House of Desolation instead of a House of Adoration

FDA disclaimer

We are going to have to apply this type of label to the our study today

Matthew 24 is a very difficult passage to unfold

It fits perfectly with Rev 6 which just so happened to be our study on Wednesday night

Plug for Wednesday nights

But Im going to preface and say I could be wrong about this

Im going to take the most conservative biblical possibility I know for interpreting this passage.

10 -20 years from now my view point may move some and I maybe need to regroup on some thinking here

That happens- Sometimes we study all we can and only to find we were wrong about a detail

That happens often in studying Scripture and concerning End Times teaching- we must tread easily

With no further adieu, lets read Matt 24 this AM

Matthew 24:1–3 ESV

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 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?”

Jesus has now finished his last public teaching and rebuke in the Temple

I think there is more weight here than we think

In the very place were the Son of God should be worshipped- he was questioned

They hailed him as Messiah on the way into the city but Jesus then overthrew the tables and drove out the money changers

Then he comes back the next day and the RL come to question him

At the end of this, Jesus gives a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees as we saw last week

He ends with

Matthew 23:38–39 ESV

See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

The Temple was to be the centerpiece of worship to God as the HOH was where the presence of God would come and the HP would offer sacrifices here

But that house, the building, Judaism is left desolate as the Prince of Peace is walking out the Temple- never to return to it again

In a very similar way, the Spirit of Lord was removed from the Temple in Ezekiel 10

The people believed God presence was bound to the temple and could not be moved so speak as almost to say your not going anywhere so why does it matter if we listen

Thats exactly how Israel acted

-They refused to repent of the idolatrous ways

-They lived life like Gods word and messengers were optional

-I put the messengers there because for the majority, they killed the genuine prophets and ignored the Word of the Lord

So the Spirit of the Lord left the Temple, as a sign of judgement on Israel

Their house was left desolate

When God leaves- there is no hope

Doesnt that seem every so valid for our time in which we live

Society seemingly is removing all basic morality which weas instituted by God and put into each individual

There are reasons why most people whether Christian or not, whether its in other countries or our own realize its wrong to personally harm some one

To kill someone is wrong- We dont have to be a Christian to have that basic understanding

Being a Christian- makes this all the more important because we realize God made them in the image of God himself

Random cells didnt all the sudden say lets make some slime and crawl out of water and turn into some other organism and who knows how many other processes to get to mankind

Genesis and the Holy Scriptures have settled that debate- in the image God, God made Adam dust and his own breathe and in the image of God, God made you in your mothers womb- Psalm 139

But in society, when you begin the systematic removal of God from all things- you are left with a broken mess like we see now

Where we cant cut down live oak trees in Horry County or if you shoot a doe before Sept 15 you would get ticketed but yet abortion clinics are perfectly fine to be open and is now included in a woman’s health

When you remove God- you get insanity, you get brokeness, you get hopelessness

You get people who become consumed with externals than internals

You legalism that creates unmovable burdens instead of the Gospels that removes it and restores

You get house left desolate

We went a long around, but I want to bring this full circle for us to see just how powerful this statement is

“Jesus left the temple and was going away”

Chapter 23 does not appear to be a chapter pleading for repentance but a chapter of judgment

It is capped off with these statements

Matthew 23:33 ESV

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

Matthew 23:37–39 ESV

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

When reject God, there is nothing left but judgement

And the one who should be worshipped in the temple walks out and never will return

Somewhat fitting today we have moved back into the main building

We have been blessed to be meeting together for 4 months in the FLC

But I know there is something different about this part of oour campus

Its the walls, but the declaration of heart and purpose and willful assembling of ourselves to meet together to worship God- Amen

We can do that outside or we can do that inside

But may we be careful today- and everyday going forward

When Covid began- we had a influx of people watching online

Extremely high numbers- those have faded

But watching things online became, ill get it later, to ill get it next time, to Ill get it some time, to purposeful meeting in our homes for many in churches was non existent

So there was longing to meet together in worship because the biblical command is for us to worship together, in person, if possible

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Not to mention- the 4 commandment to Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy

And as time has gone by our numbers have continued to lowly comeback

While many cannot come back yet, we have a desire for us all to be back together

We desire “normal”- the “way it used to be”

I think we should desire the free assembly of worship

But may we purpose ourselves to not fall away from meeting together

Streaming our service is not a suitable substitute for coming to church

Its a place holder till you can be here in person

But even with that, we can meet and sing and do the “normal” and the house be desolate

May our greatest desire to meet here this AM, not be driven by ‘normal” or location but adoration for Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

Then and only then is real worship taking place

The temple- in all of its grandeur- Literally the biggest piece of Ancient architecture- was filled with Jews coming to offer sacrifices but the temple was empty of real worship

When Jesus was in the middle of it, they missed it and he walked away

The disciples didn’t miss the moment- look at what they do

Jesus- look at this walls, looks at these stones- it was an absolute spectacle to behold

Some stones were measured as 40x12x12- not inches but feet

Herods Temple was marvelous- but it was desolate

Matthew 24:2 ESV

But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Jesus then tell them, look at them all

They are all coming down- these walls wont last

Jerusalems walls where 150 feet tall around the city

It was a massive place- Jesus says its all coming down

Judgment is coming for the nation as whole in 70 AD but judgment is coming for every unbelieving Jew at the end of time

Same is for us- Judgment for sin may come upon us or things may come on us just because we live in a sin cursed world.

But rest assured final judgement is coming

There is warning for you and I today

1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Romans 15:4 ESV

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

As we approach the rest of this chapter, we will put this verse in front of our eyes

That we should endure and hold fast the Scriptures- Because God wins and he is worthy of our worship

May the Lord not find us desolate but obedient and persevering