SERMON OIUTLINE:
(1). There will be false messiahs (verse 5-6)
(2). Their will be wars (vs 7-8a).
(3). Their will natural disasters (vs 8).
(4). Their will persecution (vs 12-18).
(5). Their will be destruction in Jerusalem (vs 14-20)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• A friend once asked Isidor I. Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in science,
• How he became a scientist.
• Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day.
• She wasn’t so much interested in what he had learned that day,
• But she always inquired,; “Did you ask a good question today?”
• Rabi said, “Asking good questions made me become a scientist.”
• In this passage before us tonight:
• The disciples in verse 3 ask two good question;
Context:
• The temple in Jerusalem was one of the wonders of the world.
• It was begun by Herod in around 20BC.
• It dominated the city;
• And its golden walls meant it could be seen for miles around.
But much more than that:
• The temple was the heart of Jewish national, cultural and religious identity.
• For them it was the presence of God on earth.
• In verse 1: the disciples draw the attention of Jesus to the wonder of the building.
• In verse 2: Jesus stuns his disciples by telling them its days were numbered!
• Don’t miss the impact of those words:
• Jesus is saying that which seems to be permanent – a fixture on the landscape;
• That which seems to be so important – place of God’s presence on earth;
• Will soon be gone! Its days are numbered!
The disciples respond to this startling announcement by asking two questions:
• Verse 4a:“When will these things happen?”
• Verse 4b: “And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”
3 things to note:
(1). The response of Jesus in verses 5-3 is slightly confusing:
• In answering the disciples question:
• The answer of Jesus has two meanings.
• The immediate meaning relates to the fall, the destruction of Jerusalem;
• The more extensive meaning is Jesus is talking about the end of the world;
• And these dual meanings in many ways apply to both.
(2). Remember the context and culture these verses were written in mean that:
• Many of Jesus’ hearers would have assumed that the destruction of the temple;
• Would be synonymous with the end of the world.
• After all it seemed to be a permanent fixture;
• And such an important one.
• But notice in verse 2:
• Jesus is at great pains to separate the two events.
(3). One more thing to Note before we look at the passage:
• Keep in mind as we read these verses:
• That this is not an all-inclusive teaching on end times i.e. the end of the world.
• Rather it is selective
• Jesus shows us only a broad-brush mural of the end times.
• Other New Testament writers will later add more specific information;
• About the Rapture of the church, the Tribulation, and the millennial kingdom etc.
• So this is not an all-inclusive teaching on end times,
• Rather it is selective:
• It is a message to Jews by a Jew about the future of the Jewish nation.
• But don’t sit there and think; “this is not relevant to me”;
• Because it contains definite applications for us as Christians today.
Jesus WARNS the disciples.
(1). There will be false messiahs (verse 5-6)
“Jesus said to them: Watch out that no-one deceives you.
6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many”.
Ill:
• Joke: Did you know they have taken the word gullible out of the dictionary?
• (Pause & answer): Of course not but many Christians are very gullible!
• Because Christians are eager to learn the Bible and keen to know God;
• At times they can be very gullible,
• Very susceptible for false teachers to manipulate and deceive.
• One area where some Christians have been deceived is in the area of false Messiah’s:
• So Jesus warns his followers – past & present - do not be mislead!
ill:
• Story told of an old sailing ship;
• One day the ships captain caught one of his crew drunk and a sleep on duty.
• The sailor begged the Captain not to record the incident the ships log.
• As it would reflect badly on his character.
• Despite his desperate pleadings;
• The Captain insisted that the sailor record it in the ships log.
• Reluctantly the sailor wrote in the log, ‘Seaman Smith was drunk today’.
• Annoyed at the Captain he plotted his revenge.
• The next night the Captain decided to review his entry for that day;
• To his amazement the same sailor had added a statement to the Captains dictation;
• He added the words:
• “The Captain was not drunk today”.
• Now the record was true;
• But of course it was also very misleading!
Jesus said in verse 5-6 do not be mislead:
• By religious leaders who; ‘Come in My name’, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near’;
• Jesus makes it clear; “Do not go after them."
• In fact elsewhere in the new Testament (Luke 17 verse 23-24);
• Jesus had made it quite clear that when he returns to the nation of Israel.
• There will be no mistaking him!
• He will be like; “a bolt of lightning which lights up the sky”.
• In other words he is nor returning as a humble carpenter (almost anonymous);
• But next time he is coming like a conquering king with an invading army!
(2). Their will be wars (vs 7-8a):
“When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”
When Jesus spoke these words:
• The Roman empire had been enjoying a long era of peace;
• But about four decades later that would all change.
• In fact Rome would soon have 4 different emperors in one year alone.
• And this political upheavals and military strife:
• Would greatly affect the world of the early Church.
• And Jesus said that political upheavals and military strife:
• Will also mark out the end times as well!
Quote: World Vision:
“Global military expenditure is now running well over $1 million per minute, according to New Internationalist magazine.
One in every five scientists worldwide, is now engaged in military work, and the average military product is 20 times as research-intensive as a civilian product.”
Notice what Jesus says (verse 8):
• “They are the beginnings of birth-pains”
• In other words; “Don’t panic, don’t be frightened”.
• Something better will soon be coming that will change the whole situation.
• Short term these events & signs are sad and part of living in a world gone wrong;
• Long term – be encouraged because they are stepping stones leading on to our final goal.
• By means of them the end of the age is both foreshadowed and brought closer.
(3). Their will natural disasters (vs 8):
“There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines”.
Ill:
• If you go online and search the web;
• You will be amazed at how many famines & earthquakes are taking place at the moment.
It is notable that these events are expressions of instability in the world
• This passage refers to instability in different kinds;
• The passage refers to instability in political, religious and physical spheres.
• Jesus is reminding his disciples that this instability will continue & possibly increase;
• Until the Messiah returns to set up his kingdom.
• With the kingdom of God on earth comes stability that is so desperately missing.
• So all this instability are signs – they are stepping stones leading on to our final goal.
• By means of them the end of the age is both foreshadowed and brought closer.
(4). Their will persecution (vs 12-18):
“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
• In verse 12 Jesus moves from the distant future to the more immediate future;
• And tells the disciples the sort of future they will face!
ill:
These verses read like a summary of the book of Acts:
• Which chronicles the bloody trail of the men and women;
• Who carried the gospel to the ends of the earth.
• That trail, however, didn't end with the close with Acts chapter 28;
• It continues today in the lives of persecuted Christians all over the world.
• And it will continue its rugged course until Christ returns.
• And takes his own to be with himself.
Ill:
• DVD Clip ‘2011 Watch list’ (2 mins 9 secs)
• (http://www.youtube.com/opendoorsuk).
(5). Jerusalem’s destruction - Their will be the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (vs 14-20-):
• In these verses Jesus expounds on what he predicted in verse 1-2 when he said:
• “Not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.
When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong— let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15 Let no-one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out.
16 Let no-one in the field go back to get his cloak.
17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
18 Pray that this will not take place in winter,
19 because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now— and never to be equalled again.
20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no-one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
Jesus uses an expression in verse 14 that comes from the Old Testament book of Daniel:
• 'The abomination that causes desolation'
• In fact Daniel uses it three times:
• (Chapter 9 verse 27, Chapter 11 verse 31, Chapter 12 verse 11)
• 'The abomination that causes desolation'
• Abomination – simply means something that is repulsive/ repugnant to God.
• Desolation means ‘misery, unhappiness, despair, waste, barren’.
The initial fulfilment of these verses happened 70 years after Jesus spoke these words:
• We know that in A.D. 70,
• Jesus' tragic prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman emperor Vespasian:
• Sent his son Titus to crush a Jewish rebellion and destroy Jerusalem.
• He besieged the city for five months,
• Beginning in April when Jerusalem was filled with Passover pilgrims.
• The starving inhabitants were reduced to cannibalism to survive.
• Eventually, the Roman army breached the walls, slaughtered men, women, and children,
• Demolished the city, and destroyed the temple.
Quote:
• According to the Jewish historian Josephus,
• Over 1 million Jews perished in that war, and 97,000 were taken as slaves.
• As so often with Bible prophecy there is an initial fulfilment;
• But there will also be a further fulfilment of these words.
Scholars believe that there will also be a future fulfilment of these verses:
• The book of Revelation talks about the tribulation;
• That word means ‘suffering, distress, pain, trouble’.
• If you are keen you can read those verses in your own time.
• Or the many books that explain and teach on this subject;
• ‘The tribulation at the end of the age’.
(6). Watch out and Do not be deceived (vs 21-27):
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.
22 For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect— if that were possible.
23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 But in those days, following that distress,
'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
26At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
• This tribulation period will climax with the appearing of terrible signs in heaven;
• And worldwide chaos on the earth.
• Verse 27 describes the re-gathering of Israel;
• From the nations to which they have been scattered around the world.
• When they will see their Messiah and trust in him.
Note:
• Some folks are fascinated and study Bible prophecy;
• I freely admit that I struggle with it.
• I was always told to:
• “Leave prophecy for older preachers because they will not be around to see their mistakes”.
• Now don’t this morning get bogged down with the details;
• Look for the bigger outline, the principles these verses bring to us.
I would suggest that there are three big principles to note:
(1). THE RETURN OF CHRIST WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED.
• Nothing like this has ever happened before.
• That is why the writers of the New Testament struggle to find words;
• To describe an event that has no parallel in human history!
(2). THE RETURN OF CHRIST WILL BE UNMISTAKABLE.
• In contrast to the obscurity and weaknesses of his first coming;
• This time Jesus will return in majesty and glory.
• ill: He will come like lightening (Matthew chapter 24 verse 27).
• ill: Every eye will see him (Revelation chapter 1 verse 7).
(3). THE RETURN OF CHRIST WILL BE UNEXPECTED.
• Jesus will return suddenly.
• It will start like any other day.
• ill: The New Testament (1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 2-4) described it;
• As a ‘thief in the night’.
• A thief or a burglar of course strikes when no-one is expecting them!
Note in conclusion:
• Jesus did not want his disciples to get so involved in prophecies of the future;
• That they would neglect the responsibilities of the present!
• Jesus tells a parable in verses 28-31;
• The parable of the fig tree.
• Most trees in Israel were evergreens – so they kept their colour all year round.
• But not so the fig tree was different – it changed during the different seasons.
• It had large leaves in spring time;
• So if you were to look at it and see shoots on the tree;
• It was a clear indication that summer was near.
So says Jesus when you see these signs in chapter 13:
• There will be false messiahs (verse 5-6)
• There will be wars (vs 7-8a):
• There will natural disasters (vs 8):
• There will persecution (vs 12-18):
• The role of Jerusalem and Israel in political turmoil (vs 14-27).
• These are signs that the Lord is coming again!
• Remember signs are only pointers – we don’t look for signs we look for him!
