Prepare to Endure

What is the end goal? But really, it influences all of theology. It helps us understand how we put the covenants or covenant and how the God moves in different orders and moves through history from Israel to the church. Eschatology really is helping us think through what is the end of man? What is our final destination? What's the purpose, the goal? Let me say that the end goal is actually right there in the beginning. The seventh day God rested. And then it doesn't do the normal thing Moses does in Genesis 1. It doesn't say there's a morning and an evening. That day just keeps continuing.

I believe there is a symbolism. God resting is the ultimate goal of man, resting with God, entering into his rest. That is what Christ has come to accomplish for us. That is the end goal. Well, this morning we're gonna think about how to get there. We're gonna consider the promise that God will provide it, but the trouble involved in getting there. This morning we're looking at the second coming of Jesus. A number of warnings, a number of dangers, but significant promises as well.

If you're taking notes, simple summary, God calls his elect to endure. God calls his elect to endure. If you want it even more simple, stay faithful. Stay faithful. This passage is a fantastic mixture of warning, exhortation, and promise. We have to see all three of these together. It's a significant combination and mixture of warnings, exhortations, and promise. If you're new with us, we're going through the Gospel of Matthew. And he's just given these warnings to the Pharisees and Sadducees. These are the religious leaders. And he's already given a forewarning.

The temple will be destroyed. And this house we've thrown down is what we see here in chapter 24. Jesus, chapter 24,

Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out the building of the temple. And he answered them, you see all these Do you not? Truly I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown away.

I believe this corresponds with what he just said in verse 23, that this house will be destitute.

The temple will be destroyed. It's a significant theology. Again, this is kind of figure out how does the different images and promises relate to each other. On trial, Jesus is accused of saying he'll destroy the temple. That's not exactly what he's talking about. He actually says his body will be destroyed and raised three days later. Here he is talking about that temple though. The temple being destroyed in 8070 was a symbolic, absolute final declaration the old covenant is done. The people of Israel are under judgment for rejecting God, rejecting his promises, killing his son. Our passage picks up with the disciples asking him a question in private.

Verse three,

tell us when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming in the end of the age?

If you look at the end of chapter 24, we have another week to think about what that coming will look like in the end of the age. I was going to ask a private question.

Now, oftentimes signs are related to doubt. That's not an absolute, but as we're asking for a sign, there could be doubt here. There's a way in which God is constantly affirming them and trying to reassure them. There's going to be trouble. He is preparing them for what's ahead. I don't think they're asking a bad question. I think they're like, as they should be, somewhat confused about all the major great teachings Christ has given them right before his own death and resurrection. They must be prepared. What we see is instruction that answers this question indirectly and directly.

Stay faithful

If you're taking notes, beginning in verse four, stay faithful, stay faithful in the face of fear and falling away. Stay faithful because there will be temptation to fear and to fall away. Hear the repetition of lead you astray, fall away.

See that no one leads you astray, For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of war, see that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famine and earthquake in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation. and put you to death, and you'll be hated by all nations, for my name's sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many will, false prophets will arise, and lead many astray.

Because of lawlessness, because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold, but the one who endures to the end will be saved, and the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

So he is addressing the question, when will the end come, and what are the signs? But notice there's a significant aspect of warning here. Many will lead you astray, and many will be led astray. Many false prophets will want to lead you astray, and many will fall away. There are two basic temptations in this passage that are being warned about.

There's a fear of persecution, and there's not enough fear of God. There's a too strong of a fear of persecution and not enough fear of God. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be famine. There will be those who hate you and seek to destroy you. Do not fall away.

Make sure we understand the effectiveness of this rhetoric. Most elections are now making sure we understand if we don't elect this person now, we'll never have an election again. Right? Fear is such a powerful motivator. Here, our fear can lead us too far away. Fear of unknown, fear of what's right in our face can lead us astray. Jesus is making it clear, do not be afraid of these things. They must be. Many false teachers, many false prophets will come and say, Christ is over here, or there's wars, there's rumors of wars. Be afraid, be paralyzed. Now the instruction is in verse six.

When you hear of this, see that you are not alarmed.

Christian, how often are you listening to some talking head that's alarming you? Are you feeding the alarm Jesus is telling you not to have? Be not alarmed. Jesus is the right hand of the Father. He's seated having won the victory. Be not alarmed. These things must take place. They must take place. Don't be surprised. Don't be scared. Don't be hopeless. Don't be defeated. They must take place.

Why? Well, the simple answer is we sin in the garden. There was rest, there was peace in the garden, and then we rejected God's one prohibition, and now there's enmity between the children of Satan and the children of Eve. There's enmity between God and man. Psalm 2 tells us very clearly, the nations rage against God and his elect.

That hasn't stopped. Jesus came to conquer our enemies, sin and death. He has defeated them, but these enemies are still present. Death was defeated on the death of Christ. He paid the penalty in full. He rose again, but his enemies are still present and raging against God and his elect. He makes it clear we're still in the raging war and this will still happen after the resurrection. He's seeking to repair his people for persecution because he is a good king. Verse seven,

the nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There'll be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of the birth pains.

All these things will take place, which is why God has come to give us peace and to give us his word so we know what to expect and know not to be alarmed. Verse nine gets more specific. Actually makes it a little bit more personal. So 4 to 8 is really talking about the things that we'll hear, the things that are happening, but now it's about you.

They will deliver you to their tribulation and put you to death. And you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

There's a different focus now. You will suffer in this war and rumors of war and earthquakes. And there's kind of two types there, right? Many of the nations, they will rise to put you to death. The enemies who act like enemies, they're going to attack you. Man, verse 10 is way more scary. Many who were among you will fall away. And they will betray you. They will hate you. Many will seek to lead believers away. And many of those believers who were led astray will betray believers.

This is pure chaos and anarchy. And it is terrifying. But do not be alarmed. If we're just to consider what's happening there in verses 9 and 10, we look to Christ. How did they respond to the Son of God, who's perfectly righteous and perfectly good, coming to give them the gospel of Jesus Christ? They hated him. They murdered him. He was betrayed.

The problem is oftentimes we think, since Christ did all that for us, we won't have to go through it ourselves. No, when we're united with Christ, we're aligning ourselves with righteousness and goodness and God. We're taking on a new enemy. We're making an enemy of Satan and the world who hated him, and he's going to hate us. Verse 10 is weighty. Many will fall away. Again, the assumption is they were once with you. And they'll betray you. Only a friend can betray you and then hate you. This is why we talk about Growing together as a church? Unity for the sake of enduring? So that we don't abandon the faith? So that we don't betray one another? The church isn't a social gospel for buddies? It's not a wholesale shopper for consumers?

Significant big picture. Is the world a playground or a battlefield? If it's a battlefield, we gotta know who's next to us. Are we with somebody who's making promises and keeping them? Are we in this for the fight for one another, not with one another?

It's incredible how believers isolated, easy prey, believers united are an obvious target. Why we're called to be watchful for one another. Again, the call is to not be alarmed. Do not live in fear. Do not isolate. No, the call is to grow closer to Christ and his people and by his word, so that you're genuine, you're true. Notice he continues with the problem, verse 12.

Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

From fear of nation, hatred, that will lead to lawlessness. And love grows cold. Misplaced fear leads you to embrace lawlessness. We justify actions, we justify lies, we justify accusations when the nation's raging comes upon us.

Love growing cold, that needs to hit hard. We're called to love God with all our heart, all our strength, all our mind. Love growing cold leads to us veering off that wonderful narrow path of Jesus Christ. It's impossible to grow warmer in love with distance and distraction.

Last week, Daniel pointed out this wonderful conundrum that we have a hard time wrapping our heads around, that the law and love go hand in hand. We have to get past whatever misconception we have of the law. No, law produces love, and we learn to love God's law. Notice lawlessness leads to love growing cold, walking in God's love. leads us to rejoice in his law and grows our love. Those two things need to go hand in hand. Verse 13 really drops the full weight of it all.

Endurance is necessary for salvation

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Endurance is this wonderful compound word, to remain under, not throwing it off, not giving in, not being crushed. The one who stays the course with a weight on his shoulders, who does not deny Christ or compromise the faith, he'll be saved.

Christian, endurance is necessary for salvation. Endurance is necessary for salvation. Those whom he calls, he keeps. Endurance, Christian, is necessary for salvation. Verse 13, that promise implies a command. Endure. Christian, hear that exhortation. Endure. Endure the fear. Endure the tribulation. Endure the persecution. Endure the betrayal and hatred. Salvation is at hand.

The promise is that if you endure and do not deny Jesus, you'll be saved. Now, I have to preach this with all the fullness of what this text says. You must endure to be saved. You must endure to be saved. Now, I'm going to say that at the same time, I'm going to say I'm convinced you're perfectly, completely forgiven instantly when you believe in Jesus Christ. That is pulled down into that one word that Daniel taught all the children to memorize last week, which was?

Propitiation, that's a tongue twister. If Christ has perfectly paid for your sin, and you believe you're perfectly forgiven, then you must endure. We're going to say both of these with absolute confidence because God's word tells us both of these. God has perfectly paid for your sin.

Endure. And this isn't pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. This is us enduring together, reminding each other of the gospel, walking together in the gospel, reminding each other of the power of the gospel. These things must take place. Do not be alarmed.

Endure means we train together, grow together, unite in the same goal. Endure to salvation, to be saved. Christian, draw closer to God who is rich and generous in his grace so that you'll endure to the end. Verse 14,

and the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

All right, this is wild. You have the church, and the nations are raging against it. The nations are seeking to destroy this people. They're sending all the physical attacks they can possibly give to threaten, to deter, to bring fear into the church.

But what does the church do? Takes the gospel. through the whole world that hates it. Takes the gospel to the ends of the earth. While that world is hating the church, the church is proclaiming the gospel that has the power to save those that hate it. That's wild. This is the now church version of God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son to die for her, even though he knew they would kill a son. The gospel goes out to the world that hates it as a testimony to the nations that are raging.

Gospel heralding the good news of victory. We must stay on mission without fear, even though there's great temptation to fear and fall away. I want to pause here for a second. 13 and 14 are both promises. Those who endure will be saved. The gospel will be proclaimed and the end will come. They have corresponding commands, though, throughout scripture.

Be on guard. Be watchful. We need a clear defense against all the troubles that will lead us astray. Christian, the best way to be on the right defense is to be on the offensive. Herald the good news. If you feel the tension of the evil rising, nations raging, you wanna be offensive, here's what you do, here's my prescription for you.

It's not trying to fight them with the weapons they use, it's fighting them with the weapons God gives you. It's not fighting them with your fists like they use, it's fighting with the weapons God gives you. It's with your words. Christian, the two greatest weapons God's given us, prayer and proclamation.

Prayer and proclamation. Praying that God will save the nations. Praying that God will sustain his church. Praying that God will unite us and we'll grow together and hold fast. And proclaiming the gospel, that actually changes hearts and gives life. Let me say it another way. Do you want to be a man? Do you want to be tough? Stand strong and courageous in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel that transforms and grows you to be more like Jesus, who is the man. Be transformed in your head, your heart. Don't fight with your hands. Fight with your voice. What you proclaim and what you pray.

Stay faithful because God is sovereign

Our second section, verses 15 to 22. Stay faithful because God is sovereign. to stay faithful because God is sovereign. So the key focus of 4 to 14 is how dangerous it's going to be and that the real call is to endure to the end and the gospel will go out. There's a perseverance of you and the gospel. Here there's an emphasis on God's power and sovereignty.

Verse 15,

so when you see the abomination of desolation spoken by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place, Let the reader understand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house. Let not the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

And alas, for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infant in those days, pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there'd be great tribulation, such as not been from the beginning. of the world until now, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short."

So he's making a transition, and he's told him what the end will be.

All nations will have heard the gospel. The gospel will go out to all the nations. Now there's a sign, and it's the abomination of desolation spoken of Daniel in the holy place. I believe let the reader stand is him actually referring, Jesus referring back to those who would read Daniel.

The abomination of desolation spoken of Daniel. This is one of those declarations that has a number of disagreeing dissertations written about it. The abomination of desolation is an event that desecrates the holy place of God with something unholy disgusting. It marks the man's rebellion against God. It's orchestrated by Satan in a war against God and his elect.

So what event is a fulfillment of the abomination of desolation? At some level, those who lived in the days of the Maccabees believed Antiochus in 167 had committed the abomination of desolation when he sacrificed a swine on the altar, worshiping Zeus.

There's a way in which God's promises have partial fulfillments and then fulfillments, fulfillments, full fulfillments. That seems like one of those partial fulfillments. I believe here though, he's speaking of the temple that will be attacked, desecrated and destroyed in 70 AD. This meets the criteria of what he is talking about. Now, I'll go ahead and say for those who have various beliefs, Revelation 13 speaks of something that isn't described or called the abomination of desolation, but meets the criteria for what he's describing. I believe the most immediate, obvious understanding is the temple being destroyed in AD 70.

He's giving instruction for this generation that is hearing him. for what will take place, what they will see, one, so they're ready for it, they don't fall away, but also so they do not lose faith and persevere with the Gospel proclamation. So I believe this abomination of desolation is 80-70.

He then gives some instruction,

let the one on the housetop not go down to his house.

Flee, the danger is imminent. Don't stop, run. The one who does not turn to take it back as cloak, run. Alas, the burden for a woman who's pregnant or nursing because of the extra burden of caring for that child in the middle of this tribulation. 20, pray that it's not a winter. Harder to move.

Sabbath, I assume that's because it's holy.

For then the great tribulation such as not been from the beginning or the world until now, no, and never will be.

All right, so why is it so bad? I believe the badness might not be because of how horrible the humans were acting at this time. It probably has to do with how demonic it is. That's my best guess. By the way, I don't understand a lot of this passage. You can tell my voice what I'm most excited about and certain of. I believe the reason it's so great is how demonically focused it is against Satan attacking God.

22.

And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

Verse 13 has to be understood with verse 22.

Those who endure will be saved and praise be to God. He ensures his elect will be saved. Do you see that elect church? You have to endure to be saved. And your father is not some distant God out there wondering if you're going to make it or not. No, he is going to protect you to ensure you're saved.

I am certain of it. The days I've been cut short, nobody said, it will be terrifying. I remember watching a very scary movie, a military movie, and we all walked out of that movie, a bunch of friends, and they were all saying, oh yeah, if it was me, I would go to battle, I would be just like that guy. And I just was like, no, I think I'm a coward. I don't think I could do it. When we really think about how powerful Satan is and how the nations have been raging and are raging. If we know anything about history and how inhumane the church has been treated at times, it's terrifying. But it's never outside of God's eye. God is not the author of evil. He does not design that evil, but he's sovereign over it.

He does stop it. He does protect his elect. He makes sure that they will be saved. If it were up to us, no human being would be saved.

But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

Now, it doesn't tell us who cuts them short, but it's God.

For our sake, God uses his sovereignty to judge evil and end these persecutions. He will protect us from temptation. He will protect us from persecution. Christian, do not let the fact that he allows temptation and persecution cause you to doubt his love, election, power, or sovereignty. God has elected you to his salvation. It's all of his grace, and he gives you the grace to endure. There's a great comfort here.

Stay faithful with expectancy

We have to hold both real, hard, and fast. You must endure, and God will keep you and protect you so that you do endure. Finally, our last section, stay faithful with expectancy. Stay faithful with expectancy. Our last section, God has predicted these things. He's foretold them. He is sovereign over them. He has directed them. He is not the author of evil, but he is powerful over all evil. Now there's an expectancy.

Then if anyone says to you, look, here is the Christ, or there he is, do not believe it, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders. So to lead astray,

again, we come back to this lead astray.

If possible, even the elect. See, I've told you beforehand, so if you, if they say to you, look, he is in the wilderness, do not go out. If they say, look, he's in the inner rooms, do not believe it.

Don't believe you to go looking for Jesus.

His first coming was the great incognito. The God of all glory and might was hidden in the womb and then hidden in humanity. Nothing to see other than his great power when he spoke, when he taught, and when he manifested his power in miracles. But his glory was hidden.

Very clear. The next time, you don't have to go looking for them. It's one of the greatest feats of humanity. My wife and daughter woke up early to go see a spaceship rise in the morning. It was very exciting to see a spaceship. They were excited about it. But you had to go look for it. When Christ comes, you don't have to look for it. It will come with a flashing. There will be no misconception. Do not go looking for Jesus if they say, there he is, or he's come.

There's two reasons. One is as stated here. His proper place is the right hand of the Father, and that's where he is. His proper place is the right hand of the Father. He sent his Holy Spirit to be another helper, to help the church grow, to be a witness to him throughout all nations. He is seated in his glory. The second reason, when he comes, there's no missing it. There's no sign. There's no wondering. When he comes, it's going to be light flashing.

Verse 47,

as far as lightning comes from the east and shines in the west, so will the sun of man coming. Where the corpse is, the vultures will gather.

He's saying where you see this happening, it's obvious. You know when the vultures are hovering, that's where the corpse is. When you see lightning, it's not as if you need to look for it, it flashes and it's everywhere. No, when the sun comes, it's obvious to everyone. Do not get distracted with some kind of temporal worry. There'll be no doubt when he comes. He'll be bright, he'll be perfect.

Verse 20,

after the tribulation in those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall away from heaven. The powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming from the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather the elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other.

Now, immediately after verse 29, This is what makes it somewhat confusing. What is he really after? The challenge of this chapter is understanding the chronology. That's why people like to have charts. I don't understand it all, but here's two things I believe are clear from this text and the rest of scripture. I believe much of what he is saying is fulfilled in perfection in AD 70. 15 to 20, that seems to be fulfilled in AD 70 with great clarity. The second thing is that the second coming, which we just read of, did not happen in AD 70.

These things were fulfilled, and when the temple is destroyed, that officially and formally sets off a new age that will come to an end when Christ returns. The things that are he speaking of here in 29 to 31, the heavens of the earth being shaken, that only happens one more time in the end. The undoing of creation with stars falling and the sun being darkened, that will happen in the end when there is no sun anymore. There's only Jesus Christ who illuminates the entirety of eternity.

He will send out the angels with a trumpet call, that last trumpet. These are all things happening in the future. So as you wrestle with these, and there is a real wrestling, and there's lots of fun conversations for y'all to have afterwards with each other. He is telling them, these things are going to happen, so you know I'm foretelling it. And then there's something more, a final end, when he comes again.

29 to 31, that's cosmic language, an undoing of creation, that shakenness that couldn't have happened at 80, 70. I want you to see the verse 30.

Then will appear in heaven the signs of the Son of Man, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Every knee will bow. Every tongue confess Jesus Christ is God.

There isn't a makeup test later. If you hear his voice, do not reject him. There's a wild theology that says there's a second chance after you die. There's nothing of scripture that speaks to that. I want to push even further. You might have a second chance beyond today. We take God's grace for granted and think, I can put this off another day. No, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

Everyone will see him in his glory and power. And it's either for judgment because of our sin or as our great savior and rejoice in him. In the end, the end is to see him as he is. It's either as his elect or under his judgment. Believe today to be saved. All people will respond to their creator with eyes that see him. Again, the imagery of a trumpet is tied to so close to that future return. It hasn't happened yet. We're still longing for that second coming of Christ. Again, verse 32, he gives us another picture, kind of like the vulture.

When you see the fig tree, learn a lesson from it. As soon as its branches become tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Now, those who farm fig trees, you understand this better than the rest of us. The idea is that you can see transitions in seasons, just like everything just turned pumpkin spice all of a sudden. Maples are starting to turn vibrant colors. When you see these things, the end is near.

All right, we'll talk about this more next week, but the amount of people who've predicted exactly that they know when this is happening is pretty amazing, especially when Jesus said you can't know. But we're supposed to be living expectantly, not predicting as if we know, expectantly with confidence he will return. At any time, how will he find me? 34 is where we have to think hard.

This generation will not pass away until these things take place.

I believe this is why it's important that these are 80, 70. The things he's spoken of 80, 70, they will take place. And it begins the season, the era of what will finally be with the second coming of Christ. Verse 35, if you've checked out, please check back in.

My words will not pass away

This is your memory verse.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

God's spoken. Our God speaks. He tells us who he is, who we are. He tells us what is coming. He tells us to be ready. He tells us how to be ready. We're a book religion. That shouldn't excite you. Everything worth knowing is worth writing down and reading. God has given us these words so that we can know what he has said. Your other options are your feelings, your best ideas, or other people who are corrupt and passing. God is perfect, he's good, he's true.

He's promised that he will save a people who hated him. He kept that promise to the point of even his son dying. He kept the promise so that his son would die for us. He's kept every word. You go back and you just see all the promises of God in the old covenant and how they're all yes and amen in Christ.

There's no better assurance than what God has said. God said, those who endure to the end will be saved. God said, I will keep you. I'll protect you. Listen to the word of God. That is where you get your ballast, your confidence, your courage to resist those who are leading you astray, to resist the fear, to resist the temptation, to know what his law says so you can grow warm in love. God's word gives you ballast, strength, courage. You must believe it and be built upon it. There is no courageous fight among God's people that does not have a dependent faith on his word.

Reject the common lie that there's some kind of safe distance from God, his word, and his church. Oh, church, draw near to him. May we be a people of his book, who are constantly, constantly reminding each other of all that he has said, because his word is true.

It will not pass away. Will you pray with me? Father, we thank you that you sent your Son so we know your love. We thank you that you're the God who has spoken and we have your words that have kept your church true for 2,000 years. Lord, may we not look for some other source. May we not look for some other clever idea. May we know to draw closer to the truth that you've given us so that we know how to endure the temptations and the loss. May we know how to do this together, protecting each other from those temptations that lead astray. May we be on mission to trust you and proclaim you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.