If you were to take 60 pennies with each representing 100 years and start dropping them to count from the beginning of time, you would probably have less than 1/3 a penny left. 

1. Creation = ab. 6,000 years ago /ab. 3972 B.C. =  start with 60 pennies
2. Flood = 2319 B.C.   = with 43 pennies left
3. Exodus 1462 B.C. =  with 34 pennies left
4. David ab 1000 B.C. =  with 30 pennies left
5. Fall of Jerusalem 586 B.C. = with 26 pennies left
6. Jesus Birth 5 B.C. - 28 A.D. = with 20 pennies left
7. Church age 28 A.D.--- now  = 59 = today only less than 1/3 a penny left

2. To make Believers aware of and stimulate their interest in prophesy concerning the End Times. 

3. To encourage Believers to know that the time of the coming of the Lord is near at hand. 

4. To encourage Believers to live as though the Lord will return very soon. 

5. To exhort Believers to test the spirit of today's prophets and their prophesies. 

6. To encourage Believers not to be discouraged that the Gospel did not reached all nations by the year 2,000 A.D. 

7. To encourage Believers not to be discouraged that the Lord did not return around the year of 2,000 A.D. 

8. To inform Believers of some of the basics of End Time prophecy that they may minister to others who may not know about it. 
 

There are four basic views concerning the Church and the End times.  First, there is a view that the Church is to become perfect, do her anointed work, and usher in the kingdom of God.  Second, is the view that sin in the world is getting worse and worse and that the Church must go through all or part of the seven years of tribulation.  Third, there is a view that the event of the tribulation all occurred with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD and therefore the tribulation period has nothing to do with the Church and the return of the Lord. Fourth, there is a view that the Church will be taken out of the world by Jesus before the tribulation period.

Each view has respective scriptures to support its beliefs.  Those who advocate the perfecting of the Church may refer to Ephesians 5:27 where Jesus washes the church and presents it without spot or wrinkle.  We should note however that Jesus does the washing in this context, not the Church.  One may also refer to such scriptures as Isaiah 44:3, Hosea 6:3, and James 5:7 concerning  the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the end times upon the Church.

Those which see sin in the world becoming worse and worse may refer to scriptures like II Timothy 3:13 and Matthew 24:12 to support their view.  Those who support this view also talk about the thousands and thousands that have been martyred in this century.  They generally believe that the Church must be purified through tribulation before it can be received up into glory.  They may use scriptures like John 16:33 where Jesus declared that in this world we would have tribulation.  They may also use scriptures like I Peter 1:7 to support the need for purification through fiery trials.

Those which see what many call the tribulation period as being fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD will use scriptures such as Matthew 24:2 where Jesus said that one stone of the temple would not be left upon another. They may also use Matthew 24:16 where Jesus said that those in Judea should flee to the mountains.  This view may also advocate that the Church is not to become concerned about end time prophecy, but just live for the day.
 

2. Will there be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church?  Yes!  Again, there is and will be an anointing upon the Church.  "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (I John 3:27).  The real question is, "Will the Church walk in the anointing?"

3. Will the Church usher in the Kingdom of God?  Yes!  It has brought, is bringing, and will bring people into the Kingdom on a daily basis.  The Kingdom grows with each new convert.   Jesus said almost 2,000 years ago that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 3:2).  However, for the Church to announce that it will usher in Jesus' return is nothing more than pride.  Furthermore, there will be 144,000 Jewish converts that will spread the gospel during the tribulation period (Revelation 7:3-4,9-14) after the Church has been removed.

4. Is the sin in the world becoming worse and worse?  Yes!  The news media as well as scriptures validates this truth.  However, after the Church, which is the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) is removed (II Thessalonians 2:7), then the Wicked One will be given full power to deceive  (II Thessalonians 2:10-12) the whole world.

5. Will the Church suffer persecution in order to be purified?  Yes!  The Church has and will suffer persecution. In many countries today, the Church is suffering severe persecution!  Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  However, the Church will not go through the tribulation of the seven years because this tribulation is for the world, not for the Church!!! (Revelation 3:10).

6. Is there a reason for the Church to repent of its lukewarmness?  Yes!  It is to see the value of suffering, the value of putting on the righteousness of God, and the value of the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Revelation 3:18).  God calls the Church of today to repentance (Revelation 3:19).  However, the Word is silent on whether or not the Church repents.

7. Was there persecution in 70 AD when Jerusalem fell?  Yes! History bears record of this.  However, Matthew 24:21 states, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of time, no, nor ever shall be."  There is a difference between tribulation and the great tribulation for the whole world (Revelation 7:14). Furthermore, Jesus said that we would be blessed by studying the book of Revelation. "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the word of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" (Revelation 1:3).

8. Will the Church then be taken out of the world before the seven years of tribulation?  Yes!  It will not be taken out based upon its own merit (self-cleansing, self-anointing, self-witnessing, self-purification, or self-rationalization).  It will be taken out because Jesus has already accomplished his work of perfection in the Church, his Bride.  "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10).  When the Father speaks to the Son to go get his Bride, the Son will return to get the Church.  Paul wrote, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Many people are living in fear because of a false prophet. One way that we know a false prophet is by his confession concerning the person of Jesus.  Let us break down the passage. First, we are to look at the confession of the prophet.  He must confess that Jesus is the Christ.  Second, we should understand that Jesus is the I AM that came to save men from their sin. Third, the word Christ literally means the Anointed One, sent from God.  Literally, Jesus is the Anointed One sent from God to save men.  Last, though being the Son of God, he was also born of the flesh that he might die for us.  Therefore, if a prophet does not make such a confession, he is a false prophet having the spirit of the antichrist.

a. He will exaggerate his successes.
b. He will minimize his failures.
c. He will say something one time then give various explanations the next time.
d. He make statements that will only come part true, part of the time.

3. He will claim that he alone has that special knowledge.

4. He will use empathy and flattery to draw people unto himself.

5. He will use fear and intimidation to embarrass and control others once they draw near to him.

6. He will threaten people with the loss of their salvation.

7. He will advocate a salvation based upon good works or service.

8. He will teach people that he is the mediator between them and God.

9. His prophecies may be general in nature.

10. He will use enticing words to appeal to his audience.

11. He will demonstrate strong emotions of acceptance and disapproval.

12. He will use religious babble or jargon and attach his own meanings to the words.

13. He will not be willing to be publicly questioned by his followers.

14. He will have problems in submitting to authority.

15. He will claim special divine encounters for himself.

a. A visit by an angel.
b. A death or near death experience.
c. He will claim strong visions and may hear voices.

17. He will use obscure (or little known) Scriptures to validate his teachings.

18. He will violate principles of Biblical interpretation.

a. He will use historical statements as allegory.
b. He will use allegorical statements as literal.

20. He will paint God as viewing man as being insignificant.

21. He may reference extra Biblical materials as primary sources for his authority.

22. He will exhibit pride and stubbornness in his authority.

23. His public life and his private life will probably be dramatically different.

a. Publicly he will claim the righteousness of God, but privately violate the Word.
b. Publicly he may be very peaceful, but privately he may be a tyrant.

25. He will be a shepherd that enjoys shearing the sheep and using the wool for his own pleasure.

26. He will privately demonstrate greed and lasciviousness.

27. He will give an unbalanced view of God, generally leaning toward God being a harsh, vengeful, and angered God.

28. He will generally give an unbalanced view of man, mixing Believers and unbelievers together.

29. He will attempt to isolate his followers from others that have a different view from his.

30. He may lower Jesus to being just a man and mix him with other prophets or teachers.