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Matthew 24

Signs of the End of the Age

[1] Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. [2] "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
[3] As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
[4] Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. [5] For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. [6] You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. [7] Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are the beginning of birth pains.
[9] "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. [10] At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, [11] and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. [12] Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, [13] but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. NIV

Matthew 24

Routine History

[1] Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. [2] Jesus said, "You're not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there's not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble."
[3] Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?"
[4] Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. [5] Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, "I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. [6] When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. [7] Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. [8] This is nothing compared to what is coming.
[9] "They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. [10] And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other.
[11] "In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. [12] For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in--nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
[13] "Staying with it--that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. [14] All during this time, the good news--the Message of the kingdom--will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. The Message

IS THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IMMINENT ?

The question in Matthew 24 is not a question of the rapture of the church but rather it is a question regarding the end of the age or the consummation of the ages

[3] While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age? AMP

It does give us an accurate overview of what we can expect to be occurring in the world that gives us an understanding of the end of the age therefore it precludes the indication of the imminent return of Jesus Christ for the Bride of Christ.

What is foremost in the mind of Jesus is the fact that the number one thing that is mentioned is a warning and caution regarding deception.

[4] Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error].AMP

[4] Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you. NLT

[4] Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. NIV

[4] Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. The Message

[11] and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. NIV

[11] "In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. The Message

Video Clip of Deception

2 Timothy 3
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Peter 3
[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
[4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

1 John 4
[1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We are living today in a world of falsehoods.

There is a shadowing of truth, a perversion of righteousness.

What the Seven Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 were confronted with:

Ephesus: A backslidden church - left their first love.

Smyrna: Suffering church, was faithful in tribulation and did not put up with false Jewish believers who proclaimed to be in the church.

Pergamos: Church of evil surroundings. Held fast to the name and did not deny the faith. HOWEVER they had believers who held to false doctrine.

Thyatira: Church of compromise.

Sardis: The dead church

Philadelphia: This church was weak but faithful.

Laodicea: The lukewarm church. God destroys this kind of church.

In Revelation 4 John has a vision of heaven but just prior to this the Lord says in

Revelation 3
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The point is WHOEVER wants to be in the church in the conclusion of the age prior to the rapture of the church can.

1 Timothy 4
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

[1] The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. NIV

Teach with Your Life
[1] The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. The Message

Warnings against False Teachers

[1] Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons. NLT

Prior to the rapture of the Bride of Christ there will be those who:

1. will leave the church (depart from the faith)
2. they will be deceived by demonic spirits

It is so IMPORTANT to have a solid understanding of Bible truths.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:20-21 the reason why people failed when they heard the word of God was because they did not have any depth in the Word. When tribulation and persecution came they became offended.

2 Thessalonians 2
[10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
[11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
[12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Notice the warning that the Apostle Peter give regarding apostate teachers in

2 Peter 2
[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Peter give 3 examples of destruction that God performed on those who false teachers:

[4] For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

[5] And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

[6] And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly

The marks of false teachers:

1. They are like Balaam - They merely make merchandise of the call of God.

[15] Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
[16] But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

2. They are lacking of the Spirit of God

[17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Somewhere we have to mature -
Spiritual Maturity

Ephesians 4:14
That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Queen Victoria was much loved. She made unexpected calls on the farm folks who lived in cottages. Any day might be a royal day, and the Scots had a chair prepared for her visit. Their houses were kept spotless. They were a clean and wholesome people, but her announced visits added to the joy of keeping their homes lovely.

The old people who remembered her visits in their youth charmed visitors by the expression used in the residences on Deeside. They would say, Perhaps today, she'll come my way.

Perhaps today the clouds will part asunder,

Reveal a glory brighter than the sun;

And we shall view, with transport, joy and wonder,

The hope of earth and Heavens beloved one....