Mike Bickle emphasizes the importance of understanding the signs of the times as outlined in the Parable of the Fig Tree. He encourages believers to actively engage with Scripture, challenging teachings and ensuring they align with biblical truths, much like the Bereans did with Paul. Bickle highlights that those living in the final generation are commanded to know the signs of Christ's return, as unprecedented events unfold in both glory and darkness. He warns against the scoffing spirit that may hinder believers from recognizing these signs and urges them to remain vigilant and connected to God. Ultimately, he calls for a generation of believers to be aware, prepared, and engaged in the unfolding divine narrative.

Yes, uh regularly That when I teach on the end times or anything related to the scripture I don't ask anybody To accept what they hear me say But I want you To challenge every idea you hear not just from here from everywhere challenge it with humility and Refuse to accept anything you cannot see with your eyes In your own bible if you can't see it with your own eyes in your bible, then don't accept it I like to say that a couple times a year just to remind us That we're to be like the bereans in acts chapter 17 Paul the apostle came into their town to berea And he taught the word of god and they said well, we'll we'll get back with you to you later paul We're going to see if it lines up with the word of god Well, that's pretty good when You make paul Make sure paul's teaching the word of god before you accept it. So I like that Paragraph b we're gonna look at the exhortation by jesus to know He actually commanded us Us being the people of god. I mean He commanded the people of god who are living in the final generation of natural history. He commanded them to know it That's an unusual idea when I first read that Because I thought we the people of god could not know it, but it's exactly opposite. They are commanded to know it Talking about those that are living in that generation They need to Because there's unique dynamics going on In that hour of history that are unprecedented in all of human history the manifestation of god's glory The the intensity of the revival is beyond any time in history But the intensity of the darkness And demonic activity is beyond any time in history So we have the intense good and the intense bad in the same hour That uh creates unique dynamics never seen in history before That's why the people living in that generation need to know If they're in it And that's what jesus commanded them to do Well, there's two questions that are often asked Can those people know if they're living in that generation and if they can how will they know? What are the signs? Well, of course we're having this 14 class course on the signs of the times But it's not enough to take a course If I was to ask you right now From your heart without looking at notes list 20 signs of the times Could you do that? And my point isn't uh Say, oh you couldn't do it or you could that's not my point. My point is to alert you that Taking a course isn't enough because we've got to actually grasp them so that we can watch Because if you don't if you're not aware of them really familiar then it's Not possible to watch them unfold You can't connect what's happening in the culture Or what's happening in the nations with what the word of god said and if you can't do that Then it doesn't create the urgency and the confidence in the faith So I want to ask you tonight again just privately in your heart if I ask you to write 10 positives and 10 negatives signs or trends Could you do it right now right from your heart? And if the answer is yes Then continue to go deeper and the answer is no then determine tonight say you know what i'm gonna get a hold of this stuff It's not enough For my friends to know I want to know it The good news is There's much biblical information on this topic. Why? Because jesus wants us to know it because he loves us he doesn't want us confused He doesn't want the people of god in that hour Afraid he doesn't want them deceived He doesn't want them Being seduced and compromised. They didn't even know they were being seduced in He doesn't want them offended because many believers will be tempted to be offended at the lord Lord, why did you allow the intensity of the distress to reach this level? And he'll say why put it in the book Several thousand years a couple thousand years ago I've spoken with my own mouth. I have a plan But i'm with you Because the good is breaking out as well And so he wants us to know these signs so we can cooperate with him Jesus wouldn't tell us The circumstances in that generation if he did not want us to know them He only told us because he's urgent that we would know them Well, there's a major obstacle And that is scoffing Look at second peter chapter 3 second peter chapter 3 verse 3 and 4 This was a surprising Prophetic word from the apostle peter He says this this surprised me when I first learned this passage knowing this first First scoffers will come in the last days Now that's an unusual thing to put first on the list If I heard peter say that I might have said well peter surely being warned about scoffers Is in the top 10, but it's not first. I mean, come on Aren't you exaggerating this a little bit? And I think that peter understands That the scoffing or the mocking spirit And i'm not talking about a demon spirit per se. I'm just talking about an attitude a a mindset That's in the church and in the culture outside the church in society will be a tremendous Obstacle to the prophetic church moving forward because people will be hindered by it thrown off by it Made insecure by it and they'll draw back and peter said you got to know that in time generation You will be ridiculed for believing what the bible says about that hour You'll be far more ridiculed if you say it You can believe it privately and still be ridiculed some by close friends But if you say it you will be ridiculed and you'll have a stigma because there will be a mocking scoffing Response to what the bible says about that But know that first of all So that you're not thrown off by you're braced for it. He said the scoffers will be walking according to their own lusts He says some of their mocking will be rooted in their lifestyles Some of them will have a private agenda Of a lifestyle with some compromise that they're protecting Even in their mocking and they're defending their Lifestyle by putting down the doctrines that are calling for an intensity of lifestyle He said it is going to be linked in part to their lifestyle and their private agendas, but you'll never know that And here's what they'll say Where is the promise? of his coming For every since the every since the fathers fell asleep for generations in other words All things continue like they always have been It's always the same In other words the stumbling block Of that generation is that what's going to happen is so unprecedented There's nothing in history To compare it to in a fully adequate way I mean jesus had to go all the way back to the flood of noah's flood The flood of noah's generation to compare it. He said it's that Unprecedented. It's that outside the box. It's that Unseen in history. There's nothing to compare it to I mean when you read the book of revelation You read what the apostle said about that generation What jesus said about it? It's like come on really I mean the glory is so intense beyond the book of acts And the global negative is so intense It just seems like a movie a fairy tale. It's not realistic And what peter was saying here is that will be one of your number one obstacles It's the fact that it's never been seen before that which is being described prophetically Well look at roman numeral 2 on the notes Matthew 24, of course is the main chapter. We've looked at it several times The context Is the apostles were asking what sign or what signs so we'd be looking for that's in verse 3 And what will be the sign of your coming and what will be the sign of the end of the age? So that's the the biggest question they have the longest term question And it's in that context that jesus gives three commands And I want you to identify these three commands real clear so that you can Commit your heart to them so you can Determine whether you're actually doing what he said. I find these three commands a little bit challenging command number one He said learn the parable of the fig tree learn it take a little bit of time Get familiar with it Learn it number two I command he commanded us to know When his coming was near now that the qualifier is that's the people living in that generation They were to know it and number three They were to watch They were to take the biblical information And then they were to observe what was happening in the nations in the church in the culture and connecting the dots So it would awaken an urgency and an encouragement An encouragement and a confidence in one hand, but an urgency. There's a big storyline unfolding in that hour of history Because as i've said almost every session, it's the most natural thing For you for up for me all of us to get trapped in the bubble of our own life and struggles And when we see there's a divine storyline a divine narrative bigger Than the small bubble of my life bigger than my little i-hop ministry and my little finances and my little family Those are important to the lord and to me And your life is important to the lord and to you But the lord says there's a big storyline bigger than your local ministry and your local assignment I want you to have urgency to be involved in that storyline because when you When it touches you It makes it changes our perspective the way we approach life. Well, let's read this verse 32 Learn the parable now, this is a commandment. This is something we're to take time to do That's why we're having this 14 session course We're wanting to learn the parable, but I want you to know that he wants us to learn the parable to identify that as a command He said when its branches are already tender And when the fig tree begins to put forth leaves meaning it's the springtime that's when they put forth the leaves after the dark cold dead Deadness of winter after that season all of a sudden the spring comes and the leaves begin to come out on the branches I want you to know something The harvest the summer where the harvest is is very near right at the door verse 33 so Here's the key word when you see all of these things Is See, we're witnessing many of the signs of the times increasing on a global level not all of them yet It's premature in this hour 2016 to say all of them are happening But jesus said when you see all of them happening, there's only one generation they all happen in And they're not we're not there yet. So we can't have the absolute confidence at this hour In my opinion, but the signs are happening so fast on a global level so many of them Were alerted that it's not so far away but of course with the lord it could Go on a few decades and a few decades or with the lord. It could go opposite. It could go instantly the speed up the process So we're not in the season yet Where all of them are happening so it's inappropriate in my opinion to say we know for sure it's now Well, most believers that I know And i'm not trying to be negative. I'm trying to be alerting They don't even know what all of the signs are so they wouldn't even know if they were being fulfilled or not I want us to know what all of them are So at least we have a grid Through biblical information to at least interpret What's happening in the culture and in the nations But I can say for certainty most of them and almost all of them are happening, but not quite We're not quite there He said but when you see all of them And the key word is all No, that's the second commandment. No Be certain in that hour. We're not there yet. But I think we're not so far away from that time I could be wrong, but it seems that way to me by my observation of the biblical signs of the times But again Most believers don't know what they are. So they I mean they know wars rumors of wars Earthquakes. Yeah, and uh Yeah, things like that You know if I interviewed people they would they would all know wars rumors of wars and earthquakes Something uh famine or yeah famines on that list too, but there's quite an extensive biblical list And we want to say yes lord. We want to grasp it and we want the holy spirit to help us with this He said verse 34 Assuredly I say to you When all of the signs are happening this Generation will not pass away. In other words before that generation before the lifetime of those people is over Then Everything he uses the word all things again. Now. He means jesus appearing in the clouds He means the final culmination Of the trumpet the voice of the archangel the lord himself returning in the sky all of those things The cosmic supernatural dimension of the lord's appearing in the sky will take place verse 35 Jesus knows that the believers living in that time frame There is going to be a mocking scoffing spirit Mindset is what I mean in the church and outside the church resisting this information at every step So jesus prophesies way down the road. He says I want to tell the people of that generation verse 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but I promise you These prophetic words I gave you in this chapter. He could have said it that way They will come to pass though. The heavens and earth will pass away. These words will not fall to the ground So he's prophesying 2000 plus years down the road saying people of god my beloved Be sure these are real words. They're reliable. They're durable They're more durable than the scott than than the stars so that was just a Like a a cry of love down through the generations to that generation He goes I wouldn't lie to you and my words created the heavens and the earth So therefore I know they're more reliable and durable than even creation he says but even though You might know that generation you might be alive and have the certainty of it verse 36 The prophetic signs are no substitute for intimate encounter with the father that though the signs May give that generation certainty. They're in that time frame They still don't know the day or the hour Only the father knows you got to stay connected to the father. It's not going to Be enough to be academic with the bible information There's got to be a relational interchange with the father. That's what he's saying And so in verse 42 his third command He says watch and watch means It means actually look Take what the bible says Look at the nations. Look at the culture. Look at the church connect the dots and let it strengthen your courage Let it give you encouragement and urgency and resolve That you're in that hour of history. That's what they're to do. They're to watch Because if they watch they're not going to be caught unaware. They're not going to be taken off guard Let's look at paragraph b now And learn the parable from the fig tree It's a simple lesson But it's still one we're commanded to learn so we want to take time on it I want to identify because this command of fig tree Loses its leaves in the winter Its leaves then begin to bud in the spring And then the figs they become ripe in the summer Everybody in israel knew that very obvious When you see the leaves sprout in the spring The harvest the summer harvest is right there. I mean, it's just a few weeks a month or two down those Down the way it's so close So as I have written here, it's we got it if all I mean, it's clear if all the signs of all the trends are In place recognized at a global level I think that's a key point That we've covered that in other sessions Then you know You're in that generation of that hour again. We're not quite there where we can say we know But I believe we're close enough we can say we're very alerted and it's not too early To begin to train the next generation on this subject because things may speed up really fast Because things are escalating quite rapidly in the last decade or two But you just never know with the lord it might slow down for a decade or two or it might speed up even faster number two Here's the key word is the key word is anyone as a fig as fig leaves signal the summer harvest Anybody can see it if they're paying attention. That's the key point of that's one of the points of the parable of the fig tree Anybody can see it if they're paying attention A child can see it. You don't need A doctorate in theology to understand it a child can see it if they're paying attention That's one of the key points It doesn't take a special revelation. It doesn't take a special gifting. It doesn't take a special station in life Anybody a child can see the leaves Mommy daddy The figs are coming just in a little while. Yes, little billy their figs are coming in just a little while. You're right Jesus said it's that obvious and that simple So don't say well, I don't know greek and hebrew and I don't have all the theology Jesus said it's pretty straightforward if you're paying attention That's part of the lesson of the fig tree Anybody can know it if they're paying attention and if they're not afraid of the scoffers They're not intimidated and they're not shut down by the stigma Of believing what jesus says about that hour You know g there's a stigma Related to many things. Jesus says Some of the things are just amazing and so easy to understand and so easy to receive Believers and unbelievers alike. They love them god still love the world. Everyone says amen That's a good one lord His mercy endures forever. Yes, that's an easy one Well, the lord says a few other things that are have stigma even in the church Not just things about the end time that generation Of unusual unprecedented activities, but he says a number of things They will be cast into unquenchable fire forever. Like oh, whoa. Whoa. No way lord Let's dial that down just a little bit if we can So we can be a little bit more relational about this thing Anyway, the lord says a number of things and he's completely intimidated because he's not in a popularity contest He knows he is the only worthy man. He already knows it's settled. He knows who he is But I find that Really embracing what he says not just the popular Cell trends that we all celebrate believer and unbeliever alike celebrate. I mean the other things I said lord. I want to be a disciple I want to follow you wherever you go. I want to say what you say I want to bear whatever stigma you need. I need to bear i'm not into stigma I don't I don't like stigma, but i'll do it if I know it's you And so the lord's saying learn the parable of the fig tree even a child can understand but It's obvious if you study it if you look for it if you search for it But you got to stand with childlike faith in the midst of it as well Well, it's like the summer leaves it's like Will the darkness? And the death of winter ever be gone Well, will there be anything that will get us through the difficulty of human struggle? Well the leaves the signs of the times They come forth. They're like love statements from heaven though Some of the signs are negative in themselves trends the lord's saying i'm shouting from heaven It won't always be the winner summer the harvest is around the corner lift up your hands Understand who's speaking it is me that's moving and acting in human history because I love my people top of page two Paragraph c When you see all of these things, we've already looked at that for a moment All of what are the all well, it's the things spoken of in matthew 24 verse 4 to 28, but because jesus He's the living word he's an the embodiment of the written word he it's fair to put all of the What the word of god says about that generation as well But in context he's talking about what he said from verse 4 to verse 28 He said when you see all those things all of them come to pass know you're in that hour But I broaden it a bit and say well what the whole counsel of the word of god says about that generation Because I mean it's gonna they're all going to be Reliable and they're all going to come to pass. So i'm looking at all the signs And again, I take them as love tokens from god's heart that the winter is past The spring is now and the summer harvest is so close number three Under c now for the first time in history For the very first time in 6 000 years plus or minus of human history since adam most of these trends And the developments to the key events because the trends and events are not the same thing There's trends in the culture and there's actual events that takes place israel became a nation that was an event most of the trends And the development that will lead to the events Because there's there's a handful of events are all increasing most of them are increasing on a global level right now i've made that point but It's good to know that this is the first time in history. That's ever been true. This wasn't true 50 years ago Wasn't true 30 years ago wasn't true 100 years ago, but it's true now for the first time in history paragraph four the man we love Jesus we love him. He loves us the man. We love he says I want you to know what's important for From my point of view for you to know I love you. You love me says the lord. This is what I say is important Yet again much of the church It's not important to them. They go. Well, i'm not really into that. I go you gotta be into that If it came from the lips of the man you loved you gotta be into it a little bit I'm, not into the end times i'm into the man I love his leadership Whatever he says, I like it Whether it's popular or unpopular. I like it. I'm in i'm in all the way I'm into prayer not because i'm into prayer. I like what jesus does i'm into soul winning I'm into servanthood. Well, I need to be in it more but i'm into all that stuff because he's into it So, you know i've talked to folks they go. Oh, you're really in that time. They go. No, that's not exactly it I'm, really into following that man the man that I love That's my That's why I love israel People say no, it's this israel deal I go the glorious man The awesome man the bride group king he said israel he says israel i'm with israel That's all there is to it. If he says it i'm in Now there's more than unpacks with that But that was my beginning point when I found out it moved him that I wanted it to move me Some folks, you know as I talked to him over the years. Well, i'm not really in the israel thing I'm not in the time not really the prayer thing not to this thing. I go i'm not in any of those things really I'm into jesus Whatever he says i'm into But I want to shift The end time subject to a man and his leadership in history not to kind of eccentric novel Ideas that are cool to write novels about or make movies about that will be best sellers I don't i'm all for that, but that it's bigger than that It's loyalty to a man paragraph d It says I want you to know It is near let's read the verse again. We've already read it, but we'll read it for review verse 33 My goal is that you really lock into this verse 33, this is a big statement when you see All of these things No, that's the thing i'm emphasizing now. No Have certainty If you're alive when all of the things are happening have certainty get rid of the You know the uh Ambivalence the well, maybe maybe not he says no if you're alive in that hour And again, I don't think we're not at that hour where it's all happening yet But I embraced myself. I said lord if that happens in my lifetime And I it's in the word and it's happening i'm not going to be ambivalent about it I don't care if it's popular. I care if it's right and it's dear to you Know this it's near it's at the door And know this verse 34 that generation the people alive in that time frame They'll see the whole thing unfold The people in that generation, they'll see it come to completion Jesus commanded we're in paragraph d one generation of believers to know His return turn was near Again, it's the generation that saw all the things He says this a similar thing in luke chapter 21 He says in verse 28 When all these things begin to happen be encouraged Even at the beginning of the generation as they begin before they all are happening When they begin, I mean in a noticeable way And I believe we can say that they have begun in a noticeable discernible way in a major way beyond any time of history We're already at that point Lift up your heads In other words be encouraged don't be don't give in to fear like the others Your salvation your redemption The breakthrough is so close the full breakthrough. I mean we have Partial breakthroughs in our life and in our ministry, but I mean the Breakthrough of all of history where the whole realm of the glory of god fills the earth I like the partial breakthrough in my life and ministry, but I have an eye on the ultimate Eschatological breakthrough that's not far away But he said this verse 32 this generation Will not but pass away In other words the generation in which it begins One decade unfolds two Three decades four decades five decades. We don't know How many decades but when it begins There will be one generation that sees the beginning and the completion Because the beginning is recognizable He says verse 34 Take heed If you're in that hour You don't want your heart to get weighed down and he's talking about by sin and compromise and fear Because if your heart gets weighed down You'll lose perspective and these events will come on you unexpected You won't expect them because you'll be dull in your perception. You'll have a weighed down heart And a weighed down heart. It's like smoke in your eyes The most clear thing can be in front of you But if you got smoke in your eyes, you can't see it. You can't make right choices in light of it You get a weighed down heart He says you won't see what the scripture clearly is declaring and describing you'll be lost in the You'll be lost in all the muddle and the confusion of the culture and of the nations that are being filled with fear He goes, you know, I don't want this to come upon you unexpected. I don't want this to surprise you I want you to watch it intensify I want decade by decade as it unfolds for your discernment as to what's happening to increase your faith increase You're accessing the grace of god increase. I want them all to increase together top of page three Paragraph three at the top my opinion. It's not a prophecy It's an opinion That we may be in the early days of that generation That's an opinion A generation you'll I have it later in the notes. I've said it several times in the course In genesis 15 a generation can be a hundred years when god told abraham God spoke to abraham about four generations He said the children of israel will be in egypt four generations In just 400 years the very first time a generation was ever described by god. It was 100 years That doesn't mean it has to be 100 years But it it can be that long So I was 100 year window. That's Where are we at in that 100 year window and it That generation may not go that long. We don't know but it has that kind of latitude biblically I think that We're in the early days i'm not sure but I believe I think it's very possible. It's my opinion that we are I don't know that i'll see it in my day. I'm 60 years old I don't even care. Someone says do you hope I go? I just hope I do the will of god actually that's what I hope Because god determines those things and his wisdom is perfect Maybe the 20 year olds will see it. Maybe it's the two-year-olds. Maybe it's their children. I don't know. Maybe it's me Maybe it's my people How many of you are 60 ish? Come on If you think they're not being honest point at them. Okay. Yeah. Yeah that girl. Okay good. I saw that paragraph four my opinion About this is based on the observations of the signs of the time. It's not a personal prophecy I don't want to base something that important on a personal prophecy or on A guy's dream that even he's got a real accurate prophetic History of accurate dreams. I say well, I appreciate that but i'm putting that aside i'm basing my opinion on Biblical signs the observation of what the bible says We have to insist that our faith is built on the bible It's confirmed By the lord touching us by the holy spirit and prophetic words were confirmed But our convictions are based on what's written in the book And that's what we go by Paragraph five there's over 150 chapters This is surprising to Most people when they hear it There's 150 chapters In the bible of which the end times is the primary subject That's a staggering piece of information If you count up the four gospels Matthew mark luke and john 89 chapters Almost 90 chapters about jesus And his leadership and his first coming 90 chapters almost 150 chapters about the second coming About the negative and the positive events Related to that generation of history almost twice as much about that generation Than about Jesus's generation. It's the same. Jesus. He's the leader of both generations same bible same holy spirit Same god and yet those 150 chapters many people just put them aside and say well i'm not really into that I go No, no, don't don't do it. Just quite so casually This is jesus's leadership Shifting the earth to the age to come you want to know what the word says about that paragraph six paul the apostle agrees with jesus of course He said We should know Believers should know believers in that hour will know is what it means You look at first thessalonians 5 he goes concerning the times in the seasons And he's talking about the end times because that's what first thessalonians is about The passage right before there he was talking about the rapture being caught up to meet the lord in the air just a few verses before He goes concerning when this is going to happen You have no need that. I explain it to you because i've already done it is the idea verse 4 Believers Aren't in darkness believers aren't in ignorance about it. It's clear. The bible's clear About what will be happening in that generation? So that that day and that Hour that time frame of history won't overtake a believer Like a thief because they will watch it progressively Unfold they won't be surprised by it As the distress increases they're watching it the glory being manifest the glory of god the nations it's increasing The believers personal response is increasing. It's all progressively increasing. They're not overtaken like a thief Verse 6 so paul says what jesus is therefore watch That's the number one command of paul and jesus Related to the end times watch Watch it says watch and pray But many times it says watch and many times it says watch and pray puts them together and you want to put them together Although not every passage adds the word pray watch means actually watch Open your eyes read the bible. Look at the culture. Look at the nations. Look at the church connect the dots And go wow My god is speaking. He's breaking into history. I get it. I'm a part of the plan I'm involved with you watch Jesus said it more than anybody Paul says it here paragraph 7 It's essential for god's people to have understanding in that hour Why in that That generation whether it's five decades or 10 decades 50 years or 100 that however long that generation goes. We don't know But believers need to embrace what's right and refuse what's wrong. Well, that's obvious You know embrace what's right and refuse what's wrong, but here's the problem There will be all kinds of counterfeit activity happening The harlot babylon reality of revelation 17 and 18. There's a counterfeit justice movement a counterfeit Unity movement related to religion that's emerging in the earth And many believers are going to say fantastic justice unity everybody together. Everyone is right. This is amazing This is the unity we prayed for and the bible says no, that's the counterfeit Watch pay attention to what the bible said Counterfeit. No, how could it be? Look at the unity and the love and the justice. It's amazing The lord says don't embrace the counterfeit that emerges in that hour of history and there will be counterfeit signs and wonders There'll be counterfeit religious movements unity movements of nations of religions Where every toleration is is the is the number one virtue and value that everything is right. Nothing is wrong those movements are Increasing rapidly right now and if you're not aware what the bible says you can get caught in the momentum Of the nations though. It's going contrary to what the word of god says paragraph 8 This is an issue of life and death. It's not an issue. Well, i'm into the end times I'm, not really in the times again. I'm into jesus in the bible And it says in hosea my people are destroyed by lack of knowledge And it's not just General knowledge. He's talking about they don't know in context what he's talking about and it's for That they didn't know what god was doing in their generation. They didn't understand what he was saying Some people think the subject of the end times is kind of a Kind of a curious subject that we just debate over you think that I think this let's debate over it And there's a bit of that going on but beloved there's it's a far bigger issue than a theological debate It's an issue of life and death. I'm talking about not all the fine print details I'm talking about the broad strokes of what's happening It's not A casual thing it's life and death people will embrace the wrong things unaware And it will cause the destruction of their life Their spiritual and their physical life Do you paragraph 8 have biblically informed biblically informed convictions? about The end times what the bible says Do you? and if you do Are you able to pass the main ideas on to other people to your children to your friends? I don't mean you know every bible verse and know every detail. That's not what I mean But do you know the main storyline and the main trends good and bad? Could you pass it on to someone? This isn't it will be an issue of life and death. It isn't this minute, but it's going to be before it's over And of course many people say no not yet and that's not I'm not saying that's some horrible deal. It's time to get the information. We're in that hour. It's time to get it So i'm just encouraging you just to settle the issue i'm gonna be a person who gets this Again, not all the details, but the main broad strokes Okay, let's look at paragraph four. I'm not paragraph page four roman numeral three like in the days of noah Like in the days of noah verse 37 But as the days of noah were So also will be the coming of the son of man or the generation the lord returns I mean noah's generation was unprecedented. What happened? A flood came, you know, it never rained before Can you imagine noah's out there? He says hey guys And he he preached this like 70 years. We don't know the exact time but a good estimate Of how long he built the ark and preached about it was about you know, 70 80 years something like that And you can put it together by the age of his children when you compare a few verses together So let's just say 70 years Here he is. I mean I picture this guy at year one of this 70 year assignment like oh my god Out there sawing a tree down Okay Hey, noah Hey, bro. What what are you doing? Let's all tree down what you can do. You've already built your house Well, i'm gonna build a boat Okay why because the Ocean is quite a ways away Well, it's gonna rain What do you mean rain? It's gonna rain. Well, noah Basic science class second grade remember second grade noah The water the book of genesis came from the ground. It didn't come from above god watered the earth from beneath Noah second grade remember the water comes from the ground Well, no, it's gonna come from above You're a good guy. He always were messing around in second grade It's impossible for water to come there's No way they can hold the water up there water's heavy you can't water didn't come down it comes up No, it's going to come down this one time really Who told you? god really Good for you. Noah. Now. It's year 10 still sawing It's got calluses now no more blisters year 20 year 30 It's year 40 his in-laws have had it with him Miss noah, we told you not to marry that boy He went off the edge Look at that monstrosity that he's building for 50 years. What about the kids and college in the future? What's what is that? We're a long way from the ocean 60 years 70 years I mean, I can't fathom A 70 year assignment Believing something that is unprecedented. It's never ever happened before ever Jesus said verse 37 like in the days of noah So also will be the coming of the son of man I mean what a remarkable reality He goes on and says For in that day before the flood for that 60 70 years The people are eating and drinking business as usual that makes sense. There's nothing wrong with that But their argument was it never rained before We've never seen rain we're not going to believe this message And then again, I don't know if it was exactly 70 years but let's say 70 just for the Telling of the story here. He enters the ark Verse 39 the whole the vast majority Besides eight of them. I mean it was the whole they did not know here. They were in the most significant Generation in history at that point in time. They were completely unaware The vast majority though noah had been preaching to them With the lord's blessing on him. He's called a preacher of righteousness. I have the verse there in second peter paragraph d He was a preacher of righteousness he was speaking it with authority and clarity for 50 60 70 years But still verse 39 they did not know What do you mean you didn't know Well, they heard but they never never ever connected the dots And they're in the most significant generation of human history up to that time the entire earth is going to be transformed And no one is aware of it And then the flood come and took him away He says in verse 42 watch therefore jesus said pay attention You don't want to be unaware paragraph d the days of noah well, there's a number of ways in which It's like the days of noah The people were unaware completely Sounds like today the nations are unaware much of the church is unaware not even paying attention It's unprecedented what's going to happen. Jesus said when he looked back over history goes. No, not that generation. No, no, no the most comparable example of what is going to happen that's going to be so unprecedented And it's going to be so Unresponded to is noah. He went way back there. That was the most unprecedented thing in history And it was the most Unresponded to thing in history that was from god The people didn't know And it came suddenly Suddenly it escalated to a whole nother level You know, it's one decade two decades three decades. The boat's getting bigger. They're laughing They're mocking four decades five decades six decades seven and there was a time when then it suddenly escalated And yet people couldn't find their way at that time Look at paragraph e the very end of the handout here, but noah Hebrews 11 7 have the worship team come up noah Was divinely worn. Here's the key phrase of things not yet seen unprecedented There's no record of this in history But he was moved by godly fear because it was the word of the lord He prepared an ark 60 70 years, whatever that number actually is. I mean just I look at noah just the resolve I mean, have you ever done anything for 10 years? I mean 10 years stayed with something That had stigma That had people laughing at you that was god have you ever done it 20 years No drops of rain 30 years 40 years Have mercy on the guy lords. Come on man. Have some mercy on noah speed this thing up Well, the lord didn't need my prayer on that well, god's raising up a generation that's like I mean we're coming to a time where they're Is a generation like noah and god's raising up noah's He's raising up messengers preachers of righteousness is what I mean the ark Is obedience to the man jesus. That's the ark the ark of safety Is the word of the lord and our obedience to it our responsiveness to it our confidence in it. That's the ark But god's raising up young and old that are divinely warning a generation And divinely inviting a generation there's a warning And there's an invitation. It's two sides of the same coin I want to be a man among a people in a generation That's not moved by the stigma not moved by the scoffing not moved by the delay Not moved by the unprecedented because I want to fear the lord And I want to be about his business Amen, and amen, let's stand Let's stand