From Bad To Worse

HoHum:

This verse reminds me of a horror movie. The people are desperately trying to get away and many times they do only for some of them to meet their demise after escaping several times.

Vs. 19- They escaped from a lion, a bear, only to enter their house and be bitten by a snake.

Also we see that their situation goes from bad to worse. Illustrations:

1. Cruelty to Animals- Two animal rights protesters were outside a meat packing plant in Bonn, Germany protesting the cruelty of slaughtering pigs. There protests were ignored and their attempts to stop the slaughter of these animals was unheeded. However, things went from bad to worse when the pigs became agitated, broke down the fence close to where the two protestors were standing, and trampled them to death.

2. The Terrorist- An Iraqi terrorist, named Khay Rahnajet, didn't put enough postage on a letter bomb when he sent it. He was upset with himself when it came back stamped, "return to sender." In fact, he was so upset that he forgot what he was doing and he opened the letter bomb. It exploded and almost killed him.

The Escapee- A man escaped from a jail in Florida and was on the run from the law. He ran through the everglades and stayed in the forest. He could hear the hounds chasing him in the distance. He came to a large fence with razor wire at the top. He climbed over the fence, cutting and scrapping himself in the process. Shortly after climbing into the fenced area lights and sirens went off and he was arrested by prison guards. He had broken out of jail and broken into a maximum security prison.

Thesis: Tonight let’s talk about the day of the Lord and then about the saved and the lost

For instances:

The day of the Lord

Common expression in the Prophets. The day of the Lord can refer to two things:

A day where God intervenes in human affairs

This is what the Israelites were focusing on here. Not what Amos is focusing on but what the Israelites are focusing on. They wanted deliverance from the Assyrians and from those who were oppressing them. Like when the Lord came to their deliverance in Egypt and brought them out through the Exodus.

The Lord did intervene 70 years or so after the exile. Rebuilt the temple and Jerusalem.

The Lord did intervene when Antiochus Epiphanes persecuted the Jews. Talked about in apocalyptic language in Daniel 11. They were delivered and had an independent country for several years.

At the time of Jesus Christ, the people wanted the Messiah, or a Messiah, to come and drive out the Romans. This is what many expected Jesus to do. However, we find that when the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins, most of the Jews did not want him as their Lord and Savior. They wanted a political Messiah. They did not want to be associated with the Gentiles. Hated Christians. In AD 70 the Romans came and destroyed the Temple and they have not offered sacrifices since. Only one sacrifice that is needed to satisfy God’s wrath and that is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

For them the days of Jesus Christ were like vs. 19 of Amos 5.

The Final Day of the earth as we know it

Martha and Jesus call it the last day in the Gospel of John

It is called the end of the age by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

It is called the Great Day in Jude.

The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” 2 Peter 3:10

This is the day of the Lord that I am talking about from here on.

That Day for the Saved- Going from Bad to Good

There will be bad times right before the day of the Lord

Only good thing is the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, NIV.

Wars of rumors of wars, international strife

pestilence, famines, earthquakes

increase of evil, appearance of anti-christ

false signs and wonders, false christs and prophets

apostasy, betrayals

persecution of believers in Jesus

WE will HAVE OUR BAD DAYS For a Christian, a bad day is only preparation for better days. A bad day cannot last for us. “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5. Our God will eventually make "all things work together for the good" (Rom. 8:28). Jesus promises, ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33, NIV.