What on Earth's Going to Happen? Τοῦτο τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς Βασιλείας, THIS Gospel of the Kingdom) sc. They make it difficult to believe, they act powerfully upon men's minds to turn them from the unseen spiritual kingdom to depend only upon the things of sense and time. They will not stand, but they will speak as well. Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Matthew 24:4-14 ← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources "THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING" Intro: Jesus promised His disciples, "if I go, I will come again..." The second coming of Jesus Christ is essential for the fulfillment of Bible prophesy. How the heart trembles and quavers before the thought of torture, or sometimes even of misunderstanding! In verse 8 he adds, "...all this is but the beginning of the birthpangs.". Matthew 24:4-14 New King James Version (NKJV). No matter how the wolves howl, fangs drip, and opposition mounts on every side, still they will follow him. Since Christianity began, no generation has seen such world-wide persecution as is now in progress. Some people who are followers of Jesus will be mislead. ... Matthew 23 and 24. Jesus spoke of seed that would fall on shallow ground and spring up, but when the sun came out in burning heat, it would wither and die. Both John the Baptizer and Jesus Himself had been teaching the “Gospel Of The Kingdom' to none but the house of Israel, for Christ had come to set up His kingdom as Israel's Messiah-King. If, as we have seen, the dominant note of this discourse is to warn against the allure of the false, the glamour of the phony, and to indicate the ease by which the uninformed may be led astray, then it is immediately evident that in these intervening events he is listing the perils of the age. Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. Matthew 24:1 "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple." M atthew 24 is undoubtedly one of the most encouraging, yet often misunderstood, chapters in the New Testament. 14 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. For almost two thousand years these natural calamities have been occurring. It is the dominant note of this whole discourse. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. It is at this point that he at last begins to answer directly the disciples' question, "What will be the sign...of the close of the age?" Concerning Christ's second coming, it is foretold that there shall be a great change, in order to the making all things new. Many can still rememberthe horror of the mushroom cloud hanging over Hiroshima, the scream of air-raid sirens, and the terrible challenge to faith these events had produced. But in the carnage and slaughter of battle his eyes have been opened. The true prophet insists on the rights of God, but the false prophet upholds only the rights of man. We can scarcely realize the cost of discipleship in certain places of the world. First, many will be led astray by the false teaching of the leaders of thought; "because [of this], wickedness [will be] multiplied" (the Greek word used here for wickedness is "anomia," lawlessness); and the result of lawlessness is, "most men's love will grow cold.". Jesus begins His answer of the disciples’ three questions by answering the last question first: “What will be the sign of the end of the age?”  First Jesus says that many people will attempt to mislead those who desire to follow Jesus. To the contrary, he repeatedly indicates that he is tracing the age. Futurists have been divided over whether or not the Olivet Discourse has already been partially fulfilled. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Some authorities claim that over fifteen million Christians have been slaughtered in Russia, Soviet-controlled Europe and other Communist countries. How true these words are: "because wickedness is multiplied...love...grow [s] cold.". 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians. Sometimes Christians mistakenly try to convince skeptics that God is love by parading the evidence of nature. It will come after greatly increased lawlessness, and after the gospel of the kingdom is preached in the entire world as a testimony to all the nations. Jesus speaks particularly of religious deception, especially of those who "will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many" (verse 5). The second peril Jesus forsees is that of conflict. The first, in verse 5, is the peril of the counterfeit. When the sirens of the Last Day begin to moan, and the panicky, jostling crowd tries to get in the door at the last moment, then will be unveiled the deceitfulness of the age. "This gospel of the kingdom," Jesus said, "will be preached throughout the world, as a testimony to all nations." How thankful we are for that other voice, the clear voice of the Holy Spirit who interprets to us the truth of Scripture. That is one unmistakable mark of the approaching end. This alone will make the difference. which Jesus preached.— ἥξει, shall come) The verb ἥκειν does not signify merely to approach, but to arrive, nay, actually to be present. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. After that large Matthew commentary, Keener gave us a large 2-volume commentary on John and then a massive 4-volume commentary on Acts that is so big it could be made into a piece of furniture. Fortunately for us, Jesus does not stop with this black picture. We can read the accounts in all their gruesome details inFox's Book of Martyrs. How many have thus "fallen way," driven by the spread of a philosophy of moral relativism that teaches that only the situation can determine whether a thing is bad or good? The Gospel of Matthew is an New Testament commentary, written by R.T. France and published by Eerdmands. Each peril, when once introduced, runs on to the end of the age. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. They do not count. Have you stood at the narrow way and done business with the One who says truly, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." The age will be a time of great uncertainty as to the meaning of events. Then he proceeds to show to these men that they are already confused in their thinking that the end of the age lies immediately ahead. This is not possible to adequately defend historically. Even to such a doughty spirit as his, that must have been a severe blow. It is of enormous importance, for it contains the secret power-the power to stand against deceit and delusion and to avoid the fate of being "led astray." This is what keeps them and makes them able to stand in the midst of a flood of deceit. Matthew chapter 23-25 records Jesus' Eschatological discourse with His disciples. But even though those things occur, that is not yet the end of the age. So it is understandable that believers in Jesus who have been commanded to love others would turn cold, and stop loving. The question he leaves with us is: What is there in your life that is different than another's? What a peril to faith they have proved to be. Here the peril is cynicism. How many are being misled by these siren voices which neglect the narrow way by which an individual is confronted with the person of Jesus Christ-the one way to redemption and cleansing and forgiveness of sin? It was the Lord himself who said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." If Matthew 24:4-14 deals with general signs, then verses 15-26 may be considered as specific signs. And what does all this mean? Do not prate about outward religious differences. As a result people’s love will grow cold. They will move against the stream, sometimes in blood and tears and terrible loneliness, but they will not succumb. “Buildings of the temple”: This temple was begun by Herod the Great in 20 B.C. The argument hinges on whether Matthew 24:4–14 describes general characteristics of the Church Age 1 or only the future, seven-year Tribulation.. So the deception will be quite persuasive. They will be saved. In our understandable haste to come to the great events he predicts for the future, let us not miss the heavy emphasis he makes in this opening word. They can all too easily be a part of the "broad way that leads to destruction." Perhaps our Lord is thinking of even subtler expressions. Take heed that no man deceive you - The world is full of deceivers, and it is only by taking heed to the counsel of Christ that even his followers can escape being ruined by them. The overthrow of moral limits always destroys the fire and glow of love. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Matthew 24:21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. We will miss the full meaning of his words if we look only for those who actually say, "I am the Messiah," or "We have the true Christian message." Matthew 24:9-14 speaks of events that will affect just the Christians. The test of reality is endurance, and only those who thus stand have every really known him. From verse 5 through verse 14 he clearly indicates that there would be a rather long, indeterminate period before the end of the age would begin. It is usual for prophets to speak of things as near and just at hand, to express the greatness and certainty of them. 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Who is equal to those pressures? Who has not felt the shivers of doubt that come when we read of terrible disasters caused by natural calamities and must square them somehow with our concept of a God who rules and reigns in the midst of all human events? Is his life in you? Perusing the Future Matthew 24:1–14. Jesus answers the last question first, answering the disciples’ question regarding when the end of the age will come. Who can point out the way of faith when these things are happening? Here are the clanging gongs that Jesus says will be sound throughout the age, to drown out if they can the still small voice of faith. 23:13 - 24:1: 13:28 Hypocrites: 34 Ones sent would be persecuted: 23:37 Refusal to accept Christ's gathering : 38, 39 House (temple) desolate. No doubt it is true that there is no use having a good beginning if there is not a strong finish; but it is equally true that there is no possibility of a strong finish unless there has been a good beginning. What our Lord is bringing out here is that the strength of character which permits them to stand fast demands an unceasing flow of power, for they are exposed to an unceasing flow of pressure. The former must happen before the end comes , but they are only the beginning of the labor pains . They offer to lead men into peace without forgiveness, and thus are really evil masquerading as angels of light. And Jesus answered and said unto them Not to indulge their curiosity, but to instruct them in things useful to be known, and which might be cautions to them and others, against deceivers; confirm them in the faith of himself, when they should see his predictions accomplished; and be directions to them, of what might shortly be expected. For example, in his popular book, The Late Great Planet Earth, first published in 1970, Hal Lindsey argued that Matthew 24 contains the prophetical information which indicates that the “generation” witnessing the “rebirth of Israel” is the same generation that will observe the fulfillment of the “signs” of Matthew 24:1-33, consummated by the second coming of Christ. Never Miss any Updates! One threw her baby in the path of a truck, and the other left hers on a dump heap. Adam Clarke Commentary. What a threat to faith war is! Help us to ask him to begin his wonderful work of sustaining and keeping, empowering and strengthening, till we can stand in the midst of the flood of deceit around us. This is properly a "sign of the times" which marks the near approach of the end. Father, how confusing are the voices we hear, how accurate is our Lord's prediction that these voices will be sounding out in ever increasing clamor to deceive us, mislead us, pervert, and destroy us. He is most emphatically not giving so-called "signs of the times" here. As bad as the catastrophe of a.d. 70 was, there have been subsequent wars and calamities even worse. How many in America would disappear from our churches if persecution began to break out? 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter. Because of this continuing possibility, the Lord's exhortation throughout the message is, "Watch! Why? It is introduced by that corner word "but. It also could be aided by events such as that in Revelation 14:6, where an angel flies through heaven preaching the everlasting gospel. From verse 15 through verse 31, he gives in detail the events that will occur during the end-of-the-age. and was still under construction when the Romans destroyed it in A.D. 70. Test! These will not and cannot be overthrown. Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. When interactions with others turn violent, it is natural for people to stop caring for their neighbors. (The Gospel of Mark- An Expositional Commentary) As John MacArthur says "The answer Jesus gave is the longest answer (Ed: 97 verses in Mt 24-25) given to any question asked in the New … Just prior to the fall of Jerusalem, the remaining Jewish rebels fled to the temple fortress for refuge. A few weeks ago, I attended some training for my police job up north. Surely we need our Lord's warning, "Take heed that no one leads you astray.". Matthew says, And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray.". Bring everything to test that you might understand the true character of movements and pressures, for the predominant note of the age will be one of deceit and confusion. In the city of Seoul, Korea, ten thousand Christians have already suffered martyrdom for their faith. And there will be wars and rumors of wars. Clear ... As Jesus and his disciples were walking through the busy city of Jerusalem, the disciples began to comment how impressive this place was. Matthew 24:14(NASB) Verse Thoughts. He used it again in verse 5, "For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And that is what Jesus describes,  because they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on August 4, 2019. 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