This sermon emphasizes the significance of the imminent return of our Lord, focusing on the prophecy of the rebirth of the nation of Israel as a key indicator. It highlights the correlation between the fig tree representing Israel and the season of summer signifying the nearness of the Lord's return. The sermon underscores the importance of being prepared and vigilant for the imminent appearing of Christ.

Let's turn to book of Revelation chapter 22 verse 20. He who testifies to these things says, surely I'm coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Let's have a word of prayer before we proceed. Dear Lord, we thank you so much because it is your word. You said that you will come quickly. So, according to your word, we pray and we plead with you Lord, come quickly. In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen. As you know that this is a very important conference. We are discussing, we are talking, we are meditating upon the coming back of our Lord. Now, it is my responsibility to share on the imminent return of our Lord. Now, how do we know the Lord will come back very soon? I think it's very clear from the word of our Lord himself. He who testifies to these things says, surely I'm coming quickly. Now, we know that this word actually is at the very end of book of Revelation and also very end of the whole Bible. When John was about to finish this book, when he was about to conclude this book, when he is about to give the benediction, final one to his church, then we come to the almost the last verses in the whole Bible. He who testify to these things says, surely I'm coming quickly. Paul wrote, John wrote the whole book by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So, he wrote so many things. Finally, someone has to testify, has to testify. Someone has to approve it. Now, more than once from the mouth of John, he quoted, behold, I'm coming quickly. Revelation chapter 22 verse 7. Another time, and behold, I'm coming quickly. But now, this all from the mouth of John. Someone finally had to verify it. Yes, what he said is what I'm saying. So, finally, we heard the word, surely I am coming. So, brothers, sisters, that's the reason we believe that our Lord not only will come back and also will come back very soon. Now, what is our response? What is our attitude to his imminent appearing? Now, we know that the immediately the one who wrote down this wonderful book, a wonderful book of Revelation says, even so come Lord Jesus. So, this ought to be our prayer because we are here not only knowing, not only, not only, not only recognizing the fact that he's coming back, but actually we should live a life according to this light. So, this is our burden, especially for, for this morning and tomorrow, we will focus on the imminent return of our Lord. Now, if we go to the dictionary, we will get the definition about the word imminence. For example, according to Random House dictionary, likely to occur at any moment. If we turn to Webster's dictionary, threatening to occur at any moment. So, the true definition of the imminent return of our Lord is he is expected to come back at any moment. Now, I like the statement from A.T. Pearson, who has been recognized as a great Bible scholar. He said, imminence is the combination of two conditions, that is certainty and uncertainty. By an imminent event, we mean one which is certain to occur at some time. Uncertain at what time? And that's why we ought to watch and pray. Let me quote a very important phrase. Actually, we have just sung. Now, you know, we have just sung the hymn, actually it's one of the 43 hymns written by Emmy Barber, who helped Washman Lee greatly. Now, one day, Washman Lee wrote, read her poem. And he came to the hymn we have just sung. And actually, I, we have give you a handout. So, if you read your handout, if you read the part rapture, when you come to the second verse, Tis our Lord, tis our dear Lord we wait for, our hope, our joy, our friend. Himself we long to welcome, and just beyond the bend. Hidden perchance to meet us before the day is done. The waiting will be over, and heaven will have begun. Now, Washman Lee couldn't understand why Miss Barber used the phrase, and just beyond the bend. So, one day, when both of them walked together in the street in Fuchao. And because you know, Barber, not only he had a knowledge of the Lord's coming back, he received that much help from knowledge, from a doctor, from a panton, brother panton, and all these people. He was, she was very well versed with the word. But actually, she was really the one who are waiting for the Lord to return. So, one day, when these two walked together on the street, then Miss Barber said to young Washman Lee, he said, look, probably at that corner, probably at that bend, we will meet Him. So, that's exactly meaning here. And just beyond the bend, hidden perchance to meet us before the day is done. Now, according to my knowledge, probably the best hymn in the church history about the imminent appearing of Christ is this one. Now, you may read many other hymns about the Lord, about the Lord's second coming, about how He descend, how He will come in glory. And even with the brethren movement, with the brethren, you will find many good hymns about the Lord's coming back. He will come back very soon. But here is the most poetic expression. It is most poetic, deepest, profound way to tell, just in few words, the wonderful truth of the imminence of our Lord's return. And I also try to quote to you a very wonderful statement by, by Campbell Morgan. You know, Campbell Morgan was considered as the prince of expository. He definitely know the Bible well. He almost, before he read any book in the gospel, in the Bible, definitely he will read through 50 times before he take any note about that book. That's why we were greatly helped by this wonderful Bible scholar. Now, of course, he know the coming back of our Lord. Of course, he know the truth of a second coming. Of course, he had preached many times about the Lord's return. How about the messenger who has given many message about Lord's return? Who, what kind of life is this messenger? He said, I never lay my head upon the pillow without thinking that maybe before the morning breaks, the final morning may have dawned. I never begin my work in the morning without thinking that perhaps he may interrupt my work and begin his own. Now, brothers, sisters, here is the one who was waiting for the return of the Lord, our Lord at any moment. So this is, this is the thing we would like to be occupied in these two morning. But now here is a question, how can we be sure he definitely will come back soon? Of course, the reason we are sure because our Lord said himself, surely I am coming. So if we read 2 Peter 1 chapter 9, we have also a more sure word of prophecy, which you do well to heed as light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. So the reason we know that we are pretty sure the Lord definitely will come back soon. He can come back any moment. So now the reason we are so sure because the word of God. Now, especially when John almost finished all the prophecies in that book. And when he almost concludes the whole book of Revelation. And now he said, now he said, now he quote Lord, surely I'm coming back. I'm coming quickly. Now, I already mentioned before that phrase, when you come to the verse 7 and verse 12. Now chapter, chapter 22 verse 12, 7. Behold, I'm coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the word of prophecy of this book. Now the Bible is about to be concluded. The Bible is about to become a closed system that we not only can interpret. Now we only can understand. Now we can receive the full revelation. So now we can be sure he's coming back soon. So that's why behold, I'm coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the word of the prophecy of this book. How can you keep the word if you do not know the word? If the Lord did not finish his word, how can you keep his word? And sometime we tend to interpret something before the sentence is concluded. For example, suppose a mother said to his teenage boy, say, go out. Now, if you stop here, you try to explain your mother's word, you may be misunderstood. You may be hurt. Why your mother say, go out? But listen, if she continues to say, go out to the street corner to buy a dozen, dozen of eggs for us, please. Now he, now she finished her sentence. Now you're able to understand what does your, what does your mother mean? So the same thing, brothers, sisters, before John finished the book of Revelation. Now, brothers, sisters, the Lord God hasn't finished his word yet. So now after when the whole book of the Bible is concluded, now it's form a closed system. Now the word of God is able to explain the word of God. It's not up to you, nor up to me to decide what does that, what does that statement mean? Or what does that reverse mean? No, we are not qualified to do that. Only the word of God can explain the word of God. So because of that, brothers, sisters, we have the words of prophecy of this book. And because we understand, because we receive, because we have his word, now it's our duty, it's our obligation to keep the words of prophecy. So here the Lord said, behold, I'm coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of prophecy of this book. Based on this book, based on his word, we are pretty sure he's coming back very, very quickly. Now the coming back of our Lord is our blessing. It will bring us blessing. But more than that, now this another verse 12, and behold, I'm coming quickly and my reward is with me, to give to everyone according to his work. So the Lord's coming not only bring us the blessing, also bring us the reward. Today people tend to emphasize the blessing, the grace, and they forgot the reason we are waiting for our Lord's return. Because he and he only is our greatest reward. So now these are the two places the Lord said, behold, I'm coming quickly. So based on these two statements, now before John conclude this book, and then he said, he who testify to this thing said, surely I'm coming quickly. So brothers, thank the Lord. Now we have the book from Genesis to Revelation. Genesis is book of Alpha. Revelation is book of Omega. From Alpha to Omega, here we have the sure word of prophecy. And based on that, we are able to know that he's really coming back very soon. Now for the young people, I like to show you some fact, because we have no time to go through all the prophecies in the Bible. But I think you all ought to have some kind of common sense about the prophecies. Now if you turn to the whole Bible, you will find we have 31,124 verses. Among these many verses, we will find 8,352 verses all about prophecies. In other words, 27 percent of the pages in the word of God belong to the prophetic word. Now if you really want to count how many prophecies, roughly 1,870, something like that. And of course, some other Bible scholars counted about 1,001. But anyway, if you take the average, it's about 1,800 something. But then of course, you find many prophecies repeated, you see, again and again. So if you try to sort it out, you will find 737 events recorded in the Bible predicted. It means that these are all separate matters. You see, if you really gather, put them together, 737 events. However, not all the events are major ones. So again, you sort it out, then you will find about 590 major events predicted from the Bible, from the word. So now we want to know, what is the fulfillment rate of the word of God? You can speak many prophecies, but you may not fulfill your prophecies. So we have 590 major events. Now how many of them has been fulfilled? The answer is 570 events. So in other words, there are only 20 major events left, yet to be fulfilled. So the rate of fulfillment is more than 97%. This is the word of God. The Bible, the word of God will stand or fall with the prophecies recorded in the Bible. So brother, sisters, that's the reason we know that Bible is indeed the word of God. And from this prophecy, from this word, we are pretty sure the law will come back soon. So then if you really want to go through these 20 events, now in your handouts, we have given you the list of these 20 events. Now, some of us, so, and if you read it carefully, so these are the major events yet to be fulfilled, prophecy yet to be fulfilled in the word of God. Now, if we read the word of God correctly, if you really go through these 20 prophecies, you will find the first one. The first one is rapture of the saints. Then you have many others. So in other words, before the law return, before the law come back and steals us away, take us away, you don't have to wait for any other prophecies to be fulfilled. Yes, there will be antichrist, but we are waiting for Christ. We are not waiting for antichrist. Yes, there are many other things will happen. All will be included in these 20 major events. But the first one, the rapture of the saints. I think brother sisters, this is the results, the result of many hours of study, of many diligent word of the Bible. And so I just give that as a common sense for the young people, for you to know that now from the word of God, definitely, we definitely know, we know that the law, our law is coming back very, very soon. Now let me, before I proceed, I would like to just, I would just like to mention a little bit more. Because when John wrote his last book, when he wrote this book of Revelation, when he said, he who testified to these things says, surely I'm coming quickly. Now John, the disciple whom Jesus loved the most, at least he really felt that way. And he was on, he was on the island of Patmos. He has been exiled. He was lonely on the Lord's day. And then he received the word from the Lord. And then he wrote this book. Now he is about to finish, to conclude this book. But somehow in his memory, he still can remember. Now why he wrote this book? Because on that day, especially the Lord's day, when he was meditating, when he was thinking, of course that's the Lord's day. That's why his heart also, also his heart definitely went out to the saints in Asia Minor. In the clear day, now in the island of Patmos, you almost can see the shoreline of Ephesus. So that's, that's the background. But also don't forget, John was the one who has seen our Lord ascend to heaven about 60 years ago. Now roughly 60 years ago or 70 years ago. And John vividly remember he and his companions, he and the other disciple was standing on Mount of Olives. And then when the Lord ascend to heaven slowly, and then vividly with his own naked eyes, he can see that there was a cloud which took his master away. Now before that, John was a follower of the Lamb. Why? Because remember when he was, when he was before he was, he first met his master. He was helping the John the Baptist. Then he heard the witness, who were the testimony, behold the Lamb of God. And because of that revelation, and John became the first follower of the Lamb. That's why he said in the Revelation chapter 14, who are these overcomers? Those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. And don't forget brother, sister, John and Angel. They were the angels. They were the first ones who follow the Lamb. And from that time on, three days, three years and half years. And finally they were departed beyond. They were again, they were, they saying farewell in Bethany. And on the Mount of Olives, our Lord ascend to heaven. And John look at Lord intensely. Because when our Lord is about to say goodbye, about to ascend to heaven, and to unexpectedly he saw a piece of cloud. And that piece of cloud really take his master away. So according to book of Acts, we have read, now when he has spoken the things while they watched, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they look steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white garment, who also said, Man of Galilee, why do you stand gazing upon into heaven? The same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. Now, when John was about to finish the book of Revelation, probably he still remembers 60 years ago. How our Lord ascend to heaven. How those two witnesses tried to explain what happened about the Lord's ascension and his return. Now, sometime we consider these two witnesses as two angels. But in my Bible, Bible never said two angels. Bible only said two men with white garments. Now, if you go to hospital, you also find many nurses, they wear the white clothes. So brother, sister, because the only thing I know that these two witnesses, they have enough knowledge. They really can penetrate into the heart of our Lord. They are qualified to explain the Lord's ascension and the Lord's coming back. So, John remember very clearly what two witnesses, Man of Galilee, who do you stand gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. So, brothers, sisters, in another word, the way he ascend to heaven is the same way he will come back. John know the way of his ascension. From Mount of Olives to the cloud. That's all he knew. He know from his very naked eyes. Now, this ascension is public one. Everybody see his ascension, not secret one. So, that part he understand. From Mount Olive to the cloud. Then, theoretically, he should suppose that from the cloud, the Lord definitely reach, reach the throne. Yes. And especially on the day of Pentecost. And you remember how Peter explained the whole thing. Most likely, Peter explained that according to Daniel chapter seven. Because in the Old Testament, you do have the prophecy about our Lord's ascension. So, thank the Lord. From the word, John knew that. Now, when the Lord ascend to heaven in two stages. One, from Mount of Olive to the cloud. And then, our Lord supposed to from, to ascend from the cloud to the heaven. Yes, that's the revelation from the word. Yes, he has heard about this good news. Our Lord has arrived at heaven. How do you know? Because Holy Spirit has been poured out. Now, when Jacob knew that his son Joseph still alive, we were told that his heart was cold. But gradually, he wake up because he saw the chariot from Egypt. Now, he know that his son is in throne. So, brothers, sisters, thank God. Because of coming back, because of, because of descending of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. These disciples' eyes were all open. But somehow, brothers, sisters, the one who has been at the breast of our Lord Jesus, has leaned upon the breast of our Lord. He loved the Lord so much. He missed the Lord so much. He has followed his Lord three years and half. Day and night, wherever the lamb goes, he go. Brothers, sisters, he cannot live without the presence of his master. But somehow, that cloud took away his Lord. He want to know everything beyond the cloud. He know something this side of the cloud. That's why he wrote the gospel of John. Everything about the, about our Lord Jesus, this side of the cloud. From John chapter one, all the way to John chapter twenty-one. But somehow, in the heart of John, some veil in him. Somehow, what happened to our Lord is only a riddle. He can only guess. He can only, he can only think. He can only suggest. He can only imagine. But he want to know something more. He want his first hand revelation. He loved the Lord so much. He was waiting for his master to return because he has a promise of our Lord. But one thing always remain as a riddle, almost remain a mystery in his heart. According to the two witnesses, no doubt, the way he ascend to heaven, is exactly same way he will come back. Now, only way he know experimentally is from the Mount of Olives to the cloud. But what happened beyond for almost fifty years or sixty years, he was waiting for the Lord's return as if that mystery has never been disclosed. But thank God, here you find someone not only have the knowledge, not only have the promise of the Lord's return, but he is someone who was really waiting for the Lord's return. He want to have that answer. Now, brother, sister, think about it. He has waited for the answer for sixty years or even seventy years. Heaven still closed. He still remember it is that cloud which took away his master. So, if he is waiting for the Lord's return, does that mean that when he see any cloud, that means our Lord can come back any moment. Any cloud can bring his master back. Brothers and sisters, I don't think this is our intention to give you more knowledge about the Lord's return. The important thing is how many of us like John. Brothers, sisters, now whenever he see a cloud, a piece of cloud, he remember that that's the cloud that took away his master. But now the same thing. He is waiting for the cloud to appear. But the important thing is what happened? How do we know anything beyond? Thank God, that mystery has been disclosed. That veil has been opened to John on that lonely. And then John really saw heaven open. My brothers, sisters, now the first time in his spirit, he's able to catch the glimpse of what happened from the cloud to the throne. That's why the first verse of this book of revelation, the revelation of Jesus Christ. Brothers, sisters, gospel of John, of course, is the revelation of Jesus of Christ. No doubt about that. But that's happened all this side of the cloud. But what happened beyond that cloud? What happened from the mount, from the cloud to the throne? And later, what happened from the throne to the cloud and to the mount of olive? Brothers, sisters, two witnesses only give the outlines of what will happen. But now it is the one who loved the Lord so deeply, he was entitled to know the all the secret and details about that whole outline. So brothers, sisters, that's why we have this wonderful book of revelation. It was John who tells us, our Lord was crucified in a garden. It was Peter who told us our Lord was crucified on a tree. So here you find a tree in a garden. Jesus died for you and for me. All of a sudden we realize that this is exactly the meaning of tree of life. Because he sacrificed for us, because he died for us on the cross. So even this cross is cursed to our Lord. But thank the Lord, this tree become the tree of life to every one of us. So thank the Lord, this is the beginning of the gospel. This is the beginning of salvation. When the Lord said it is finished, thank God. Now the work of redemption definitely is finished. So from that time on brother, sister, something happened. The universe has changed. Why? Because now our planet has been given a meaning, a spiritual meaning. Before that it's just a material world. Yes, it is God who created heaven and earth. But what is the meaning of our planet? What is the meaning of the whole universe? Only after our Lord was crucified on the cross. From that time on, our planet become the outer court. Because where you find the altar, you find the outer court. So when you study Old Testament, when you study the temple, you know that the first part is the outer court. Now how do you know this is outer court? Because here you find altar. So how do you know that our planet is outer court? The true altar has come. The altar is nothing but the shadow. But the reality is the cross. So when Jesus died for us on the cross, from that time on, our planet is not just a planet. Our planet become the outer court of the whole temple. What does that mean? That means the whole universe has been turned into the house of worship. So now we understand the meaning of the temple in the Old Testament. That was only the shadow. But because of the work of redemption, brothers and sisters, now you see the whole universe become the temple of God. So thank God our Lord was crucified for us. Now he's going to enter into holy place. Then he's going to the holiest of holy. What does that mean? After his crucifixion, he ascended to heaven. And from chapter one to chapter three of Revelation, we knew that he entered into a holy place. When you come to chapter four and chapter five, then we see that he is in the holiest of holy. So brothers, sisters, do you see that? Now John is able to understand how our Lord was from the cloud to the throne. Then many events happen until we reach the end of chapter 11. And then you know that whole book of Revelation can be divided into two parts. First 11 chapters and the last even chapters. Now what is the first 11 chapter? His ascension. How from the cloud all the way to the throne. Now how about the rest of the book of Revelation? From chapter 12 to chapter 22. If we want to put in the simple words, his return. So brothers, sisters, from the chapter 12, you see that how, how the return of our Lord, how parousia of our Lord start. So brothers, sisters, then when you come to the chapter 14, you see that cloud. Again, you find that word cloud repeated very often in this wonderful book. And then brothers, sisters, finally, you come to chapter 19, the feet of our Lord Jesus already upon the Mount of Olives. So brothers, sisters, now you can understand when we, when you go through this whole book of Revelation, now John not only heard the testimony of two witnesses. Now from his spirit, he's able to penetrate into that wonderful mystery. He's able to give us all the details, not for our curiosity. Now just to stimulate us, just try to try to awaken us such that we may be like John. We may be saved with John. Come quick, come Lord Jesus. So brothers, sisters, thank the Lord. And this is, this is, and this is the prophetic word. So from here you can, you can see that John was not only the one who know the word, not only receive the word, and he's really the one who has waited for the Lord's return. And he wait the Lord's return so much. Finally, the Lord, that's the, finally the Lord really opened that veil to him. So I think brothers, sisters, remember to know prophecy is one thing. Now to be the, to be the student of prophecy is very exciting because the word of God is indeed very accurate. However, this is not our point. How many people who give out messages, but how about the messenger themselves? So may the Lord really speak to our hearts. May the Lord try to make us understand. Yes, to know the Lord coming back is one thing, but to wait for his return, to live a life to match our, our understanding is quite another. So thank the Lord. Even we are foolish, even we are knowledgeable with many things, but it's all right. As long as we have a pure heart, as long as we have a heart like As long as we have a heart like Paul and like John, brothers, sisters, now the whole book of Revelation open to John. And thank God this book also open to you and me. So now we, so now we come, now we have the whole Bible because when this book of Revelation finish, then the 66 books all finish, is form one closed system. And for that, now we are able to interpret the word, we're able to understand the word, we're able to receive the word, then we're able to obey the word. Then we'll be blessed. Then we will know that he's really coming back soon. Now among these 18,000 prophecies, how to understand so many prophecies? Fortunately, you know, there is some governing law behind these prophecies. For example, if you look at heaven, if you find any heavenly body moving in the sky, now thank the Lord. Now if you focus on every point of movement, so complicated, now here and then there and then there. But then we know that behind all this heavenly movement, there is one law to govern the whole thing. Now suppose you have a circular motion, so everybody know there's a center. So even when this particle move as a circle, somehow was under the control of that focal point. Now very interesting, when God was moving in history, definitely you can see the traces, you can see the trail of his moving. But if you try go through every event, just like if you try to go through all these 1,800 events, you will get lost. But fortunately, behind these 1,800 events, you'll find there are two focal points. In other words, when the heavenly body, when the earth moving around the sun or anything, you see, somehow you will discover all of those movements is governed by two focal points, not just one. And in another words, this body, this heavenly body is moving around two centers, twin centers. The same thing brothers and sisters. If you want to study these 1,800 prophecies, you will get lost. You will say, oh I'm so busy, I have no time to go through it. But fortunately, thank God, there are only two focal points can summarize all the Bible prophecies. Now what are these two focal points? If you study all these prophecies, you'll find that there are only two classes of prophecies. You can classify them. One is about the Lord's first coming. Another class about the Lord's second coming. In other words, you will find a group of prophecies surrounding with that focal point, the Lord's first coming. For example, at least 333 prophecies about the Lord's first coming accurately. And then if you try to go through another classes, another group of the Bible verses, then you find that you can be classified into another group that is surrounding another focal point. Now that point is the Lord's second coming. There are many prophetic books in the Bible. But there are two books stands out. One is Book of Daniel. Another one is Book of Revelation. So you find that Book of Daniel stand on one of the focus, focal point. And Revelation standing on another focal point. So brother, sisters, no matter you go turn to any, any page of prophetic word, no matter, you probably, you probably turn to one, uh, one prophecy about Damascus. That's very interesting prophecy. But brother, this is only one prophecy. But remember, what is the meaning of this prophecy? If you put them together, now finally brother, sisters, all this prophetic word is to announce the two great events in the history of mankind. Definitely this, this definitely is connected with the redemptive work of God. Definitely there's something to do with our salvation. But if we really want to put in more accurately, it's all something to do with the eternal will of God. God in the eternal past has a plan, has a will, has a purpose. Now He want to work out that purpose. So when He begin to work, then time begin. Then history begin. So when He finish His work, then time ends. Then that's the end of our history. So brother, sisters, when He's moving in our history, it simply means that He work and work and work. Now you all know the history of mankind. Now that's, you all know the, the, the, how we fall and so on and so forth. So God began His work. God continue His work. So that's why brother, sister, you have so many, you have many work to do. And before that event happened, God in His word, Holy Spirit in His word announced all these coming events. So that's all the prophecies in the Bible. But remember brother, sister, this prophecy is not for your curiosity, not for my curiosity. This simply tell us when, when Jesus should come first time and when He should come back the second time. So if you go through the whole Bible, then we see that this are, this, this are the prophecies. Now, if you study the first group, if you study the first group of prophecies about the first, first of the Lord's first coming is very, very useful. Why? Because the law of fulfillment about the first coming is the same law of fulfillment about second coming. You are very sure about law will come back soon because you know so clearly when we come to the, when we come to the first, uh, when you come to the prophecies about the Lord's first, first coming and when you study it, you know that that's, that's definitely happened in our eyes. So of course we don't, we have no time to go through that. We have no time to go through that. Uh, but one thing for sure, especially tomorrow, I think we will go a little bit deeper. You will see that the way, the way the, the prophecies about the Lord's first coming to be fulfilled is exactly same way. You can see the parallel of these two events. You can see the parallel of these two group of prophecies. If you know how to interpret one of them, you can interpret another. And from the Lord's first coming, your eyes are open. Then when you come to the prophecies of our Lord's second coming, then brother, sister, you not only know the fact, the law will coming back soon. Then you will know that why he delay. Then you will know that now, now they, and many things. So then you will explain many other things. So I think this is the sure word of prophecy. This is the Bible. And from his word, we should be able to see, we should be able to know what the Lord is doing. And our God is moving in history. Our God is still moving today. And from his word, we are pretty sure he will come very, very quickly. Bible, there are, there are many, Bible, there are many prophecies who utter this word of prophecy, for prophecies. So that's why you have many prophets in Old Testament. For example, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Joel, and many others. And in New Testament like John and others, you know, these are great prophets. They are able to predict the future. And we know that these are very accurate. And we know that these prophecies have been wonderfully fulfilled. But don't forget, in the Old Testament, not only the kings will be anointed, not only the priests will be anointed, and also the prophets will be anointed. When we talk about our Lord, the Messiah, means he's the anointed one. In another word, when he come again, or when he comes, not only as a king, anointed king, also anointed priest, and also anointed prophet. So brothers, sisters, among all the prophets in the Word of God, the greatest one is our Lord, no doubt. So brothers, how do we know that the Lord will come back soon? Many prophecies have been uttered by many prophets. But this morning, I only mentioned one, and probably will occupy this prophecy today and tomorrow. That's all. Because this is the prophecy uttered by our Lord himself. And let's now for other prophets, for other prophets, they are all servants of God. But our Lord is the Son of God. Now he's giving us the following very important prophecy. So let's turn to Matthew chapter 24, chapter 24, verse 32. Now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all the things, know that it is near at the doors. Probably this verse is too familiar to you. But let us be humble before the Lord. Let us try to ponder before the Lord. Now what is the meaning of this very familiar prophecy? You know, and we all know. It was John who told us, after Judah went out from that upper room, that it was John who said, it was night. Why? Because this means the sun of righteousness is about to set. It's supposed to come down. So we all know it very clearly. Before, we all know it clearly. After our Lord ascended to heaven, in another word, the sun of righteousness disappeared below the horizon. From that time on, it is long and dark. And we have been given a wonderful time together every week. That's the breaking of bread. According to the Bible, it is Lord's supper. Why we have supper? Because the morning hasn't come back yet. So during last 2,000 years, the Church of Christ always have the supper, Lord's supper, but never the breakfast. Why? Because our Lord hasn't come back yet. So when He will come back? And the Lord promised that He will come back. But anyway, week after week, when we have the Lord's table, we will comfort ourselves. Because the way we come together in remembrance of Him, until He comes. Now we know one thing. This summer, we know one thing. We know one thing is that this week, we know one thing that this week is closer than the last week. This supper is closer to the last supper. Since Lord's ascension, there was 10,006,035 Lord's days. In other words, the Church of Christ had 10,006,035 suppers. Supper after supper, there's only one desire till the day dawn. We are waiting for His return. But brother, sisters, any generation, any century, we will say this is probably the last one. But somehow the Lord has not come back yet. But thank God, brother, sister, among so many prophecies, the prophecy we have is really comfort our hearts. Because from this parable, it says, when we learn the parable from the fig tree, when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all the things, know that it is near at the doors. Now, brother, sisters, when that happened? Now, how this, how this, how this prophecy being fulfilled? Now, I know that this almost like kindergarten thing to you, but let me just review a little bit for you. You know, when our Lord first uttered, when our Lord uttered this prophecy, this definitely is prophecy, verbal one, and the Lord talk about fig tree. And now, just few days before, and remember in the one day in the early morning, our Lord Jesus went out from Bethany, and He saw a fig tree from a distance. But somehow He was hungry. Can you believe that? He just left the house of Mary and Martha. Do you think that Martha will allow our Lord go out hungry? Never. But anyway, somehow, not biological hunger, it must be spiritual hunger. Why? Because when He, when He, when He was under the tree, He did not find any fruit. Full of leaves, beautiful, splendor. When you look from outside, from outwardly, give you that kind of feeling. But what our Lord want is that reality. Now, somehow the Lord wants something from the fig tree. And He was so disappointed, He cursed the fig tree. Now, brother, sister, that's another prophecy. When you study prophecy, not only verbal one, also non-verbal one. This time, our Lord put something into action to tell you that this is a, this is a prophecy. So what does that mean? If you read the whole Bible, you know very well, fig tree in the Bible always represent Israel. So here you find the history of Israel. When you look at that tree, full of leaves. Now, if you know a little bit history by that time, you know because of King Herod, he really like, he really like to, he really got involved with construction business. So he really gave the Jews the pride, the glory. Because at that time, now the temple complex, probably the largest religious complex in the world. And according to Josephus, especially early morning, you see, when you look at the temple, wow, it's a splendor. So no wonder, brother, sister, you have to remember, this is, this time represent as if the prime of the history of Israel. But brother, sister, only our Lord know the reality. And He's hungry. And then He begin to curse the tree. So brother, sister, this is a prophecy. And finally, it became true. It's starting from 70 AD, when Jerusalem was destroyed. Then up to 135 AD, then the nation of Israel disappeared from this whole earth. So from this background, now we come to the chapter 32 of Matthew 24. Now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaf. What does that mean? That tree have been cursed from the root. So from now on, no matter what, the appearance and reality are one. It's all, you don't see anything there. For how many years? For nearly 2,000 years. But thank God, according to our Lord's prophecy, one day something will happen. When the fig tree, when the branch of fig tree has already become tender and puts forth leaf, you know that summer is near. So what does that mean? According to this prophecy, one day the nation of Israel will be reborn. It's a wonderful prophecy, brother, sisters. According to political science, any nation disappear from this world more than 500 years will never rise again. This is a miracle. Only miracle in history of mankind. Happened in 1948, May 14. It is surprise and shock to the whole world. A miracle happened. Brother, sister, God work in history. He not only predict that something will happen. And don't forget, this is a prophecy of the greatest prophet in the whole universe. It is a sure word of prophecy. Something ought to be happen. So thank God in our very eyes, we see the rise of nation of Israel. In 1948, May 14. When that happened, remember, verse 33. So you also, when you see all the things, know that it is near at the doors. Now, student of prophecy reminds us at the doors, the doors in Greek is plural. What does that mean? Today in a Western house, you know, when you, when you knock the door, you already entered the living room. So one thing really embarrass me. Sometimes, you know, when somebody is knocking the door, I couldn't find my slipper. It's very embarrassed because if I can, I don't, if I don't have slipper as if I'm naked, it's embarrassing. I cannot do that. So brother say, are you ready? If the Lord knock the door and then you open, you see, but no, he is no, he's the doors. Why? Because in the Oriental house, even China, you know, ancient China, if you, you know that. And now that time in all, you know, the big house of well-to-do, actually there are several courtyards. So probably you come to the main entrance, then the second door, then the third door and probably the fourth door then reach your living room. Now, brother, sisters, can the word of our Lord clearer than this? It's impossible. Do you see that? When that happened since 1948, when we witnessed the appearance, when we witnessed the rebirth of the nation of Israel. Now, one thing we know it very clearly, that is our Lord already at the doors. Now only problem is we don't know which door. Do you see? But it doesn't matter. It's already at the door, at least, probably, probably at least the first door. Then probably you still have four doors away. You still can wait. You still can, can, can plan your life. But the only things that we do now, we cannot make sure it's not first or second or third or probably fourth. So brothers, sisters, one thing for sure, we those who live in the time, in the time who experienced 1948 or after 1948, we, we will, we definitely from the word of God, he can come back any moment because he's at the doors, any door. So brothers, sisters, are you ready to hear the word, hear the knocking of our Lord? Knocking door of our Lord. So that means it is very, very near. Today we study this Bible, this portion of the Bible. We probably won't be very surprised. But if you know a little bit of history about this prophecy, interpretation of this prophecy, you'll be very surprised. As early as the end of 16th century, 17th century, yes, at the end of 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, already many people noticed that the Lord's coming is coupled with the restoration of Jews. The very famous one is Ingres Mather, who was one of the earliest president of Harvard University. He studied the world and remember he was a Puritan. He was considered the last Puritan in United States, in America. And if you know very well the replacements theology by the reformed people, you know that how they think that actually the church already take the place of Israel. God already laid aside Israel away. So remember brother, sisters, in these, in the mind of all the followers of Calvin. Now they think that God has done, has through with people of Israel. So of course what they want, everything is spiritual. Everything is about spiritual things, the coming of our Lord. So these people, their mind, their eyes, never think about the people of earthly people anymore. They all think about now when we study the word, how do we know that when the Lord will come back. And these people, they are waiting for the Lord's return. Even they are scholars. And Ingres Mather wrote more than 100 books at that time. And think about it. However, they love the Lord. They want to know when the Lord will come. But now when you come to the verses, when we come to the Lord's prophecies, now you are very, now it is clear that how do we know the Lord will come? Because the fig tree actually is a very unique plant. This plant will give you the season. When the fig tree, there's no leaf, you know it's winter. When the fig tree has a small green figs, you know that's spring. When full of leaf from our dwelling, you know that's summer. So if you want to know when our Lord should come, and thank God, God really use Israel as alarm clock to wake us up. So because of that, brothers, sisters, now this Bible scholars, they are waiting because in their mind, they never think about the earthly people anymore. They think God through with them. So what they want is when the Lord will come back. But then when they come to the word of God, they have no way out. Because it's clearly by that time when they read this portion of the word, what does that mean? That means one day the people of Israel, the people of Israel will come back to their homeland. So that's called the restoration of Jews at that time. And this thinking is called restorationism at that time. And to our surprise, it widespread among Puritans. That's sometimes I cannot understand. And more than that, about the same time, there was a very famous scientist called Isaac Newton. Now we only know that when he fall, when he, when he slept under a apple tree, probably her nose quite big. So you see the apple fall upon his nose. Then he wake up to a scientific world. Then he found some law. Now brothers, not many, not many people know that he's a Bible scholar, brothers, sisters. Now those who write his life story only can write up to, only can write up to 45 years old. After 45 years, he lived 85 years, 84 years old. So all his contribution with calculus, with optics, with physics, all before 45. Now however, after 45, he spent his time with the prophecy in the Bible, Daniel and also, and also Revelation. So thank the Lord. And he really apply his heart. When he write his book on prophecy, almost like, almost like, almost like reading the thesis in physics. Just like that. But to my surprise that, you know, even at that time, he's dare not, he dare to challenge other people because every people said that now it's through, Jewish people already through. And he was the only one. He, he actually rarely, he's the one challenge all that. Now he told us, actually there are two return. He called double returns. He quote Isaiah chapter 11 verse 11. One day that definitely will happen. And we know that that's really, that's really realized. Finally, it's really realized according to the prophecy of our Lord. So think about brothers, sisters, these prophecies, not that when something happened, then you go back to the Bible, try to fit it. No, even way before that, I still remember when I first know the Lord, I like to read brother writing, especially his magazine, Christian. And there's one section about the, about the, the, the prophecies. Now, even at that time before 1948. Now in that magazine, you'll find they already say that according to the word, definitely the people, definitely nation of Israel will be born, will be reborn. So brothers, sisters, you can see that the word of God is so sure. We thank the Lord. And because when our Lord says, when our Lord says, when our Lord says, uh, uh, it, it is at the door, it means at the doors. So if we talk about the imminency of the Lord's return, I cannot find any other better or more, uh, more, uh, I don't know, better verse, just like what our Lord has said, it is at the doors. That's enough. How do you define the imminency of the Lord's return? I know there's a big fighting in Niagara and many other places. You see, they talk, how do you define it? I don't care. I only know that how our Lord, what our Lord said, it is at the doors. So brother, sister, are you ready? Are you ready? And are we, are we really ready? Can we say to John, come Lord Jesus. So may the Lord really speak to our heart. Let's pray. Dear Lord, we thank you so much for your word. We really commit this word into your hand. Speak to every one of us. In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray.