King's City : The Destruction of Jerusalem & the Great Tribulation

Lead Vocalist (Joel Whitcomb)

Welcome & Announcements (Hopson)

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September 24 after the morning worship gathering

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Now please take a moment of silence to prepare your heart for worship.

Call to Worship (Psalm 48:1-8)

Prayer of Praise (Jean Smith)

More Than Conquerors

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Prayer of Confession (Joel Whitcomb), Lack of discernment

Assurance of Pardon (1 John 2:1-2)

Almost Home

Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near

Scripture Reading (Matthew 24:15-28)

Page 986 in the black Bibles

Pastoral Prayer (Hopson)

Prayer for PBC—Theological faithfulness

Help us to be faithful reading our Bibles

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Thank you for those who invest so much time into this ministry. Bless them and give them great joy in their labors!

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May we come together as a church to serve with joy.

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As many unbelievers respond to racism with false and empty ideologies, help us as Christians not to grow weary of fighting this evil ourselves

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Prince Albert II --> justice for vulnerable, protection for the unborn, human flourishing for all

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Local churches -- cling to the truth, reject error, holiness

Send laborers into the harvest

Pray for the sermon

SERMON

START TIMER!!!

On September 7, 1940, the “Blitz” began.

It was a period of great tribulation throughout the United Kingdom as the British people endured an aerial assault inflicted by Nazi Germany. For eight months the British people were subjected to nightly bombings, resulting in widespread destruction and the loss of thousands of lives.

In his book The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson tells the story of British life during the Blitz. He tells of one young boy who was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, a fireman or pilot or such. He answered: "Alive.” [1]

If you’re the sort of person who likes history, you might be very interested in learning more about that crucial bit of WWII history.

But what if I told you there was a public forum being held at city hall next week providing expert teaching on how to prepare for the Nazi bombing of London in 1940?

You would be right to respond in the words of one of my favorite gifs: “ain’t nobody got time fu dat!”

The Blitz happened a long time ago and far away from here! What relevance does it have for my life today?

Believe it or not, some of you may be tempted to respond in the same way to Jesus’ teaching in our text this morning.

Turn to Matthew 24:15

It’s Tuesday night, just a few days before Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus had just told His disciples that the beautiful temple they were marveling at was going to be destroyed.

The disciples then ask Jesus two questions. You’ll find them in Matthew 24:3.

Question #1 is When will these things be? In other words, “when is the temple going to be destroyed?”

Question #2 is What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? In other words, “when is the world going to end?”

Jesus will answer both questions, but He’s not going to make it easy for us.

Like two strands of Christmas lights tangled up in a box, Jesus delivers two strands of prophesy in these chapters.

Sometimes He talks about the destruction of the temple, and sometimes He talks about the end of the world.

And unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell which line is about which.

In verses 4-12, Jesus told His disciples about the birth pains that would characterize the entire age between His first and second comings.

In verse 9, He warned us that every Christian in every generation will face tribulation.

In our passage today, Jesus zooms in to warn His disciples about one period of great tribulation when the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70.

And just like you might zone out if someone taught you how to survive the Blitz, you may feel like zoning out today.

“That happened a long time ago and far away from here! What relevance does it have for my life today?”

I plead with you NOT to zone out this morning.

Because even if the particular details of the tribulation in A.D. 70 are long past, the principles Jesus gives His disciples are timelessly relevant.

Their relevance becomes abundantly clear once you understand that all Christians in every generation must face great tribulation.

That’s the Big Idea I hope to communicate from today’s text: Every Christian in every generation will face great tribulation.

Now that everyone is thoroughly terrified and depressed, let me encourage you with two truths which will make up the outline for today’s sermon.

1) Jesus tells His followers what to expect.

2) Jesus tells His followers how to respond.

1) Jesus Tells His Followers What to EXPECT.

Matthew 24:15-16—So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Jesus warns His disciples there is a great evil coming, something called the “abomination of desolation.”

The prophet Daniel wrote about this over 500 years earlier while the Jewish people were exiled in Babylon.

In chapter 11, Daniel talks about a king from the north who will attack God’s people and then profane the temple.

Daniel 11:31—Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

Jesus says, “when that prophesy is fulfilled the destruction of the temple is at hand.”

But here’s the crazy thing: most Jewish people were convinced the abomination of desolation had already happened.

SHOW TIMELINE IMAGE

In 167 B.C., almost 400 years after Daniel’s prophecy, a Greek king named Antiochus Epiphanes slaughtered 40,000 Jews, plundered the temple, sacrificed a pig on the altar, and erected an image of Zeus above the altar.

What he did was an abomination, and the temple was left desolate. For a time no burnt offerings took place in the temple.

We know that most Jewish people believed this was the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophesy because two Jewish history books called 1 and 2 Maccabees, written around 100 B.C., repeatedly refer to that event as “the abomination of desolation.”

But Jesus comes along and says something absolutely stunning: the worst isn’t over.

What Antiochus Epiphanes did in 167 B.C. may have been the near fulfillment of Daniel’s prophesy but it wasn’t the ultimate fulfillment.

The abomination of desolation is going to happen again. Only this time it’s going to be worse.

So what happened?

In A.D. 66 the Jewish people were sick of Roman rule, so they revolted and began to fight for independence.

In A.D. 68 a group of Jewish nationalists called the Zealots captured the temple and began killing anyone sympathetic to Rome. Some say they even killed their own priests on the altar.

In A.D. 70, the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem and burned the temple to the ground.

If you visited Rome today, you can see the Arch of Titus, which commemorates Titus’ victory over Jerusalem.

SHOW ARCH OF TITUS IMAGE

You can see in the picture the Roman soldiers plundering objects from the temple.

What happened in A.D. 70 is not a minor historical footnote. It was one of the most devastating things that ever happened to the Jewish people.

In fact, Jesus says text this is THE worst thing ever to happen to them.

Matthew 24:21—For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

How can Jesus possibly be talking about what happened in A.D. 70?

What about the holocaust during World War 2? Wasn’t that worse?

Because many are convinced that what happened in A.D. 70 couldn’t possibly be that bad, many Bible teachers insist Jesus must be talking about a future period of great tribulation.

You’ve probably heard preachers and teachers describe “the great tribulation” as a 7-year period of intense troubles before Jesus comes back.

Matthew 24:21 is one of the key verses used to support that teaching.

The phrase “great tribulation” only appears three other times in the Greek New Testament.

In Acts 7:11, it’s used to describe a “great affliction” when a famine led Joseph’s brothers into Egypt to find food.

In Revelation 2:22, it’s used to describe the great punishment God will pour out on false teachers in the church of Thyatira.

In neither text does the phrase “great tribulation” refer to a seven-year period before the end of the world.

The only other time the phrase is used is in...

Revelation 7:13-14—Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Aha! That must be it! It’s the great tribulation we’ve all been looking for!!!

There’s just two problems with viewing this text as referring to a 7-year period of great tribulation in the future:

First, there’s no mention of seven years here.

In fact, not a single passage that explicitly mentions the “great tribulation” mentions anything about a seven-year period near the end of the world.

More importantly, when you look at the context it becomes clear that the people in white robes are not a small subset of Christians who survive a period of tribulation at the end of the world, but all Christians everywhere.

Revelation 7:9-10—After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Here’s my personal belief:

I believe the entire period of time between the two comings of Jesus is a period of great tribulation for the people of God.

Every Christian in every age goes through the great tribulation described in Revelation 7.

It’s simply another way to talk about the Christian life!

Not exactly “your best life now,” is it?

You do not have to agree with my interpretation here.

If you look at our church’s statement of faith you’ll notice it says NOTHING about the great tribulation. Why not? Because it’s not something we need to agree upon to be in covenant community together.

Unity in the church doesn’t mean we agree on everything. But it does mean we agree on the most important things.

If you have a different view of the great tribulation that’s fine! We can still love one another and serve one another as family.

Now, I haven’t completely answered a question we asked earlier.

How can Jesus possibly be talking about what happened in A.D. 70 when He describes a tribulation greater than anything the world ever had or will see?

The historians of that time period paint a grisly picture of what happened in those days.

Since the siege of Jerusalem began during Passover week, the city was crammed with people causing the death toll to swell.

Over the next five months the people began to starve as Rome cut off their food and water supply.

People sold their children to obtain food. Some ate from the public sewers. Others ate leather shields, hay, and clothing. Some even resorted to cannibalism.

Thousands who fled the city looking for food were captured and crucified by the Romans.

Bodies were left to rot in the streets, and in many places the ground wasn’t even visible.

The noise of war echoed throughout the city, but witnesses said the sounds of people screaming in agony were even louder.

When the city was burned, some said the fires in the city were quenched with blood.

The entire population was either killed or captured. Josephus said over a million were killed, and 100,000 were enslaved. [2]

D.A. Carson—“There have been greater numbers of deaths. . . but never so high a percentage of a great city’s population so thoroughly and painfully exterminated and enslaved as during the Fall of Jerusalem.” [3]

A Jewish historian named Josephus who wrote extensively about these events wrote this…

“The afflictions which befell the Jews were the greatest of all those, not only that have been in our times, but, in a manner . . . it appears to me that the misfortunes of all men, from the beginning of the world, if they be compared to those of the Jews, are not so considerable as they were.” [4]

Sounds a lot like Jesus’ words in verse 21 doesn’t it?

But perhaps the most devastating thing that happened wasn’t the loss of life, but the loss of the temple.

The temple was the pride and joy of every self-respecting Jew.

And yet, that temple was desecrated by Jewish zealots.

You know what’s worse than a Gentile king killing a pig on the altar? The Jewish people killing their own priests on the altar.

And then, the temple was destroyed, never to be rebuilt again.

In all the history of the world, the Jewish people have never had a longer period of time without a temple.

It’s been nearly 2000 years, and the Jewish people STILL are without a temple.

For a religious Jew there is no tribulation more devastating than that.

How do we respond to all of this?

As I said a moment ago, I believe every Christian everywhere must endure great tribulation in this life.

Last week we talked about the “birth pains” in verses 4-12 that every generation of Christians must face:

There will be false Messiahs,

great evil—like wars and natural disasters,

persecution,

apostasy,

false teaching,

lawlessness and lovelessness.

These things will affect every generation of Christians until Jesus returns, not just a select group of Christians at the end of the world!

If every Christian in every generation will face great tribulation, we ought not to be surprised by suffering. We should expect these things.

But how should we respond?

That’s our second truth...

2) Jesus Tells His Followers How to RESPOND.

In the rest of our text, Jesus tells His disciples how to respond when Jerusalem is destroyed.

And although our circumstances are different, there’s much we can learn from His instructions.

I’d like us to consider them in the form of three application questions.

A) Should We RUN from Tribulation?

Your initial answer to that question may be absolutely not!

But there’s no question that’s exactly what Jesus told His disciples to do...

Matthew 24:16-20—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

Jesus gives His disciples two signs that they needed to flee the city.

One sign was “the abomination of desolation” we discussed earlier.

So when the Zealots started killing the priests in the holy of holies in A.D. 68, the Christians would know it’s time to leave.

Another sign is mentioned in Luke’s account of the Olivet Discourse...

Luke 21:20—“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.”

Historians tells us that when Israel’s revolt against Rome began in A.D. 66, a Roman commander named Cestius surrounded the city with Roman armies, before quickly and inexplicably withdrawing.

We know from historical records that the Christian community saw these two warning signs, remembered Jesus’ words, and fled the city.

They fled to the mountains, just like Jesus commanded, in verse 16.

Many of these believers settled in a place called Pella.

SHOW PELLA IMAGE

Several ancient historians state that no Christians died during the fall of Jerusalem because they all fled once they saw the signs Jesus gave His disciples. [5]

But does this mean it’s always right to run from tribulation?

The answer must be no, for every one of the disciples would at times face intense persecution without running.

So how do I know if it’s right to run from trouble or not?

Here’s a principle: Be willing to risk your life for the sake of the gospel. For everything else, use wisdom.

For example, it’s okay for you to withdraw from the fiercest political debates in our country.

The extreme political right and left seem to be working themselves into a frenzy that some fear could lead to another civil war.

You don’t have to wade into that battle to be faithful, Christian.

Not every battle is worth dying over!

Sometimes it’s okay to seek deliverance from tribulation.

It’s not wrong to seek deliverance from cancer.

It’s not necessarily a sin to look for a new job with better hours or better pay.

The Christian call to suffer doesn’t mean we have to walk headlong into every form of suffering no matter what! But it is a call to persevere in faith when trouble comes.

Which leads to our second question...

B) Will We SURVIVE Tribulation?

Perhaps the disciples were wondering the same thing as Jesus explains the tribulation that awaited them.

In His kindness, Jesus comforts them in...

Matthew 24:22—And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

What days is Jesus talking about?

“Those days” could be a reference to the days when the temple was destroyed.

But when Jesus says “no human would be saved” it suggests something bigger than “no human in Jerusalem.”

And when He says “for the sake of the elect” it suggests something more than “the elect who lived in Jerusalem around A.D. 70.”

So it may be better to understand Jesus’ words as referring to the entire age between His first and second coming.

In other words, this is a promise that the suffering of every Christian has an expiration date.

It will not last forever. Jesus will deliver you. The days of your tribulation will be cut short.

Christian, what tribulation are you enduring right now?

Maybe it’s mistreatment for being a follower of Jesus.

Maybe it’s an intense temptation that seems to sink it’s hooks into you over and over again.

Maybe it’s a painful relationship that is crushing your soul.

Maybe it’s a form of physical suffering that brings you chronic pain.

Maybe it’s something that seems small compared to other people—like a difficult work environment or your kid’s temper tantrums—but to you it’s a big deal.

I can’t tell you when your tribulation will end. But I can tell you this: if you belong to Jesus, your tribulation has an expiration date.

Should persecution rage and flame, still trust in your Redeemer’s name.

In fiery trials you shall see that as your days your strength shall be.

So, sing with joy, afflicted one; the battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!

God shall supply all that you need; yes, as your days your strength shall be.

Not a Christian? Your tribulation will continue forever! Unless you run to Christ!

But to the Christian, don’t give up! Rest in the promises of your gracious God. He will deliver you!

Which leads to our final question...

C) HOW Will We Survive Tribulation?

As suffering intensifies, there’s a fierce temptation to look anywhere and everywhere for deliverance.

That’s exactly what happened in the days surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem...

Matthew 24:23-26—Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.”

Jesus says, “When I return it’s going to be obvious! It’s not going to be a secret!

Matthew 24:27-28—For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

When a corpse is left in a field somewhere you can’t miss it. The vultures circle it high in the air where everybody can see.

In the same way, nobody is going to miss it when Jesus returns. It’s going to be like lightning in the sky. It’s going to be visible to everybody!

Because of that, Jesus’ disciples need to be faithful to resist false teachers who claim that Jesus has returned secretly.

But notice what Jesus says in verse 24: these false teachers will deceive, is possible, even the elect.

There is both great hope and a great warning in those words.

The great warning is that we too are in danger of being deceived!

Church: this is why we must be vigilant to know our Bibles. We must know what we believe and why!

The goal is NOT to know every false teacher, but to know the truth!

The great hope is that Jesus says “if possible.” In other words, it’s not really possible is it? Jesus is going to keep His church!

So how will survive tribulation? By our promise-keeping God. And our faithful perseverance to keep trusting Him!

If every Christian in every generation will face great tribulation, we need to know how to respond.

When Winston Churchill spoke to the British people about the German Blitz he famously said “It would be foolish to disguise the gravity of the hour. . . It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage.” [6]

So too for all Christians living between the first and second comings of Christ. It would be foolish to disguise the gravity of the tribulation we must face. It would be still more foolish to lose heart.

If I can summarize in one sentence how to respond to tribulation, here it is: Look to Jesus!

John 16:33—“… In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

And how did Jesus overcome the world?

By enduring tribulation far greater than anything any of us will ever endure.

He was betrayed, He was abandoned, He was falsely accused, He was tortured, and yet He endured all of it without sin.

Most importantly, He bore the wrath of God in our place. He suffered the penalty for our sin.

Three days later He rose from death so that whoever trusts in Him can have eternal life.

Unbeliever: look to Him and be saved today!

Christian: don’t get scared or confused or distracted by all this stuff about the end of the world. Look to Jesus for your strength and safety today. Take heart, He has overcome the world.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor

Baptism

Announce kids wing open house

Benediction (Romans 12:12)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.