Sermon - Matthew 24:9-14 - The Tribulation - October 13, 2019
Did anyone catch the news about the US pulling our troops
out of parts of Syria?
Isaiah 17:1
“A pronouncement concerning Damascus: Look, Damascus is no longer a city. It has become a ruined heap.”
Damascus used to be a prominent city in Syria, and from pictures I have seen it is not far from being that ruined heap today. Many believe that its complete destruction is a sign that the tribulation is near. With the US starting to pull out of Syria and Turkey marching in, it emphasizes the need for us to know and study God’s Word so that we understand what these signs mean.
It is easy to find commentaries that express opposing thoughts on the end times. They start at the same place but end up with differing options. A couple of weeks ago we looked a little at the first 3 seals in Revelation chapter 6. These are the seals that represent the coming of the antichrist, wars, and famine. Some will tell you that those events happen prior to the tribulation like labor pains happen prior to the birth and others are adamant that they actually part of the tribulation itself.
Those that think the first handful of verses in Matthew 24 are part of the tribulation will say the next handful of verses in Matthew are the second half of the tribulation. The flip side being those that think they tell us what happens prior to the tribulation believe verse 9 starts the Great Tribulation. These are the two largest schools of thought, but they are not the only theories out there. Before we get into Matthew, let’s take a look at a few other verses that may shed some additional light on the tribulation.
Revelation 3:10-11
“10 Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.”
In these verses Jesus is talking about the church in Philadelphia saying they will be kept from the hour of testing. The question is what is meant by the hour of testing. Some believe the faithful church will not see the tribulation at all, missing all of the seals being opened. Others say this means the faithful will miss the wrath that God pours out, which means they will witness a portion of the tribulation, if not most of it.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
“2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”
The verses in Revelation point to the faithful not enduring the hour of testing and these verses in 2 Thessalonians tell us that the church will not be gathered to Jesus until after the apostasy comes and the man of lawlessness, aka antichrist, is revealed. Putting these together, looking at Jesus teaching in Matthew 24 and 25, along with the seals in Revelation 6… leads me to believe it is not as black and white as some make it out to be.
We tend to like simple answers that are clear and concise, eschatology or the end times, is not that clear cut.
Daniel 9:27
“He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”
The angel Gabriel is explaining a vision to Daniel and is saying that the week in this verse is referring to the 7 years of the tribulation. The beginning of the tribulation starts when a peace agreement is made with Israel guaranteeing their safety. The antichrist will have to be in a position of power in order to make this agreement with them, which supports the belief that the first seal will be opened before the tribulation begins.
Israel would also need to feel that they are in significant danger to enter into a 7-year peace agreement.
Zechariah 12:3
“3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her.”
Prophecy tells us that at some point in the future every nation in the world, including the US, will stand against Israel. They will be all alone, they will be desperate enough to sign a peace treaty that signifies the beginning of the 7-year tribulation.
Matthew 24:4-8
“4 Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.”
These are some of the verses we looked last time and overlaid them with the first 3 seals from Revelation 6, the release of the antichrist, war, and famine. These are followed by the fourth seal which is death, the fifth seal that is martyrdom, and the six seal which is earthquakes and other natural disasters.
I think the Bible is clear that we will know who the antichrist is, the hard question to define is what does being ‘kept from the hour of testing’ mean. When you fold all these verses together, it starts to look like the birth pains that Jesus is talking about in verse 8 are the birth pains for his second coming and are the first half of the tribulation. That would mean that believers alive when the tribulation starts will witness the revelation of the antichrist, wars, famine, death, martyrdom, and major natural disasters. It is completely feasible that believers will experience the first 6 seals.
Daniel 7:25
“He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”
As the 7-year peace treaty comes to its mid-point the antichrist will desecrate the Holy Temple of Israel and make it his own. The ‘time, times, and a half a time’ is a year, 2 years, and ½ a year and signifies that the antichrist will be in control for the final 3 ½ years of the tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 2:4
“He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.”
At the midpoint the antichrist declares himself god and things only get worse from there.
Matthew 24:9-12
“9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”
The second half of the tribulation begins and persecution of any who believe follows.
Revelation 13:11-14
“11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”
A lot here, but these verses are telling us the false prophet will come of the foreshadow of things and do everything he can to turn people from the One True God and to worshipping the antichrist. He will have supernatural power and will convince many to away.
Matthew 24:13
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Those who remain true to the one true God, who have survived the persecution, will be saved.
Matthew 24:14
“This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
While the tribulation will be a horrible thing to live through, those who believe will be used by God to carry the Good News of Jesus Christ and His coming Kingdom to the entire world. It is the same messages that we are to carry in our mission fields today.
Interweaving all the Bible has to say about the end of days can be confusing. The more I study it some parts become clear and others not so much. As I have said before my opinion of the ends times continues to evolve. I do believe if we are alive when all this starts, we will be here to see some of the seals being opened. Just how many is the question and there is plenty of healthy and unhealthy debate on if believers will witness 1, 3, or 6 of the 7 seals being opened.
We can disagree on what, when, and how things are going to happen, but we need to remember that our job on this earth is the carry the message of Jesus’ sacrifice to the ends of the earth. We are to remember that our job is to teach others so that they too can become a disciple of Christ and share His love with others.
I honestly believe we are seeing prophecy fulfilled in the news today, which means time is short. We need to carry His message into our personal mission field. Someone needs to hear the message or feel His love, and that is what we are called to do. Whatever you do, make sure to go about the Father’s business.
God Bless,
Robert
Isaiah 17:1
“A pronouncement concerning Damascus: Look, Damascus is no longer a city. It has become a ruined heap.”
Damascus used to be a prominent city in Syria, and from pictures I have seen it is not far from being that ruined heap today. Many believe that its complete destruction is a sign that the tribulation is near. With the US starting to pull out of Syria and Turkey marching in, it emphasizes the need for us to know and study God’s Word so that we understand what these signs mean.
It is easy to find commentaries that express opposing thoughts on the end times. They start at the same place but end up with differing options. A couple of weeks ago we looked a little at the first 3 seals in Revelation chapter 6. These are the seals that represent the coming of the antichrist, wars, and famine. Some will tell you that those events happen prior to the tribulation like labor pains happen prior to the birth and others are adamant that they actually part of the tribulation itself.
Those that think the first handful of verses in Matthew 24 are part of the tribulation will say the next handful of verses in Matthew are the second half of the tribulation. The flip side being those that think they tell us what happens prior to the tribulation believe verse 9 starts the Great Tribulation. These are the two largest schools of thought, but they are not the only theories out there. Before we get into Matthew, let’s take a look at a few other verses that may shed some additional light on the tribulation.
Revelation 3:10-11
“10 Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.”
In these verses Jesus is talking about the church in Philadelphia saying they will be kept from the hour of testing. The question is what is meant by the hour of testing. Some believe the faithful church will not see the tribulation at all, missing all of the seals being opened. Others say this means the faithful will miss the wrath that God pours out, which means they will witness a portion of the tribulation, if not most of it.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
“2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”
The verses in Revelation point to the faithful not enduring the hour of testing and these verses in 2 Thessalonians tell us that the church will not be gathered to Jesus until after the apostasy comes and the man of lawlessness, aka antichrist, is revealed. Putting these together, looking at Jesus teaching in Matthew 24 and 25, along with the seals in Revelation 6… leads me to believe it is not as black and white as some make it out to be.
We tend to like simple answers that are clear and concise, eschatology or the end times, is not that clear cut.
Daniel 9:27
“He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”
The angel Gabriel is explaining a vision to Daniel and is saying that the week in this verse is referring to the 7 years of the tribulation. The beginning of the tribulation starts when a peace agreement is made with Israel guaranteeing their safety. The antichrist will have to be in a position of power in order to make this agreement with them, which supports the belief that the first seal will be opened before the tribulation begins.
Israel would also need to feel that they are in significant danger to enter into a 7-year peace agreement.
Zechariah 12:3
“3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her.”
Prophecy tells us that at some point in the future every nation in the world, including the US, will stand against Israel. They will be all alone, they will be desperate enough to sign a peace treaty that signifies the beginning of the 7-year tribulation.
Matthew 24:4-8
“4 Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.”
These are some of the verses we looked last time and overlaid them with the first 3 seals from Revelation 6, the release of the antichrist, war, and famine. These are followed by the fourth seal which is death, the fifth seal that is martyrdom, and the six seal which is earthquakes and other natural disasters.
I think the Bible is clear that we will know who the antichrist is, the hard question to define is what does being ‘kept from the hour of testing’ mean. When you fold all these verses together, it starts to look like the birth pains that Jesus is talking about in verse 8 are the birth pains for his second coming and are the first half of the tribulation. That would mean that believers alive when the tribulation starts will witness the revelation of the antichrist, wars, famine, death, martyrdom, and major natural disasters. It is completely feasible that believers will experience the first 6 seals.
Daniel 7:25
“He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”
As the 7-year peace treaty comes to its mid-point the antichrist will desecrate the Holy Temple of Israel and make it his own. The ‘time, times, and a half a time’ is a year, 2 years, and ½ a year and signifies that the antichrist will be in control for the final 3 ½ years of the tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 2:4
“He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.”
At the midpoint the antichrist declares himself god and things only get worse from there.
Matthew 24:9-12
“9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”
The second half of the tribulation begins and persecution of any who believe follows.
Revelation 13:11-14
“11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.”
A lot here, but these verses are telling us the false prophet will come of the foreshadow of things and do everything he can to turn people from the One True God and to worshipping the antichrist. He will have supernatural power and will convince many to away.
Matthew 24:13
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Those who remain true to the one true God, who have survived the persecution, will be saved.
Matthew 24:14
“This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
While the tribulation will be a horrible thing to live through, those who believe will be used by God to carry the Good News of Jesus Christ and His coming Kingdom to the entire world. It is the same messages that we are to carry in our mission fields today.
Interweaving all the Bible has to say about the end of days can be confusing. The more I study it some parts become clear and others not so much. As I have said before my opinion of the ends times continues to evolve. I do believe if we are alive when all this starts, we will be here to see some of the seals being opened. Just how many is the question and there is plenty of healthy and unhealthy debate on if believers will witness 1, 3, or 6 of the 7 seals being opened.
We can disagree on what, when, and how things are going to happen, but we need to remember that our job on this earth is the carry the message of Jesus’ sacrifice to the ends of the earth. We are to remember that our job is to teach others so that they too can become a disciple of Christ and share His love with others.
I honestly believe we are seeing prophecy fulfilled in the news today, which means time is short. We need to carry His message into our personal mission field. Someone needs to hear the message or feel His love, and that is what we are called to do. Whatever you do, make sure to go about the Father’s business.
God Bless,
Robert
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