Eschatology and Evangelism

My dad played this clip as an introduction to the sermon he gave at church yesterday.
We have been studying eschatology (end time prophecy) recently, and my dad’s sermon was on “eschatology and evangelism.” Here were some of the points from his sermon:

We are in a time like no other. Israel is back in the land. Satan wants to control the world and the political, economic and moral stage is being set to make conditions right for the Antichrist.
As the coming of the Lord draws near,what does the Lord want us to be doing?

• Be Aware – we can’t know the day or hour, but we can know the general prophetic timetable and understand current events.

• Be Ready – that means be saved.

• Guard you heart – identify Satan’s lies in society, contend for the faith, stay in the Word, maintain a clear conscience, and abound in ministry.

• Keep gathering with other believers – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) True fellowship isn’t just being together but working together.

• Make Christ known – there are two thrones in Scripture that are important to understand. People must come to the “throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16) now to avoid standing at the “great white throne” (judgment of unbelievers) later. (Revelation 20:11-15)

• Be excited about the future that God has prepared for us – it can’t be destroyed or defiled. It is kept by God’s power to be revealed later.

How is the study of eschatology helpful?
• It motivates us to proclaim the gospel because the time is short
• It gives us confidence and boldness because we see God’s mighty hand in fulfilled prophecy, both past and present
• It gives content to our message. We can explain all the ways God has fulfilled prophecy down to minute details, and we can point ahead–knowing that He is continuing to fulfil prophecy.
• It opens doors for conversation because people are interested in end times.

Heart of the matter: the gospel needs to be proclaimed, and there is urgency–so let’s not get distracted.

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…” (2 Peter 3:13-15) [emphasis added]