Few issues in modern Christian thinking are more compelling for people than End Times Events.
This is a curiosity that matches Jesus’ disciples.
After He foretold the destruction of the Temple, they asked Him as they sat on the Mount of Olives,
“when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
And so came one of the most difficult chapters for pastors to preach on.
Intro - [Certainties]
It’s a difficult chapter because there’s much that we can’t be 100% certain about.
It makes me think of the pastor’s notes that were left on the pulpit one Sunday.
The church janitor picked them up and read where the pastor wrote, “this point is weak. Say it LOUD!”
I’m prepared to point out this morning on what things I’m 100% certain.
Title: 100% Certainty
We definitely saw some pretty crazy predictions in this last election.
I appreciated an election prediction that I read that turned out to be spot on.
"I checked the numbers over and over and verified all the data, and it’s a virtual certainty…no matter who wins, the sun will rise the next day."
In a very similar way, we can know that whatever happens in the future, these ideas are 100% true.
You can:
1. Trust God’s Ability to Save His Elect.
2. Trust Jesus to Make His Second Coming Unmistakable.
3. Trust Jesus to Rule All the Earth as the Eternal King.
[Review]
As I mentioned, Jesus is answering His disciples question about the destruction of Jerusalem and the END.
They saw this as taking place at the same time, but it doesn’t seem like Jesus does.
And I think this checks out because the temple was destroyed, and the END hasn’t come yet.
So, let’s just ack into how Jesus went about setting their minds at ease. (Ha Ha)
· 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
· 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
· 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
· 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
· 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Let’s look back over v. 15-22
· 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
Jesus warns His disciples to flee when they see the abomination of desolation standing in the temple.
· abomination - something that is totally defiling, pollutant
· desolation - state of being made uninhabitable
This’ll be a very clear event that will defile the temple making it unusable for worshiping God.
Matthew encourages the reader to understand what Jesus means by referring to Daniel’s prophesy.
From my theological opinion, let me help you understand what Daniel wrote about.
Daniel was told about 70 sets of 7 years that were decreed for Jerusalem and the nation of Isreal to function as God’s people.
In the middle of the last of those sets of 7 years, the Antichrist will commit an abomination that will desecrate the temple.
he records this prophesy about the Antichrist in Daniel 9:27
· 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
?- Remember how biblical prophecy is like a piano chord which get’s played dropping one finger at a time?
Jesus is referring to what Daniel foretold which was carried out by a Greek general 200 or so years before the birth of Christ
This was the 1st finger of the chord of what’s known as the Abomination of Desolation
A similar event would take place leading up to the Roman’s destruction of the temple in 70 AD
This was the 2nd finger of the Abomination of Desolation chord
And the final abominable action will be taken by the Antichrist in the End Times.
This will be the 3rd finger of the Abomination of Desolation chord
The near confirmation of this prophesy will take place when the Romans surround Jerusalem.
When the reader who is living in Judea sees this taking place, they’re to head for the hills.
The urgency will be extreme as they’re told not to go into their house to get stuff.
If they’re out in the field, they’re told to not even grab their cloak, essential for the cold desert nights.
Women who are pregnant or nursing during this time are warned that it will be especially hard for them.
Also, Jesus warns that it will be especially difficult if during winter or a day that has religious obligations.
They hey should hope and pray that it’s not the case.
This points to this also likely being an uniquely Jewish experience, when the temple is destroyed and later during the Time of Tribulation.
Historical sources explain that many of the Jewish Christians took Jesus’ warnings to heart.
They fled Jerusalem before it’s destruction in 70 AD.
Their abandoning Jerusalem was a reason why they were rejected by their Jewish brothers from then on.
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Tribulation means “trouble” or “affliction.”
Jesus explains how the “great tribulation” as being worse than anything that has ever been.
Jesus also describes the time of trouble and affliction as worse than will ever be since that time.
J - I don’t think that Jesus is talking like our President Elect that describes everything as being either
“the BEST there ever was” or “the WORST there ever was”
I believe that Jesus is also foretelling about the End Times as He describes the near future for His disciples.
This seems to be one of the “near and far” truths that are being foretold by Jesus.
· 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
As always, we can trust that God has His hand on the steering wheel of history as history is HIS story.
God calls those He has saved and will save “the elect,” which means the “selected ones.”
These are those that He has chosen for salvation (yes, that’s the way He does it).
Jesus is definitely warning His followers of what will take place in in the region when Rome invades.
This culminates in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD
I also believe that there are statements in Jesus’ prophecy that remain to be fulfilled during a period of Tribulation.
Here’s what I’m 80% sure of.
I think Jesus is also talking about a time of great tribulation we haven’t yet seen - a future period.
I think that the 7 years of the tribulation period are the remaining 7 years foretold in Daniel 9.
I think the church will be removed in the Rapture of 1 Thessalonians 4.
And the final 7 years allow God to focus on His covenant commitments with the unsaved nation of Israel that remains after the Rapture.
I think that Jesus is partly talking about the elect from among Israel after the church is raptured.
with that said about what I’m 80& certain on, these verses helps us to be 100% sure that we can -
1. TRUST GOD’S ABILITY TO SAVE HIS ELECT.
Illus - [Pilot talking on PA during turbulence]
I’ve flown through some awful turbulence.
I remember terrible turbulence when I flew our family into Rapid City to interview for a youth pastor job.
I literally almost didn’t convince Kelly to fly back home.
She hasn’t flown since then.
?- What helps when you feel like you’re on a roller coaster and luggage is flying out of the compartments?
The Captain’s voice.
He gets on the PA and says, “We’re experiencing a little bit of bumpiness, but nothing we haven’t seen before.”
“Just for precaution, we’ll keep the seatbelt sign on, And it’s best to not go the lavatory. At this time.”
I wanna say, “That’s not a need anymore! It was. But… not any more.”
During all of the turmoil and the worst persecution that has ever been on the earth, Jesus makes it clear that God is in charge of the clock.
And He’s got no plans of allowing His chosen ones to be completely overrun
- martyred maybe, but not forsaken
As I said there’s things that I’m 80% sure of things that are pointed to in these verses.
I’m 80% sure that Christ will appear in a way that it unexpected and unpredictable in the Rapture.
At that time, Jews and Gentiles who have trusted Him as Savior will be caught up in the air to be with Him.
I’m 60% sure this event will tip off the End Times which will be a time of tribulation and great tribulation.
It will also be a time in which God deals exclusively with Israel as His covenant people again.
Jesus is giving His Jewish followers instructions for during the tribulation they’ll face.
· 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
· 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
There will be those who are either deceptive, delusional, or both that claim to be the Messiah.
This was true during the Roman siege of Jerusalem as well as will be true in the End Times.
Even with the exact timeline in question, these verses helps us to be 100% sure that we can -
2. TRUST JESUS TO MAKE HIS SECOND COMING UNMISTAKABLE. (23-28)
· 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
No one will be confused about whether Jesus has returned
His return will be as visible, quick, and dramatic. as a lightening flash.
Anyone with eyes or ears will be able to tell what’s going on.
· 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
In an action movie, there might be a powerful main character that’s heading off to bring vengeance on the bad guys.
He might be asked, “How will we find you?”
To which he might reply, “Just go where the vultures are circling.”
Gathering vultures are usually a bad sign - a sign of death.
J This is why one vulture said to another, “There’s only two things that are certain in life - death and food”
This is a truth of nature that also gives a sense of foreboding.
Jesus’ final return is described as amounting to the Battle of Armageddon.
And it’s also described as being where the vultures will eat their fill on His fallen enemies.
Illus - [Scams]
Any number of us have been fooled by scams where someone contacts us saying their from our bank or something.
I usually check these with my banker daughter.
One of the ways that these organizations try to protect us is telling us they will never do certain things like contact us and ask for our information.
They try to leave no doubt in spotting a scammer.
Jesus is telling us, “when I come back, no one is going to be confused about it. You’re not going to have to call your bank and ask if it’s for real!”
And our last verses explain how it is that Jesus’ return will be unmistakable.
Speaking of the moment when God cuts the Tribulation short for the sake of the elect.
· 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
From these verses, we can be 100% sure that we can -
3. TRUST JESUS TO RULE ALL AS THE ETERNAL KING. (29-31)
· 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Jesus says His return is immediately after the greatest tribulations.
There will be signs in the sky that are visible to the whole world, involving the sun, moon, and stars.
All of mankind will know that something unparalleled is happening and it’s Jesus doing it.
· 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Along with the astounding signs in the heavens will come the sign of the Son of Man.
We can’t know what this is exactly.
It seems to allude to the appearance of Jesus as the Son of Man similar to how He’s described in Daniel 7
* Daniel 7:13–14 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to
him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
At this time, the Antichrist will be destroyed by the True Christ, as Paul describes in -
* 2 Thessalonians 2:8b 8b whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
Jesus is describing His final return which will cause the tribes of the earth to mourn
(We’ll come back to this mourning.)
· 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Jesus seems to be describing the assembling of His redeemed people to reign with Him.
These would include those who are living
Gathering from the four winds could be stated as “from the four corners of the earth”
And these would also include those saints who’ve already passed away.
This would fit His statement from one end of heaven to the other
?- Have you ever seen the show, Undercover Boss?
It’s a reality show where the owner or CEO of a large company works for a few days as an employee.
But the other employees don’t know his/her true identity - their boss.
At the end of the show, they reveal their identity.
They usually commend some of their employees or even promote ones that impressed them.
Sometimes, they fire one or two who would’ve acted differently if they knew the person was the boss.
In the gospels, we see Jesus argued with.
We see Him disrespected.
We see Him love and heal and forgive and make friends with others.
But one day, He’s going to return as the Eternal King who will set things straight.
all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
So, I’m 100% sure that we can Trust Jesus to Rule All as the Eternal King
Let me give you what I’m 80% sure of when it comes to the events of the End Times.
I think Jesus has been teaching about a time of great tribulation we haven’t yet seen - a future period.
As He states in v. 21 - For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
I think that the 7 years of the tribulation period are the remaining 7 years foretold in Daniel 9.
Led me show you a timeline of what I mean.
· Daniel 9:24–27 24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
I believe that Daniel 9:24-26 describe Israel’s existence from the rebuilding of Jerusalem through Christ’ crucifixion and to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Here in Matthew 24, Jesus gives His followers instructions regarding these tribulations that Daniel foretold (let the reader understand)
Daniel 9:27 seems to describe the Antichrist’s srise during the tribulation period (70th week of Daniel)
· 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
I think the 7 years of Tribulation are for God to bring His people Israel to repentance.
I’m 50% sure that I think the church will be removed in the Rapture of 1 Thess 4 before the tribulation.
And this allows God to focus on His covenant commitments with the unsaved of Israel that remains after the Rapture.
So, I’m 80% sure of is that Jesus is giving instruction/encouragement specifically to His Jewish followers.
These events would be part of the fulfillment of what is foretold in Daniel as the reason for the Tribulation period
* Daniel 9:24 24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
I believe that God dedicates His time during the Tribulation Period to pouring out His wrath on the world and saving the majority of Israel
Paul teaches that Israel will repent as a nation one day in Romans 11:25-31
Romans 11:25–31
25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
So, I think Jesus is speaking to His Jewish followers the same way that Daniel 9 speaks to future of Israel.
And the present age of the church is not referenced.
But even though His work with Israel has been sidelined, His plan is to bring national revival at some point
I think Zechariah foretells that most of Israel will look to Jesus, repent, and trust Him as their Savior.
* Zechariah 12:8–10, 13:1 8 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them. 9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn… 13:1 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
I love the idea of God’s faithfulness to His covenant with the people of Israel.
As we read in Romans 11:28-29
· 28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
So I’m 80% sure about these things.
But I’m 100% sure that we can
Trust God’s Ability to Save His Elect.
Trust Jesus to Make His Second Coming Unmistakable.
Trust Jesus to Rule All the Earth as the Eternal King.
