This sermon emphasizes the importance of being spiritually awake and prepared for the return of the Lord, warning about the challenges believers may face in the end times, including the choice between accepting a mark that compromises faith or facing martyrdom. It highlights the signs of the times, such as geopolitical events aligning with biblical prophecies, and urges believers to be vigilant, ready, and living in the light of Christ's imminent return.

Through martyrdom, it will be through their refusal to take that mark that everyone will be required to take if they're going to buy or sell, that mark that will be forced, and if a person refuses, they'll be put to death, but that's a hard way to go. And I'm fearful that there are many that are going to be in that number that are not really ready, alert, waiting, and looking for the Lord to return, but are like the foolish servant that said, my Lord delays his coming, and they live as though there was not going to be any radical change very soon. But I'm convinced that we are on the border of the return of the Lord. You say, oh Chuck, you said that back in 1970. Yep. And we are now 37 years closer, but we're getting very, very close. So, as Paul said, knowing the time, high time to wake up out of our sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The day is far spent, or the night is far spent, the day is at hand. As Jesus said, when you see these things begin to come to pass, look up, lift up your head, for your redemption is getting close. Russia is supplying Iran with weapons, with nuclear technology. They are supplying Syria with all kinds of armament, tanks, and any aircraft batteries and so forth, and they are preparing to destroy the nation of Israel. And God tells us that when that happens, that God himself will intervene and destroy them, and he'll take the blindness away from Israel, and that he will be known by them, his spirit will be upon them, but that means that the church will not be here. By then the church will be raptured, and we will be with our Lord in heaven. While these events are taking place, God will seal the Jews, he'll take them through the Great Tribulation, but, you know, it's so important. Wake up. The coming of the Lord is drawing nigh. Father, as we look at our world, and as we read, and we see on television, the events that are taking place, and we get the information, Lord, of these things that are transpiring, and even as some are predicting that before the year is out, this war of annihilation could begin, we pray, Father, that we would not be sleeping any longer, that we would wake up to the day and the hour and the time in which we are living, and Lord, let us put off the works of darkness, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. In his name we pray. Amen. Shall we stand? We'll have much more to say about this tonight. We've run out of time, so we'll go into the subject further. The pastors are down here at the front to minister to you and to pray for you, and if you've been sleeping, I'd encourage you, wake up. Come on down and say, lay hands on me that I might wake up, and be alert that we're getting so close to the end, and may the Lord be with you, and may the Lord awaken each of us to the times in which we live. May we not be like that sleeping guard who just says, coming, and then forget or keep on sleeping through the indications that the Lord is giving to us that his return is at the doors. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.