Sermon Tone Analysis

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 .

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.

Understanding the text...

Not all Biblical scholars will agree on this but a majority will agree here.

Prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.

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.

, ,

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.

Matthew 24:

The destruction of Jerusalem was a terrible time.

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.

Matthew 24:15-22

This is prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem.

Prophecy concerning the return of Jesus.

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

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.

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

Persevere in the power of Christ.

Persevere in the power of Christ.

Persevere in the power of Christ.

Followers of Jesus will face deception.

Matthew 24:

Matthew 24:23

Followers of Jesus will face tribulation.

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 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 persecution.

Matthew 24:9-

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.

You talk about Jesus it will get harder for you.

Life gets harder after baptism.

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.

Matthew 24:30