Sermons
Winning the World at Its Worst, Pt. 2
February 11, 2024
Ministry:
- Sunday Morning
Speaker:
- Jeff Crotts
Text: Matthew 24:15-24:22
Series:
- Matthew
Matthew 24:15-31 – Winning the world at its worst (pt. 2)
Intro: Theme: Winning the world at its worst, @/end (Matt. 24, 25).
- When the world at its worst, X calls for perseverance.
- Keep going!
- Persevering is what wins the world to X.
- Your testimony.
- Keep going!
- My burden: Show you how this works.
[Context] Matthew 24–25 as a future vision of the world when @ its worst.
- During 7 year tribulation.
- Future, cataclysmic judgment on those left behind after the rapture.
- Alson, described in Revelation.
- Future judgment, interpreted from book of Daniel, parallel w/Revelation.
- Other “Day of the LORD” (broad stroke) descriptions from prophetic books.
- Understood literally are gruesome.
[KEY] Debates over timing of when judgment events take place and to whom.
- Position: Understand events in the past.
- Historic now.
- Post X’s resurrection.
- When Israel was sacked by Rome in AD 70.
- Preterist position (Latin for past).
- Positions vary, placing the church w/in 7-year tribulation.
- No pre-tribulation rapture.
- Pre, mid, and post tribulation positions.
- Interpretations all come down to one issue.
- “What do you do with Israel?”
- “Were promises made to Israel, literal or not?”
- To the remnant of Israel.
- Ethic, national.
- Preterists apply promises to the church.
- Promises to Israel are symbolic.
- Or, “Were the judgments against and promised blessings for all Israel historic?”
- Judgments and blessings now applied to the church.
- Post-tribulation position sees church going through these trials.
- Literal or Figurative, 7 years?
- Could be going through these trials now?
- Post-mill position gaining popularity.
- Desire built from National reform.
- Bible promises it will get worse.
- The worst of the world is still to come.
[TRANS] Scripture consistently made literal promises to Israel.
- Literal, guaranteed, promising Israel a distinct role and place in heaven.
- Romans 11
- Gentiles are grafted into God’s original plan for Israel
- Not the other way around!
- Rom. 11:11-24.
ESV Romans 11:24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (Rom 11:24 ESV)
- Israel’s “grafted back in” to the plan of God.
- In the end.
- Circumstances, described here, as the tribulation.
- Jewish believers proving genuineness.
- Persevering when the world is at its worst.
[Question] “Why should Israel’s perseverance concern us?” “How does this matter?”
- Every generation has made this issue of the end, matter.
- Every era of history believed it was the end of the world.
- X’s disciples assumed the end in AD 70.
- Roman armies surrounded and starved them out.
- Upended Jerusalem.
- X’s disciples assumed the end in AD 70.
[Illus] In modern times, our grandparents many now deceased, believed that Adolf Hilter was the anti-Christ, possessed by Satan, killing off millions of Jews in the holocaust (6 million?; Pol’s, Russians, estimated 20 million, estimates can go higher).
During the 1980’s we wondered out loud whether Mikael Gorbachev was the anit-Christ, controlling the nuclear switch which would bring the world into global destruction burning everything with heat and fire.
Last sermon, listed generational wars faced over the last 100 years, and in each phase of war, the end of pondered.
[TRANS] Days X describes in Matthew 24 are worse.
- All the wars and rumors of war (cf. v. 6) serve as a foretaste for what will be worse.
- Shift in verse 15, targets specific 7 years.
- Where Jews undergo zenith test.
- Verse 15 picks up in middle of these 7 years.
[Question] “Why are the Jews tested, not the church?”
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9 tell us that the church is not destined for wrath.
ESV 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1Th 1:10 ESV)
ESV 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Th 5:9 ESV)
- Believers on earth, raptured or “caught up together” (1 Thess. 4:13-14).
ESV 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 1
4 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1Th 4:13-18 ESV)
- About hope!
- Believers who have lost loved ones during persecution find comfort by those alive and “asleep.”
- Both groups, spared from God’s “wrath.”
- Echoing Revelation 3:10.
- Church of Philadelphia, model for the church.
- Church that will be raptured.
ESV Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. (Rev 3:10 ESV)
- NT references make same point:
ESV Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Rom 5:9 ESV)
ESV Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Eph 5:6 ESV)
ESV Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col 3:4 ESV)
- Eternal wrath uppermost in mind w/clear implication that wrath (of any kind) not meant for X’s Bride.
[Question] “Who exactly is X referring to during this “hour of trial?” (cff. Rev. 3:10; Matt 24).
- Answer found in Revelation 14.
- 144,000 Jews, God’s remnant.
ESV Revelation 7:1-10 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh (former tribe of Dan),
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph (Ephraium), 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Rev 7:1-10 ESV)
- Culminating vision of victory.
- Remnant being saved.
- Along w/church in heaven (cf. Rev. 7:9-10).
- Remnant becomes, evangelistic force.
- Winning other Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (cf. Zech. 12:10).
- Jews, now believing, mourn prior rejection of X.
ESV Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zec 12:10 ESV)
- 144,000 qualified to evangelize.
- Genuinely saved.
- Proving by holiness.
ESV Revelation 14:1-7 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,
3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.
7 And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." (Rev 14:1-7 ESV)
- Jews, winning people all over the world (cf. Rev. 7:9; 14:6).
- “sealed” (cf. Rev. 7:5).
- “conquerors” or “overcomers” in the end (cf. Rev. 3:21).
ESV Revelation 3:21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev 3:21 ESV)
*ALL THIS AS PROLOGUE
[TRANS] This study builds out the doctrine of perseverance.
- The remnant is our example of facing the worst.
- We persevere as Jews will persevere!
- Jews winning the world with their testimony.
- We win the world with our testimony.
- We persevere as Jews will persevere!
- Our goal is to win the world via perseverance.
Prop: How believers persevere when the world at its worst
- Run from evil (vv. 15-22)
[KEY] Whether tribulation or not, believers are meant to flee evil.
[Appl] Sentiment of Christianity is to reform culture when should run from it.
- Chapter 24 introduces catastrophic events but now verse 15.
- Era heightened to apex of the end.
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no and never will be” (v. 21).
[KEY] Verse 15 brings us right to the middle of the Great Tribulation.
- 5 years, “the abomination of desolation” (v. 15).
- Jews witness firsthand.
- “So when you see the abomination of desolation” (v. 15).
- Remember X interpretating by seeing future events, while talking in present.
- “Already/Not Yet” hermeneutic.
- “let the reader understand” (v. 15).
- Readers understand saying Jews apply to future remnant.
- Tying reference to “the abomination of desolation” w/Daniel’s prophecy (see. Dan. 9:24-25).
ESV Daniel 9:24-27 "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince [historic Anti X’s “Nebuchadnezzar” – exile and rebuilding], there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off [Christ first advent] and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come [Anti-X] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." (Dan 9:24-27 ESV)
- Daniel symbolizes 7-years as 7-day week.
- Abomination of Desolation is right in the middle of “half a week” meaning 3.5 years.
- Antichrist is “the Most High…[who] changes the times and the law.”
- “…and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times and a half a time” (cf. Dan. 7:25).
ESV Daniel 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (Dan 7:25 ESV)
- Revelation 11:2 and 13:5 mare the moment of 42 months which is 3.5 years.
ESV Revelation 11:2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. (Rev 11:2 ESV)
ESV Revelation 13:5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. (Rev 13:5 ESV)
[KEY] Additionally, the 7-year tribulation is described in Revelation 6-18.
- There the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments manifested.
- The “abomination of the desolation” precedes bowl judgements.
- Ramping bowl judgements being poured out by God!
- This level of devastation conveys no hope.
- The “abomination of the desolation” precedes bowl judgements.
- X still promises a “generation” will not fail (cf. Matt. 24:34).
ESV Matthew 24:34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Mat 24:34 ESV)
- Prophecy proving remnant preserved as finale of redemptive history.
[KEY] Final NT passage, clarifies, Abomination of Desolation applying to NT church!
ESV 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2Th 2:3-10 ESV)
- Can be confusing; directed to people not meant to be there.
- Caution: to the church.
- To stave off fear that people have been left behind.
- Not going through final judgment.
- Caution: to the church.
- Better focus, perseverance, w/in your calling!
[Illus] Examples where certainly the Jews believed Daniel’s prophecy was being fulfilled in their lifetime:
167 BC, Seleucid King Antiochus conquered Jerusalem and as his signature, he sacrificed swine in their temple (utterly desecrating it per their law) and he also set up an altar to Zeus there.
AD 40, Emperor Caligula, insane, believing he was God, had designs to put up an image of himself in Israel’s temple.
AD 70, General Titus decimated Jerusalem, Temple and all, surely this marked the end, when in fact, none of these events did.
[Question] “What does persevering look like when things are this severe and this bleak?”
- Complete and utter separation.
- You run.
“…then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back and take his cloak” (vv. 16-18).
- Believing remnant must be ready to run for cover.
- “Never debate with the devil!”
- “Bad company corrupts good morals” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:33).
[KEY] Put real distance between them and yourself.
- Literally, “head for the hills” and do not return to the comforts of your home or for you cloak but run.
- The only safety will be separation.
[Appl] The idea of separation is usually cast under the light of legalism when it should not be. Separation is first a matter of the heart.
- Call to be holy as God is holy.
ESV 2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (2Co 6:17 ESV)
[Appl] Separation can become legalistic when there is no clear biblical violation being committed and you separate as a way to superficially insulate yourself from worldliness. When this extends beyond the matter of personal preference, and you move to separate is superimposed on others is when separation becomes legalism.
[TRANS] X extends this horrible and desperate picture, to include pregnant women.
[KEY] “And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!” (v. 19).
- X’s compassion extends to these women who are with child;
- X’s statement is filled w/righteous exasperation (cf. v. 19).
- Nevertheless, no exceptions for anyone but to flee.
[KEY] Pray “…not be in winter or on a Sabbath” (v. 20).
- Conditions, harsh or when designed to rest.
- No exception, but to run.
[TRANS] With no exceptions and nonnegotiable separation, X concludes point of action in verses 21-22.
[Question] “How bad will this be?”
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be” (v. 21).
- The worst of the worst, here, so run from evil’s provocation.
- Sleeping Giant, awakened, so run from seductive influence.
- Avoid at all cost, those will undergo judgment.
- The LORD’s bowl judgments are going to reign down on them.
[Question] “How bad will this be?”
“And if those days had not been cut short ���κολοβ���θησαν [aorist passive] (Mat 24:22 BGT), no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” κολοβωθ���σονται [future passive] (Mat 24:22 BGT) (v. 22).
[Key] The idea behind days cut short involves God’s overall plan.
- God’s preventative maintenance, as a designed path for his believing Jews.
- The remnant perseveres.
[Appl] X exhorts to “Pray” for the “flight” from ultimate evil. Pray not in winter or Sabbath. All pointing to human participation.
At the same time, Bible’s balance is both persevering, while inside the Lord’s safe keeping.
Sovereign watch-care over our lives and it is ultimately He who intervenes, even measuring how much He knows our breaking point.
At that moment, backs off pressure, for believers to press through and survive to the end.
- Xians broken down but their faith in the end will hold.
[KEY] “But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (v. 22).
- The elect are chosen to be saved, in this case the believing remnant.
- The elect persevere.
- Meaning if they do not; not genuinely saved.
- Prior to or ultimately.
- The elect persevere.
- For God to elect you coms with God promising see you through, to the end.
- Operating within His sovereignty.
- Directing even the worst of circumstances.
- Ensuring his children arrive safely home.
[Illus] I recently heard from a father who works on the slope who happened to be away from his home and family on his shift, when he received a late-night phone call from his son.
The father knew his wife and teenaged son were out camping on a GCS sports trip.
During the evening/night called father, began with the words, “I messed up Dad.”
Of course a father’s heart begins to wonder what a statement like this meant but it turned out the son, had taken a short cut in the words and was separated from his friends and mom in remote Alaska, in late evening hours and had gotten lost on the trail.
He had been trying to reconnect with his mother and friends back at base camp but had no service.
In desperation, he hoped against hope that he could reach out to his dad, to which in his great surprise make the connection. His dad comforted his son, telling him to calm down and take a few breaths and most of all to “stop walking.”
Using “find my phone” the dad via satellite could see on his phone exactly where his son and mom were. Each of them, icons. Dad said, “you need to turn around and walk the other way, I see the trail and your mom’s going to be right in front of you.”
Son said, “Dad can you stay with me on the phone?” Right up to point where they could see each other, service went out. The dad was left in the dark for a day! They didn’t have service? Teenagers?
[Conclusion] This is the picture of how much God loves us in minute detail.
- Yes, the future may appear bleak.
- Find comfort is the details and in the sovereignty of God.
- Electing love, synchronized with clear direction to persevere to the end.
- Discern false Messiahs (vv. 23-28
[Do not be dupped by false saviors]
- Embrace the true Messiah (vv. 29-31)
[Election and the sovereignty of God]