1. If there was ever a time when Christians should be in church as often as possible, it ought to be now, "so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb.10:25).
2. According to the author of Hebrews (Paul?), these are the "last days" (Heb.1:1,2). This is taught throughout the NT (cf. I Peter 1:5,20; I John 2:18).
3. So according to the Bible, we are living in "the last days." What does it mean then in Hebrews 10:25, "as ye see the day approaching"? The Scofield Study Bible has in the margin (Matt.24), and that is a good place to look.
4. The Lord is coming back, and it could be very soon. We need to be ready, we need to be busy, and we need to be faithful, "and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb.10:25).
5. D.L. Moody said: "I have felt like working three times as hard since I came to understand that my Lord is coming again."
6. I have entitled today’s message, "Signs That The End Is Near."

1. COLDNESS IN THE CHURCHES (MATT.24:12)

1. I am not just talking about the liberal churches. They are not cold – they’re dead! But today even in fundamental churches there is a coldness. Visitors walk in and nobody shakes their hand or even smiles. How sad that unsaved people can walk into a Bible-preaching church and not feel welcome.
2. The apostle Paul wrote, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves…" (II Tim.3:1,2). People say they love God but they really love themselves.
3. And when people are full of themselves, they have no love in their hearts for God or for others.
4. Most churches today are like the church of Laodicea – "neither cold nor hot" (Rev.3:15,16). Weak, wishy-washy, worldly, etc.
5. Do you know why most churches do not knock on doors or give out Gospel tracts or win souls? They are COLD. Cold Christians do not care that people are going to hell. They can go to sleep at night and the thought of millions of lost souls burning in hell for all eternity does not bother them.

2. RELIGIOUS DECEPTION (Matt.24:3-5)

1. The first time I saw Jim Bakker I felt nauseated. I thought to myself, "How can millions of people be so gullible? How can they be deceived by this fellow? And when I saw his (ex) wife, I really felt sick. And then along came Benny Hinn and Morris Cerullo, and all of these other deceivers.
2. New cults are starting up every day. Just recently we read about that strange cult in Africa. And before them there was "Heaven’s Gate," and David Koresh and the branch Davidians, and Louis Farrakan and his Nation of Islam, and Jim Jones, and Rev. Ike, and Rev. Moon. Bro. Grassi told us about the dedicated Moonie on the Triborough Bridge. I wish Christians were as dedicated.
3. The biggest deception today is Romanism, and it is incredible that so many so-called evangelicals are supporting popery today.

3. TERRIBLE APOSTASY (JUDE 3,4)

1. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, and all the other prestigious Ivy-league schools were started by godly Christians in order to train pastors and missionaries. Now these schools are wicked and ungodly.
2. Without exception, all of the so-called "mainline denominations" have gone into apostasy. That is why it is important for churches and schools to be independent.
3. The apostle Paul said, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…" (II Tim.4:3). That time has come.
4. Paul said "that in the last days perilous times shall come," and that men shall have "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (II Tim.3:1,5).

4. HOMOSEXUALITY (LUKE 17:28-30)

1. Just recently they passed a "gay marriage" law up in Vermont. The radical sodomites were trying to pass this in California and Hawaii and they finally succeeded in Vermont, a fairly liberal state.
2. All over the country they are getting legislation passed, allowing them to adopt children, get marriage benefits, live anywhere (regardless of how the owner feels about it), etc.
3. A couple months back a preacher in Staten Island paid to put up messages on two billboards – Lev.18:22.
4. God’s wrath will surely come down upon this nation for supporting this wicked sin.

5. FILTHINESS AND IMMORALITY

1. The Bible says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (II Tim.3:13).
2. These evil men seduce sinners through television, Hollywood, rock music, false teachings, public schools, etc.
3. The drastic decline in moral standards in countries such as Great Britain and the U.S. is yet another sign that the end is near.

6. VIOLENCE AND LAWLESSNESS

1. I would like to draw your attention to Luke 17:26, where our Lord says: "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
2. So we know that the days preceding the second coming of Christ will be very much like the days of Noah. So we must consider what was it like in the days of Noah (cf. Gen.6:5-12).
3. The days of Noah were wicked, evil, corrupt, and violent (Gen.6:5-12).
4. They were days of lawlessness, very much like today (cf. II Thess. 2:7).

7. THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT

1. There is a great push today to put aside doctrinal differences and unite together around a common creed. This creed is usually so vague that communists (e.g. NCC), homosexuals, Roman Catholics, charismatics, liberals, and all sorts of unbelievers can easily accept it.
2. But it is a phony unity. It is based upon error and unbelief. It denies the Gospel. It is preparing the way for the antichrist (cf. Rev.17).
3. As we see these trends develop, we must be careful to expose them and avoid them (II Cor.6:14-17; Eph.5:11).

8. TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLEEAST

1. In His Olivet Discourse, our Lord likened Israel to a fig tree. He said, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves…" (Matt.24:32,33).
2. In other words, Israel is central to Bible prophecy. Since 1948 when the nation of Israel was formed, the fig tree is "putting forth leaves." For the first time in centuries, the Jews are back in their home land.
3. It is important to note that Israel is back in the land in unbelief (cf. Deut.28:10-13; 28:15ff). According to the prophets, their return to the land will be followed by genuine repentance, faith, and regeneration (cf. Ezek.36:24-26; Zech.12:10).
4. We are not seeing this today. But recent developments do indicate that Israel and the world is being prepared for the coming peace treaty with the antichrist (Dan.9:24-27).
5. Hostility towards Israel is increasing, especially among the Arabs and those dependent upon the Arabs for oil (which includes just about everybody).
6. Which brings us to my final sign that the end is near.

9. ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT

1. The united states of Europe is probably a fulfillment of Bible prophecy – the revived Roman empire spoken of by both Daniel and John in the book of Revelation.
2. In Rev.13:5, John wrote that the antichrist will govern the world for 42 months (3 and a half years; the second half of the tribulation).
3. I believe the United Nations is preparing the way for the antichrist.

CONCLUSION:

1. Many other signs could be given, and we will look at them in the weeks ahead – earthquakes in divers places, famines, pestilences (e.g., AIDS), and wars and rumors of war.
2. Another remarkable sign is the cashless society predicted by John in Rev.13.
3. The failure of governments to maintain law and order, and to suppress terrorism, and to stop ancient hostilities between the nations is now creating a climate for a ruthless world dictator.
4. This dictator (the antichrist) will arrive on the scene amid much hoopla from the media, and Washington DC, and the Vatican