one who has gone up, he shall
return in like manner.
Brothers and sisters, how did Christ go up
to heaven?
In two steps.
From Mount Olives to the cloud.
This is the visible part.
Then from the cloud to the throne, the
invisible part.
In like manner shall he return.
But the order is reversed.
His parousia will first, beginning from throne to
the cloud, that is the invisible part.
And then there will be the visible part
from the air to this earth, the visible
part.
This is parousia.
So parousia is not just one event.
Parousia is a series of events.
Composed especially of two parts.
From the throne to the air.
Then from the air to the earth.
This is the return, the coming of the
Lord.
For this reason you'll find there are two
different descriptions of his coming.
The coming of the Lord is like a
thief.
When a thief comes to your house, does
he first give you a telephone call and
say, now I'm coming tonight?
No.
In the most unexpected time, he comes.
It's strange.
As if the thief has an instinct.
He knows exactly the time that you do
not expect him.
A thief comes without any concept.
A thief comes without letting you know.
He just comes very quietly, stealthily.
And if a thief should come to your
house, what will he steal?
All that thief will go to the garbage
can and try to steal your garbage.
Let him take the garbage.
He will never do that.
When the thief shall come, he will go
to your treasure box.
He will steal away the most precious thing
that you have.
Brothers and sisters, the coming of the Lord
is like a thief.
In other words, nobody knows when he is
coming.
The hour, the time, nobody knows.
Only the Father knows.
He shall come as a thief.
As in the days of Noah, people eating
and drinking and marrying and giving to marriage.
Why?
Because the world has been like that ever
since.
There has never been any rain.
There won't be any flood.
Everything goes on as usual.
Some people just are eating and drinking and
marrying and making marriage.
Suddenly, Noah entered into the ark.
And the gates of heaven opened.
And a flood came upon him.
Brothers and sisters, in the days of Noah,
the worldliness, spiritism, spiritualism, the sons of God
into marriage with the daughters of men, spiritualism,
violence, lawlessness, all these things were there.
Then suddenly, the flood came.
Brothers and sisters, when shall the Lord return?
Some people would say, well, you have to
wait until this prophecy is fulfilled, that prophecy
is fulfilled, this prophecy is fulfilled, that prophecy
is fulfilled.
Then the Lord will come.
May I tell you this?
All the prophecies that need to be fulfilled
have been fulfilled.
There are yet other prophecies to be fulfilled.
But these prophecies are not necessary to be
fulfilled before His coming as a thief.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, so far as
prophecy is concerned, standing in the way of
His coming.
Nothing.
He can come at any time.
But remember one thing.
When He comes, He comes as a thief.
That is the reason why, in Matthew chapter
24, He says, then, then, that is to
say, at His coming.
Two men are working in the field.
One is taken.
Two women are blind in the world.
One is taken.
And in Luke chapter 17, it says, two
men were sleeping in the bed.
One is taken.
Two men in bed.
Midnight.
Two women grinding the mill.
Early morning.
Two men working the field.
Noontime.
The Lord may come at midnight.
He may come in the morning.
He may come at noon, because the earth
is round.
To some He will be morning.
To others He will be noon.
To the others He will be midnight.
But when the Lord shall come, you'll find
two.
Two.
They're all sleeping.
Resting.
They are all working together.
Of what load there is no difference between
these two men.
Between these two women.
They are doing the same thing.
They are occupied with the same thing.
No difference.
But the Lord knows the difference.
He knows that of the two who are
sleeping, one is precious to Him.
He takes it.
And leaves God.
The two women who are grinding, one is
precious.
He takes it.
When two are working the field, one is
precious.
The Lord does not take the garbage.
The Lord takes the treasure.
He is like a thief.
He does that.
Brothers and sisters, what is the sign of
thy coming?
The sign of thy coming is one day
suddenly the world discover here, there, all over
the world some people have disappeared.
Those who have followed the Lord faithfully.
Those whose heart are towards the Lord.
Those who love you the humanity of the
kingdom of the heavens.
Those who have maintained a good testimony.
The Lord.
And this is Revelation chapter 12.
The man child.
They overcome Satan, Diocesan.
By the word of the Lamb.
By the word of their testimony.
And they love their life even unto death.
Brothers and sisters, if today we live a
very loose life, if we do not follow
the Lord outwardly there does not seem to
be much difference.
We all go to church.
We all do the same thing.
As if everybody is alike, but the Lord
knows.
But the Lord knows.
The Lord knows who is living in the
life of Christ.
Who has committed his life under the authority
of Christ.
And who has not?
The Lord knows.
So one day this is the sign of
his coming.
Suddenly some people disappeared.
They are taken up to the throne.
And because they have gone to they are
taken up to the throne.
You know they have to pass through the
air.
The air is where Satan has his headquarter.
If you can pass through the headquarter of
your enemy your enemy is defeated.
Their life on earth has defeated the enemy.
They are able to thrust through the enemy's
territory.
The enemy's headquarters.
They go right up to the throne.
And on the basis of their victory Michael
and his angels will come down to the
air to fight against Satan and his enemies
and his fallen angels.
And there will be no more place in
the air for Satan and his fallen angels.
They will be cast down.
The way for Christ to come down from
the throne to the air is open.
Brothers and sisters this is the counsel.
Why is it that the Lord is delayed?
Not because he does not want to come.
He is ready.
The moment he ascended to heaven he is
ready.
But the reason why the Lord is not
able to come because the way for his
coming is not yet clear.
According to the wisdom of God this way
is to be cleared by the church.
By the overcomers in the church.
And when they have overcome the way is
clear for the Lord to come back.
This is the first step of his coming.
He shall descend.
And of course when Satan is cast down
upon the earth that is the time of
the great tribulation.
Of the great tribulation.
And then afterwards you will find the seventh
trumpet shall sound.
And when the seventh trumpet is blown as
the last trumpet then all who are the
Lord who have died shall be resurrected.
And those who are still living and remain
on earth they shall be changed.
And we shall all be caught up where?
Not to the throne.
To the air.
Because the Lord is already there.
We shall all be caught up to the
air.
To meet the Lord.
And there will be the judgment seat to
decide who will be rewarded with the kingdom.
Who shall rule with him for a thousand
years.
Who shall have five cities and ten cities.
And those who are overcome defeated they will
be cast into utter darkness.
They have no share in the glory of
the kingdom.
Although they are saved they shall be in
eternity.
Brothers and sisters then after the seven vials
the wrath of God poured upon the earth
then the Lord shall come back with his
victorious army out of the air coming down.
And what is the sign of the second
part of Perusia?
Like a lightning.
The Lord said people will say Christ is
here, Christ is there.
Don't listen to them.
Christ is in the closet.
No.
Because when he shall return it is like
a lightning that smashes from the east to
the west and the whole world shall see
him.
The sign of his first coming is like
a thief.
But the sign of the first part of
his coming is like a thief.
But the sign of the second part of
his coming is like a lightning.
Everybody shall see him.
All eyes shall see him.
And he shall come down on the Mount
of Olives at the time when the Jewish
people were surrounded broken into in Jerusalem.
The Mount of Olives will be opened into
two.
And they will flee through it.
The Lord has come.
The Messiah.
There will be the last battle.
The battle of Armageddon.
And after that, the judgment of the nation
of Israel.
God will take Israel and judge them.
And there will be the judgment of the
nations.
In Matthew chapter 25.
The sheep.
And Satan will be bound and thrown into
the bottomless pit.
And then the kingdom of the heavens shall
be upon this earth for a thousand years.
Brothers and sisters, this is the completion of
the age.
This is the coming of the kingdom.
So here you'll find, as we look forward,
brothers and sisters, the people in this world,
as they look forward, they have nothing to
look forward to.
As you'll find in Luke, when they are
thinking of the things that are coming, they
are frightened to death.
No look.
But with us there is a blessing.
Our Lord shall return.
And this is the time when he shall
reward.
But brothers and sisters, once again, if we
do not live today in the reality of
the kingdom of heaven, how can we share
with Christ in glory in the public manifestation
of the kingdom of heaven?
So how we need to be before the
Lord?
Oh, that we may not only have his
life, but we may yield ourselves to his
rule.
And only thus shall we be in the
reality of the kingdom.
And you know, this is not only for
us.
If we live in the reality of the
kingdom, the spiritual power will be such, it
will cause the downfall of the enemy's kingdom.
And it will bring in the kingdom of
our God and his Christ.
May the Lord be merciful.
Our Father, Thou hast taught thy church to
pray.
Thy kingdom come.
Throughout the ages and the centuries, thy church
has been crying, Thy kingdom come.
Why is it thy kingdom is not yet
come?
O Lord, do examine us to see that
it is not because thou does not want
to establish thy kingdom on earth.
It is because we who are thine have
not been.
We are not living in the reality of
thy kingdom.
There isn't a spiritual strength to overthrow the
kingdom of Satan.
O Lord, we do pray that by thy
grace thou will take us up all that
we may daily.
Live by thy life.
Live under thy authority.
That thy kingdom may soon be brought back
to this earth.
And to thee be all the praise and
the glory and the honor because they all
belong to thee.
In the name of our Lord Jesus.