Increasing Sorrows Near the Coming of Christ

But verse 9 is not the beginning of the context. If you remember last time we studied Matthew 24 last Sunday night, we read verses 1 down through verse number 8 and we saw how that verses 1 through 8 describe, and our Lord describes when he’s asked about the signs of his coming and the end of the world, which is speaking of essentially the same event because Jesus’ coming marks the end of the world.

And just as a note, the end of the world does not mean when the earth ceases to be. The end of the world refers to the world as in humanity as it currently is, is over as far as the system of humanity. And so, and obviously when Jesus comes there are still people, you know, when Christ returns there are people, there will be people in his kingdom and all of that.

So it’s not like, you know, it all just poofs into nothing like kind of the world describes it. So that’s what the end of the world is in reference to the coming of Christ. Now notice we looked at verse 8 talks about the beginning of sorrow. So everything from verse 4 to verse 7 is referred to the beginning of sorrows, but those things, those we talked about general conditions, nations rising against nations and wars and rumors of wars and people coming, the spirit of anti-Christ, people saying, I’m Christ and those kinds of things, those things are called the beginning, they’re the beginning of sorrows and it explicitly says in verse 6, but the end is not yet. So when you see those things, verse 4 through verse 7, that does not indicate that the Lord is imminently coming. It does not mean the end of the world is upon us, okay, in that way. And again we’re talking about the second coming of Christ, the revelation, okay, when he comes in power and great glory to take his kingdom.

And so you know, and this is where you gotta be careful because headline prophecy says, oh there’s war with Iran, Jesus is gonna come next week, and they have always done that, right, they’ve always done that. You know, you guys that have been around a while, you’ve seen wars that have come and gone and people have said, oh, Bill Clinton is the anti-Christ, Barack Obama is the anti-Christ, now it’s Donald Trump is the anti-Christ, you know, I saw something just the other day that said, here’s the point, when you, verse 6 and verse 7 tell us that just because there’s wars, the end is not yet.

Do you understand? That doesn’t mark it because these are general conditions that will be prevalent and increasing as that time approaches, but they’re not signs that it’s, I mean, the Lord says the end is not yet. However, when you get to verse number 9, the Lord describes different things. But before I get to that, let me just remind you of a couple of things here. First of all, we have to remember that Matthew chapter 24, as important as Matthew chapter 24 is regarding prophetic things, future prophetic events, which will happen.

Matthew 24 is not the full and complete and final word on prophetic events. And what do I mean by that? Well, if you’ve studied the Bible, you know there’s something called progressive revelation. And all that means is that God doesn’t tell you everything all at once. That’s the way he reveals his word. In other words, as you go through the Scripture, God reveals a little bit and then later a little bit more and then later a little bit more and later a little bit more.

And the subject matter in Matthew 24, the coming of Christ and the judgments and all of those things that we will read about, they did not start. This is not new information. Some of it is new, but it has its foundation going back to like the book of Isaiah and other, especially the book of Daniel, which we’ll read. So that’s where the Lord began to reveal these things.

And in our School of Scripture class we touched on some of those. And then you get to Matthew 24, it’s the next installment of that information. And then later there’s going to be more Scripture revealed, specifically 2 Thessalonians and most importantly, Revelation, in which that’s the final word on all of these. And you get the whole picture not just by looking at Matthew 24, but by looking at the entire Revelation of God on that subject. Does that make sense? So when we’re reading Matthew 24, He’s not telling us every single detail. You get to Revelation, there’s a lot of detail that is filled in that’s not mentioned in Matthew 24, although it is talking about the same events. Why?

Because that’s the final installment. And that’s the way God has revealed Scripture, a little at a time. It is actually very uncommon for God to tell you everything at once. And so that’s why you gotta be careful that you don’t take Matthew 24 as the be-all, end-all on the subject. If you do that, you’ve neglected other parts of Scripture that are relevant. What I hope to do tonight is take you through some of the Scriptures that are relevant that shed light and coordinate with Matthew 24 to give you the bigger picture of what the Lord is talking about.

I hope that makes sense to everyone. It should be no surprise to us that Matthew 24, because we understand the idea of progressive Revelation, it should not be a surprise that Matthew 24 is not comprehensive and does not describe every single detail. There are things that are not mentioned at all in Matthew 24. Did you know that? That are found in later parts of Scripture. They’re just missing.

They’re not there at all. And so that’s why we need all of it together. Okay. So in this section, as we read, things have worsened. So with verse eight, the things above verse eight are the beginning of sorrows, verse number nine says, then, which is indicating a progression, then shall they deliver you up. And as you continue to read, you see things are degrading. So if those things are the beginning of sorrows in verse six, seven, and eight, and those things are general conditions but the end is not yet, verse number nine is squished between nine and fifteen. And what fifteen is mentions the abomination of desolation. Now the abomination, I’m going to get ahead of you a little bit because we’re going to cover that later.

The abomination of desolation is an event that Daniel foretold at least three times, maybe four, in the book of Daniel. And it is an event in which a wicked figure enters into the temple at that time and stops the sacrifices and sets himself up as a figure to be worshiped. Okay, this is covered in Daniel, this is covered in 2 Thessalonians, and this is covered in Revelation in great detail.

The abomination of desolation is that event. Now, that is a sign. Not a condition, but it is a sign because it is an event that is clearly identifiable. And not only that, but you can find that event in the book of Daniel in several places and that that’ll help us in just a little bit. But what you have in verse nine through verse number fourteen is you have you’re approaching that that abomination of desolation in verse fifteen and these things from nine to fourteen are moving toward that.

Okay, we’re entering, if verse eight is the beginning of sorrows, now we’re in the sorrows as we move toward it. And you can see why they’re called sorrows. In this section, verse nine through fourteen, things are worsening. This section characterizes first in verse nine Wide scale, now notice the words I use because that’s on purpose, wide scale hatred and severe persecution even to death of believers in Christ.

Now, there is persecution happening now and persecution even to death of believers, but it is not wide scale. It is not wide scale. I don’t say that to diminish those who are being persecuted, but it is not the wide scale being described here. Okay, number two is in verse number ten, large scale stumbling and betrayal even within families. And we’ll get to that in just a minute. The third one is the rise of successful false prophets and deception. So it’s not just many prophets but many people who are believing them.

And then in verse number twelve, a large increase in iniquity with a corresponding decrease in love and that’s in verse number twelve. Now there have been, there have been periods throughout history since our Lord ascended where God’s people have suffered persecution. You look at Revelation chapter two, you can see that the church there represented prophetically is described as suffering for ten days. That is periods of persecution and that’s, there was a prolonged period of persecution during the Roman era and that happened and there have been persecution during the Inquisition, during the Middle Ages, there was a persecution of the church in various ways and sometimes that persecution over the years has been larger scale and sometimes it’s been smaller, sometimes it’s been more generalized, sometimes and most often it’s been localized.

For instance, during the Inquisition in Spain there was severe persecution but there were areas that weren’t, right? And so that’s just a fact of history. Now when you think about those, those persecutions over time, those persecutions happened at a time that were not associated with the end. Now we’re gonna get to the end in just a minute. So what we’re saying is, what I’m not saying is, well persecution, all the persecution is going to happen at the end. I’m not saying that.

They have happened over the years. People have been persecuted. That is a fact. There is no guarantee that a Christian will not have to endure persecution. And so the Lord told us that in the Sermon on the Mount. It’s over and over. He told us that. But these persecutions, the former persecutions of believers were not associated with the end. What you have here is a series of large-scale, severe persecutions that are very wide-ranging and they are associated with and mark the approach of the end.

Okay? That’s a key difference. How do we know that? Because when those former believers of ours were persecuted there was no end that came. That’s how we know that’s not what’s being referred to here because the end did not come. But these are leading up to, they’re part of the sorrows that are leading up to the eventual coming of Christ in His second advent. Now, so in this passage the things and the persecutions that we see here are conditions that all of them come together at once and all of them are wide-scale. That’s what the language tells us.

Alright. Now one thing that gets, that sometimes gets confusing before we get into verse number nine, sometimes when we read this, in fact take a peek at Mark chapter 13 real quick. Mark 13. This is a parallel passage to what we’re reading now.

Verse 11. In the midst of this same language as we read in Matthew, and Mark it says this, You know there have been many believers throughout the years who have been persecuted who have looked to that verse as they’ve gone to trial, as they’ve gone to stand before their persecutors. Right? So what we’re not saying is that these scriptures have no application to anybody. In fact many people have looked at these even though it wasn’t referring to them directly have looked at them and have taken comfort and followed that guidance. And that’s the difficulty with prophetic scripture.

Is that it’s often multi-layered like that. It covers different things all at the same time. And so if you lived under the Spanish Inquisition you might read this and you might say okay this is what I need to do because again you don’t know all the future. If you lived under the Roman persecutions you might look at this and think the same thing even though it’s speaking of a time that’s future to us which we’ve already established.

I hope I’m making some sense to you. So people of every period of time have looked at these things and have found related truths and appreciated the passage, you found guidance from them. And that’s true of a lot of prophetic scriptures. So let’s go back to verse number nine of Matthew 24. The first indication here is widespread, wide-scale hatred and severe persecution even unto death of believers in Christ. Verse 9 says, then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted. Now again at this point we’re no longer at the beginning of sorrows we’re going into the main event of sorrows.

Everybody get that? Things are worsening as we approach verse 15 which is a major kind of turning point. Things are worsening. We’re pushing toward that and what’s happening is there’s a lot of hatred. Now notice the language here in verse number nine. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and you shall be hated of all nations for my name sake. Hated of all nations. This is the wide scale. See this is not localized persecution. This is all nations are not looking friendly on those who identify with Jesus Christ.

All nations are looking unkindly on them. That’s big. Right? And this is perfectly consistent with Revelation by the way. And so if you take a peek at Matthew chapter 10 you’ll see very similar words which we covered this when we were in Matthew chapter 10 but I’ll just point it out real quick. So the context in Matthew 10 is this. The context in Matthew 10 is Jesus is sending his disciples out to go preach. That’s in chapter 11 verse 1 but he’s preparing them. So Matthew 10 look at verse number 22. Now he’s talking to his disciples and you shall be hated of all men for my name sake but he that that endure to the end the same shall be saved but when they persecute you in this city flee you into another for verily I say unto you you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come. Okay this I’m trying to not be confusing because this can get confusing. Jesus is talking to his 12 disciples and preparing them to go preach locally in Israel but he says things that have no application to that local ministry. It has far-reaching implications about the coming of Christ and he’s using similar language to Matthew 24. Right you see that?

Which that’s that dual kind of near and far at the same time aspect of prophecy and we’re going to see these kinds of things in Matthew 24. In Matthew chapter 10 verse 17 it talks about beware of men they’ll scourge you in their synagogues. Verse 18 brought before governors and kings and then verse 19 take no thought what you shall speak. Verse 21 brother shall deliver up brother to death. These are all things we’ve read about just now right but it’s in Matthew 10. So these are looking forward. Okay now go back to Matthew 24 verse number nine.

Notice severe widespread persecution of those who believe in Christ. I want you now to go back to Daniel chapter 8. We go pretty quick through these verses we have several we want to get to. Now I’m gonna I’m gonna review and and remind you of something because we’re going to see it in just a minute. But remember the abomination of desolation in verse 15 in Matthew 24 is a is a pivotal event.

Jesus kind of Jesus sets that as a sign as a mark in that context. Okay so a lot of things that are happening are kind of rotating around that event before Jesus before Christ comes in his second advent. Okay Daniel also mentions the abomination of desolation several times. And so what you do is by connecting those you can see that we’re talking about the same context because we’re talking about the same event. All right now Daniel chapter 8 look if you would at verse number 24.

Look at verse 23 to get the context. And in the latter time of their kingdom I know we’re not reading the context we do not have time to go into all this context. But I’ll just point out a few things. And in the latter time of their kingdom when the transgressors are come to the full a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up and his power shall be mighty but not by his own power and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practice and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. Now this king that’s being spoken of take a peek just a few verses back to verse number 11.

Yea he magnified himself even to the prince of the host and by him notice the daily sacrifice was taken away and the prince of this sanctuary was cast down. Verse number 13. Then I heard one saint speaking and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake how long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation. What are we talking about there? That’s Matthew 24 15. To give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot.

So when you follow the context you see he mentions that major event but he talks about this figure in verse 24 who is destroying the mighty and holy people. All right look at chapter 11. Chapter 11 verse 33.

Chapter 11 verse 33. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many yet they shall fall by the sword and by the by flame by captivity and by spoil many days. Now you might ask well when is that when is that happening? When is that happening? Look at verse 36. Verse 36 is in the same context and the king shall do according to his will and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and shall speak marvelous things against the god of gods and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished that for that that is determined shall be done. Now what you know what that is that is a description of the Antichrist. It matches 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2.

We won’t go there for now but if you can you can go a little bit further back. Verse number 31 again same context. You see that right around that time that this event happens is when they are believers in Christ are falling by the sword by flame by captivity and by spoil in verse number 33 many days. Look at chapter 12. Chapter 12. Look at verse 11.

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination to make a desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. All right do you have that context? Why am I why do I continue to refer you back to that event over and over? You know why I’m doing that? Because it’s a marker. It’s a temporal marker. I’m showing you that these these mentions of severe persecution are related to this time in history.

Okay look at verse 10 of chapter 12. Many shall be purified and made white and tried but but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand. You see that trial the trial of those who are believers. Now go to the book of revelation. The book of revelation chapter six.

Verse number nine. And when he had opened the fifth seal again I know I’m skipping a lot of context. We accept that the revelation is describing future events. Okay we accept also that it is literal even if it uses symbols so that’s why we want to get that out of the way first. So we’re not arguing about that later. Verse nine. See that? In these events in revelation people are being murdered for their faith in Christ.

Look at chapter 12. Verse 17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman. Again this is a figure this is a symbolic description but the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Persecution. That persecution is being motivated by Satan. All right chapter 13. Look at that. Verse number seven.

Now this is speaking of the anti-Christ who is energized by Satan. Verse seven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them and power was given given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations. Then look at verse 15. He had power to give life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be what? Killed. Lastly go to chapter 20.

Chapter 20 verse number four. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given unto them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshiped the beast. All right you see that had not that sets the context. This is talking about that specific time in which there is this this figure who requires worship. They refused.

They are killed. That is not mentioned in Matthew. Did you notice that? It’s not. It just mentions persecution. But why they’re persecuted is not mentioned. Revelation fills that in. All right. And which had not worshiped the beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand real actual years. I added that sorry.

So what is what is this? All that Daniel, Matthew 10, Matthew 24 and Revelation all describe that lead up to the coming of Christ as a period of intense persecution of those who believe in Christ. I mean to the death widespread world over on in all nations. Do y’all see that? This is this is you talk about this is why we call that the main event of the sorrows and no longer the beginning of sorrows. This is bad news. This is bad news.

All right. Go back to Matthew 24 now look at verse verse number 10. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and hate one another. Look back at chapter 13 of Matthew just very briefly. I just want to show you one thing that’s a little snippet that will shed some light on that offense. Matthew 13 verse number 21. This is the parable of the sower.

And this is the interpretation of the parable and here’s what our Lord says. Among the seed that fell on the thorny ground. Here’s what it says or on the stony ground rather. Verse 20 says he that received seed into the stony places the same as he that heareth the word and anon the joy received it. But he that hath he hath no yet hath he no root in himself but durth for a while.

Notice this for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is what? He is what? Offended. You know what that means? He stumbles and falls. That’s what the word offend means. It means to stumble. So back in Matthew 24 then shall many be offended.

How do you think people are going to react in a situation where they are under so much pressure to conform to this the events that are happening to the requirements that are being laid upon them as we read in Revelation. How do you think they’re going to they’re going to react if they’re under a death threat? They’re going to be beheaded. Do you believe that’s actually going to happen?

I think it’s going to happen. I think that’s what the Bible says. They’re under a death threat. That’s why they’re betraying one another. That’s why they’re handing over their loved ones because they don’t want to die. They don’t want to die.

And so it’s no wonder given this severe persecution that and the threat of death present at that time combined with all of the terrible judgments that are coming upon the earth that the kind of betrayal we read in verse number 10 is present. That’s not a surprise. That is what is expected. That’s also historically true. That kind of betrayal with that much pressure. Now look at verse number 11.

And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. Look if you would at Revelation 13. We’ll come back to Matthew in just a minute. Revelation 13. A lot of people understand there’s going to be this man of sin, this anti-Christ figure that we read about in Revelation 13.

But what many people don’t know is there’s another figure starting in verse 11. Revelation 13 verse 11. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth and he had two horns like a lamb and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. So which one is the boss? The first one, which is essentially a political figure.

And he doeth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven and on the earth in the sight of men and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. So here’s a miracle working prophet who is performing actual miracles to deceive the nations to worship this figure. Everybody still with me? I go back to Matthew 24.

Verse 12 says, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Love and sin have an inverse relationship. As love goes up, sin goes down, and as love goes down, sin goes up. And conversely, as sin goes up, love goes down. That’s what this verse is telling us. Notice we’ve already seen the natural love between members of family has vanished, which leads to massive betrayal. Think about the iniquity being described here.

Think about the iniquity being described here. All the world in one accord is going after the devil, the devil himself. That’s what’s happening in Revelation. That’s wickedness, right? That’s iniquity. These times when the Bible calls it tribulation, it is a reason it’s called it’s terrible. I mean terrible. Look at verse 13.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Now we got to look at this. What does this verse mean? Does this verse mean that you have to keep God’s commandments until you die, and then finally when you die, you’ll finally know if you’re going to go to heaven? Does this verse mean that, what does it mean? What is the end being spoken of? That’s probably the first thing we should look at. It says, he that shall endure unto the end. Is that what? The end of what? Is that the end of your life? Is that the end of what? You can’t just, the big danger is to take a meaning and parachute it like a, like, you know, 101st Airborne. You parachute it out of thin air into Matthew chapter 24 and say the end is the end of your life because that is exactly what people have done over the years. Let me read something to you. This is from the Westminster Confession under perseverance of the saints. It says this, they whom God has accepted in his beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved. The reason we’re saved is because of God’s promise, not because we endure.

Everybody with me? It’s because of God’s promise. You’re not waiting to find out if you have eternal life. If you have it, you have it now. You’re not enduring unto the end of your life. You’re not enduring unto the end of your life. That’s why you got to make sure you understand this verse. Look if you would, let me show you, look if you would at verse three, middle of verse three. When shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of what? Notice the word end. Look at verse six.

But the end is not yet. What end are we talking about? The end of the world. Look at verse number 14. Well that’s the verse, no verse 14, look at this. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall what? The end come. Verse 22. And except those days should be shortened, there shall no flesh be saved, but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened. It doesn’t say end, but the idea is if he shortens it, he moves the end up. Right? Look at verse 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn when they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. They ask him, what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? They’re one and the same. All right? Look at verse 33.

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, ye know that it is near even at the doors. What is the end? The end in verse 13 is not the end of your life. It’s the end of the world, the second advent of Jesus Christ. Okay. That completely changes the meaning. Does it not? Now it’s not you’ve got to hold in, hold on, and hold out until you die and then maybe you’ll go to heaven. No, no, no. It’s talking about in this context you are, that you’re enduring until Jesus comes.

Okay? The second question we got to ask is what does it mean when it says shall be saved? Shall be saved because it says he that shall endure until the end, the same shall be saved. Well you got to remember all the previous verses that talk about the terrible tribulation and murder, right? Because they believe in Christ, they’re being murdered. You look at verse number, verse number 18. It says, neither let them which are in the field return back to take his clothes. You know what they’re doing? They’re running away. Why? Because they don’t want to die, right? Verse 21, and then shall be great tribulation such as what was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. I wrote down the wrong verse, verse 22. I apologize. And except those days should be shortened, there should know what?

Flesh be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened to save them. I know when you say, are you, brother Wayne, are you saved? We’re referring to our soul salvation, but in this context that is not what is in view. If you’re a believer, the believers at this time are literally being hunted down and they’re just trying to endure and stay alive in the midst of all of this oppression until the end when Jesus comes and they are delivered.

How do you know they’re going to be delivered? Because it says in verse number 31, and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from the one end of heaven to the other. You know what happens then? They’re saved. They’ve been hunted and persecuted and many of them have died, as we’ve read already, but there are those that don’t, those that endure until Jesus comes, Jesus will save them from that.

So lastly, we go to the verse, the word endure, the word endure. Endure in this case is not talking about holding out and maintaining your salvation or anything of the sort. It’s talking about living, lasting until Jesus comes.

You think about if you were a person at that time, those believers being persecuted, just being hunted down, right? If I were in their place, I would be thinking, if I’m just waiting on the Lord to come, if I’m just waiting on him to come and everything will be okay, right? That’s what you’d be thinking. That’s exactly what they’ll be thinking. That’s indeed what the verse says. Now verse number 14, this is our last verse.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, and the word endure shall be preached in all the world, and the word endure shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.

What does the word gospel mean? Good news, glad tidings. If I was to say the gospel of Christ, what am I talking about? I’m talking about the good news of Jesus Christ. That specifically in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, what is it defined as? Anybody help me? That Christ died for our sins, right? He was buried, and on the third day, he rose again, the third day according to the scriptures.

That’s the gospel. That is the good news of Jesus Christ. Let me show you some verses here. Look at Matthew chapter 4. We’re almost finished. Hang in there. I know this has been kind of a little bit deeper of a study, but that’s the nature of Matthew 24, I’m afraid.

The phrase gospel of the kingdom, good news of the kingdom, is only mentioned four times in the Bible. One time in Matthew 24, one time in Matthew 9, and then we’re going to look at the other two times. Matthew 4, look at verse number 23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

See that? Now look at verse 17. Verse 17, we’re given a quotation about what Jesus was preaching. From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. You know what he’s saying in that verse? He’s saying, the king is here. Repent, the king has arrived. That’s essentially what he’s saying. He’s not the only one. Look back at Matthew chapter 3, because he wasn’t the first person to preach this message.

Verse 2, this is John the Baptist, and saying, repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He’s preaching the same thing that Jesus is preaching the next chapter. Now you’ve got to understand the context. Jesus hasn’t died yet, and it’s not going to be until Matthew chapter 16 that he even starts to talk to his disciples about his crucifixion and resurrection. And even when he does, they don’t get it. Do you see that? Now go to Mark chapter number 1.

This will be our last passage to look at this evening. Mark chapter 1. Mark chapter 1 verse 14. This leaves it unambiguous. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, now here is what we mean, the good news of the kingdom. This is what we’re talking about. He’s about to quote the message. What is that good news? The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye and believe the gospel. Okay, now remember, the gospel hasn’t even happened yet. You see that? It hasn’t even been accomplished as far as the gospel of Christ. He hasn’t, you know, Luke 24, and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations, right? That it behooves Christ to suffer and arise from the dead. That gospel hasn’t even been done yet, and this is at the very, very onset of Jesus’ ministry.

So the message, the good news that’s being proclaimed at this point is the king is here. What a good message. You know, Christ hasn’t died yet, of course he’s going to and all of that, but when he’s present with them the message is you better believe in the king because he has arrived. That’s what John preached, that’s what Jesus preached, and then in Matthew 16, remember we study that it starts to change because he’s being rejected and he knows the cross is coming.

Now go back to Matthew 24 to finish up. So verses 9 through 14 show us this rush toward the end when Christ returns in his second advent, this rush, great persecution, betrayal, people turning from him, false prophets, iniquity on the rise, and then there’s this message being proclaimed and this message according to the scripture is very similar to the message that was being proclaimed at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry and it makes perfect sense. The king is here. Now imagine, imagine you’re a believer in Christ in that day and you’re suffering, right, you’re suffering the persecution that’s going on in that day and you’re literally just trying to escape with your life. They’re hunting you down, that’s what Revelation tells us.

There are people preaching this message, Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming, right? You better get ready, the king is here, the king is, he’s at the door, you better get ready, and you see all these terrible judgments that are falling, right, as evidence of that fact. Man, what a message, right, what a message that’s being proclaimed. Now, we’ve only kind of started into the tribulation, pretty terrible thing, is it not?

Pretty terrible period. We hadn’t even gotten to the point where there’s the abomination, desolation, everything starts to go completely baddy and the world starts melting down. We just kind of tiptoed into it, but we’re getting there. It’s rushing into the world, it’s rushing into the world. It’s important for us to know that that’s not happening now. Everything we’ve studied in 9 through 14 is not happening now and it has not ever happened yet. Even though there are some ways, maybe it’s similar to other periods of persecution, all of that has not come together like it will at that time as they rush toward the second coming of Christ and his kingdom.

Like it will at that time as they rush toward the second coming of Christ and his kingdom. Does that make sense? I hope that makes a little bit of sense because as we go further, we’re going to build on this to get a fuller picture. You probably have some questions about maybe some things I haven’t quite covered. That’s okay, you’re welcome to ask me, but I’m getting to it, okay, I’m getting to it. All right, let’s pray together.