End Times According to Jesus

Pastor E. Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

I. God is not impressed with what we are impressed with in the church

A. Buildings will not last

B. The work of man will fail

II. Jesus does not tell us when He will return but gives us signs to indicate the nearness of His return

III. There will be great deception (verse 5, 11)

A. Many will come in My name (Jesus Christ) saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many. Two possible meanings here that can and do apply:

1. Individuals will claim to be Christ and seek to lead people after them

2. Individuals will teach and promote deception in the name of Jesus Christ

B. Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many

C. Why will deception prevail? Because people do not have a love for the truth (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

IV. There will be wars and rumors of wars (verse6)

A. Although wars and rumors of wars will take place, we are not to be troubled (anxious, fearful) because these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet

V. Nation will rise against nation (verse 7)

A. “Nation” (Greek: “ethnos” meaning ethnic groups or families of peoples). In other words racial or tribal hate and conflicts.

VI. Kingdom will rise against kingdom (verse 7)

A. Not necessarily an actual kingdom but the right of authority claimed by those kingdoms (conflict over who has the right of authority)

VII. Unprecedented natural disasters and calamities (verse 7)

A. Famines

B. Pestilences (plagues)

C. Earthquakes

D. These are the beginning of sorrows (“birth pangs”) (See Romans 8:22)

VIII. Persecution of Believers (verse 9)

A. They will deliver you up to tribulation (difficulty, hard times, affliction, pressure)

B. They will kill you

C. You will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake

IX. Great falling away (apostasy) (verse 10, see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3)

A. Some believers will be offended and leave their faith

B. Then they will betray those who remain faithful

C. People will hate those who remain faithful

D. The worst enemies are often former friends

X. Openness to false doctrines (verse 11)

A. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 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.”

XI. Lawlessness will abound (verse 12)

A. People will cast off rules, restrictions, and laws

B. People will do what is right in their own eyes

XII. The love of many will grow cold (verse 12)

A. Indifference

B. Lack of care

C. Apathy

D. Self-centeredness and selfishness will overtake people’s hearts

XIII. Perseverance will be required of the saved (verse 13)

A. He who endures to the end will be saved

XIV.Worldwide evangelism will continue and increase (verse 14)

A. Once completed, the end will come