Matthew 24:1-14 | Things To Come - Part 1 | Matthew Dodd

again I am so excited to be teaching through the Gospel of Matthew with you all we are making our way through with quick speed we are in Matthew chapter 24 it only took us a little over a year to get there but we are going to camp out here because there's some important things that we're going to be studying tonight in Matthew chapter 24 looking at the first fourteen verses in fact it's a series that we're gonna have here and the title of my message is things to come things to come please join me as I pray father we thank you so much for this privilege now to study your word and we thank you Father that when it comes to the end times when it comes to the return of Jesus Christ father that you want us to know to be informed to not be in the dark and we thank you that you've given us your word the inspired inerrant word so that we may know understand and be ready we pray father God that you will use tonight to awaken us to sharpen us to strengthen us we pray this in Jesus name and all of God's people said amen and amen now you just bring up the topic of the end of the world and it immediately raises all sorts of questions for people questions like when will the end of the world happen other questions like how will the world end another one who is the Antichrist what country or ethnicity will he come from how about this one what is the mark of the beast and for us as Christians what's going to happen to the church during the Great Tribulation Period and speaking of the church you know there have been many predictions about when the church will be raptured the other day I heard about this retired engineer who a number of years ago name was Edgar Weis intent he wrote a book called 88 reasons why the rapture will be in 1988 and the book which he self-published placed the expected date between September 11th and September 13 1988 and it was a huge bestseller 4.5 million copies were sold and then he went on to say and I quote because he truly believed he had the right date he said this quote only if the Bible is in ere am I wrong and I say that to every preacher in town I would stake my life on Rosh Hashanah 1988 well you know what happened its 2019 well it didn't stop him though guess what he did he kept on having these books that predicted when the rapture would happened like 1989 1993 1994 all the way through to 1997 he would publish these books they didn't sell as much as the previous ones but he kept right on making those predictions here's the thing God wants you and me to know about the end of the world and that's why he's given us his word so that we may know the truth and discern the lies and be prepared for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ so tonight we will begin this series called things to come which is going to delve into the questions about the end times as we study the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 24 and chapter 25 and now just as a brother in Christ this is what my prayer is I don't want this to be something where we just become puffed up with knowledge it's more than that I care about you I love you and I feel like there's a huge responsibility on me I know pastor rich feels the same way to rightly divide the word because I believe as we rightly understand the Word of God our faith is going to be strengthened I also believe our love will increase and I also believe it will deepen our hope for the return of our Savior Jesus Christ that's my prayer let's begin in verse 1 of Matthew 24 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when his disciples came up to the point to came up to point out the temple buildings to him and he said to them do you not see all these things truly I say to you not one stone here will be left upon another which will not be torn down as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives the disciples came to him privately saying tell us when will these things happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age jesus answered and said to them see to it that no one misleads you for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will mislead many you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars see that you are not frightened for those things must take place but that is not yet the end for nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes but all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another many false prophets will arise and will mislead many because lawlessness is increased most people's love will grow cold but the one who endures to the end he will be saved 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 now Matthew 24 and 25 is commonly called the Olivet discourse because Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives just east of Jerusalem while he taught his disciples the Olivet discourse is the third of three long teachings of Jesus and I find this very encouraging God by giving us this much real estate in the Gospel of Matthew is communicating a message to you and to me I want you to know about the end times now to get a sense of the context it will be helpful to imagine the city of Jerusalem Herod's temple stood at the eastern edge of the city with the eastern gate overlooking the Kidron Valley now continuing East from the Kidron Valley you come to the Garden of Gethsemane and this is where Jesus spent much time with his disciples and you know as well as I this is where he also spent the last night in prayer to the father before his arrest and crucifixion now as you continue further east you climb the Mount of Olives which stands about 500 feet higher than Jerusalem now in those days they were covered with olive trees but they were all later destroyed by the Roman armies this message that Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives it actually began in Jerusalem in Matthew 23 you see Jesus had just finished rebuking the Jewish leaders for their hypocrisy because they had rejected him and so Matthew records in Matthew 23 verses 37 through 39 Jerusalem Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her how often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings and you were unwilling behold your house is being left to you desolate for I say to you from now on you will not see me until you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord and there he's quoted quoting from psalm 118 verse 26 which was a messianic declaration so he just gets done saying this and here we see that Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem which I believe must have shocked the religious leaders the crowd and also his disciples because Herod's temple was awe-inspiring any who looked upon it they were overwhelmed by its beauty and majesty now since the temple has been a focal point of Jewish history and also for what will transpire in the latter days I think it's important for us to understand some of its history which I'd like to share with you now according to second Samuel Chapter seven King David he wanted to build a house for the Lord he lived in a palace and here the Ark of the Covenant was in a tent so he added in his heart I want to build a house for the Lord but God said no you will not build a house for me because you're a man of war and bloodshed but your son Solomon who will come after you he will build the house because he will be a man of peace well that didn't stop David he thought why might not build the house but I will do this I will get all the materials ready so my son can build the house of the Lord without delay and Solomon's Temple was considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world but in 586 BC it was completely destroyed by the Babylonians who sacked the city and also took most of the population into exile in Babylon the temple itself was actually burned to extract the gold for which it was so famous 70 years later some Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and they were permitted to rebuild the temple and the city but the Second Temple never attained to the glory of Solomon's Temple now about 500 years later Herod the Great decided to rebuild the temple he wanted to add height to it and link to it and splendor to it he was hoping to build a bridge because the Jews didn't like him because he wasn't a Jew he also and he was an amazing architect wanted to leave a name for himself as well so he spared no expense he literally according to Josephus employed thousands of the best architects craftsmen and stonemasons to build the temple and he built the temple get this with great white marble on slabs of rock the size of which 50 feet by 11 feet by 16 and a half feet weighing 500 to 600 tons it gets better each block was carved and ground into squared edges to create joints that were so precise you couldn't even insert a knife blade between them so the disciples they're processing what Jesus just said just moments before and they begin to point out to Jesus the magnificence of Herod's temple as they were leaving and their comments prompted Jesus to say in verse 2 do you not see all these things truly I say to you not one stone here will be left upon another which will not be torn down well again they're shocked and we're told in mark chapter 13 verse 3 that it was actually Peter James John and Andrew who in private kind of the leader of the Apostles the leader of the Apostles going private to talk to Jesus about these things and in essence they asked Jesus to questions in verse three first when will the temple be destroyed and number two what will be the sign of your coming at the end of the age now again you got to put yourself in their shoes they're wandering here if Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed then how will there be a nation for Messiah to rule now it's important to note as well that the apostle Matthew does not record Jesus answer to the first question but it's recorded in the Gospel of Luke Luke 21 verse 20 but when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then recognize that her desolation is near and Jesus prophecy came to pass exactly as he said it would in 880 66 the Jewish nation revolted against Rome and the Roman general Vespasian besieged the city but immediately he was called back to Rome because Emperor Nero had committed suicide so the Roman general Titus he destroyed Jerusalem and the soldiers literally removed every ounce of gold from the temple by setting on fire and overturning every stone and do we have anybody here going with us to Israel in September yes a few of you wonderful guess what you will actually see those stones from Herod's temple that were overturned and limestone burns and so you'll still see the burn marks from the fire set by Titus now this is so important for us to see that Jesus is answering his disciples and it's a prophecy that I believe is not only relevant for the future but I believe it's also relevant for our day because as we will see we are now living in the last days therefore the signs of his return are for all of us since the prophecy was given so that we may make our lives ready and the first thing I want to highlight is this there will be tribulation before the Great Tribulation there will be tribulation before the Great Tribulation let me explain what I mean the Bible declares that there will be a seven year period called the Great Tribulation it's also known as the time of Jacob's trouble the day of the Lord and Daniels 70th week based on Daniel chapter 9 verses 24 through 27 and we're gonna delve into these things as we continue to make our way through now one thing that's really important for us to understand is what's God's purpose behind having a tribulation we know it's gonna happen but but why would God do this what's the point first the Great Tribulation will focus on Israel remember that because this becomes very important later discussion in regards to the church it's Israel centered it's Israel focused well what is God trying to do with Israel he's refining he's preparing Israel for the coming of their king why so that they may enter in and enjoy the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ that's number one number two the Great Tribulation will be Universal in scope remember that because this also plays a key role with regards to the church during the Tribulation Period it is universal and scope meaning there's no place to escape from it it's a divine judgment upon creation the outpouring of God's wrath on unbelieving humanity and every rebellious nation maybe here thinking well that seems kind of harsh but I want you to see something God's heart his heart is that people will turn that people will repent so that they too may enjoy the return of Messiah see when God is doing these things he's doing it for a reason he's sending a message time is running out choose today whom you will serve in his heart and making the cry and making it clear is that people will choose Jesus and we know from the book of Revelation that there will be many who will be tribulation Saints who will also be martyred for their faith but what they give up in this life can't be compared to what they gain in Jesus Christ now what Jesus Christ describes and this is important in verses four through 14 can be taken as a general overview of what will happen during the Great Tribulation Period it's an overview in fact some Bible scholars some of the ones that I studied under at Dallas Theological Seminary they look at what happens here in verses 4 through 14 and they tie it to Revelation chapter 6 and the opening of the sealed judgments ok we'll go into this later on but and this is my perspective I've also talked to pastor rich about this as well this is where he stands while there may be parallels it's also important for us to see that many of the things mentioned in verses 4 through 14 are applicable for us and consistent with the words that Jesus shared in the Upper Room during the Last Supper when he said in John 16 verse 33 these things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace in the world look at this you have tribulation but take courage I have overcome the world that's a good word in this world we will have tribulation in this world whenever we stand for Jesus Christ the darkness is going to confront it and whenever light confronts darkness there's tribulation that's the idea and so it's important for us to understand though in the middle of that tribulation notice what should characterize us as believers in Jesus Christ not anxiety not fear not anger not hatred peace peace why because our Savior has over come you see today we are witnessing what I believe is the beginning of the birth pangs mentioned in verse 8 therefore those components listed in verses 4 through 14 are present now but this is important they will intensify as time draws near for the beginning of the Great Tribulation Period and the coming of the Antichrist now as it's true with labor and the delivery of a baby the birth pangs will increase in intensity while the time between the contraction decreases and I know these things because I play a doctor on TV ok I always just wanted to save that ok but what kind of people must we be we must be ready for many anti Christ's will mislead many it's true what's gonna happen in the Tribulation Period but even now many Antichrist will lead mislead many jesus warned in verses 4 through 5 see to it that no one misleads you for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will list mislead many in other words there will be many who will falsely claim to be the Messiah or a prophet or will use false signs and wonders to deceive people into believing their claims now notice that Jesus said there will be many which has been confirmed historically ever since Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father therefore this appears to be a general prophecy since there will be one who is the Antichrist the Beast that is mentioned in the book of Revelation and also in verse 15 in fact when I was going to Dallas Theological Seminary I had this professor by the name of Dwight Pentecost now is that a great last name for a seminary professor or what and he was the most amazing teacher I had him for the teaching of the Gospels Daniel of the book of Revelation the book of Hebrews amazing teacher and remember as we're studying through the book of Revelation it was his conviction that in every generation Satan has reserved one to be the Antichrist in the event that God says now is the time when you look at historically you see that there been many who could qualify to fill those shoes but the time is not yet now of course there have been many modern examples of those who claim to be the Messiah Simon moon of the unification Church David Koresh ever hear of him down there in Waco Texas of the Branch Davidians what I find is interesting is that there are parallels between what Islam holds for there are some who hold to this idea of a 12th Imam have you ever heard of that before the 12th Imam when you actually do a study of the 12th Imam and compare it to the attributes of the Antichrist the similarities are striking let me give you just a few number one the 12th Imam will be an anointed ruler or leader and he will come as a great spiritual Savior but listen to this they also believe he will rule over the world from Jerusalem for seven years fascinating but the question for us today is how can we discern if someone is one of these many antichrists what are the signs of that number one an antichrist is anyone who rejects that Jesus is the Christ in a general sense it'll be true of the Antichrist but even today if anyone rejects that Jesus is the Christ they are literally wearing the mantle of an antichrist first John 2:18 through 19 and verse 22 John says children it is the last hour and just as you heard that the Antichrist is coming look at this even now many Antichrist have appeared from this we know that it is the last hour now I want you to look at these next words here they went out from us but they were not really of us for if they had been of us they would have remained with us but they went out so that it would be shown that they all are not of us verse 22 who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the christ this is the antichrist the one who denies the father and the son now what's striking about this is that these Antichrist that he's referring to were once part of their fellowship they were once in the group but over time it became clear that they were tears not wheat they weren't sheep they were wolves in sheep's clothing and that's exactly what the enemy wants to do he wants to lead even the elect if that were possible astray so how do I know if someone is wearing that mantle of the Antichrist they will deny that Jesus is the Christ and when they deny that Jesus is the Christ guess what they also deny the father and the son because you can't have the father without the son because Jesus is the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through Jesus amen this is all important for us to see here number two Antichrist is anyone who denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh this is really important because even in Christian circles we tend to emphasize the deity of Jesus Christ but did you know it's equally important to emphasize his humanity because if he didn't come in the flesh we don't have a representative to die on the cross for our sin and to pay the penalty of it we are still in our sin so he must be fully God and fully man and that's why we're told in first John four verses one through three beloved do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world by this you know the Spirit of God every spirit that confesses that Jesus here it is has come in the flesh is from God and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God this is the spirit of the Antichrist of which you have heard that it is coming and now is already in the world number three an Antichrist is anyone who teaches a message contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ that we are saved by God's grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone that's why Paul was so strong in his words to the Galatians in Galatians chapter 1 verses 6 through 80 because I'm amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by your works no by the grace of Christ for a different gospel which is really not another because anything that's not of grace is not good news we're still striving that's his point only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what you have to what we have preached to you he is to be a curse call it out we need to be right in terms of who we say Jesus is and we need to be correct in terms of how we are saved and the enemy is looking to pick people off by denying that the deity of Christ the humanity of Christ and how we're saved in Christ the next thing we see here is found in verse 6 that global chaos will increase and when you look at the world today doesn't it feel like things are amping up doesn't it feel like someone took the lid off a Pandora's box and things are getting crazy all the time I thought it was just restricted to Portland that Portland is crazy but it's really spreading throughout the whole world here we see that Jesus said the birth pangs will include wars and rumors of wars verse 6 now interestingly Jesus said see to it that you're not frightened for those things must take place but that is not yet the end now typically when people hear war or rumors of war they become afraid but I love what Jesus is saying to us his people don't be afraid don't be afraid when nation rises up against nation don't be afraid when Kingdom rises up against Kingdom why because it's part of God's plan he's factored it into the equation and he's working all things together for good for the return of his son our Savior Jesus Christ you see when everything has fallen apart our God is still on the throne and he is in control next we see in verse 7 there will be famines and earthquakes which will impact various regions of the earth and will increase in intensity and frequency as the Great Tribulation nears and then when you enter into the Great Tribulation it is madness no I found this study that basically looked at 38 year intervals the number of earthquakes since in 1863 that were a magnitude 7.0 or higher listen to this from 1863 to 1900 there were 12 earthquakes 7.0 or higher 1901 to 1938 it jumps to 53 1939 to 1976 it jumps to 71 1977 to 2014 164 interesting and 190 are estimated for the next 38 year period there will also be an increase of lawlessness and unrighteousness so much so that the love of many will grow cold in the last days I feel like that really fits even today all you got to do is read the news or turn on the news and what do you hear stuff that just grieves your heart if if you have one if not that should alarm you that you have apathy too towards it I mean I just yesterday maybe you saw it in the news there's this nine one one dispatcher in Arkansas she put in her two weeks notice that was the last day she was gonna be done being a 911 dispatcher she gets a call from a woman in a submerged car evidently some torrential rains came by and so she was in a very bad way and so they have the recording of this 911 this poor woman who's trapped in her car she begins to say please help me I don't want to die I can't swim please help me I'm scared I'm I'm afraid I'm gonna drowned well the dispatcher she actually says to this woman shut up shut up it's all on the the transcript then she goes on to say well this will teach you next time don't drive in the water and then the lady drowned those were the words she heard what's going on in our world babies can be born but then put to death after they're born you see things are gonna get worse and what's happening people don't value other people because they don't see us made in the image of God Paul says in the second Timothy 3 verses 1 through 4 but realize this that in the last days difficult times will come for men will be lovers of self lovers of money boastful arrogant revilers disobedient to parents ungrateful unholy unloving irreconcilable malicious gossips without self-control brutal haters of good treacherous reckless conceited lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God oh there's a whole lot of love going on it's just directed in the wrong 'we direct it in the wrong way verses 9 and 10 persecution will increase and we have it really well here in the united states but there are the places where christians are suffering for the name of jesus christ and we must not think it will not cross into our shores we need to be ready we need to be alert and we also see in verse 14 the gospel is gonna spread and be proclaimed to the whole world and so you see this constant tension this warfare the gospel is gonna go out but there's going to be resistance to it paul saw it in 2nd Corinthians 16 verse 9 he says for a wide door for effective service has opened to me and there are many adversaries so it shouldn't surprise us when that happens but we also need to see it this way it is God's good news and the gates of Hell will not prevail against what God is doing through the church and he will not leave himself without a witness his word will be triumphant and everything that he said he will do and that's why Jesus said in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it you know we know how this book ends have you read the last chapter I have our God wins amen our God wins so what kind of people must we be I believe God wants you and me to be the kind of people that let our light shine we need to let our light shine because things are gonna go from bad to worse things are going to get darker so now it's time to let your little light shine how so glad you asked keep the faith number one keep you see when times get tough I think it's easy to question it God loves us God even knows what we're going through or if even has the power to do anything about it but when we stand firm in our faith we are confident that our gods on the throne when we stand by faith we also know that our God is for us who can be against us and we also know that when we stand by faith that we can have a boldness that will not be shaken by the tribulations of life faith is the victory first John 5:4 for whatever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith faith in what my self dead end another human being bad choice a politician not a good idea what or more importantly who Jesus you see he's the victories victorious one so therefore I have the victory because his victory becomes mine that's what overcomes the world number two overcome evil with good keep the faith overcome evil with good you see when evil knocks on our doors and and threatens our lives I believe it's so easy for the flesh to immediately rise up and seek revenge to return evil for evil but Paul says in Romans chapter 12 verse 21 do not become over don't be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good well how do I do that Jesus gives us the answer Matthew chapter 5 verses 44 and 45 I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven love your enemies hey just because everyone else's love is growing cold doesn't mean yours has to Jesus would go on to say when the Son of Man returns will he find faith just because other people's faith is growing cold doesn't mean yours has to it's a choice and this is a good word keep the faith overcome evil with good by excelling in love that's a good word it's a word that will keep us anchored as the birth pangs of the last days increase and it begins with Jesus do you love him do you believe him let me put it to you this way are you here tonight and do you love the appearing of Jesus that the appearing the return of Jesus is changing your now today it motivates you that you're like what you see in the book of Revelation at the very end revelation 22 John says come Lord Jesus come Lord Jesus I I believe that's the right heart but I also believe God wants to increase it still or and he's waiting for you and me to say Lord strengthen my faith and deepen my love as I fix my eyes on Jesus the author and the perfecter of faith will you ask that of the Lord tonight let's pray father we thank you so much for this time to be in your word and that's our prayer strengthen our faith father for any who are tonight going through tribulation going through difficult times strengthen their faith show them that you're for them not against them for any who feel like their their love is growing cold light a fire there's a root of bitterness father God brings forgiveness show them the love that you have for them so that they can be liberated from that thing that's holding it back and causing their heart to grow cold Church with eyes closed heads bowed if you're here tonight miss and Lord strengthen my faith increase my love I want the return of Jesus Christ to change my every day would you just raise your hand and tell that to the Lord Lord we thank you that your word is sure and true Jesus is coming back again and we want to be ready you see the hands that are raised even now Minister Minister strengthen and bless those who are responding draw them to you strengthen them in you and we would hear you say with some day well done my good and faithful servant we pray this in Jesus name and all of God's

Channel: Calvary Chapel Worship Center - Hillsboro, Oregon

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Keywords: The Bible, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy, Pastor Rich Jones, Pastor Matthew Dodd, Calvary Chapel, Faith, Grace, Revival, Truth, Prayer, Salvation, Calvary Chapel Hillsboro, Exodus, Matthew

Id: jGPvflMTNhY

Length: 43min 50sec (2630 seconds)

Published: Sun Sep 01 2019