05 - The Last Days

The Last Days

05 - Metamorphosis: The Way of Transformation

Church on the Park | Sunday, 26 SEPT 2021 | Glen Gerhauser

Text: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days [ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν] he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” (Heb. 1:1-4).

Theme: Jesus is the best teacher on the last days, not popular opinion.

Intro: What are the last days? More specifically, what did Jesus say about the last days? And in light of the last days, how can we safeguard ourselves from widespread deception? Hebrews 1:1-4 states that in these last days, God has spoken to us by his Son. The apostolic writer of Hebrews makes it clear that through Jesus coming, death and resurrection, we are already in the last days.

Today, we will follow Jesus up the Mount of Olives and sit at his feet, listening to his wisdom and warnings about this time we’re in. The Mount of Olives is an amazing place. It gives a panoramic view of Jerusalem as well as the Dead Sea in the distance. In Brisbane, our closest equivalent is Mount Coot-tha, which provides a beautiful view of Brisbane City. And like Mount Coot-tha, the Mount of Olives lets us see Jerusalem from a watchman’s perspective. In this place of end-time prophecy and perspective––as well as Jesus’ arrest and ascension––Jesus chooses to teach his disciples about the last days. Jesus’ last days discourse in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13 and Luke 21 is classically known as the Olivet Discourse.

1) Let’s listen to Jesus and not lose sight of his glory (Matthew 17:1-13).

Before we follow Jesus up the Mount of Olives, let’s follow Jesus up the Mount of Transfiguration (probably Mount Hermon).

Mount Hermon (close to Caesarea Phillipi) was also a place of grand perspective.

Jesus took his closest disciples up this mountain before he gave them his Olivet Discourse.

And this was critical because we can’t lose sight of Jesus’ glory in light of the tribulation of the last days.

It’s easy for any of us to get bogged down in the information and the darkness of the last days.

But the Father gives us a clear vision of the beauty and glory of his Son.

This is the vision we must keep before our eyes.

The Father also gives us uncomplicated wisdom.

“Listen to him.”

Yes, like Peter, we can fall into the trap of our own wisdom in the last days––the things we want to build, how we want to protect ourselves and stay in a safe place.

But Jesus calls us to descend the mountain with him to save and world under Satan’s bondage.

2) Jesus’ words give us the proper perspective on the last days (Matthew 24:1-14).

So what did Jesus say about the last days?

Let’s now follow him up the Mount of Olives and listen.

Read the first part of the Olivet Discourse (Mattew 24:1-14).

Like today, the disciples were concerned about when the end would happen and what would be the signs.

But Jesus is imparting to them his perspective.

We need to see the last days the way Jesus sees them––not based on popular opinion or what’s trending in the Christian world.

In the New Testament, Jesus was often in conflict with his disciples. I believe it’s the same way today.

There are five specific things I want to draw our attention to in the first part of Matthew 24. The first thing Jesus warns about is this:

1 - “See to it that no one misleads you” (Matt. 24:4-5).

That is, ‘leads you away, leads you astray or deceives you’.

Next week, I’m going to give you Seven Proven Safeguards Against Deception. They are all things that Jesus and the Apostles taught.

This sounds scary, right?

But the next thing Jesus says is...

2 - “See that you are not frightened” (Matt. 24:6).

The word for ‘frightened’ is throeo θροέω.

It means to cry aloud, be alarmed, frightened, disturbed or inwardly aroused.

Today, shakings are happening, causing people to be alarmed and frightened.

For example, the 5.9 magnitude earthquake on 22 September 2021 at 9:15am in Melbourne.

But as disciples of Jesus, we should not be alarmed.

And Jesus takes it further.

3 - “For those things must take place, but that is not yet the end” (Matt. 24:6)

Many people think that this is the end. But it’s not. As Jesus said, “But all these are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Matt. 24:6).

What do birth pains mean?

Birth pains first come and go. And as the baby gets closer to coming, the pains get more and more consistent – taking on a regular rhythm – and increasing in intensity.

All these last days pains mean that the Father is birthing something new, something completely new.

Do you know what it is?

4 - “Because lawlessness is increased, many [according to the Greek it should not be ‘most’] people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matt. 24:12).

Hupomeno - endure, abide under extreme circumstances.

Hupomeno is like the Greek word meno – abide – found in John 15.

Intimacy with Jesus is the key to enduring.

5 - “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:12).

The Father’s purpose for us in these last days is to preach the Good News of the Kingdom everywhere.

We must let nothing veer us off course.

3) Stay close to the Shepherd––that’s the only way to keep from veering off track in these last days (Rev. 14:4; 7:17, 17:14).

Next week, I plan to share Seven Safeguards Against Deception.

But it’s all revolved around this one thing: stay close to the Shepherd.

Valerie’s picture in the Holy Fire Centre (8 years old). The heart. One side God and the other you, and the vines are binding them together.

She wrote: “Tighten Your Connection with God”

“These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev. 14:4; cf. 7:17; 17:14).

“Follow the lamb” is a thought-provoking phrase.

Who follows a lamb?

It’s usually a lamb that follows a shepherd or follows the flock.

Children follow lambs. They chase them in the fields, playing with them and staying close to them.

“Follow the lamb” is a description of the innocent and young at heart.

It’s for those who have laid down their pride and are like children before their Father.

They take joy in the Lamb and enjoy the Lamb.

And these are the ones that are marked by God, having his name on their foreheads (Rev. 14:1).

Conclusion: Let’s listen to Jesus and not lose sight of his glory. Let Jesus’ words on the last days give us the proper perspective. And lastly, let’s stay close to our Shepherd so that we are not led astray.