Matt 24:15-28 - The God Who Holds the Future
One common fear we have is the fear of the future. We worry about what is to come.
• We fear because we do not know what can happen and we are not in control.
• The things we worry about may not even happen but the thought of it can rob us of joy and peace today. We lose sleep over the future.
Will there be peace in our world? Will our children grow up to be good citizens?
Will I be able to find a new job? Will the church grow? Can we find a new pastor?
The truth is, the future is not in our hands. Many things are beyond our control.
• The only way to experience peace is to turn to the One who is in control and trust God to sovereignly govern our lives and our future.
When the people of Israel were taken captive by the Babylonians, they had no hope.
• On their own, there is no way for them to free themselves and return home. They have no resources and no means whatsoever.
• The Lord spoke to them through the prophet Jeremiah. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 Their future is in God’s hands.
That’s what we are reminded of from the text this morning. God knows the future.
• We have been reading the words of Jesus to His disciples, from Matt 24-25.
• Jesus was telling them about the future – what will take place and what are the signs of the end of the age.
• By now, we know that the things Jesus talked about are bad news. They are not the things we like to hear but the TRUTH we need to know.
• Jesus spoke the truth about the end times to warn the disciples and encourage them to be vigilant and stay faithful to God.
• Trust God because He knows everything that is to happen in the future.
JESUS REVEALS THE FUTURE
The conversation started at the beginning of Matt 24 when they left the temple and the disciples were impressed by the grand structures of the building.
• 24:2 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.”
• Jesus took the opportunity to tell them that what they see will not last. The Temple in Jerusalem would one day be destroyed.
Which came true. The Temple was destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans.
• The Roman General Titus led his army against Jerusalem, besieged it for 4 years, starved the Jews and conquered the city.
• He razed it to the ground and destroyed the Temple, leaving not even one stone of the Temple standing, just as Jesus said.
Since Jesus said something about the future, the disciples asked Him privately,
• “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (24:3)
• That’s when Jesus began to tell them the signs of the end times and urged them to be prepared for His second coming, all the way to the end of Matt 25.
There will be trials and tribulations, wars and rumours of wars, nation rising against nation, and famines and earthquakes in many places.
• False prophets will arise and confuse the people, turning many from the faith.
• The love of many will grow cold. There will be animosity and betrayal among people, more hatred and wickedness.
That’s the first part of Matt 24. Jesus said it more than 2000 years ago but we are seeing more and more of these signs today.
• Jesus revealed these not to scare His disciples but to warn them that difficult days will come. And the fact that He said it means that God knows and He is watching.
Last week’s message on this text (shared by Pr Lo Fung Lian ????? at CS) reminded us of the need:
? to be vigilant and not let others lead us astray (v.4),
? to face tribulations with courage and patience (v.9), and
? to be faithful and not let our love grow cold (v.12).
That’s the first point we learn: THE FUTURE IS IN GOD’S HANDS
Despite these difficult days, Jesus said 24:14 “…this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Clearly, someone is controlling the timetable.
• Despite all the changes we see in our world today, this is the assurance we have.
• By God’s grace, all the elect will have the chance to hear the Gospel and be saved, before Jesus Christ returns again.
• 2 Pet 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
The tribulations in our world today will not be obstacles to the work of the Gospel.
• God’s heart is for the salvation of the lost and the Gospel will reach the elect.
Jesus speaks of these signs with confidence and certainty. He knows what will happen, when it happen and how it happen. God is sovereign and in control.
That’s the song we sang: “I Know Who Holds the Future”.
I know who holds the future, and I know He holds my hand;
With God things don’t just happen, everything by Him is planned,
So as I face tomorrow with its problems large and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to Him my all!
We do not know the future and that causes anxiety but we know WHO holds the future and we can trust Him.
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IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING, Jesus went on to tell the disciples a great tribulation.
• 24:15-16 - It is marked by the appearance of the "abomination of desolation" and culminates with the return of Christ, right at the end.
• He said when the “abomination of desolation” stands in the holy place in the Temple (24:15), that will be the start of a great tribulation.
• This is difficult to understand; the writer has to add in, “let the reader understand”.
We can get a hint because this phrase was used in the Book of Daniel (9:27 and 11:31).
• In Daniel’s prophecy, someone desecrated the holy place.
• Most believe happened in 167 BC when a Greek King Antiochus IV Epipanes (from the Seleucid Empire) conquered Jerusalem and desecrated the Jewish temple.
• He erected an altar to his idol Zeus and sacrificed pigs on it, which is an abomination to the Jews. Hence the phrase, “abomination of desolation”.
Jesus used this line to point to the future - of a tragic repeat of such an abomination in the end time when an “antichrist” steps into the holy place and desecrates it.
• This “antichrist” will set up an “abomination” in the holy place and blaspheme the Name of God.
And when this happens, Jesus said it will usher in a great tribulation that “has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” (24:21)
• People will run for their lives in fear and haste, with no time to pack or take their things; they are told not to return to get their belongings.
• It would be pitiful for the vulnerable ones like pregnant women and nursing mothers.
We might not be certain as to when and how this event will take place but we can be sure that it will. Jesus said it with certainty and in a precise manner.
• Just as He told His disciples of His impending death under the religious leaders and His resurrection on the third day.
• The Lord does not guess. He knows the future and the plan of God.
THE FUTURE IS IN GOD’S HANDS. Nothing is random and nothing is by chance.
The second point is: GOD IS WATCHING OVER HIS ELECT
Jesus said something remarkable in 24:22
- “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.”
God is in control of the SEQUENCE of events 24:14 and DURATION of these events 24:22
• God knows what will happen and for HOW LONG. Even in the darkest of times, God sees.
• He is watching and still in control. He will cut short the days of tribulations for the sake of His elect.
• Warren Wiersbe: “When God puts His people into the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. He knows how long and how much.”
God knows and understands our sufferings. He watches over His own and protects them.
• 1 Cor 10:13 “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” He is watching!
• Psalm 121 says 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber or sleep. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Finally, my 3rd point is this: STAY VIGILANT AND FAITHFUL
Jesus ends with a warning to STAY ALERT AND DISCERNING because there will be false Christs and false prophets performing signs and wonders to deceive. (24:24)
• Jesus says, “See, I have told you beforehand.” (24:25) with a purpose – it is a call to be careful and watchful. Do not be deceived.
• There is only one Christ and the Scripture is the Word of God. There is no other.
• We are to stand firm upon the truth of God’s Word and believe in the Christ we know from the Scriptures.
Jesus Christ will return one day and it will be sudden and visible to all.
• 24:27 “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.” It will be unmistakable and undeniable.
• 24:28 “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” The signs are there and it is very near.
The Lord did not tell us these signs to scare us but to warn us so that we can be prepared and not be deceived.
• He is present and watching over us, despite the difficult days. He has a plan and He is in control of the future.
THE ASCENT
Two friends decided to go up the mountains for a vacation with their families. The first friend took off early and arrived at the mountaintop overlooking the winding road. He looked down and saw his friend’s car at the foot of the mount, just starting his journey.
From his vantage point, he sees everything - the entire road ahead to the top, through the many twists and turns, the steep inclines and sharp corners. He knows them all and he sees them all. He is at the top.
His friend’s car looks like a speck in the grand sight from the mountaintop. He drives with limited sight, seeing only the stretch of road before him. He does not know what to expect at the next turn or in the next hour. He just needs to drive on slowly.
There are moments of doubt when the road seems endless, or times of anxiety when making a sharp turn. But throughout that time, his friend was watching from the mountaintop his every move. He has the entire path in sight. He sees everything.
God, the Architect of life, knows the journey of our lives and understands it all. The psalmist says in Psalm 139 that He sees us even in our mother’s womb 139:16 before we are born. He knows the twists and turns, the ups and downs, the easy and difficult parts of our life journey. He watches over us.
Remember these few things from the words of Jesus.
• His return is imminent and sure. Be prepared to meet Him. This world is not our eternal home.
• There will be distractions and deceptions in our world. Be vigilant and stay faithful to God.
• Fear no hardships because the God who watches over us is sovereign and in control.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your words of caution and concern, for the reminder that God is sovereignly in control of our lives and our future.
Help us stay vigilant and faithful, believing Your Word and trusting You always.
Strengthen us with faith and hope as we look forward to the day we see You again.
Thank you for Your presence in our lives and Your promises. May we live each day with joy and gratitude and bring glory to Your Name. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
