We hear many voices today declaring that we are near or nearer to the Apocalypse. These words can be disconcerting and frightening. Jesus himself addressed the question of the details of the end of days. Matthew, one of the faithful disciples of Christ, carefully wrote what Jesus told them. And we are the better prepared for the days ahead because of it.
The discourse of Jesus found in Matthew 24-25 is regarding the end of human history as we know it. I challenge you to read both chapters right now. In this chapter we see that there will be the dawn of a totally new era, a new heaven and new earth. But before that newness breaks open there will be much trouble and persecution.
Did you know that Jesus is coming again? He is. And that is a promise, a very great and true promise. At his second coming, life as we know it will change and end. This is not a promise of doom for those who love God and are faithful to his purposes. For theirs is the kingdom of God. It is a promise of doom for those who are rebellious against God.
Doom can be defined as an unhappy destiny or judgment. For those of us who have been acquainted with the Christian walk this is part of the reality we find in Christ. The other part is the reality of forgiveness for sins, the promise of present help in trouble, and the hope of a real life we live with God. For those outside of the faith, it is and should be a terrifying prospect. For God has set a limit on Satan's power and on the length of days evil people can exploit his world.
Just before Jesus entered into his time of trial and crucifixion, he told his disciples about what could be expected during this great final exchange—the ultimate exchange for good to triumph and evil to end.
I do not claim to be an expert on the end times. There are many out there who make this claim and have studied the details of prophecy seeking to make timelines, deadlines and absolute identities of countries and leaders who they feel are the antichrist. I do not do this. We want to learn what Jesus said about this.
I do want to explain two things that I believe. 1) Although there are many theories and theologies about who will be taken when, I believe with all my heart that God will ultimately protect his faithful people. 2) Protection of the highest sort does not necessarily mean the absence of physical suffering or death. Indeed, Jesus himself taught us how to suffer willingly. What we see in these two chapters is the reality of soul-protection from the evil one. Many have gone before us who have suffered and died as martyrs. When faced with the opportunity to deny Christ they did not. Our faith rests beyond the present suffering and in the future joy that has been promised to those who love God with all their heart, soul, body and mind and who love their neighbors as themselves. God's grace will sustain us through many things that we might think we cannot bear. I think of the many Christians who died in the early Roman world. They died by torture, crucifixion, torn apart by animals in arenas and by burning. They did not deny the Christ who gave himself for them. Today many are still subjected to these actions and it is Christ within them, the Hope of glory, who enables them to stand firm, forgive those who persecute and kill them and live victoriously into God's new future. In this light let us enter into the text that Matthew wrote reminding us of what Jesus taught about the end of the age.
In Matthew 24:1-14 Jesus again reminds the disciples that what they see now with their eyes is not the final picture. As much as God commanded the Temple to be built, the greater truth is that God desires to live next to us without walls and curtains and sacrifices. It is God's great work to get us back to his initial plan—a creation where we walk in the cool of the evening with him. So, the disciples were beginning to grasp that this Jesus they knew was the true Messiah and will see to it that the world order they experienced will be totally changed. In Matthew 24 will there are around a dozen signs or indicators of the time of the final reversal of sin. It is clear that we already see some of the signs. But Jesus consoles the disciples by telling them not to be alarmed. Such things must happen. They must happen because evil and Satan are real forces in this world and must be dealt with in a violent way. The whole earth groans and waits for Christ's return and for the way it is supposed to be. Because of that the world is beginning to experience the labor pains necessary for new birth.
You may know of someone who calls themselves the Christ today. I have yet to hear someone say that to me. There are many who portray themselves as having the power of Christ, though. There are many who act like they are God. But the day that I hear someone say on television or in a public meeting that they are the Christ, then I will know the end is near. This sign, combined with others, will be what we have been told to watch for.
Jesus went on to describe the lifestyle for believers during these last days. In verses 9-14 we read about persecution and death, hatred and false prophets, increasing wickedness and love growing cold. Oh friends, we may face some very difficult things. We may be tempted to turn from God because of false prophets. And make no mistake, there are plenty of those out there today! We may betray and hate one another if we allow ourselves to be deceived by the falsehood and lies that surround us. Our hearts may grow cold because we love wickedness more than righteousness.
But our hearts may not grow cold. We may be disgusted by wickedness. We may remain faithful and love one another. That is an option for us! What Jesus gave to all his disciples that day and today is a heads-up on the end of times. We do not have to be surprised or disheartened by the things to come. We have the promise of salvation! And God sees to it that his kingdom is being preached to nation after nation today! By whatever means necessary—be that radio, television, local Church ministries, missionaries risking their lives, neighbor speaking to neighbor—God's Word will go out for salvation!
Let’s look specifically at verses 15-35, please remember that in this chapter are words to guide and comfort believers, as well as a call to repentance for those who have not turned to God. Your response to this text all depends on the choice you have made for or against Jesus Christ.
Jesus was responding to the disciples’ question of when the end of time will come and what the signs of the end of that time will be. You can read in Matthew of several signs which include people claiming to be the Christ, nation rising against nation, famines, earthquakes, persecution, people betraying one another and wickedness increasing. Sounds pretty frightening, doesn't it? But it depends on your choice.
I watched a fascinating documentary on the different ways the women choose to birth their babies. I watched as women paced, mode, cried out and even screamed as the child in the womb became the child in their arms. One of the mothers said that the pain was bad, but since she knew what it was for, she quickly forgot it after she held her baby in her arms. Isn't that wonderful?
And I think that that is God's way for his new creation. We will have to go through a new birth. Even the heavens and the earth have to go through a new birth. I am sure that if you asked any mother experiencing labor pains if they were enjoying the pain they would say no. Labor is not enjoyable. But the outcome of that labor is wonderful! And that makes all the difference.
One of the labor pains that will be experienced will be the "abomination that causes desolation." This concept is one from the Old Testament book of Daniel. You can find specific references to this in Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11. Daniel was a great prophet who lived centuries before Jesus’ arrival on earth. God gave him magnificent and frightening visions of the work that would need to be done as labor pains before all that newness broke through. Jesus’ reference to this abomination would have been common knowledge for anyone who had grown up in and around the synagogues.
For centuries many people have conjectured
what this abomination is. There is no final answer. Some, in fact, believe that
it has already happened. When Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans,
they replaced symbols of God's presence inside the temple with symbols of the
so-called divine Roman Emperor who was worshiped in that area. It would be
fruitless for us to decide that that was absolutely the fulfillment of Daniel's
prophecy, for indeed we do not know for certain. But it was a great and
terrible thing to hang a false god’s symbol inside the house of the one true
God! Perhaps this particular instance was just another stroke of labor pain.
What can we take note of in Matthew 24:15-35? People will need to flee from the great persecution. Movement will be restricted because of the great dangers. It will be very difficult for women actually pregnant and nursing. These women need a great deal of safety, rest and protection during these times. For them it will be most difficult. There will be great trouble for everyone, more than anyone has experienced before. Even believers will be tempted to go along with the false prophets. But many will stand against that temptation. This sounds so much like things that are happening in our world today. Friends, are you listening to the times?
Jesus continued to console the believers by telling them that God will still be looking out for those who love him by cutting this time of labor short. Thanks be to God for this promise! How dreadful it would be otherwise.
There will be more signs. The things that we set our days, clocks and maps by will no longer be sources of security. The sun and moon will be darkened. Then, and only then, will the Light of the world break in on us.
In verses 30-31 we read of the final sign of his coming. If you are looking for signs and wonders, look for these, my friend! The coming Messiah, the Son of Man, will explode into the darkness with his wonderful and glorious light. No one will miss this coming. It will be apparent to all.
And what will be the response from humanity? Mourning. In one incredible revelation every human being will be confronted with the purity and holiness of Messiah Triumphant. The only response to the pure and holy God from impure people will be the stark reality of our nakedness and the sinful world. We will weep with the knowledge of how little we knew about him. We will crumble to the ground in grief, understanding how many times we have failed him as his creatures.
Then a beautiful and glorious thing will happen. The angels themselves will call his beloved ones, the ones who have received him as their God and Savior, and draw them out of the rubble of weeping humanity to God himself. This is God's goal through all the labor pains. As it was in the Garden of Eden, so it will be in the new heaven and the new earth.
The coming Messiah has given us wonderful words. Do not be afraid, my believing friend. He will never give you anything you cannot handle and his presence will be in your life. Be aware of the signs of the coming Messiah and rest in his promise of ultimate protection and eternity with him.
Do be afraid, unbeliever, for your fate is worse than death itself. There is time to repent now there will not be time when you are placed in eternal hell. He wanted you to be free so badly that he sent his one and only Son to die for your sins. He planned ahead of time for your salvation. God loves you so much that he sent his only Son, the coming Messiah, to cover your sins and the sins of the world by his precious blood, to rise again victorious after his bodily death, then to come back a second time to absolutely redeem you and his world. Ask him to forgive you and protect you today and the Coming Messiah will receive you.
Make your list of the signs, friend. Memorize them because Jesus taught us that his words will never pass away. Even in the midst of tribulation his Word will keep you safe with hope and alert with joy. Watch the world as it turns in the human community and as it moves into labor. Everyone who hears these words must repent in order to receive the consolation of the Triumphant Messiah.
Amen
© M.R.Hyde 2024
