I. Why is this important?
A. This study concerns the topic of what will happen at the end of time.
Specifically we want to analyze whether the Scripture teaches there will
be a rapture and what God says will happen to His people as well as the
lost.
B. The doctrine of the rapture is very prominent and widely accepted. Many
teach and believe it. Is it true?
C. We are naturally curious and want to know what will occur in that last day.
D. Most of all, we need to prepare ourselves. If the rapture folks are right, we
will have a second chance to make our lives right, but if they are wrong,
we only have now.
E. The rapture is a time in which, according to its adherents, God will take up all
the righteous into heaven while leaving the wicked on earth to endure tribulation. While variations differ, all agree that this event precedes the final judgment.

II. Jesus will return
A. First let us establish that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus will return.
B. John 14:2-3, 18. As Jesus prepares His apostles for His departure, He leaves
them the promise that He will come again and receive them.
C. Acts 1:9-11.

III. The parable of the tares
A. Matt 13:24-30, 36-43. This is a parable that tells us what the kingdom of
heaven is like (v. 24). What will things be like as we are citizens of God's
kingdom in the midst of a wicked world?
B. Jesus tells us that there is a time in which we will have to be among wicked
people! (v. 30, 38). Just because we are trying to serve God doesn't mean
we can go out of the world! (1 Cor 5:9-11).
C. However, the fact that God is not dispensing judgment now doesn't mean He
doesn't notice who is wicked and who is righteous! He is simply patient,
waiting for the time when He will judge us all (v. 29, 41).
D. This parable urges patience in waiting on God and not being contaminated by
the world. We must remember the solemn promise of v. 41: all things
that offend and all those who practice lawlessness will be cast into the
furnace of fire.
E. Rom 12:2. We must learn to be in the world, but not of the world. We must
never be conformed to it or become like the people of the world.

IV. The parable of the vinedressers
A. Mark 12:1-12. Jesus tells this parable because the Jews refused to hear His
words (v. 12).
B. He likens God and His dealings with the Jews as an owner of a vineyard with
His vinedressers. God continually sends servants (the prophets), yet the
vinedressers (the Jews) continually reject them, stoning and killing some
(v. 3-5).
C. Since the Jews had rejected God's every attempt to speak to them, He decided
to send Him His Son, last of all (v. 6). They rejected the Son as well, and
killed Him (v. 7-8). God, then, would take the vineyard away from them,
destroy them, and give the vineyard to others (v. 9).
D. This parable tells us that the Jews had lost their place in God's favor because
they continually rejected God. Even His Son they killed.
E. Why is this parable important? v. 6. This is God's last attempt to speak to
man. If we reject the Son, we have no hope! He won't speak again
through someone else when He's already spoken through His Son!
F. Jesus was God's "beloved"(v. 6). How will He respond if we reject Him?
G. It is a parable about how we receive Jesus-His words and call to us. If we
reject Him, we are not worthy to be right with Him!

These parables are God speaking to us today! Let us never forget that we can be guilty of the very same things the Jews were! Even today God watches!___Jacob Hudgins