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Over the summer we have been going through a series to Understand Bible Prophecy.
My goal is to help us all better understand what God has revealed about Himself, and His plan to redeem us, and to restore us to Himself.
I do not believe God wants any believer to think that they cannot understand what God has revealed in certain passages and books.
God gave us what He revealed that we might better know Him.
All prophecy is given to encourage, exhort and comfort.
How has prophecy been an encouragement to us thus far?
We have seen in past weeks how what God revealed gives us assurance that His word is true, and we can trust it!
We have seen that God is faithful.
What He revealed has not changed from the time of Job, up through the time of the apostles.
He has not changed plans.
He is faithful, and will do all He has said.
We have seen that God does what He says.
We do not need to interpret things spiritually to make scripture work.
No, we can read it in the normal, literal sense.
We have seen that prophecy can bring us comfort and hope.
Knowing that God plans to come and take us to Himself is a great hope!
Knowing that He will resurrect our loved ones, that we may be together with them, with Christ is a great comfort for all who have lost loved ones that were believers.
Today, we are going to look at another prophecy.
Will this bring us encouragement?
Will it bring us comfort?
Will it bring us some exhortation?
Let’s ask God to speak to us from His word how He would like, and for Him to give us ears to hear, and a will to obey.
Prayer
In past weeks we talked about the Day of the Lord.
We talked about the Rapture of the Church.
We talked about the coming Kingdom of God.
We talked about the Resurrection.
Naturally, the question many people have is, “When will these things happen?”
Believe it or not, this same question was asked by the disciples to Jesus during His last week, before the crucifixion.
Their question and the answer Jesus gave is recorded for us in Matthew’s, Mark’s and Luke’s gospels.
None of the three authors were inspired by the Holy Spirit to include the whole of Jesus’ answer.
Each of them wrote what the Spirit wanted them to emphasize to their individual audiences.
Matthew’s gospel was written primarily for Jews.
Mark’s was an abbreviated account written for Romans.
Luke’s was written primarily for Greeks, and as an apologetic for Christianity.
To help us get a fuller understanding of Jesus’ answer to the question, I have done my best to compile what I believe is the complete answer from the three gospels.
For the sermon notes today, I have given you a printout with the three gospel accounts in parallel columns.
Matthews account, from Matthew 24, is in the first column.
Marks account, from Mark 13, is in the second column.
Lukes account, from Luke 21, is in the third column.
This is the format that helps me to better understand Jesus’ answer, and I hope it is a help to you as well.
Let’s work our way through this passage.
As we do, look for clues as to why Jesus is sharing what is coming in the future with His disciples, and with us and all those in the future who will read this message from Jesus.
To work our way through, I am going to read through what I believe are the portions from each account that will give us the complete picture of what Jesus said.
Feel free to glance across the other columns to see how the accounts line up.
Let’s begin in Matthew 24.
This gives us the setting.
After leaving the temple, Jesus left the city of Jerusalem, went across the valley to the Mount of Olives.
Here on the Mount of Olives, Jesus disciples question Him, and He answers.
His answer is called by some the Olivet Discourse; which is a fancy way of saying, Jesus’ answer and explanation.
What what He answering?
What are the questions?
Underline them in your notes.
When will this happen (the destruction of the temple)?
What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
Two different things here.
So, Jesus will answer them, and give surrounding details as well.
The wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences (read deadly diseases), and fearful events and signs in the heavens are not the sign of the destruction of the temple; nor are they the end.
They are just birth pangs.
The end is coming, but not yet.
We are in this time period right now.
Not a day goes by that we do not hear of some war, strife, earthquake, disease, or other catastrophe.
These things should remind of us Jesus prophecy.
He told the truth!
What was jesus’ command in this portion?
Do no be frightened.
Circle that.
Why did He share this?
Because He did not want us to be unaware.
He did not want us to be afraid when we hear of these things.
Next, Luke has an important detail that Matthew and Mark do not.
Circle this verse.
Why did Jesus share what was coming?
Because we need to let people know.
Not only do we let them know about the bad things coming, but we let them know about the hope of salvation which is found in Christ alone!
Jesus wants us to know, and share the hope of eternal life which we have in Him.
Circle “Do not worry.”
Too often, we worry about what we will say.
When it comes time to bear witness, we need to trust Him to give us the words to say.
People will not all respond well.
In fact, even our closest friends and family members will reject the message and betray us.
Why are they doing it?
Because of Jesus.
God will preserve and rescue us.
He is going to resurrect us even if we die!
Circle this.
Jesus wants us to stand firm even though things are going to get rough.
Unfortunately, many will not be faithful to Christ when opposition comes.
Many will turn away.
Will we?
If we stand firm, we will be saved.
This happened in AD 70, when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
This took place in the midst of the wars, famines, earthquakes and pestilences which are taking place now, and will continue to take place during the Tribulation period.
Revelation speaks of these things taking place as part of God’s wrath being poured out.
Then, just in the midst of that outpouring of God’s wrath, there will an idol set up in God’s temple to draw all people from worshipping the One true God.
The people of the ruler who will come… there will be a future ruler coming to oppose God.
The people of that future ruler will destroy Jerusalem, both the city and the temple sanctuary.
Later, when that ruler comes, he will make a covenant with many for seven years.
In the middle of those years, he will set up this abomination in the new temple of God.
This will be an idol for people to worship, instead of worshiping God.
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