Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But 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 down. As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered them, “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.” Matthew 24:1-5
Three Warnings As We Wait
Do not be .
- Do not be deceived by a .
“See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” (4-5)
- Do not be deceived by a .
“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” (v. 11)
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” I Timothy 4:1
- Do not be deceived by a .
So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, “Look, he is in the inner rooms,” do not believe it. (v. 26)
Do not be .
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6
6 Signs That Must Take Place:
1. The sign of deception (v. 5)
2. The sign of disputes among nations (v. 6)
3. The sign of devastation (v. 7)
4. The sign of death for believers during the tribulation (v.9)
5. The sign of defection (v.10).
6. The sign of declaration (v. 14).
“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.” (2 Thess. 2:1-2)
- All future events are filtered through God’s plan.
- God will his children from his wrath to come.
“They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (I Thess. 1:9-10)
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:9)
- God provides us with a for staying on course.
“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:15-17)
Do not be distracted.
- I am not to be distracted by .
“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. (Matt. 24:32-35)
- I am not to be distracted by .
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matt. 24:36)
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourself know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (I Thess. 5:1-2)
- I am not to be distracted by (24:37-51).
- Jesus warned of a attitude.
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matt. 24:37-39)
- Jesus warned of a attitude.
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you be ready too: for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Matt. 24:42-44)
- Jesus warned of a attitude.
“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ an shall begin to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and shall cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; weeping shall be there and the gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:45-51)
We are to the saints in discipleship.
We are to the lost.
We are to one another in Christ’s return.