We cannot be prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus until we have truly embraced his First Coming.
Sermon Title: SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Sermon Text: MATTHEW 24:1-14 ESV
Sermon Series: LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Sermon Notes:
MATTHEW 24:1-14 ESV
1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
ESCATHOLOGY
escathos (last, final) + logos (study)
“the study of last things”
MATTHEW 24:3 ESV
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?”
I. THE END WILL COME
MATTHEW 24:14 ESV
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:24 ESV
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
2 PETER 3:10 NASB
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
destroy | Greek: luó
“to loose, to release, to dissolve.”
Last doesn’t mean short. Last means final.
MATTHEW 6:19-20 ESV
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
II. JESUS WILL RETURN
MATTHEW 24:30 ESV
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.
TITUS 2:13 ESV
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
ISAAC WATTS (1674-1748)
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
Joy to the World, 3rd Stanza
“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” – Battle Hymn of the Republic (1862)
JULIA WARD HOWE (1819-1910)
Expectancy speaks to the degree to which we love Jesus.
III. THERE WILL BE SIGNS
MATTHEW 24:4-8 ESV
4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
LUKE 12:56 ESV
56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Sign of birth pains
MATTHEW 24:8 ESV
8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
LUKE 21:11 ESV
11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
The role of Israel
MATTHEW 24:32-35 ESV
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
MATTHEW 24:44 ESV
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
We cannot be prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus until we have truly embraced his First Coming.
2 TIMOTHY 4:8 ESV
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.