Habakkuk 1:1-6
It’s Sooner than We Think
This morning, I preached some thoughts as to why I believe the coming
of Jesus is not only imminent but soon. No, the Bible does not say
that Jesus is coming soon. That is what I think and what I believe.
I listed several reasons this morning.
1. Because of the Bible’s teaching on imminent return of Jesus.
It could happen at any minute.
2. Because of miraculous re-birth of the nation of Israel.
a. Israel could be the fig tree that buds.
b. If so, God will finish everything before that generation
passes away.
3. Because of the technology of today.
a. The technology of television gives the world the ability
to watch the two witnesses die and lie in the streets of
Jerusalem in real time.
b. The AI technology makes it possible for man to bring an
image to life.
c. RFID technology makes it possible for access to be granted
or denied based on whatever criterial the powers that be
desired.
4. Because of the mindset of today.
a. Regardless of the reason, people seem to be accepting and
wanting restrictions of who can and cannot.
b. That is a mindset the anti-Christ will use.
Tonight, I want to give you three more reason I believe that Jesus’
coming is not just imminent but soon.
I. I believe the coming of Jesus could be soon because of the
prophesied re-alignment of the nations.
A. In the books of Daniel and Revelation, you will see the
reference to ten toes, ten horns, and ten crowns.
1. \\#Dan 2:41-42\\ speak of the end time kingdom having ten
toes.
2. \\#Dan 7:7, 20, 24, Rev 12:3, 17:3, 7, 12, 16\\ all speak
of ten horns.
3. \\#Rev 13:1\\ speaks of the ten horns and the ten crowns.
B. We do not have to guess what they mean because they are
interpreted for us.
Da 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom
are ten kings that shall arise…
Re 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are
ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings one hour with the
beast.
1. At some point, the world is to be restructured into 10
kingdoms, unions, nations, or regions.
2. \\#Dan 7:8\\ tells that the anti-Christ will rise up
out of the ten horns, the ten kingdoms.
Da 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold,
there came up among them another little horn,
before whom there were three of the first horns
plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this
horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth
speaking great things.
3. That would mean the ten kingdoms come BEFORE the anti-
Christ.
a. I am not saying that I have all of the answers.
b. I do not know if there are only ten world powers or
leaders when the anti-Christ comes to power of if
only 10 are important and responsible for putting
him into power.
c. But I am saying that somehow 10 kingdoms or powers
exists and the anti-Christ will come from them so
ten powers must stand out above the others.
C. Something will make this prophecy come to pass, and it looks
to me that it could be an world-wide economic collapse.
1. I know I am no authority on economics, but it seems to me
that our economic world could collapse at any moment.
a. Houses that were worth $35,000 18 months ago are not
worth $100,000. (I know this personally.)
b. Lumber that cost $32.00 18 months ago, now costs
$59.00 today, and it was as high as $75. (I know
this personally.)
c. A 2x4 that cost $3.75 18 months ago, now costs $6.50.
(I know this personally.)
2. Shelves that were stocked 18 months ago, now are at best
3/4’s stocked. Items that I could have picked up off of
any local shelf 18 months ago, are now iffy and in some
stations, not possible. (I know this personally.)
3. And now there is talk of another lockdown, at least among
the blue states.
a. Dr. Fauci (Fowl che) says he does not think another
lockdown will be necessary, but that may not stop it
from happening.
b. But if there is:
(1) Our international shipping arrives at ports of
blue states.
(2) Some of our biggest manufacturing states are blue
states.
(3) Some of our computer chip producing states are
blue states.
(4) Some of our biggest agricultural states are blue
states.
c. If blue states shut down again, the nation and the
whole world will be impacted.
4. Some of our existing world unions have been on the verge
of breaking apart for decades now.
a. The European Union has been cracking under its debt
and non-productivity for over half if its existence.
Britain, the main production and wealth center of the
EU, finally pulled out of the EU in 2020.
(1) The EU was not born in 1993.
(2) Britain started talking about pulling out in
2013, just twenty years after getting in!
(3) It took them seven years to figure out to do
it and as I recalled, they never did.
(4) They pulled out.
b. The US is no better.
(1) In 40 years, the US has gone from having a
balanced budget to being the most indebted
country in the world, which also makes it the
most indebted country in the history of the
world.
(2) To be honest, there is no country of power and
standing which is not carrying the burden of
substantial debt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_external_debt
(3) The economy of the every major nation in the
world is built on credit and pretend wealth.
c. And it should be noted that most of the current
figures do not show the impact of the last 18 months
of lockdowns have had on the nations.
D. There is a limit as to how much any economy can stand until
it collapses.
1. Had it not been for the artificial controls and stops built
into our stock market, it would have collapsed in 2008,
just as badly or worse than the collapse of the 1930’s.
2. Since that time, the stock market has been on a tear,
breaking record after record, and to be honest, I still
don’t understand why.
a. My thought is if you can created artificial stops to
keep you from going down, they can also created
artificial steps to get you to climb higher.
b. They call those "bubbles."
c. Since our nation is dependent upon other nations for
food, medicines, and materials, c. I wonder if there
will not come a huge fall soon, a fall that will
effect the political and economic powers of the world!
E. All of this seems to me to be sitting us up for a collapse
that I think will not just effect the United States but the
entire world and usher in a New World Order.
II. I believe the coming of Jesus could be soon because this world is
forcing God to judge it.
A. Let me put this is the simplest terms:
1. This world is wicked.
2. The church is powerless.
3. So God will have to do something.
B. I will elaborate a little:
1. The world is wicked.
a. I can only think of two Biblical commands or
principals that we may not be violating.
(1) I do not think sex and prostitution has become an
accepted part of our mainstream religions.
(2) We do not actually offer living babies on the
altars to pagan deities.
b. Outside of those two, we do it all, and we do it with
mockery, joy, and derision.
(1) We laugh at God’s marriage.
(2) We attempt to change the sexes of God’s
creations.
(3) We are violent, rebellious, drug addicted, given
to pleasure, blasphemous, and riotous.
(4) We are the people of Romans 1.
c. We have forgotten that God has destroyed civilizations
who were better than us.
(1) I guess we are even worse than that.
(2) I guess we don’t believe God ever judged any of
those other nations.
(3) I guess we don’t believe there is a God at all.
2. The church is powerless.
a. This has bothered me in my lifetime more than any
other thing.
b. The church is to be a mighty force for God in this
world.
Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it.
Acts 2;42 And they continued stedfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many
wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
(1) I’ve read the Bible and some history.
(a) That is what it should be.
(b) That is what it has been.
(c) But that is not what it is.
(2) We are "the salt that has lost his savour, and
are thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
c. I have been the edge of the Jordan with my mantle,
slapped it against the waters, and cried, "Where is
the Lord God of Elijah?" until my arms grew weak
and my voice grew hoarse. The waters never parted.
d. I do not blame others. This is my calling and time
as much as it is anyone else.
(1) When was the last fire of revival?
(2) When did we last see a moving of the Holy
Spirit?
(3) When did we last see souls getting saved in
numbers?
(4) When did the church last have zeal, knowledge,
conviction, authority?
e. I do not know why we are powerless.
(1) Is it us? I acknowledge most Christians today
are not of the same caliber as yester-year.
(2) But at the same time, at no time have Christians
without the conviction of the Holy Ghost ever
been much.
(3) It is the working of the Holy Spirit that gave
Christians their caliber.
(4) If the Holy Ghost is not manifesting Himself in
power, we are not going to be much.
f. So I say again, Christians seem to be powerless.
3. So God must judge us.
a. Notice Habakkuk.
(1) \\#Hab 1:1-4\\ This man is crying out over his
powerlessness!
(a) \\#2\\ I cry, you are not hearing!
(b) I cry, and you are not saving.
(c) \\#3\\ Why even show me truth if you are
going to do something about it?
(d) \\#4\\ The Law (the Word of God) is being
ignored and judgment (the hand of God) is
not doing anything about it!
(2) \\#Hab 1:5\\ God says, "I am about to do
something you will not believe!" and God goes on
to describe the coming judgment.
b. When God’s people lose their power, it is not a reason
for the world to rejoice.
c. It is a reason for the world to tremble for it likely
means that God is about to do a work Himself!
d. I believe the very powerlessness of the righteous is
an indication that God’s judgment is about to fall.
e. Remember Lot.
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the
filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them,
in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul
from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
(1) Lot was called righteous by God.
(2) We like to think of Lot as a compromiser and
perhaps he was, but God says he was both
righteous and vexed over the wickedness going
on around him.
(3) Why didn’t he do something about it?
(a) I think he did.
(b) He just did not have power.
(4) So God stepped in.
III. I believe God’s judgment is near because God’s purposes may be
almost complete.
Hab 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold
evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore
lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously,
and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth
the man that is more righteous than he?
A. Habakkuk asked, "Why are you holding your tongue? Why are
you not doing something?"
1. That is a good question.
2. What would cause God to hold judgment?
B. May I suggest two reasons?
1. God wants the lost to be saved and the saved to do right.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his
goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not
knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
a. I cannot say God gives it to everyman, because He does
not.
b. But to some, God gives every opportunity to do right.
c. That may be God’s purpose.
2. God waits for the wickedness of man to FILL UP.
Ro 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye
should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that
blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Ge 15:16 But in the fourth generation they
shall come hither again: for the iniquity of
the Amorites is not yet full.
Maybe the cup of His wrath is about full already.
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