What shall be the sign of the completion of the age?

The second question Christ answers is what shall be the sign of the completion of the age.

If you remember in our last study, we discussed verse 4 though 8 which described the characteristics of the entire age.

In verse 9, we have a transition. Notice the language.

Matthew 24:9 ““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”

Verse 9 begins with then. Then indicates time. As the characteristics of the age unfold and continues, “then” tribulation begins.

You and I live in the age of grace, or the age of the church. This age is divided into three groups of people.

Jews

Gentiles

Church

1 Corinthians 10:32 “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,”

In this age, God is calling out to Him a people from both the Jews and Gentiles to complete the church. It is this third group, the church, that will be taken out of the world at the Rapture.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

After this, “then” tribulation begins. In verse 9, “then” is referring to the beginning of the tribulation.

With the foundation laid, let’s see what Jesus tells His disciples about the tribulation.

1. Who is the you?

Matthew 24:9 ““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”

“You” refers to the Jews and not to Christians. You can know that because it is the kingship of Jesus is being addressed.

During the Tribulation, there will be global anti-semitism.

Let me explain this to you.

The best thing for Israel today is the fact that the true church is still on planet earth. It is the true church with the indwelling Holy Spirit that is restraining evil today.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”

There is much anti-semitism in this world today, but it is not universal because of the church and the restraining power of the Holy Spirit. The true church will always stand against anti-semitism. No true believer will ever hate the Jews.

Dear friend, if you ever hear someone say that the tribulation is happening now or has already happened, you do not need to listen to them very long. The tribulation will be far worse than anything this world has ever seen especially for the Jews.

The Tribulation, for Jews, will be like Hitler’s Final Solution on steroids.

2. Is there a difference between false prophets and false teachers?

Matthew 24:10–11 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

The short answer is yes. In the Bible, there is a major difference between false teachers and false prophets.

Prophets always have a message for Israel. In the Old Testament, we read about prophets like Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Elijah, and we read about many false prophets.

Teacher is a New Testament office of the church.

2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Prophets are for Israel. Teachers are for the church. Both Peter and Paul warned the church to be on guard for false teachers just as Israel should be on guard for false prophets.

Verses 10 and 11 are describing the false prophets that will be on earth after the church is removed.

Dear friend, that is why if you ever hear someone today say he or she has received a new prophecy, you can put a big X on that person. They are lying. They are false. There are no new prophecies.

In the future during the Tribulation, there will be a prophet that comes out of Israel that will be worth of this warning.

Revelation 13:11–12 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”

Revelation 13:13–14 “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”

How do I know this false prophet is a Jew?

He comes out of the earth.

He performs deceptive signs.

1 Corinthians 1:22 “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;”

This false prophet will cause the world to worship the Antichrist. He will appear like a weak lamb, but he will speak in the authority of the dragon which is Satan. This false prophet will deceive the world, and Jesus issues the warning against being deceived by false prophets almost 2,000 years ago.

3. Is salvation really eternal?

Matthew 24:12–13 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Let me boldly answer my question.

Salvation is eternal. If you have ever been saved, you will always be saved.

Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

It is God who saves you, and it is God who seals you. No one can take from you nor can you lose what God has given you which is the gift of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

It is impossible to lose your salvation. If you are truly saved, God will never lose you. With that being said, let’s get back to the verses again.

Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

This is really a sad verse, and even though it is talking about Israel, it has incredible application for the church.

What is Jesus saying? He is saying that sin will choke out the fire of one’s love for Christ.

In the Bible, the Church at Ephesus is the perfect or imperfect example.

When the Church of Ephesus was founded, it was on fire for the Lord; yet, by the time John wrote a letter to them, their love for Christ had started to wax cold.

Revelation 2:4–5 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

I have said it time and time again. You can do until you cannot do anymore, but it means nothing if your love for Christ is not center stage. That is why it is so important for everyone to be involved.

Churches depend way too much on a small group of people to do everything. Those people wear out, and then they start doing just to be doing, and their love for Christ begins to wax cold.

If everyone loved Christ as they should and if everyone were involved, Christ would be loved as He should be, and no one will wear out.

I do not care what we do, but our love for Christ must not wax cold. When it does, sin becomes acceptable. It is our love for Christ that produces obedience.

Now to the disturbing verse for many people.

Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Once again, I point out the use of the word shall.

Who endures to the end?

Let me just tell you this.

Endurance to the end has nothing to do with what you do or do not do.

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ, so what is Jesus saying in verse 13?

Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Remember, Matthew is written with the kingship of Jesus at the forefront. Those who endure to the end will not taste death during the Great Tribulation.

Those that will endure to the end are the 144,000 Jews sealed at the beginning of the Tribulation.

Revelation 7:1–2 “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,”

Revelation 7:3–4 “saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:”

Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Let me tell you this. Those 144,000 are already sealed. Ezekiel Chap. 9 tells us about it.

Ezekiel 9:4–5 “and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.”

Ezekiel 9:6 “Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.”

No one will escape except for those 144,000 who will be marked by God on their foreheads.

When God places His seal on you, you are sealed.

Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

“Those whom He did foreknow.”

God exists outside of time. He knows all things. God knew Billy Binkley was going to get saved because God has foreknowledge. He did not make Billy get saved, but He knew Billy would. As a result, Billy was predestined or determined to be in the image of Christ.

Those who endure to the end are those 144,000 who God has foreknowledge of even today. There will be a great revival during the tribulation. Both Jew and Gentile will be among the millions saved, but only 144,000 will endure to the end.

Does that make those saved during the tribulation 2nd class citizens in the Millennium? NO!!!!!

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Those martyred during the tribulation will be resurrected prior to Armageddon to rule and reign with Christ. They will have no less authority than you and I will have who will be resurrected at the Rapture.

What does verse 13 mean for us?

It means if we are truly saved, we will endure to the end because God has foreknowledge of our salvation and has determined that we are going to be like Christ which brings up an interesting question for those who think a person can lose his or her salvation.

If God has determined that a saved person is going to be conformed to the image of Christ, how could that person lose his or her salvation? He or she cannot.

We talked about this in study groups a couple of weeks ago.

Have you ever wondered about someone who was once very active in church but has since fallen into a life of sin? Is or was that person saved? I DO NOT KNOW.

J. Vernon McGee said this about those people:

“The pigs will eventually find the pigpen, but the prodigal sons will all find their way back to the Father’s house.” (J. Vernon McGee)

Do you remember what Peter said?

2 Peter 2:22 “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.””

Can a son end up in the pigpen? ABSOLUTELY!!!! If you think you cannot fall into a pigpen, you are inviting a disaster to come upon you. You and I never need to think too highly of ourselves.

Without the grace of God, I do not know where I might have gone or what might have happened.

Do not think you are above something happening to you. When the prodigal son left home, he did not know he would be wallowing with the pigs. When David walked out onto that balcony, he did not think about the consequences lying ahead for him.

BUT PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GREATNESS.

A son, saved person, might get into a pigpen, but if he is truly a son, he will get out of that pigpen someday, or the Lord will take him prematurely. ******WHY?******* (John Chap 10 verses 14-16)

John 10:14–16 “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep-sheep from the tribes of Israel and sheep from the Gentile nations. Those sheep will be saved.

4. Does the gospel have to be preached in all the world before the Rapture?

The answer is NO!!!!!!

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Jesus says the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world before the end of the age. The gospel of the kingdom is what John the Baptist preached.

Matthew 3:2 “and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!””

Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

Jesus, however, changes His message.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””

During the tribulation, the gospel of the kingdom will once again be preached. Today, it is the gospel of grace that is being preached. Before your head starts spinning, the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of grace are not different gospels. Both are the same gospel with different emphases.

****You and I cannot preach the gospel of the kingdom because we cannot and do not know if the end is at hand. When the Great Tribulation begins, it will be obvious that the end of the age is at hand.****

Before we move into the Tribulation, let’s examine salvation closely as I think it will help your understanding.

There is and has always been only one way to be saved.

Every person’s salvation from Adam to the last man on earth is based upon the Cross of Calvary.

Every Old Testament sacrifice looked forward to the Cross. Everyone saved today is looking back at the Cross. It is the Cross that stands at the moment of decision.

Do you remember Abel? Abel was saved. Cain was lost.

Why was Abel saved and not Cain?

Abel brought a lamb as His substitute, and that lamb was symbolic of the perfect Lamb that was to be crucified on Calvary.

John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Old Testament saints were saved on credit, looking forward to the Cross. Old Testament saints were forgiven on the basis of Christ’s death.

We always associate the Law with the Old Testament like it magically had saving power, but the Law never saved anyone. All the Law did was reveal that all were lawbreakers.

In the Law, however, God provided the sacrificial system.

The Israelites had to bring a lamb to God because they were lawbreakers. They needed a substitute to pay the penalty for their sins.

How did they come out of Egypt?

In the New Testament, Paul tells us why the Law was given.

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

All the Law can do is cement your guilt. You needed someone who could eliminate your guilt, and that someone was the Lamb of God. During the tribulation, the urgent message will be to get saved before the Sovereign of the Universes comes as King and Judge.

The gospel of the kingdom will be urgently preached as it will be obvious that the end is at hand. Now, look back to verse 14 before we close.

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

This verse DOES NOT (M. 24:14) mean that while the church is here on earth that the end for the church cannot come until the gospel of grace is preached worldwide.

As a matter of fact, you can make an argument that the gospel of grace has been preached worldwide already.

Acts 19:10 “And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

We must always consider scriptural context.

What question is the Lord answering? He is answering the question asked by His disciples. What is the sign of the end of the age?

The answer is found in verse 14 of Chap. 24.