1 Matthew 24:1-14 Olivet Discourse IM1105

April 18, 2011 Holy Week: Monday

“SIGNS OF THE END TIMES” INTRODUCTION: Today is the Monday of “Holy Week”… 1. The commemoration of the last week of Christ's earthly life prior to His crucifixion, death and resurrection: a. Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) b. Holy Monday (cleansed temple); Tuesday-Wednesday (teaching) c. Maundy Thursday (Lord's Supper) d. Good Friday (Crucifixion) e. Holy Saturday = Black Saturday (tomb) f. Resurrection Day = Easter Sunday 2. During this Holy Week, Jesus delivered some of His most important teachings: a. A series of key parables b. The Olivet Discourse (End Times; Tuesday) c. The Upper Room Discourse (Passover; Thursday) 3. Each year the pastors of Christ Covenant plan a series of messages around Holy Week a. Themes in the Last Week of Christ's Life b. 2007: The Seven Last Words of Christ c. 2008: The Seven “I am’s” of Christ d. 2009: The Chronology of the Events of Holy Week e. 2010: The Egyptian Hallel: Passover (Psalms 114-118; 136) f. 2011: The Olivet Discourse: End Times 4. Why choose the Olivet Discourse for this year’s Holy Week messages and meditations? a. Interest of Christians about the End Times without all the silliness of “Prophecy Conferences” b. In economically troubled times, desire to focus on the Future Life c. A major teaching theme of Jesus before His death d. Placing world events in Biblical Perspective e. Encouragement: Christ controls human history (our lives) 5. One man, two years without work, said to me, “There is a lot of interest on peoples’ part in understanding the end times. This economic collapse is the beginning of the end. Christ is coming soon, and you pastors need to prepare your people. The end of the world has come!” 6. I do not share this brother’s apocalyptic doom, but I do agree that the events of our day point to the imminent return of Christ:

2 a. The State of our American Society b. The Wars and the Terrorisms we face; uprisings in the Middle East c. The events in Japan, the oil spill in the Gulf, Hurricane Katrina d. The rising persecution of the church worldwide e. The Gospel’s victorious advance throughout the world 7. So…we are going to look at the Olivet Discourse during this Holy Week a. “The End Times According to Jesus” b. Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21 c. Matthew 24-25 = Six Messages i. Monday: Signs of the Close of the Age (Ross) ii. Tuesday: The Fall of Jerusalem (Creswell) iii. Wednesday: The Second Coming of Christ (Miller) iv. Thursday: Parable of Ten Virgins (Sylvia) v. Friday: Parable of the Talents (Decker) vi. Easter Sunday: Parable of the Final Judgment (Ross) 8. Please turn to Matthew 24:1-14 and let us look at Jesus’ teaching on “”The Signs of the Close of the Age” a. Context: Jesus has been teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem all week i. Cleansed the temple on Monday ii. Taught in temple during the day iii. Camped out in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (opposite Jerusalem; across the Kidron Valley) b. As Jesus leaves the temple and heads for Mount Olivet on Tuesday evening, He and His 12 Apostles get into a conversation… c. Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 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.” (Matthew 24:1-2) d. Later, over the campfire on Mount Olivet, the Apostles ask Jesus three questions: i. 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?” (Matthew 24:3) ii. First: When will these things be? (i.e., the destruction of the temple) iii. Second: What will be the sign of your coming? (parousia) iv. Third: (What will be the sign of) the close of the age? (end times)

3 e. Jesus answers these three questions and then tells five parables to illustrate His main points. f. Note: Jesus does not answer the questions in the order they are asked, but He does answer all three questions…in this order: i. Signs of the Close of the Age (question #3) ii. The Events of the Fall of Jerusalem (question #1) iii. The Signs of His Second Coming (question #2) 9. Jesus answers the questions about the End Times in a logical order that is also chronological… 10. He begins with the Signs of the Close of the Age: Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 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.” 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?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “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. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 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. (Matthew 24:1-14)

I. THE BEGINNING OF THE “END TIMES” 1. According to Jesus, His resurrection marks the beginning of the “end times” (eschaton) 2. After Christ's resurrection, all of mankind lives in the “last days.” 3. This is clearly set forth by the Apostles’ own understanding of what Jesus taught them: a. In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

4 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:1-8) b. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2) c. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (1 Corinthians 10:11) d. But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (2 Timothy 3:1) e. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. (1 Peter 1:20) f. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (1 Peter 4:7) 4. The End Times began with the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ: the last days “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:17-21) 5. Jesus and the Apostles call this “the close of the ages” a. Greek word sunteleia: consummation, the close, the end, the completion, the finish. b. sunteleias tou aiōnos (consummation of the age) c. aiōn: age, world, order, eternity (from whence we get our word eon = a measure of time or an age of history) 6. According to Jesus Christ, the “end times” are not in the distant future (Book of Revelation) but are the entire New Testament era. a. You and I have always lived in the end times – as have our parents, as will our children. b. The end times (escaton) are earmarked by three distinct sets of signs.

5 i. Generally: the signs of the close of the age ii. Starting earmark: The fall of Jerusalem (70AD) iii. Ending earmark: The return of Christ c. The signs of the “close of the ages” are all around us 7. Jesus now tells us the Seven Signs of the end times or close of the ages…

II. THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES (Matthew 24:4-14) 1. First: False Christs (Messiahs) will come. a. And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4-5) b. Jesus Christ's first concern: Antichrists. i. Anti: another (not “against”) ii. Christos: anointed ones, Christ; Messiah c. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:18-19) d. Please note: “…so now many antichrists have come.” e. The proliferation of cultic and aberrant “Christian” teachers and theologies. (False Christs and False Christianities) 2. Second: The rise in warfare and national conflicts a. 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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… (Matthew 24:6-7a) b. Wars…rumors of wars…nation against nation…kingdom against kingdom. i. More wars (armed conflicts) in the 20th century than any previous century. (5 U.S. wars in my lifetime) ii. Wars of greater scale and destruction (holocausts) iii. Rumors of wars: tense issues leading to the brink of war iv. Nation against nation: age old enemies (USSR/USA) v. Kingdom against kingdom: revolutions, conflicts between “isms”, religious wars 1. The Genocide of Rwanda 2. Muslim Terrorism worldwide 3. Violent Revolutions in Africa & South America

6 c. Examples: Iraq, Afghanistan, Muslim Terrorism, unrest throughout the Middle East, tension in Korea d. Greater number, scope, intensity and destruction 3. Third: The increased occurrence of natural disasters. a. “…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:7b-8) b. Increased frequency of “Acts of God” c. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, blizzards, droughts, famines and pestilence d. Indication of significant climate change with extremes of weather e. Illustration: Tsunami in Indonesia, massive flooding in India, Hurricane Katrina, oil spill in the Gulf, drought and famine in Sudan, earthquake and tsunami in Japan – just to name a few over the last 5 years. f. Global warming, record snowfalls, droughts, torrential rains, floods and water shortages, rough winters and hot summers…all at the same time! 4. Fourth: The rise of persecution of the church worldwide. a. 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. (Matthew 24:9) b. Persecution of the church from four directions: i. Increasing hostility of secular societies (Europe & USA) ii. Systematic oppression by godless states (Communism) iii. Holy War by Muslims against Christians (Jihad) iv. Rising hostility by folk religions (Hinduism in India) c. The Facts: The world is not becoming more secular but more religious, and persecution comes with the clash of religions. d. More people were martyred for Christ in the 20th century that in all previous centuries combined, and the 21st century will be worse. e. Some disturbing facts of world Christianity i. Some disturbing facts…Reality ii. 163,000 Christians die every year for their faith. Half of all the Christians who have ever died for their faith did so in this century alone, some 35 million! 15,000,000 of these were Orthodox or Catholic Christians who died under the Soviet regime between 1917 and 1980, primarily in prison camps. iii. Persecution tends to rise with evangelistic effectiveness. iv. The top ten persecuting countries are: Burma/Myanmar, China, Egypt, Iran, Laos, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan (2 million since 1985), and Vietnam. v. 2025-210,000 (estimate) vi. 1960-1970’s: During the cultural revolution in China, some 400,000 died.

7 vii. 1970’s: Under Idi Amin, 100,000 of the 300,000 killed were Christians. viii. 1994: As many as 500,000 of the 700,000 Rwandans killed were believers. ix. Since 1970: as many as 1,000,000 Christian and Animists have been killed in Sudan by the Muslims of the north f. Persecution is the “context of world Christianity” 5. Fifth: The great apostasy will come. a. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (Matthew 24:10-11) b. skandalizo: to cause to sin, to cause one to give up his/her faith, to reject or have doubts about faith c. Called, in other places of scripture, “the apostasy” i. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. (2 Thess. 2:1-3 NASB) ii. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. (2 Thess. 2:1-3 ESV) iii. apostasia: falling away, apostasy, rebellion d. We are seeing this in the West: Europe, USA, the American youth, New Atheists, the Emergent Church e. A New Kind of Christianity by Brian Maclaren and Love Wins by Rob Bell (Apostasy/ Heresy/Popular Unbelief) 6. Sixth: A lawless society full of loveless people. a. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12) b. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:12-13) c. But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

8 d. A heartless society of self-focused people without a soul e. Breakup of families, breakdown of marriage, vile, rude, crude, contemptuous, violent and angry society f. A virtual world (technology), no personal relationships, isolation, living by your own rules g. The society characterized by three things: i. Lawlessness: no rules or morals ii. Lovelessness: cold hearts and lonely people iii. Lawsuits: litigious and vengeful h. The Biblical description of life in America in 2011 7. Seventh: An enduring church that presses forward in the Great Commission: a. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 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. (Matthew 24:13-14) b. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. (Mark 13:10-12) c. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. (Luke 21:13-19) d. In the midst of all this disorder in the world, the Gospel mission will go forward in power. i. Disorder in religion ii. Disorder among nations (politics) iii. Disorder in nature iv. Disorder through persecution v. Disorder in Christianity (apostasy) vi. Disorder in society and culture e. This creates a fertile ground for the Gospel message and the Gospel mission. f. And so…Christianity is the fastest growing movement in the world, esp. in the “global south” and in the “emerging nations” – China, India, Africa, S.E. Asia, Old Communist bloc, and South America. Even in the Muslim 10-40 window: More and more Muslims are seeking for God, exploring Christianity and converting to Christ.

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III. THE CHALLENGE OF THE END TIMES 1. Jesus does not take a pessimistic view of the End Times: a. It is not all doom ‘n gloom b. Jesus does not hold to a negative Dispensational Eschatology c. Jesus does not call us to “prophecy conferences” and “to ______ with the world”! 2. Jesus Christ calls us to three new perspectives; each emphasized by a different Gospel account of the Olivet Discourse… a. The Gospel Mission: Matthew 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. (Matthew 24:14) b. Preaching to our enemies: Mark And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:10-11) c. Opportunities to witness: Luke This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21:13-15) 3. This is how a true Christian responds to the signs of the “close of the ages”… a. He does not become pessimistic about life, the world, or the church. b. She does not waste time in speculative efforts concerning the antichrist, the rapture or the millennium. c. They do not withdraw from the world and seek to “hold on” until Jesus comes. d. They are not afraid, anxious, or despairing. 4. Instead, the People of God in the world in these last days have always been salt and light in the dark times: a. Enduring in Gospel mission b. Not anxious about the Gospel message c. Settled in their heart about how to witness to a dying world 5. Holy Week calls us to the same perspective on life as that of Jesus Christ: a. In the disturbances of religion, we remain faithful to Christ. b. In the disturbances among nations, we find our security in Christ's Kingdom. c. In the disturbances of nature, we see God’s birth pains of a new world. d. In the disturbances of persecution, we increase our love and support for the brethren worldwide.

10 e. In the disturbances in Christianity, we cling to the faith once for all delivered to the saints. f. In the disturbances of a lawless and loveless society, we grow in grace, in godliness and in love in order to show others “a more excellent way.” 6. Easter season reminds us of these very things – the death of the world and the resurrection of the saints. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)