It's not the end of the world

don’t be alarmed - stand firm

[activate poll] Intro me

[nukes] I think it was quite a few years after I left home and went to university that I discovered my parents had very seriously considered moving to New Zealand. I was born quite a while ago, as you can tell, and the cold war was at it’s peak while I was still a child - Communist East vs Free West. And my parents really worried nuclear war could be just around the corner: in that simmering conflict, one politician could say one stupid thing at the wrong moment, and that could be it: just a button-press away. And my parents thought, perhaps, that somewhere as remote as New Zealand might just about be far enough away to escape the worst of it. They worried - and I’m sure many others did, too - that they might live to see the end of the world.

In our own day there’s no shortage of things to be alarmed about either. Careless words from people in power. Wars creeping wider. Nations re-arming. New classes of weapons. Societies fracturing. Civility in retreat with lawless anarchy just under the surface. Rumours of new pandemics and fears of bio-engineering. An increasingly extreme climate. Asteroids approaching. Technologies we barely understand with the potential for devastation.

A few months back one of my old colleagues from Amazon reached out to me, genuinely concerned that [AI] is likely to be an existential threat to humanity in the near future. A sharp guy. A clever guy. Not prone to hyperventilating panics, but fiercely logical, a deeply rational guy I respect. He pointed me to data and charts and reasons and explanations. He’s deadly serious: he’s quit his job to prepare for the one opportunity he expects to have: he thinks there’ll be a “warning shot” soon; AI will do something truly remarkable, or truly scary, and he’ll have one chance to rally broad public support for putting the brakes on until humanity figures out how to manage the risks.

What about you? What do you worry about the most? What do you think really could be the end of our world? [slido .. live interaction]

Well, this morning we have some good news from Jesus. Sort of, at least: There’ll be catastrophes, persecutions, deceptions, and people losing their faith. But none of that will be the end of the world.

We’ve been working our way through Matthew’s gospel for .. well, for a long time now and we’re well into the last week of Jesus’ life, into the last few chapters of this story. Today we’ll see Jesus begin to draw back the curtains on the future - something people often find very exciting - I certainly have in the past. But it’s tricky stuff to understand right and easy to get wrong - so we’re going to need our thinking hats on.

So please come with me to Matthew chapter 24 on page 993. I think it’ll really help you to have the passage in front of you today. And Suzi’s/Rachel’s reading for us. Matthew chapter 24, page 993 in these blue bibles, and look for the big 24. And let’s read the first chunk together. [deactivate poll]

Matthew 24:1–14 NIV

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “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. 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.

Like I said, we’re into the last few days of Jesus’ life; we’re approaching the culmination of his story. And as we pick up the story, he’s leaving the temple for the last time. Off the back of the lament we closed with last week, “Jesus left the temple” - and our author underlines the finality of this departure for us: “he was walking away”.

But as he walks away, the disciples are in awe of this temple and they want Jesus to appreciate it too - I guess they’ve only been in Jerusalem a few days, and perhaps never before this last week. And though we don’t have pictures, this iteration of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem would have been a spectacular sight. One of the architectural wonders of the world at the time, a monumental complex, stone plated with gold and bronze. It had taken 46 years to build, we’re told in John’s gospel. They had to expand temple mount, the hill it was built on, to make more room, creating a vast platform inside a massive retaining wall. Huge stones locked together in its towering buildings - people wondered how they could have been moved.

Matthew 24:2 NIV

“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

We have to image the disciples are shocked at his words - gobsmacked, we’d say in our slang. These are jaw-dropping words from Jesus, almost incomprehensible. First, because the temple is massive. How is anyone going to break that down?

But second, and more importantly, because the temple is critical. It is the very heart of the Jewish faith. It’s the one place on earth where the presence of God is manifest. It is the bridge, if you like, between God and people. It’s where God can be honoured through sacrifice. Sought through prayer. Reached by pilgrimage. It’s their key symbol of identity. The heart of their culture.

And that’s going to be utterly destroyed? I don’t know what our contemporary equivalent would be that would pull the rug out from under us in the same way but maybe something like parliament suddenly being wiped off of the map: how will life here in the UK continue? Much better, you might be thinking. So maybe that’s a bad example. Or London, maybe? All of London.

Jesus is describing something cataclysmic - do you know that word? It means huge and bad, something that will shake the whole world. And that raises some big questions for Jesus’ followers so once they’re outside the city they ask him more. If the temple is going to be completely destroyed, well, what does that mean?

Matthew 24:3 NIV

“Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Now when they ask about Jesus’ coming, the particular word they use means the official visit of someone really important, or when a hidden power comes out into the open. What are they getting at? Jesus has spoken about how he’s going to return with glory - probably most clearly back in chapter 16 where he’s leading mighty angelic forces (Mt 16:27) and he’s given similar hints or indications a few other times - Matthew 10 or John 14, for example. So I’m guessing his disciples by this point expected him to “go away” somehow and then later “return”.

Matthew 16:27 NIV

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

But I’m pretty sure they didn’t understand what his going away meant - even though he’s tried to warn them several times that he will ultimately be killed here in Jerusalem. And I’m pretty sure they didn’t understand what sort of return Jesus was on about either. Perhaps they’re thinking about wider Jewish prophecy around the Messiah, and what that promised deliverer would do - Daniel 7 would be an example.

And this “end of the age,” what do they mean? Well, Jesus has only specifically mentioned “the end of the age” once before, back in chapter 13 - Mt 13:36-43 - but he’s alluded to it many more times: a coming day when God will call ‘time’ on this world, when he’ll finally deal with evil and reward good once and for all. When’s that going to happen? What will signpost that?

I think his coming, this ending, and the fall of their temple are wrapped up together in their minds. They probably couldn’t imagine a future without the temple; they’re all deeply Jewish, remember. It’s the heart of their faith - and it continues to have a central role in the life of the very earliest church if you read on into the the story of the first churches. They’d probably assume the destruction of the temple could only happen as a part of this winding up of everything at the end of the age.

Did you notice they have two separate questions for Jesus? Timing (“when will this happen”)? and indicators (“what will be the sign”)? Jesus doesn’t answer the timing question at all. And as a bit of a spoiler, just a few lines further down the page, he’ll tell us no-one but the Father knows this answer (Mt 24:36). So Jesus isn’t giving us a code to crack to get to this magic date. He’s not setting out a big, tricky, cryptic crossword which, if we work at it, will ultimately get us to the magic date. No-one but the Father knows. No answer on when.

And, for most of what we read today, he doesn’t answer their signs question either! He does make lots of predictions - but did you notice what he says about these predictions? These are things that don’t signify the end! Mt 24:6

Matthew 24:6 NIV

Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Mt 24:8 …

Matthew 24:8 NIV

All these are the beginning of birth pains.

These things don’t signify that end of the age is here - but they do line the road to it. We can read them to see we’re still on the journey. You know how our road signs give you a few different destinations coming up along with how far it is to them? And when you’re driving up the M6 sometimes at the top of the signs, all you get is “the north”, and no numbers? Well, these signs are the same - that’s what they all tell us: His coming is up ahead. Somewhere. The end of the age is up ahead. Somwhere.

Now like I already said, the disciples probably don’t see the fall of this great temple and the end of the age as two different destinations on the signpost; they think they are the one destination at the top of these signs - but Jesus sees the path ahead, and knows the end won’t come as the temple falls - and we can look back and know the same thing.

So that makes us wonder for each of these signs Jesus gives us, which destination is it pointing to? Is Jesus speaking primarily about the destruction of that glorious temple? or about his future and final coming, and “the end of the age” which comes with it?

The short answer is different scholars, different commentators, understand different parts of this chapter differently. At one extreme, some say everything here already happened centuries ago; and that means every generation since has lived on the cusp of the return of Jesus; no more signposts. At the other end of the spectrum, some see almost everything here still sits ahead of us, belongs in the last days that you can read about in the Bible book of Revelation or Daniel. Most commentators land somewhere in between - and confess it’s pretty hard to untangle everything with confidence.

If that feels frustratingly vague, sorry - it is. I’ve heard people describe it as a bit like standing at the top of a hill and looking to the horizon: near and far summits get superimposed, and it’s hard to tell which hills are which - they are all hills, after all. These different destinations up ahead the disciples are asking about have some real similarities, too - the nearer ones look like the further ones - and they’re meant to. One commentator puts it this way:

Bruner “The destruction of Jerusalem was the prototype of the end of the world … As Jerusalem met its fate, so will all who dwell upon the face of the earth”

So perhaps it’s not that important we have it all exactly figured out - just as well given I don’t. And perhaps we can get too caught up in trying to unpick mysterious and fascinating sections of the bible like this where, if we’re honest, we just don’t have the tools or the brains to get to the bottom of it. Sometimes I wonder if one of the reasons God puts things like this in is to humble us - as it always remains frustratingly beyond our grasp.

But if it bothers you that some things in the Bible are not particularly clear, remember God has also made plenty else perfectly clear. And I’m often reminded of this quote, often attributed to Mark Twain: “It’s not the parts of the bible I don’t understand that trouble me the most, it’s the parts that I do.” I definitely do understand Jesus has told me to love my neighbour, to serve others, to lay down my life. And those are really hard. And the truth is I sometimes I use my wrestling with less clear parts of the the bible to avoid doing the things that are perfectly clear! I wonder if you do, too?

We have to remember when get to bits like this where we often can’t get to 100% solid answers, the point wasn’t for us to know exactly what was going to happen when - or that’d be perfectly clear. The point was to have an impact on how we live now. Wilkins puts it well:

Wilkins: “The Bible does not record prophecy of end-time activity simply for curiosity’s sake. … prophecy about the future is always given for the purpose of affecting behaviour in the present”

So what is the point? Why did Jesus tell his disciples these things? Why have they in turn passed them down to us through the bible? I think there are four big takeaways for us here:

First, don’t be alarmed.

I think one reason Jesus is telling us these things is so we don’t misread the chaos in our world as the end of the world. I think he’s saying, for all the turmoil, the very real disasters, the suffering and pain, our world will not succeed in tearing itself apart. It might be bad - but it’s not the end of the world. Mt 24:6

Matthew 24:6 NIV

Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

These terrible things - wars, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, betrayals, and people falling away from faith - they will all come. But they are not how it will all end - just a sign that it will end. Jesus describes them as Mt 24:8

Matthew 24:8 NIV

All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Now, I’m not speaking from experience, I can only give you my impression of this second hand - but what I do know is birth pains are not trivial, things you brush off and just cruise through almost without noticing. Jesus is not saying theses catastrophes in our world are insignificant, incidental. There is great pain, awful suffering. It comes in waves. It totally interrupts normal life and dominates our experience. That’s one side of what Jesus is saying. And the other side is this certainty that something is coming; that it’s imminent, right at the door.

In the case of birth pains, those who are parents will, I expect, agree with me, it’s something utterly life changing that’s coming, something that will turn your world upside down. It’s coming - but even the doctors can’t tell you how soon. Though these pains can go on for a long time - that doesn’t change the fact that it’s coming. Imminent.

What does that mean for us, here in our relatively peaceful corner of the world, two thousand years after Jesus spoke? While there are times of peace, of calm, of order, of safety, even in those quieter moments, Jesus warns us another round of birth pains might be around the corner. So we shouldn’t panic, we shouldn’t be alarmed, if it comes. It might be bad - but it’s not the end of the world.

Could our world quickly unravel around us? Well, if these past few weeks are anything to go by, the answer is certainly “yes”. And could we quickly see the end of our relative peace? Of course - like so many others around our world have down through the ages. I think for me, the start of the war in Ukraine three years ago was a real wake-up call: this is an actual possibility, not a impossible fiction. Peace is not guaranteed.

It really might get bad - birth pains are painful - but if it does, it’s not the end of the world; just a sign that it will end. Such things must come. Don’t be alarmed. Don’t be alarmed - instead,

Second, stand firm

Mt 24:13

Matthew 24:13 NIV

but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

What does Jesus mean, “stand firm”? Hold your ground. Maintain your course. Endure. Wait - with sure hope. And let me give you one tool I often find helpful as I try to unpack instructions like this: considering the opposite. What’s the opposite of standing firm? What are we to avoid? Being moved.

I think that’s why we have the warnings in here not to be deceived - v4, v11 - because one of the key ways to fail in standing firm is to swallow a lie. For example, the idea that anything else could deliver our world from this brokenness and pain: whether that’s better education; more tolerance; better weapons; scientific breakthroughs; better world leaders. None of these things can, or will, ultimately deliver us - only Jesus. If there was any other way out, God would not have sent his own son into this world to die - but there is no other way. So don’t be deceived.

Hang on to the truth God has spoken to us in his Bible. Believe him when he speaks about how deep the brokenness in us goes, how serious is the rot: it goes right to the centre of every human heart. It will take nothing less than a fundamental renewal, heart surgery by God himself. The more we hold onto this - the gravity of our problem, the cost of the solution, the love that chooses to pay the price - the easier it is to keep our love from growing cold.

You know another tool the Bible gives us to keep our love from growing cold? One another. In our Sunday gatherings. And as we meet together during the week, too. The letter to the Hebrews gives us this clear instruction: Hebrews 10:23-25

Hebrews 10:23–25 NIV

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I think we often come to church gatherings looking to receive, wanting something for ourselves: what encouraged me this morning? What did I learn? What was I reminded of? It’s easy to be so focused on what we’ve received that we overlook what we could have given to others. So let me ask you, who, this week, did you spur on towards love? towards good deeds? Who did you encourage?

Did you notice the context of this instruction - “as you see the Day approaching,” that is, this last day, the end as it’s being phrased in today’s passage: it is exactly in the face of these “birth pains” we’ve been talking about that we are “to consider” - to be deliberate, intentional, thoughtful and planned - how we may spur one another on. I know plenty of us are pretty discouraged - I don’t think I know anyone who’d say they’re over encouraged - so go for it!

You could be the key to someone else standing firm. Don’t overlook that when we all come together, and each time you connect with other believers. This week, look for a specific opportunity to encourage believers you meet and spur them on to love. Remind them of God’s great love shown to them. Challenge them to hang on to his words.

So stand firm - and consider how you can help others stand firm. Then, thirdly...

Be encouraged: be encouraged. Jesus has a powerful encouragement for us here: The gospel of the Kingdom, this good news that God is building a new kingdom - reaching out to us in grace, offering us forgiveness through Jesus’ cross, drawing us into his family, and transforming our hearts by His Spirit - this is going to be announced and proclaimed around the world. The end is coming - that means birth pains - but also that joy comes in the morning. This Kingdom is coming. These birth pains - wars, persecutions, cataclysms - they do not, and cannot, stop the advance of this Kingdom. Quite the opposite: the birth pains announce it is imminent, on the horizon, drawing ever nearer.

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.

And that leads me to my final application: The end will come.

We’ll talk more about this in the weeks ahead - because Jesus does - but if you’re not a Christian here today, the most important thing you need to know is that the end will come. Jesus will return and this present age will be over. It’ll be as cataclysmic as the destruction of that ancient temple; everything in your world will be overturned.

And the only route to safety in that day is this Gospel of the Kingdom Jesus is speaking about: the good news that there is a way to life through Jesus’ death. If this safety isn’t yet yours, it needs to be - because the end will come. So if you don’t understand what this Gospel is, talk to someone around you; talk to me; post in the chat or comments if you’re online. We want to help you understand.

And if you do understand, you’ve just never taken hold of it, do that today. Speak to Jesus in your head - he is listening. Cry out to him for rescue and he will hear you. Then tell someone you’ve taken that step - we’d love to help you get established in this new life.

So here’s our bottom line: don’t be alarmed; stand firm - and be encouraged. The end will come.

I know I’ve been long this morning. And I’m sure I’ve raised plenty of questions. But before we get to that, we’re going to use a song to wrap all this up and conclude today. Ellyn has a brilliant pick for us, so fitting for what we’ve been talking about today: a mighty fortress is our God - we are to keep our eyes on Him, through it all. So if I can invite the band to come up, I’ll pray and then we’ll sing.

don’t be alarmed - stand firm

Q+R NOTES

AI risk: situational-awareness.ai

Eschatology introduction in the app

How do you read this as a Preterist?

v3 “end of the age” consummation of the αἰῶνος - not the same as v6, v14 articular τέλος which France reads as the fall of the temple vs. third variant v13 anarthrous τέλος completion/goal = end of life.

v14 gospel preached in the οἰκουμένη known world (vs. cosmos), often equated to the Roman world at the time. This was accomplished during Paul’s lifetime, well before the fall of the temple. Rom 15:23

the Roman Empire itself would be torn by civil war in the “year of the four emperors,” ad 68/9. In Judea the stirrings of revolt … made war an increasingly likely prospect even before the crucial revolt actually erupted in ad 66

Sequencing questions: then / at that time are both τότε, the same word; hard to determine whether there is sequence or contemporaneity communicated.

“stand firm to the end” = saved? NET Jesus was not claiming here that salvation is by works. He was simply arguing that genuine faith evidences itself in persistence through even the worst of trials. Note logic does not require ! “stand firm” = !saved. It’s not an iff.