Signs and the Persecution of the Church

What must take place before the return of Christ; and are we close?

Matthew 24.1-14

Matthew 24:1–14 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?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Setting vv. 1-2

Jesus has left the temple and his disciples are in awe of the temple complex

They point them out to Jesus

Jesus redirects their awe to its impermanence

The temple will be utterly destroyed (AD70).

The Big Questions: when? and what? v. 3

when will the end come and what signs should the disciples look for?

Truly ancient questions.

What “does not” usher in of the world v. 4

Jesus encourages his disciples to not allow false prophets to lead them astray with so-called “signs of the times.”

“see that no one leads you astray” - an imperative

The idea is that many will point to “signs” saying the age old statement “the end is near.”

Non-sign #1: Messianic Claims v. 5

Many will and have claimed to be the savior

examples:

Non-sign #2: Wars and Rumors of Wars v. 6

wars and unconfirmed reports of wars are not an exclusive sign of the end.

unfortunately its characteristic of humanity since the Fall.

examples:

Non-sign #3: International Hostility v. 7a

nation vs. nation; kingdom vs. kingdom

Here, Postmillenialism holds no water

Non-sign #4: Famines and Earthquakes v. 7b

natural disaster does not signify the end

examples

Birth pains as an analogy v. 8

like a woman’s contractions before her labor and delivery, these preliminary events remind one of the nearness and inevitability of Christ’s return. But just as a woman may experience false labor and just as genuine contractions still leave her uncertain about the exact time of delivery, so too the events of vv. 4-8 do not enable us to predict the time of Christ’s coming. Blomberg, NAC Matthew, pg. 354

birth pains are a common Jewish metaphor to refer to an indeterminate period of distress leading up to the end of this age. NAC Matthew, 357.

Non-sign #5: Persecution and External hostility v. 9

Christians have and will suffer at the hands of persecutors of the faith

This has happened form the inception of the church until present, and will continue.

Non-sign #6: Abandoning Believers and Internal hostility v. 10

with pressure, some fall away.

an unfortunate reality. Not everyone embraces the high cost of Christ.

Non-sign #7: False Prophets v. 11a

False teachers have rose up to hurt the church.

they exist today.

1 John 2:18–25 ESV

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

examples of false teachers: Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, _________________

Non-sign #8: Deteriorating Internal life of Believers vv. 11b-12

the fight against apostacy and persecution can be wearisome

Promise for those who persevere v. 13

Eschatological salvation awaits the weary beleiver

1 Sure Sign: Exultation of the Gospel v. 14

One thing Jesus assures us is that the Gospel will be proclaimed through out the known world (οἰκουμένῃ; usually referring the Roman Empire, here referring to representative areas and people groups)

The picture the NT paints is that Jesus could have returned at any time since the first century. We simply do not and will not know when Jesus will return.

We do know, however, that what Jesus describes here is a tragically normal day in human history.

And, we do know that God’s plan is to fully realize his Kingdom in the return of Christ. The believer's call then is to exult the Gospel.

Right now, we have an opportunity to support this effort by intercessory prayer for the persecuted church, both internationally and specifically in Afghanistan.

Work cited:

Blomberg, Craig L. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992.

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Vol. 3. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995.

France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 1. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.