Bible Study - Return (1) - Standing Strong to the End - Matthew 24:1-14 - April 24, 2022

 

Bible Study – Return (1) – Stand Strong to the End – April 24, 2022

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled, “CHRIST’S Return: Living with the End in Mind.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 24:1-14.

Expect difficulty when you choose to follow JESUS.

Why should a Christian expect difficulty when he or she chooses to follow JESUS? JESUS said it best in John 15:19:

¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.

Being a friend of the world means a person is the enemy of GOD. Why? The world hates GOD. Therefore, when a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior, he or she becomes an enemy of Satan, who is disguised as the world ruling order. But GOD gives to all of HIS Spirit-born Children the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts. The indwelling Holy Spirit is their assurance, guide, leader, teacher, comforter, enlightener and so much more. This equipping takes place at the instant of salvation.

Full redemption occurs at a Spirit-born person’s physical death at which time he or she is fully redeemed from the woes of earth.

When did JESUS choose us? Before He made the world, HE chose us. (Ephesians 1:4 - ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] )

Eschatology, the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind intrigues most humans. As we study our scripture, we find that end-times were on the minds of the disciples of JESUS. Let’s explore!

The event Matthew recorded in our focus scripture took place during the last week of JESUS’ earthly ministry. This was Passover and Jerusalem was teeming with people. JESUS had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey, which symbolized that HE entered as conqueror in peace and humility. HE turned over the tables of the money changers at the temple.

JESUS and HIS disciples were at the temple during this festive time of Passover.

King Herod the Great had helped the Jews rebuild the temple (37-4 BC). His motive was to curry favor from the Jewish people and for the most part, it did. King Herod did make the temple a place of beauty which was built upon solid rock and it was a massive solid structure. This was where the GOD of the Israelites dwelled and sacrifices for sin were made. It was a place where GOD dwelled therefore nothing would happen to it or would it?

Often, we place our trust in things which appear to be solid and eternal, only to discover that they are not.

As JESUS and HIS disciples were ending their day at the temple, JESUS made a startling statement when HIS disciples were intrigued with the structure of the temple ------

Let’s read Matthew 24:1-3:

24 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. ² He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”

This statement of JESUS got the attention of HIS disciples. The temple was where GOD resided and surely it would withstand the ravages of time and any attacks. Often, we place our faith in human structures only to be disappointed when they fail. GOD desires for us to place our faith and confidence in HIM.

JESUS referred to the massive beauty and structures as “things.” Every earthly possession we have and accumulate is a “thing.”

JESUS then stated, “Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” This wording indicates complete and utter destruction, which likely stunned HIS disciples.

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While he (JESUS) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

GOD gave us an inquiring heart, mind and nature to explore. JESUS’ disciples asked a very important question and JESUS answered them.

JESUS and HIS disciples relocated to the Mount of Olives, which is a mountain ridge along the eastern side of Jerusalem, running north and south. The ridge was about 200 feet above the temple mount across the Kidron Valley and about a mile long. This gave them a good view of the temple which was considered an architectural marvel in the Middle East. For this massive solid structure to be utterly destroy must mean the end of the world.

Assumptions get us into trouble. Fortunately, we have GOD’S Word and the Holy Spirit to help us but we know from scripture according to Mark 13:31-33:

³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour – Uncertainty is the only constant when we study the end times. Why? GOD/JESUS desires for us to come to HIM and use what HE equips us with – The Holy Spirit, GOD’S Word, prayer and Spiritual Gifts.

³² “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son —but only the Father.

³³ “Watch! Be alert!^[g] For you don’t know when the time is coming.

JESUS teaches us to stay alert and be ready for the end times to come.

JESUS did not answer their question specifically. Why? Often, when we have a certain date, we procrastinate. “Oh, we have plenty of time and we will get around to it.” Only “round to it” often eludes us.

The destruction of the Temple was certain. It happened in, 70 AD by the Romans. The temple was utterly destroyed but that did not mark the end. Some 2,000 years has passed since that event. We are still watching and waiting on the return of JESUS and HE still tells us to “Be Alert!”

JESUS moves on to some specific issues that require us, who know the truth, to focus upon as we study the Bible and are led by the Holy Spirit to be alert and ready for the end. There will be signs.

Let’s read Matthew 24:4-8:

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah, and they will deceive many. ⁶ You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines^[a] and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these events are the beginning of labor pains.

These are attention getters for all people but most especially for Christians. These are prompts or calls to Christians to study, pray and act. It helps to keep us focused.

Watch out for deceivers! How do you do that? You build upon your relationship with JESUS. Old notions must be removed and put on new clothes that have been washed in the shed blood of the Lamb/JESUS and washed in the Word of GOD. Personal study, group study, corporate study coupled with prayers and action. Know the truth because it is the truth that sets us free from deception and deceivers.

You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars – When we do, what are we to do? These are natural occurrences but we who know the truth are to stay focused. Why?

When we chase after such doctrines, we find that they are false. What does that do to our faith. Often, it weakens it and we become discouraged. That is what happens when we place our faith in a particular person or religious group that is false.

We of faith must build upon the solid rock of faith in JESUS - Truth.

There will be famines^[a] and earthquakes in various places.

There will be severe natural occurrences but they do not mark the end. Yes, they will be severe but the end is not yet. Severity is not a measure of the coming of JESUS but it is an attention getter and should lead us to search GOD’S Word and come close to HIM through our relationship in JESUS.

Our Ukrainian friends are suffering mightily. And they and we pray come quickly LORD JESUS! When the Germans were annihilating the Jews, many thought this marked the end-times.

We are not going to figure it out. But what can we do? We can stay alert, keep the faith, stay ready by reading and studying GOD’S Word, praying, staying suited up in the armor of Spiritual warriors as described in Ephesians 6.

The events JESUS stated are just the beginning -----

Let’s read Matthew 24:9-14:

Persecutions Predicted

⁹ “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰ Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world^[b] as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

JESUS is talking about Christians. Christians will be persecuted, killed and hated, why? The non-Christians/the world will blame the Christians as the reason why world conditions are so bad. They are the enemy of the world and if eliminated everything will go smoothly. But will it? When Christians are eliminated, who will make it appear that things are going smoothly? Satan, the god of this world. He will back off and give a false peace. That is his lie and deception to lure non-Christians into his eternal trap.

Let’s read on:

¹⁰ Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 

Why? Many think that being a Christian eliminates you from suffering and bad things from happening. When people, who act like Christians, see all that is happening to those, they thought were strong Christians, falling away, it will be like a giant suction and pull them and others with them to fall away from JESUS. What will this do? It will create a Spiritual void. Whenever there is a void, it will be filled by ------

¹¹ Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 

False prophets, deceived by Satan, will rule the day. They will have all the answers to life’s issues but only if a person follows them and their teaching. Only the LORD knows what else they will concoct to entice a following of people into their evil nets of deceit. Those who are seeking peace, will discover that peace will evade them and lawlessness will continue to multiply.

¹² Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 

We, who know the truth, can become callous and give up when we try to change evil issues and it seems that nothing happens. We, who know the truth, must not be led astray or compromise our walk with JESUS. We must remain connected to the true vine of JESUS so that HIS power flows through us, as directed by the Holy Spirit. 

Satan is lawlessness. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Some people will say that GOD has already taken HIS true children to Heaven, which is Satan’s lie. But Satan will attempt to dupe the people of the world into believing there is not hope for them in CHRIST. All who still exist upon earth are doomed and have no hope in CHRIST. Their only hope is to give their allegiance to the world order, who is Satan in disguise.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 

² not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy^[a] or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord^[b] has come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits^[e] in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

In 1 John 3:4 we read: Everyone who commits sin practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

WHO is the only ONE WHO can take our sins away and make us whiter than snow? JESUS!!! But if JESUS has come to earth the second time and returned to Heaven taking all true believers with HIM who are left upon earth? This leaves all upon earth without the hope of salvation. When that happens, GOD shuts the door. But it is a lie to entice people to give their allegiance to the world order which is led by Satan/lawlessness.

Alleging that the day of the Lord^[b] has come will not be done in secret but openly and boldly, so do not be deceived. Satan’s lie is that there is no hope “alleging that the day of the Lord^[b] has come” but JESUS says as we read in verse 13 ---

¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

The person who has been Spirit-born has all that is necessary for him or her to endure – salvation is eternal and guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit-born person, who is grafted into the true vine, JESUS, and abides in HIM. Trust and obey or when in dark times, depend upon the light revealed to you when you were in the light.

Verse 14 is a promise of JESUS:

¹⁴ This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world^[b] as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Keep the faith because there will be a great revival upon earth up to the very end. But Satan does not want people to know that. The people of earth are never without hope in JESUS, The CHRIST, to be Spiritually born into the Family of GOD and have eternal life through faith in JESUS even during these end-times.

Satan does not want people to know that. Hope is always available to the very last breath a person draws upon earth. But please don’t wait to the bitter end. Ask JESUS into your heart now and experience the joy of Spiritual birth through faith in JESUS and eternal security. JESUS gave HIS sinless life for you to have eternal life.

As stated earlier, the only certainty during these last days is uncertainty which GOD designed to draw us and those who seek HIM closer to HIM through prayer and studying HIS Word. It is all about having the right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS which is confirmed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Do not delay. Now is the time of salvation.

Blessings!!!