2^rd to Last Sunday of the Church Year
November 13, 2005
Matthew 24:1-14
Then the end will come

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INTRODUCTION: There will be an end to earth’s poverty and riches joys and sorrows plans and enterprises. The last hymn will be sung, the last sermon preached. The earth we know the life we experience, the existence we share with all human beings will at last end. Then the end will come.

I.        Jesus gives the signs of the end.

A.     Many will be deceived (Vv.4-5)  “And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.”

1.      Some will claim to be Christian

2.      There will be false religious movements

B.     Nations will be distressed. (Vv. 6-7) "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for {those things} must take place, but {that} is not yet the end. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.”

1.      There will be wars and rumors of wars.

2.      There will be earthquakes, famines, and recessions.

C.     Christians will be persecuted. (Vv.9-11)  "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. "And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.”

1.      The world’s antagonism will be sharp

2.      The result will be that the love of many Christians will grow cold.

D.     Yet the Gospel of the kingdom will be preached! (V. 14) "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”

1.      The Bible will be translated into more and more languages.

2.      Salvation will be offered to more and more people.

II.     We must endure to the end.

A.     We endure by remaining in the truth.

1.      We are established in the truth through diligent use of God’s Word.

2.      We thereby guard ourselves against false teachings.

B.     We endure by continuing in the faith.

1.      We cling to Christ as our Savior

2.      We find in Christ strength to overcome despair.

C.     We endure by exercising our faith in kingdom work.

1.      We are to spread the Good News of salvation and also help others spread it.

2.      This proclamation hastens the end so that the period of suffering is shortened and fewer fall away.

CONCLUSION: The end will come. But to be forewarned is to be forearmed. We who are in a faith relationship to Jesus Christ can endure to the end.

+ Soli Del Gloria +