(1 Chronicles 12:32 NIV) …from Issachar, men who understood the times
and knew what Israel should do.

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(Daniel 12:1-4 NIV) At that time Michael, the great prince who protects
your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not
happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your
people--everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be
delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to
everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are
wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many
to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep this
prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will
rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

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(Daniel 12:8-13 NLT) I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he
meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?” But he said, “Go
now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of
the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the
wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand.
Only those who are wise will know what it means.

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1. The last days will be marked by an increase of wickedness.

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(Matthew 24:9-13 NIV) Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and
put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time
many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and
many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the
increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who
stands firm to the end will be saved.

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2. The last days will be marked by an increase in the
spreading of the Gospel.

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(Matthew 24:14 NIV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in
the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

1970 = 1.2 billion Christians
2020 = 2.6 billion Christians

1990: 52% of world in extreme poverty
2017: 16% of world in extreme poverty

2022: 9.2% of world in extreme poverty

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(2 Peter 3:10-12 NIV) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The
heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire,
and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be
destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to
live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its
coming.

1. We will stand firm on the truth of God’s Word.

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(1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV) Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be
courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

2. We will continue to do everything we can to make an
eternal difference in our generation.

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(Acts 1:6-8 NIV) Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are
you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It
is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”

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