WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.560 Take our Bible and go to Matthew chapter 24. 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:09.279 You're visiting with us, or just here recently, we've been going through the Gospel of Matthew together. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.000 And we've now reached chapter 24. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:26.239 My intention today, as we get into this, which is called the All of It Discourse by many, is to be more pastoral than prophetic. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:29.440 And you'll understand what I mean as we go through this. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:33.200 Some of this is going to sound a little professorial, sadly. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:40.159 There's a lot of information that I want to introduce to us as the body of Christ as we enter into this section of scripture. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:44.399 But hopefully we can get practical, not just informational. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:51.759 Nearly two weeks ago, we experienced in New York a couple natural phenomena. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:57.600 We experienced an earthquake, which I regretfully was driving during, didn't get to feel. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:03.920 And we also saw a nearly total eclipse here in the city. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:09.120 And when these things occurred next to each other, there seemed to be a buzz in the air. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:14.159 People wondering if all of this maybe was some sign that things were coming to an end. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:15.680 Did you sense that? 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:16.799 I did. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:30.319 Those feelings probably heightened by the fact that we have a war in Israel and Gaza and Syria and Iran and all of their alliances are all sort of shaken loose, rattling their swords. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:40.319 A couple weeks ago, after those things happened, someone asked me if I thought there was any significance to the fact that there was an earthquake and an eclipse. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:50.560 And my reply was, well, we experienced what are two natural and normal events in our world as we know it: an earthquake and an eclipse. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:02:00.000 And I saw no greater significance in those two things happening than any other earthquake or any other eclipse that our world has experienced. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:04.239 And that's especially true for anyone outside of our area. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:06.799 I've got two sons who live in London. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:11.919 They didn't experience either an earthquake or an eclipse in those two days. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:14.639 We did because they happened near us. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:18.319 But I have a couple of questions to ask. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:21.120 People were wondering, is this the end of the world? 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:24.400 Is this some sign that things are drawing to a close? 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:31.919 Well, let me ask this question: what if they were signs that the world was about to end? 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.520 What would you do if the world was going to end tomorrow? 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:40.960 Or if the world was going to end this year? 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:53.199 As we come into Matthew chapter 24, that kind of question seems to be in the focus as Jesus teaches and his disciples listen. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:02.080 As Jesus goes through this sermon, he brings into that message warning signs about the end times. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:04.400 And it's not a pretty picture. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:11.280 He uses images of doom and gloom and falling stars and shaking heavens and all the rest. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:12.800 It's very vivid. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.479 What are we to do with this kind of passage? 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:31.439 Well, generations of people have come to Matthew chapter 24 and 25 and used it as their prophetic play-doh to try to construct predictions about when Jesus would return. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:34.800 And a lot of them would even try to put a date on it. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:56.080 And skipping over centuries of time, coming just simply to the 20th and 21st century, there are examples and many examples that could be multiplied of people who have looked to Matthew 24 and Matthew 25 to set dates or to make proclamations of apocalyptic end of the world. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:59.919 Some of them are people I love and respect. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:08.560 One man, Chuck Smith, in the 1976 book, The Soon to Be Revealed Antichrist, said this. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:14.319 We're living in the last generation, which begins with the rebirth of Israel in 1948. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:19.920 And he says, right after that, see Matthew 24, 32 to 34. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:29.120 Well, you could look at Matthew 24, 32 to 34, and it doesn't say anything in there about the rebirth of the nation of Israel. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.920 He repeated his claim in another book in 1978. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:42.560 And he said, if I understand scripture correctly, Jesus taught us that the generation would see the budding of the fig tree, the birth of the nation of Israel. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:45.600 That'll be the generation that sees the Lord's return. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.399 And then he goes into setting his dates. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:52.160 I believe the generation in 1948 is the last generation. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:05:03.439 And since a generation of judgment is 40 years and the tribulation period lasts seven years, I believe the Lord could come back for his church anytime before the tribulation starts, which means anytime before 1981. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:15.279 Well, if all of that math sounds a little familiar, it's because it's the exact same math that Hal Lindsay used in his book, The Late Great Planet Earth. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:22.560 Now, I value both of those men a lot, but not in this area. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:31.759 He, Chuck Smith, and Hal Lindsay are, however, not alone in these sorts of attempts to try to set dates. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:40.160 Edgar Wiesnant wrote in 1988 88 reasons why the rapture will happen in 1988. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:46.399 In 1992, Harold Camping wrote a book, 1994, Question Mark. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.879 The only thing that saved his neck was he put a question mark at the end of 1994. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.199 He predicted the day of judgment would be September 6th. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:58.240 And when September 6th showed up, he said it was going to be September 29th. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:01.839 And when September 29th showed up, he said it was going to be October 2nd. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.720 And then we saw October 3rd. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:07.439 Did he learn his lesson? 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:08.079 No. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:15.600 In 2005, he predicted the second coming of Christ would be May 21st, 2011. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:22.079 When that came, he said it to October 21st, 2011. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:36.079 These sorts of speculations about the end of the world are rampant, and the passage that we're going to be looking at for the next several weeks is the fertile soil for these predictions. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:39.600 As they look into it and look for a date. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:42.639 But that's the problem. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:54.639 So many have tried to predict the end of the world, and they've come up with these dates, and of course, they capture the attention of people that want to make news. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:01.600 And when they fail, as they always have, they're turned into a laughing stock. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:06.240 And sadly, so is the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:13.839 But all of these people are right, not about setting dates, but they're right about something. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:22.879 They're right about the fact that Jesus promises that he will return and that he will bring this creation to an end. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:34.720 And that everything that we look at, everything that we think is stable and permanent, is actually a lot more fragile, a lot more vulnerable than we imagine. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:41.759 When we come to these two chapters, that thought's going to be reinforced. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:08:00.319 Jesus makes statements here, predictions and promises that uproots the disciples' notion of the permanency of their world, the temple, God, the nation of Israel, scattered the world hearing a message about a Messiah. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:12.800 Before we dive into this section of Scripture, I want us to sort of back up a little bit and re-enter it with just some notion of where we're at in the Gospel of Matthew. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:22.319 Several times over the past couple years, as we've gone through Matthew, I've indicated that Matthew's structure as he lays out this gospel carries three main elements to it. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:32.480 There are demonstrations of his power by way of miracles, healings, controlling the winds and the waves, and all sorts of things. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:37.279 There are statements of calls to discipleship that Jesus makes. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.720 Follow me is a big term in Matthew's gospel. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:45.679 And then there are these sections of teaching or discourses. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:51.440 And we've looked at four of the five that are in this gospel. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:56.799 We saw the call of the kingdom in the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5 through 7. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:03.440 We saw Jesus speak to the communicators of the kingdom as he called out his apostles in Matthew chapter 10. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:09.919 We heard him speak about the characteristics of the kingdom in the parables of Matthew chapter 13. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:22.559 We've recently turned the page away from the fourth discourse, the community of the kingdom in chapters 18 to 20, where Jesus exalts humility and sincerity and service. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:35.360 And now we've entered into the last of the five discourses of Matthew's gospel, the Olivet Discourse, where we read about the conflict of the kingdom. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:42.399 As we come into the Matthew chapter 24 and 25, it's important that we see how all this fits in. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:58.159 Back in January, January 21st to be exact, three months ago to the day, we started a study of one day of the life of Jesus Christ. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:02.240 Turn with me back to Matthew chapter 21 and verse 18. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:11.919 Matthew chapter 21 and verse 18. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:16.399 Early in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:31.200 We started that study in January, and here we are in April, still on the same day of Jesus' life. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:43.279 And when Jesus entered the temple, well, as he was returning to the city before he entered the temple, he called out to his disciples and he said, See a lone fig tree by the road. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:46.240 You went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.879 And he said, May no fruit ever come from you again. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:51.440 And at once the fig tree withered. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:55.759 Jesus wasn't just angry at a barren tree. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:05.120 He was using it as an emblem of the nation of Israel that the Messiah had come to and had found no readiness for. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:08.000 He begins the day with that. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:14.159 And as soon as he enters into the temple, verse 23, the confrontation begins. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:22.240 He enters in, the chief priest, they come to him while he's teaching, and they said, By what authority are you doing these things? 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.799 Who gave you this authority? 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:34.960 These religious leaders rightly saw Jesus' actions as a challenge to their authority and to their position among the people, and they were striking back. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:41.840 Who made him think that he had some authority to do the kind of things he's doing without asking for our approval first? 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:51.679 And the rest of the day is filled with challenges from these people trying to trap Jesus by his words. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.200 And we looked at these things. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:12:03.759 They throw a whole bunch of questions at him: questions about paying taxes to Caesar, questions about the resurrection, questions about the greatest commandment. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.360 And they're not friendly questions. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:17.919 They're questions to provoke Jesus, to try to undermine his reputation among the crowds and to catch him out. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:27.120 But Jesus skillfully answers every one of their questions and then asks them some questions that they don't answer at all. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.399 And Jesus goes on the offensive by speaking some parables. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:39.519 And we looked at those parables: the parable of the two sons, the parable of the wicked tenants, the parable of the guest at the marriage feast. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:44.159 And again, these parables are not intended to be simply moral lessons. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:51.919 They were conflict parables that were spoken to expose the religious leaders for what they were. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:13:02.879 They were, to use the language of the parables, the son who claimed to be doing the Father's will while all the while disobeying him. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:08.240 They were the wicked tenants who killed God's messengers and son. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:13.360 They were the man who was going to be barred from the wedding feast. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:21.039 And Jesus concluded all of these denunciations with a series of seven woes. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.879 Jesus on that day came into it with a lot of enemies. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:35.120 And this day brought their fervor and their anger to a head. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:44.480 On that day still, Jesus departs from the temple. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:48.240 Let's go back to Matthew 24 and verse 1. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:14:01.519 As Jesus left, going out of the temple, his disciples came to him and called his attention to the buildings. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:18.559 And instead of joining their sort of wondrous looks and their cheerful praise of the complex, Jesus replies to their marveling eyes, Do you see all these things? 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:25.120 Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down. 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:40.399 After leaving the temple, Jesus and his disciples went down a hill and crossed a narrow valley and back up a hill called the Mount of Olives. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:45.840 And from the Mount of Olives, you can look down on the temple complex. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:50.480 I think there's a reason why he went there. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:54.159 It wasn't just because it was a close proximity to the temple. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.720 There are many other places he could have gone. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:08.799 But he went to the temple mount or to the Mount of Olives, echoing, I think, what Ezekiel saw in two of his visions in Ezekiel chapter 10 and 11. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.879 Let me just read these to you. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:33.039 Ezekiel is a prophet to the nation of Israel at the time of their extraction from the land of promise and their placement as those who were cast out into Babylon, as they were scattered, and as destruction came upon the city of Jerusalem. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:41.759 And Ezekiel saw this, and he said, The glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:48.559 And the cherubim lifted their wings and ascended from the earth before my eyes, the wheels beside them as they went. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:56.639 And the glory of the God of Israel was above them, and stopped at the entrance of the eastern gate of the Lord's house. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:06.480 So this image of the glory of God, the manifestation of his presence in the temple, lifting up out of the temple and heading east. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:23.759 And then in chapter 11 and verse 22, then the cherubim and the wheels beside them lifted their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them, and the glory of the Lord rose up from within the city and stopped on the mountain east of the city. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:57.600 In Matthew, Jesus, the Word who became flesh and we dwelt among us, the one that we observed his glory, the glory as the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth, leaves the temple, lifts himself up out of the temple complex, and sets himself down on the Mount of Olives as an echo to what Ezekiel saw in his prophecy. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.600 And so he begins to speak. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:15.039 As we come into this, these two chapters, Matthew 24 and chapter 25, I want to map the structure out for you because there are a lot of things that confuse people in these passages. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:22.880 And it's important for us to at least capture the flow from a higher level before we get into the details of it. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:30.640 First thing you're going to notice in Matthew chapter 24 are two comments: a comment by the disciples and a comment by Jesus. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.839 We've looked at that already. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:38.720 The disciples make the comment about the temple, and Jesus makes a prediction about its destruction. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:41.200 So you see that in verses 1 and 2. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:45.440 Following those two comments are two questions. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.319 Take a look at verse 3. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.920 They're both there. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:55.839 While he's sitting on the Mount of Aulus, the disciples approached him privately and said, Tell us when will these things happen? 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:59.519 And what is the sign of your coming and to the end of the age? 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:08.400 So those two comments in verses 1 and 2 are followed by two questions in verse 3, which leads Jesus into two answers. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.759 Two answers. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:13.680 He takes up those two questions and he answers them both. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:21.680 He answers the question about when the temple is destroyed, and he answers the question about what are the signs of his return. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:32.160 Following that, if you look at chapter 24 and verse 45, you'll see that Jesus begins three parables. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:38.640 So you've got two comments, two questions, two answers, three parables. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:46.240 The first parable is a parable about the faithful and wicked servants that runs from verse 45 to 51. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:53.839 Then beginning in chapter 25 to verse 1 to 13, you have a parable of the ten virgins. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:00.079 And then finally, from verses 14 to 30, the third parable of the talents. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:07.519 Jesus closes off this discourse with one final judgment. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:13.119 Two comments, two questions, two answers, three parables, one final judgment. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:17.599 If you can keep that locked in your mind, you've got the flow of these two chapters. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:25.759 He at the end speaks about the separation of the sheep from the goats, some to eternal life and some to eternal destruction. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:35.039 This morning we're going to look at the two comments and the two questions and begin to look at the answer per that Jesus provides. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.440 I'm going on vacation from 3 p.m. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:40.400 today, and Micah gets the fun job of finishing this off. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.359 Right, Micah? 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:41.920 Yes, sir. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.400 Yeah. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:42.960 Love ya. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.759 See ya. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:20:03.920 Anyway, as we go through this section of scripture, I ask you to keep your eye on the significance of why Jesus gave it to us and not get caught up in the sensationalistic urge to try to set dates. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:11.759 This is a pastoral message that has prophetic undertones. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:18.240 It's not meant to sort of satiate our driven curiosities. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:27.359 It's meant to move our hearts to things that will honor the Lord rather than make him a laughing stock in society. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:37.039 So let's move through the two comments, the two questions, and begin to look at how we can set up Jesus' answers to those things. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:39.599 Let's go back just a second to verse one. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:52.559 The disciples, despite all they've experienced that whole day, are still struck by what they see there in Jerusalem. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:56.960 It's astounding for me to think of this. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:06.000 All of the piercing questions that Jesus got thrown at him and his insightful answers. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:12.559 All of Jesus' provocative questions coming back to the Pharisees and the scribes. 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:20.559 All the denunciations of the parables, all the condemnation of the seven woes. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:24.160 It was as if they didn't even listen to any of it. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:31.200 Mark 13 in verse 1 puts it a little more dramatically than Matthew. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:42.480 As Jesus was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Teacher, look what massive stones, what impressive buildings. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:44.720 Really? 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:55.279 It'd be like listening to sinners in the hands of an angry God and wondering what Denny's has on a special after after church is over. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.000 Look at the temple. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.279 Look at the structure. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.759 What remarkable engineering. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:11.359 And there was reason to be impressed, to be sure. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:16.319 Josephus talked about the beauty and the magnificence of the temple. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:20.720 The exterior of the temple wanted nothing that could astound either mind or eye. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:33.519 Being covered on all sides with massive plates of gold, the sun was no sooner up than it radiated a fiery flash that people strained to look at and were compelled to avert their eyes as if by solar rays. 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.920 I mean, it's a remarkable sight. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:40.720 And the religious significance of it was even greater. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.119 This was the place. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:46.240 This was the place where people worshiped. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.720 This is the place where God could be entreated. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:57.200 This is the place that was the ultimate symbol of God's election of the Jewish people as his own and of his commitment and promises to him. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:00.799 This was the place where Yahweh dwelt. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.920 This was where he ruled from the midst of Israel. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:19.200 This was where, through the sacrificial system, that in the great festivals that they had, that they would understand that he lived with them in grace and forgave them and restored them and enabled them to be free from defilement and to continue to be his people. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:23.599 They loved the temple. 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:27.039 Jesus, take a look at it. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:28.799 Isn't it wonderful? 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:35.119 And Jesus replies, Do you see all those things? 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:43.279 Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:58.799 The ruin of Israel's majesty, the ruin of their worship system, the ruin of their sense of uniqueness among the nations. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:16.960 Echo the prophet Haggai when they were rebuilding the temple in his day. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:22.240 And he said to them in Haggai 2:15, From this day on, think carefully. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:28.960 Before one stone was placed on the other in the Lord's temple, what state were you in? 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:36.880 The restoration of the temple in Haggai's day is now being reversed stone by stone. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:44.640 And Jesus comments here follow what he said right at the end of chapter 23. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.000 Just take a look up. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:53.359 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:59.680 How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:04.319 See, your house is left to you desolate. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:20.480 Jesus' pronouncement, the temple was going to be destroyed, is tied directly to the religious leaders in charge of the temple, relarge, in charge of the nation of Israel. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:29.200 And his prophecy here in chapter 24 is a culmination of his denunciation of them and their wicked ways. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:44.480 Just the day before, Jesus quoted from Jeremiah's temple sermon in Jeremiah 7 Has this house which bears my name become a den of robbers in your view? 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.359 Yes. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.359 I too have seen it. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:49.359 This is the Lord's declaration. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:53.519 When he cleansed the temple, he quoted that temple sermon. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:26:02.880 And now Jesus returns to that temple idea and talks about the judgment that's coming because of the treachery of the people. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:20.960 And in Jeremiah 7, Jeremiah says, Go to Shiloh, which is still an empty place, where I made my name dwell at first, where the tabernacle was set up for nearly 400 years, or around 400 years. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:24.480 See what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:31.200 And now because you've done all these things, this is the Lord's declaration, because I've spoken to you time and time again, but you would not listen. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:33.279 I've called to you, but you would not answer. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:37.920 What I did to Shiloh, I will do to the house that bears my name. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:41.519 And Jeremiah was talking about the destruction of the temple in his day. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:46.880 And here Jesus speaks and he says, Go to Shiloh and see the tabernacle gone. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:50.160 Go to Jeremiah's day and see the tabernacle gone. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:54.000 And in my day, the tabernacle is gone. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:56.559 The temple is gone. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:01.359 And this is what it says in Micah 3. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:15.119 Listen, leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who abore justice, who pervert everything that is right, who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with injustice. 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:25.759 Because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the temple's mountain will be a thicket. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.920 This is Jesus' comment. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:43.279 In a sentence, he's pulling together the threads of judgment from all of the prophets of the Old Testament, and he's saying it's about to happen right here. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:52.640 Those two comments prompt two questions in verse three. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:28:05.119 During this walk from the temple up onto the Mount of Olives, I'm sure the disciples were just trying to process the shock of Jesus' prophecy. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:09.519 And certainly they wanted to have more details. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:18.880 Jesus had made clear to them that the temple would be destroyed, but he didn't give them a time and he didn't give them any signs of what that would look like. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:22.799 And obviously that leads them to some questions. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:28.000 So, what about the destruction? 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:31.039 What about the signs of the end of the age? 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:33.519 Now remember who we're talking about here. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:29:02.160 These are guys who are asking questions who had just a moment ago had completely forgotten the whole day's conflict and were impressed by the shining light that was reflecting off of the temple, who as yet still didn't understand that Jesus was going to go to the cross, and when he did, certainly didn't think he was going to be resurrected. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:06.640 So these are not theologically informed questions. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:10.000 These are shocked questions. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:22.720 Questions of baffled men trying to sort out the complete opposite that they've heard from Jesus than what they had expected in their hearts. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:29.519 So, Jesus, what's going on? 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:34.079 Tell us, when will these things happen? 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:37.759 What is the sign of your coming in the end of the age? 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:46.400 The disciples sort of looked at this and said that obviously something cataclysmic is about to happen. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:50.559 What's that all gonna look like? 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:57.519 They had expected the Messiah to come and enter in, enter a new age into being, but what would that look like? 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:00.000 Can you help us understand? 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:03.759 Would they have thought of this as two events? 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.440 I don't think so. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:13.519 I think they were just shocked and curious and bewildered all at once, and were blurting out questions. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:17.759 But Jesus answers them. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:31.279 How wonderful he is to look past our foolishness, look past our ignorance, look past our lack of a discernment, and deal gently with us. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:33.279 Isn't that wonderful? 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:37.680 So here he is, chapter 24. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:45.440 While sitting on the Mount of Olives, they asked the questions in verse 3, and in verse 4, Jesus replied to them. 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:59.039 What Jesus offers through the rest of chapter 24, before you get to the two parables, or three parables, is hard to understand. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.920 It's not easy to sort of figure it all out. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:18.559 Jesus begins with elaborating his initial statement about the destruction of the temple, which took place in 70 AD, and then moves on to talk about the second coming and the end of the age. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:23.839 The second question that the disciples entered. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:29.200 Jesus teases what they thought perhaps is one event into two. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:47.440 The difficulty of interpreting this passage comes in trying to distinguish and to tease apart where Jesus is stops talking about the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and starts talking about the signs of the end. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:55.680 And there are several people that come up with very different ways to approach these two chapters. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:02.319 Some of them claim that Jesus well was a prophet, yes, but he got it wrong. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:12.240 That he made a prophecy about the destruction of the temple and followed it with words that seemed to signify that immediately following that, that the end of the age would come. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:14.000 And obviously that hasn't happened. 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:17.519 So certainly Jesus was sincere but wrong. 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:21.599 Now, none of us as Christians find that solution acceptable. 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:26.559 Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:35.039 And that resurrection includes the vindication of God upon the sinlessness of Christ. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:40.319 And certainly he was not inaccurate or wrong about anything. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:44.400 So we'll just set that one aside. 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:47.279 And that leaves three more possibilities. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:55.759 And in each of these three interpretations, I have friends, like actual friends who hold to each of these three perspectives. 00:32:56.640 --> 00:33:04.640 And they're going to remain my friends, even if we don't come to agreement on these three perspectives. 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:12.400 And I'm going to say to us as a church, we're going to remain friends, even if we may not come to full agreement on these three perspectives. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:30.400 The first of the three that I think are plausible is the one where everybody looks at the phrase, this generation, and casts everything that Jesus says forward, over the top of the 70 AD destruction of the temple. 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:49.039 It looks at the language that Jesus uses and says that in what he's doing, he's jumping over the question about the temple and moving directly into the signs and the timing of the end of the age. 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:59.119 Another group would say that all of it refers just to 70 AD. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:04.559 That Jesus isn't taking up the discussion about the signs of the end of the age at all. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:08.400 It's all rather wrapped up in the destruction of the temple. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:12.000 So you've got two positions that are irreconcilable. 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:17.119 It can't all be future and all be near at the same time. 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.559 And then there's another position. 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.559 I think this is the correct one. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:34.960 That Jesus is giving a combination of statements, some of which refer to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, and some of which refer to the signs at the end of the age. 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:42.000 Some details that Jesus gives apply directly to the destruction of temple. 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:45.679 Some of the details apply directly to the coming of Christ. 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:47.840 And here's the more difficult part. 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:52.960 Some of the details speak to both. 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:55.119 Speak to both. 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:16.800 And that's why there's common language and common images used. 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:22.800 Now, this is what Old Testament prophets do regularly. 00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:31.440 They take an immediate sign of prophecy, and it's also meant to be a foreshadowing of a future event. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:34.960 For an example, one that we're very familiar with. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:41.440 King Ahaz is given a sign by God to assure him that the king of Aram would not conquer Judah. 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:44.000 We read about it in the book of Isaiah. 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:54.400 And the promise to him is this: a virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him Emmanuel, Isaiah 7:14. 00:35:55.440 --> 00:36:04.320 Now, this was immediately fulfilled in the birth of Moher Shalel Hasbaz, who was born to King Ahaz and his wife. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:17.599 But it's also quoted again in Matthew chapter 1 as a prophetic announcement about the birth of Christ, and a virgin would conceive and bear a child, and you will call his name Emmanuel. 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:24.480 So there's this sign, which is a foreshadowing of a future event. 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:34.880 The destruction of the temple in 70 AD as a foreshadowing of a future event with similar language, with similar images. 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:46.079 So there's some details about the prophecy that Ahaz received that were exclusive to that moment. 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:52.079 There were some details of that prophecy that applied only to the birth of Christ. 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:58.800 And there were some details about that prophecy that applied to both Ahaz's day and Jesus' birth. 00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:03.119 So here Jesus is using the same prophetic signature. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:10.800 There are some details in Matthew 24 that were applied directly to the nation of Israel and the destruction of the temple. 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:18.639 There are some details that apply only and exclusively to his return, and there are some details that apply to both. 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:26.480 Now, as we look at Ahaz and as we look back on the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, we have clarity. 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:28.079 We can see that, right? 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:29.119 We're looking back. 00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:32.480 We say, well, that's what happened in Ahaz's day. 00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:34.480 That's what happened in Jesus' day. 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:40.800 We can see the connection of the prophecy in its earlier and latter expansion. 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:42.320 We understand it. 00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:47.360 We do not yet see the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:55.119 And so with prophecy, there's a little bit of mystery that has to be accounted for and understood and accepted. 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:59.039 We don't see everything with the clarity of hindsight. 00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:05.599 We're looking at prophecy and wondering, what will it look like? 00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:15.280 And therefore, we need to be humble and willing to admit that we don't have it all just sort of mapped out. 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:22.719 Because every one of us who have said in the past that we do have ended up having to say, I was wrong. 00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:30.719 So there's this telescoping of near and far, California with its peaks. 00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:32.880 You can see some in the front and in the back. 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:40.960 And when you look at them in the horizon, it's hard to tell which is which, which is near, which is far, which is near, which is far, which is near, which is far. 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:46.960 When you read Matthew 24 and 25, you're going to be doing that same sort of optical illusion. 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:49.679 What's near, what's far, what's near, what's far? 00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:53.119 But Jesus is doing that. 00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:59.679 He's using what we call prophetic for shortening or foreshadowing of things that are future. 00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:02.320 He talks about false Christs who will come. 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:04.159 In 70 AD, they did. 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:08.880 The Jewish prophets stood up and predicted God was going to deliver the Jews from Rome. 00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:11.679 Those false prophets were false. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:15.440 The temple was destroyed, the people were scattered. 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:20.639 In the latter day, there will arise antichrists who will deceive. 00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:24.000 Near and far commonality. 00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:27.840 Jesus talks about wars and famines and earthquakes. 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:30.800 Rome was at war with the people of Israel. 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:35.280 Trouble in this life will intensify until the end of the age. 00:39:54.880 --> 00:40:01.920 They set up a worship to an idol in the temple in 70 AD. 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:09.039 Final rebellion against God will bring religious abomination and desolation. 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:12.880 There's this near far, near, far commonality. 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:14.320 Which is near, which is far. 00:40:14.400 --> 00:40:14.800 I don't know. 00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:16.000 I can't quite tell. 00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:18.880 They both look very much alike. 00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:27.679 That leads us to the three parables. 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:37.119 What should be our posture in the light of this shocking declaration of judgment? 00:40:38.639 --> 00:40:45.599 What should our attitude be when the very things that we think are permanent are not? 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:50.800 The very things that we think are stable shake loose. 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:53.920 Jesus gives the parables. 00:40:54.159 --> 00:41:05.440 And basically, in there he says, be watchful, be prepared, be faithful, and continue to be diligent until I return. 00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:11.440 And then he leads off or finishes off with the final judgment. 00:41:12.480 --> 00:41:18.079 Where he does come and where the judgment has eternal consequences. 00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:23.360 Separation of people into the welcomed and the refused. 00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:38.800 Speculations about the end of the world are still going to be rampant. 00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:42.719 But all of them are right about one thing. 00:41:43.119 --> 00:41:44.880 Jesus is going to return. 00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:51.920 And he's going to bring everything that we think is permanent to a close. 00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:58.079 I think deep down we we we know this already, don't we? 00:41:58.800 --> 00:42:07.360 I think deep down, every time we see the leaves fall off the trees every fall, we realize that there are seasons to life. 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:18.800 Every time we have to stand beside a hole in the ground and lower one of our friends or family members into it, we realize this life is not permanent. 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:42.880 Every time we hear news of all sorts of things, wars, famines, earthquakes, global warming, we get a sense, even from those who don't know the Lord, that we realize that this is a precious commodity, life in the world, and it's not a permanent thing. 00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:53.119 Someone supposedly asked Martin Luther what he would do if he knew he was going to die today. 00:42:54.000 --> 00:43:00.000 I tried to find the reference for this, but I couldn't find it, so maybe it's just a preacher's truth and not a real one. 00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:03.360 Not sure. 00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:07.679 He said this, he said, I would plant my apple tree today. 00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:11.280 If he knew he was going to die that day, what would you do? 00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:13.760 I would plant my apple tree. 00:43:14.880 --> 00:43:17.679 What would you do if you knew you were to die today? 00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:21.760 What would you do if you knew the world would come to an end today? 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:25.920 What would you do if you knew the world would come to an end this year? 00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:33.199 Would you seek to be reconciled to a holy God today? 00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:42.000 Would you seek to be rejoined with maybe some estranged friends or loved ones? 00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:50.000 Maybe you'd finish the project that you started a long time ago and just put your hand to it one more time. 00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:54.800 Would you tell your children or your parents you love them? 00:43:55.119 --> 00:43:58.159 Would you embrace your beloved just a little more? 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:01.280 What would you do? 00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:07.360 This is what Matthew drives us to think about. 00:44:08.800 --> 00:44:20.960 He drives us to realize, aside all the predictions and all the foolishness of date setting that have come up, listen to what Jesus is saying from the tie view. 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:24.480 The day is going to come. 00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:27.519 You won't know the day or the hour. 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:29.360 But it's coming. 00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:31.280 Are you ready? 00:44:32.159 --> 00:44:36.239 Are you so ready that you can just go ahead and plant your apple tree? 00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:44.800 Are you so ready that you could go down into your workshop and just take off another millimeter or two of shaving? 00:44:45.760 --> 00:44:51.599 Are you so ready where you could say, if I drop dead right now, I could go. 00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:55.840 Not because of my righteousness, but because of the blood of Christ. 00:44:57.440 --> 00:45:04.079