Let me dare with caution and make Let me dare with caution and make this statement: even the apostles who this statement: even the apostles who heard Jesus speak about the end times heard Jesus speak about the end times could not comprehend the precise could not comprehend the precise details. So don’t get discouraged if you details. So don’t get discouraged if you fall in the same predicament. fall in the same predicament. Prayerfully, let us affirm and apply Prayerfully, let us affirm and apply what we can clearly understand. Thus what we can clearly understand. Thus we will avoid we will avoid the last deceptionsthe last deceptions..

In what is known as the Mount of In what is known as the Mount of Olives lectures found in Matthew 24 Olives lectures found in Matthew 24 and 25 correlated with Mark 13 and and 25 correlated with Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus disclosed what lies Luke 21, Jesus disclosed what lies ahead for the apostles and for ahead for the apostles and for believers in the end times. believers in the end times.

Prophecies about the future have Prophecies about the future have immediate and distant significance. immediate and distant significance. Let us settle on what we should do Let us settle on what we should do now as we approach the end times now as we approach the end times based on Jesus’ main advice: based on Jesus’ main advice:

““Watch out that no one Watch out that no one deceives you.” deceives you.”

(v. 4)(v. 4)

• The real Antichrist is the one who The real Antichrist is the one who desecrates the Temple during the desecrates the Temple during the future Tribulation period, vv. 15-future Tribulation period, vv. 15-25.25.

• DoDo not be deceived not be deceived by many past by many past and present religious leaders who and present religious leaders who make claims and show signs like make claims and show signs like Jesus did. They will all be like the Jesus did. They will all be like the antichrist.antichrist.

John Nichols Thom John Nichols Thom (1799 – 1838)(1799 – 1838)

Cornishman who claimed to be Cornishman who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and his body temple of the Holy and his body temple of the Holy Ghost. He was killed by British Ghost. He was killed by British soldiers at the Battle of soldiers at the Battle of Bossenden Wood, on May 31, Bossenden Wood, on May 31, 1838 in Kent, England.1838 in Kent, England.(Wikipedia)(Wikipedia)

James Warren JonesJames Warren Jones ((1931 – 19781931 – 1978))

Claimed to be the reincarnation Claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Akhenaten, Buddha, of Jesus, Akhenaten, Buddha, Lenin, and Father Divine. Lenin, and Father Divine. Organized a mass murder Organized a mass murder suicide at Jonestown, Guyana.suicide at Jonestown, Guyana.(Wikipedia)(Wikipedia)

Sun Myung MoonSun Myung Moon ((Jan. 6, 1920Jan. 6, 1920))

Korean founder and leader of Korean founder and leader of the worldwide Unification the worldwide Unification Church. Moon has said, and it is Church. Moon has said, and it is believed by Unification Church believed by Unification Church members, that he is the members, that he is the Messiah and the Second Coming Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ and is fulfilling Jesus' of Christ and is fulfilling Jesus' unfinished mission.unfinished mission.(Moon At Twilight, By Peter Maass, New Yorker Magazine (Moon At Twilight, By Peter Maass, New Yorker Magazine September 14, 1998)September 14, 1998)

Mitsuo MatayoshiMitsuo Matayoshi ((Feb. 5, 1944Feb. 5, 1944))

In 1997 he established the In 1997 he established the World Economic Community World Economic Community Party based on his conviction Party based on his conviction that he is the God and Christ.that he is the God and Christ.(Wikipedia)(Wikipedia)

Apollo C. QuiboloyApollo C. Quiboloy ((April 25, 1950April 25, 1950))

A Filipino pastor who claims to A Filipino pastor who claims to be the Christ. He is the founder be the Christ. He is the founder and leader of the Kingdom of and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name. Pastor Quiboloy Every Name. Pastor Quiboloy revealed that God talked to him revealed that God talked to him and declared him Son of God and declared him Son of God after his spiritual trainings.after his spiritual trainings.(Wikipedia)(Wikipedia)

• Everyone must watch for signs of Everyone must watch for signs of the end times just like the fig tree the end times just like the fig tree shows signs of bearing fruit.shows signs of bearing fruit.

• Do not be deceived Do not be deceived by those who by those who set dates because set dates because "no one knows "no one knows about that day or hour… but only about that day or hour… but only the Father,the Father, v. 36. v. 36.

• There are over 200 predictions about the There are over 200 predictions about the second coming of Christ and still counting!second coming of Christ and still counting!

• During December 999 AD, everyone was on During December 999 AD, everyone was on their best behavior; worldly goods were sold their best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor, swarms of pilgrims and given to the poor, swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem, headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem, buildings went unrepaired, crops were left buildings went unrepaired, crops were left unplanted, and criminals were set free from unplanted, and criminals were set free from jails. Many thought that Jesus was coming jails. Many thought that Jesus was coming back on Jan 1, 1000 AD.back on Jan 1, 1000 AD.

• Michael Drosnin, author of "The Bible Code," Michael Drosnin, author of "The Bible Code," found a hidden message in the Pentateuch found a hidden message in the Pentateuch that predicts that World War III, involving a that predicts that World War III, involving a worldwide atomic holocaust, will start in 2000 worldwide atomic holocaust, will start in 2000 (or perhaps 2006).(or perhaps 2006).

• Shelby Corbett of Bradenton, Florida has put Shelby Corbett of Bradenton, Florida has put up benches throughout town advertising the up benches throughout town advertising the rapture will happen in 2007! She has little rapture will happen in 2007! She has little Bible knowledge and is trying to make money Bible knowledge and is trying to make money selling her book.selling her book.

• By the fall of 2011, that’s By the fall of 2011, that’s when Jesus Christ returns… when Jesus Christ returns… (Ronald Weinland, 2008 - God's (Ronald Weinland, 2008 - God's Final Witness, Church of God)Final Witness, Church of God)

• By January 2009, we (the By January 2009, we (the United States) will be down United States) will be down the tubes… the tubes… (Ronald Weinland, (Ronald Weinland, 2008 - God's Final Witness, 2008 - God's Final Witness, Church of God)Church of God)

•New Age writers cite Mayan and New Age writers cite Mayan and Aztec calendars which predict the Aztec calendars which predict the end of the age on Dec 21, 2012.end of the age on Dec 21, 2012.

““No one knows about that day or No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in hour, not even the angels in

heaven, nor the Son, but only the heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father...Therefore keep watch, Father...Therefore keep watch,

because you do not know on what because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”day your Lord will come.”

(Matthew 24:36 & 42)(Matthew 24:36 & 42)

• Whatever the oil for the torches Whatever the oil for the torches symbolizes, it affirms that some symbolizes, it affirms that some lack what they need to meet lack what they need to meet Jesus.Jesus.

• Do not be deceived Do not be deceived that you have that you have and are prepared with your and are prepared with your requirements to join Jesus’ requirements to join Jesus’ kingdom. kingdom.

• Jesus expects his followers to be Jesus expects his followers to be productive in this world while productive in this world while waiting for His return.waiting for His return.

• Do not be deceived Do not be deceived into waiting into waiting and doing nothing and being and doing nothing and being deemed as a “worthless” servant, deemed as a “worthless” servant, vv. 28-30.vv. 28-30.

• On judgment day, Jesus will separate On judgment day, Jesus will separate the sheep (the righteous) from the the sheep (the righteous) from the goats (the unrighteous). goats (the unrighteous).

Sheep serve; service does not make Sheep serve; service does not make them sheep. Goats are selfish; them sheep. Goats are selfish; selfishness proves that they are goats.selfishness proves that they are goats.

• Do not be deceived Do not be deceived into the worst into the worst deception—self-deception—deception—self-deception—thinking that you are Christ’s thinking that you are Christ’s sheep but discovering that the sheep but discovering that the Shepherd does not know you.Shepherd does not know you.