The End-time: Are We There Yet? (Part 1)

Intro

Text - Matthew 24.1-3

Title - The End-Time: Are We There Yet?

Matthew 24:1–3 NKJV

1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Background

3 Events

destruction of the temple in Jerusalem

Christ’s coming

End of the age

2 questions

when will the destruction of Jerusalem happen

what will be the sign of Christ’s coming and of the end of the age

1 sign - for the coming of Christ and the end of the age

these are directly connected

Why talk about the “end-time”

The Scriptures speak about it, as:

time of the end

end of the age ( end-time)

last days, last day

Jesus talked about it

the apostles taught about it

Why talk about it now?

we are 2 thousand years after the time of Jesus and the apostles

Main Points

The “Last Days”

Jesus’ time on earth was the beginning of the last days

Hebrews 1.1-2

1 Peter 1.20-21 - the Savior was manifested in “these last times”

the outpouring of the Spirit of God, which began in Jerusalem 30 AD

Acts 2.14-17

the last days will be a long span of time

2 Peter 3.3-4 - 1 day as a thousand years

the rise of “many antichrist”1 John 2.18

the last days will climax in the “great day of the LORD”

2 Peter 3.10

The “End of the Age”

What “age”

Grk. aion, a period of history, a long span of time covering many events

Matthew 12.32 - present age and future age

“Present age”

Titus 2.12

2 Corinthians 4.3-4 - ruled by a “god”, Satan

the present age will terminate at the coming of Christ

Matthew 24.3 - question

Matthew 24.20 - confirmed by Christ

Revelation 11.15-18 - will be announced by the 7th trumpet

Summary

Important Facts so far:

The last days began with the “first coming” of Christ as Savior of the world

The Last days is last in the order of events in the “present age”

The last days is the time of Gospel preaching

The present age is ruled by Satan

The present age will end with the “second coming” of Christ