TEXT:  Acts 1:9-11

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE GREATEST OF DAYS - THE CONSUMMATION OF ALL THINGS.

B.      MUCH SPECULATION - ALL FALSE.

          1.       Regarding the time.

          2.       Regarding the events.

I.      SOME IMPORTANT FACTS.

A.      A NECESSARY CONSUMMATION OF GOD'S PLAN FOR US

          ( Heb. 9:27;  Phil. 3:20-21 ).

B.      IT IS CERTAIN.

          1.       Promised by Jesus( John 14:1-2 ).

          2.       Guaranteed by his resurrection( Acts 17:30-31 ).

          3.       Proclaimed by Angels( Acts 1:9-11 ).

          4.       Taught by the apostles( 1 Thes. 4:16-17 ).

C.      NO ONE KNOWS WHEN( 1 Thes. 5:1-3;  Mat. 24:35-36;  25:13 ).

II.     WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?

A.      THE RESURRECTION OF ALL THE DEAD( John 5:28-29 ).

B.      THE JUDGMENT OF ALL( Mat. 25:31-33;  Rev. 20:11-15 ).

C.      SAINTS TO BE GLORIFIED( Col. 3:4;  1 John 3:2 ).

D.      PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED( 2 Thes. 1:7-9 ).

E.      THE EARTH?( 2 Pet. 3:10-13 ).

F.      THE KINGDOM?( 1 Cor. 15:23-24 ).

III.    THE JUDGE AND THE JUDGED.

A.      THE JUDGED:  ALL MEN OF ALL AGES( Rev. 20:12 ).

                   -  None are to be excused( 2 Cor. 5:10;  Heb. 9:27 ).

B.      JESUS IS THE JUDGE( John 5:22, 26-27;  Acts 17:30-31 ).

C.      THE STANDARD OF THAT JUDGMENT( John 12:48 ).

IV.   THINGS THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT ON THAT DAY.

A.      OUR THOUGHTS AND INTENTS( Heb. 4:12-13 ).

B.      WORDS( Mat. 12:36-37 ).

C.      DEEDS( Mat. 16:27;  2 Cor. 5:10 ).

D.      OUR DISPOSITION TOWARD THE GOSPEL( Rom. 1:16;  2 Thes. 1:7-9 ).

CONCLUSION:  MAN'S GREATEST NEED IS PREPARATION.

          A.  IF MAN IS PREPARED( 2 Pet. 3:11-12 ).

          B.  IF NOT( Heb. 10:26-27 ).

          C.  ARE YOU PREPARED?