♪ theme music ♪

(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

an in-depth, interactive study

of the Word of God.

I'm glad you joined us today

as we continue a life-changing series

of studies on the Gospel of Matthew.

Today we're going to talk about

"The Teachings of Jesus

about the Last Days."

A relevant topic,

and I know you'll be blessed.

So welcome to Hope Sabbath School

and welcome to our team.

What a great series of studies.

I'm so thankful that the Spirit of God

inspired a former tax collector,

Levi Matthew, to write this account,

and I'm excited today because

one of our team, Tricia Lee,

is going to be leading in our study.

Tricia Lee, thanks for your commitment

to the Word of God,

and I know God is going to bless us

in wonderful ways.

We're just so glad

that you're part of Hope Sabbath School,

and when you write to us it brings joy

to our hearts to hear
how God is blessing you.

You can write to sshope@hopetv.org.

You can also write a note

on our Facebook page;

we've got more than 150,000 followers

on Facebook now, and it's wonderful.

Sometimes we'll put a picture
of you, if you send one.

We're just part of a global family

seeking God and wanting to be used

to bless others with His Word.

So thanks for writing.

Ely writes from California.

Anybody from California?

Some of you have lived
in California, right?

Okay.

"Greetings to every Hope
Sabbath School member."

(Team) Greetings.

Several of you look happy.

"I watch your program every day.

I learn a lot from the discussion.

I also downloaded the app,

and I love to watch the archives.

I feast on the Word of God every day."

Well, Ely, thanks for letting other
Hope Sabbath School members know

that if you go to our website,

hopetv.org/hopess,

you can not only watch programs

in this series on the Gospel of Matthew

that you might have missed,

but you can watch a
multitude of past programs

with wonderful topics

that will be a blessing.

If you have the app on your iPhone

or your smartphone,

you can access the archives there;

you can watch all kinds of
wonderful Bible studies.

So, thanks for putting in a little promo,

Ely, for the app, and that's

a wonderful blessing to many people.

James writes from Ghana.

Anyone with Ghanaian roots?

We do have some occasionally
on our team, don't we?

"I enjoy your class and the contributions

you make.

I pick your contributions,

and I replicate them in my class

when I teach in my church."

Is that good?

(Derek) That's exactly
what we're hoping for.

"Oh, how I wish I could contribute live,"

says James.

"Send my greetings to the
Hope Sabbath School team."

Well, James, if you come
over when we're filming,

we'd love to have you
as part of the program,

but, you know, we're equally excited

to know that you're leading a Bible study

program there in your homeland of Ghana,

and, along with tens of thousands

who are downloading that outline,

we're glad you're teaching
the Word to others.

Benson writes from Kenya,

and I know we've got one Kenyan.

Eric, wave to your brother from Kenya.

All right, a big smile for Benson

writing from Kenya, "I
follow your programs.

I am a Sunday School teacher."

So Benson's teaching the Word

in his church.

"Please don't give up because your work

is not in vain."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) That's awesome!

"God bless you all, amen."

Well Benson, to know that you're a witness

there in your church in Kenya

brings great joy to our hearts.

You encourage your other
Sunday School members

to watch Hope Sabbath School,

and they'll learn much more

about the Word of God, too.

Here's one last note,

actually, I've got a couple
here; lots of people writing.

I want to thank Jean

for writing from Russia.

You say, "Jean doesn't sound Russian."

Well, Jean is from Rwanda,

studying in Russia.

"I greet you in the mighty name of
our soon-coming Savior Jesus Christ."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) "Peace be with you.

I am Rwandese,

currently living and studying in Russia."

Now I want you to listen
to Jean's testimony.

"I discovered Hope Sabbath School

in late 2014 shortly
after I came to Russia.

I used to go through the
Sabbath School study by myself

because I didn't have
anyone to study with me.

Even after I discovered
a church in the city,

it was still difficult because all
of the services were held in"...?

(Team) Russian.

(Derek) "...Russian, and I just
was learning the language.

As a response to my longings,..."

(Somebody is going to say "amen" here.)

"As a response to my longings,

God revealed Hope Sabbath School to me,"

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) "...and I was able to be part

of the in-depth study of
the Word of God in English.

It blessed me so much

that even though I've now
acquired enough language skills

to discuss the lesson in Russian,

I still watch Hope Sabbath School,

and I'm blessed by that.

I pray that you keep serving,
letting people know

about the Word of God

and that you might even
broadcast in different languages

to reach many unreached
places for Christ."

Well, Jean, I want to ask you to pray

because we are moving forward 
with closed captioning,

and we are looking for the opportunity

for volunteer translators

in a multitude of different languages

so that people who don't have
English as their language,

even a major second language,

will be able to watch and
read the closed captioning

because, you know this
Gospel of the Kingdom

is going to go the whole World,

and then Jesus will come
back, isn't that right?

(Derek) So thank you for
being a witness there

while you're studying in Russia.

One last note from Alexander in Zimbabwe.

Anyone from Zimbabwe, Simiso?

Hold your hand up and
wave to your brother;

we'll get that on the screen,

all the way from Zimbabwe.

"Greetings, Hope Sabbath School team."

(Team) Greetings!

(Derek) "I'm blessed to be watching
Hope Sabbath School in Harare..."

(capital?) "...of Zimbabwe.

I really enjoy the discussions;

they're so interactive and informative.

May God bless the entire
Hope Sabbath School team,

for spreading the Word of God."

Well, you say that's a lot of emails

coming from around the world,

and, you know, we are just so glad
that we can be part of a global family.

And we're going to sing
together now as a global family,

and then Tricia Lee's going to lead us

in a powerful study of the Word of God,

"The Teachings of Jesus
about the Last Days,"

but we're singing now, Psalm 148.

I hope you've learned it for this series,

"Praise Him in the Heights."

♪ music ♪

(Derek) You know, I've got a feeling
when we're done with this series,

we're going to be singing
this in our sleep,

but what a great Psalm to sing,

"Praise Him in the Heights,"

and, Tricia Lee, as you lead our
study today, I know we'll have a lot

to praise Jesus for as He gives
us hope for the last days.

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

Let us pray.

Dear Lord, we need your Holy Spirit

to help us to understand

the times that we're living in.

We need your Holy Spirit to help
us understand Your words to us

about the Last Days.

Please bless this study,

in Christ's name we pray, Amen.

(Derek, Team) Amen.

(Tricia Lee) I am so excited

that God has not left us in the dark

about what to expect, what will happen

in the last days.

Some people are very anxious
or nervous about the things

that happen at the end of time.

Some people have heard rumors or
strange stories of the apocalypse

or even science fiction zombies,

but God's Word reveals
to us what to expect.

So as we study together, let's just
thank God that He has not left us

in darkness about what
will come in the Last Days.

(Derek, Team) Amen.

(Tricia Lee) Let us turn our study

to the Book of Matthew chapter 23.

Before we hear what Jesus
teaches about the last days,

first we find our study right
after the Triumphal Entry.

Jesus has entered Jerusalem, and
He has met the religious leaders,

and unfortunately they are filled
with envy and anger towards Him,

and with a sorrowful heart He begins
to pronounce a series of woes to them.

Woe means misery or trouble to come,

bad things that are happening,
so He's warning them

about the condition of their
hard hearts and what that means.

So let's see first, before
we talk about the last days,

what Christ says to the religious
leaders and to the people at the time

about these woes, this miserable
condition that they are unfortunately now

finding themselves in
because they've rejected Him.

Let's start in Matthew chapter 23.

I'll ask Gary if he would
please read for us

Matthew chapter 23, verses 1 through 12.

(Gary) Okay, I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Amen.

So before addressing the
Scribes and Pharisees,

Christ first addresses the people;

He actually gives them some warnings.

Nicole, would you summarize for us

what has Christ warned the people
about in the verses we just read.

(Nicole) Sure, I'm thinking back
to humility again and not being

caught up in names and being
in certain places in society,

and so I think He is warning
against being kind of hypocrites,

you know, saying one thing out of your
mouth, but acting and living a way

that's not reflecting
what you're saying.

So I think these 12 verses kind of
talk about hypocrisy and warning

against living a life that
you're not actually living.

(Tricia Lee) That's correct.

Let's keep reading now 
in verses 13 through 15

where now Jesus is speaking directly

to the religious leaders and
pronounces these woes upon them.

Olric, will you please read
Matthew chapter 23:13-15?

(Olric) Yes, I'll be reading
from the King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Wow, wow, strong words

from Jesus here.

Jonathan, would you summarize for us

what is the rebuke that Jesus is giving
to the Scribes and Pharisees here?

(Jonathan) It seems like He
is just kind of debunking

their whole approach to religion.

They had set up all these rules and
set up all these different things,

and He's calling their bluff.

It's like, "You talk about My Kingdom,

but you don't actually want people in;

you don't actually invite people
to really live these things out.

It's more this external thing for you."

(Tricia Lee) Strong
rebukes, but there is more.

Juliana, will you continue reading, for
us, Matthew 23, verses 16 through 24?

(Juliana) Sure, and I will be reading
from the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Wow, wow.

Simiso,

summarize for what Jesus is
rebuking the religious leaders.

(Simiso) I think Jesus is rebuking

the religious leaders to
be genuine and authentic

and be all rounded in terms of what

Scripture requires of them.

(Tricia Lee) That's correct,
when we look at verses 21 and 22,

it seems as though they have a lack of
reverence for the things that are holy.

They're not really reverencing
what God is saying.

What do we see in verse 24

about the tithing of mint and anise?

Olric, what is Christ telling them
or for what is he rebuking them?

(Olric) They had this
teaching back then that

they were not to eat anything unclean,
and the gnat would be an unclean animal.

So they will take time to make sure

that the water does not contain

any of these little bugs,

but, you know, He is saying,

"Your hypocrisy is so evident;

you take time to pay tithe
and cummin and this stuff.

You're being outwardly religious,

but inwardly you're not there

because things like faith and mercy, love,

<i>that</i> you don't have.

You take time to look
at these little things,"

okay, "but there are bigger
things that you're not doing."

(Tricia Lee) Have you
ever heard the phrase,

"the letter of the law but
not the spirit of the law,"

being able to keep
certain requirements

but not really having and
living the love to motivate it?

Let's keep reading.

There's some more rebukes
that Jesus gives them.

Jason, would you read for us
Matthew 23, verses 25 through 36.

(Jason) I'll be reading from
the New King James Version.

Matthew chapter 23, verses
25 through 36, says:

(Tricia Lee) Wow.

These are some strong words.

I can't even imagine calling
someone a viper or a snake.

It's hard to even picture Jesus doing it.

We can imagine Him with tears in His eyes

telling those people that he loved

those scathing rebukes.

Why do you think the rebukes of Jesus

were so harsh?

Why was He speaking to them so severely?

Nathan?

(Nathan) I think we can read this in two
different ways, but we should read it

thinking of Jesus with tears
in His eyes and in His voice.

When you look at the next verse that
follows, verse 37 in Matthew 23.

Can I read it from the New King
James Version, where He says:

I mean, the pain in His voice;

He's longing for them to be saved, and He
says, "You're not willing to come to it."

It reminds me of, I think in Isaiah, God
speaking through the prophet says,

"All day long I stood with My
arms open wide to a stiff-necked

and rebellious people," -- Here
He is calling you to salvation,

and you're turning away, not just
turning away but rebelling against Him.

(Tricia Lee) And it's sad.

In a previous study, we've talked about
the choices that we all have to make,

and that God wants us to choose Him,

but we do have the free
will to choose otherwise.

(Derek) You know, I'm thinking,

Tricia Lee, I really appreciate what
Nathan said about the love of Jesus.

And there were some Pharisees,

Nicodemus was a Pharisee

and also a member of the Sanhedrin,

who did repent.

(Tricia Lee) Yes, praise God.

(Derek) So you know,

if Jesus was just kind of harsh and kind
of fighting with the weapons of this world

or acting like they acted,

they'd have an excuse,

but I think He is speaking
with love in His heart.

And, praise God, some of the
Scribes and Pharisees said,

"We need to repent;

we need to turn our lives around."

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

Reading through this passage,

something was very interesting,

and I'd like to ask the
class this question:

How could He say that the guilt

of all the righteous
blood, all the martyrs,

would fall on this generation?

What does that mean?

How are they guilty of all these things?

They're just living their little lives;

how is it that He can say that
the blood of all the righteous

from Abel to Zechariah would
fall on this generation?

Any idea what the significance was
of that statement, Missy?

(Missy) All throughout the
generations, God has sent prophets,

throughout all ages,

but along with the prophets
were the dissenters

who chose not to listen to them,
and not only that, to oppose them

and even kill the prophets.

And they have the same spirit,

so this is why they would carry the guilt.

(Tricia Lee) I think you're right,
Missy; Let's turn to Luke chapter 24,

and we'll see that the Bible
supports what you just said, Missy.

Luke chapter 24,

and Eric, would you read for us Luke
chapter 24, verses 25 through 27?

(Eric) I'm reading from the
New Living Translation,

Luke 24:25-27, and it says:

(Tricia Lee) Amen, that's right, Missy.

All the prophets were
given the same message,

the Gospel of Jesus that was
to come, the Messiah to come,

they were all testifying to Him,

so every generation, when they kept
rejecting the prophets that were sent

to them, they were rejecting Christ,

and ultimately when that generation
rejected Christ, they were rejecting

the entire message that had been sent
to them time after time after time.

Jonathan?

(Jonathan) Just the fact that, not
only did they reject the sayings

that were entrusted to them, now
they came with greater power.

I mean, like, when you have
Christ doing all these miracles,

so if they reject Christ, who is
the fulfillment and testimony

and perfect representation of
everything they were given,

they in essence have rejected it and
killed everything else before them.

(Derek) But you know, we have no excuse

because we have Jesus,

and yet, you know, one of the things
I've noticed, teaching about Jesus,

there are many young people who
grow up in a Christian home

who have never read the Book of
Matthew or Mark or Luke or John.

They have the testimony of Jesus Himself,

and yet a lot of times

we act like it doesn't exist.

(Tricia Lee) That would be
the rebuke to our generation.

(Derek) I think it would be.

(Tricia Lee) We have this Word that has
survived generation after generation;

we know that it's been
preserved through time

exactly as it was spoken to
the prophets and written down;

we know the life of Christ,

and so here we are today
with such grace, such mercy,

and if we still choose not to
accept God then that's the rebuke

that we have on ourselves.

We're going to keep reading now,

and we're going to transition
now to Matthew chapter 24

and get into the real heart of our study.

We're going to now see that
Jesus leaves the Temple.

Again, tears in His eyes.

Thank you Nathan; I believe
He had tears in His eyes, too.

Sad that the people were doubting
Him and not believing Him,

and now we're going to
see another conversation

that He and the disciples get into
that leads us to this amazing prophecy

about the destruction of Jerusalem
as well as the last day events.

We're going to read on
in Matthew chapter 24.

I'm going to ask Nicole if she
would start reading for us

Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14.

(Nicole) Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14,

I'm reading from the New
International Version,

and it says:

(Tricia Lee) Nicole, would you pause
there; I have a question for the group.

What do you think they mean by that?

The "end of the age?"

My New King James Version
says, the "end of the age."

Does anyone's Bible say
something different?

Anyone have "end of the world?"

Any thoughts...?

(Olric) What was happening
here, they were equating

whatever destruction
would come to Jerusalem,

they were equating it with
the end of the world.

So they put the two events together

because this is how they
saw it in their own minds.

That's why they asked Jesus
the question in that manner.

(Missy) It was a dual prophecy.

It was talking about two separate events,

but they run parallel to each other.

(Derek) But I think Olric's
right, that they thought

that must be the end of the world,

I mean, if every stone in this Temple
of God is going to be torn down.

We know that it's not going to be the
end of the world, it's only 40 years later

in 70 A.D. it will be fulfilled,

but I think in their minds, as Olric said,

they're thinking that must be one and
the same thing as the end of all things.

(Tricia Lee) Yes, one thing's for certain,
if we have questions on what that means

we're going to find out
as we keep reading,

but certainly as we listen to
what's going to be read to us

as we continue in chapter 24 -

the end of the age - it
was something drastic.

The end of the world is
what you described, Olric,

and that's the context that the
disciples had in asking this question,

what is the sign of this big,
grand, finale, if you would.

So Nicole, please keep reading for us.

(Nicole) I'm reading from
verse 4 of Matthew 24.

It says:

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

Missy, you were right that
this is a dual prophecy,

so we're going to continue reading

and skip down to verses 21 through 28

about the prophecy regarding
the last days and the end times.

I'm going to ask Alex if he would
read for us verses 21 through 28.

(Alex) Sure, and I'll be reading
from the King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Amen.

One last set of verses,

Nancy, would you please read
verses 32 and 33 for us?

(Nancy) Okay, and this is
from Matthew 24, verse 32

in the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Amen, at the doors.

So let's talk about these amazing,
amazing Scriptures, amazing prophecy,

Jesus letting us know what to expect

in the last days.

What signs of the last days do
you see, even today, taking place?

Olric.

(Olric) Wars, rumors of wars, you
have nation rising against nation,

and it's becoming more prevalent,

but not just more prevalent,

but they're using more
sophisticated weapons

for their warfare,

and it doesn't, you
know, seem to be ending.

(Tricia Lee) Okay, Juliana.

(Juliana) Olric mentions
things that are involving man,

but I think that the
Earth is also groaning.

We're seeing more and
more earthquakes.

I think of what happened
not that long ago in Nepal,

and there's also been things in Mexico

and in Africa and just all over the world.

We have earthquakes, we have famines.

There's things happening in rivers,

that animals are dying,

and the environment...it's groaning;

it's asking for Christ to come back.

(Tricia Lee) Alex.

(Alex) I think there are many
false prophets now, too.

Just more and more, all the time, I
see preachers and pastors coming out

with these end-time preachings and end-
time things, and even a lot of my friends

are really getting into these things,
"Here, check out this message," and such.

And it's like, wow, if I didn't know the
truth, this would be so easy to believe.

You know, how they point things out in the
world, but it's very easy to be deceived.

(Tricia Lee) Jonathan.

(Jonathan) I think it's interesting
to look at the things He chooses

and how He lays them out.

I feel like in some sense He
kind of picks the things,

not so much that we can
calculate the end of time,

but more to say, okay,
what do we need to look at

because, I mean, a lot of the things
He lays out happen throughout history.

The church was persecuted,
you have earthquakes, I mean,

that's been happening for a lot of time,

and certainly He does say things
that get close to the end of time,

but I think also He's just saying for
the disciples and for us in general

a way to look at the world
and to have our hearts,

and how to respond to
the things that happen.

So I think it's kind of, "How to
live in the context of My Coming."

(Derek) I think the positive thing

is the Gospel is going
to go to the whole world,

and then the end's going to come.

(Tricia Lee) Yes.

(Derek) You know, I think the joy we have
as a little team, Hope Sabbath School,

is that we're a little part of that,

and technology even in the lifetime

of many of our viewers,

there's been a revolution
in terms of communication.

And of course, the Enemy's
wanting to use that,

as Alex said, to promote false ideas

and just idolatry,

but I believe God's going to
use that by His Spirit, too.

So we're on the brink of where

the Message can go rapidly
around the world.

(Tricia Lee) Amen.

Alex, you mentioned the false
christs that come in the last days,

what's our safeguard against

the deception of a false christ,

or let's talk some more about
what that looks like,

a false christ or someone that's
coming in the name of Chris. Olric.

(Olric) I've looked through
the Old Testament,

and I've seen some scenarios where

false messages were
brought to God's people.

We see in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve

with the Devil tempting
them with false words.

Even in the case of, in a previous
study we did in Jeremiah,

we see Jeremiah being countered there by
an individual by the name of Hananiah.

The problem with these false
christs, false teachers,

they propel messages

that seem to distract God's people

from God's way of doing things,

the way God had commanded.

And the way to counter this,

as we will see from the Word of God,

is through the truth
like Isaiah 8, verse 20.

(Tricia Lee) Let's go there.

Let's go there, Isaiah 8, verse 20,

and Olric, will you read that for us?

(Olric) Isaiah 8, verse 20,

reading from the King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Wow.

So what I heard you say, Olric, is there

may not just be manifestations of people

saying that they are a false
messiah, to physically "follow me,"

but even teachings of false Christianity

that can also be a way to
deceive people in the last days.

(Derek) Right, and I think Alex made
a really important point when he said,

"I could follow what some
of my friends are saying

if I didn't study the Word,"

because these people, they do
signs and wonders, it says,

and they're religious;

they're false christs and false prophets,

so they speak about maybe
needing to be close to God,

and, you know, it all sounds good,

but it's false.

So, you know, we shouldn't
try to..."Oh, is that false?"

we should be focusing on the true

and on Jesus who is the true Christ,

because when we see the false

we will immediately recognize

that it isn't the truth.

(Tricia Lee) There's another promise that
Jesus Himself has made to His believers,

and I'm going to ask Missy

if she would read for us John
chapter 10, verses 27 and 28.

John chapter 10:27-28.

And it is a bit scary for some to
think that you could be deceived

by false teachers and false miracles

and false people to lead us astray,

but I thank God that He has
this promise recorded for us.

(Derek) Amen.

(Missy) I'm reading from the
New International Version:

(Derek) Amen.

(Tricia Lee, Team) Amen.

(Tricia Lee) We are safe
in the hands of Jesus.

"My sheep hear my voice...
and they will follow."

Thank you for reading that
Scripture in Isaiah, Olric.

If there is a message or a person that's
not speaking according to the Word of God,

then that's an alarm for us,

but He's also promised
that He will keep us,

that we will recognize His voice, and
I believe there are so many examples

in the Bible of the Lord
revealing Himself to His people,

literally leading His people through
the wilderness by day and by night,

and so even in the midst of strong
deception in the last days,

if we keep our eyes on Jesus...

(Derek) Amen.

(Tricia Lee) ...He will see us through.

Simiso, let's read another
promise from the Lord

on why we shouldn't be afraid

and should not be discouraged.

Simiso, would you read John
chapter 14, verses 1 through 3?

Why we should not be afraid
of these last day events.

(Simiso) John 14, verses 1 through 3,

and I'm reading from the
New King James Version.

It says:

(Team) Amen.

So the last days are a necessary step

in the process of getting
us closer to going Home.

Jesus is coming back to take
us Home to be with Him,

and as scary as last day events,

wars and earthquakes and pestilence

and family members betraying
one another, may sound,

God has promised to keep us

and the promise is that when He returns

He is going to take us Home with Him.

(Derek, Tricia Lee) Praise God.

(Tricia Lee) Missy mentioned earlier
that there was a dual prophecy,

that the disciples were thinking
about the destruction of Jerusalem,

and Jesus answered their question

about when those things
would take place as well.

Let's read the verses
where Jesus describes

the destruction of Jerusalem.

Eric, would you read for us

Matthew chapter 24, verses 15 through 20?

(Eric) I'm reading from the New
Living Translation, and it says:

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

Gary, we talked a bit earlier about
it being difficult for the disciples

to think of the destruction of
Jerusalem to happen at any other time

than at the end of the world.

Why was that?

Why did they connect the two together?

(Gary) I guess how they related

to the Temple, their mission;

they're the people of God.

They couldn't get past the fact that,

if this is not going to
be in existence anymore,

then that must mean everything
must be falling apart.

(Derek) You know, I think they're trusting
in the building rather than in God.

And before we judge them and
go, "That's really foolish,"

I think we could trust
in our institutions.

We could trust in our organization,

and the truth of the matter is,

that before this is all over,

a lot of those things could collapse.

(Tricia Lee) That's true.

(Derek) And all we have is
to hold on to our Savior,

you know, because we know
that He's going through.

He's going to take us
through to the very end.

But lest we be too hard on them, I think

they associated confidence in God,

and now it's the building,

and pretty soon God's kind of set aside,

and they're just trusting
in their structures.

(Tricia Lee) You're absolutely right.

We're going to have to let go
of a lot of ideas that we have,

things that we hold dear,

to accept Jesus and His return.

Juliana, would you read for us.

Let's turn to Philippians chapter 3:7-8,

and we'll hear an account of someone

who had to let go of some
things they held dear.

Philippians chapter 3:7-8.

(Juliana) I'm reading from
the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Amen!

What we didn't read is that previously

we're hearing an account of
having confidence in self

and being able to keep the Law
and being of the stock of Israel,

all the things that I'm sure the disciples

were very proud of in thinking about
the institution and the Temple.

They had to let those things go,

and surely we will have to
let some things go, as well,

to accept Christ.

We talked in a previous study
about falling on the Rock,

submitting to Christ

and learning to count the things of
God as gain and learning how to let go.

Let's keep reading in Matthew chapter 24.

Not only does Jesus tell
us what to look for

in His coming, but He gives
us a description of His coming,

and certainly this is key,

because we're watching and we're waiting,

and we want to be ready when He comes,
and we want to know what we're looking for

when He comes.

So Nathan, would you please read for us

Matthew 24, verses 27 through 31?

(Nathan) All right, I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Amen! Amen.

What are some of the characteristics
and aspects of Jesus' coming?

What do we learn from this passage?

(Nicole) Everyone will
see Him when He comes.

(Tricia Lee) It's visible, so it
looks like there are a lot of angels.

You can't miss the whole
Heavenly Host of angels.

What else do we learn?

(Olric) The trumpet sound.

(Tricia Lee) So it's loud; it's audible.

Okay, what else have we learned here?

(Jason) There will be some signs of
the heavens that precede the coming,

particularly with the
sun, moon, and stars.

(Tricia Lee) Anything else?

(Derek) It's dramatic.

It's not just, "Oh, I
think I see something."

(Tricia Lee) Yes.

(Derek) It's like lightening from the east

all the way to the west,

and I think that's important, because,

you know, Jesus talks about,
is this secret or is it...

I think it's a surprise

even for those of us who
are looking for His coming,

when it actually happens.

I mean If it happened in the
middle of this broadcast,

you know I'd use my favorite Hebrew word,

Hallelujah,

but I would be surprised

because I thought we were
going to finish the program.

Right? RIght?

Yeah, but it's not secret.

It's not secret;

it's visible, audible, but it's dramatic!

It's like lightning from
the east to the west.

(Tricia Lee) My version of the Bible

says that "the powers of the
heavens will be shaken."

I can't even imagine what that's like,
but I feel like we won't miss

when the heavens are shaking.

This is a dramatic, dramatic occurrence.

We'll all see it.

We will not miss it.

What else can we learn
about Jesus' coming?

Let's turn over to
1 Thessalonians chapter 4

where there's another description of
some of the "what" that takes place

and the "how" that takes place

when Jesus comes.

1 Thessalonians chapter 4:15-17.

I'll ask Gary to read that for us.

(Gary) Sure, and I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) What else is happening

at the coming of Jesus?

We're not going to miss
any of these things.

I heard again, the loud shout,

the Lord Himself is coming,

the Archangel.

I can imagine if the Archangel
and the Lord are shouting,

this is going to be a loud shout.

What else do we see?

(Nathan) In verse 15, we read that
there would be a resurrection.

(Tricia Lee) Yes, hard to miss!

(Nathan) We're not going to
Heaven without the ones...

I think probably the Thessalonians
were writing to Paul

and saying, "What about our loved
ones who have fallen asleep in Jesus?

Are we going to go to Heaven when Jesus
comes, and we'll leave them behind?"

He says, "No, before we go, they're
going to be raised from the Earth."

So that's something that we
won't really miss, will we?

It's hard to miss that.

(Derek) I think growing up I thought the
loud shout was like, "Yo!" you know?

But I think the shout
is, "Awake!" you know,

because the Scripture speaks about
"awake, you who sleep in the dust."

It's like, "Lazarus, come forth!"

when Jesus raises Lazarus.

So it's not just, "Yo!" you know?

It's a shout

that will conquer death;

it will defeat death.

(Tricia Lee) I've even imagined to myself
sometimes, like, "Honey, I'm home!"

We're the Bride and He's coming, right?

With excitement, He's here.

Let's not forget, though,
why Jesus was so sad

in rebuking the Pharisees and the Scribes
and the religious leaders in Jerusalem

who had rejected Him.

It was because He realized

that at His coming there
will be no second chance,

that things are final.

Our destinies will be decided
by Christ the Judge,

and that's why He had
those tears in His eyes,

because He knew their
salvation was on the line.

Let's look at some verses

again in Matthew 24

because there are some who believe
that there is a second chance,

that when Jesus comes again there's
another chance to get things right.

But we will learn that it really is
the end of time, the end of the age,

the end of the world,

and how important it is for us to make
our choice and our decision for Him now

and today.

Olric, will you read for us
Matthew 24, verses 36 through 42?

36 through 42.

(Olric) Reading from
the King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Through verse 42.

(Olric) Verse 40:

(Tricia Lee) Amen, thank you.

Particularly verses 40 and 41,

there are some that believe that there is
something called the "Secret Rapture,"

that the Lord will come at one point and
take some chosen people away secretly,

and others will not know, and that those
who are left behind have a second chance

for some period of time to get
things right before He comes again.

But what we've learned so far and
what these texts are describing to us

is, well, the first thing we can say
about the women is that they are

kind of going along in
their everyday lives, right?

They are going along, it's
business as usual, right?

They are at the mill,
is that where they are?

Grinding at the mill, and so exactly
what Pastor Derek described

about, we could be filming one
of these Sabbath School lessons,

and the Lord could come.

We're going about our
lives; it's a surprise.

It catches us suddenly, and that's
the shock that can be with two people

working at a mill or two
people sleeping in bed.

Yes.

(Olric) Notice what is being said here.

In this passage, Jesus is not
saying that you should not work.

This is daily work that they are doing.

The problem is, is that these
two passages, 40 and 41,

are in the context of Jesus saying that,

"My coming will be a
surprise," not a secret,

just a surprise,

because it will be loud,

it will be visible.

But the surprise is, it will come at
a time when people least expect it

because many folks, as He's saying here,

will be going about their daily work...

(Tricia Lee) Eating, drinking.

(Olric) ...doing all this stuff
without getting themselves ready.

(Derek) You know, there are many
sincere Christians who may believe

in a Secret Rapture of the saints

and then another chance,

and certainly we may not have
everything right about Scripture,

and we know if we love Jesus, and
we've accepted His salvation,

that whenever He comes
we'll be ready, right?

So we're not saved by
correct understanding.

The danger is

that people would put off

until tomorrow the commitment
they need to make today

and say, "Well, maybe when they
go I can make another chance,"

and that's, of course, the deception

because the Bible says,
"Today, if you hear His voice,

do not harden your heart."

(Tricia Lee) Amen.

Well, let's read another
Scripture, one chapter over,

Matthew chapter 25,
verses 31 through 34,

and I will ask Simiso to read that for us,

Matthew 25:31-34.

It will give us a little bit more insight
about what happens when the Lord comes

and this idea of being taken.

(Simiso) Matthew 25:31-34, I'm reading
from the New King James Version:

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

When Jesus comes, His
coming is not a secret.

It may be a surprise to some who
are going about their everyday lives

not watching, not being ready,

but it's His judgment that determines

who's on the left, who's on the right,

who's taken to be with
Him when He returns.

Again, Jesus knew this, and that's why

He pleaded and begged because He knew that

the choices we make today,

the choices they made in that day,

were what would determine

whether they would be on the right hand

or on the left hand,

whether they'd be taken
back Home with Him.

(Derek) And those who are left...
I think this is really important;

you've been emphasizing
the need for a decision.

We read that where the body is,

there the vultures will gather.

As we study Scripture,

those who are left are
not left to continue on,

but they are destroyed by the
brightness of Christ's coming,

and that's why we need to
make our decision today.

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

Well, let's wrap up our study

in learning what it means
to watch and be ready

and how we should act when we
know that the Lord is coming.

Jason, would you read for us

verses 42 through 51 of Matthew 24?

(Jason) I'll be reading from
the New King James Version,

Matthew chapter 24, verses 42 through 51:

(Tricia Lee) Oh, mercy.

Olric, quickly,

how can we be ready

for Jesus' Second Coming?

(Olric) Simple, get ourselves ready

spiritually first through our
commitment to Jesus Christ,

and use that commitment to reach others.

(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

Thank you for this wonderful study,

and let's continue to thank God that He
reveals to us the things that will come

in the future through His Word.

(Derek) Thank you, Tricia Lee.

What an amazing study,

and thank you for joining us
for Hope Sabbath School today.

Jesus wants you to be ready.

He wants you to know peace and joy today,

even in the midst of the
difficulties around you.

I want to pray that you'd
make that commitment today,

just as Olric said, today,

that you'll trust Christ as your Savior

while we have this wonderful opportunity.

Let's pray.

Our Father in Heaven, we
don't want to take for granted

the great privilege of
learning the truth about Jesus

and accepting Him as our Savior

while there is still time.

I pray for each one who
hears this prayer today,

that we may make our
calling and election sure

by trusting Jesus as our
Savior and soon-coming King.

And God, I thank you
that you'll also use us

to share that Good Word, that Word of hope

with those around us,

in Jesus' name, Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) Well, we're looking
for that glorious appearing,

we'll see Him come, we'll hear Him,

we'll hear a shout that
will wake the dead.

It's going to be a glorious reunion.

Won't you determine today

that you'll be part of the
Redeemed for all eternity,

and won't you also make the commitment

that Jesus wants you to
share that Good News

so that others can be with
us on that glorious day.

Go out,

make a difference to the
lives of those around you.

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