Matthew 24
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Jesus is coming back. What do we do now?
Jesus is coming back. What do we do now?
This morning I wanted to dive in a little deeper. I want to look at and seek to understand the words of Jesus here in .
As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings.
Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”
While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.
You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these events are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.
Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.
This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.
“So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand ),
“then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!
A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house.
And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!
Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect.
“If anyone tells you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it!
False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Take note: I have told you in advance.
So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near—at the door!
I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only.
This text is sometimes used as a way to find out all the exact details of what is going to happen in the future.
This text has led some to set exact dates of when Jesus will come back.
If we are not careful in all our fascination with details we will miss what is most important.
Trust in the authority of Christ.
Trust in the authority of Christ.
Trust in the authority of Christ.
Understanding the text...
Not all Biblical scholars will agree on this but a majority will agree here.
Prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.
Prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.
Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”
Jesus tells that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed. Understand the vastness of the temple. Just a massive structure that they thought would last forever.
“So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand ),
, ,
Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary iii. The Coming Crisis in Judea (24:15–28)
An ‘abomination’ in Old Testament idiom is an idolatrous affront to the true worship of God, and the reference in Daniel was to the pagan statue which Antiochus Epiphanes set up in the temple at Jerusalem in 167 BC, thus ‘desolating’ the worship of the temple
Antioch Epiphanes erected a pagan alter in the middle of the temple and defiled the house of God.
It’s almost as if Jesus is saying that is only a foretaste of what is going to happen when Jerusalem is destroyed.
40 Years after Jesus spoke these words it actually happened. The Romans completely destroyed the temple. Not a stone was left unturned.
At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.
For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!
Matthew 24:
The destruction of Jerusalem was a terrible time.
The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 12: Titus Thought Fit to Encompass the City Round with a Wall; After Which the Famine Consumed the People by Whole Houses and Families Together
3. (512) So all hope of escaping was now cut off from the Jews, together with their liberty of going out of the city. Then did the famine widen its progress, and devoured the people by whole houses and families; (513) the upper rooms were full of women and children that were dying by famine; and the lanes of the city were full of the dead bodies of the aged; the children also and the young men wandered about the marketplaces like shadows, all swelled with the famine, and fell down dead wheresoever their misery seized them. (514) As for burying them, those that were sick themselves were not able to do it; and those that were hearty and well were deterred from doing it by the great multitude of those dead bodies, and by the uncertainty there was how soon they should die themselves, for many died as they were burying others, and many went to their coffins before that fatal hour was come! (515) Nor was there any lamentation made under these calamities, nor were heard any mournful complaints; but the famine confounded all natural passions; for those who were just going to die, looked upon those that were gone to their rest before them with dry eyes and open mouths. A deep silence also, a kind of deadly night, had seized upon the city; while yet the robbers were still more terrible than these miseries were themselves;
When this happens flee.
“So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand ),
“then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!
A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house.
And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!
Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect.
Matthew 24:15-22
This is prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem.
Prophecy concerning the return of Jesus.
Prophecy concerning the return of Jesus.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
Jesus is talking about how he is going to return.
So we have two prophecies and then in between these two prophecies are some commentary and many people debate about how to interpret these verses in between.
2 Predominant schools of thought.
First is that the destruction of Jerusalem is a foretelling of the Second coming of Christ. It gives a little about what will happen and what will take place.
The other group sees verses 4-28 as all talking about things that will happen before Jesus comes back and the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem is one example of what will happen.
The things of this world are passing
The things of this world are passing
They are blown away by this temple. Amazing structure. Some of these stones are 40’ long 12’ high and 12’ long. 200,000lbs a piece. No technology and yet they stacked these stones.
Just an amazing structure.
As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
The truth of his Word is permanent
The truth of his Word is permanent
40 years before the destruction of Jerusalem Jesus foretold that it would pass away.
Don’t build your life on the things of this world. Don’t pour your life in to the things that are passing and you will waste your life on these things because they are going to burn up in the end.
How do you get ready for the day when Jesus comes back?
Some take these text and try to set dates and I don’t believe that is the goal of the text
Matthew
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only.
Persevere in the power of Christ.
Persevere in the power of Christ.
Persevere in the power of Christ.
Followers of Jesus will face deception.
Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.
Matthew 24:
“If anyone tells you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it!
False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Take note: I have told you in advance.
So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.
Matthew 24:23
Followers of Jesus will face tribulation.
You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Christians are not saved from trials.
Matthew 24:6-
Do not be alarmed. Famines, rumors of wars, nuclear threats and Jesus says don’t be alarmed.
Political changes don’t be alarmed.
Christians are not saved from trials.
Christians are not saved from trials.
Christians are saved through trials.
Christians are saved through trials.
Whenever things seem out of control Jesus says I am in control. Wars will happen, tragedy will happen but persevere through tribulation. Remember that I am in control.
Don’t let the president determine your faith.
Followers of Jesus will face temptation.
Followers of Jesus will face temptation.
Followers of Jesus will face persecution.
Followers of Jesus will face persecution.
“Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another.
Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.
Matthew 24:9-
This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.
This is what matters
This is thrift stores, summers at the Beach, Interns, Wednesday nights, baseball, sports, construction, youth groups, Sunday mornings, counseling.
Give our lives to what matters. Our jobs, our finances, our careers are for what matters.
Persecution inevitably follows kingdom proclamation.
Persecution inevitably follows kingdom proclamation.
You talk about Jesus it will get harder for you. Life gets harder after baptism.
Proclamation ultimately results in kingdom consummation.
Proclamation ultimately results in kingdom consummation.
When will this take place?
“God alone knows the definition of terms [here]. I cannot precisely define who all the nations are, but I do not need to know. I know only one thing: Christ has not yet returned; therefore, the task is not yet done. When it is done, Christ will come. Our responsibility is not to insist on defining the terms; our responsibility is to complete the task. So long as Christ does not return, our work is undone. Let us get busy and complete our mission.” George Ladd
“God alone knows the de nition of terms [here]. I cannot precisely de ne who all the nations are, but I do not need to know. I know only one thing: Christ has not yet returned; therefore, the task is not yet done. When it is done, Christ will come. Our responsibility is not to insist on de ning the terms; our responsibility is to complete the task. So long as Christ does not return, our work is undone. Let us get busy and complete our mission.” George Ladd
Long for the coming of Christ.
Long for the coming of Christ.
Matthew 24:30
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
He came the first time lying in a manger.
He will come the second time riding on the clouds. He came the first time in humility to provide salvation.
He will come the second time in glory to execute judgment.
Would you be ready?
Christians confidently watch...
His timing will confound our wisdom.
Christians patiently wait...
His return will exceed our expectations.
Christians urgently work...
His church (our lives!) will accomplish his mission.
