How do prophecies about the return of Jesus Christ fit into the daily lives of Christians? Indeed, does interest in such notions simply distract us from our central mission: preaching the gospel and making disciples? I would like to explore essential elements about prophecy that will suggest that looking for Christ's return belongs in the very center of our daily lives.

1. XII. PROPHECY AND
THE CHURCH
How do End-Times prophecies fit into
the daily lives of Christians?

2. XII. PROPHECY AND
THE CHURCH
You’ve tapped into the beginning of the second
section of a three-part study of biblical End-Times
prophecies.
This second section focuses on End-Times
prophecies found in the gospels and the epistles.
This introductory slide show seeks to help us find the
proper place for End-Times prophecy in the day-today life of here-and-now Christians.

3. SlideShare’s hyperlinks won’t
work until Slide #4–something to do
with spam prevention, so . . . this is a
filler designed to accommodate that
necessity. Please click to the next slide
to reach that point. See ya . . .

4. Basic Information
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fine!), your efforts have no commercial
application and you share extracted/
redacted work with others. God bless and
have fun!
VISIT:
skOG Workshop Headquarters at
www.lennyhoy.com for other items of interest.
Prophecy Series 30 Presentation Set
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Child in Photo: Now 28 and in
the Navy. Like last section’s catin-sink: pretty darn cute!
Table of Contents
EMAIL:
leonard.hoy@gmail.com

5. CENTERED ON CHRIST
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to
His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He
sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
2. who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus
Christ, even to all that he saw.” Rev 1:1
10. “Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do
not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who
hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev 19:10

6. CENTERED ON CHRIST
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to
His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He
sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
2. who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus
Christ, even to all that he saw.” Rev 1:1
“10. Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do
not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who
hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev 19:10

7. BASIC AND ESSENTIAL
1. “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us
press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from
dead works and of faith toward God, 2. of instruction about washings
and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal
judgment” Hebrews 6:1-2
12. Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the
dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of
the dead? 13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even
Christ has been raised; 14. and if Christ has not been raised, then
our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” I Corinthians 15:12-14

8. BASIC AND ESSENTIAL
1. “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us
press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from
dead works and of faith toward God, 2. of instruction about washings
and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal
judgment” Hebrews 6:1-2
12. Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the
dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of
the dead? 13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even
Christ has been raised, 14. and if Christ has not been raised, then
our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” I Corinthians 15:12-14

9. ENDORSED READING
23. “But tak
e heed; beh
old, I have
told you eve
rything in a
dvance.”
Mark 13:23
‘Be on
y to all,
you I sa
I say to
“What
37.
rk 13: 37
!’” Ma
he alert
t

10. ESPECIALLY BLESSED
READING
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to
His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He
sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
2. who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus
Christ, even to all that he saw. 3. Blessed is he who reads and those
who hear the words of the prophecy, and heeds the things which
are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1: 1-3
7. “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the
words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:20

11. TIMELY READING
32. “Now learn the parable from the fig tree:
when its branch has already become tender
and puts forth its leaves, you know that
summer is near. 33. So, you too, when you
see all these things, recognize that He is
near, right at the door.” Matthew 24: 32+33

12. TIMELY READING
32. “Now learn the parable from the fig tree:
when its branch has already become tender
and puts forth its leaves, you know that
summer is near; 33. so, you too, when you
see all these things, recognize that He is
near, right at the door.” Matthew 24: 32+33

13. Significance of Israel’s Return
Fulfills OT prophecy
Starts the End-Times clock ticking
Gives urgency to the Big Question . . . . .
http://notesofanidealist.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/wailing_wall.jpg

14. semen
r Hor
Fou
Ma
rk o
f th
eB
eas
t

15. G
IrN orsemen
R H
Uou ??
F
D ?
I
on:
ti
S
ues
M IME
ig Q
A T
B
E
ER ND
H
W E E
H
T
Ma
r
k of
the
Bea
st

16. When w
e study
we bec
Christ’
ome tig
s return
htrope
,
walker
s....

17. You can fall off in either
of two directions

18. You can fall off in either
of two directions
te Setting
Da
Mind
less
Fear

19. Hey-won’t
it all pan-out in the
end!
You can fall off in either
of two directions
te Setting
Da
Mind
less
Fear

20. This is waaaay
too complicated!
You can fall off in either
of two directions
te Setting
Da
Mind
less
Fear

21. Y
O
U
C
H
R
I
S
T
I
A
N
TWO WORDS
SERVE AS BALANCING
COUNTERWEIGHTS

22. These Two Pithy Words Generate
Two Essential Questions
1. How do we determine who prophetic
passages talk to when they use “YOU”?
Are any of them Christians?
C
H
R
I
S
T
I
A
N
2. How do we determine who prophetic
Y
passages talk about when they describe
O
U 70th Week?
people in the
Are any of them Christians?

23. QUESTION #1:
Who’s “you” in the NT prophecy
??
NS
IA
S?
ST
ER
RI
EV
H
LI
C
BE
ISH
SEEKERS?
W
JE
THE LEFT BEHIN
D??
NON C
HRIST
IANS

24. THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO
APPROACHES TO FIGURING WHO
“YOU” IS IN NT PROPHECY:
This is waaaay
too complicated! Can’t
you just tell me what to
think?

25. APPROACH #1
FIND, APPLY AND DISCOVER
1.Find the basic rules for finding “YOU” as
a form of address anywhere else in the NT.
2.Apply these basic rules to End-Times
passages wherever you find the word
“YOU” used as a form of address
3.Discover to whom the Bible addresses its
teachings about the Seventieth Week

26. BUT THERE EXISTS A SECOND
APPROACH TO DEFINING WHO “YOU”
IS IN PROPHETIC PASSAGES:

27. APPROACH #2
ASSUME, APPLY AND TELL
1. Assume you KNOW already
whether Christians are in the 70th
Week or not.
2.Apply this assumption to End-Times
passages using ‘you’ as a form of
address.
3.Tell the Bible to whom it speaks in
its End-Times passages.

28. Here!
Rules
CH #1
PROA
AP
etation
interpr
les of
c NT r u
Basi
lusions
m conc
to for
lead us
ching.
es tea
nd-Tim
about E
Guess which approach I like.

29. Here!
Rules
CH #1
PROA
AP
etation
interpr
les of
c NT r u
ou sions
asi
B
loni l n
onc usc
morm c
fotr f c
uad o s o
adle s t u
u
hing.
holeld
s
es teac
end tim
about
guess which approach I like

30. Hmmm... I
wonder if readers know
what’s at stake with this
‘you’ stuff?
Believe it or not, how you
define this one word
determines the relevance
and urgency you’ll give to
your study of prophecy

31. In prophecy, the Bible regularly uses “YOU” to give
someone warnings, instructions and descriptions
about the 70th Week.
IF the Bible directs these End-Times passages to all
Christians (including YOU), the Bible implies that
Christians will go through this period. Christians
therefore need to heed the various warnings,
instructions, descriptions and cautions.
IF,on the other hand, the Bible directs its End-Times
statements to non-Christian groups instead, then the
Bible implies Christians have left the planet for Heaven.
Christians therefore need not concern themselves with
potential involvement in the tribulation’s struggles.

32. An Example of General NT Interpretation
Of ‘You’: Great Commission
18. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and
on earth. 19. Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age.”
To whom does Jes
us give these instr
uctions? Just his im
hearers? Just Firs
mediate
t Century Christia
ns? ALL Christian
s?
Rules we use here
to interpret ‘you’ (
implied before the
vs. 19) should dire
word “Go” in
ct our interpretatio
ns of similar comm
prophetic passage
ands in
s, too!

33. Posit: The Great Commission of Matthew 28:
Meant For All Christians Because It’s . . .
1. A natural command for all Christians
2. Duplicated elsewhere Mark 16:15
3. Not yet fulfilled-still active!!
4. Predicted to be fulfilled (Rev 7:9-17
5. Acted on in NT by other than the 11 apostles
6. Jesus tells us all that we’re meant to listen to Him
Matthew 7:24, Luke 6:47, especially Mk 13:37.

34. Here’s a clue to Jesus’ audience awareness
when discussing End-Times material.
Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse this way:
“What I say to you, I say to all: Be on the
alert!” Mark 13:37
The 3-4 disciples present
for Jesus End-Times
teachings on the Mount of
Olives
Hmmm . . . maybe Jesus
only means the other 8-9
disciples who weren’t
there? I’m off the hook!?!

35. Here’s what I consider a clincher regarding to whom Jesus
gives commands and teachings:
Jesus prays over the disciples in John 17:13-21:
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for
those also who believe in Me through their word.
Jesus has us all in mind
when He teaches or gives
commands!!
The disciples present with
Jesus at the Last Supper

36. If ‘you” generally addresses all Christians in the NT, I still
have to be careful about applying it to me!
If “you” refers to Christians , there
are still choices . . .
Christians in general, me included!
Only some Christians (backsliders? the gifted? etc)but does this passage contain a lesson for me?
Specific individual Christian in the past-like the
person Paul commends to Phoebe in Romans 16:1
Some Christian-like group in the TribulationYeah, I can work with this one! Poor Saints that got
left behind, you know!

37. OOHHhhhh . . . I was
really hoping I didn’t have to
think this much.
You can fall off in either
of two directions
te Setting
Da
Mind
less
Fear

38. Now for the
second word!
Y
O
U
C
H
R
I
S
T
I
A
N
TWO WORDS
SERVE AS BALANCING
COUNTERWEIGHTS

39. QUESTION #2:
ARE THERE ACTUAL CHRISTIANS IN
THE TRIBULATION/70TH WEEK?
A Field Guide for Bible Students
HELPFUL QUES
TION: How do we
know when the NT
Christian, a Bodydescribes a
of-Christ Christian
anywhere else in it
s narratives?
General rules dire
cting how we decid
e this question sho
decisions in proph
uld direct our
etic passages, too!

40. WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY
VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE NAMES
Brothers (300) , bondservants of Christ,
fellow believers
Christians, saints and witnesses, the elect
Little children and sons and members of
the household of God/faith
Bride and Body of Christ, the Church
A church, a convert
AN NAMES
LY CHRISTI
EXCLUSIVE

41. WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY
VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE BEHAVIORS
Obey God’ commands
Have a hunger for righteousness
Praise God in Jesus Christ
Testify to the grace of Jesus Christ
Endure persecution for Christ’s sake
Y CHRI
SIVEL
EXCLU
VIORS
BEHA
STIAN

42. WE IDENTIFY CHRISTIANS BY
VARIOUS EXCLUSIVE ATTRIBUTES
Born again by the blood of Jesus Christ
( I Peter 1:23 )
Sealed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor 1:21,
Eph 4:20 )
Indwelt by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Tim 1:14 )
Granted eternal life ( I John 5:11 )
EXCLUSIVELY CHRIS
TIAN
DISTINCTIVES

43. AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL NT
CHRISTIAN SPOTTING
4. I thank my God always, making mention of you in my
prayers, 5. because I hear of your love and of the faith
which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all
the saints; 6. and I pray that the fellowship of your faith
may become effective through the knowledge of every
good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. 7. For I have
come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because
the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you,
brother. (Philemon 1: 4-7)
t Christian?
question (Philemon) a Body-of-Chris
Is the ‘you’ in
al status?
T used, but can you identify his spiritu
That label is NO

44. Please consider this statement
for truth and usefulness:
The lists of exclusively
Christian names, behaviors
and distinctives all reference
and connect to one another.

45. Please consider this statement
for truth and usefulness:
Encounter one exclusively
Christian descriptor for a
man and the whole list of
Christian names, behaviors
and distinctives applies to
him, as well .

46. Paul calls Philemon his ‘brother” and salutes his
faith in Jesus Christ
All ‘brothers’ in the NT are saints, are elect.
People called ‘elect’ are all born again.
If one is born again, one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit,
one is a Christian who’s sealed by the Holy Spirit,
If one is sealed by the Holy Spirit, one is part of the
Bride and Body of Christ.

47. So . . . .

48. We embrace Philemon easily and
naturally as fully Christian simply
because Paul calls him ‘brother’ and
credits him with faith in Jesus Christ.
What spiritual status do we see
declared in this description of the
Tribulation Saints:
“These are the ones who come out of
the great tribulation, and they have
washed their robes and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev 7:4

49. What spiritual status do we see
declared in this description of the
Tribulation Saints:
“So the dragon was enraged with the
woman and went off to make war with
the rest of her children, who keep the
commandments of God and hold to the
testimony of Jesus.” Rev 12:17

50. We’ve Dealt With Two Essential Questions
1. How do we determine who prophetic
passages talk to when they use “YOU”?
Are any of them Christians?
2. How do we determine who prophetic
passages talk about when they describe
people in the 70th Week?
Are any of them Christians?

51. 1. ‘You’ in the NT usually
means you, oh, believer.
2. All the New Testament
speaks to and about
Christians . . .
Even prophecy.

52. NEXT:
XIII: THE ASCENSION:
in which we consider how day to day life
fits in with an interest in the hereafter.

53. NEXT:
XIII: THE ASCENSION:
in which we consider how day to day life
fits in with an interest in the hereafter.
Search th
e
Table of C
ontents
for Other
Offerings
In
This Serie
s