Signs Preceding The End Of The Age (Matthew 24:1-14)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
24 May 2020
Jesus spoke to his disciples about signs of the end times. He wants his followers to be informed.
What are these signs?
The end of Old Testament temple worship. Jesus walked away from the temple. It was more than a physical departure. He was symbolically leaving the Jewish temple and taking up residence in a new temple. Every believer is a temple. Jesus now dwells in the hearts of his people. Beware of going back to the temple and the religion of animal sacrifices and works. These have been replaced by the gospel of grace.
The limitation of human knowledge. The disciples asked Jesus for an explanation of his teaching. They did not fully understand what he was saying. We also do not fully understand. Beware of people who set dates or who put everything in tidy boxes of dogma especially regarding the last days.
The presence of false messiahs. They deceive many people. They offer alternatives, that is, other messiahs. The biggest threat to biblical faith is belief in a multiplicity of gods. It undermined Israel's faith. It threatens evangelical religion. There is one God. He is our Creator. He has spoken through Christ Jesus.
The presence of wars, famines, earthquakes and pestilence. These are symptoms of a fallen world. Beware of a utopian idea of peace on earth. There will be no utopia on earth. But there will come a new heaven and new earth.
The church will be hated and its members killed. In this they follow Jesus (John 15:20). The world hated and persecuted Jesus. His followers can expect the same treatment (John 15:18-19).
Lawlessness will increase and people will become cold and unloving. But Christians have the Holy Spirit and can love even in the midst lawlessness. Jesus forgave people when he was dying on a cross. Christians can follow his example because we have the Holy Spirit in us.
Christians will endure all suffering. Salvation is granted the moment one believes in Jesus but there is still the need to endure. Only by enduring will we be saved in the sense of the perfecting of our salvation — its fruition or culmination.
The gospel will be preached all over the world. Jesus is building his church and Christians are partners in this work. The stirring of Christian hearts to share the gospel is evidence of the determined work of Jesus today. The world must hear; the world will hear. Then the end will come.
Finally, be reminded that there will be an end. Beware of people who say there is no end and that all things continue as they have done since creation (2 Peter 3:4).
Be reminded also there will be a new heaven and a new earth. This is the hope of every Christian. There will no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4).
But before this there will be signs and these signs are given to us in Matthew 24. Let us believe in Jesus and his word. He will never disappoint you. .