Before we get going in this week’s discussion, I hope you will take a minute to talk as a group about how you can support the Franklin Graham 2020 Prayer Walk. What an important opportunity for believers to do what only we can do! God’s principle is clear about this:
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
While so many in our nation are marching in violence and assault to tear down our nation, we must gather to pray that God would heal and restore our nation.
My hope is that you would go with us. We have limited seating available. If you can’t go, or don’t feel safe going, you can pray, and you can give to support those that are going. Please talk about it as a group, and prayerfully consider your involvement. I literally believe our nation’s immediate future depends on what we do now.
It is easy to see why lots of people are asking if this is “it,” isn’t it? What kinds of events point us to wondering this?
What kinds of questions do you and your group have about the end times, and about Judgment Day, specifically? Seriously, I would love to know. Please email me your questions! Maybe I can help out this coming week.
Have you ever thought about what Judgment day might actually be like? How do you see it in your mind?
The people of Israel were promised a coming day of judgment. “That Day” is described in great detail. While this description is not the same day that is in store for us, it should give us some sense of what is coming…
So, why don’t you take a couple of minutes and read from a passage I am sure you aren’t used to:
Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near.
Zephaniah 1:7–18 (NLT)
The Lord has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners.
8 “On that day of judgment,”
says the Lord, “I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs.
9 Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
10 “On that day,” says the Lord, “a cry of alarm will come from the Fish Gate and echo throughout the New Quarter of the city.
And a great crash will sound from the hills.
Wail in sorrow, all you who live in the market area, for all the merchants and traders will be destroyed.
12 “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins.
They think the Lord will do nothing to them,
either good or bad.
13 So their property will be plundered, their homes will be ransacked.
They will build new homes but never live in them.
They will plant vineyards but never drink wine from them.
14 “That terrible day of the Lord is near.
Swiftly it comes—
a day of bitter tears,
a day when even strong men will cry out.
It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out—
a day of terrible distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,
16 a day of trumpet calls and battle cries.
Down go the walled cities
and the strongest battlements!
17 “Because you have sinned against the Lord,
I will make you grope around like the blind.
Your blood will be poured into the dust,
and your bodies will lie rotting on the ground.”
18 Your silver and gold will not save you
on that day of the Lord’s anger.
For the whole land will be devoured
by the fire of his jealousy.
Whew. Maybe you need to take a minute after that one.
What are the reasons that God promises to pour out his anger?
What did you think about that graphic image in verse 12? What does it mean that God will “search with lanterns?” Does God need lanterns? What does that mean?
What does that same verse say about the danger of our complacency?
How does wealth deceive us? How can we guard against that?
Have we fallen into that same wealthy, complacent trap?
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
Compare that last verse with Zephaniah 1:12.
What does the image of God on a search tell you about him?
What does it tell you about yourself?
Verses 14-18 seem to describe a worldwide day of judgment. Did you have any comments on that?
Is there some sin that you, or that we have become complacent about? How seriously should we take that? How should we deal with it?
When God’s searching is complete, and all has been found… What, according to Revelation 21, will be the final result?
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:3–4 (NLT)
Thankfully, Jesus gives us hope for “that day.” Let’s pray for each other, for our community, and for our nation to find that hope as we close.