Hey
So Matthew's Gospel chapter 24 if you need a Bible there's plenty there as you came in
coming through the door please feel free to go and get one if you need it
we're going to read right the way up to verse 35 and in case you have missed the theme of this
morning it's all about the Lord's return and this is what we come to in Matthew chapter 24 it's a
difficult section so we're going to read it and we are then going to pray and ask for the Lord's
help so follow along with me as we hear God's word to us verse 1 Jesus left the temple and was walking
away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings do you see all these
things he asked truly I tell you not one stone here will be left on another everyone will be thrown down
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 at the end of the age
Jesus answered watch out that no one deceives you for many will come in my name claiming I'm the
Messiah and will deceive many you will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that none of you
are alarmed such things must happen but the end is still to come nation will rise against nation
the kingdom against kingdom there will be famines and earthquakes in various places all these are the
beginning of birth pains then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be
hated by all nations because of me at that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and
hate each other false prophets will appear and deceive many people because of the increase of wickedness
the love of most will grow cold but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved 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
so when you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation spoken of through the prophet
Daniel let the reader understand then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains let no one on the
house top go down to take anything out of the house let no one in the field go back to get their cloak
how dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers
pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the sabbath
for then there will be great distress unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and never to be
equaled again if those days had not been cut short no one would survive but for the sake of the elect
those days will be shortened at that time if anyone says to you look here is the messiah or no there he is
do not believe it do not believe it for false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive
if possible even the elect see i have told you in advance so if anyone tells you there he is out in the desert or
do not go out or here he is in the inner rooms do not believe it for as lightning that comes from the east is visible in the west
so will be the coming of the son of man wherever there is a carcass there the vultures will gather
immediately after the distress of those days
the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light
the stars will fall from the sky
the heavenly bodies will be shaken
then will appear the sign of the son of man in heaven
and then all peoples of the earth will mourn
when they see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory
and he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call
and they will gather his elect from the four winds
from one end of the heavens to the other
now learn this lesson from the fig tree
as soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves come out
you know that summer is near
even so
when you see all these things
you know that it is near
right at the door
truly I tell you
this generation will certainly not pass away
until all these things have happened
heaven and earth will pass away
but my words will never pass away
well let's keep our bibles open
and let's pray
our father god
each one of us has come today
with many things on our minds
about the coming week
and the future
and we pray that your word
would give us a vision today
of the future to come
that would give us a perspective on life
that fills us with hope
and confidence
giving us the sure
and certain hope
that christ is coming
father would we be ready
for his return
and may we be attentive
to your word
so that we will live well
as we wait
so be our teacher
by your holy spirit
and help us all we pray
in jesus name
amen
well there we are
in matthew's gospel
it's tuesday evening
three days before jesus will be crucified
and put to death
and knowing what lies ahead
jesus wants his disciples and us to know
that he has authority over all things
no matter how bad things are going to get
jesus wants us to know
that we can face the future
with absolute confidence and hope
the king will return
just as jesus came once
so jesus is going to come again
three things jesus teaches us
about his return
in this chapter
believe the word
of the king's return
wait in hope
for the king's return
and invest your life
in the king's return
so three simple things
believe the word
wait in hope
and invest
your life
so first
believe the word
of the king's
return
in this text
in this chapter
jesus has made
two very clear promises
one that the temple
is going to be destroyed
and the second
that the lord
is going to return
and these two promises
are not separate
from each other
rather the first promise
paves the way
for the second promise
in other words
the temple being destroyed
is a sign
that the king
is going to come
have a look with me
in verse one
jesus left the temple
we remember previously
back in chapter
21
he had gone
to the temple
it's now tuesday
and he's gone
to the temple again
and they're now
leaving it
so jesus left
the temple
and was walking
away with his disciples
and they came up
to him to call
his attention
to the building
hey jesus
look at the size
of this temple
it was stunning
and elaborate
it was an architect's
dream
walking along
its perimeter
on the outer walls
you couldn't help
but be impressed
some of the stones
along the bottom
all cut by hand
were 40 feet long
12 feet high
and 12 feet deep
the white marble columns
at the entrance
and the roof
overlaid with gold
it was a magnificent
building
we can imagine
jesus and the disciples
as they were walking
around
gazing up at these
high walls
impressed
verse 2
do you see
all these things
do you see
this magnificent
building
jesus said
truly i tell you
not one stone here
will be left
on another
every one
will be thrown
down
pardon
excuse me
yes you heard
correctly
the temple
will be
destroyed
now the significance
of that is
somebody announcing
in the news today
that in
a number of years
time the white house
is just going to be
completely
obliterated
or leinster house
in a few years time
is just going to be
floored to the ground
well clearly
this had bothered
the disciples
so that evening
verse 3
as jesus was sitting
on the mount of olives
so this is an area
outside the city
on a hill
an olive grove
where jesus would go
over the course
of that week
and they could look
from there
down onto the city
and especially
over this
magnificent
temple
as jesus was sitting
on the mount of olives
the disciples
came to him
privately
tell us
they said
when will
this happen
when is this
temple going
to be destroyed
and what will be
the sign of your
coming at the end
of the age
it seems
the disciples
have been trying
to work things
out for themselves
jesus if
if this temple
is going to be
destroyed
does that mean
that when that
happened
it's going to be
the end of the age
the end of this world
and the end of history
as we know it
is that what you're
trying to tell us
well let's see what
jesus has to say
first
the destruction of the
temple
jesus is very clear
he says there's going
to be certain signs
that are going to
happen
that will tell us
the temple
will be destroyed
verse 5
he says there will
be false messiahs
verse 6
there will be
wars and nations
against nation
in verse 7
there's going to be
famine and earthquakes
verse 8
all these are the
beginning
of birth pains
these are all
signs he says
of a more
terrible event
to come
the destruction
of the temple
in fact the
disciples as they
listen
he says you will
feel it personally
verse 9
he says there will
be persecution
and some of the
disciples will be
put to death
verse 10
people will turn
from the faith
verse 12
wickedness will
increase
and all while
this is going on
verse 14
the good news
will continue
to be declared
and
end of verse
14
then the
end
will come
these are the
things you can
expect to happen
and then the
end will come
then the temple
is going to be
destroyed
verse 15
so when you
see standing
in the holy
place talking
about the
temple
when you see
standing in the
holy place the
abomination that
causes desolation
bit of a tongue
twister that one
well it's a
quote from
the prophet
Daniel who
hundreds of
years before
spoke of a
foreign enemy
one who is
going to come
in the future
and destroy the
temple and
overtake Jerusalem
Jesus says
when you see
that happen
the abomination
that causes
desolation
spoken of
through the
prophet of
Daniel
let the
reader
understand
in other
words if
you don't
believe my
words now
you will
certainly believe
my words
then
mark my
words
the temple
will be
destroyed
and when it
does happen
there will be
terrible suffering
verse 16
then let
those who
are in
Judea
flee to
the mountains
escape
get out
as fast
as you
can
don't wait
to pack
your bags
or bring
your favourite
belongings
run for it
verse 21
for then
there will be
great distress
terrible
suffering
unequals from
the beginning
of the world
until now
and never
to be
equaled
again
so Jesus
promises
that the
temple will
be destroyed
but he also
makes a second
promise
the promise
of the coming
Lord
verse 23
at that
time
at the time
the temple
is being
destroyed
if anyone
says to you
look
over there
here's the
Messiah
or
no no no
over there
don't
believe it
verse 26
so if anyone
tells you
there he is
he's out in
the desert
quickly go out
to him
or
no
he's in
the inner
rooms
whether he's
inside or
outside
don't
believe it
for as
lightning
that comes
from the
east
is visible
from the
west
so will
be the
coming of
the son
of man
Jesus
is crystal
clear
the king
will return
Jesus'
favourite name
for himself
the son
of man
a person
of absolute
power and
authority
who will
return to
establish
his eternal
kingdom
so we
have two
clear promises
the temple
will be
destroyed
and the
king
will return
but how
do they
relate
to each
other
well
the promise
of the word
Jesus is
connecting
these two
great events
the first
event
foreshadows
the second
event
the destruction
of the temple
is the sign
that the king
will return
when it's
destroyed
you will know
that the lord
is going to
come
you see
about 40
years
after Jesus
spoke these
very words
to his
disciples
all that he
said
came to
pass
you can
look it
up in
your
history
books
in
AD
66
the Jews
rebelled
against their
Roman
masters
they went
on the
offensive
and in
response
the emperor
Titus
went in
with his
armies
and his
response
was
devastating
they
overtook
Jerusalem
in
AD
70
they
came in
and put
a siege
around
the temple
where all
the rebels
had holed
up
his army
broke
through the
walls
the temple
was set
on fire
and all
the valuable
items
were ransacked
and by the
time the
armies
had finished
all that
remained
of the
temple
was the
foundation
on which
it was
built
it was
completely
leveled
just
as
Jesus
has
said
read
your
history
and you
will
see
that
what
Jesus
said
verse
2
truly I
tell you
not one
stone
will here
be left
on another
everyone
will be
thrown
down
and those
who didn't
flee to the
surrounding
mountains
like they
were warned
were butchered
to death
over those
four years
of battle
and in those
remaining
few weeks
historians
say that
at least
one
million
people
were killed
Jesus'
words were
yet again
true
verse 21
he said
there will
be
great
distress
a terrible
suffering
unequaled
from the
beginning
of the
world
until now
never to
be equaled
again
so Jesus
is making
it clear
to his
disciples
when all
this happens
when these
terrible events
come to
pass
that will
be the
sign to
you that
you know
the king
is going
to return
verse 34
truly I
tell you
this
generation
will certainly
not pass
until all
these things
have happened
all this
stuff to
the temple
the invading
army that's
going to
come
heaven and
earth will
pass away
everything else
may be
destroyed
but my
words will
never pass
away
what Jesus
says is
true
we can
trust his
words
if Jesus
says it
will happen
it will
happen
no doubts
well we
sit at a
time
two
thousand
years
since
Jesus
spoke
those
words
and a
little
more
since
the
temple
was
destroyed
today
you can
go to
that
very
site
and there
is no
temple
the only
wall
that's
left
is one
of the
big
outer
walls
surrounding
the temple
courts
called the
western wall
the wailing
wall
you may have
seen pictures
of it
you go there
today and
you will see
Jews very
devout
praying
wailing
crying
longing
for everything
to be
restored
but there
is no
temple
never
forget
its
significance
of what
Jesus
had said
Jesus
said
the temple
would be
destroyed
and so
we can
believe
his word
that the
king
will
return
of course
people spend
their days
don't they
trying to
predict
when that
will be
I mean
we've had
a plethora
of it
in recent
years
oh
the pandemic
across the
world
the lord
must be
coming
get ready
Russia
has invaded
Ukraine
oh
the lord
is coming
get ready
maybe he
is
maybe he
will
next week
well we're
not to get
caught up
with signs
and times
and catastrophic
events
or climate
change
and trying
to figure
out when
it's all
going to
happen
look at
verse 36
but about
that day
the day
of the lord's
return or
hour
no one
knows
not even
the angels
in heaven
nor the
son
but only
the father
so don't
bother
turning on
your
televisions
to the
god
channel
and listening
to all
these wonderful
predictions
of when
christ is
coming
none of
them know
if the
angels
don't know
the son
doesn't
know
well i
certainly
don't know
and neither
do you
the important
thing is not
when he is
coming
but that he
is coming
his words
are
true
we can
trust
his
words
so
first
believe the
word of the
king's return
the next
couple of
points that
we're going
to look at
are a little
shorter
we're not
going to be
as long
second
wait in
hope
for the
king's
return
so we
don't know
the time
of the
king's
return
but when
it does
happen
it will
be
unmistakable
rather than
a secret
event
known by
a few
it will
be public
and seen
by all
look at
verse 27
with me
for as
lightning
that comes
from the
east is
visible
even in
the west
you know
on the
rare occasions
even when
we have
lightning
it can
be miles
away
but people
way in
the opposite
direction
still see
it
so it
will be
with the
coming
of the
son
of
man
verse 28
wherever
there is
a carcass
there the
vultures
will gather
now that's a bit
of a tough one
I'll tell you what I
think it
means
that where
there is a
dead animal
way way up
in the sky
you see the
circling
vultures
and people
from miles
around
can all
see
what is
going on
and what
is
happening
so it
will be
with the
coming of
the son
of man
everybody
will see
in fact
when the
king returns
there will
be a
cosmic
upheaval
look at the
quote in
verse 29
the sun
will be
darkened
the moon
will not
give its
light
so whether
you're alive
at the time
of the sun
or whether
you're in
an area
of the
world
where the
moon
is out
the stars
will fall
from the
sky
and the
heavenly
bodies
will be
shaken
the return
of Jesus
will be
unmistakable
all will
see and
all will
know
wherever
you live
on the
planet
and with
his coming
there are
three glorious
things
we can
look forward
to
first
justice
will be
done
verse 30
then will
appear the
sign of the
son of man
in heaven
and then all
the peoples
of the earth
all the
nations
will mourn
when they
see the
son of man
coming on
the clouds
of heaven
with power
and great
glory
remember what
we looked at
just last
week
when Jesus
entered into
Jerusalem
do you remember
how he came
on a donkey
gentle
and humbly
but when
Jesus comes
again
he's going
to be riding
on the clouds
of heaven
in power
and in
great glory
first he came
to serve
and to save
now he's going
to come to
rule and to
judge
no wonder
verse 30
the nations
will be
mourning
for there
will be
no more
hiding
all will
be revealed
and everything
will be
exposed
what do you
think about
that
well that's
good news
because
justice will
be done
think of
all the
injustices
that have
taken place
in the history
of the world
where the
innocent
suffer
and the
guilty
escape
the invading
armies
the corrupt
politicians
where children
are trafficked
and women
enslaved
the rich
and the powerful
stealing and
abusing
the violent
and greedy
crushing
and killing
all has been
seen
and not
one of it
will ever
be forgotten
every penny
that has been
robbed
every hurtful
thought
every evil
deed
has all
been recorded
by God
and one
day
every human
being that
has ever
lived in the
history of
this world
will stand
before the
supreme king
every evil
will be
punished
and every
wrong
put right
nothing
and no
one
will escape
the pure
justice
of God
but before
we move
on
this
also means
that we
too will
receive
justice
because every
one of us
gathered here
today
will have to
give an
account to
the king
for our
every thought
word and
deed
how are you
going to
stand
before the
king
what would
it be like
to have
my life
all my
secret
deepest
thoughts
all exposed
by God
all revealed
you see
all who
have rejected
Jesus as
king
will face
the king's
judgment
and if
you are
here today
and you
are one
who is
rejecting
and refuse
to submit
to him
now
today
not a
moment
later
is the
time to
repent
and ask
for his
forgiveness
please
make sure
you are
ready to
meet the
king
so
justice
will be
done
second
all
God's
people
will be
gathered
in
verse
31
Ralph
referred to
this earlier
from
revelation
and he
will send
his angels
with a
loud
trumpet
call
and they
will gather
his elect
his believers
his followers
from the
four winds
from north
south
east
and west
they will
all be
gathered
from one
end of
the heavens
to the
other
from one
end of
the earth
to the
other
what a
welcome
it's going
to be
picture the
scene
we looked at
one angel
in revelation
here it says
all the angels
will be blowing
their trumpets
imagine the
noise
thousands
and thousands
upon angels
each blowing
their trumpet
god's very
own welcoming
party
and all
who have
submitted
their life
to king
jesus
will be
gathered in
just as the
king will
bring his
judgment on
those who
reject him
so the
king will
bring his
salvation to
those who
accept him
i love
the moment
before a
match
starts
and the
players
run
fired up
out of
the tunnel
onto the
pitch
and the
crowd
stand and
applaud and
cheer
shouting
well let's
get ready
for the
welcome of
all welcomes
one day
jesus will
return
and we
will run
into the
eternal kingdom
greeted by
cheering and
shouting in the
celebration of
angels embraced
by the king
of kings
this is the
guaranteed
promise of
jesus
just as he
came to
save you
and to die
for you
he will
come again
and he
will bring
you
home
he will
not forget
you or
leave you
you will
be gathered
in
so justice
done
gathered in
and joy
to come
verse 32
now learn
this lesson
from the
fig tree
do you have
any fig trees
in your
garden
well
there's a
lesson
as soon
as its
twigs become
tender
and its
leaves come
out
you know
that summer
is near
have a look
around your
garden
nature is a
wonderful
teacher
just as the
plants begin
to leaf
and begin
to bud
so we know
that summer
is coming
well says
Jesus
this is
what
life is
like
and what
the
kingdom
to come
will be
presently
he says
it's as if
we are
living
through
winter
life is
filled
with
hurts
and pains
but
we look
forward
to
joy
every
trial
and struggle
every
crushing
hurt
every
anxious
pain
are all
signs
that a
greater
glory
awaits
winter
is here
right now
but
summer
is coming
we see
the horrors
of war
and its
devastating
effects
but
summer
is coming
we watch
as families
are broken
and homes
destroyed
but
summer
is coming
we hurt
as children
are maimed
and their
innocence
lost
but
summer
is coming
we
struggle
with our
broken
promises
and
disappointments
but
summer
is coming
we
battle
with our
own
sin
and our
failing
and our
falling
but
summer
is coming
we
live
with
regret
we
fight
our
fears
but
summer
is coming
we
face
sickness
and
sorrow
we
struggle
through
pain
but
can we
say it
summer
is coming
we
say goodbye
to loved
ones
we
long
for
better
days
but
summer
is coming
as we
wait
for the
king's
return
we are
living
through
winter
life
under
the
curse
suffering
and
struggles
thorns
and
thistles
but
one
day
the
king
will
come
in
glorious
light
and
the
icy
winds
of
winter
will
be
no
more
wait
in
hope
look
forward
to his
coming
and
when
he
comes
justice
will
be
done
we
will
be
gathered
in
and
joy
will
be
ours
forever
and
ever
and
ever
amen
so
third
invest
your
life
in
the
king's
return
you
see
it's
not
just
a
future
event
it
impacts
on
how
we
live
today
that's
Jesus
teaching
to
his
disciple
this
is
what
we
are
waiting
for
the
glory
to
come
these
things
are
yet
to
happen
so
here's
how
we
should
all
live
as
we
wait
for
the
king
very
quickly
three
things
we
can
all
invest
our
life
in
as
we
wait
in
hope
first
watch
out
look
at
verse
four
watch
out
that
no
one
deceives
you
for
many
will
come
in
my
name
claiming
I'm
the
Messiah
and
will
deceive
many
false
messiahs
false
prophets
with
a
false
message
how
are
they
going
to
deceive
what
will
their
message
be
well
it
will
be
something
like
this
trust
in
Jesus
and
you
will
be
healthy
and
wealthy
forever
believe
in
Jesus
and
you
will
have
your
best
life
now
speak
positive
words
and
you
will
be
healed
no
more
sickness
what
has
Jesus
been
telling
his
disciples
get
ready
for
difficulties
and
hardships
look
at
verse
eight
all
these
are
the
beginning
of
birth
pains
anyone
who
has
had
a
baby
knows
that
the
beginning
of
birth
pains
those
first
contractions
means
the
pain
is only
going to
get
worse
yes
the
glory
to
come
of the
little
baby
will
be
there
one
day
well
in a
few
hours
not a
whole
day
I
hope
will
eventually
come
but
there
will
be
pain
Jesus
saying
this
is
what
we
have
to
get
prepared
for
this
is
life
no
it's
not
all
doom
and
gloom
we
have
the
promise
of
God's
power
and
presence
he
is
our
father
who
cares
and
comforts
he
will
give
you
grace
for
every
trial
and
strength
for
believe
the
lie
that
this
is
our
best
life
now
it
is
not
the
best
is
yet
to
come
watch
out
for
deceiving
lies
second
let's
together
stand
firm
with
all the
pressures
of life
and
persecution
and
opposition
verse
12
tells us
there's
going to
be a
greater
wickedness
the
pulls
to
take
us
away
from
God
what
are we
to
do
verse
13
the
one
who
stands
firm
to
the
end
will
be
saved
well
how
are
we
going
to
stand
firm
amidst
all
the
pressures
and
the
difficulties
well
what
have
we
been
thinking
about
believe
the
word
of
the
king's
return
that's
how
you
will
stand
firm
wait
in
hope
for the
king's
return
that's
how you
remain
rock
solid
remind
yourself
that
justice
will be
done
that
you
will
be
gathered
in
and
joy
is
yet
to
come
stand
firm
in
the
promises
of
God
and
third
preach
the
gospel
verse
14
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're
not
to be
trying
to
figure
out
how
many
nations
are
there
how
many
have
been
reached
but
as
we
wait
for
the
king
get
on
with
the
business
each
one
of
us
of
sharing
the
good
news
you
see
we
live
in
a
community
where
people
are
without
hope
the
best
people
can
muster
is
to
say
we've
come
from
nowhere
we're
going
nowhere
and
life
is
all
a
chance
in
between
how
much
greater
a
message
have
we
got
the
good
news
of
a
coming
king
who
has
all
history
and
all
life
in
his
hands
a
king
with
absolute
power
and
supreme
authority
who
will
come
and
restore
our
broken
lives
and
renew
this
disordered
world
once
and
for
all
a
king
who
gave
his
life
for
you
died
for
you
and
rose
again
from
the
grave
defeating
death
so
that
we
together
might
enjoy
his
kingdom
forever
good
news
for us
to
tell
my
friends
winter
is
here
but
summer
is
coming
let's
pray
lord
god
we
look
we
see
the
world
around
us
we
see
our
own
lives
in
our
own
situations
we
fear
of
what's
to
come
lift
our
gaze
from
what
we
can
see
to
what
we
can't
see
and
what
you
have
promised
an
eternal
glory
to
come
father
may
each
one
of
us
be
ready
that
not
only
would
we
be
gathered
and
welcomed
but
that
we
would
be
ready
to
welcome
you
whenever
that
is
father
fill us
with
hope
and
confidence
that
we
would
watch
out
stand
firm
and
that
together
we
would
preach
the
good
news
so
that
all
might
hear
of
your
greatness
and
your
glory
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen
do
you
want
to
sing
I
do
we're
going
to
sing
when
I
fear
my
faithful
fail
cry