Look Up

Look Up

Matthew 24:1-14  

 

Illus. Where are you looking?

 

This morning, we will to turn to Matthew chapter 24, where Jesus gives his disciples insights into what is ahead and that instruction is centered around “signs that signify the end times…” The chapter begins with Jesus giving the disciples some information about the temple and how it would one day be destroyed, which prompted the disciples ask Jesus a question, “When will these things happen and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Jesus responds to them in chapter 24 and 25 of Matthew and gives them insights into the signs that signify the end times. As we look at the things of signs, it can be a bit hard to believe that He gives a teaching on the world ending. This is not something that is biblically surprising, however. In 1 John 2:17, we know that this world will pass away… In 2 Peter 3:10-13 we are told the same and later in the chapter we will turn to today (Mt. 24:34), Jesus says the same; “heaven and earth will pass away.” Jesus follows that up with, “but My words will not pass away.”

Many have questions about the world we are living in. We see the nightly news, the difficulties and tragedies seen in our world and country; and they ask the question, “what is happening?” There are many questions about the world, much confusion in our world, many wrong conclusions in our day that are coupled with the illusion that this world we are in will always remain. Jesus tells us differently, that there is surely a direction the world is heading, but we should not look around and feel stuck, or give up, rather we should look up! If the world will one day pass away, many might want to know what to expect, or when exactly?

Jesus speaks about many things and they come in different phases. He speaks of people being misled, wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, false teachers and false prophets, how those things will come and will continue to increase. It doesn’t take too long of a look at the list to see that that these things are seen in our world presently. But what are we to do about all of these issues?

 

Luke 21:28, Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (NKJV)

 

Illus. Heliology versus Biblical Theology.   

 

The term that we use to describe Jesus insights into future things is called prophecy. The term prophecy is defined as a foretelling, or a prediction of what is to come. Many try to predict the future and do so inaccurately, but when the Bible speaks of the future, it does so with 100% accuracy. There are over 300 prophecies associated with Jesus’ first coming and all of them were fulfilled. The odds of them being fulfilled by one person are essentially impossible. Regarding the second coming, however, there are nearly 6 times as many prophecies. Here Jesus is telling us what is coming, and the reason is so that we would be ready.

 

Read: Matthew 24:1-14

 

Chapter 24 occurs during the last week of Jesus’ life leading up to His crucifixion. The scene of chapter 24 is Jerusalem. Jesus had gone to Jerusalem with His disciples to celebrate the feast of Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened bread. During the feast time, Jesus would go to the courtyard of the temple and would teach. At night time, Jesus and His disciples would go to the Mount of Olives, just a short walk from Jerusalem, down through the Kidron Valley, over to the Mount of Olives and there they would find lodging.

Here in Matthew 24, Jesus had just finished teaching in the courtyard area of the temple, in fact, in Matthew 23 Jesus gave a list of woes to those who had rejected Him, who did not receive Him, or listen to the truth’s He was telling them. As chapter 24 begins, Jesus and His disciples were then leaving the temple in Jerusalem and as they walked away, Jesus’ disciples were commenting on how beautiful the temple was.

                         

Mark 13:1-2, As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

 

Illus. The temple.

 

Matthew 24:2, But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

 

Jesus’ disciples would have been shocked to hear Him say that the temple would be torn down. It would have been inconceivable that the temple could or would ever be destroyed at the time. It was the place of worship, it represented the presence of God, it was a structure that seemed indestructible. But just as Jesus said, it was destroyed. There was a Jewish revolt against Roman rule in 66AD and after four years, in order to put an end to it, the Romans, led by Emperor Titus Vespasian, stormed the city. Titus had told his soldier to preserve the temple, but in the heat of battle they destroyed it and burned in it to the ground in 70AD despite orders to stop.

To His disciples, the temple being torn down would have represented the end of the age and Messiah coming into power. The disciples understood this to be Jesus, however, they did not yet understandi that Jesus would die on a cross, be resurrected, and return again. They were looking for the Messiah to go and overthrow Rome, to take His seat at king immediately. So, they had some questions about it all…In response to what Jesus says, the disciples ask Jesus two questions: 1. When will these things happen? 2. What will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?

In the verses that follow, Jesus doesn’t give them the date of the, in fact, He will say Matthew 24:36, About that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. But what He did do, was give signs and specifics that define the end times by way of prophesy, or a foretelling of what is to come.

His prophesy is powerful for you and me so that when we are looking around at the difficulty of our day we would not be found surprised, but rather when we see the signs we would look up, lift our eyes and know that it will all happen just as Jesus had described.

 

1. See that Signs Reveal the Times

 

• In Matthew 24, Jesus answers the question, “what will be the sign of your coming,” with three lists that can be broken down into phases. The first list is given in verses 4-8.

 

Matthew 24:4-8, And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

 

• After giving the first list of signs of the times to birth pains. He said that these things are only the beginning of birth pains.

 

Illus. Birth pains.

 

Matthew 16:1-3, The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times?

 

• Jesus here details the signs we can discern.

 

Illus. First Signs – Phase 1

False Christs (Mt. 24:5)

Misled People (Mt. 24:4-5)

Hearing of Wars and Rumors of Wars (Mt. 24:6)

Nation vs. Nation, Kingdom vs. Kingdom (Mt. 24:7)

Famines in Various Places (Mt. 24:7)

Pestilence (Mt 24:7 NKJV; Luke 21:11)

Earthquakes in various places (Mt. 24:7)

 

• As we look at the list, it is evident that these signs are increasing.

 

• Regarding False Christs, this is probably more prevalent than you might think. And the numbers are increasing.

 

• There were 10 in the 18^th and 19^th century combined, and 43 in the 20^th and 21^st century combined and we are only 25 years into the 21^st

 

• On the list are names like Sun Yung Moon, Jim Jones, Charles Manson, Yahweh ben Yahweh, David Koresh, Sergei Torop, who is a Siberian cult leader who claims to be the reincarnation.

 

• A few years ago, Sergei was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison. He was arrested for committing fraud, misleading, and abusing those who were following Him. His followers included musicians, doctors, teachers, army colonels, and an ex-minister.

 

• Another person of note is Alan John Miller, who goes by the name “Jesus,” and his wife Mary Luck who goes by the name Mary Magdalene. They have a ministry in Australia. They believe they are the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.

 

• Jesus gave another sign: hearing of wars and rumors of wars.

 

• The global peace index has been ranking 163 countries according to their level of peacefulness. They have been charting it for many years. They note that global peacefulness is on the decline. The factors that precede major conflicts are higher than they have been since WWII. According to their report, year over year, over the last 17 years, the world has become less peaceful.

 

Illus. Charts.

 

• Famines in various places: In addition to a global peace index, there is global hunger index. 36 countries have a hunger level classified as “Serious,” and six are classified as “alarming.” The number of people experiencing hunger has gone up by 152 million over the last 5 years. Last year, 733 million people were considered food insecure.

 

• Pestilence: Which is a contagious or infectious epidemic that is virulent and devastating…

 

• From 2004 to 2016, There is reported a three-fold increase in the number of diseases from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas like West Nile virus, Zika, Malaria, and Lyme disease.

 

• Since then, chronic disease rates continue to rise year over year. There are assertions as to why, but the numbers are eye opening.

 

• Earthquakes: According to the U.S. Geological survey, there are around 20,000 per year. This number has grown year over year…

 

Matthew 24:8, But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

 

• These signs indicate the signs of the end times, but as we look at the signs it is important to remember what they define…The return of Jesus Christ!

 

Luke 21:28, Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (NKJV)

 

1. Look to Christ Alone as You Carry On

 

• The list continues as the chapter goes on.

 

Matthew 24:9-14, Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 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.

 

Illus. More Signs – Phase 2.

Persecution (Mt. 24:9)

Many falling away (Mt. 24:10)

Betrayal and hatred (Mt. 24:10)

More false prophets rising up (Mt. 24:11)

Lawlessness (Mt. 24:11)

Love growing cold (Mt. 24:12)

The gospel will be preached Mt. 24:14)

 

Matthew 24:10-11, And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people.

 

Illus. False Prophets.

 

Matthew 24:36, But about that day and hour no one knows…

 

• Many will come saying, “I am the Christ.” Though there will be many who come as false Christs and false prophets, we know there will be one in the end times who is called the Antichrist.

 

Illus. More – Phase 3.

The appearance of the Antichrist (Mt. 24:15-23)

Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21)

False Christs with False signs and wonders (Mt. 24:24)

 

• While there is a general prophesy that many will come saying they are Christ, which has been fulfilled, we know that the Bible gives a specific prophesy about the Antichrist.

 

• Paul calls him the man of lawlessness and the son of destruction (2 Thess. 2:3), and in the book of Revelation he is called the beast (11:7;13:1-10).

 

• The Antichrist will arise as a leader who can solve the unsolvable, and when many are starving and out of work, those on earth will look for whatever answer they can find. The Antichrist will control buying and selling.

 

• People will panic, and even bow down to worship him, taking a mark in order to buy and sell.

 

• Will they take the mark unknowingly? No, in fact, Revelation 14:9-12 tells us there will be an angel flying around telling people not to worship the beast or take his mark on their forehead or hand, because doing so will bring the wrath of God upon them.

 

• The reality for those in Christ, however, is that we should not be looking for the Antichrist, rather, we should be looking up, looking to, and looking for Jesus Christ.

 

Matthew 24:9, Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

 

• For those who have rejected Christ, Jesus says they will be delivered to tribulation. This tribulation, specifically being what the Bible describes as the great tribulation.

 

• The tribulation being described in Matthew 24 is not just any tribulation, it is the “great tribulation, such as had not occurred since the beginning of the world, nor ever will” (Mt. 24:21)

 

• It is the great tribulation as prophesied in the book of Daniel chapter 9.

 

• It is the time of wrath poured out on the earth, it is known as the Day of the Lord, it is something the world has never seen. Much of the book of Revelation describes it.

 

• While in the future will be great tribulation, deliverance in Christ means we are not destined for wrath, but we have obtained salvation, both today and eternally.

 

• As we see the signs defined, it is important for those who are in Christ to understand the future the Bible defines for those who are in Christ.

 

• We must look for Jesus Christ not the Antichrist. Could he be alive today? Yes. But He won’t rise to power until the church has been caught up to be with Jesus.

 

• Jesus wants us to be aware that an increase in signs points us to the reality that our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

 

• In verse 17, Paul says we will be “caught up” together in the clouds. The Greek word there is “harpazo,” and was translated into the Latin word “rapturo.”

 

• The rapture is when the church is “taken up,” or “caught up” with the Lord in the air.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:10, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.

 

Titus 2:11-13, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

 

Colossians 3:4, When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

John 14:1-4, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.

 

• Jesus is coming again!

 

• There are many verses that speak of the sudden and unexpected coming of Jesus Christ. A day and hour that is coming, but we don’t know.

 

Matthew 25:13, Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

 

Titus 2:12(b)-13, …Live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

 

1 Peter 4:7, The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

 

• Throughout the book of Revelation, Jesus wants reminds us that he is coming quickly.

 

Revelation 22:12, Behold, I am coming quickly…

 

• In Romans 13:11 we are told that it is already the hour to wake up from sleep because salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.

 

Matthew 24:12-14, Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 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.

 

III.   Watch the Way Your Love Is Growing Today

 

• As lawlessness increases, most people’s love will grow cold.

 

• I found the word for “grow cold” interesting, because when the Bible get translated, there is something called a transliteration. It is the process of transferring a word from the alphabet of one language to another. A transliteration helps a person pronounce the word. The word, “grow cold” when transliterated is, psychō.

 

• It literally means to breathe cold, to wax cold, or to wane.

 

• To wax cold is a picture of wax that was once warm and soft, becoming hard and cold.

 

• We see signs of this in our day as well, love growing cold. But as we live out our lives for Jesus, as His hands and feet in our world, may our love not grow cold, but grow bold.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.  It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

 

Illus. Growing cold.

 

Hebrews 10:25, Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Matthew 24:1-14