WEBVTT 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:02.879 Turn to the Gospel of Matthew. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:08.480 It will be in Matthew 24 this morning. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:16.239 If you happen to be using the Pew Bible, you'll find that on page 879. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:20.879 That's the first book of our Christian New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:36.079 And has uh as Pastor Doug has also offered, if you don't have a Bible at all in your possession, if you want to take that Pew Bible and let that be an encouragement to cherish it and read it, please feel free to do that. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:46.479 Matthew 24, I'm going to be reading for us verses 27 through verse 31. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:54.880 Matthew 24, verses 27 through 31. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:57.679 This is God's word. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:08.640 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:13.439 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:25.920 Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:39.280 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:49.280 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:57.439 We need the Holy Spirit, we need you to speak. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.680 Just human speaking is not enough. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:01.120 We need the divine voice. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:09.120 So give us humility and a readiness to receive it, and only your words may those words last, not my words. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:11.199 In Jesus' name, Amen. 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:18.159 The Son of Man is coming and we must be ready. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:24.479 The Son of Man is coming and we must be ready. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:35.599 If you were here last week, Pastor Doug was introducing chapter 24, this section of Matthew's gospel, and he encouraged us to honor Christ from our hearts. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:44.159 This is not a passage that's primarily about getting a perfect timeline in order, or certainly not about setting a specific date. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:49.360 But we do need to be ready because the Son of Man is coming. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:03:03.599 This section of Matthew's Gospel is sometimes called the Olivet Discourse, because when Jesus gave this teaching, he was on the Mount of Olives, Olivet, Mount of Olives, with his disciples. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.520 And that location is has some significance. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:18.479 If you look back in the book of Ezekiel, and Pastor Doug brought this out last week, in the book of Ezekiel, the nation of Israel is turned away from God. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:24.000 Its leaders are largely false leaders, and God judges them. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:34.000 And a part of the sign of that judgment is Ezekiel portrays the glory of the Lord that was filling the temple, departs. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:39.680 It leaves that house, that temple, and it goes and it stops on a mountain east. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:47.120 In our passage, at the beginning of our passage, Jesus Christ is on the Mount of Olives. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:53.840 He's the very glorious presence of the Lord to dwell with humanity. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:04:07.680 He's been talking about the temple and the temple complex and even in that region, and now he leaves the temple and goes east, and he's going to pronounce judgment on the people. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:10.240 So there's a pattern there. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:18.079 If you look back in chapter 23, verse 38, he'd already said your house will be left desolate. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:26.079 And then the disciples ask, and he continues to talk more about some of those themes in this chapter. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:29.920 Now at the beginning of the chapter, the disciples ask about two things. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:34.160 They say, When will be these, when will these things take place? 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:38.240 The destruction of the temple that he talks about in the first part of the chapter. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:43.439 And then they also ask about the sign of his coming in the end of the age. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:53.600 So as Doug brought out, it's not always easy in this chapter to see when Christ responds to their questions. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:58.079 Where is he leaving off one idea and picking up another? 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:02.079 Where is he talking about the destruction of the temple? 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:04.399 And that happened in the first century. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.079 And then his final return, that happens years later. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:09.920 It hasn't happened yet. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:16.639 But there's a pattern there in the way that Jesus talks about this destruction. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:19.920 There's a pattern and even his geographical movement. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:25.040 And we're going to see other patterns, not the last pattern in this chapter. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:30.800 Now, a lot of us haven't thought a lot about that event that took place in the first century. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:38.079 So just to give a little bit of historical context, Jesus here is teaching, it's about 30 AD. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.800 At that time, the Jewish people had a temple in Jerusalem. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:46.319 They were allowed to worship, but the Romans occupied that territory. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:47.920 They were under Roman rule. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:59.600 About 35 years after Jesus finishes this teaching time, some Jewish people revolted and tried to take back Jerusalem for Jewish control rather than Roman control. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:01.439 And they were somewhat successful in that. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:19.680 But then five years later, so 40 years after Jesus speaks of these things, the Romans come in and they squashed that Jewish uprising and they desecrate the temple, and there's bloodshed, and it's an awful scene. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:23.519 You can read about some of those things in Josephus, who writes about that. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:41.839 But again, Matthew, as he as he as he tells us what Jesus said, and as Jesus speaks here, these things are woven together, that nearer destruction of the temple and the farther appearance of his coming. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.120 And that's not altogether unusual in prophecy. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.079 Sometimes in prophecy, it's like a mountain range. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:59.920 If you remember from what Doug said, when you look at a mountain range in the distance, the mountains appear stacked close together, and you can't tell exactly how far out one event, one mountain is from the other. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.000 That's a little bit what's going on here. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:12.639 And as Pastor Doug said, some Christians look at this chapter, Matthew 24, and they think it's really all about the past. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:18.079 It's all about what was going to happen in the near term when the Romans were going to come in. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:29.920 Other Christians, they look at this chapter, and for them, it's really all about the future, about events that are going to take place surrounding the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:41.120 Doug represents a third category, and I'm in this category too, who see both the past and the future brought together in this chapter. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:50.480 All Christians should be able to agree that the Son of Man is coming and we must be ready. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.279 There's our big idea for today. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:57.519 I'm going to start this morning by looking at one section of Matthew 24. 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:02.079 I'm going to look at the verses that I read at the beginning, verses 27 through 31. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:04.560 That's one section of this larger block. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:09.920 And this section is going to illustrate some of the challenges that Pastor Doug alluded to. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:13.360 It's also, it should help bolster our confidence. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:14.639 The Son of Man is coming. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:16.000 We must be ready. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:19.360 Now I'm going to do something I don't normally do in a sermon. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:27.040 I'm going to walk through a viewpoint that I don't think is complete enough. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:28.800 I don't entirely agree with it. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:36.960 It's a viewpoint that I think focuses too excessively on the past and doesn't cast us forward enough to the future. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:48.320 Like just give us what it means, what we can do, why are you going to go through something? 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:51.200 We don't need every theory out there, just cut to the chase. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:58.559 I have a reason for doing this, a couple of reasons, and I'll tell you what those reasons are after I explain the view. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:10.240 So, uh as I've mentioned, there are some Christians who see this chapter as really all about the past, all about the first century, what was going to come in AD 70. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:13.360 Why do they think that's the case? 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:19.360 And I'm not, just to be clear, they're not saying that Jesus won't come in the future. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:22.399 They just don't think that's what this chapter is really about. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:34.639 And they would say, even the verses that I read, verse 27, the stars falling from the sky, verse 29, the clouds, verse 300 man coming on the clouds, the lightning flashing. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:37.679 Even that is about the past. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:44.240 I know for a lot of you that's kind of a new thought and probably a very strange thought. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:49.360 What do stars falling from the sky have to do with the Roman army, what they did 2,000 years ago? 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:51.519 Let me give a few of their arguments. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:59.759 Number one, Jesus gives us a time frame, the disciples' own lifetime, not some distant time frame. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:01.600 Look at verse 34. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:09.840 Jesus says, Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:12.559 What had the disciples been asking about? 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:14.080 Destruction of the temple. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:16.159 When did the destruction of the temple take place? 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:17.919 40 years after he said that. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:19.600 That's about a generation. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:25.440 So Jesus' final return didn't happen within 40 years, that generation. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:29.519 But that's okay because Jesus wasn't talking about his final return. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:36.240 He was talking about the work that he was going to do providentially through the Romans in judging those people. 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:39.679 Verse 29, one of the verses that I did read. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:52.000 And by the way, if you want, you can go back and look at, you could Google this afternoon, the way that Matthew uses that phrase, this generation, he normally uses it the way that we use it, the people that are alive at this time. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:11:00.559 So they would say, to make this generation about a certain race of people or some later generation, why not just take what he says at face value? 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.480 This generation is this generation. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:07.840 Verse 29, that verse begins immediately. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.679 It says here there's another time frame. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.480 He doesn't say at some point in the future or even near, immediately. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.879 He's been talking about this destruction, and then immediately something happens. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.480 So that's that's the first argument. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:33.120 Number two, in the Bible, when God judges different groups of people throughout history, at times that judgment is described with similar, vivid, catastrophic language. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:38.159 The verses that I read, there's the language of cosmic upheaval. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:41.440 Sun's going dark, stars are falling. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.320 When we hear that, we think, well, that's a wrap. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.840 I mean, if the stars are falling, that's that's the end of the world as we know it. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:52.000 Sky's going to be rolled up like a scroll, judgment, new creation. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:12:01.919 But sometimes in the Old Testament, that same language is used when God brings judgment to bear on a specific people in a specific place. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:07.440 For example, Isaiah 13, verse 1 is a pronouncement of judgment against Babylon. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:14.799 And then verse 10 of Isaiah 13 says, Indeed, the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.759 The sun will be dark. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:18.159 When it rises, the moon will not shine. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:26.720 In Ezekiel 32, there's a pronouncement of judgment against the Pharaoh of Egypt, a specific person at a specific time. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:32.080 And God says, When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:36.559 I will darken all the shining lights in the heavens over you and bring darkness on you. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:39.600 This is the declaration of the Lord. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.600 So why would it be described that way? 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:49.360 When the Babylonian Empire came crashing down, the whole universe didn't come to an end. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:53.919 When the Egyptian Empire came crashing down, the whole universe didn't come to an end. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:57.840 No, but their worlds came to an end. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:00.960 Their whole world came crashing down. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:10.240 And sometimes the prophets use a vivid poetic language to help capture the emotion of these particular events. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:18.639 So these people that would that would that would focus on the past when it comes to Matthew 24, they would say something similar is going on here. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:30.399 It's the very same language is being used when 8070 happens and there's bloodshed and the Jews' worship is is is stamped out and it's a horrific thing. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.559 It was as if their world came crashing down. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:35.279 It was horrible for them, for the ethnic people. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:41.360 Number three, in verse 30 of Matthew 24, so hopefully you're still there. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.080 Stay with me. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:50.320 I know this is the focus today, but Matthew 24, verse 30, the Greek word for peoples sometimes means tribes. 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:54.399 And the Greek word for earth sometimes means land. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:58.159 If you're looking at our Pew Bible, it actually gives a little letter. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:02.480 If you look down in the footnote, it'll give you that alternate translation. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:12.399 So most of your translations read that the peoples of the earth will mourn, but you could translate it, the tribes of the land will mourn. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:22.639 So the people that want to bring it back exclusively to the past will say, Well, Jesus isn't saying everyone on planet earth is going to mourn. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:29.759 He's saying the tr ethnic tribes within the land of Israel will mourn when the Romans attack them. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:36.480 Fourth, in verse 30, it speaks of the Son of Man coming in the clouds. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.799 And that's one real well, wait a minute here. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.080 The Son of Man coming in the clouds, that didn't happen in the first century. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.919 That's going to happen in the future. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:56.559 But these friends of ours would say, and again, if they're, if, if they're seeing the whole of scripture, they'll agree Christ is returning, but they'll say, that language is not original to Jesus. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:59.919 He said it, but he drew it from the book of Daniel. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:09.919 In Daniel chapter 7, it says in verse 13, suddenly, one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.759 Son of man, clouds of heaven. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.120 You hear the same language. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.600 But then listen to what Daniel says. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:21.600 He approached the ancient of days and was escorted before him. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:30.559 Daniel seems to say he's coming in the clouds to be escorted into the presence of God. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:35.600 Not that he's coming through the clouds to return again. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:42.159 So they would say, see there, Daniel uses the same language to talk about Christ's exaltation and enthronement. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:46.799 And don't we see that in Acts chapter one, where he goes up in the clouds to the Father's right hand? 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:50.080 Doesn't Acts chapter two talk about him reigning from heaven? 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.759 What does he do as the reigning king? 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:55.600 He pours out his spirit, he saves this remnant of Jewish people. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:06.320 But also, they would say, one of his great dramatic acts as the reigning king is to allow the Romans to judge these people who have rejected him during his lifetime. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:08.480 His blood be on us and on our children. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:13.120 You've asked for it, and the Son of Man is here going to allow it. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:19.519 Those are some of the reasons why some people would want to really zero in on the past. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:25.519 Now, as I said already, I think that's too much of an exclusive focus on the past. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.960 I think we need to be casting our eyes forward to the future. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:32.399 I'm going to give you one reason why I would argue for that. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:42.399 It seems like the Apostle Paul, who's inspired by God, applies this teaching of Jesus to the second coming, the final coming of Christ. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.399 First Thessalonians 4, verses 15 to 17. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:48.879 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.799 The dead in Christ will rise first. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:06.640 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:09.279 So we will always be with the Lord. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:19.519 Paul's inspired by God, so everything he says is from the Lord, but he speaks about a word from the Lord here as though he's advancing a specific teaching of Jesus. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:26.960 And he goes on to describe the final coming of Christ with very similar language to what I've just read in Matthew. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:32.640 The sun comes from heaven, there's an angel, there's a trumpet, there's a gathering of God's people. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:38.559 Paul adds more, the dead in Christ will rise first, but the essential core is the same. 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.839 Okay, so why did I go through all that? 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.160 You know, why don't I just quote Thessalonians and Christ is coming again, let's apply it to our lives. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:48.559 Why did I go through that whole thing? 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:51.119 We need to study our Bibles. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:58.720 We need to take away from this one thing is we need to know what Scripture says and we need to interpret Scripture with Scripture. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:06.400 Many of us probably hadn't thought about where else the Bible talks about the sun being darkened and the moon giving its light. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:13.680 How many of us knew that Daniel addresses the Son of Man and studied what Daniel's actually saying? 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.359 We need to do that. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:22.400 We don't uh Doug last week talked about warning us about excessive focus on timelines. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:26.799 I think he used the phrase prophetic play-doh, kind of a colorful phrase. 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:31.200 I've heard the expression, maybe you have newspaper eschatology. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:42.240 Where we're so immersed in the headlines, like, look what's going on in Russia, and like we get all these, we draw these connections, and then we too quickly put that down on top of our Bible, and they're like, yeah, we see this, we see this. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:44.640 But what about scripture? 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:49.599 We always want to first go to scripture, first dig into what scripture says. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.279 What about the Son of Man and Daniel? 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.160 Yeah, forget about that. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.680 What's going on in Russia is we don't want to forget about that. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:00.880 We want to let Scripture be our guide first and foremost, always. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:17.519 Another reason why I went through that is just to remind us, to reiterate what Doug said, we should be gracious to other Christians when it comes to some of these disputed details of the exact reference of each individual verse and description. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:23.119 Sometimes we can be kind of quick to dismiss a view before we listen to it. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:38.799 Love, one of the ways we show love is by listening so that we could say what someone else believes, even if we think that could maybe use some adjustments or we disagree altogether, that they would be able to listen to how we describe their beliefs and say, yeah, that's that's what I'm trying to say. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.160 That's that's love. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:43.440 I'm not saying that we should never disagree. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:54.160 I'm not saying that it's irrelevant, but I am saying that we need to be careful in how we treat those who Christ loves and is bought with his precious blood. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:59.519 Peter says that Paul writes some things that are hard to be understood. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:08.960 We could add that Jesus says some things that are hard to understand in the exact level of detail and assurance that we desire. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:14.640 Doug has friends who think the chapter's really all about the past. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:18.000 He has friends who think it's really all about the future. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:24.240 It's very probable that we have church members who think it's all about the future. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:29.119 It's quite possible that we have some church members who think it's all about the past. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:36.960 It's definitely true that we have at least two church members who think it's a blend of both, because that's where Doug and I stand together on this one. 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:43.519 And if you want someone a little more notable than me, you could look at the commentaries of John Calvin or more recently D.A. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.359 Carson, Andreas Kostenberger. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:49.359 They'll give you more description of the kind of viewpoint that I'm I'm advocating. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:55.599 But what's most important is not what this person or that person says, but again, going back to we've got to get in the word. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:04.880 And that brings me to the very last reason I went through that, and this is going to be pushing us toward the remainder of the sermon for today. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:13.119 God's work in the past often forms a pattern for God's work in the future. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:21.119 God's work in the past often forms a pattern for God's work in the future. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:24.319 Doug used the word echo. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:29.039 Someone says something, you hear the same sound in the distance. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:34.799 Or you might hear a language like foreshadow or type. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:40.160 There's a guy named Patrick Schreiner who writes about Matthew, and he uses the word shadow stories. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:46.640 Not that they're not real, but there's something about many stories in Matthew which remind us of events from the Old Testament. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:52.720 So it's not only specific words, it can be people or events that took place. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:59.759 This is what one person writes Jesus prophetically blends the tribulation. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:11.920 Of AD 70 with the final one, for the prophetic perspective, naturally viewed nearer historical events as precursors of final events. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:16.319 I've already given you an example of that. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:28.480 When Babylon's going to be judged in the Old Testament, hundreds of years before this, when Pharaoh and Egypt are going to be judged, the judgment is described in similar language. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.440 Why? 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:33.440 Well, it shows us their whole worlds came crashing down. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:39.759 But it's also described in a similar way to draw a connection between those two events. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:49.119 And often those repeating patterns and descriptions build an expectation that there's going to be more of those repeating patterns and events. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:55.359 And there's going to be a grand final conclusion of those repeating patterns and events. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:02.720 One day, for those who reject the Lord, your whole world's going to come crashing down. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:05.599 Do you see the pattern here? 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:16.000 One day, this created order will give way to a final shaking of the heavens and the earth, and there'll be a new creation. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:25.599 So the destruction that happened in the first century, it stands in line with that pattern of events of God's judgment. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:34.000 But it pushes us forward to consider that the Son of Man is coming and we have to be ready for Him. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:51.759 So in verse 29, to get again specific, in verse 29, whether you see the stars falling from the sky, specifically as Jesus saying, Hey, when the Jewish people have their temple destroyed, their whole world's going to come crashing down. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:24:08.559 If you see him talking about that specific event, primarily, or if you understand Christ to be talking exclusively about the future, when the whole universe is judged, either way, you're still on that same arrow of a direction. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:10.480 You're still pointing in the same place. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:13.200 You're still arriving at the same destination. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.880 One day, judgment is coming. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.720 One day the Son of Man is coming. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:19.440 There's been judgment in the past, there'll be judgment in the future. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:21.839 Take care how you live, how you receive him. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:28.720 We must be ready because the Son of Man is coming. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:31.119 So we're circling back to that big idea now. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.200 And I want to just leave you, I'll move through these quickly. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:36.720 I want to leave you with just four final applications for us. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:39.839 The Son of Man is coming, we must be ready. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.559 How can we live our lives in light of that? 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:45.920 Number one, recognize the Messiah. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.599 Verse 30. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.319 All the peoples of the earth will mourn. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:53.440 They will see the Son of Man coming. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:58.160 One day the Son of Man will be seen and vindicated before all. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:01.680 But in the meantime, do you know him? 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:09.680 Verse 5, many will come saying, I am the Messiah, and they will deceive many. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.440 Verse 11, many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:19.839 Verse 23, if anyone tells you here is the Messiah or over here, don't believe it. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:22.960 Grab hold of Jesus Christ. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.400 Don't fall for any imposter messiahs. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:31.599 We have newscasters telling us if you want the real truth, you have to listen to me, only me. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:40.079 We have politicians telling us if you want hope, if you want greatness, if you want to see something finished, you have to vote for me, only me. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:48.160 Friends, the problems of this world are far too great for any one mere human being to solve. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.880 There's only one Messiah. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:56.720 And the problems of our own heart are too great for any one mere human to solve. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:03.440 So if you're here this morning and you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, you don't really know him, listen to this. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:05.759 And I, this is this is a tougher sermon. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.720 You may have come in. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.759 If you don't know a lot about the Bible, we're thankful you're here. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.160 You might have come in thinking, oh, this guy's gonna tell us to love our neighbor, and then I'm gonna get to go home. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:19.839 And I don't know what he was talking about, but it sounded like my high school literature class, and I didn't like that to begin with anyway. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:22.000 Listen to this, okay? 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.759 The Son of Man is coming, and there's only one Son of Man, his name is Jesus. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.519 You need him in your life. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:38.079 All of this judgment we've been talking about, Jesus Christ died to take the judgment that people deserved. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:44.720 He died in the place of all those who would ever repent and trust in him so that we could find forgiveness. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:47.759 So come to him, recognize the Messiah. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.319 Why is he called the Son of Man? 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:54.559 Well, he's a true human, but he's the true human. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.960 The first man, Adam, failed. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:58.400 He's the final Adam. 00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:01.359 And no mere human can bring this kind of rescue. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:05.519 It takes the Son of God from heaven to be the true Son of Man. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:10.720 There's a beautiful union of the divine nature and human nature in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.720 Recognize the Messiah. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:16.640 Second, recognize what is permanent. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:25.680 Doug told us from this passage we see that so often what we think is permanent isn't. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:29.519 The disciples were so proud of that temple. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.799 Look at the stones. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.160 And it was a glorious temple. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:37.759 If you go back and read about it, maybe not as glorious as the first one, you know, but it was very glorious. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:42.240 And within one generation, rubble. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:47.359 We think nations are permanent. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.319 They're not. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:52.960 Babylon, not permanent. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:55.440 Egypt, not permanent. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.680 Rome, where is Rome now? 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:03.279 We don't know what will happen to China or India or America. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:11.119 But this we do know there's a stone cut without hands that crushes all the kingdoms of this earth. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:17.680 There's a kingdom that we're a part of that actually lasts and endures forever, that actually is permanent. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:20.000 So recognize what is permanent. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:25.440 Third, recognize the time. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:37.200 This goes back to the way Matthew blends together events from that time period of Jesus with future events. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:42.079 Verse 8 of chapter 24 speaks of the beginning of labor pains. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:46.160 In one sense, we're still in the distress of labor pains. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:54.720 In verse 29, depending on what translation you have, it'll say there the distress of those days. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:59.440 Or you might be looking at a Bible that says the tribulation of those days. 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:04.640 That specific Greek word is used quite a number of times in the New Testament. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:08.240 It's used actually three times right here in this chapter. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:11.920 It's used in the verse I just alluded to, verse 29. 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:14.000 It's also used in verse 21. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.960 Look there. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:21.119 For at that time there will be great distress or tribulation. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:24.079 And then it's even used back in verse 9. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:31.440 They will hand you over to be persecuted, or they'll deliver you over for tribulation. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:37.759 So there's another repeated pattern of this idea of tribulation in this chapter. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:45.839 And the tribulation, again, of that first century, as distant as it was from where we are, that tribulation was great. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:54.480 But as Christians, we should expect some measure of tribulation no matter where and when we're living. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:30:00.240 Whether it's 24 AD or 1024 or 2024. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:05.279 Listen to some other places in Scripture where that same word is used. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:11.359 John 16, 33, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:13.920 There's the Son of Man who brings what we need. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:18.240 You will have tribulation in this world. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.440 Be of good cheer. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.799 I've overcome the world. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.720 Acts 11, verse 19. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:27.039 Christians are scattered because of the tribulation that came against the early church. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:32.720 Acts 20, verse 23, Paul says, In every city, tribulation awaits me. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:45.519 2 Corinthians 4, 17, for our light momentary, we think of the word affliction, it's the same word, affliction, tribulation is producing in us an incomparable weight of glory. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:58.400 1 Thessalonians 3, verse 3, Paul says he doesn't want the Thessalonian church to be shaken by the tribulation they're experiencing, because that's what they're appointed to. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:31:00.319 It's part of God's plan. 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.400 Revelation 1:9. 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:15.359 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance that are in Jesus Christ. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:24.079 So John's going to write about a lot of climactic events that are going to happen, but he begins his letter by saying, You're in tribulation right now. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.039 I'm in there with you. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:29.519 We're in this together as suffering saints, but it's God's purpose for us. 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:33.599 It's one of God's ways of shaping us to be like his son. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:46.640 Verse 14 here in Matthew says, This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:32:00.640 So there's repeated tribulation, and yet as God's people respond to that with faith in Christ, their witness expands beyond to the ends of the earth. 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:03.680 We have to recognize what time it is. 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:10.160 Paul writes to the Corinthians that you are those on whom the end of the ages has come. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:13.920 The Galatian churches were living in the last days. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:16.000 We're living in the last days. 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:39.759 We ultimately set our clocks by the birth and life and death and resurrection and ascension of our Lord. 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:48.400 That's how we recognize the significance and value of our life living now in this time of intense conflict and intense glory. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:53.759 The Kunis have been visiting with us for a few weeks. 00:32:53.839 --> 00:33:01.359 And if you've heard someone ask Kevin, tell me how ministry is going, you might have heard him say, missions is war. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.960 Or ministry is war. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:08.880 The Christian life is war. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:16.880 Some of us will have more tribulation, some of us will have less tribulation. 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:27.759 But part of honoring Christ and be being ready for his return is that we have this mindset of Christ, our commander has called us to suffering and witness. 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:31.440 And we know that it's going to be a time of intense struggle. 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:34.400 And yet we embrace that because Christ is our commander. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:36.160 He's already risen and ascended. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.839 He will be victorious. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:43.359 And that leads to the very final application for this morning. 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:56.960 Recognize the Messiah, recognize what is permanent, recognize the time, and then finally recognize this call to endurance. 00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:05.839 In scripture, often tribulation is linked with calls for endurance. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:12.960 So, for example, in the book of Acts, in chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas have helped to see churches established. 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:17.519 They go back to visit those churches and they get a little chance to speak to the disciples there. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:20.159 What are they going to tell these fledgling disciples? 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:22.000 How are they going to encourage their hearts in the faith? 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:23.199 Listen to what they say. 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.719 Acts 14. 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:32.400 Strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith. 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:34.239 There's the call for endurance. 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.840 Keep trusting. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:43.519 And by telling them it is necessary to go through many tribulations. 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:45.440 Same word we see here in Matthew. 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:49.599 It's necessary to go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God. 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:52.719 And we see that call here in this chapter, too. 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:55.280 So looked at verses 12 and 13. 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:58.400 Matthew 24, 12 and 13. 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:02.719 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:06.159 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:11.039 The generation Jesus was speaking to needed to hear that message. 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:13.760 His 12 needed to hear that message. 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:15.920 We need to hear that message. 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:18.880 We need to hear those calls for endurance. 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:22.880 So don't just kind of hang on waiting for the end to come. 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:28.079 Grab hold of Christ and go on, step forward in following him. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:33.360 What about our church collectively? 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:46.079 Would other people look at New Hyde Park Baptist Church and would they say, wow, you know, that that New Hyde Park Baptist Church, that's an enduring, persevering church. 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:51.440 They don't seem alarmed and shaken by cultural winds of opposition. 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:54.320 They just keep joyfully following their Lord. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:57.199 I need to think about his claims more carefully. 00:35:57.679 --> 00:36:01.679 Wouldn't that be a wonderful testimony for us to have as we wait eagerly? 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:09.440 So we can say to those who are recently baptized, hallelujah, you are trusting in Christ. 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:11.519 Thank you for partnering with us. 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.519 Keep trusting in him. 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:19.119 We can say to them, the Son of Man is coming, God's promises are certain. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.280 Keep believing. 00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:27.920 We can say to them, even if it appears that the love of some grows cold, you kindle your heart in the love of Christ. 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:30.320 We'll walk right along beside you. 00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:39.119 We say to them, we say to ourselves, it's necessary to go through tribulation to enter the kingdom of God. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:41.119 But we'll enter it. 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:43.039 Fear not, little flock. 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:45.760