The End Before the Beginning of the End: Watch!

Pastor Barnabas has begun the new year with "The End" - a series on what Jesus taught on the end of the Age in Matthew 24.

The message on the first Sunday was on the signs of the end of the world. The disciples had asked Jesus 3 questions: when will the destruction of the Temple take place, what will be the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age?

They thought that all these 3 events would happen at the same time, being as momentous and incredible as the destruction of the seemingly indestrucible and glorious Temple in Jerusalem was to them. But Jesus talked of 2 separate events: the destruction of the Temple which will happen in the disciples' lifetime and His second coming and end of the world which will happen at an unknown future time. He told them of the things that would happen in the world that they and we should not be alarmed nor be deceived.

The exact time of His coming again is unknown and cannot be known by us, as He said, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (v 36) We can only watch the events mentioned by Jesus unfolding before our eyes:

1. in the nations - the rise of technology and knowledge
Daniel 12:4 - till the time of the end, many do go to and fro, and knowledge is multiplied (Young's Literal Translation)
Wars and rumours of war: violence and anxiety
Luke 17:26 - Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
2. in the environment - famines and earthquakes, and pestilences (Luke 21:11)
3. in the church -
v 14 - world gospel outreach
v 11 - false Christs and prophets
v 9, 10 - persecution and apostasy
v 12,13 - Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

We can see the words of Jesus coming true, but we must also heed His call to "repent, for the kingdom of God is near." (Mark 1:15) We need to set our hearts and lives right before God, because we do not know when Jesus, the Lord and Judge of all the earth, will come again, and "Watch out that no-one deceives you" (v 4), that we will not be found cold or faithless when He comes or when we are called Home.

sc