Prophecy

Signs of the End Times – The Three Evil Spirits

Pastor Tan Thai · Apr 3, 2022

Matthew 24:3-5Matthew 24:6-7Matthew 24:8Matthew 24:10-12Matthew 24:14Matthew 24:15-18Matthew 24:21-22Matthew 24:23-26Matthew 7:15-16Matthew 7:20Matthew 7:22-23Luke 21:11Luke 21:12-13Luke 21:16-17John 1:14John 8:31-32John 8:44John 14:6John 16:8Hebrews 1:21 Thessalonians 4:13-181 Thessalonians 5:1-32 Thessalonians 2:3-102 Thessalonians 2:6-72 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 3:1-4Ephesians 5:25-27Acts 20:28Psalm 119:160Exodus 15:11Genesis 3:1Genesis 3:4-51 John 2:18Revelation 12:3Revelation 12:9Revelation 13:1-2Revelation 13:3-4Revelation 13:4-5Revelation 13:7Revelation 13:11-14Revelation 13:16Revelation 14:1Revelation 16:13-14Revelation 17:1-6Revelation 19:7-8Revelation 19:11-21

This sermon presents the signs of the Great Tribulation according to Matthew 24, including deception, war, famine, natural disasters, persecution, betrayal, and global proclamation of the Gospel. Special focus is placed on deception through the three evil spirits in Revelation — the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet — as a counterfeit of the Holy Trinity.

This sermon was preached at Albuquerque Baptist Church on April 3, 2022, using Matthew 24:3-5 as its foundation. The pastor presents a panoramic view of eschatology, covering the Church Age, the Rapture of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), the seven-year Tribulation, and the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21). This framework provides the context for understanding the signs of the end times that Jesus warned about.

Seven major signs are analyzed in sequence: deception (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-26), wars (Matthew 24:6-7), famine (Matthew 24:8), natural disasters and plagues (Luke 21:11), religious persecution (Luke 21:12-13), betrayal (Luke 21:16-17), and the global proclamation of the Gospel (Matthew 24:14). Each sign is supported by specific Scripture passages, demonstrating that these indicators are progressively being fulfilled in the present age.

The central focus of the sermon is on the sign of deception through the three evil spirits described in Revelation 16:13-14: the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Drawing on Vern Poythress's theological work on the 'Counterfeit Trinity,' the pastor demonstrates that these three entities directly counterfeit the Holy Trinity — the dragon counterfeiting God the Father, the beast counterfeiting the Son, and the false prophet counterfeiting the Holy Spirit. The beast in Revelation 13 is shown to mimic Christ in multiple ways: crowns, titles, authority, a false resurrection, and dominion over all peoples and nations.

The sermon also addresses the counterfeit church through the image of the great harlot Babylon in Revelation 17, contrasted with the true Church as the pure Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-8). The Holy Spirit currently restrains evil in the world (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7), but when He is removed along with the Church at the Rapture, the power of lawlessness will be fully unleashed during the Tribulation.

The sermon calls the congregation to remain vigilant and not be deceived by false christs and false prophets. The only truth is the Word of God (Psalm 119:160, John 14:6, 2 Timothy 2:15), and only the truth sets people free (John 8:31-32). Believers are urged to discern false prophets by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-16, 20) and to hold firmly to their faith in these turbulent last days.