Come Lord Jesus
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SEPTEMBER 15 — prayer + worship gathering
Welcome
Let’s turn to .
As you turn there, I want to point out that in this particular passage, Jesus talks about heaven and uses “end times” language, and if we’re not careful it can all get a bit confusing.
But let’s start by asking, “when you think about heaven what do you think of?”
When you think of life with God what do you think of? Where are we headed?
Have you thought about it? Have you wrestled with that idea?
That thought or assumption that’s coming to your mind right now…why do you believe that, why do you think that?
Here’s what I am fairly confident of: very few of us have an appropriate view of where we’re headed. It’s a tough thing for us to think about… and this is what Jesus spends time alluding to in the things that he is saying in this particular passage of scripture.
Jesus knows that we will struggle to have a healthy perspective on where we’re headed… so he warns his listeners in this passage!
But like many other times… the warning is coupled with promise and HOPE!
If you’e able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
See, I have told you beforehand.
So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
What are you most influenced by?
Who has your ear?
What do you desire?
Really, take a minute and think about it…
Who are you listening to?
When you make decisions, who are you looking to for counsel and wisdom?
Big idea: “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
matthew 24:
there is something powerful about the WORDS OF GOD!
God’s words carry authority… God’s words carry creative power!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
john 1:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
genesis 1:1-
God SAID (speaking, words), “LET THERE BE LIGHT!”
“In the beginning was the WORD.”
Big idea: “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Py attention… where is your head? Where is your attention?
and the passage starts with a bit of a caution!
Jesus cautions his listeners.
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
matthew 24:
Theologian Craig Blomberg writes:
The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Judgment on the Temple but Also on the Nations (23:1–25:46)
there is no reason to take any of Matthew’s text here as looking beyond the events that culminated in the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. The desolation of God’s house, briefly predicted in 23:38, is now described with more horrifying detail.
We need to remember: this passage is Rooted Historically.
The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD. The destruction of the temple in 70AD was a significant event in the life of the people in and around Jerusalem. And that’s why many biblical scholars date the writing of Matthew to be between 70-80AD, after the temple has been destroyed.
So as Matthew is writing this and quoting Jesus, he would have this significant historical event in mind.
The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Judgment on the Temple but Also on the Nations (23:1–25:46)
there is no reason to take any of Matthew’s text here as looking beyond the events that culminated in the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. The desolation of God’s house, briefly predicted in 23:38, is now described with more horrifying detail.
It’s easy to misunderstand what is happening here if we don’t understand the historical context.
So Jesus gives these details about trouble coming...
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
matthew 24:
Blomberg writes:
The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Judgment on the Temple but Also on the Nations (23:1–25:46)
It is probably best, therefore, to understand this period of great distress, or “the great tribulation,” as it is more commonly known, as the entire period beginning with the devastation of A.D. 70 and continuing on until Christ’s return (cf. “immediately” in v. 29).
The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Judgment on the Temple but Also on the Nations (23:1–25:46)
At least in Matthew, however, it would seem that the tribulation Jesus has in mind must refer to the entire church age from A.D. 70 on.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the world will become as evil as is entirely possible, but that people will become more and more hostile to the truth of God.
Hostility towards truth and towards God will diminish, that’s what is being said here.
Think for a moment where we are culturally in terms of ideas about truth… we live in a society that has embraced ideas like relativism (“what is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me.”)
everyone is the caption of their fate and master of their soul (As the old Invictus poem reads)
everyone decides for themself what is right, and good, and just
THIS IS A GREAT DEPARTURE from CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE + A BELIEF IN GOD.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
matthew 24:
not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Big idea: “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Remember the context that Matthew is in when he is writing this:
The Jewish people were in the midst of Roman rule and the opposition between Israel and Rome only grew after the destruction of the temple in 70AD.
So it makes sense that Jesus is talking about all this trouble that is coming.
ESV SB says:
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 24
Whether these events are to be understood as being primarily literal or primarily figurative, it is clear that these will be “earth-shattering” events, through which all creation will be radically transformed at the return of Christ.
And I think that’s where our focus should be… that’s what should shape our behavior and our focus — is on the return of Christ… to remember where we’re headed and what’s in front of us! For Christians, the future is filled with HOPE.
vs 21-22, 23-28… there are warnings and details of events… but these are not necessarily chronological (they don’t happen in order), but are warnings of what will follow after what is described in 21-22 (time of tribulation)
23-28… not necessarily chronological, but are warnings of what will follow after what is described in 21-22 (time of tribulation)
[Jesus gives a warning and Jesus also offers HOPE]
Jesus offers hope for the elect.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
I love that image of gathering the elect together.
a
This idea of the elect is this picture of the people who are in Christ!
These are the people who are genuine believers in the gospel… they’ve displayed faith and repentance in a way that reflects the reality that they are in Jesus!
And we see this shift… there is a great contrast between Jesus now being in Jerusalem, about ready to be murdered on a cross to this vision of his second return!
Look at verse 30!
Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
“POWER AND GREAT GLORY”
so what Matthew is writing now is a very different scene from the one that we see now — with Jesus in Jerusalem preparing to be murdered and betrayed.
Now, in Matthew, Matthew is recounting the events that are leading up to Jesus’ death.
Upon Jesus’ second return, Jesus will be coming down in “power and glory”
The question many have wrestled with is “when”… when does this happen?
Craig Blomberg writes
The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Judgment on the Temple but Also on the Nations (23:1–25:46)
Matt 24 point to the nearness of Christ’s return (vv. 32–33). But nearness simply implies that nothing more in God’s plan of redemption must occur before the end can come.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
The universality of God’s Words! They’ve always been, always will be, and extend to the farthest reaches of existence. Nothing surpasses or negates God’s Words!
They are and have always been!
Big idea: “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
APPLICATION:
In terms of application, let’s break apart that purpose statement: Big idea: “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
PAY ATTENTION.
Be attentive.
says, “be watchful, stand firm”
Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 timothy
I think this is all a good reminder that we need to be honest with ourselves + we need to have structures built in our lives that help us know what is really going on with us (mentor, counselor, honest colleague/friend)… we need to be attentive!
WHAT GOD HAS SAID.
The primary evaluation by which we compare and contrast what is going on with us — is reflecting on things like,
how do I feel and what does that reveal about me?
When I look at the Bible and I look at my life… is there consistency or is something off?
When I look at how Jesus treated people, am I treating people like Jesus?
Unfortunately, in Christian circles, I think sometimes we focus too much on thinking rightly and overlook everything else.
Like, as long as you can say the right words, it covers a multitude of sins
Or if I can put on the right show of skills, it allows me to treat people however I want
1 cor 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Good doctrine should lead to good character!
So it’s not only about reciting the right words and belief statements… it’s about having a heard that reflects the character of Jesus!
This takes (1) wrestling with God and (2) God’s people.
This takes having a very realistic view of ourselves.
This takes us owning our guilt, shame, and fear
We can only do that in the company of others…
Big idea: “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
Jesus is coming again!
And Jesus is coming in power and glory!
That’s the point of this passage… death is not the end… struggle is not the end… your guilt and shame are not the end… the cross was for that!!!
And so, we strive towards that glorious end — where Jesus returns in power and glory — and until then we “PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID.”
We remember and we repent!
COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS:
COMMUNION
L: In the night in which he was betrayed, Our lord Jesus took bread,He gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.Do this for the remembrance of me.
L: Again, after supper,He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying; this cup is The new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.Do this for the remembrance of me.
Silent Reflection – to prepare our hearts toCome to the Lords table
L: Jesus' death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
C: We rejoice that You have died, have risen, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
L: With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
C: We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
L: If you believe Jesus died to forgive you your sins you are welcome to come,
L: Come for all is ready
BENEDICTION
May you go forth with joy because Jesus our Savior lives! He has defeated death, risen from the grave and will one day soon return to gather his church to himself! Go resting and rejoicing in what Jesus has done for us, and living for his glory in all that we do. Peace be with you.
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Possible Questions
- Why would the destruction of the temple be discouraging for the Jews?
- How does the destruction of the temple point us to Jesus (how he is greater than the temple)?
- What will the trials be for Christians in this age until Christ's return?
- Are you facing any of these trials in specific ways today?
- What will Christ's return be like?
- Do you look forward to Christ's return? Why or why not?