I'll go with me to Luke, Gospel of Luke chapter 21. I hope you read this. And I hope and pray that the Lord will give you attentive minds, ears to hear, and that you will not be sidetracked looking at things and questions pop up in your mind and you start your mind wander on these questions, okay? I want you to stay with me because it's difficult enough to deal with.

We're going to try to look at the whole chapter. But there are many things we preach in part, Paul said, we know in part, but we're going to tell what we do know. And what made me want to deal with this is reading the letters to the churches in Revelation. Did you notice how similar it was to what Paul wrote there? It's amazing. But I began to look at persecution and so forth. In Matthew 24, Luke 21, Matthew 25, where the Lord tells His disciples when he's coming. And so I began to read this. Now, let me say this.

If I were to announce publicly, we're going to preach a message this morning on Armageddon. This building wouldn't hold the people. Listen carefully. But if I announce, and this is what we do every time, we're gonna preach Christ and Him crucified, you'll have a remnant like we have now. So what does that tell you?

So those, there are many who are interested in His second coming, just for the sake of curiosity, religion and so forth. who are not really taken up with He who came the first time. See, Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. That's why He came the first time. And He came to reveal Himself, Christ crucified, the Savior of sinners, to sinners who need a Savior. not people who are just looking for a carnal utopia or paradise to continue doing the things we love to do here. The fact is the thing that God's people love to do here is what we're doing right now, preaching the gospel, rejoicing in him. So those who whom Christ is not their life now and not going to live with them then. So this is the number one question then.

Do you know why Christ came the first time? Do you rejoice in Why he came, who he is, why he came, what he did, who he did it for. Do you believe he did it for you? Do you need him to do that for you? Do you love the gospel? Are you looking forward to his coming? Not just, you know, to go to heaven, but him.

This is the bride of Christ. You understand me? I know you do, in your head. Many of you in your heart. And we read that in those letters, Paul, to the church. He said, I know your labor of love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you're waiting on His Son. Both letters. You're waiting on His Son. Like a bride waiting for the bridegroom to come. Is that you? Is that you? The Lord was in his temple, the temple. Malachi 3 says, the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple. The temple in Israel, in Judah, in Jerusalem, was supposed to be the temple of God where the sacrifice, the Passover was killed. It wasn't being done anymore, was it? Do you see in the New Testament any mention of the Pharisees, the high priest sacrificing lambs? Do you see one mention of that, sister? It was abominable.

The Lord went in right before this, went into the temple, which was supposed to be the worship of God and see Christ in the sacrifice, not go through the motions. And the Lord went in there with a whip and said, you're just a bunch of, a den of thieves. You've made merchandise of men's soul, buying and selling his money and fun and food. And they saw, his disciples saw him do this. He had nothing good to say to the religious leaders and people of his day. And we've been reading that in the letters to the Revelation.

He was right in the middle of that mess. Look at verse, in chapter 20, verse 45. Look at that. Chapter 20, verse 45. In the audience of all the people, he said unto his disciples. See that? Everybody heard him. He's talking to them. Do you understand that? He's talking to them and the rest of everything he said is to his disciples, not to the world. They hear it, but he's not talking to them. Like on the sermon on a man. The title of this message is the coming signs of Christ's coming and of his true church. Number one, this is one sign, one way you know the false church is.

They apply God's word to everybody without exception. Right over here on North Main Street, that wood lawn where you people came from. They've got John 15, John, let me, I don't want to misquote it. They've got this on their sign, and this is everywhere, church, religion, everywhere. They got the last part of John 15, 9, John 15, 12, that you love one another as I have loved you. That's what they've got on their sign. Intimating that God loves everybody. Who's he talking to in John 15? His disciples. Judas is not even there. Judas is gone.

He said, now I'm talking to you. That you love one another as I have loved you. Having loved his own that were in the world. He loved them to the end and never quit loving and he saved every one of them. He prayed for them. He said, I will pray for the world. John said, I'm praying for those you've given me.

That's the election. Right away you know the truth from the false. All these promises of God are in Christ. Yea and amen in Christ. Certain and sure. And they're not to the world, they're to God's people. I'll tell you now. As said, people are interested in His second coming, Armageddon and all of that. By the way, the Lord never mentions a war to end our war, does He? You read it? Never brings it. Ain't gonna happen.

Already has. on Calvary's tree. You know that. But you know why people want to know when Christ is coming? You know why, Todd? So they can put it off to the last minute. That's exactly right. I'm gonna have my fill of this world, fun and games and all that, and then I'll get real serious at the later time. like a gripper at a more convenient time than I'll hear yet. But right now, I'm having too much fun. That's a fact.

But those who love Christ, those who love Him, whether He comes in the first watch, the second watch, the third watch, it doesn't matter. They know He's coming, and they're waiting. But they're enjoying Him now. They're enjoying this gospel now. They're waiting for it. They gather together. Paul said, I beseech you by our gathering together unto him, now and then. If you enjoy this now, you're gonna be there then. He's coming for you. And so this is to you, okay?

And this was to his disciples. Look at verse, chapter 21, verse five. Now they walked out of the temple. In Matthew 24, they walked out of the temple, and some spake of the temple. This was his disciple. That was adorned with goodly stones and gifts. They were admiring the temple, and they were showing the Lord the temple.

These are men, like all of us, and we're taken up with, look, ooh, ooh. Ah, look at that. Look, Lord. Look at that, isn't that wonderful architecture? Isn't that beautiful? Look at this, isn't that? The works of man. the glory of man, the beauty of man, the wisdom of man, the talent of man, man, man, look at what man has done.

Our Lord says there's not one stone, not one thing will be left on another that man has done. I'm gonna throw it all down. Christ is, Christ is. And man, only God's people give him glory for this marvelous creation called called creation. Only God see his hand in that and give him all the glory, which far surpasses anything man has ever made and done. Isn't that right? Men ooh and ah over these paintings by these masters. Masters? Every morning the sun comes up, beautiful different sky, different every day.

And same sign, but a different glorious display of our great Creator. We see His hand. We give Him all the glory for all of it. And we don't glory, God's people don't glory in anything man does. Isn't that right? Paul said, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. Do you see that that's God's greatest glory?

And they walked out of that temple and they were taken with the temple and he said, everything's gonna be thrown down. And then verse seven, that made them all curious. And they asked him, verse seven, when shall these things be? What sign will it be when these things shall come to pass? Matthew's gospel, turn over there. I want you to mark both places. Go back and forth a little bit. Matthew 24. Matthew 24. Verse three, you have it?

He sat upon the Mount of Olives. He left the temple and he went up and sat where he always sat. And who came to him? The disciples came up to him. Our Lord sits on Mount Zion. Who comes to him? His disciples. They came unto him privately. You see that, see that, Patrick? Privately.

Tell us when these things shall be. What shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the world? These men knew him. And they were wanting to know when he was coming back and when the end of the world shall be. That's what they wanted to know, when he was coming back. What's the sign of thy coming? Who is this? They knew who he was.

Now listen to me. Twice the Lord said to the Pharisees, an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after sin. Twice he said that, Matthew 12, Matthew 16. An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after assignment. No sign will be given but one. You remember? He preached on it many times. The sign of the prophet Jonah. Do you know what that means? Huh? That's Christ crucified. Jonah, in the belly of the whale, is Christ crucified. You know that, don't you?

All right, he was telling those Pharisees who didn't believe who he was. They said they're waiting on the Christ. He's here. He said the kingdom of God doesn't come with observation. Standing right in front of you. You don't see him. They weren't waiting on him.

They wanted Israel to have the kingdom back. Just like Christians today, they can't wait for that temple to be built. Brothers and sisters, Christ has been building his temple for years, and you're it. There ain't gonna be a temple built over there. You're it. Revelation 21 says there's no temple there. No son. But he said to those Pharisees, An evil and adulterous generation, they don't worship God, they don't believe God, they're not looking for Christ.

One of these signs and wonders, and he said, one sign will be given, who Christ is, and that's Jonah, Christ crucified. But his disciples now, they knew him. They believed him. He kept telling them why he came. To suffer for sin, and to all the Old Testament. Revelation is not a change of subjects. It's Christ crucified. And he told his disciples, he said, I'm going to tell you when I'm coming and the end of this world. So he's talking to them. All right. And it gives many signs. There is a sign out on 220 down there at Oak level. It's, uh, sponsored by amazingly Amish and the Mennonites.

And they're the ones that said, and as another. cult group that put sign up that says Jesus is not God. As scriptures do not say he existed in heaven before. Those are the ones. And they've got one up now that says scriptures give no sign of Christ coming. That's what it says. This whole chapter is full of them.

To who? His people. His people, His disciples, privately, privately, His disciples. All right, He walked out of that temple. They said, show us when you're coming. Show us when you're coming. So these signs of Christ's coming are to His people. And those who have a part in His first coming, they're looking forward to His next coming. Those who know why he came the first time, put away their sin, and they're so thankful. And they keep hearing this gospel that makes them so thankful and rejoice in Christ, because of sin, because of sin, because of sin. And you know why they want him to come back the next time? To take us out of this place of sin. That's not the world, is it? The world doesn't want him to come back. All right, look at verse seven.

They asked him, when shall these things be? What shall the sign? Verse eight, take heed, ye be not deceived, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. Take heed that ye be not deceived, and all through the epistles, the apostles warn of evil men, seducers, waxing worse and worse. Don't they? Our Lord said, many false Christs and prophets shall arise in that blessed day. John said, even now there are many, didn't he? Back then. What is our defense against these deceivers? How can you keep from being deceived by the deceivers when they're everywhere? There's more deceivers than there are those preaching the truth. It's always been the case.

Noah. And our Lord said, as in the days of Noah. Noah, it seems, was the only man at that time. There may have been others, but he's the only one that God says was a preacher of righteousness. Whose righteousness? God's righteousness, God's holiness. Wrath of God. Anger of God. Not the love of God. Wrath and anger of God. Against all unrighteousness.

And Noah warned his generation and moved with fear. He feared God and he warned his generation. And he preached God's righteousness. And he preached man's sinfulness. That's still the message, people. The message to the unbelieving world is repent. Not smile God loves you. Cry. For mercy, he might not love you. But if you come to Christ, it's proof he does. And if you come to Christ, it's because he drew you. He gets all the glory for it.

And Noah preached righteousness. And everybody in the world that day said, that man thinks he's right and everybody else is wrong. He was. And it wasn't him, it was who he was preaching and what he was preaching, God's Word. And any departure from that is deceit. Listen to it. Paul said, evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. He's talking to a young preacher named Timothy. Deceiving and being deceived.

And he said, continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and been assured of. 1 Thessalonians 1, our gospel came unto you, not in word only, but in the Holy Ghost in much assurance. What are you sure of? There's three things we can be absolutely sure of.

God is holy and God is sovereign. Man is dead, evil. Right, here's what sets apart. How many preachers stand up and tell the world you're evil? Every true preacher does. This present evil generation. He said, he said, continue. And you're assured of, I was going to say three things. We're sure that God is holy, sovereign, absolute sovereign over all time. And man is dead. I mean, graveyard dead. He can't save himself and salvations of the Lord Jesus Christ completely. So he preached that last week.

Good, you heard it. That's one mission, one mission. Paul to Thessalonians, first chapter, first letter, second letter to the Corinthians, to the Colossians, to the Ephesians, one thing. Continue. And he said, from a child you've known the Holy Scriptures, able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith, which is where? in Christ Jesus. And he went on to say, I charge you before the Lord, judge of the quick and the dead, at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word, Timothy.

Be in season, instant, always about it, constantly, consistent. In season, out of season, whether it's popular or whether it's not. This is the power of God. The gospel is about it. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering. The time will come, they will not endure sound doctrine about who God is and what man is and who Christ is. They won't endure it anymore. After their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, prophesy smooth things. Tell us how God needs us. And they'll turn away, people will turn away their ears from the truth unto fables. He said, you keep watching and you keep reading. This is our defense against being deceived by the deceivers. Try the spirits. How do you try?

Now the Word of God. But everybody says that. What is the message in the Word of God? It's one. Isn't it? Whether it's in Genesis or Revelation, what's the message? Somebody tell me in one word. Am I just talking about the second coming, or am I talking about Him who is coming this morning? You tell me. I want you to discern the difference. Our Lord, verse eight in our text, look at it. Take heed, you be not deceived. Many will come in my name, that is in Jesus' name, saying, I am Christ. They say Jesus is the Christ. People say that, don't they? Do you hear any so-called church saying Jesus is not the Christ?

No, you don't. See, it's so close. If it were possible. Deceive the elect I went back John and read the beliefs of that cult group It's some kind of cult group and you would agree with 90% of what they're saying Southern Baptist It's that brother Scott used to say rat poisoning is 99% good food It's the 1% of poison that kill you And that's what you're hearing a lot today. 99% of some, Bible and truths, but it's that 1%. What is that 1% that'll kill you? Man's decision, man's will, man's glory, man, man, man, man. What you do with the blood of Christ. I'm telling you the truth. This is how you know. Be not deceived, he said. They'll say I'm the Christ. They'll say Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is Lord. Don't they? Yes, they do.

He says, go not after them. Don't follow them. Verse nine, when you shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified. These things must first come to pass. The end is not by and by. Wars and rumors of war. This made me think of them. Wars and rumors of war. And that's what we're in the middle of right now. There's not going to be a war to end this world. Let me just settle your mind right now, okay? Let me just give you some comfort that the scriptures does not teach a world war that destroys this planet. A nuclear war does not teach that.

Well, you read with me in 2 Thessalonians how that Christ is gonna destroy these things with the brightness of his coming. Right? Besides, if there was one, wouldn't that be wonderful? If all of us go up in smoke right now, boom, wouldn't that be wonderful? That ain't going to happen. Because he says the church is going to be persecuted. Witnesses to that. He warns them and us, don't be deceived, don't be deceived. Look at verse 10. Nations shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.

Why, why are there wars? Brothers and sisters, why are there wars? Why can't people get along? Why can't people give peace a chance? What are we gonna do to change the world? Let's change the world. Lots of songs written like that. If I could just change the world. Imagine. Let's just imagine everybody living in peace. Why can't I?

Because man is evil. Man hates man. Man hates God. Black people hate white people. White people hate black people. Red people hate yellow people. Yellow people hate black people. Jews hate Gentiles. Gentiles hate Jews, don't they? Huh? You know what's up. Can't live peaceably. The red men in this country, oh they suffer to the white men. They were killing each other off before we got here. Weren't they? Why? Because man is evil. That's what the scripture said then.

We don't preach man as some good, moral, free agent on this world. He just needs to be given the right environment and opportunity to accept Jesus. He's an evil creature. He doesn't deserve saving. He deserves to be destroyed, every one of us, by nature.

But God. You see, this gospel is the gospel of God's glory, which is His mercy. God's great glory, even greater than creation, is that He didn't destroy this planet completely. That He spared it because He was going to have mercy on some of these rebels that shook their fist in His face. That's glory! That's mercy, isn't it?

Man live all his life and not give God a thought, not give God thanks. Do anything but come and sit and listen to God's word. Anything. I'll do anything but that. Why? He hates God. Come and listen to the gospel. No, not interested. Well, all we're gonna do is listen to what God says in his word and sing a few songs and ask him to have mercy on us and then go home. I ain't gonna do that. I'd rather have a root canal. It's a fact. Man, he's gone. And such were some of you. You who were enemies in your own mind by wicked word. You who were dead and trespassing. You who took no thought of me.

Me, who didn't, as soon as I'm old enough, I'm out of here. I don't want to listen to this old foolishness. My pastor, my preacher's preaching to me. I'm out of here. I'm out for the world. I'm gone. This is foolishness. I'm gone. See you later, Jack. But God. You know why I believe in election? Well, number one, it's so, God's Word.

And I believe He chose me, because I would not have chosen Him. I rejected Him. Man's got a will, all right, and it rejects, rejects, rejects, rejects. Not accepts, rejects, rejects, rejects. Here's the truth, don't want it. Here's a lie, take that. Here's the world, I'll take it. Here's Christ, don't want that. He's dead. You see that? I know you know. Why are you still here?

If you weren't God's elect, I've got one message, one person we preach, keep preaching. That those who rejoice in Christ, the gospel of Christ, who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and came for us the first time and opened our blind eyes and opened our deaf ears and gave us a new heart to receive and love the gospel, receive and love the truth. And we love it and we believe it and want to hear it over and over and over. That's how you know you're one of God's people.

That's how you know people are not. John said they speak of the world, and that's what the world wants to hear. Tell us how we'll prosper and have health and wealth, how much God needs us, and how wealthy and healthy we'll be until just Christ comes and takes it, and we're all sitting in glory in our little cabins and just worshiping Jesus.

That ain't it. It's now. It's people that believe Him now, believe this truth now that the world hates, and they suffer persecution because of it. And our Lord went all the way through this, and I'm not going to make it through this. He went all the way through this saying, they're gonna hate you, they're gonna say they're doing God a favor when they put you out of business. Who?

True believers. Verse 11, as I said, who is saying that man is evil? Every true preacher does. Verse 11, earthquakes, divers, plagues, and famines, pestilence, fearful sight, great signs shall be from where? Heaven. Romans 1, 18, what does it say? The wrath of God is revealed. Every day, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness, who worship and serve the creature more than the creator, who change the truth of God into a lie. Romans 1. clear declaration of this society we live in, who changed the glory of God into a creature beginning with man, making man more God than God is. And on and on it goes. Who sends these things? Earthquakes, famines, pestilence, fearful sights, great signs, and who sends these things? Wars and rumors of war. Who sent war? Who caused the Revolutionary War? Who caused the Civil War? Who caused the War of 1812? Who caused World War I? Who caused World War II? Who caused this war? Who caused this war?

God did. Why? Every time it's because of idolatry. It's because of false religion throughout the land. Everything that came upon the Jews is why? Because they rejected Jesus Christ. That's what he said at this time. But God chose a remnant out of them, and a remnant out of the United States, and a remnant out of Russia, and a people out of every kindred nation tongue on earth that believed the truth, while the whole world's believing a lie. And so idolatry reigns and rules in every society, and there's wars and rumors of wars, and wars and rumors, judgments of God against idolatry and false religion. So it's all bad, that's why. You read with me Psalm 17, didn't you? Men are his sword. Who sent smallpox? Who sent the bubonic plague? Who sent the black plague? Who sent scarlet fever? 70% of young people under 14 died of scarlet fever. My mother had scarlet fever when she was a child. Who sent that? God did. Who sent COVID? What preacher's standing up saying God sent that?

Deuteronomy 32, 39. You know that verse? See now, that's what God said. Listen here now, I even, I am he. I kill and I make alive. Deuteronomy 32, 39. I wound. If anybody gets sick, if anybody gets a disease, God says, I did it. for purposes and reasons known only to me. I don't give an account of my matters, but I did it.

And God knows it. I mean, God's people know it. Job knew it. He didn't blame the Chaldeans. He didn't blame the Sabeans that killed all of his family and that took all of his earthly goods. He said, God did this. He said, God gave it, and God taketh away.

And here's my testimony, Job said, I believe God is God, I believe man is evil, I believe I am evil by nature, and God gave me all of this, and His goodness, and His mercy, and He took it all away, blessed be the name of God who is God. That's my hope, that's my peace, that's my comfort. Took away all of Job's health, put boils on his body from the crown of his head to the bottom of his feet. Well, isn't that a picture of Isaiah 1, John? Do you know Isaiah 1? It's what God says about man.

There's no sound to see him anyway. He's a leper. But God, to those of you who know the plague of your heart, this leprosy, you come to Christ because he said come, and you come and he says, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? I want to be clean. I want God to save him from my sins.

That's the difference. That's how you know who's God's people. People say that. We keep coming, you see, we keep coming here in this one message. It's about redemption from sin. And God's people, that's what they want to hear about. When is Christ coming? Boy, I hope it's soon. I'm interested in that, but I hope He died for me. That I might die in the faith.

So, who sent all these things? The Lord said, see now, aye, even I am he and the woman. And he says in verses 12 through 18, that he said, they're going to persecute you. And verse 15, he said, I'm going to give you a mouth and wisdom, which your adversary shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Who are these men? Fishermen. Is that one of the tax collectors? What do tax collectors know? I'm sorry, but it's just so in it. They know taxes. Fishermen, what do they know?

But God gave them, Ron, God gave these men wisdom from above. How do you, the reason he did, chose men like that, cause you know that the wisdom they have is from above. That's what the people said. Where'd these men get this wisdom? Stephen in Acts 7, isn't it? Was chosen out of seven men and they were all deacons and Philip. the deacon, table waiters. That's what it is. They waited tables. And Stephen was one of them.

And the Lord gave him the Spirit of God and the wisdom. And what does the Spirit of God do? You know. John 14, John 16, the Lord told you, He'll take the things of mine and show them unto you. He'll lead you into all truth. He'll tell you who I am, the truth. He'll tell you what to tell others. Him.

But Stephen, it says, they could not resist the spirit and the wisdom by which he spake. The Pharisees and the lawyers and those that went to cemeteries and schools of theology and all that, they could not answer. They could not stand up to his reasoning from the script. Couldn't do it.

And it's still the same today. You know that? You know who God has chosen to preach his gospel? Nothings and nobodies from nowhere. There was a coal miner from West Virginia who had an 8th grade education who was raised in an attic of what is now a funeral home by a man who gave his father some money for an old chest in exchange for raising his son. And God raised up that poor boy in that attic with no education, went to work in a coal mine, raised him up to save a bunch of people in the state of West Virginia. His name is Scott Richardson. And I'm telling you, men could not stand to that man's wisdom. Couldn't stand up, couldn't answer. Couldn't do it.

There's a man in Pikeville, Kentucky. Who knows where Pikeville, Kentucky is? Coal mining country. He was a mechanic on a truck that went around the coal mines and serviced all these trucks. High school education. Formerly in the Mormon church, his father was a high priest and he was a priest in the Mormon church. God brought him to Kentucky and put him to work as a mechanic and God caused him to hear Henry Mahan. and raise him up to be a preacher. His name is Tom Harding.

And I guarantee you there's not a man in a seminary, in a theology school that can withstand the wisdom by which that man speaks. They don't know the scriptures like he knows them. They don't know the truth like he knows them. And they could not stand up in an argument with that man. Couldn't do it.

Same today. I could go on and on. Former Marine. A young 18-year-old Marine who stood out in the field in Vietnam with his fist in the face of God, he said this, dared God to kill him. Went through all sorts of atrocities. Signed up for a second tour. Death wish. Came back. The United States missed all that stuff. People hated the Vietnam veterans coming back. That turned him against it all.

He became a hippie. And then God made him a Pentecostal preacher, which is worse. And he was pew jumping and chandelier swinging and talking in tongues. And he heard Henry Mayhem preach. The truth called him out of Pentecostalism. Made him a preacher. And God saved souls and his name is Donnie Bell. And I guarantee you there's not a preacher today that can stand face to face with him and wouldn't be put to shame by his understanding. That's who God calls.

There's a vast difference. Today these pinhead preachers, these hirelings for profit, P-R-O-F-I-T, Go to schools to become preachers. They apply and they put their name in the hat for the big stepping stones. Money, fame, fortune, a name. Let a man come in his own name and you will receive. God's people don't. If they don't come in Christ's name, you're not going to listen to them. And that's how you know. They don't want, like John, they don't want their name to be mentioned.

Who are you? I'm not important. Where'd you come from? Doesn't matter. What are your credentials? Center saved by grace. And nothing and nobody from nowhere. Well, what's your message? Behold the lamb. That's a fact. Aren't we narrowing it down? Well, you say you haven't told us when he's coming. He's here. right now. Isn't that all that matters?

But our Lord said in verse 25, Or verse 19, I can't get past verse 19, I love it so much. He said, in your patience, possess ye your soul, that patiently waiting on Christ, patiently waiting on a word from him, patiently enduring the trials and the trouble, the tribulations that know, you know, God sent. That's how you endure, and patiently enduring all this blasphemy, though you can't hardly bear it. Know it's of the Lord, that they which are approved might be made men. If people don't hate your preacher, he's not God's preacher.

You know that? In verse 25, he says, there'll be signs in the sun, the moon, the stars, distress of nations, perplexity to see in the way of war. That's the absolute fact. Been going on a long time, actually. Men's hearts failing them for fear. Looking after those things that are coming on the earth, powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And brothers and sisters, that primarily means principalities and powers. Who reigns and rules over all principalities and power? Who's preaching today that the devil can't do one thing unless Jesus Christ allows him to do it and sends him according to the purpose that Christ sent him to do? Who believes that?

In verse 27, I see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, look up. For those who are looking right now, running this race before them, enduring all this trouble, resting in Christ, looking unto Jesus, author and finisher of our faith, looking for his coming, look up. When you see all this trouble, don't be terrified, don't be troubled. Rejoice. Lift up your heads. The hands that hang down, the feeble knees. You're going home.

Your redemption. Your redemption to His people draweth nigh. What is your redemption, Ellen Canterbury, Tom Canterbury? What is your redemption? How were you redeemed? How were you saved, Tom Canterbury? Can you tell this world how you were saved? Did you have anything to do with it? Is your redemption my silver and gold?

Catholics believe it is. You pay your money, pay your indulgence. What about your vain conversation received by tradition of the elders? That's what the Amish believe. That's what the Mennonites believe. That's what the German Baptists believe. That's what the Seventh-day Adventists believe. That's what the Jehovah Witnesses believe. We've gone door to door to establish proselytes in your name. That ain't it. You're not mine. I didn't redeem you.

We're redeemed, God's people, and we go right back to where we all started, don't we? We're redeemed by one means, one person, by the precious blood of the Lamb, as without spot, without blemish. And we're waiting on the Lamb to come, who redeemed us the first time, and take us back to glory, and you know what God's people gonna see then? A lamb, as it had been slain.

Some of you are smiling. You're rejoicing in Christ Jesus. Do you see that? That ought to give you peace and comfort and hope. I'm comforting you with these words. You have nothing to worry about, about the wars and rumors. Don't be troubled by that. In fact, lift up your head. Did you hear Iran sending a nuclear bomb to the United States? Let's hope it lands right here. except for those that don't know him.

You see why this is, this is all it is. This gospel is it. If you don't know why it came the first time, if you don't believe it came for you the first time, if you don't glory in the gospel now, it's going to end bad with you. But if you do, if he's given you a love for the truth, and you're truly waiting on his son right now, if he came here this morning to hear a message about your Redeemer this morning, and you heard it, and you're rejoicing in him, bless God, sister and brother, he's coming again for you, and take you to glory, and you won't, as Virgie said, have to hear any more bad preaching.

Because the half hadn't been told. But what we do know, we preach in part. What do we preach? One thing. This is how you know. This is it. It's just how you know who's coming, who he's coming for, and who right now truly believes him. It's how you know. Signs. Signs. Okay. Let's sing a closing hymn. Number 152.