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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Getting The Big Picture | April 10, 2026
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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- Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with doctor
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- Robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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- Again to "pathway to victory."
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- Jeffress: for many christians, the end-times can be a confusing
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- And hard-to-understand topic.
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- When the world finally comes to an end, how will the
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- Events unfold?
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- Well, today, i want to give you a bird's-eye view of the
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- Entire landscape of end-times prophecy by outlining the seven
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- Major prophetic events that will precede and follow christ's
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- Second coming.
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- My message is titled "getting the big picture" on today's
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- Edition of "pathway to victory."
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- Male announcer: wars, natural disasters, global instability.
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- Many people look at the headlines and wonder if we're
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- Living in the end-times.
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- In his brand new book, "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
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- Dr. robert jeffress provides clear, biblical answers to the
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- 20 questions people ask most about the future.
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- Request "ask dr. jeffress about the end times" when you
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- Give a generous ministry gift to pathway to victory.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: maps can be very, very important.
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- I learned that lesson the hard way.
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- A few years ago, a pastor friend of mine in canada had invited me
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- To come and speak at his church.
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- And they were gonna have an evening service at 7 o'clock, so
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- I got up early and i flew to winnipeg, manitoba.
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- Got there in plenty of time for the service, it was about 4 p.m.
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- In the afternoon when i arrived, and so i picked up my luggage
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- And went outside to wait for the pastor to pick me up at
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- The curbside.
- 00:02:03.046 --> 00:02:04.514
- I waited and waited and waited, he didn't show up.
- 00:02:04.514 --> 00:02:09.519
- So i pulled out my confirmation letter thinking maybe i got the
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- Time wrong.
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- I went back in to call him at the pay phone.
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- As i looked at the letter, i noticed up in the left high-end
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- Corner that the return address did not correspond with where
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- I was.
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- I mean, i had assumed that he was in the same place he was the
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- Last time i came to preach for him.
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- I didn't know he had changed churches.
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- I was in winnipeg, manitoba, but i noticed the return address was
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- Vancouver, british columbia.
- 00:02:36.579 --> 00:02:40.516
- Now, not knowing anything about canada, i went into the airline
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- Counter and i said, "look, i've got a problem.
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- I need to be in vancouver in an hour.
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- Is there a bus i can take to get me to vancouver?"
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- They did exactly what you did.
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- They started laughing.
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- They said, "a bus?
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- Vancouver is 1,500 miles west of here."
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- They said, "but you're in luck, we've got a plane that is
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- Leaving right now for vancouver, and if you'll run down to the
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- Gate, you can get on the plane.
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- It's a three-hour flight, but you'll gain two hours going
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- West, and you can make it in time."
- 00:03:14.617 --> 00:03:17.020
- So i ran as quickly as i could down to the gate.
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- Apparently, word of my problem preceded me because when i went
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- To give my ticket to the ticket taker, she handed me a map of
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- Canada and said, "read this, it might help you the next time you
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- Come to our country."
- 00:03:33.002 --> 00:03:38.841
- Maps can be very important, especially when you're traveling
- 00:03:38.841 --> 00:03:44.213
- In an unfamiliar territory.
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- To many people, bible prophecy is such a territory.
- 00:03:47.050 --> 00:03:51.654
- I'm convinced one reason people are so confused about bible
- 00:03:51.654 --> 00:03:54.924
- Prophecy is they've never seen the big picture before.
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- They've never seen the map, and so they're confused about it.
- 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:00.963
- You know, most christians have a vague understanding
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- About the end-times.
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- They know things are supposed to get worse and worse, jesus is
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- Coming back, and we're gonna live happily ever after.
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- But if you ask most christians to explain the events of bible
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- Prophecy: "what are those major events?
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- Put them in order.
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- To find them, what is the key scripture that talks about
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- Each one?"
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- Most christians would break out in a cold sweat.
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- They couldn't do that.
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- And not only that, they would wax eloquently why it's
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- Unimportant to know all of that stuff.
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- They would say, "well, when it comes to the return of christ,
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- I'm not on the planning committee, i'm on the
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- Welcoming committee."
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- Or things like, "well, i don't want to be so heavenly-minded
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- I'm no earthly good."
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- Have you heard that before?
- 00:04:41.204 --> 00:04:42.805
- And yet, as we saw last time, an understanding of end-time events
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- Is both possible, but it's also crucial.
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- That's why the bible devotes so much space to future things.
- 00:04:51.414 --> 00:04:56.686
- And today, we're going to try to get the big picture of
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- Bible prophecy.
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- And in the weeks ahead, we'll look at each of the events, but
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- Today, we're gonna look at the map, the overview of
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- Bible prophecy.
- 00:05:07.463 --> 00:05:08.831
- And specifically, i want to do three things.
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- I want us to, first of all, define each of the seven events
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- That are still awaiting us that precede and follow the return
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- Of christ.
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- Secondly, after we define those things, i'm going to give you
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- A key scripture for each of those events as we try to make
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- Sense of it.
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- And finally, and very briefly, i'm going to conclude with
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- Matthew 24 and 25 and look at an important question that jesus
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- Raised in that passage.
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- And what we're going to do is we're going to look at each of
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- These seven events and where they fit in god's
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- Prophetic timetable.
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- You notice that there is a cross here representing the death, the
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- Resurrection, the ascension of jesus christ.
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- And immediately after that cross, you see the first event
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- Or time period we're going to look at, called the church age.
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- It is a time when god has extended, expanded the
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- Invitation list beyond israel to anyone and everyone to become a
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- Part of the kingdom of god.
- 00:06:08.124 --> 00:06:10.293
- I want you to write this down as the definition of the church
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- Age: the church age is that period of time from pentecost--
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- In acts 2, when the holy spirit came--until the rapture during
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- Which gentiles are invited to participate in the blessings of
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- The abrahamic covenant.
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- Let me say it again.
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- The church age is that period of time from pentecost until the
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- Rapture during which gentiles are invited to participate in
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- The blessings of the abrahamic covenant.
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- We saw last time in genesis 12, god made a promise to abraham
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- And his believing descendants: israel.
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- And for thousands of years, god has been dealing with israel,
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- Trying to bring her into a right relationship with himself.
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- But when israel rejected jesus christ, god temporarily
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- Set aside israel, and he's opened up his invitation list to
- 00:07:01.511 --> 00:07:05.314
- Include anyone, non-jews like you and i, who would like to
- 00:07:05.314 --> 00:07:08.784
- Become a part of the kingdom of god.
- 00:07:08.784 --> 00:07:10.987
- That's the period of time we're living in right now.
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- The end of the church age, the end of this time of gentile
- 00:07:13.556 --> 00:07:17.326
- Blessing is gonna be the second event that is on your chart
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- Called the rapture of the church.
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- This is how the church age ends: it ends with the
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- Rapture of the church.
- 00:07:27.470 --> 00:07:28.838
- The word "rapture" comes from a latin word, rapturo,
- 00:07:28.838 --> 00:07:32.675
- That in turn comes from a greek word, harpazo,
- 00:07:32.675 --> 00:07:36.012
- Which means to snatch away.
- 00:07:36.012 --> 00:07:38.481
- And here's the definition of the rapture, write it down.
- 00:07:38.481 --> 00:07:41.417
- The rapture is the snatching away to heaven of all christians
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- Before the beginning of the tribulation.
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- It is the snatching away to heaven of all christians before
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- The beginning of the tribulation.
- 00:07:52.461 --> 00:07:54.997
- And the key passage in the bible about the rapture is
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- 1 thessalonians 4.
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- Turn over there if you would, to 1 thessalonians 4.
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- By the way, the way you find 1 thessalonians, all the t's are
- 00:08:02.805 --> 00:08:06.175
- Together in the new testament: thessalonians, timothy, titus.
- 00:08:06.175 --> 00:08:09.779
- Turn over to 1 thessalonians chapter 4.
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- We're gonna look at the context of this chapter next week.
- 00:08:12.715 --> 00:08:16.252
- But here's the description of the rapture.
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- Some people say, "the rapture is nowhere in scripture, the word's
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- Never used."
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- Oh, yes, it is, and here it is.
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- Verse 16, "for the lord himself will descend from heaven with a
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- Shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet
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- Of god, and the dead in christ shall rise first.
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- And then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up,"
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- Harpazo, raptured.
- 00:08:40.343 --> 00:08:42.979
- There's the word.
- 00:08:42.979 --> 00:08:44.313
- "we shall be raptured together with them in the clouds to meet
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- The lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the lord.
- 00:08:48.718 --> 00:08:54.957
- Therefore comfort one another with these words."
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- This is the rapture of the church.
- 00:08:58.995 --> 00:09:01.697
- And following the rapture comes the third event on your chart
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- There, the tribulation.
- 00:09:06.235 --> 00:09:08.070
- The time we call the tribulation.
- 00:09:08.070 --> 00:09:09.839
- Now, here's the definition of the tribulation.
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- This isn't just a time of persecution.
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- It's not hard times.
- 00:09:14.477 --> 00:09:16.012
- There is a very specific seven-year period of time that
- 00:09:16.012 --> 00:09:20.082
- Are the final seven years of earth's history.
- 00:09:20.082 --> 00:09:22.685
- And here's the definition of the tribulation: the tribulation is
- 00:09:22.685 --> 00:09:26.689
- That seven-year period that begins when the antichrist signs
- 00:09:26.689 --> 00:09:32.128
- A peace covenant with israel and it ends with armageddon and the
- 00:09:32.128 --> 00:09:36.966
- Second coming of jesus christ.
- 00:09:36.966 --> 00:09:38.334
- Let me say it again.
- 00:09:38.334 --> 00:09:39.669
- The tribulation is that seven-year period of time that
- 00:09:39.669 --> 00:09:42.271
- Begins when the antichrist signs a peace treaty with israel and
- 00:09:42.271 --> 00:09:46.442
- Ends with armageddon and the second coming of jesus christ.
- 00:09:46.442 --> 00:09:50.913
- After the rapture, maybe because of the rapture itself, there is
- 00:09:50.913 --> 00:09:55.551
- Gonna be worldwide chaos.
- 00:09:55.551 --> 00:09:57.953
- And that chaos is going to center just as it centers right
- 00:09:57.953 --> 00:10:01.657
- Now in the middle east, and specifically with israel.
- 00:10:01.657 --> 00:10:05.494
- All of the tension in the middle east, when you boil it down to
- 00:10:05.494 --> 00:10:08.898
- Its essence, it has to do with israel.
- 00:10:08.898 --> 00:10:11.434
- And it has to do specifically with that piece of real estate
- 00:10:11.434 --> 00:10:14.003
- Over there.
- 00:10:14.003 --> 00:10:15.604
- And at the end-times there is going to be a cataclysmic event
- 00:10:15.604 --> 00:10:20.576
- That is going to bring the world, i believe, to the brink
- 00:10:20.576 --> 00:10:23.212
- Of nuclear disaster.
- 00:10:23.212 --> 00:10:25.681
- And this antichrist will rise to power, and he will be hailed and
- 00:10:25.681 --> 00:10:31.387
- Followed by all because he is finally able to solve the middle
- 00:10:31.387 --> 00:10:36.358
- East dilemma like no other leader has.
- 00:10:36.358 --> 00:10:38.828
- He will sign a peace covenant with israel, and because of
- 00:10:38.828 --> 00:10:42.965
- That, people will naturally follow after him.
- 00:10:42.965 --> 00:10:45.935
- That is the beginning, daniel says, of the seven-year period
- 00:10:45.935 --> 00:10:49.438
- Known as the great tribulation that will end with armageddon
- 00:10:49.438 --> 00:10:53.042
- And the return of jesus christ.
- 00:10:53.042 --> 00:10:54.877
- Now, the climax of the seven-year tribulation will be
- 00:10:54.877 --> 00:10:58.080
- The second coming of jesus christ.
- 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:00.216
- Turn over to revelation chapter 19.
- 00:11:00.216 --> 00:11:03.085
- Let me give you this definition, while you're turning there, of
- 00:11:03.085 --> 00:11:06.589
- The second coming.
- 00:11:06.589 --> 00:11:07.923
- The second coming of christ is the visible return of
- 00:11:07.923 --> 00:11:12.528
- Jesus christ to establish his kingdom on the earth.
- 00:11:12.528 --> 00:11:16.365
- The second coming of christ is the visible return of
- 00:11:16.365 --> 00:11:19.668
- Jesus christ to establish his kingdom on the earth.
- 00:11:19.668 --> 00:11:23.305
- At the end of the seven-year tribulation, all the world
- 00:11:23.305 --> 00:11:27.109
- Forces are going to gather together to try to
- 00:11:27.109 --> 00:11:30.613
- Defeat antichrist.
- 00:11:30.613 --> 00:11:31.947
- Tired of his tyrannical rule, the world forces are going to
- 00:11:31.947 --> 00:11:35.384
- Decide, "we're going to overtake this dictator."
- 00:11:35.384 --> 00:11:38.754
- And they are going to assemble, the bible says, on the plain
- 00:11:38.754 --> 00:11:41.991
- Of megiddo.
- 00:11:41.991 --> 00:11:43.359
- We call it armageddon.
- 00:11:43.359 --> 00:11:44.693
- The plain of megiddo.
- 00:11:44.693 --> 00:11:46.162
- And all the world forces are going to be assembled there to
- 00:11:46.162 --> 00:11:49.198
- Make war against the antichrist.
- 00:11:49.198 --> 00:11:51.367
- But as they do so, suddenly the clouds are going to part, and
- 00:11:51.367 --> 00:11:55.237
- Notice what everyone is going to see.
- 00:11:55.237 --> 00:11:57.173
- Verse 11, john says, "i saw heaven opened, and behold, a
- 00:11:57.173 --> 00:12:01.243
- White horse, and he who sat upon it is called faithful and true,
- 00:12:01.243 --> 00:12:05.648
- And in righteousness he judges and wages war.
- 00:12:05.648 --> 00:12:08.951
- And the armies which are in heaven," that's you and i.
- 00:12:08.951 --> 00:12:12.721
- "the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and
- 00:12:12.721 --> 00:12:15.891
- Clean, were following him," jesus, "on the white horses.
- 00:12:15.891 --> 00:12:19.361
- And from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it he may
- 00:12:19.361 --> 00:12:22.832
- Smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron;
- 00:12:22.832 --> 00:12:26.702
- And he treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of god,
- 00:12:26.702 --> 00:12:29.772
- The almighty.
- 00:12:29.772 --> 00:12:31.140
- And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, 'king of
- 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:35.344
- Kings, and lord of lords.'"
- 00:12:35.344 --> 00:12:38.214
- This is the second coming of jesus christ, and we return with
- 00:12:38.214 --> 00:12:43.052
- Him at that time.
- 00:12:43.052 --> 00:12:44.520
- That's the climax of the great tribulation.
- 00:12:44.520 --> 00:12:48.023
- Why does christ return visibly, literally to this planet?
- 00:12:48.023 --> 00:12:52.494
- That's the fifth item on your chart.
- 00:12:52.494 --> 00:12:54.430
- To establish his kingdom on earth, which we call
- 00:12:54.430 --> 00:12:57.499
- The millennium.
- 00:12:57.499 --> 00:12:58.868
- That word "milli-" means a thousand; "annum," year.
- 00:12:58.868 --> 00:13:01.637
- It is the thousand-year period of time during which christ will
- 00:13:01.637 --> 00:13:06.909
- Reign on the earth, fulfilling god's promises to abraham and
- 00:13:06.909 --> 00:13:10.813
- His believing descendants.
- 00:13:10.813 --> 00:13:12.147
- Let me say it again.
- 00:13:12.147 --> 00:13:13.515
- The millennium is that thousand-year period of time
- 00:13:13.515 --> 00:13:16.018
- When christ will reign on the earth, fulfilling god's promises
- 00:13:16.018 --> 00:13:20.356
- To abraham and his believing descendants.
- 00:13:20.356 --> 00:13:22.858
- Remember, we saw last time god made an unconditional promise to
- 00:13:22.858 --> 00:13:27.730
- Abraham and his believing descendants of a land, of
- 00:13:27.730 --> 00:13:31.267
- A seed, and a blessing.
- 00:13:31.267 --> 00:13:33.068
- God has to fulfill that promise to believing israel.
- 00:13:33.068 --> 00:13:37.072
- And the millennium is the time when all of believing israel
- 00:13:37.072 --> 00:13:41.143
- Will inhabit all of that real estate god has planned for them.
- 00:13:41.143 --> 00:13:45.014
- Now, at the end of the millennium, revelation 20 tells
- 00:13:45.014 --> 00:13:49.018
- Us, satan, who has been bound for a thousand years, will be
- 00:13:49.018 --> 00:13:52.288
- Loosed for a little while.
- 00:13:52.288 --> 00:13:53.956
- He will lead one final rebellion, and at the end of
- 00:13:53.956 --> 00:13:57.026
- That rebellion, god will judge all unbelievers at the sixth
- 00:13:57.026 --> 00:14:01.497
- Event on your outline called the great white throne judgment.
- 00:14:01.497 --> 00:14:06.201
- The great white throne judgment.
- 00:14:06.201 --> 00:14:08.270
- This is a time when god will judge all unbelievers who have
- 00:14:08.270 --> 00:14:13.309
- Ever lived.
- 00:14:13.309 --> 00:14:14.643
- The specific definition is this: the great white throne judgment
- 00:14:14.643 --> 00:14:17.746
- Is god's final judgment against all unbelievers who have
- 00:14:17.746 --> 00:14:22.017
- Ever lived.
- 00:14:22.017 --> 00:14:23.352
- Now, so you don't think i'm making any of this up, i want
- 00:14:23.352 --> 00:14:26.288
- You to turn over to revelation 20, where you can see this
- 00:14:26.288 --> 00:14:29.058
- For yourself.
- 00:14:29.058 --> 00:14:30.392
- This judgment, god's final judgment against all unbelievers
- 00:14:30.392 --> 00:14:34.229
- Who ever lived.
- 00:14:34.229 --> 00:14:35.564
- Look at revelation 20, beginning with verse 11.
- 00:14:35.564 --> 00:14:38.634
- John says, "then i saw a great white throne and him who sat
- 00:14:38.634 --> 00:14:42.604
- Upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and
- 00:14:42.604 --> 00:14:47.710
- No place was found for them.
- 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:49.778
- And i saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before
- 00:14:49.778 --> 00:14:53.515
- The throne, and the books were opened; and another book was
- 00:14:53.515 --> 00:14:57.386
- Opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged
- 00:14:57.386 --> 00:15:01.323
- From the things which were written in the books, according
- 00:15:01.323 --> 00:15:04.293
- To their deeds.
- 00:15:04.293 --> 00:15:05.661
- And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death in
- 00:15:05.661 --> 00:15:09.565
- Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were
- 00:15:09.565 --> 00:15:12.735
- Judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
- 00:15:12.735 --> 00:15:16.939
- And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of
- 00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:19.808
- Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
- 00:15:19.808 --> 00:15:23.212
- After that event, the final event that awaits everyone is
- 00:15:23.212 --> 00:15:28.083
- Eternity future.
- 00:15:28.083 --> 00:15:29.952
- What is eternity future?
- 00:15:29.952 --> 00:15:31.387
- It is that permanent state of both believers inhabiting the
- 00:15:31.387 --> 00:15:34.990
- New heaven and earth and unbelievers inhabiting the lake
- 00:15:34.990 --> 00:15:39.261
- Of fire.
- 00:15:39.261 --> 00:15:40.863
- After this great white throne judgment, the present heaven and
- 00:15:40.863 --> 00:15:44.933
- Earth that have been renovated for the millennium, they're
- 00:15:44.933 --> 00:15:47.936
- Ultimately going to be destroyed by fire.
- 00:15:47.936 --> 00:15:50.005
- Did you realize everything in this earth is eventually going
- 00:15:50.005 --> 00:15:53.642
- To melt away one day?
- 00:15:53.642 --> 00:15:55.778
- This entire planet, this entire universe is going to
- 00:15:55.778 --> 00:16:00.516
- Be destroyed.
- 00:16:00.516 --> 00:16:01.850
- Peter talks about that in 2 peter 3, verses 7 and 10.
- 00:16:01.850 --> 00:16:05.654
- He says, "but the present heavens and earth by his word
- 00:16:05.654 --> 00:16:08.757
- Are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and
- 00:16:08.757 --> 00:16:13.095
- Destruction of ungodly men.
- 00:16:13.095 --> 00:16:15.230
- But the day of the lord will come like a thief, in which the
- 00:16:15.230 --> 00:16:18.233
- Heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be
- 00:16:18.233 --> 00:16:22.137
- Destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be
- 00:16:22.137 --> 00:16:26.475
- Burned up."
- 00:16:26.475 --> 00:16:28.043
- And once this present heaven and earth have been completely
- 00:16:28.043 --> 00:16:31.213
- Destroyed, then god is ready for the new heaven
- 00:16:31.213 --> 00:16:34.783
- And the new earth.
- 00:16:34.783 --> 00:16:36.118
- Turn over to revelation chapter 21.
- 00:16:36.118 --> 00:16:38.821
- Look at it with me in verses 1 to 4.
- 00:16:38.821 --> 00:16:41.690
- After the present heaven and earth are destroyed,
- 00:16:41.690 --> 00:16:43.525
- Notice what john says.
- 00:16:43.525 --> 00:16:44.927
- He says, "then i saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the
- 00:16:44.927 --> 00:16:49.198
- First heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is
- 00:16:49.198 --> 00:16:52.267
- No longer any sea.
- 00:16:52.267 --> 00:16:53.769
- And i saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of
- 00:16:53.769 --> 00:16:57.706
- Heaven from god, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
- 00:16:57.706 --> 00:17:02.644
- And i heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'behold, the
- 00:17:02.644 --> 00:17:06.448
- Tabernacle of god is among men, and he shall dwell among them,
- 00:17:06.448 --> 00:17:13.589
- And they shall be his people, and god himself shall be among
- 00:17:13.589 --> 00:17:17.359
- Them, and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and
- 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:22.231
- There shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be
- 00:17:22.231 --> 00:17:25.434
- Any mourning, or crying, or pain; for the first things have
- 00:17:25.434 --> 00:17:29.071
- Passed away.'"
- 00:17:29.071 --> 00:17:31.006
- John said, "i saw a new heaven, but i also saw a new earth.
- 00:17:31.006 --> 00:17:38.046
- And i saw this heavenly city coming down out of heaven
- 00:17:38.046 --> 00:17:41.517
- To earth."
- 00:17:41.517 --> 00:17:44.520
- As we'll describe in detail in the weeks ahead, the greatest
- 00:17:44.520 --> 00:17:47.456
- Misconception about eternity future for christians is that
- 00:17:47.456 --> 00:17:52.127
- We're gonna spend all eternity up there, someplace.
- 00:17:52.127 --> 00:17:55.230
- Floating around on a cloud, plucking a harp.
- 00:17:55.230 --> 00:17:59.501
- No wonder so few people are interested in going to heaven.
- 00:17:59.501 --> 00:18:03.739
- No, we're not gonna be up there.
- 00:18:03.739 --> 00:18:05.941
- That's not where we are.
- 00:18:05.941 --> 00:18:08.343
- John said, "i saw the new heaven and the new earth.
- 00:18:08.343 --> 00:18:12.948
- The new jerusalem was coming down here.
- 00:18:12.948 --> 00:18:15.517
- I didn't see people going up to dwell with god, i saw god coming
- 00:18:15.517 --> 00:18:19.821
- Down to dwell with man."
- 00:18:19.821 --> 00:18:23.058
- This earth is gonna be our eternal home.
- 00:18:23.058 --> 00:18:27.129
- This newly recreated earth just like god planned for it
- 00:18:27.129 --> 00:18:31.266
- Originally, but even better.
- 00:18:31.266 --> 00:18:33.235
- That's where we're gonna spend eternity.
- 00:18:33.235 --> 00:18:35.370
- Now, we can buzz around other places if we want to, but our
- 00:18:35.370 --> 00:18:39.074
- Primary home is going to be right here, just as god
- 00:18:39.074 --> 00:18:43.412
- Created us.
- 00:18:43.412 --> 00:18:44.846
- Doesn't that make you excited to think about what this world's
- 00:18:44.846 --> 00:18:47.416
- Gonna look like once the curse has been removed, once the tears
- 00:18:47.416 --> 00:18:50.953
- And the heartache is gone, and we're gonna experience life as
- 00:18:50.953 --> 00:18:54.389
- God as intended it?
- 00:18:54.389 --> 00:18:55.857
- That's what john says he saw.
- 00:18:55.857 --> 00:18:58.327
- Eternity future is the eternal future, not only for believers,
- 00:18:58.327 --> 00:19:02.397
- But for unbelievers as well.
- 00:19:02.397 --> 00:19:04.266
- Revelation 20:15, "if anyone's name was not found written in
- 00:19:04.266 --> 00:19:08.470
- The book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
- 00:19:08.470 --> 00:19:12.107
- His eternity is just as long as the eternity of believers.
- 00:19:12.107 --> 00:19:16.545
- I had somebody call me last week on a radio call-in show and
- 00:19:16.545 --> 00:19:20.682
- Said, "pastor, why is it god would torment unbelievers
- 00:19:20.682 --> 00:19:25.988
- Forever and ever?
- 00:19:25.988 --> 00:19:27.389
- That seems so cruel."
- 00:19:27.389 --> 00:19:31.159
- It only seems cruel to us because we are so unlike god.
- 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:36.465
- We don't have the same righteousness and holiness that
- 00:19:36.465 --> 00:19:39.901
- God has.
- 00:19:39.901 --> 00:19:41.236
- God's holiness demands punishment.
- 00:19:41.236 --> 00:19:46.041
- But i said, "the truth is, god's word does say unbelievers will
- 00:19:46.041 --> 00:19:51.146
- Be tormented forever and ever," and that word "forever,"
- 00:19:51.146 --> 00:19:54.816
- Aionios, is the same word that is used to describe the
- 00:19:54.816 --> 00:19:58.687
- Eternality of heaven.
- 00:19:58.687 --> 00:20:00.789
- If out of false compassion we try to change the bible and we
- 00:20:00.789 --> 00:20:06.295
- Try to shorten the amount of time unbelievers will spend in
- 00:20:06.295 --> 00:20:09.765
- Hell, then to be intellectually honest, we have to shorten our
- 00:20:09.765 --> 00:20:13.802
- Time in heaven by that same amount, because it's the
- 00:20:13.802 --> 00:20:16.038
- Same word.
- 00:20:16.038 --> 00:20:17.406
- If unbelievers spend one second less in hell, then that means
- 00:20:17.406 --> 00:20:21.510
- You and i are gonna spend one second less in heaven.
- 00:20:21.510 --> 00:20:24.646
- It's the same word: eternal.
- 00:20:24.646 --> 00:20:27.883
- We're gonna be in heaven with christ forever and ever,
- 00:20:27.883 --> 00:20:31.553
- Unbelievers separated from god forever and ever.
- 00:20:31.553 --> 00:20:35.257
- And the reason they are separated is because of their
- 00:20:35.257 --> 00:20:38.360
- Own choice not to trust in christ, not to have their name
- 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:42.464
- In that lamb's book of life.
- 00:20:42.464 --> 00:20:44.366
- "if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he
- 00:20:44.366 --> 00:20:47.803
- Was thrown into the lake of fire."
- 00:20:47.803 --> 00:20:51.540
- Now, i know we've covered a lot of ground.
- 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:53.508
- You may be thinking, "pastor, do we really need to know all of
- 00:20:53.508 --> 00:20:57.045
- This stuff?
- 00:20:57.045 --> 00:20:58.413
- Is it really even our business about what's going to happen in
- 00:20:58.413 --> 00:21:01.783
- The future?"
- 00:21:01.783 --> 00:21:03.485
- The last time i stood on the mount of olives, i read matthew
- 00:21:03.485 --> 00:21:07.122
- 24 and 25, when jesus and his disciples were there at that
- 00:21:07.122 --> 00:21:10.492
- Very same spot and the disciples said, remember, "lord,
- 00:21:10.492 --> 00:21:14.363
- When will these things be, and what will be the sign of
- 00:21:14.363 --> 00:21:17.699
- Your coming in the end of the age?"
- 00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:20.302
- Jesus didn't rebuke his disciples for asking
- 00:21:20.302 --> 00:21:22.571
- That question.
- 00:21:22.571 --> 00:21:23.905
- Instead, he went into a detailed explanation covering 2 chapters
- 00:21:23.905 --> 00:21:27.442
- Of matthew of exactly what was gonna happen.
- 00:21:27.442 --> 00:21:30.445
- He started talking about the great tribulation, and then he
- 00:21:30.445 --> 00:21:34.116
- Talked about the coming of the son of man visibly for all
- 00:21:34.116 --> 00:21:37.052
- To see.
- 00:21:37.052 --> 00:21:38.387
- And then he talked about the judgments that would occur at
- 00:21:38.387 --> 00:21:40.021
- His second coming.
- 00:21:40.021 --> 00:21:41.390
- And then he talked about the kingdom that believers would be
- 00:21:41.390 --> 00:21:44.459
- Welcomed into.
- 00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:46.795
- But curiously, jesus never said anything about the rapture.
- 00:21:46.795 --> 00:21:53.902
- Didn't speak about it.
- 00:21:53.902 --> 00:21:55.637
- Now, you would think if the disciples wanted to know, "lord,
- 00:21:55.637 --> 00:21:58.907
- Tell us what things are going to happen," you would think jesus
- 00:21:58.907 --> 00:22:03.311
- Would talk about the rapture.
- 00:22:03.311 --> 00:22:05.680
- Why didn't he mention the rapture?
- 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:08.583
- Is it because the rapture is simply a figment of our
- 00:22:08.583 --> 00:22:10.819
- Imagination and it's really not gonna happen and we are gonna go
- 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:14.022
- Through the great tribulation?
- 00:22:14.022 --> 00:22:17.058
- Before you go out and build your bomb shelter in the backyard and
- 00:22:17.058 --> 00:22:20.729
- Start loading up on peanut butter and tuna fish, i
- 00:22:20.729 --> 00:22:24.299
- Encourage you to come back next week, because next week we're
- 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:28.403
- Going to talk about the rapture of the church and why i am
- 00:22:28.403 --> 00:22:32.274
- Absolutely convinced that no christian is gonna be left
- 00:22:32.274 --> 00:22:36.678
- Behind for the great tribulation.
- 00:22:36.678 --> 00:22:40.081
- Jeffress: i've been studying the bible for many decades, and i've
- 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:47.889
- Been teaching about biblical prophecy most of my life.
- 00:22:47.889 --> 00:22:51.393
- As a result of the countless hours invested in this topic,
- 00:22:51.393 --> 00:22:55.163
- I'm convinced that christians will not remain on earth for the
- 00:22:55.163 --> 00:22:58.400
- Great tribulation, and i urge you to listen again next time
- 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:02.437
- Because i'm going to explain how i've come to that conclusion.
- 00:23:02.437 --> 00:23:06.308
- As we venture further into this study of bible prophecy, my
- 00:23:06.308 --> 00:23:10.378
- Prayer is that you'll begin to see god's plan for the future
- 00:23:10.378 --> 00:23:13.915
- And for you personally.
- 00:23:13.915 --> 00:23:15.517
- Not as an alarming mystery, but as a source of comfort and hope.
- 00:23:15.517 --> 00:23:20.455
- That's one of the many reasons we provide "pathway to victory"
- 00:23:20.455 --> 00:23:23.825
- On television for you and your family.
- 00:23:23.825 --> 00:23:26.695
- And when you support the ministry of "pathway to
- 00:23:26.695 --> 00:23:29.264
- Victory," you're bringing hope and light into the dark corners
- 00:23:29.264 --> 00:23:32.934
- Of our world.
- 00:23:32.934 --> 00:23:34.302
- So thank you so much for your partnership.
- 00:23:34.302 --> 00:23:37.138
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:23:37.138 --> 00:23:38.473
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:23:38.473 --> 00:23:43.278
- Announcer: with everything happening in our world today.
- 00:23:43.345 --> 00:23:46.248
- It's natural to wonder, are we living in the end-times?
- 00:23:46.248 --> 00:23:50.519
- In his brand-new book "ask dr. jeffress about the end times,"
- 00:23:50.585 --> 00:23:54.689
- Dr. robert jeffress answers the 20 questions people ask the
- 00:23:54.689 --> 00:23:58.093
- Most about the future.
- 00:23:58.093 --> 00:23:59.494
- Jeffress: in my 40+ years as a pastor, i've answered countless
- 00:23:59.494 --> 00:24:02.731
- Questions about the end-times, and that's why i wrote this
- 00:24:02.731 --> 00:24:06.568
- Book, to give you clear, biblical answers that will fill
- 00:24:06.568 --> 00:24:10.372
- Your life with peace, joy, and excitement as we look forward to
- 00:24:10.372 --> 00:24:14.442
- Our lord's return.
- 00:24:14.442 --> 00:24:16.077
- Announcer: request your copy of "ask dr. jeffress about the
- 00:24:16.077 --> 00:24:19.114
- End times" when you give a generous gift to support
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- "pathway to victory" or when you become a pathway partner.
- 00:24:22.217 --> 00:24:26.021
- And when your ministry gift is $125 or more,
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- You'll also receive dr. jeffress's bestselling book
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- "perfect ending," also the stunning full-color resource
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- "the end times illustrated," and the complete "perfect ending"
- 00:24:36.831 --> 00:24:40.368
- Teaching series on both cd and dvd.
- 00:24:40.368 --> 00:24:43.438
- Jeffress: the end-time events are going to be
- 00:24:43.438 --> 00:24:44.773
- Very frightening.
- 00:24:44.773 --> 00:24:46.141
- It's going to consist of economic turmoil.
- 00:24:46.141 --> 00:24:48.143
- There'll be wars, there'll be unprecedented persecution.
- 00:24:48.143 --> 00:24:52.113
- But fortunately christians don't have to fear that period
- 00:24:52.113 --> 00:24:55.150
- Of time.
- 00:24:55.150 --> 00:24:56.484
- Announcer: your generous support of "pathway to victory" helps us
- 00:24:56.484 --> 00:24:59.087
- Proclaim the hope of christ's return through television,
- 00:24:59.087 --> 00:25:02.457
- Radio, and online streaming to people across the country and
- 00:25:02.457 --> 00:25:06.261
- Around the world.
- 00:25:06.261 --> 00:25:07.596
- Together we're piercing the darkness with the light of
- 00:25:07.596 --> 00:25:10.465
- God's word.
- 00:25:10.465 --> 00:25:11.833
- Jeffress: together, both the old and new testaments contain over
- 00:25:14.936 --> 00:25:18.073
- 2,000 prophecies.
- 00:25:18.073 --> 00:25:20.141
- While the majority of these prophecies have already come to
- 00:25:20.141 --> 00:25:22.877
- Pass, others are yet to be fulfilled.
- 00:25:22.877 --> 00:25:26.181
- And i hope this initial study in our new series is giving you
- 00:25:26.181 --> 00:25:29.918
- Helpful context for the subject of the end-times.
- 00:25:29.918 --> 00:25:33.855
- Well, many people have tried to set concrete dates to predict
- 00:25:33.855 --> 00:25:37.792
- The end-times, but so far no one's been accurate.
- 00:25:37.792 --> 00:25:41.262
- We can't know god's timing, but we can know what the end-times
- 00:25:41.262 --> 00:25:45.400
- Will look like.
- 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.735
- And next time, we're going to look at the epic moment in
- 00:25:46.735 --> 00:25:49.471
- Prophecy known as the rapture of the church.
- 00:25:49.471 --> 00:25:52.941
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
- 00:25:52.941 --> 00:25:55.844
- Series "perfect ending."
- 00:25:55.844 --> 00:25:59.381
- Jeffress: the truth is, the end-time events are gonna be
- 00:25:59.381 --> 00:26:01.750
- Very frightening.
- 00:26:01.750 --> 00:26:03.084
- It's gonna consist of economic turmoil, there'll be wars,
- 00:26:03.084 --> 00:26:06.187
- There'll be unprecedented persecution, but fortunately,
- 00:26:06.187 --> 00:26:10.158
- Christians don't have to fear that period of time because of
- 00:26:10.158 --> 00:26:13.728
- The event we're going to talk about today: the rapture of
- 00:26:13.728 --> 00:26:17.065
- The church.
- 00:26:17.065 --> 00:26:18.400
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message
- 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:21.369
- "not left behind," here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:21.369 --> 00:26:25.607
- Announcer: join us on the "pathway to victory" cruise to
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- Alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
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- Jeffress: let me paint a picture for you.
- 00:26:35.984 --> 00:26:37.819
- You're standing on the deck of a beautiful cruise ship, coffee in
- 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:41.656
- Hand, watching a glacier calve into the pristine waters while
- 00:26:41.656 --> 00:26:46.127
- Bald eagles circle overhead.
- 00:26:46.127 --> 00:26:48.830
- That's going to be us this coming june.
- 00:26:48.830 --> 00:26:51.533
- You've got to see alaska with your own eyes to believe it.
- 00:26:51.533 --> 00:26:55.170
- Announcer: seven days of pure luxury where every meal is
- 00:26:55.170 --> 00:26:58.306
- Prepared for you.
- 00:26:58.306 --> 00:26:59.641
- The world-class service means you never have to think about
- 00:26:59.641 --> 00:27:02.243
- The details.
- 00:27:02.243 --> 00:27:03.611
- Instead, you can focus on casual conversations with like-minded
- 00:27:03.611 --> 00:27:07.248
- Christians, laughing, telling stories, while surrounded by
- 00:27:07.248 --> 00:27:11.086
- God's breathtaking creation.
- 00:27:11.086 --> 00:27:13.154
- Jeffress: this is purposeful travel at its finest, refreshing
- 00:27:13.154 --> 00:27:17.058
- Your soul in god's stunning cathedral of natural wonders.
- 00:27:17.058 --> 00:27:21.463
- Announcer: call...
- 00:27:22.097 --> 00:27:25.433
- Or visit ptv.org.
- 00:27:25.433 --> 00:27:25.433