Session 4: The End... Well Almost... The Millennium: More Than a Falcon The sharpest disagreement among Christians is concerning _________________________________. So, let’s dive in, starting with the only place the Millennium is mentioned in Scripture: Revelation 20:4-6. Theologically, the Church tends to fall into three camps when dealing with this difficult passage: amillennialism, postmillennialism, & premillennialism. Let’s dive in! Amillennialism: Historically held by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, ____________________, most reformed, and some Methodists; amillennialism holds that Christ now rules through his Church and the thousand years of Revelation 20 symbolize that present rule. What’s more, they believe that the 2nd Coming of Christ will be one grand dramatic finale ushering the resurrection of the dead, the judgment for all, and the new heavens, and new earth. Postmillennialism: This view holds that Christ will return after his Church rules politically on earth for a thousand years. Though it had many adherents at the height of Roman Catholicism Church’s power roughly from Constantine to The Reformation and in early American history; few hold this view today. Premillennialism: When discussing this view, it’s important to note that it has two dominant streams: historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism [say that 3 times fast]. • Historic Premillennialism (HP): Alongside amillennialism, this view existed in the early church with some prominent adherents. Today it’s the official doctrine of Baptists, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, most nondenoms., and others. The highly influential Biblical Scholar and adherent to this view, George Ladd defines HP as, “the doctrine stating that after the 2nd Coming of Christ, [Christ] will reign for a thousand years over the earth before the final consummation of God’s redemptive purposes in the new heavens and new earth…” • Dispensational Premillennialism (DP): Developed by John Nelson Darby in the 19th Century, promoted in the Scofield Reference Bible, and popularized today through the writings of Hal Lindsey (The Late Great Planet Earth) & Tim LaHaye (the Left Behind Novels); this view derives its name from a theological system derived by Darby that divides biblical history into series of ages or dispensations. Because of its convoluted nature and myriad of views depending on which teacher you talk to, it’s hard to systematically pin down what it teaches. Between you me and YouTube, DP is HP on drugs. However, because of televangelists, the Left Behind books, and its vocal history in America; much of its teaching is just assumed to be true by Christians of all stripes (see Rapture below). Thus, it needs to be on our radar. Why Pastor Shawn is a Mostly Sure Amillennialist. 1) Scripture nowhere else clearly teaches a thousand-year millennium. 2) The structure of Revelation is anything but _______________________. 3) The symbol and image heavy vision of John is a precarious place to build a complete understanding of the end-times. 4) Scripture clearly teaches that Christ is ______________ right now. If so, why does he need a millennium in the future? 5) Amillennialism fits the “____________________________” thrust of the New Testament. 6) Premillennialism tends to miss how Christ reigns and works through that which is lowly in the here and now (think his cross & our crosses). 7) Premillennialism’s understanding of Israel rebuilds ethnic barriers that God removed through Christ. 8) Premillennialism unnecessarily complicates what is laid out simply in the New Testament. Phew, that was a lot? Any questions? Shooting from the hip, why might this debate matter? Sidebar: Rapture, More Than a Blonde Song Due to its immense popularity in American evangelicalism, it surprises many to know that the idea of the rapture as it is currently defined is not found in historic Christianity. It was introduced in the 1830s by the pioneer of dispensationalism John Nelson Darby who taught that there would be a secret Rapture of Christians before the great tribulation. Since his time dispensationalism and other evangelicals hold four different views concerning the timing of the Rapture: Pre-Tribulation (trib), Mid-Trib, Pre-Wrath, & Post-Trib. Although there are differences between the first three views of the rapture, they all share the same perspective that it is a separate event from the second coming of Christ. Let’s briefly look at their main Scripture: 1 Thess 4:13-18 (*Greek vs. Latin), 5:2; Matt. 24:36-44. It’s important to note that the Lutheran church and historic Christianity does not subscribe to the “rapture” as it is taught by much of American Evangelicalism. As Paul plainly teaches, the "rapture" (remember that’s not the word he uses) will occur at Christ's second coming, at which time there will be the resurrection and judgment day for all.

A sermon on Matthew 21:23-32

Session 3: Signs or Why It's Okay to Use Universal Product Codes... In February 7th, 2013 a Tennessee man quits his job after receiving a W-2 tax form stamped with the number 666. "If you accept that number, you sell your soul to the devil," he said. In 1989, the Regans moved into their new home in Bel-Air at 666 St. Cloud Road. They subsequently changed it to 668 St. Cloud Road. In 1974, a packet of gum was purchased in an Ohio supermarket. What made this purchase significant is that it was the first item to use the Universal Product Code (UPC) or what we call the barcode. Several years later, Mary Stewart Relfe would write a book entitled, “The New Money System 666” that claimed the codes hid the number 666. Many Christians followed suite. What ties these three stories together? Other than the Mark of the Beast, what are some other “signs” that you’ve heard talked about in popular culture or by late night televangelists? What could be a negative effect of such preaching and teaching? Why Signs? Before we get to specifics, why do you think the Bible gives us signs of the end? Luke 21:28 “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Matthew 24:12–13 “12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him… 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed…” In short, signs are given to incite us to _____________________, prayer, holiness, endurance, and hope rather than speculation. In fact, the Bible explicitly forbids the ladder: Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Acts 1:6–7 “6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” Does any of this surprise you? What are the Signs? a) Signs in nature. -See Luke 21:25-26 b) Signs in the realm of human activity and life: warfare, hatred against the Church, pestilences, famines, general distress, & great wickedness. -See Matthew 24:5-14, 37-39 c) Signs in the Church: False teachers and prophets, messianic pretenders, apostacy, Antichrists and the Antichrist, and sever persecution. -See Luke 21:8-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Peter 3:3, 1 John 2:18 The Antichrist, Mark of the Beast, etc… For $1, what book of the Bible mentions “the antichrist?” ______________ “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.” ______________ “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” From ____________ testimony we may conclude that: 1) the “end times” extended from his day to ours, 2) throughout these end times the spirit of the Antichrist leads people to deny Jesus Christ, 3) the Antichrist is still to come. Does anything surprise you about this portrayal of the Antichrist? The Antichrist in Paul’s writings Although Paul doesn’t mention the term “Antichrist,” he speaks of “__________________________” who will emerge. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, we discover that immediately before Christ returns this person will lead a rebellion against God and his people, he will do the work of Satan, will perform counterfeit miracles that will deceive many, and in the end will be destroyed. The Antichrist in Revelation In Revelation, the antichrist is pictured symbolically in the second beast: Read Revelation 13:11-18 noting the symbolism. As it is hinted in other parts of Scripture, in Revelation we discover that ultimately the Antichrist is literally a false or counterfeit Christ. He’s Satan’s agent masquerading as the Savior. Jesus performed miracles to point to the truth, he performs miracles to deceive. God places a mark upon his people to show that they belong to them (Rev 7:3), the beast forces a mark to be placed on his followers and causes economic hardship to all who refuse. Jesus is described as a horned Lamb in Revelation 5, the beast is described as have two horns like a Lamb. When you combine this with the purpose of signs, everything comes together! The Holy Spirit is saying through the Apostles, “When you see these things happening, don’t be dupped! Be watchful, pray, and endure to the end.”

A sermon on Matthew 20:1-16

Session 2: Death, First Thing in the Morning, Really!?! What is death? Ultimately, death is not a passing away, transitioning, or becoming one of God’s angels. No, death is a consequence of sin and is therefore a cursed reality that the Bible calls our “Last Enemy.” Genesis 2:17 “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Romans 5:12 “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…” 1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Does any of this surprise you? Why or why not? How might looking at death as an enemy give comfort and affirmation to the mourning? What Happens After You Die? Functionally speaking, death is not the end of existence, it’s the separation of the soul from the body. Having said that, God’s Word only tells us a little about the state of the soul between death and the resurrection; it mainly points us to Judgement Day and to the resurrection of the body. Here’s what we know: Upon this separation of body and soul, we experience the finality of God’s judgement. Dying is like casting a completed ballot into a locked box and the choice is irreversible. Hebrews 9:27 “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” 2 Corinthians 5:10 “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” To say it another way, our embodied life is a space of grace to come into God’s Kingdom. When we die, that space closes for good. Though we may die before Judgement Day, the verdict we receive at our deaths cannot be changed. Because of this, the answer to the question, “what happens after we die,” will look different for unbelievers and believers. What happens to unbelievers when they die? (Take a deep breath, this is going to be tough to hear) At death, the souls of those who persist in unbelief and sin are locked in prison where they wait the final judgement (1 Peter 3:19). Scripture describes this as a tine of fearful expectation (Hebrews 10:27) and loss of all hope (Proverbs 11:7). Though told as a parable and therefore may not be a literal picture of this reality, the Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus offers a chilling testimony of what this torment will be like (See Luke 16:19-31). What happens to believers when they die? In contrast to unbelievers, the death of believers is described by God’s Word in comforting ways: • The souls of believers are in God’s hand, Acts 7:59-60; Luke 23:46 • They are with Christ in paradise, Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; • They are supremely happy and blessed, Revelation 14:13 There’s a great mystery here that no human can fully comprehend. To put it simply, in his grace God has taken death; the last enemy and wretched consequence of our sin; and made it our “gate to eternal life” (Burial of the Dead, LBW 207). The Already and Not Yet, Even at Our Deaths? As I mentioned last week, the already and not yet aspect of our lives as Christians is crucial in understanding the end times. This is true even in our deaths. With Christ in paradise, we will joyfully await and anticipate the ingathering of all his saints, the final verdict of the judgement, the resurrection of our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18), and the New Heavens and New Earth (Isaiah 66:22, 2 Peter 3:11-13, Revelation 21). I love the way William Boekestien puts it, “The yearning of the blessed in paradise is a good yearning, like the way a group of friends eagerly awaits the arrival of other guests to a party.” Phew!?! We went over a lot of heavy stuff this morning, did any of it surprise you? Any questions? Application Considering what you’ve learned about death today, how might this knowledge affect the way you live? How might it help you comfort those who are grieving? What hope does it give you as you consider your own death? Pray: “Father, give me your aid, so I may see in death the gate to eternal life, that I may continue my course on earth with confidence until, by your call, I am reunited with those who have gone before me; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (The Burial of the Dead LBW 207)

A sermon on Matthew 18:21-35