When End Time Events Arise Series

Jesus Is Still Sovereign

Matthew 24:6-8

When End Times Events Appear

On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were proclaiming the Gospel in all sorts of languages they had never learnt, Peter directed everyone back to Scripture and said, “this is what was spoken”. The Scripture helps us to discern signs, and events, on a way that brings clarity and points us to the person and work of Jesus.

In these last three months COVID-19 … and all that transpired as a result

… the many deaths.

… lock-downs and isolation.

… social disruption and social discontent.

… concerns over government over-reach and interference.

… the exposure of the increasing divide between rich and poor.

All these results have called for discernment. Many discerning Christians have gone back to the Scripture and have come to the conclusion that these events are signs of the end times.

That is true. Catastrophic events like this are signs of the end times. Jesus told us about such things.

Matthew 24:6-8

6 You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Wars. Famines. Earthquakes. Pandemics. Catastrophe on a large scale.

They are a sign. But take note of the language of Jesus.

“The end is still to come … these are the beginnings of birth pangs.”

Catastrophe is a sign that something is on the horizon.

Catastrophe is a signal that this earth as we know it has a limited time-frame.

Through Catastrophe God is lifting our eyes to see beyond the moment and to remember that this earth … this life we have … it is not the end destination.

As we look to the horizon and think about the significance of catastrophe as a sign we do so with the attitude of “see to it that you are not alarmed”.

Here is the point Jesus is making.

When catastrophic end times events appear don’t let them be the events which frantically cause you to be suddenly startled. Don’t let such events be the events which initiate the new wave of end time analysis and discussion. Catastrophe is not the moment to loudly sound the alarm bells.

The reason Jesus gives us this command is because the very nature of the end times does not revolve around catastrophe.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.

That is not catastrophic … that is a description of just about every day that has taken place since Jesus walked on the earth 2000 years ago.

The wars, famines, pestilence, pandemics … they are the catastrophic events that remind us “the end is still to come … these are the beginnings of birth pangs.”

Rampart greed and materialism.

Self-love, love of pleasure, and boastfulness.

Lack of forgiveness, brutality, treachery, godlessness.

These are the signs of the last days and the end times.

Not the catastrophic.

But that which has become … well that which is quite an ordinary and daily experience.

Paul’s words in Timothy express exactly the same teaching that Jesus taught about the last day. On the very last day, when judgement starts, this is how the world will look.

Matthew 24:36-39

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

In the hour before the return of Jesus life will have a measure of … ordinary. So ordinary that, when the Lord returns there, even those who

… are waiting for his return.

… and praying for his return.

… and looking forward to His return.

Even some of them will say, “That was an unexpected time to return”.

Now some of you are starting to think a little more about what I am saying.