The Beginning Of Sorrows

Intro

Text - Matthew 24.4-8

Matthew 24:4–8 NKJV

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Title - The Beginning Of Sorrows

The Main Point

We are living the days spoken of by the Lord Jesus Christ in these passages - the days of the beginning of sorrows

What does this mean?

this means that the most sorrowful time in human history is almost upon us - the Great Tribulation

The “beginning of sorrows” is marked by certain events

wars and rumors of war

wars is the bread and butter for some countries - i.e. USA

2 world wars raged in the 20th century

America’s wars made her the richest country in the world today

nation against nation; kingdom against kingdom

national and international boundaries continue to be rewritten

leaders rise and fall

famines and pestilences and earthquakes

wars created artificial food shortages

pestilences has raged all over the world - both natural and artificial

the persecution of the Jews

World War 2

Middle East conflict

the moral corruption

women’s liberation movement

LBGT rights

The only good thing mentioned in these passages are -

there are those who will endure these times

the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom will continue

Having all these things fulfilled and currently going on in the world today means one thing: these days - our days - are the beginning of the sorrows!

These events are preparatory to the coming of the Antichrist

In the Olivet Discourse -

Jesus discussed the beginning of sorrows

followed by the Great Tribulation

the great tribulation is marked by the rise of the “abomination of desolation” mentioned by the prophet Daniel

Matthew 24:15–21 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), 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.

Abomination - because it is idolatry in person, an affront against the true God

Only at this time did Jesus advise his disciples to run in the face of persecution

How the way is being prepared for the coming of the antichrist -

political troubles - these instabilities will provide the leadership vacuum in which the antichrist will take advaantage of

wars - these will necessitate the intervention of one man who can promise peace and safety

globalization - the conglomeration of national and regional economies will allow for easier control of food and mobility when the time comes

example - the SWIFT codes - Business Identifier Code by banks and payment providers when making internation transfers

example - economic sanctions

makes the economists the masters of the world today - EU, G20, oil-based economies

Rev 13.16-17 “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

moral corruption - will provide the spiritual foothold for the demonic forces to influence individuals and communities worldwide

falling away from truth - this will provide the foothold for demonic spirits to influence churches and denominations

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,

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,

The antichrist is clearly described by Paul

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV

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,

the man of sin, the son of perdition

2 Thessalonians 2:4 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.

exalts himself above God

sits in the temple of God

shows himself God

2 Thessalonians 2:9 NKJV

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

his coming will be according to the working of satan - with power, signs and lying wonders

with deception

2 Thessalonians 2:10 NKJV

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.

The antichrist is already at work!

2 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV

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.

The Time of Sorrows has a silver lining!

silver lining - the thin white line around a cloud created by the ray of light from the sun behind it

There are faithful few in these times

Matt 24.13 “13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

The gospel of the kingdom is still preached

Matt 24.14 “14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

There are people appointed to salvation

2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NKJV

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

the Rapture will translate the church of Christ to glory before the great tribulation hits the world

2 Thessalonians 2:15–17 NKJV

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Jesus gave important instructions to the people in the time of the beginning of sorrows

Luke 21:28 NKJV

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

look up - means took to God for your salvation

lift up - means to be encouraged by the events

Luke 21:30 NKJV

30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

see and know - get yourself updated with current events

Luke 21:34 NKJV

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

take heed - be warned, watch and control yourselves

Luke 21:36 NKJV

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

watch and pray - get ready

The world is groaning in pain

Romans 8:18–23 (NKJV)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Conclusion

The world is now ready for the coming of the Antichrist -

2 Thessalonians 2:5–7 NKJV

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until 5He is taken out of the way.

the presence of the church on earth is holding back the revealing of the antichrist.

Are we ready for the coming of Jesus Christ?

Israel’s exodus gives us a fitting illustration on how to get ready for our departure

they tucked themselves under the blood of the lamb

they prepared for departure

they brought the wealth of Egypt to Sinai to build the tabernacle of the Lord

SONG -

He’s Coming Soon;

Burning the midnight oil