Weird Word Series: “End Times” & “Kingdom of God”

Nov 14 / Sunday – Overview  |  Read Revelation 21:1-7

Our “Weird Word” message series looks at important words used by Christians, but that are just plain weird to other people. Each week’s message will unpack one or more of these words to try and “un-weird” them.

15 / Mon – End times  |  Read Matthew 24:3-14 and 29-31 / Revelation 20:10 and 21:1

Eschatology is the study of end times. Discussions increase when unprecedented things occur, especially when they’re outside our control. Jesus listed some of those in Matthew but included verses 13-14 to calm us. No one knows the exact timing but one thing is clear: our all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present God wins the final battle between good and evil as described in Revelation. Does this give you hope in the present when things seem to be falling apart?

16 / Tue – Tribulation  |  Read Revelation 7:13-14 / Psalm 23:4

Tribulation is another word associated with the end times. It refers to a period of extreme suffering of every kind all over the world as God continues to draw people to himself. But tribulation is not just end-times suffering. You have most certainly experienced this in your own life. How have you changed as a result? Did you sense the grace of God during difficult days? Read the first part of Psalm 23:4 again. The One who helped David walk through his dark valleys will also help you.

17 / Wed – Through  |  Read Psalm 23:4a / Revelation 21:1-7

Nothing lasts forever. Remember these words when you are tempted to take for granted the people you love or the blessings you’ve been given. But also remember these words when life becomes so painful or challenging you aren’t sure how you will make it. One of the most important words in Ps. 23 is the word through. It acknowledges that dark days will come but they will not last forever. Do you need to proclaim this truth today to yourself or to someone else?

18 / Thu – Things are not always as they seem  |  Read 2 Kings 6:8-23 / Romans 8:28

Do you sometimes feel like evil is winning? The Bible records stories of God’s people who felt the same way. This intriguing account shows how important your perspective is. What did the servant see? What happened as a result of Elisha’s perspective? Your situation may be different, but God is still working behind the scenes to accomplish His purpose. Will you choose to believe it? That God can bring good out of the most evil and hopeless situations? He absolutely can!

19 / Fri – Kingdom of God  |  Read Luke 17:20-21 / Matthew 6:10 and 33

Kingdom of God is one of those terms that seems archaic but the people in New Testament times understood it well. They were looking for political freedom but Jesus repeatedly stated his kingdom was not of this world. He told stories to illustrate what it looks like (many were recorded by Luke). The kingdom of God is… “already and not yet, the kingdom of grace here and the kingdom of glory hereafter” (Jen Wilkin). What does it look like for you to live right now as a citizen of his kingdom?

20 / Sat – Rapture  |  Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 / John 14:3

Paul describes what Christians today call the rapture, one of the events of the end times, when Jesus comes back to get his people, the dead first and then the living. Many apostles believed it would happen in their lifetime. Yet, they all physically died. It is important to realize your ‘end’ may come before the world-wide rapture occurs. If you believed either could happen today or tomorrow, is there anything you would do differently?