Africa Training Bible School Bible Verse Hand Book Session 4 to be utilized with Mike Bickle Escatology signs of the times adapted for Pastors in Africa

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Session #4 - Negative Spiritual Sign - Bible Verse HandBook

Session #4: Negative Spiritual Sign Trends in the Church and Society

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Session #4 Negative Spiritual Sign Trends in the Church and Society

2Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isa. 60:2)

B. Eight times Jesus exhorted God’s people to watch and pray

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
(Mt. 24:42)

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Mt. 25:13)

9 “You must be on your guard. (Mk. 13:9a)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Lk. 21:34-36)

15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev. 16:15)

6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
(1 Thes. 5:6)

5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:5)

33“Take heed, watch and pray…35Watch…for you do not know when the master…is coming… 36lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mk. 13:33-37)

II. JESUS IDENTIFIED 12 NEGATIVE SIGN TRENDS

A. Jesus gave 12 negative sign trends that will bring distress to the nations

1. Deception

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many". (Mt. 24: 4-5)

2. Apostasy

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.
(Mt. 24:10)

3. Violence - Ethnic conflict

Nation will rise against nation… (Mt. 24:7a)

4. Kingdom against kingdom. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…. (Mt. 24:7b)

5. Famines, Pestilence

There will be famines …... (Mt. 24:7c)

6. Earthquakes

… and earthquakes in various places. (Mt. 24:7d)

7. Hatred of believers

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Mt. 24:9)

8. Relational breakdown in society

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
(Mt. 24:10)

9. Lawlessness will abound

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold (Mt. 24:12)

10. Fearful sights

… fearful events…. (Lk. 21:11c)

11. Disturbances in the sea

25 “the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (Lk. 21: 25b)

12. Fearful sights great signs in the sky

11“There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…25in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things…” (Lk.21:11, 25-26)

III. LAWLESSNESS WILL ABOUND

A. The increase of evil is a prophetic sign of the end times.

12“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Mt. 24:12)

21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” (Rev. 14:18)

5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Rev. 17:5)

23“In the latter time…when the transgressors have reached their fullness…” (Dan. 8:23)

B. David prophesied that the nations would rise up against Jesus’ leadership

2The kings of the earth…and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD…saying, 3“Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” (Ps. 2:2-3)

D. The chief sins in that hour will be murder, sorcery, immorality, and theft

21They did not repent of their murders…sorceries…sexual immorality or thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

1. Murder:

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:13-14)

21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.”
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. (Rev.13:7, 10)

6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” (Rev. 16:6)

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Rev. 17:6a)

24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (Rev. 18:24)

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, (Dan. 7:21)

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mk. 13:12-13)

2. Sorceries:

4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. (Rev. 13:4, 8, 12-15)

13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Rev.16:13-14)

11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mt. 24:11; 24)

1.The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Tim 4:1-2)

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thes. 2: 2-4)

3. Immorality: demon energized perversion

20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:20-21)

2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” (Rev. 17:2)

3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” (Rev. 18:3)

4. Theft:

21 Creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans... (Rom. 8:21-22)

6 “I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations (Jesus) …” says the LORD of hosts. (Hag. 2:6-7)

E. Paul prophesied a great increase of wickedness and selfishness in the end times .
1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
(2 Tim. 3:1-4)

F. Sound doctrine teaches obedience and allegiance to Jesus.

3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth…5But you be watchful in all things. (2 Tim. 4:3-5)

IV. THE DAYS OF NOAH (VIOLENCE) AND THE DAYS OF LOT (IMMORALITY)

26“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man…28Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold.” (Lk. 17:26-28)

B. The days of Noah: Those days were characterized by great violence
12God looked upon the earth…it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence.” (Gen. 6:12-13)

6. Human Trafficking:
13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves. (Rev. 18:13)

3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink. (Joel 3:3)

11“And the merchants of the earth will weep…for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12merchandise of gold…13cattle and sheep…and bodies and souls of men.”
(Rev. 18:11-13)

3“They have…given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine.” (Joel 3:3)

C. The days of Lot: (Gen. 19)

1. Biblical prophecy describes immorality greatly increasing in the end times
21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’[a] which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Rev. 14:8)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. (Rev. 17:1-4)

9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’ (Rev. 18. 9-10)

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Rev. 21:8)

This is seen in many ways.
3. Forbidding marriage

1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3forbidding to marry… (1 Tim. 4:1-3)

4. Breakdown of the family:

10“Then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”
(Mt. 24:10)

V. PERSECUTION AGAINST BELIEVERS

A. Jesus prophesied that true believers will be hated in all nations of the earth

9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations
for My name’s sake.” (Mt. 24:9)

B. Martyrdom:

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time (Dan. 7:21-22, 25)

24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. (Dan. 8:24-25)

33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (Dan. 11:33-35)

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying,
“It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”

10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
(Dan. 12:7, 10)

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Rev. 7:9)

21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. (Rev. 11:7)

7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world
15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Rev. 13:7-9; 15-17)

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Rev. 17:6)

24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (Rev. 18:24)

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt. 10:21-22, 28)

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Mt. 24:9)

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Lk. 12:4-7)

16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life. (Lk. 21:16-19)

9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw…those who had been slain for the word of God…
10They cried…saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood…?” 11…it was said to them that they should rest…until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
(Rev. 6:9-11)

33“They shall fall by sword…35Some of those of understanding shall fall[martyrdom], to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end.” (Dan. 11:33-35)

C. Anti-Semitism:

3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. (Zech. 12:3, 9)

2I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken…Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant…shall not be cut off from the city. (Zech. 14:2)

2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. (Joel 3:2, 12)

8 Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord,
“for the day I will stand up to testify.
I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. ( Zeph. 3:8)

2I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken…Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant…shall not be cut off from the city. (Zech. 14:2)

VI. FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH

A. Jesus and Paul prophesied about a falling away from the faith in the end times.

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mt. 24:10-13)

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
(2 Thes. 2:3)

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim. 3:1-7)

3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:3-5)

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Pet. 2:1-3)

1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. (1 Tim. 4:1)

B. Paul highlighted two prophetic signs to indicate the time of Jesus’ coming

3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [Jesus’ coming] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin [Antichrist] is revealed. (2 Thes. 2:3)

C. Jesus prophesied about an increased deception in the end times

4“Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name…and will deceive many…11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.. . (Mt. 24:4-5, 11)

D. Allegiance to Jesus and loving the truth are primary issues in the end times

10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thes. 2:10)

VII. THE MOVE TOWARD A ONE-WORLD RELIGION

A. Satan’s end-time plan is for him and the Antichrist to be worshiped by all nations.

4They worshiped the Dragon [Satan]…and the Beast [Antichrist], saying, “Who is like the Beast?”…8All who dwell on the earth will worship him [Antichrist]. (Rev. 13:4-8)

B. There are two stages in Satan’s plan to be worshiped by all

1“Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication”…4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold…having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5On her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY,

BABYLONTHEGREAT,

the mother of harlots…

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints. (Rev. 17:1-6)

C.Spiritual harlotry is synonymous with idolatry and false religion

20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons
(1 Cor. 10:20-21)

25 But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. (1 Chr. 5:25)

37 for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them. (Ezek. 23:37)

12 My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.
A spirit of prostitution leads them astray, they are unfaithful to their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.
(Hos. 4:12-13)

E. The voluntary harlot religion will be replaced by a mandatory Antichrist religion.

4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.
(Rev. 13:4, 8, 15)