End Times (part 2)
Well this is a second part to the topic of the “end times”. If you recall from last time we were going through the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. And as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives Jesus gave us some answers as to what to expect at the end of this age. He starts off with what are not signs ie regional conflicts and those claiming to be the Christ, but then He does give us some clear signs.
So far we have looked the following signs that He says are like birth pains. They increase in frequency and severity until the end, and like birth pains until there is new life again and a new age culminating in the 2nd coming of Jesus.
The signs we have looked at so far include
World Wars
Famines and Earthquakes
Pestilence
A falling away or apostasy of the church
Lawlessness, love growing cold
We also looked at the sign of the fig tree that we said represented Israel. And, just as the fig tree leaves come out and we know its summer. So too the formation of Israel as a state in 1948 is a sign of the fig tree in summer confirming we are in the end times
We also looked at the Church age using Revelation 2 and 3. We saw that the letters to the 7 churches were applicable then as they are now and also served as a clock. And overall we are in the age of the Church of Laodicea ie the last of the Churches in this time frame.
Today I would like to continue with the Olivet discourse in Matthew 24 and look at a few other signs of note;
The gospel being preached to the whole world.
Matthew 24:14 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.
We may think that the whole world has been exposed to the Word of God but there are about 100 different tribes with little or no contact with the outside world at the moment. About half of those are in the Amazon. One of the most isolated are the Sentinelese people of North Sentinel Island, which lies in the Bay of Bengal near India. Contact with them is forbidden under Indian law but in Nov 2018, an American man tried to evangelize them. He wrote to his parent’s hours before his journey onto the island saying that he wanted to “declare Jesus” to the tribespeople and that they should “not be angry at them or at God if I get killed”.
John Chau, 26, was hit with a volley of arrows and killed, shortly after making land on North Sentinel Island
A common denominator amongst these isolated peoples which vary in size from dozens to 100, is an absolute resistance to assimilate into a broader community and reflects the very real tribal nature of these groups. Keep in mind you may think there are advantages to being isolated but when you reject input you can hardly bemoan the lack of any benefit you could have had from that input.
It does remind me of that story which Im sure you know, where a Christian man was on the roof of his house I trying to survive a massive flood. A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you."
The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. "So the rowboat went on. Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you."
To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith. "So the motorboat went on.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!"
To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat, what more did you expect?"
So one could argue, that through media and missionaries, the vast majority of the world (but not the whole world) has been reached. There are those that have accepted it and those that reject it
But just to put this whole matter to bed, I don’t think this is a sign we need to concern ourselves with at all, because this global testimony is going to happen in the tribulation period anyway. And its going to be done by angels!
Revelation 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.
In fact there are another two angels that follow on with this message! So all will hear the gospel preached.
The ten leaders of the world:
Matthew 24:15-25 (NIV)15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
To understand this a little better we just need to revise a bit of Daniel we covered a few weeks ago.
Let’s recall Daniels interpretation of the two dreams in Daniel 2 & 7. In the first dream in Daniel 2 by Nebuchadnezzar, he dreams of a statue with , with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, and legs partly of iron and partly of clay. Then a rock destroys the feet of the statue or the 10 toes (representing the 10 leaders of the world at that time).
While in Daniel 7, Daniel dreams of 4 great beasts, one like a lion, one like a bear, one like a leopard and then a fourth beast with 10 horns (10 world leaders). The beast develops a 11th horn ( he antichrist) who is ultimately destroyed at the end of the 7 year period of tribulation
Daniel 7:23-27 (NASB)23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the [b]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and [c]they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26
And so in Daniel 2 and 7 we have 4 periods of time as represented by the parts of the statue and the beasts, and in both cases we have 10 world leaders as we enter tribulation
Now again it’s probably not useful trying to guess who they may be. I don’t think we will know until it happens. One can look at the largest nations economically and while its interesting to do so not of much use. You may even find that hat it ends up being a combination of economic, military and religious forces that define the 10 leaders. Again its just speculation. We will know when it is revealed to us. So we will move on!
Covenant made with Israel Now this is one sign that we may be more aware of, that is if we are here at this time.
Daniel 9:27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
27 And he [speaking about the antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.
So now we are looking at a sign bring us to the last 7 years of this age.
So here we have a sign that tells us that at this time the antichrist will make a covenant with Israel clearly allowing them to make sacrifices and offerings again. When this happens the clock to Jesus 2nd coming begins- 7 years from this time. This also means we do not expect the second coming of Jesus for at least the next 7 years. Keep in mind this is different to the coming of Jesus in the resurrection of the Church or the rapture where Jesus does not come down onto the earth, but the church gets caught up to Him. That time of the resurrection of the church is unknown and can happen at any time.
in the middle of that final 7 year period, ie as Daniel says in in the middle of the week and after 3,5 yrs (or time, times and half a time, or 1260 days, 42 months) the antichrist will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering and a period of severe tribulation will begin “even until a complete destruction” and so Jesus gives this warning
Matt. 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Bottom line; If you see a covenant made with Israel allowing them to offer sacrifices on the Temple Mount, tribulation is about to begin
The coming of Elijah:
Elijah the prophet is foretold by Malachi to return to the earth prior to the “great and terrible day of the Lord:”
Mal. 4:5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
The "great and terrible day of the Lord" is a reference to the seven years of Tribulation. So, prior to the start of Tribulation, Elijah will return to the earth. Elijah’s return is important because during Tribulation Israel will be given an opportunity for a time to worship at a new temple (according to Daniel 9 and Revelation 11). God uses Elijah to prompt Israel’s return to orthodoxy immediately prior to the rise of a third temple. And in John’s vision, there is a day coming when the temple will return in some form.
Revelation 11:1-3 The Two Witnesses
11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
Most Jewish-Orthodox scholars reject any attempts to build the Temple before the coming of Messiah so Elijahs role becomes even more important and the Tribulation itself only begins when Israel strikes a deal with the antichristto regain access to their temple mount to sacrifice
The coming of the Son of Man (not Jesus 2nd coming)- the resurrection of the Church
Matthew 24:36-39 (NASB)
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not [b]understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
We sometimes call this the resurrection of the church or the rapture. According to Daniel 9, Christ's return day will come exactly 7 years after the start of Tribulation, so the Second Coming of Jesus is a day that can be predicted and known by all who are alive in that day. Jesus' reference to the times of Noah was intended to explain just as prior to the flood life was going on quite normally and unexpectant of any flood or disaster. Which may suggest that this would occur just before Tribulation, which ties in with the analogy of the Jewish wedding. But it is made clear that that day is not known and will come like a thief in the night!
Now just to bring this to a close there is an overriding point that we should note about all these signs and events we have been talking about, and that is there is a God made plan, a God ordained order of events in a God given time. In other words God is in control of this world and we rest in the palm of His hand.
Following on from this A.W. Tozer wrote this simple yet profound reasoning:
‘God is love and God is sovereign. His love disposes Him to desire our everlasting welfare, and His sovereignty enables Him to secure it.’
Just think about the logic- God loves us-dearly. God is sovereign- has all authority and power. Would He not want the very best for us? And if so would He not give us the very best if it was in his power and desire to do so?
Lets look at some verses that remind us that God is at work directing our lives:
He has control before and from birth:
Psalm 139:13-16 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be
He has control over nations
Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Acts 17:26 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands
Control over nature
Proverbs 8:29 He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth
Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!
Control over man
Proverbs 16:99 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps
Control over calamities
Amos 3:6 6 If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it?
Lamentations 3:37-38
37 Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
So here is the conclusion of the matter
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)
He has the situation under control!
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land (Psalm 95:1-5).