I. Elder Richards Letter  A. Elder Richards received a letter from a lady that said she had attended church for 13 weeks and had not heard a sermon on Jesus.  B. It made me think that this might be a good time for the subject of Jesus coming. II. Jesus Promised John 14:1-3  A. Cannot lie. Titus 1:2 It is impossible for God to lie. Some people make promises but they forget or cannot fulfill their promise. Jesus keeps his promises.  B. Words - not pass away. Luke 21:33

III. Signs Add Strength Matthew 24

 A. Matthew 24:6,7 - wars, rumor of wars, pestilences, earthquakes. We are seeing anthrax and AIDs. Worries about smallpox.
 B. Matthew 24:9 - persecution. [Read an article from RH 3/13/97 describing persecution in Cheapas, Mexico.]
    Matthew 24:11 - false prophets. Jim Jones in Guiana, and others.
    Matthew 24:12 - initquity abounds. Mother killing children. Children killing parents.
    Matthew 24:13 - love waxes cold.
    Matthew 24:14 - gospel preached. This has happened in many places we never thought possible. In Russia, the gospel has now been preached in the largest auditoriums available, even at the Kremlin.
    Matthew 24:29 - sun, moon and stars. This has already happened.
 C. Luke 21:25 - Can there be a time when there was more distress? The president is going around the nation announcing war with Iraq. There is distress of nations.
  1. Luke 21:26 - hearts failing. Weapons of mass distruction.
  2. Luke 21:31 - kingdom nigh.

IV. Warning Luke 21:34

 A. Surfeiting (the cares of this life - dissipation, self-indulgence). Be on your guard lest your minds ever be dulled. Catch you like the spring of a trap. We once moved into a house and saw a mouse. I set a trap and within minutes heard the spring snap. After I emptied it, I thought I'd just reset it. In that one day we caught 13 mice in that trap.
 B. Matthew 24:48 - the lord delayeth
    Matthew 24:50 - looketh for Him.
    Matthew 24:44-47 - faithful and wise servant.