Sudden Destruction

Dear Brethren,

How would you judge the situation in which a man drowned, who easily could have been saved by someone nearby with a life preserver and a safety line who did nothing to help?  Do you think that God would judge the situation the same way you do?

Ambassador Christopher Stevens’ cries for help were not answered by those whose responsibility it was to come to his aid, resulting in sudden destruction coming upon him perpetrated by the Ansar al-Shariah fighters who represent al-Qaida in Libya.

Next week we will speak more on why U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens’ government allowed him to perish.  Could it be that President Obama’s senior administration officials plotted to allow the kidnapping of Christopher Stevens by Islamists terrorists to be held hostage for a swap for Omar Abdel Rahman, or the “Blind Sheik,” as he is better known?  Why else would the White House order U.S. reinforcements to “stand down” three times and do nothing to help Ambassador Christopher Stevens when they were on hand to come to his aid? 

Why else would the White House, President Barak Obama, State Department, Secretary Hillary Clinton, the Office of Director of National Intelligence, CIA director David Petraeus and various U.S. agencies publicly and persistently declare that [non-existing] intelligence suggested that the Benghazi attacks grew from spontaneous demonstrations launched by protestors over a short film spoofing the Prophet Mohammed?

This week we will look at the question, “Will sudden destruction come upon us, too?”  Let’s take a look at the Scripture where Jesus Christ inspires this phrase.  The subject is the resurrection of the saints:

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6)

It is not the saints, but the unbelievers who will think that “Peace and Safety” are the order of the day. The beloved apostle John records in Revelation.  "I saw, and behold a white horse [representative of false religion]: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."  (Revelation 6:2)

The rider of the white horse will impose his version of peace on the world.  We will see that it is a forced and short lived peace initiative.  Only the true practicing converted brethren will not be taken in by this imposter.

In the Bible we find many instances of good things suddenly coming to an end.  “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: “

What a mess that would be – can you imagine living forever with sin and its consequences.  What a hopeless situation that would be.

“Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from [ out of ] the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”  (Genesis 3:22-24)

Can you imagine how they longed to go back to the good old days?  Sin has irreversible consequences! 

Brethren, therefore draw near to God while we have opportunity…while we can...while we are able.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."  (Matthew 24:4-5)  Are we prepared so that sudden destruction does not come upon us?

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Sermon:

"Sudden Destruction"