Sermon Tone Analysis

1) Chaos Abounds

News Headlines:

Heavy gunfire heard in Guinea capital Conakry: Witnesses

Milley says civil war 'likely' in Afghanistan, may lead to resurgence of al Qaeda

US Coronavirus: How doctors in Covid-19 hotspots last year are 'surprised and disappointed' at new record hospitalizations

Taliban is ‘hunting Americans,’ says California mom-to-be left behind in Afghanistan

9/11 brought a sense of national unity.

Why has the pandemic been marred by division?

Suicide Bombing by Pakistani Taliban at Southwest Pakistan Checkpoint Kills 3

Beef Giant Brazil Halts China Exports After Confirming Two Mad Cow Disease Cases

17 Killed in Taliban’s Celebratory Gunfire in Kabul After ‘Panjshir Take-Over’

2) There will be Division in the World

From an article in Prophecy Watch from 8/2017:

A typical year in the ‘80s saw an average of 2.7 major disasters (meaning disasters causing damages over $1 billion, adjusted for inflation), while in the ‘90s and ‘00s, the average climbed to 4.6 and 5.4 per year.

So far [in the 2010’s], each year has averaged 10.5 disasters.

From “AN INTERPRETATION OF MATTHEW 24-25 by Thomas Ice”

The Greek word for “nation” is ethnos.

It simply means “people” or if used of a national group of people it means “nation.”

6 Our English word “ethnic” is derived from this Greek word.

Since ‘ethnos is set against ethnos’ in this context, it must mean a “nation,” like Canada or Mexico.

On the other hand, The Greek word for “kingdom” is basileia.

This word simply means “the territory ruled over by a king.”

7 James Morison says, “Literally, upon nation.

One nation shall rise in its anger to come down upon another.”

8 But what is the relationship between nation and kingdom?

At the very least nation and kingdom are synonyms for national entities.

However, it appears to me from the context that there is a progression from nation (ethnos) to a confederation of nations that form a kingdom (basileia).

Morison says that the notion of kingdom could include “greater communities, or empire, embracing within one political sphere various distinct nationalities.” 9 If this is the case, then the passage is saying that nations will be fighting against nations and groups of nations will also be fighting against each other.

This would be similar to the alliance during the Cold War where NATO was aligned against the Warsaw Pact.

M‘Neile says, “The horrors described are not local disturbances, but are spread over the known world; nations and kingdoms are in hostility with one another (not divided against itself, as in Matthew 12:25; Isaiah 19:2).” 10

3) The Spirit of Division Should not be in the Church

a) In fact, Jesus Hates Division

To the church at Ephesus

b) We are all Part of the Same Body

Jesus offers Hope in Chaos