The End-Time Church

Temple Baptist Church - 10-11-2026

Revelation 3:14-22

 

Introduction:

A.  As I draw near to ending this short series on the local church, I feel that I must take a biblical look at the dangers that face it today.  Unfortunately, as goes the world, so goes most churches and denominations.

 

B.  People often ask, “What is a fundamental, independent Baptist church and what are the advantages of being so?”

 

1. Fundamental - basic, essential, and forming the foundation that everything else depends on. The foundation being the Bible, not a specific denomination.

 

2. Independent - Self-governing: Free from the rule or authority of another nation, state, or larger unit. Self-reliant: Not requiring financial, physical, or emotional help from others. Separate: Unconnected or separate from other things, events, or people.

 

3. These basic truths concerning who we are meant to protect the spiritual and biblical integrity of the church.

 

C.  As the spiritual condition of the world wanes, we who work and walk in it can be affected by it more than affected by the Bible and the local church believing that it is rich when it is spiritually poor!  Lukewarm and, therefore despicable to God!

 

D.  In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we see the decline of the churches through the centuries from the Apostolic days to Laodicea.  From turning the world upside down to being turned upside down by the world!

 

E.  A creeping paralysis and nodding of the head in sleep that came on by degrees instead of leaps and bounds.  Getting used to the dark!

 

F.  Five descriptive warnings were given that I will mention though there are others found in Old Testament prophecies.  Three given by our Lord, two while He walked on this earth and one in Revelation chapters two and three combined; two by the Apostle Paul in the Church Epistles.

 

G. We will look at them in the order given in the Bible.

 

1. Our Lord warned of Noah’s Day. Genesis chapter six. 2353 BC

 

Luke 17:26-27  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat (still are), they drank (still are), they married wives (nothing changed), they were given in marriage (still the same), until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all (same result).

 

2. In the same context, our Lord warned of Lot’s Day. Genesis chapter 19. 1898 BC (455 years passed since Genesis chapter six)

 

Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat (still eating like Noah’s day and our day now) , they drank (still drinking like Noah’s day and our day now), they bought (people in our day cry about prices while they have good homes, cars, eat out, and travel) , they sold (nothing satisfies so they sell what they have buy better), they planted (store shelves and home shelves are full), they builded (everywhere you look, expensive homes going up by the thousands);  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all (same result).  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

 

Ezekiel 16:49-50  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  (50)  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

 

3. The Apostle Paul warned of Sleeping Days.

 

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  (13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

4. The Apostle Paul warned of Falling Away Days.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

5. Our Resurrected Lord warned of Lukewarm Days.

 

Revelation 3:15-18  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

6. The Admonition of our Lord.

 

Mark 13:35-37  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  (36)  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  (37)  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  (2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  (4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (5)  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

 

1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

Conclusion: Here we are! Keep looking up, He is coming and we are leaving. 

 

Titus 2:11-13  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;