How to Live in the Last Days

Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham.

Now, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are a follower of Jesus, You don't have to live in fear or terror of this future. In fact, the Bible calls all of this the blessed hope for the Christian. We live in hope. On today's PowerPoint, Dr. Graham brings a message about how you're to live in these last days.

Now here's Dr. Graham with his message. How to live in the last days. Take God's word and turn The Revelation chapter 15. We're going to look at chapters 15 and 16 today.

At the end of the age, there is coming great war, great war. Wrath, the final wrath. In fact, in chapter 15, beginning in verse 1, It says, and then I saw another sign in heaven. Great and amazing. Seven angels with seven plagues.

Which Are the last, for with them the wrath of God. is finished. This is the final Fury. Of the wrath of God, judgment. Upon sin.

And I want to stop right there and simply say: don't ever, as a Christian, a believer in God's word, apologize. For the wrath of God. God in His judgment, God in His pure holiness. in his holy wrath will eradicate Sin and sinful men and women from the world and into eternity to judgment.

So it is right and righteous. for God to judge the world. at the end of the age is coming. It's coming.

Now, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are a follower of Jesus, you don't have to live in fear or terror of this future. In fact, the Bible calls all of this the blessed hope for the Christian. We live in hope. And the scripture says, comfort one another with these words.

So, this final sign, this final judgment. is it's the last chord. It's the final curtain. It is The last Ah. The wrath is poured out.

And with it, With this wrath, God, as always, reveals... His grace and his love. Verses 2 through 4 tell us this. And I saw what appeared to be the sea of glass mingled with fire. And all of those who had conquered the beast and the image of its number and its name, standing beside, notice they are standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Always so true of God. Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. And in the midst of all of this judgment, there is the joy. With all of these plagues and the pouring out of the cup of God's wrath, the waterboarding of the world, if you will, there's coming.

Great joy for the Christian, and John sees this vast multitude, this massive throng around the throne of God. These are The tribulation saints, those who have come out of the great tribulation. who stood for Christ. In the worst times in the history of the world, times Jesus said we're so evil.

so wicked that no one would survive them. And yet, these tribulation saints. The 144,000, the great two witnesses, those who come to Christ against all odds in the tribulation. They are standing there. They refused.

The mark of the beast, the 666, and they were faithful to Christ. And therefore they sing a song of victory.

Now, these, of course, are representative of all of us. Who will stand at the crystal seat? All of us who will be before the throne of God in that day. Says they are playing harps or instruments. Did you know there are more commands in Scripture?

to sing than there are to pray. Of course we're to pray. But we are to always praise God. And in this prelude, to the pouring out of wrath. This pause, if you will, before.

The plagues come to the earth, there is worship. And we are now getting ready for that day. That's why we worship. The scripture says in Psalm 16:11, In your presence, Lord, is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

What joy it is to worship God in advance of this day and then throughout all eternity. This is why we sing. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. When we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun. 10,000 reasons.

10,000 years. and forevermore. We will be singing. and worshiping our great God. And what's on the playlist of heaven?

The Song of Moses? And the song of the lamb.

Song of Moses. The first recorded song in the Bible. Came out of that experience when Israel came out of Egypt. They were chased down by Pharaoh at the Red Sea. God parted the waters.

Moses led them through Dry Shad, through the waters. They came out on the other side. And Pharaoh, this wasn't the American Pharaoh, this was the Egyptian Pharaoh. And in this case, the horse and the rider were thrown into the sea. And Moses And the children of Israel worshiped the song of the servant of God Moses.

And of the people of God. It was a song of deliverance, it was a song of redemption. breaking the chains and leaving them behind. No more bondage. We're coming through.

And then the song of the lamb. The song of the lamb is recorded for us. The words, the lyrics. are given in verses 3 and 4. It says, Great and amazing are your deeds.

O Lord God the Almighty, Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy, and all nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. Again, the righteous acts of redemption, the righteous acts of God's judgments. All of the deeds of God are perfect and good and glorious.

He has Both holy love and holy wrath, but all the righteous deeds of God. And this is the song of the Lamb, the redemption of the Lamb, the blood of the Lamb. Both songs are songs of deliverance and redemption. Here's what they tell us. God is bringing us out.

God is bringing us in. And God is bringing us through. There it is. Forever and ever. We praise him for bringing us out of our sin.

For bringing us into eternal life. and bringing us through these who stood on the crystal glass. Mingle with fire. It speaks of. of those who came through fiery trials and and uh combustible crisis and In their lives, and like these tribulation saints, we all have tribulation.

For Jesus said, You will in this world have tribulation. The one who brought us out, the one who's bringing us in, and he's the one who's bringing us through. We're going to sing forever in praise of God. The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. When you read those verses, it sounds like how great thou art.

He tells us to worship God how great you are, tells us to worship God how great. and how good you are. Tells us to worship God how glorious you are. God, how great, how... Good, how glorious.

You are. And so John is just raptured up into the beautiful presence of God. The temple scene is occurring here, the holy place of God, where God Himself is seen in His glory, face to face, in all of His splendor, and sovereignty, and majesty. Until now, we have yet to see him. As Peter said.

Having not seen him. Yet we love him. By faith. We see what is unseen. We believe.

And we follow him by his spirit. It's the unseen world. The glory of Jesus, we have yet. to see we have experienced the grace of Jesus. But one day we will see the glory of Jesus.

Remember, Revelation is apocalypso, it's the unveiling, it's the uncovering. And when we see Christ face to face, all of his glory will be uncovered. We've seen glimpses of that in the Bible. The transfiguration when Peter, James, and John had an intimate opportunity to see Christ in all of his glory transfigured before them, but it was just a glimpse. One day it will be face to face.

We will see him. And therefore, the smoke from the glory of God, this. Fearsome. Presence, we are drawn in. Because of what Christ has done.

for us. The things that are seen are passing away. But what is unseen is yet to come. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: How to Live in the Last Days. We're excited to share that we have a new way to connect with you.

It's our texting service designed to keep you connected with everything happening here at PowerPoint. You'll be the first to know about upcoming events, special announcements, and truly enriching content. To join, start a new text conversation by texting Connect to 59789. Again, text Connect to 59789. In a time marked by confusion, anxiety, and spiritual compromise, your support of PowerPoint helps point millions of people to the one source of unshakable hope and truth: God's Word.

Through your generosity, you are helping proclaim the gospel across the globe. And with every broadcast, more people are discovering the Bible, not as a rule book, but as a wellspring of life. To thank you for your gift of $10 or more, we want to send you Dr. Jack Graham's booklet, Breaking Free from Stress. This timely resource will help you break the power of stress and anxiety in your life as you learn to rest in God's promises.

To request your copy, simply text the word STRESS to 59-789. That's stress to 59789.

Now let's get back to today's message, how to live in the last days. Chapter 15, the shortest chapter. In the book of Revelation, concludes because it is. As I said, a prelude to the plagues that come in chapter 16. And the details.

of the final judgments that are to come. This is the darkest chapter in the Bible.

Now let me encourage you. When you come to chapters like this that reference judgment, Don't skip over that. Don't say, well, I, you know, I don't like all that judgment. I don't like all those plagues and Wrath, and you just get me to the other end and get me into heaven. No?

We need to realize as we read the Revelation, first of all, there's a blessing promised when we read the Revelation, all of it. The very first chapter of Revelation. There's a blessing promised to those who read and heed the words of the Revelation.

So don't skip by this. But let it settle, let it sober you in the feast. Of such judgment. And again, never, ever, ever, ever as a Christian apologize for the holy judgment and justice of Almighty God. The chapter warns us that a fiery end is coming.

That God is punishing and purifying the earth. Remember, he's making all things new. In order to make all things new, he eradicates sin and sinfulness. And there is, therefore, the plagues that are poured out. Verse 2 speaks of the first plague, malignant sores.

Cancerous. disease. Verse 3, polluted seas. The seas Are toxic and polluted, they're blood-like. Verse 4: Poisoned fresh water, the seas, as well as fresh water, drinking water, all the rest.

poisoned. Verse 9, scorching fire and heat. Peter tells us that the world is going to end in a fiery blast. Plague five is chapter sixteen, verse ten: darkness and misery and anguish and hell. People gnawing their tongues.

Jesus described this. It's a brutal picture of hell. People chewing their tongues and gnawing their mouths is hell, it's misery, it's darkness. Then there's military invasion in verse 12. That's the six.

Plague that is poured out as armies from the east. A great battle will ensue, but then earthquakes and final judgment in verse 17.

So there you have it: these seven plagues that are poured out.

Now for years and years We have talked about nuclear holocaust. And it seems that this kind of nuclear Holocaust. is described here. In Revelation chapter 16. We know it will be global.

catastrophe. Up until now, when you read your Bible, all the judgment, Noah's flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah and Judgments in the New Testament, they've been localized. But this is worldwide. This is a global Catastrophe. And The response you would think would be cries for mercy.

In the midst of this misery, Repentance, but in fact, verse 9, look at it, chapter 16 and verse 9. Says they were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory. Incredible. The fact is, a person can become so hardened, so scorched in their sin, that their conscience is seared over. They had no desire.

To repent. to receive forgiveness and mercy. Their heart is hard and callous, their conscience. It's crushed it over. And in the face of judgment, they're not flinching, they're cursing God, blaspheming.

The Spirit of God. Can happen today, by the way. The fact is that you can hear the gospel of Jesus. And say no and no and no and no and no. And you know, typically what we do over and over again, we get pretty good at.

And if you get unfortunately good at saying no to God, you get really good at it. Till you finally say a final no, and you pass the point of no return, beyond the point of redemption. God says, My spirit will not always strive. With man. The proverb says He who is often reproved.

Who hardens his neck, that is, bows up. Against the grace of God, stiffens your neck against the love and the grace and the mercy of God. He who is often reproved shall suddenly. Suddenly Be cut off. And that's.

Without remedy. There's no cure. And that's what happens. Here in the revelation at the end, but it can happen to you today. That's why we say today, if you hear his voice, don't harden your heart.

Come to Jesus. And if you're a Christian, get your friends. to Jesus. Verse 14 calls this a very descriptive word: the great day of God Almighty. You see it there in verse 14?

This great day of God Almighty, this final war, this final battle, is the great day of God Almighty. Paul spoke of that day. He looked at faith in faith at that day. He said, I know whom I believed. I'm persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed unto him against that day.

That is our confidence in Christ. We believe. And when that day, this day comes. We will be saved. From that wrath.

which is to come. Are we living in the last days? We're told not to speculate or guess. But we are given signs and scenarios in Revelation and throughout prophetic scriptures. that are indicators Like birth pangs in preparation for birth.

Yeah. Tell us that suggests that the final act of history. is here And now. When you see all of this in the tribulation, And Antichrist and judgment and economic collapse and diseases that you can't control and terrorism. When you see all of that in the tribulation and world government and religious apostasy and moral collapse, when you see all of that developing that will be in the tribulation, if we're getting closer to the tribulation, then we're much closer than that.

to the rapture when Jesus comes to take us home.

So be ready. She comes as no surprise to Christians as to what is happening in the world. We are right on schedule with God's plan for the future. Right on schedule.

So then, how Should we live? Verse 15 of chapter 16. Look at it. Behold, I'm coming like a thief, that is, suddenly, unexpectedly. Blessed, happy is the one who stays awake.

Keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen. Exposed. Stay awake, stay alert. In fact, there is a parallel passage to this. Keep your place in Revelation.

But in Romans chapter 13, there is a parallel scripture to what we just read when Christ comes again. It's beginning in verses 11 in chapter 13. Look at it. Besides this, you know the time. That the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone. The day is at hand.

So then, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. How should we live in the last days? Listen up. First of all, wake up.

He said, It's time to wake up from sleep. Jesus said, Watch, watch, be awake, be alert, because you don't know the time of my coming. Time to wake up, to be alert. This is not a time for laziness. This is not a time for lethargy.

This is not a time for listlessness. Why? Because Every day is bringing us closer and closer to eternity. Wake up! It's daybreak.

Christ is coming soon. Be ready, be responsive, and be responsible. What's it going to take to wake you up? And then we're to clean up. Verse 12 says, Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

We're to clean up and then gear up for battle. He says, get rid of anything and everything in your life that's not pleasing to God. Live in purity. Live in personal godliness. That is the call for every Christian.

And verse 13 says some things specifically. that we should discard Permanently in our lives as Christians. He calls them the works of darkness, and he names some of them. And he started. with these works of darkness, orgies and drunkenness.

And then he talked about lewdness and lust, sensuality, and then not in strife and envy.

So wake up. Clean up. And then finally, quickly look up. For your redemption is drawing nigh. The revelation concludes with these words.

Whoever is thirsty. Come to me and drink. of the water Oh wife. You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: How to Live in the Last Days. It's easy to get caught in the cycle of always trying to do more, be more, and carry it all by yourself.

As a result, so many people battle stress and anxiety, especially around the holidays. But that's not God's heart for you. And in his booklet, Breaking Free from Stress. Dr. Jack Graham speaks directly to the anxious heart.

offering biblical hope to those who feel weighed down and wrung out by stress. Drawing from Psalm 23 and real-life stories, he reminds you that while stress is inevitable, living enslaved to it is not. Breaking Free From Stress is our thank you for your gift of $10 or more to help proclaim the gospel through PowerPoint. And when you give, know that your support helps take God's word across the airwaves, into homes, prisons, and hearts all over the world. To request your copy of Breaking Free From Stress, text STRESSS to 59-789.

That's stress. to 59-789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?

Okay.

Well, it's very important that we come out of the world, that we live separated lives, not isolated lives, but lives that are uniquely, distinctly different. than the world. That we turn away from this world and its pleasures and treasures that do not last, and put our faith and trust in God and follow His paths. which are always good and perfect, Always God's way is the best way. It's very important that we be different from the world.

In fact, if we're going to make a difference in the world, we must be different. If your life is pretty much the same as your unbelieving neighbor, that's a sign perhaps that you're not taking God seriously enough in your life. that God's Word is not growing in you. Join with other believers at church and in a Bible study so that your faith in Christ will be strong. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

And when you get with other believers, you get stronger together. And we encourage one another in the body of Christ to live boldly for Christ, to take our stand, to truly be different, to come out of the world and to live for Jesus. There's a great old song. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

We are to turn from anything that doesn't please God. That includes, as we talked about in this message, fleeing, running from sexual immorality of any kind. Whether it's a physical relationship or continual lustful thoughts, whether it is internet pornography, in any way that you are compromising your morality and your purity, turn away from these things because they have the capacity to ruin your faith. Pray for the Spirit of God to give you the power you need, the strength you need to overcome temptation and to live for the Lord Jesus Christ, for His glory. in His glory only.

And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember, when you give a gift of $10 or more to PowerPoint, we'll send you a copy of Dr. Graham's booklet, Breaking Free from Stress as Our Thanks. Just text the word stress to 59-789. And join us again next time when Dr.

Graham brings a message about the coming collapse of the world system and what you can do about it. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.