"And after those days..." After what days? And what is it that is going to happen after whatever day those are?

Those are the kinds of questions we have for our Messiah even still today.

Are you ready for more prophecy, more of Matthew 24?

Today's longer-than-normal introduction serves as a recap of the chapter thus far, but, if you're just tuning in, be sure to check the archives for the previous messages on this chapter so far. Our focus is vv29-31 today. If you're able, please turn there in your copy of the Scripture to read along as we begin today's sermon entitled, "The Sign of The Son of Man".

Today's passage:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. -Matthew 24.29-31 (esv)

22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 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. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. -Matthew 24.22-28 (esv)

16:1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” -Luke 16.1-13 (esv)

"The Abomination of Desolation" Sounds pretty fierce, doesn't it? But what does it mean? What was Jesus talking about, and when would such desolation occur?

As mentioned in last week's sermon, theologians have argued for years as to what and when were all of the events in Matthew 24 to take place. When it comes to things like prophecy, there is always the temptation to just shrug off or "go shallow" things more difficult to understand. But, as the apostle Peter encourages us, when it comes to the prophetic Scriptures, "we would do well to pay attention [to them] as to a lamp shining in a dark place."

If you're able, please turn in your copy of God's Word to Matthew 24, verse 15.

Today's passage:

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 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. -Matthew 24.15-21 (esv)

In his first epistle, Peter exhorts us to 'pay close attention to prophecy', but if we were honest, I wonder how many of us really do? It can be a world of encouragement, if we comprehend what we're reading. But it does take some effort; sometimes, a lot of effort!

Could you use some encouragement today, some confidence for your faith?

Join us today for the first fourteen verses of more than a chapter's worth of prophecy from Jesus the Christ.

Today's passage:

24:1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 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.”3 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 close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 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. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. -Matthew 24.1-14 (esv)

On the heels of His seven woes we see the sorrow of the Messiah. How often He desired to gather the lost under His careful leadership, but they would not. They did not want Him. What would it take, to what length would the Messiah go to win the heart, soul and mind of the wayward? To death? Yes, to death. Even death on a cross.

Lord willing we will wrap up chapter twenty three today, surveying the last seven verses of the chapter. If you are able, please turn there in your copy of God's Word, and join us in verse 33 for today's sermon entitled, "He Would, But They Would Not".

Today's passage:

33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” -Matthew 23.33-39 (esv)

Today we survey the final four of Jesus' seven woes, aimed directly at the undershepherds of Israel: the failed scribes and Pharisees.

The fourth woe is the center piece of them all. In it Jesus reveals where the false teachers got off course: their understanding of the Scriptures.

Do you understand God's Word? The way we live our lives provides an answer to that question everyday. "A tree is known by its fruit."

Join us today as we study Jesus' Final Four Woes.

Today's passage:

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. -Matthew 23.23-36 (esv)

Having warned the crowds and His disciples in our last passage, today the Messiah turns His attention toward the scribes and Pharisees; not with warning, but with woe, seven times over. We'll take a look at the first three of those woes today.

If you're able, please join us in a copy of God's Word, beginning with verse 13 of chapter 23 in Matthew's account of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's sermon is entitled, "The First Three Woes".

Today's passage:

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. -Matthew 23.13-22 (esv)

When the Messiah comes, He will judge the world. So then, let judgement begin!

With His sights set on the scribes and Pharisees who've sat themselves in Moses' seat, judgement, indeed, begins with The House of The Lord. "You guys sure you want to sit there?"

This chapter climaxes the conflict between Jesus and His opposition. They've tried every trick in their bag, yet the Lion remains free. No one takes His life from Him; He will lay it down of His own accord, but only when His Father says it's time.

Do you have the humility necessary to submit yourself to the Lord for judgement? Whether you do or not, two things: 1) you need to, and, 2) it's coming whether you want to or not.

All the more reason, if you're able, join us in God's Word today, beginning in Matthew 23. This sermon is entitled, "Love Warns".

Today's passage:

23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. -Matthew 23.1-12 (esv)

"What do you think about the Christ?" That's the question the Messiah asks His accusers in our passage today. Perhaps there is no more important question today, no more important question for you? What do you think about the Christ?

The religious leaders thought themselves to be experts of the Scriptures. So what better resource to use in proving the Messiah's true identity? And yet, they proved so reluctant, so unwilling. Why? Perhaps you know.

If you are able, please join us in your copy of God's Word, beginning at verse 41 or Matthew chapter 22.

Today's passage:

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord,Sit at my right hand,until I put your enemies under your feet’?45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. -Matthew 22.41-46 (esv)