Hope Beyond Tomorrow | Pastor Mark Finley

Summary

Pastor Mark Finley explores the perennial human quest for immortality and eternal life, drawing parallels from ancient civilizations like Egypt, Babylon, and China to the contemporary Christian hope in the return of Jesus Christ. Through a series of questions, biblical references, and historical anecdotes, Finley expounds on the promise of eternal life as portrayed in the Bible, emphasizing that Jesus' second coming will be a transformative event where believers will experience resurrection and eternal bliss. With a tone of hope and assurance, he concludes with an invitation for individuals to prepare for this eventuality.

Highlights

• Exploration of the quest for eternal life across ancient cultures. 🏛️
• The correlation between the belief in immortality and historical structures like pyramids and temples. 🌄
• Biblical perspective on immortality and Jesus's promise of return. 📜
• Engaging narratives to emphasize the hope and assurance of eternal life. 🙌
• Invitation for personal reflection and commitment to faith in anticipation of Christ's return. 🤲

Key Takeaways

• Ancient civilizations, like Egypt and Babylon, built monumental structures in pursuit of immortality. 🏺
• The Bible offers the ultimate solution to eternal life through Jesus Christ's promise. 📖
• Christ's second coming will be a tangible, visible, and audible event transforming the world. 🌟
• The hope of resurrection and eternal life is central to Christian belief. ✨
• Preparing for Christ's return involves committing one's life to faith and seeking forgiveness. 🙏

Overview

As humans, the quest for immortality has driven us to great architectural and cultural feats, evident from the pyramids of Egypt to the temples of the Hittites. Pastor Finley takes us on this historical journey, emphasizing how deeply ingrained this desire for eternal life has been throughout civilizations.

Transitioning from ancient quests to biblical promises, Finley passionately explains how the Bible provides a clear path to immortality through faith in Jesus Christ. He underscores the resurrection and the second coming as pivotal events promising believers eternal life and triumph over sin and death.

In closing, Pastor Finley calls upon the audience to prepare for this promised future, surpassing the failed pursuits of ancient times. He invites personal introspection and commitment to a faith that assures a reunion with lost loved ones and a place in a divine eternity, filled with hope and joy.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 10:00: Introduction and Opening Prayer The chapter opens with a collection of questions sent in by viewers via video, addressing theological inquiries such as the nature of God's relationship with sinful humanity and cursed lands. A featured question is from Saleem, a viewer from Pakistan with a Muslim background, who has been watching the meetings for years.
• 10:00 - 16:30: Audience Questions on Biblical Topics The chapter discusses questions posed by an audience on various biblical topics. One specific question from a person who converted from Pakistan to Christianity is highlighted. This individual inquired whether God cursed the Earth along with Adam and Eve after they sinned. The chapter references the Bible, particularly Genesis chapter 3, verse 23, to address this topic, explaining that God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden.
• 16:30 - 18:00: Performance by Charles Hagab Brooks Chapter Title: Performance by Charles Hagab Brooks This chapter delves into a religious perspective on the consequences of sin, specifically focusing on how humanity and Earth have been affected by it, as derived from the biblical passage in Genesis 3. The sin's impact is evident in the natural world's turmoil, such as rotting fruit and erratic weather patterns, signifying a broader understanding of sin's reach into both human and natural realms.
• 18:00 - 39:00: Hope Beyond Tomorrow: The Quest for Immortality The chapter discusses the consequences of sin, as introduced by Eve, which affected not only humanity but the entire planet. This concept is linked to a biblical perspective, referencing Romans 8, where it is mentioned that all of creation suffers and longs for redemption. It highlights the notion that human sin has impacted all of nature, causing it to suffer alongside humanity. The chapter concludes with a hopeful perspective that, upon Jesus' return, there will be a new Heaven and Earth where nature will be restored to harmony with God.
• 39:00 - 51:00: Biblical Evidence for the Second Coming of Jesus This chapter explores discrepancies in biblical accounts regarding Jesus's journey to Egypt. It examines how the Book of Matthew suggests the journey was to fulfill prophecy, while the Book of Luke offers a differing narrative, highlighting the complexities in biblical interpretations of Jesus's travels.
• 51:00 - 72:00: Advice and Encouragement for Believers The chapter titled 'Advice and Encouragement for Believers' discusses the apparent contradiction regarding the journey of a biblical figure to Egypt and then going to the temple. This is addressed by emphasizing trust in the Bible and understanding that each of the Gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – provides a unique perspective that contributes to the overall truth.
• 72:00 - 80:00: Call to Action and Closing Song The chapter delves into the uniqueness of each of the four gospels, emphasizing that they do not merely replicate each other's content but, instead, each provides unique insights and details about the life and teachings of Jesus. For example, some aspects mentioned in Matthew might not be found in Luke, and details in John might be absent in Matthew, Mark, or Luke. The chapter then raises a specific question regarding the timeline of Jesus' journey to Egypt, noting that this is not addressed directly by Matthew.

Hope Beyond Tomorrow | Pastor Mark Finley Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 we have a number of other questions that have come in Via video tonight let's look at some of the questions and see my question is God cursed Sadam sin and is it possible that God Tabernacles among sinful humans and the curs land okay this is Saleem from Pakistan he sent me a little email and he said I have a Muslim background but I'm watching in Pakistan I saw your meetings a number of years ago on television
• 00:30 - 01:00 Pakistan and came to Christ his question was a little difficult to understand so let me repeat it for you here's his question God cursed Adam and Eve when they sinned did he curse the Earth saleim that's a very good question and there is an answer to that question Genesis the Bible says Genesis chapter 3 verse uh 23 and onward therefore God sent them out of the garden God sent the
• 01:00 - 01:30 B of the garden verse 17 of Genesis 3 God talks about the tree that Adam and Eve ate and God said cursed is the ground for your sake so it is true that Earth has come under the curse of sin all Humanity has come under the curse of sin but when you look at the fruit it rots today when you look at the weather patterns they are uh distorted today they are out of whack today because of the sin of our world so when Adam and
• 01:30 - 02:00 Eve sinned it plunged not only Adam and Eve but the whole planet into sin that's why Paul says in Romans 8 that the whole planet groans with travail to be delivered so yes Saleem from Pakistan your question is is is accurate your assumption is accurate not only do human beings suffer as a result of sin but all nature suffers as a result of sin and when Jesus comes and restores the new Heaven and the new Earth all of nature will be in harmony with God again let's
• 02:00 - 02:30 look at another question that is coming in see where this one comes from there uh two stories about H Jesus going to Egypt and in the version in in Matthew and then Luke say otherwise I mean you mentioned that Jesus went to Egypt in order to fulfill some prophecy but then uh The Book of Luke chapter 2 verse 21 say otherwise he said that he went to
• 02:30 - 03:00 the temple to fulfill another prophecy after the eight days and um how you put those two together I mean we have to trust the Bible and the Bible has to speak truth so how come in one story Matthew say that he went to Egypt in the other one he said that he went to the temple it's a very good question here's the answer to the question when you look at Matthew Mark Luke and John each of
• 03:00 - 03:30 the gospels does not say the exact same thing as the gospel before it if it did all the four gospels would not be necessary so there are details in Matthew that you do not receive in Luke and details in John that you receive neither in Matthew Mark or Luke now the specific question is this when did Jesus go down into Egypt Matthew does not talk
• 03:30 - 04:00 about certain events that took place let's look at all of the events in a Harmony of the gospels after Christ's birth within the period of eight days according to Luke he was circumcised 40 Days Later according to Luke in the days of purification his mother took him to the temple to be dedicated that happened sometime after that the wise men came they came when Jesus was a
• 04:00 - 04:30 young boy probably 6 months 9 months old the wise men there's no record in the Bible that the wise men came to the manger we have that beautiful Christmas scene with the wise men the Shepherds came to the manger no record in the Bible in fact in Matthew's account it says the wise men came to see the young child in his house so what are the sequence first first Jesus is born the
• 04:30 - 05:00 Angels sing that day this day they say to the shepherds in the field this day there's born unto you Jesus in the city of David this day so Jesus is born the Angels Sing The Shepherds come eight days later Jesus is circumcised 40 days later you have the Jesus mother going into the temple then the wise men come it's at that point that Herod passes the decree that all male children under what
• 05:00 - 05:30 two years old why under two because there some time had elapsed because Jesus now was maybe six months maybe nine months we don't know maybe a year maybe a little older but that decree of Caesar Augustus Goes Forth the angel appears to Mary and Joseph and as the angel does they go now into Egypt so the answer to the question is there is no contradiction in the Bible the Bible harmonizes but you have to put Matthew's
• 05:30 - 06:00 account with Luke's account to get the full story in each of its details the Bible gospel writers are complimentary they are not contradictory tonight you are going to enjoy Charles hagab Brooks again as he comes to sing with the sound of [Music] trumpets with a sound of
• 06:00 - 06:30 trumpets announcing from the sky Jesus is coming from Heaven on high see now the Heavenly Gat Christ is passing passing through them all the universe is watching as the king Our Savior King descends to take his [Music] throne with the sound of
• 06:30 - 07:00 trumpet triumphant is the sound Jesus is coming to right every wrong Triumph of History are we take so long with the sound of trumpets in the Regal Majesty Jesus is coming a tri
• 07:00 - 07:30 is he and in his glorious train of millions Saints and Angels Heaven's armies oh how awesome is the great and Grand Display of Power Invincible of Christ Our Lord by his very brightness is enemies are slain and All Earth's kingdoms are now
• 07:30 - 08:00 his domain Jesus is coming he is coming to rain with the sound of trumpets the sound of Mighty trumpets with the sound of [Applause] trumpets the king returned to him [Music]
• 08:00 - 08:30 amen amen my topic this evening is Hope Beyond tomorrow down through the centuries men and women have longed for immortality there's something in our hearts that longs for immortality and as we travel back to ancient Egypt we ask
• 08:30 - 09:00 oursel the question as we stand and stare at the pyramids why is it that the Ancients built these great monuments what was in their mind when they built these massive pyramids why would any civilization take 120,000 slaves
• 09:00 - 09:30 and invest the time and energy for them to take 20 years to build the chops pyramid at Giza outside of Cairo why was the build why was building these elaborate tombs so important to the ancient Egyptians what drove them what motivated them what was in their thought process why did they build the pyramids the reason they did is because theirs
• 09:30 - 10:00 was a quest for immortality theirs was a quest for eternal life they believed that the pyramids would ensure the Pharaoh a place in the afterlife in the Egyptian mind the pyramids immortalized that is to say gave to eternal life to the Pharaoh for the afterlife they built the pyramids they buried their Treasures with the pharaoh in the pyramids they did everything they
• 10:00 - 10:30 could to ensure that he would have joy and happiness in the afterlife the Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife throughout the millenniums mankind has sought for immortality throughout the millenniums mankind has sought for eternal life come with me to the houa capital the hittite capital the hittite capital is not far from Anora in
• 10:30 - 11:00 Turkey my wife and I in a group flew to Istanbul and then we flew on to Anora the capital of Turkey and came out to this Barren desert place of the hittite capital as we were here we were studying the thought processes what is it that makes this hittite culture uh what is it that is the very Foundation of that culture when you're at The Hite Capital you walk between two very very narrow Stone passageways on the one side you see
• 11:00 - 11:30 soldiers like this carved into the stone my wife took this picture this summer on the other side you see more soldiers carved into the stone but at the end of that narrow passageway all soldiers are walking in One Direction they are walking to the gods who are at the end of the passageway seeking immortality the Egyptians sought
• 11:30 - 12:00 immortality the Hittites sought immortality the Babylonians sought immortality that's why they built that temple in the foreground called the temple to Bel Marduk it was a great quest for immortality in the ancient Babylonian culture the soldiers once a year would March through in a religious procession profal ceremony Ishtar gate
• 12:00 - 12:30 they would March to the Temple of Bel Marduk where they believe that the God could bestow upon them immortality the Egyptians the Hittites the Babylonians all sought immortality ancient Rome had a goddess and notice what this goddess's name is eternus what do you think that represent sense eternity symbolized the stability
• 12:30 - 13:00 and the Eternal staying power of the empire eternus was stamped on the coins she represented immortality in fact when the Roman Prince or the Roman Emperor died this symbol would be used to commemorate members of the Imperial family who had died and been deified as a sign that after deification they were considered eternal so the Emperors were considered to be
• 13:00 - 13:30 gods and uh this coin symbolized that they would have immortality wherever you look there is that symbol that desire whether it's Egypt or ancient Rome that desire on the part of mankind to have immortality to have eternal life come with me to machup Pico if you've ever been here one of the most magnificent places in all the world if you have the strength to climb up to machap Pico and
• 13:30 - 14:00 your legs are not burning out and your lungs are not burning because you've hiked so far into the mountains but here is the capital of the ancient Inca Empire and the Inca Empire centered here it's of course in Peru from about ad 438 to ad 1533 and here on the top of this mountain you see the place where the ancient Inca Emperors had their capital and these Emperors were buried but
• 14:00 - 14:30 there's a Temple here erected to the Sun God and this is the cult of the incad dead and again they're reaching out for immortality again they're looking for eternal life they want to have immortality bestowed upon them here is Titi Watkin Titi Watkin this is in Mexico one of the most amazing places I've ever ban not far
• 14:30 - 15:00 from Mexico City and they have pyramids just south of the United States border that rival the Pyramid of Egypt here in in in in Titi Walkin you come to look at this city at its peak Titi Walkin was a city of over a 100,000 people it was the largest city in America it had one of the largest cities in the ancient world now why I was interested in it because as a Bible student I was studying the C culture the background of these people
• 15:00 - 15:30 walking up this pyramid for 63 I am fairly fit but I will tell you when I jogged up this pyramid as steep as it was my lungs were burning came to the top of this pyramid erected to the sun god there's two pyramids one on either side one is erected to the Sun God one is erected to the uh Moon God the Pyramid of the moon and the sun god were amazing monuments revealing the Quest for immortality whether it's Egypt Babylon the hittite
• 15:30 - 16:00 kingdom Rome whether it is Kingdoms in Peru or Mexico these people long they said we know there must be something more than this life there must be something beyond what our eyes can see there must be something beyond the tomb they said in the fabric of their being we want to build these monuments that will be monuments of Memorials of immortality we want to live forever this city was the center of culture and commer for the ancient meso America it
• 16:00 - 16:30 surpassed Rome in its size yet its inhabitants suddenly abandon it for unknown reasons isn't it amazing these cultures Egypt the Hittites Rome meso America all looking for immortality all looking for eternal life but they're ruins today people often ask me what is the most fascinating place you've ever visited there are a number of them but I would have to say that the century old city of sh on was one of the most
• 16:30 - 17:00 fascinating they ever visited the Chinese nobility attempted to immortalize their Emperor by providing all the necessities of life after his death here are the very world famous Terracotta soldiers when the Emperor died and incidentally we were one of the only ones to receive permission from the Chinese government to come in and film the Terracotta soldiers it was an absolute amazing experience the Terracotta soldiers these
• 17:00 - 17:30 soldiers there are 20,000 of them they were their faces were carved after models of living soldiers so the emperor had 20,000 soldiers in his in his army and he had them pose and every one every Soldier has a different face there are chariots why because after the Emperor died the ancient Chinese wanted to immortalize the emperor and they wanted to show that he
• 17:30 - 18:00 had Immortal Life and they wanted to provide him with his army and his food and chariots in the afterlife why is it that deep within our hearts we say there must be something better why is it that every culture in the world has that inner longing for eternal life for immortality where did that come from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 vers 11 speaking of God he or God has put eternity in their hearts all of the
• 18:00 - 18:30 great civilizations of the world manifest that that there's this eternity that's put in our hearts there's this longing for something better this longing for eternal life this longing for immortality yet these ancient leaders have died yet these ancient cultures had crumbled on the sands of time tonight I want to look with you through the eyes of the Bible I want to look with you through the passages of
• 18:30 - 19:00 scripture and discover when Jesus offers us immortality for real the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 ver 51- 53 behold I tell you a mystery the mystery that the Egyptians did not solve the mystery that the Babylonians did not solve the mystery that the Hittites did not solve the mystery that the Romans did not solve the mystery that the South Americans did not not solve the mystery
• 19:00 - 19:30 that the Chinese did not solve Jesus says I will solve the mystery of immortality for you behold I sh tell you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet the Bible says for the trumpet will sound the dead will be raised Incorruptible and we shall be changed
• 19:30 - 20:00 then the Bible says for this corruptible must put in put on incorruption read the rest with me please and this Mortal must put on immortality Jesus says I am coming again and this Mortal body this body subject to disease this body subject to death this body subject to sickness and pain this body will put on immortality Jesus is coming again the civilizations of this world have crumbled but there's
• 20:00 - 20:30 something we can be certain of Jesus the one who is Immortal can give to us Immortal Life this is a king there is a kingdom on its way that will never fall with a leader who never fail Egypt Rose and fell Babylon Rose and fell the great empires of the South America Rose and fell the great dynasties of china Rose
• 20:30 - 21:00 and fell but there is a kingdom that will never fall there is a leader that will never ever fail Jesus said in John 14 ver 1-3 let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many manions Jesus says are you troubled deep within your heart are you looking for something more do you crave eternal life
• 21:00 - 21:30 Jesus says let not your heart be troubled then he makes this amazing promise he says I'm going to prepare a place if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also Jesus does not say maybe I'll come again Jesus doesn't say perhaps I'll
• 21:30 - 22:00 come again Jesus doesn't say I think I'll come again Jesus doesn't say it's highly likely I'll come again the coming of Christ is as certain as the promise of our Lord it is impossible for God to lie and he says I will come again this is not some dream this is not some Alice and wonder land fairy tale there are
• 22:00 - 22:30 times that we watch so much fiction on television that fiction becomes reality in our mind and reality becomes fiction this is not Fiction it's reality this world is headed for a grand and glorious Climax and Jesus is coming again now God's end time plan is revealed in his word the question is often asked how will Jesus come again
• 22:30 - 23:00 will he come back secretly who will see Jesus when he comes back again will just a few people see him who will hear it when he comes again when he comes what will take place on Earth will there be living people on earth when Jesus comes but most of all even more important than the how will Jesus come is the question how can I be ready for his coming how can I know that when Jesus comes I can meet him in peace how can I know when
• 23:00 - 23:30 Jesus comes that he will give me the gift of eternal life come with me as we study this topic of Christ's coming one thing is for certain Christ's coming will be a literal event now what do we mean by a literal event a real event that occurs some people have the idea that we're entering into the age of Aquarius and that Christ coming is kind of peace and love on Earth and kind of love floats through the atmosphere you know
• 23:30 - 24:00 Jesus coming is not simply love and peace on Earth Jesus coming is not some vague shadowy ethereal event Jesus coming is a very real it's a very literal event the Bible says Luke 17 ver 24 for as the lightning that flashes out of one part under Heaven shines to the other part under heaven so also the son of man will be in his day so the Bible says Christ coming is real it's like
• 24:00 - 24:30 lightning flashing from one end of the heaven to the other it's dazzling it's spectacular it's not something vague not something makeb believe not something ethereal not something shadowy it is as Lightning that flashes from one end of Heaven to the other now Christ is coming down from above he won't Rise Up From Below remember what Jesus said many will say to me in that name in that day low here low there Jesus in
• 24:30 - 25:00 Matthew chapter 24 in three places Matthew 24:5 Matthew 24:12 Matthew 24:14 he says many will come in my name saying I am Christ and deceive many he says if they say to you he is in the desert go not forth he is in the secret Chambers go not forth what if the devil appeared masquerading as Christ on Earth
• 25:00 - 25:30 Revelation 12:11 says woe unto you the Earth in verse 12 because the devil has come down upon you knowing that he has a short time the devil's come down upon you in the book of Corinthians 2 Corinthians 11:14 the Bible says the devil masquerades or transforms himself as an angel of Light what if there was a great stadium in Orlando what if there was a great stadium in Paris what if there was a great stadium in Toronto what if there was a great stadium in Rio deiro what if there was a great Stadium
• 25:30 - 26:00 someplace in the world thousands of people flocking in what if a being of dazzling brightness said that he was the Messiah what if he was touching blind eyes and they were healed what if he was healing people from the sick and they were jumping out of wheelchairs and what if he said he was Christ and he said he had returned would you go to that Stadium why wouldn't you if you did not know how Christ was coming if a being a appeared looking like Jesus you may go
• 26:00 - 26:30 but the Bible says if they say he's in the secret place he's in the desert go not forth why would we know even if the devil can the devil work miracles the Bible says many will say to me in that day Matthew 7: 211 Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name have we not cast out demons in that thy name but depart from me you that work iniquity I never knew you they were casting out demons they were working miracles in his name Revelation chapter 13 the Bible says that he could even make fire from God
• 26:30 - 27:00 coming down from God out of heaven and he could work signs and wonders and miracles but how will we know it's not the true Christ because Christ is coming down from above he won't Rise Up from below the Bible says the disciples looked up and they saw Jesus after he had been on Earth after he was resurrected from the dead they saw Jesus ascending into heaven and the Bible says they were looking up Jesus is ascending higher and higher Act 111 this same Jesus who was taken up from you into
• 27:00 - 27:30 heaven this same Jesus the one that touched the eyes of the Blind and they were unsto the one that touched the ears of the deaf and they were he could hear the one that touched the lame man's arm and it could Now function again the one that caused the lame to run this same Jesus the one that broke the bread the one that that worked the Miracles fed 5,000 this same Jesus the one that raised the dead Lazarus from the dead this same Jesus that was taken up from
• 27:30 - 28:00 you into heaven he will come in like manner as you seen him go up into heaven he went up in the clouds and he's coming back in the clouds he ascended miraculously he'll descend miraculously the Angels accompanied him as he went up and they'll accompany him as he goes down a real Christ descended and a real Christ will descend Jesus will not come and walk up down on the earth he said what do you say in John chapter 14 I go
• 28:00 - 28:30 to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come to do what receive you unto myself and do what prepare a place for you and take you where I am he is coming to take us where he is the Bible says we'll be caught up to meet him in the sky so any so-called Christ that apparently tries to deceive many by walking up and down on planet Earth we know that that is not the genuine or the real Christ Christ Christ's coming is a literal event
• 28:30 - 29:00 Christ coming is also a visible event what do we mean by a visible event every eye will see him Revelation 1 and verse 7 can you read it with me please Revelation 1 verse 7 behold he is coming with clouds and a few people will see him he's coming with clouds and a few people will see him what does that say I'm glad I got an audience that corrects the preacher when he reads the text wrong he's coming with clouds and
• 29:00 - 29:30 what every what eye every eye will see him and every eye means every eye because if it didn't mean every eye it would say some eyes and it doesn't say some eyes it means says every eye right every eye will see him it's not only the Believers who will see Christ when he comes but when Christ comes the second time every eye will see him some people say oh it's only those who are who are saved they'll see Jesus but the rest will kind of be left alive on Earth Earth the Bible says he's coming in clouds and every eye will see him it
• 29:30 - 30:00 says all the tribes of the earth will mourn when he comes and they shall see who's the day it's the tribes of the earth Matthew 24:30 if you look at verse 29 uh coming into verse 30 it says and all the tribes of the earth will see him come and they will see the son of man coming on the Clouds Of Heaven with power and Glory so all the tribes of the earth don't have spiritual eyes so everybody in the world
• 30:00 - 30:30 will see in spectacular Splendor Jesus Christ coming in power and Glory he is not coming secretly did Jesus ever come secretly well think it through one time it was secret to some people he came as a babe in bethlehem's manger very few recognized him then right but when he comes again in the Clouds Of Heaven with power and Glory as he has promised and as he shall come every eye will see him
• 30:30 - 31:00 there's nothing secret about this he comes with power he comes with Glory he comes in splendor the eyes of the young and the eyes of the old the eyes of the rich see him and the eyes of the poor the eyes of the blind are opened to see him come the South American see him North Americans see him the Africans see him the Chinese see him black white
• 31:00 - 31:30 yellow brown every texture SK everybody sees Jesus the Bible says behold he comes in clouds what a glorious day that's going to be isn't it the Earth shakes the lightning flashes from east to west the trumpet blast of the victory of Our Lord occurs and we see Jesus coming we know that everything we've longed for is now taking place we know Jes Jesus is the fruition of our
• 31:30 - 32:00 dreams Jesus is the longing of our hopes we see him coming and our hearts beat with joy our hearts beat with eager anticipation as he comes now Christ coming will be a literal event Christ's coming will be a visible event and Christ's coming will be an audible event what do we mean by literal real what do we mean by visible every eye sees it what do we mean by audible every ear
• 32:00 - 32:30 hears it there's nothing silent about that event in fact Psalm chapter 50 ver3 says our God shall come and not keep silence and if you look at what the Bible says as it describes the coming of Jesus 1 Thessalonians chapter 4: 16 the Lord himself will descend with a what but that was a great shout I'm glad you're not the angel wouldn't wake up anybody okay we got to see that one again I know houon can do that better I know
• 32:30 - 33:00 that Regina can do that better Garden Grove you're with me too and hope Channel 3abn you're with us and Orlando join us now for the Lord will descend from heaven with a what oh that was good now we woke up the Dead with that one three people here woke up they were sleeping okay but the Lord himself would descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel with the trumpet of what God see when Jesus comes is there just read the text is there anything silent or
• 33:00 - 33:30 secret about this he comes with a shout of Victory he comes with the voice of the Archangel he comes with a trumpet Blast Of Glory Jesus descends from Heaven the dead in Christ will rise first think of it that mother that died Jesus says Maria come forth and she comes forth with all of her beauty that father that died Peter come forth that
• 33:30 - 34:00 son that you laid into that grassy grave seven years old died of leukemia Jesus says Johnny come forth and the grave opens and Johnny comes out and he comes running to you and hugs you again you may have retired in Florida bought that little home out there by that Lake but one day your husband had a heart attack and you rock in your chair alone with an emptiness in your
• 34:00 - 34:30 heart but Jesus comes again and you see him again you put your arms around him again you may be a sobbing mother tonight A sobbing father you got news this week that your boy was killed in a car wreck but tonight you're flipping the dial on the Hope Channel and you sense that Jesus says the dead in Christ arise first and your lad was a Christian boy
• 34:30 - 35:00 what if we miss it what if we miss it you know the Bible says describing the coming of Christ then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air think of what the Bible says we're caught up together with them you see death is not the end the Egyptians sought for immortality the Hittites sought for immortality the
• 35:00 - 35:30 Romans sought for immortality the South and interamerican sought for immortality the Chinese sought for immortality Jesus says I'm coming again the trumpet blast of Victory the graves will be opened I will call out of the Grave your dead loved one and they will receive immortality and I will clothe you who are living with immortality and you can be caught up together with them
• 35:30 - 36:00 let's suppose that you turned your back on Jesus let's suppose you walked away from Jesus your husband's resurrected and he looks over that crowd for you and you're not there your boy is resurrected and he looks through the crowd and he doesn't see Dad and Jesus has to explain to him sorry I wanted to bring your dad to heaven but he turned his back on me he
• 36:00 - 36:30 spurned my love he rejected me he wouldn't be happy here what an emptiness in our hearts if our loved ones are not there what an emptiness in their hearts if we're not there there's nothing worth selling out Jesus for there's nothing worth turning your back on Jesus for because when Jesus comes again there's a glorious reunion day the dead in Christ will rise what everybody first and we
• 36:30 - 37:00 which are alive and remain will be caught up what's that word together do I love that word don't you together never to be separated again never to be parted again love and joy will fill the universe together with them to meet the Lord in the air thus we shall be what is that word we shall be what is that word always be with the Lord never part again
• 37:00 - 37:30 from the presence of Our Lord together there with our friends together there with our family together there with our loved ones to live forever and ever and ever one day I was sitting in my office and as I sat in the office a telephone call came from a doctor's office I was pastoring in a little church out there at outside of Chattanooga
• 37:30 - 38:00 Tennessee and the doctor's office called and it said are you Mark Finley I said yes I am and the nurse on the other end of the line said something very tragic has just happened a young babysitter about 17 years old was taking care of a baby about 6 months old she this babysitter ran into our office the baby was blue it had stopped breathing and it had died the babysitter
• 38:00 - 38:30 was hysterical she dropped the baby on the floor of the office and ran out and said please call Pastor Finley we checked around and got your name that babysitter was babysitting for this family and the nurse named the family for me do you know that family I said I know them well I've been in their home on many times I've studied the Bible with them I've prayed with them Pastor Finley they're going to need you can you go I jumped in my car and I drove those narrow windy Georgia
• 38:30 - 39:00 roads and I came to that house as my mind was whirling during the time I was driving I kept saying to myself do I go looking for the babysitter first who's hysterical or do I go to the house I decided to go to the house because I didn't know whether the mother knew her baby was dead neither did I know whether or not I could find the
• 39:00 - 39:30 babysitter as I was walking up the driveway as I was coming into the house there were two children that were playing in the dirt and I heard one child say to the other child the baby is dead the baby is dead I walked into the house and the mother was sitting on the couch crying she was just crying her eyes out and I walked over to her and put my
• 39:30 - 40:00 hand on her shoulder and I said mother I can't begin to understand the pain that you are going through and I wouldn't insult you by saying I understand because I don't I have three children they're healthy and well but I want to talk to you about one that does understand there was a father one day that loved his son very very much and he lost his son his son died they
• 40:00 - 40:30 drove nails through his hands they put a crown of thorns on his boy's head they stuck a spear wound in his boy's side and he watched he watched in love he watched in agony he watched in tears as his boy died I may not understand but your heavenly father does I can't explain to you why bad things happen to good people all the time time we're in a very Wicked world a world where even good people
• 40:30 - 41:00 suffer the results of sin this was not your fault you may want to blame yourself because if you left the child with a babysitter but it's not your fault but there is a Jesus who can give you comfort in peace in ways that I do not know and I want to talk to you about a day you're going to see your baby again a day you're going to hold the baby in your arms again a day those little hands are going to crush your cheeks again a day you can look into those little blue eyes again I talked about Jesus and I quoted her
• 41:00 - 41:30 this Bible passage that you and I have been studying tonight about when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the dead in Christ in those grassy dirty graves will come forth and when the babies will be put in their mother's arms again when fathers and mothers who've lost loved ones will Embrace again when husbands and wives will hug one another again I talked to her about the coming of Jesus at the
• 41:30 - 42:00 funeral of that baby I preached the funeral sermon and that woman told me later she said pastor Finley that which got me through was the hope of the coming of Jesus if I had to think that I'd never see my child again it would have crushed out my life but pastor each time I visit the grave each time I put a flower in the grave it is a flower of Hope because Jesus Christ is coming
• 42:00 - 42:30 again I've lectured all over the world I remember lecturing in Russia in a place called Pusa pushna was a center for biological scientists it was closed off to the Western World I was invited to lecture to around a thousand Russian scientists and one of the things I said to the Russian scientists is this look if you do not believe in God and you're an atheist tell me what you are going to
• 42:30 - 43:00 say to your best friend's wife when she has just lost her 2-year-old baby and it's died what are you gonna say too bad the baby died you're just going to put it in the grave and the worms are going to eat its body just see some psychiatrist and get over it if you're an atheist what are you going to say to your best friends wife when your best friend gets hit with a car on the way
• 43:00 - 43:30 home from work and he dies instantly what are you going to say to her well we're going to have a funeral we'll put him in the grave goodbye make the best of it Christianity offers so much better than that it says Jesus is coming again deep within the hearts of men and women in every generation there's been the longing for immortality and Christ says to you tonight reach out and take my hand and I will give you the gift of immortality this is real it's not make believe this
• 43:30 - 44:00 is a hope you can hang on to when all your life is falling apart around you when everything is is is being crushed around you when down scenes up and up scenes down hang on Jesus is coming again our hearts can be filled with hope hope in a new world hope that those graves will be open hope that we'll be reunited with our loved ones hope that we can see our children again hope that one day sickness and suffering and sorrow will be over hope that one day disease and disaster and
• 44:00 - 44:30 death will be over we can cling to that hope in Jesus Christ Our Lord every time I go and preach at a funeral service I recognize Jesus is coming again recently within the last few months my wife's mother died of cancer and we sat at that bedside hour after hour holding her hand and encouraging her Jesus is coming
• 44:30 - 45:00 again Christians Never Say Goodbye for the last time Christians Never Say Goodbye for the last time because Jesus is coming again Christ's coming will be a literal event it's real this not make believe Christ's coming is a visible event every eye will see him Christ coming is an audible event every ear will hear it Christ's coming is a glor glorious event he is coming in glory this is the climax
• 45:00 - 45:30 of human history Matthew 16: 27 for the son of man will come in the glory of his father with his angels then he will give reward each according to his Works he's coming in glory he's coming to give out his final Eternal Everlasting reward the real Christ is coming in the sky the real Christ is descending down the cors of time the real Christ is coming to resurrect the Dead the devil cannot
• 45:30 - 46:00 counterfeit that he cannot come in the sky with Glory the re the devil cannot Resurrect The Dead the devil cannot give to us Immortal Life Jesus Christ is the true Christ who's coming down the quarters of the sky in glory in power in splendor in Majesty in might in Victory Christ coming is a literal event Christ coming is a visible event Christ coming is an audible event Christ coming is a glorious event Christ coming is a
• 46:00 - 46:30 climactic event the coming of Jesus is the decisive moment of human history the Bible says behold I'm coming quickly and my reward is with me to give everyone according to his work when Jesus comes there's no second chance I've had people say to me Mark don't you believe in the idea that when Jesus comes everybody get another chance I said no why not two reasons one the Bible doesn't teach it two God doesn't have to give me a chance because he gave me 10,000 ch chances every time every day every time I breathe Jesus has given
• 46:30 - 47:00 me an opportunity to commit my life to him he does not need to give me a second chance when he comes because he's already given me thousands of chances every day when I'm alive Wherever You Are Tonight watching this telecast in your home in a church in an auditorium Christ is speaking to you tonight this is your opportunity my friend if you've never done it before to accept Jesus Christ this is your opportunity if there's something between you and Jesus some sin in your life this is the opportunity to deal with it the only way to be ready for the coming of Christ is
• 47:00 - 47:30 to get ready and stay ready the only way to get ready is to say Lord tonight my life is yours tonight I commit my life to you when Jesus comes there's only two classes the saved and the lost only two classes when Jesus comes it is not that Jesus runs out of his love it is rather when he comes the second time the Bible says the righteous look up and they say This Is Our God they have settled it that they want to serve Christ the
• 47:30 - 48:00 unrighteous the unsaved look up and scream let the rocks and mountains fall upon us the Bible describes it this way Revelation 6:15 to 17 and the kings of the Earth the Great Men the rich men the commanders the Mighty Men every slave and every Freeman the Bible goes on hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of
• 48:00 - 48:30 him who sits on the throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb two classes one look up at Jesus coming and they are so filled with joy the other turn their backs and run to hide in agony why take a candle put it in the sun and it melts take wax and put it in the sun it's gone take clay and put it in the sun and what happens it hardens same son but the wax melts same
• 48:30 - 49:00 Sun but the clay hardens same Jesus one group look up see him coming they're attracted to him and the love in their hearts is attracted to the love in his heart for them and they ascend to meet him they are given Immortal bodies the righteous are resurrected they ascend to meet him but another group looks up and they have clung to sin and rebellion in their life
• 49:00 - 49:30 and as they've clung to this sin and Rebellion the sin that they have clung to consumes them they have combustible material in their body sin is combustible in the sight of God the Bible says Hebrews 12:39 our God is a consuming fire two classes when Jesus comes this is the great day of his wrath who can stand the answer to that
• 49:30 - 50:00 question is those that have the fireproof Robes of Jesus righteousness coming to Jesus he gives us the bestest fireproof robe and we say Lord put the robe of your righteousness around me what's the difference between being saved and being lost to be saved means to say Lord I choose to serve you Lord I give you my life Lord I want nothing between my soul and my savior Lord I'm committed to be lost means to say God I want to live my own life I want to live a self-centered egotistical life the
• 50:00 - 50:30 things that I want to do I want to do the difference is between commitment and not commitment Jesus says I reach out with my grace I'll pardon your sins I'll forgive you I am coming again and coming soon somebody said but wait a minute Mark if Jesus is coming and every eye will see him and every year will hear it what about that that event called the the the secret Rapture how how is that going to take place what about that well if every eyes going see him it's not very secret if every ear is going to hear it it's not very secret if every uh
• 50:30 - 51:00 if he's coming to raise the dead if he's coming in glory and power it's not very secret but wait a minute Matthew 24:36 but of that day and hour no one knows and even the angels of heaven so nobody knows when he's going to come but notice it's talking about the hour of his coming what about Jesus coming as a Thief what does the Bible say well let's look and see but know this that if the Master of the House had known what hour the what Thief would come notice what hour the thief would come the Bible goes
• 51:00 - 51:30 on and it puts it this way he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into just as a thief does not announce his coming ahead of time those Orlando thiefs don't say I'm a thief coming at 9 o' Jesus comes swiftly quickly so when the Bible uses a thief image it's always using the time of is coming he's coming quickly he's coming swiftly he's coming unexpectedly
• 51:30 - 52:00 doesn't use the manner of his coming not at all he's coming so every eye sees it every year hears it did you read that story sometime ago in the Toronto Daily Star carried by some national newspapers young couple was moving into a new house in Toronto as they were moving in the guy put his barbecue out on the back porch as he put his barbecue out on the back porch he noticed after they got all settled went out on the porch and the barbecue was gone he said to his wife I
• 52:00 - 52:30 thought we were moving into a safe area somebody stole our barbecue a couple days later it was returned with a note and two tickets the note said we just borrowed your barbecue sorry for the inconvenience here's two tickets for the inconvenience to the cinema he was excited he said you know they should have asked but they were kind they gave us two tickets to the cinema the couple went to the cinema when they went to the cinema don't get ahead of
• 52:30 - 53:00 me the barbecue Bandits came and cleaned out their house did they know the time the barbecue Bandits were coming when Jesus comes and uses the thief image he's coming quickly and swiftly at a time that we do not expect it he's coming rapid ly this world has no idea but Jesus
• 53:00 - 53:30 comes and he comes to take us take us home Jesus is not coming secretly at all when Jesus comes as a thief the world won't expect him to come either you and I look around the world tonight men and women have no idea that we're living on the verge of Eternity and that Jesus Christ is going to fulfill his promise made 2,000 years ago that's why he says therefore you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour you don't expect when you don't expect it how do you get ready for his
• 53:30 - 54:00 coming by committing your life to him tonight by saying Lord I want to be ready the Bible says but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night now notice when he comes as a thief 2 Peter 3:10 in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise this isn't secret because when he comes as a thief the heavens pass away with a great what great noise we go on the El elements will melt with fervent heat that's when he comes as a thief the earth and the
• 54:00 - 54:30 works that are in it will be burned up that's when he comes as a thief so there's nothing secret about this at all somebody said well doesn't the bible say that there'll be two in the field one taken one left sure what's it speaking about that they'll be surprised with the rapidity with which he comes the second coming of Christ is a great surprise to the people that are unprepared the second coming of Christ is something that we long for what about the expression there'll be two in the
• 54:30 - 55:00 field one taken one left Jesus says there'll be two in the field he says there'll be two in the bed one taken one left he says there'll be two grinding at the Mill one taken one left what's all this about it's simply about this when Jesus comes it's only two classes the people that are left are not Left Alive they're destroyed with the brightness of Christ coming no notice what the Bible says it makes it plain two men Luke 17:36 will be in the the field one taken one left what happens it's clear in
• 55:00 - 55:30 scripture says as it was in the days of Noah were there two classes in Noah's day one was saved and one was what lost the ones that were lost were destroyed by the flood the ones that were saved were taken in the ark and so the Bible says likewise as it was also in the days of lot in the days of lot were there two classes one class was in the city fire came down from God out of heaven destroyed the city the other class was saved so when the Bible talks about one
• 55:30 - 56:00 taken and the other left it's very simple it's not complicated like Noah's day like lot's day just two classes one saved one lost that's precisely what the Bible is speaking about in Noah's day lot's day and in the last days one group will be looking forward to Jesus coming the other group running and crying for the rocks and mountains to fall on them one class will be saved when Jesus comes the living will receive immortality the dead in Christ will be raised and they
• 56:00 - 56:30 will receive immortality the wicked according to the book of Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1:7 will be destroyed with the brightness of his coming two classes the saved and the lost that's why Jesus Christ is reaching out to you and to me tonight that's why Jesus is saying to you and me tonight it's time to get ready for the coming of Jesus there is no second opportunity there is no second chance the time to get serious about your salvation is right now that's why the
• 56:30 - 57:00 Bible says behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation one night I was preaching in Brazil preaching in the C in the city of corba Brazil and as I did that night I was going to make an appeal an appeal similar to what I'm going to make tonight I was going to pass out a card that night and invite men and women to
• 57:00 - 57:30 accept Jesus I was going to pass out a card and invite them to open their heart to Christ and I read over the card with them I believe Jesus will come literally personally visibly audibly I said to them if if that's your desire check that top box if if you really sense that Christ is coming and every ey is going to see it every ear is going to hear it that's clear to you check that thousands in that audience and watching by satellite checked second box said I desire to be
• 57:30 - 58:00 ready when Jesus comes and I passed the cards out that night in CBA Brazil and I said if you want to be ready check that box a young man sat in the audience early to mid 20s he had been brought up in a Christian home but he drifted away from Christ in that meeting he saw that card I desire to be ready for Jesus return He was going through a real struggle and here's why he was working with one of
• 58:00 - 58:30 the leading drug dealers in that City he had been dealing this young man had been a runner and he had been dealing drugs and he owed money to the drug lord and he thought should I or should I not check that box I came to the third box I'd like to be baptized soon you know when you come to Jesus and you really give him all your life the great desire of your life is to go through that water and be totally cleansed of sin and to testify
• 58:30 - 59:00 of the new life you have in Jesus and that young man in his 20s got that card and he just really struggled and finally he said he just felt under such conviction that he checked the card I want to be baptized soon when I called for the cards he raised his hand and made his commitment by raising a hand everybody passed in their card but this young man just held his card in his hand and he Saidi have to show my brother and he opened his card up and he showed his
• 59:00 - 59:30 brother I I decided tonight for Jesus I decided tonight for Jesus I want to follow Jesus I've given my life to Christ I have peace and Jo I want to be baptized he couldn't wait to tell his wife and he went home in CBA Brazil that night as he opened the door of his house he looked back and one of the drug lords drove back by his house and shot him to death on the doorstep of his house that night his wife came and took him in her
• 59:30 - 60:00 arms when the funeral took place of that young boy his mother stood up and she held out the cart the funeral was packed many of his friends not Christians were there many of his drug buddies were there and she held up that card and she said my son made a decision for Jesus Christ Christ I have not seen my boy for the last
• 60:00 - 60:30 time I have not seen him for the last time because Jesus is coming again and the Bible says the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and the dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
• 60:30 - 61:00 them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we always be with the Lord and she appealed to those young men to give their lives to Christ how is it with your life tonight if you died tonight would would you be ready for the coming of Jesus is there anything that stands
• 61:00 - 61:30 between you and Jesus have you made a full commitment to him here in Orlando we're going to pass out a little card tonight ushers would you just come right now pass out this card I want every one of you to take one our down link Church sites you have a card tonight those of you that are watching by hope Channel or Three Angels Broadcasting or you're watching by the internet in your home wherever you're watching don't don't tune this out right now please this is an important moment in
• 61:30 - 62:00 your life Charles is going to come and sing this is an important moment in your life I want to go over the card with those that are here and those that have it in their churches but I know that Eternal decisions are going to be be made for Christ tonight I know that tonight people are going to kneel by their television in Massachusetts in Connecticut and Rhode Island the people going to kneel by their television in Michigan in Illinois and Indiana that people going to kneel by their television in Texas people are going to
• 62:00 - 62:30 kneel by their television in Canada people are going to kneel by their television in California Arizona and and uh Oregon all across America throughout Bangladesh and Pakistan where people are watching people are going to kneel by their television wherever you are tonight this is your moment this is your moment here in Orlando this is your moment this is a sacred moment I invite you to take out the card Wherever You Are if you are watching and do not have a card as I read this card I'm going to
• 62:30 - 63:00 ask those who are here to to check the card those of you watching by TV I'm going to ask you to raise your hand those of you who are here in this audience or who have a card wherever you are I believe Jesus will come literally personally visibly and audibly now if you need a pen in the local audience just raise your hand ushers please people need pens a number there need pens be sure that everybody can participate I believe Jesus will come
• 63:00 - 63:30 literally personally visibly audibly if you believe that check that box if you're here if you're watching by television raise your hand I can't see it but God will if you believe Jesus is coming again Wherever You Are by television raise that hand now I desire to be ready for Jesus return if you're here or you have a card check that box I want to be ready for Jesus return you check that if you are watching by television and you want to be ready for
• 63:30 - 64:00 Christ's return this is not a show my friend wherever you are I can't see your hand but God can you just raise that hand I believe thousands of hands are being raised and men and women are checking they want to the boxes of the card that men and women are raising their hand third box I'd like to be baptized soon here in Orlando we are planning great baptismal Services Thanksgiving services all through November we're planning great services so many are checking their cards it's
• 64:00 - 64:30 amazing what's happening all across America there'll be great baptismal services for people that commit their lives to Christ what better thing can we do to thank God what better Christmas gift could one give than the life to God if you want to look forward to that wherever you are check that c you want to be baptized soon if you are watching by television and you've never been baptized by immersion I want you to raise your hand Where You Are God will see your hand and I'm going to tell you how to contact me and I'll help you to get you connected so you can be baptized
• 64:30 - 65:00 but if you're watching by television that's your decision that's your commitment please raise your hand watching here check that card if you'd like to look to be baptized soon if you've drifted away from Christ you really drifted far far away and you want to come back and be re-baptized and you said I drifted away but I want to come back and be ready you check that third box you want more reading material take your card in your hand wherever you are listen as Charles sings are you ready for Jesus to come make this a special moment between you and Jesus then we're going to collect the cards we're going
• 65:00 - 65:30 to have prayer for everyone that has made this important decision [Music] tonight the theme of the Bible is Jesus and how he died to save men the plan of salvation assures us he's
• 65:30 - 66:00 coming back [Music] again are you ready for Jesus to come are you Faithful in all that you do have your thought good good fight have you stood for the
• 66:00 - 66:30 r have others seen Jesus in [Music] you are you ready to stand in your place are you ready to look in his face can you look up and see this is my
• 66:30 - 67:00 Lord are you ready for Jesus to come just now our ushers are going to pass across the buckets here wherever you are if you have filled out this card the ushers will collect it just now if you are watching by Channel at Three Angels Broadcasting and you have raised your hand and you'd like to and you've
• 67:00 - 67:30 committed your life to Christ maybe you've drifted away and you're coming back or maybe you want to be baptized here's what I want you to do if you're watching by television I want you to take down this internet address discoveries 08 discoveries 08.org you go on to that internet and under the comment section send me a note and say Pastor Mark here's my email here's a phone number I want to look forward to baptism there are thousands watching by
• 67:30 - 68:00 television that can make that decision in local churches talk to your pastors here tonight fill out your cards drop them in the bucket as Charles sings and then I'll come and [Music] pray don't cling to this world and his stray sure this Earth will soon pass
• 68:00 - 68:30 away oh give him your love without [Applause] me he's calling you today are you ready for Jesus to come are you Faithful in all that you
• 68:30 - 69:00 [Music] do do you fight all good fight do you stand for the right do others see Jesus in the [Music] your are you ready to standing in your place are you ready to look on his
• 69:00 - 69:30 face can you look up and say this is my Lord [Music]