The Great Tribulation

The disciples’ questions regarding the sign of the coming of Christ and of the end of the world in verse 3 prompts Jesus’ teaching about the future great tribulation period.

Jesus warns about Messianic pretenders who will gain a huge following by claiming to represent or even to be Jesus

Matthew 24:5 NKJV

5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

And He says it again in vs. 11

Matthew 24:11 NKJV

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

These false prophets/teachers will even show great signs and wonders according to v. 24, and by sanctioning lawlessness (vv. 11–12).

So powerful will be the deception that some will renounce the faith (v. 10), and the elect will nearly succumb (v. 24).

Matthew 24:24 NKJV

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Second Thessalonians 2:1–12 describes the last and worst of the many antichrists

2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 NKJV

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

Here Paul is believed to be referring to the Rapture of the Church. There is a difference between the rapture and the second coming of Christ.

In this reference we see before the gathering together to himself the church two things must been present.

Falling away will come first

Matthew 24:11 NKJV

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

2. The man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition

aka - THE ANTICHRIST

This revealing is what we talked about last week in Matt. 24:15

Matthew 24:15 NKJV

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

Daniel 9:27 NKJV

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

Now back to 2 Thess

2 Thessalonians 2:4–12 NKJV

4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now we come to vs. 16-27

Matthew 24:16–22 NKJV

16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Let us turn to Dan. 12:1

Daniel 12:1 NKJV

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.

Daniel 12:7 NKJV

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Lets now go back to Matt. 24:23

Matthew 24:23–25 NKJV

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

The warning here is do not be so easily deceived. We need to know the way in which Christ will return so will not be deceived by imposters and pretenders.

Matthew 24:26–27 NKJV

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

The word For tells us why we should not believe the Messiah will be seen in a single location on earth. When he comes, the whole world will know!

Unlike his first advent—through natural birth into a human body and thirty-three years of life as a man—the coming of the Son of Man here Jesus used the title with its full messianic impact will be like lightning, which comes from the east and is visible even in the west. The picture is that of a bolt of lightning, flashing all the way across the sky, from horizon to horizon, in an instant.

TRANSITION INTO LORD’S SUPPER

Christ will come again, and it will be soon, are you ready....

We who know Christ personally, believe in our hearts that God came the first time in the flesh....His purpose was one of redemption and atonement.

As we come to His table this morning in remembrance of His first advent we came to His table also looking forward to His second advent....