Light on the Hill

Jane: If you're involved in financial investing, you're probably well aware of how quickly things can change with the ups and downs of the stock market, but there's one investment you can make that is a sure thing. Here's Pastor James to tell us what that is.

James Kaddis: There's one thing you want to invest in that can never be taken away from you. One thing you want to invest in that you know is never going to fall by the wayside. One thing you can invest in that's never going to go away even when the heavens and the earth expire, it's going to be the word of God. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not telling you to throw caution to the wind and then all of a sudden just be reckless and you know throw your money away or not manage your money well or whatever.

Listen, you do that, you're actually slapping God right in the face. You're supposed to be taking the resources that God has given you and you're supposed to be multiplying them and you're supposed to be faithful with them and you're supposed to be doing all the right things God has asked you to do that. He's asked you to be a faithful steward with all that's been given, but the reality of it is your overwhelming investment should be in the one thing that will not perish. It should always be in the one thing that will never go away and that is the word of God and that's why Jesus is saying it.

He's describing a time in the world where everything is going to fail, everything is going to perish, everything is going to go away, but he's saying my word won't.

Guest (Male): I have found that peace only comes from you. I have found that joy only comes from you. Cuz all I need is you.

Guest (Female): You.

Jane: The rapture of the church is imminent. Shortly after that, we'll see the commencement of the tribulation. Upon completion of that time, we'll see the second coming of Jesus. No one knows the day or the hour, but we are given signs of the season. Today on Light on the Hill, we'll share what you need to know. Here's Pastor James Kaddis with his message entitled The Big Sign. So if you were here on Tuesday or you were watching online, you probably heard a pretty heavy message. I was sort of at the end of my my wits basically with some of the stuff that I've been seeing online and I just felt very inspired to share out of Psalm 37 and very much the gist of what I was talking about is if you spend any amount of time paying attention to what's happening online, it can be very very exhausting because there's a lot of just bogus things that are going on.

People coming up with investigations that they claim are legitimate, people making all kinds of wild assertions about what's true, what isn't. You're seeing lots of people talk about the fact that we're in the tribulation or we're this is a common one that I hear a lot. We're in the millennium. I don't even understand how that can be. You tell me where there's a wolf laying down with a with a lamb anywhere that doesn't even make any kind of sense, but you know there's lots of people who say lots of crazy things and it can be very exhausting and of course considering the environment that we've been in as of late, especially over the last few months, it's amazing what people will do just to get attention, what people will do just to get an extra click, what people will do to build notoriety, what people will do in making the claims that they make and it's all very heartbreaking.

You know it's all very sad and what I talked about if you were with us on Tuesday was how important it is to literally find yourself anchored in what God's word says concerning the moment and the time in which we're living, that God has called us to a purpose, God has asked us to live a life, our life a very specific way, and that there are a lot of things that are out there that the enemy wants to deploy that would cause us to lose focus from what that purpose is, from what that goal is, and I think that it's really easy in the time and the environment in which we live today to jump in on the culture of being angry at everything that isn't right or to be upset by what you don't have.

There's so many of all of these crazy things that are happening that I think that we just have to get to the point where we have to say enough is enough. We have to stop and we have to pay attention to what God is actually saying and there's something that I've learned throughout all of this and that is the closer you get to focusing on the things that God is actually saying with pinpoint accuracy, the further away you get from the distractions, the further away you get from all of the garbage that tends to just cause people to go in a direction that is so incredibly divisive, so broken, so completely messed up, and I think that the Bible gives us the framework.

The Bible teaches us what we ought to do, the mindset we should have, the things that we should be given to in order to experience all that God has for us. And I think one of the most powerful tools that God utilizes in our lives is the ability to be able to hear from him directly what to expect in the future, right? God tells us, hey, these are the things that are happening, these are the things that you should be expecting to look for. These are the signs of all of these things when they do happen and this is how you should be acting, keeping in mind that all these things are on the horizon.

And I think more than ever it's the type of mindset that we need to carry which causes us to really think that way. You know the other day I got challenged on my teaching on Daniel chapter 9. And so I went through a couple of different models, mathematical models believe it or not, to try to lay a foundation to the belief that I've always had about one of the passages in Daniel 9 and it's all come to just confirm what the Bible has already taught us. But you know in going through that all over again, I just realized the Bible is so astoundingly accurate.

What God's word says concerning the time that we're living, concerning the things that we should be expecting is not broken. It's real. It's it's very current for the day in which we live. More importantly, than anything that we can possibly imagine outside of our salvation, we have to stick very closely to God's word. We've got to allow God's word to guide us and and and teach us. And so with all that in mind, let me just make this one statement and I hope that most people won't get upset when I say it, but I'm getting sick and tired of the bad teaching that's going out there.

I'm getting very frustrated with the things that people are saying about Bible prophecy and when Christ is going to come and when he isn't going to come. And if I hear one more time some of the crazy things that people say commonly about some of these passages, I don't know. I don't think I'm going to flip a lid, but it's it's just it's not good. It's just not good. And so what I am really like what's really heavy on my heart right now is to go through this in a way that helps you to understand what God really is saying, what God is communicating.

And so far as we've been going through the book of Mark, Jesus has been talking about the things that are going to happen leading up to the second coming, the things that you should be expecting, what to look for. And often times, I want to make myself clear, people will conflate the second coming with the rapture. They're two completely different things. The rapture happens before the tribulation. The rapture happens before the Antichrist is even revealed to the world. That's what it tells us in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. The Antichrist can't even be revealed to the world until the church is raptured.

Why? Because the church is the restraining force. The church, they are the restrainers and there's something to be said about the restrainers that I think is really important for us to be able to grasp. And so with all of that said, I think we have to come back and we have to stop for a moment and recognize not only the timeline, but recognize what God's word says because once we do, it helps us to live better. It helps us to get more excited about the things that are coming. And so we do get raptured before the tribulation.

Now many of you might ask, well James, if that's the case and we do get raptured before the tribulation, then why are we even talking about the tribulation? Why is it something that we should be going on and on and on about? Well, I'll tell you why. Because we're there in the Bible text right number one, but number two, because God put it there. If he didn't want us to understand it and know it, he wouldn't tell us. And I think that it's important for us to be able to understand it the way God intended for us to understand it because it causes us to want to live pure.

It causes us to recognize the fact that the time is around the corner, the time is short and we 've got to wake up. And if for any reason, this one reason, the one reason I'm going to tell you is more than enough of a reason for us to be studying Bible prophecy, and here it is. When we see the signs that we are in the last days and these things that we know that are going to happen in the tribulation would appear to be around the corner, how much more seriously should we take the time in which we're living right now?

How much more should we be dedicated to walking in purity? How much more should we be excited about what God has for us? How much more should we be given to that mindset, to be given to that understanding, that thought process? Why? Because Christ has made it clear. He's spoken to us. He's told us the things that we should be looking for. And when we understand these things, it should motivate us to be closer to the Lord than we ever have before. And I think that's where the real value comes into play. So Jesus just finishes telling his disciples about these many things that are going to be happening.

He talks about to them what's going to happen during the tribulation. He just talked about uh the darkened sky and some of the celestial signs that they'll be seeing in these last days. And then he says something very interesting. Look what he says as we jump into verse 28. He says, now learn the parable of the fig tree. When her branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you in like manner, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh even at the door.

Okay, could we just stop for one second? I want to challenge anybody in the room and maybe this might be at the risk of engaging in something we probably don't want to engage. But can anybody in the room based on these two verses in the immediate context tell me how you get Israel out of the fig tree? Is there anybody that can tell me where the fig tree here in this context speaks of Israel? And I'm not trying to put anybody on the spot. I'm looking for somebody who might feel comfortable in their assertion because I would really like to know where it comes from.

Nobody. Okay. I'm just going to say this right now. I'm not very surprised because the overwhelming majority of people who I have encountered that teach that this represents Israel, when I asked them the same question, they responded the same way. They were incapable of telling me where they see Israel in this. Now I've heard the arguments. I think the arguments are ridiculous. I've heard the arguments that well every single time you see a fig represented, then it means Israel. That's not true. Okay. Uh it's not true based on the local context that's right here. To be able to say that this means that when the nation of Israel is reestablished, then we know that it's going to be that generation that will see the second coming.

Did that means Jesus is a liar if that's what that means? Because the nation of Israel was reestablished in what year? 1948. If it was established in 1948, then worst case scenario they should have seen the rapture take place or actually not even the rapture, the second coming by 1988. The rapture would happen before that time because Jesus is talking about the second coming here. He's not even talking about the rapture. How would that work? How in the world are you able to see it? You don't. Let me tell you what Jesus is saying here and this is very important.

I want you to grasp this because Jesus is giving an illustration from nature and that illustration from nature is critical to understand in order to recognize the context of what Jesus is bringing to the table. He says, look, I've just talked to you about things that you should be expecting in these last days. I've talked about the sky darkening after the tribulation. I've talked about the signs to be expecting, the ones that Joel were talking about. I've talked about the general mindset of those that will be living in those days and what to expect. And he says, look, I want you to think of how you're able to determine the season based on the fruit you see coming from the tree.

He says, look, when you go and you walk past a fig tree and that fig tree has its leaves healthy and and appear to be in growth under what would expect to be a very healthy season. You look at the figs coming out of the tree. You know beyond a shadow of a doubt you're in the summer. You know it. It's not a hard thing to be able to see. If the tree is producing fruit, if the leaves look the way that they look, you know it's the summertime. Not hard to tell. Around my house, we have all these beautiful trees.

When it comes the fall, all the leaves fall off. It's a mess by the way. It's a lot of leaves that have to get raked on a regular basis, but by the time you get to around now, you get to maybe a little bit later than now depending on the season. You will not see a single leaf on the tree. I always thought it was really funny thinking about why God allows the leaves to fall during that time. It's cuz the winds kick up and there's all kinds of cool things that you learn about why God did what he did and why he allows what he allows, but do you know that almost always based on a picture I can tell you based on a picture of my house I can tell you what season we're in.

I can tell you for in the fall, I can tell you for in the winter. I can often times tell you the difference between us being in the spring and in the summer. It's not very difficult to be able to see. Why? Because the vegetation gives you all the indicators you need to know about the season that you're in. It's that simple. Jesus is saying the same thing. He's saying as sure of an indicator as the figs coming on fig trees are that it is the summertime, you can be just as sure that the indicators I've just given you will be the ones that will show you when the coming of the Son of Man will be.

That's what he's saying. He's making it very very clear. Let me read it to you again. Starting in verse 28, now learn the parable of the fig tree. When her branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Fruit comes, the trees are growing, you're transitioning out of the spring, you're well on your way into the summer season. That's how you know. He says, so you in like manner. He's not saying as a type. He 's not saying that it's just some sort of allegorical picture that's given to the loose interpretation of somebody who may or may not observe the nation of Israel being reestablished.

He is saying in like manner, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh even at the doors. Just like when you see the figs growing on the fig tree, you know the season, the summer season is near. When you see all these signs we talked about, understand it's about to happen. Look what he says. He says, verily I say unto you that this generation shall not pass till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. By the way, it's really interesting in the parallel account of this very discussion that's being had, often times referred to as the olive discourse.

In the parallel account, Jesus actually says that the first sign to look for, and he makes it very very clear to his disciples, the first sign to look for, this is according to Matthew chapter 24 verse 15, the very first sign to look for, just like figs on the fig tree, which Jesus also brings up the fig tree in Matthew, just like you see figs on the fig tree, you know it's summer, when you see the abomination that causes desolate as described by Daniel in Daniel 9:27, then you'll know it's that generation that will not die off until the coming of the Son of Man take place.

That's what he's saying. So the very first major sign that we get that the second coming or that generation will see the second coming of Jesus is the abomination that causes desolate. Now have any of us seen the abomination that causes desolate? No. We haven't even seen the temple built yet in order for that to actually happen. You guys realize there has to be a temple in order for the abomination that causes desolate to actually take place. You have to actually have a temple in order for the oblation to cease as it says in Daniel chapter 9.

The oblation cannot cease if there's not a temple where oblation is actually happening. You guys get it? By the way, Revelation chapter 12 talks about this. There's all kinds of Bible passages that talk about the temple still being around. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Revelation uh makes that very very clear for us. As a matter of fact, it's not even a spiritual building. Why? Because John is told to physically go measure it. So we already know. Zechariah chapter 14 talks about it. Zechariah chapter 12. Zechariah 14 actually speaks of the time. Isaiah chapter 2 by the way.

Let me let me bring that one up. We just went over that. All speak of the time when the temple will exist during the millennial reign. Different temple than the one that we're talking about that's going to be rebuilt any moment. But Jesus talks about all of these things, but he says when you see this guy, this Antichrist stepping into the Holy of Holies, demanding to be worshipped, understand that's when you need to act. It will be your generation that will see the second coming of Christ. Look what he goes on to say. He says, heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

In other words, look, I'm coming to you with a time where the heavens and the earth will be destroyed and I will rebuild a new heaven and a new earth. But just like a time is coming where the heavens and the earth will be destroyed, listen, my words will never be removed, they'll never be destroyed, they'll never be gone. Why do you think it's so important for us to study the word of God? Why do you think it's so important for us to make an investment in those very things? You know what's interesting, I believe that the job of any man is to uh provide for their family.

I think that's the job of any man. If any man is not doing that, then they are not acting as God has called them to act as a man. And I think that that's a really important thing to bring out. But I will tell you this and I think it's really uh really critical that we understand it. The things that we work for as a man relate to compensation that comes and goes. Money comes and goes. The things that we buy, they come and go. They break and you buy new things. They fail and you repair them.

It's just the life that we live. And it comes and goes in cycles. And there are times and seasons where we're in an expensive cycle. There are times where in a less expensive cycle, even though it's expensive, if you have children, it's always expensive. But the reality of it is all of these things that we talk about, they're perishable. All of these things burn. All of these things go away, but there's one investment that we can make that will never go away. Everything else will and it can so quickly. Anybody trades in the stock market, you'll see an example of just that point if you traded today.

You know what I'm talking about? I mean things look so great that that everything is climbing through the roof. We had a major tech company that reported very well. Their conference call went well. Things went great. They went through the roof. And then on a couple of issues that I would consider to be relatively fickle, the whole market just took a complete dump. There were people today that lost billions of dollars. Billions. There's one company that lost something like $8 billion in market capitalization today, over an 8% decrease. 8%. You understand how that goes? That's the world in which we live.

It's a reflection of everything that we have in this world. It's so funny how people will tell me, well you know I just do the the most secure thing. What's the most secure thing? Putting your money in a savings account. How secure is that going to be? Heck, let's just assume all your money that you save in the savings account stays the way it is and it doesn't burn like everything else in this world. Do you honestly think that the rate of inflation is going to actually be lower than the amount of money that you're keeping in your in your savings account?

No way. You're going to lose that money at a more rapid pace than you do anything else with. My whole point is this, it all comes and it goes. It's all momentary. It doesn't mean anything. But if there's one thing you want to invest in that can never be taken away from you. One thing you want to invest in that you know is never going to fall by the wayside. One thing you can invest in that 's never going to go away even when the heavens and the earth expire, it's going to be the word of God.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not telling you to throw caution to the wind and then all of a sudden just be reckless and you know throw your money away or not or not manage your money well or whatever. Listen, you do that, you're actually slapping God right in the face. You're supposed to be taking the resources that God has given you and you're supposed to be multiplying them and you're supposed to be faithful with them and you're supposed to be doing all the right things God has asked you to do that. He's asked you to be a faithful steward with all that's been given, but the reality of it is your overwhelming investment should be in the one thing that will not perish.

It should always be in the one thing that will never go away and that is the word of God and that's why Jesus is saying it. He's describing a time in the world where everything is going to fail, everything is going to perish, everything is going to go away, but he's saying my word won't. You can bank on the fact that my word is true. You can bank on the fact that my word is real, that my word is not going anywhere. You can trust me. I'm your great provider. I am the one that will give you all that you need to do what I've called you to do.

That's what he's reminding them of. This is Light on the Hill with Pastor James Kaddis and we're currently going through the Gospel of Mark. Listen to this study and more at lightonthehillradio.com. Pastor James's teachings are also available through the Light on the Hill app and at oneplace.com. You can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts as well. Pastor James, today you pointed out that before the abomination that causes desolate can take place, there must first be a temple in Jerusalem. Are we seeing any noteworthy developments that might suggest a rebuilding effort is near?

James Kaddis: Oh, there's quite a few of them, Jane. I mean we're watching un unprecedented action happening on the Temple Mount. We are watching prayer being allowed to take place now by Jews on the Temple Mount. They're bringing prayer cards, they're bringing uh prayer books. We're watching priests uh posture themselves in ways that have been completely unacceptable in the past. They typically wouldn't even be allowed to be on the Temple Mount. We're watching people practice animal sacrifice in ways that are quite controversial and quite frankly the laws are changing. The overturning window is being pushed and even people like Saudi Arabia are beginning to sort of let loose their hand on wanting to stop these things from happening.

So it's remarkable. We do see evidence of it. And if you'd like, you can go online to jameskaddis.com. I have made many videos recently that speak about this issue and they are substantive.

Jane: Thanks, Pastor James. When you have a moment sometime today, send us an email. We'd love it. It's encouraging to hear what the Lord is doing in our listeners' lives and it's an opportunity to thank the Lord for what he's doing. There's a place to contact us at our website lightonthehillradio.com. We've been blessed by the feedback we've received thus far regarding Pastor James's new book, The Last Book. If you haven't ordered a copy yet, we'd encourage you to do so. This Guide to Revelation covers the first half of the book, giving you what you need to know about the rapture and the end times in a clear and concise manner.

Request your copy today at lightonthehillradio.com or through Amazon. If God is leading you to support this radio outreach, there's also a place to make a donation at lightonthehillradio.com. Throughout the week, you can watch our live shows and short videos, many of which relate to Bible prophecy and help you to see current events with a biblical worldview. Look for these at jameskaddis.com. More from the Book of Mark coming up next time on Light on the Hill with Pastor James Kaddis. This listener supported program is brought to you by Calvary Chapel Signal Hill.

Guest (Male): I have found that peace only comes from you. I have found that joy only comes from you. Cuz all I need is you.