Preached at Riverview Baptist on Wednesday, July 19 following prayer meeting. Wednesday night prayer meetings and Sunday night Church meetings are dwindling as the love of many grows cold and iniquity abounds. These things are prophesied by our Lord, and a sign that He is coming soon. Here is the audio for the service.

What follows is my study notes for the sermon. The sermon was preached without notes, Bible in hand, so the notes will not exactly follow what was preached. Let God be God!

Matthew 24:1-3 (KJV)  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.  [2]  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.   [3]  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

The Jews were proud of the Temple. Though Herod’s Temple was not as great as Solomon’s Temple (the first Temple built) the Jews were proud of it’s structure, of it’s finery, of the solidness of it. No Jew thought the Temple would ever be destroyed. Humans think that the things we make are so grand that they will stand forever. Mark recorded that …

Mark 13:1 (NLT) … one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”

God is not fascinated with the big things we make. God is impressed with us when we make much of Him and His Son, but God is not impressed by our stuff. God made the earth and all that is in it. It is better to brag on God than it is on stuff.

Psalm 146:5-9 (ESV) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Our God is not impressed by our things. The disciples and all the Jews made much of Herod’s Temple, a temple built not by the godly but by an unbeliever, an Idumean (of Edom, an Edomite). Herod had no right to sit on the Throne of David. He did not love Yahweh, but was appointed Governor of Israel not by God but by Caesar. Jesus responded to the disciples bragging by saying …

Matthew 24:2 (KJV) … See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

“SEE” (βλέπω blepō) ALL these things? All these things you have been fawning over – bragging on – shall be taken away from you. Israel shall lose the Temple that she so loves. Israel will lose the Promise Land that she was promised. Why? Will it be because God is not faithful? No, but it will be because Israel will have placed her love on the wrong thing. We must never love things more than we love God.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

John 14:23-24 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

That which Israel loved was not God, but things, buildings, religion, stuff. And God will destroy the Temple that Israel thought was indestructible. In 70 AD Rome will tire of Israel and her constant rebellion, and will march on Jerusalem and destroy the Temple. The Temple furniture will be taken, the gold and silver melted down, and not one stone will be left on another just as Jesus said.

After Jesus tells His Jewish Disciples that the Temple is going to be destroyed we read:

Matthew 24:3 (KJV) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

They ask Jesus to give them a sign of Thy Coming, and of the end of the world. The Jews believed that the Messiah would come and overthrow all things. They looked for the fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel, who wrote:

Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV)  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  [14]  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

The Messiah was given the title “Son of Man” by Daniel, and Jesus had referred to Himself 98 times as “The Son of Man”. The Disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah who was to come and conquer. They didn’t really understand Jesus when He said He had to GO …

To GO to the Cross

To GO as the Lamb of God

To GO and shed His Blood for us

To GO to the grave

They didn’t understand that Christ the Messiah must first ATONE for the sins of His people. Even after He died and rose again and prepared to ascend into Heaven the Disciples didn’t understand why He was going. They asked:

Acts 1:6 (KJV)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

God cannot restore the Kingdom to an unredeemed people. The Disciples were excited to learn of the Coming of Christ, the time He Comes in power to conquer this world. Jesus is coming again, and He will overthrow all dominions and power. He will rule and reign.

But before Israel can be blessed, Israel must repent.

No people will be blessed by God who do not follow God.

So WHEN will Jesus come again?

The Signs Of Christ’s Coming

I believe we are living in the latter days. But do not fear, because all these things are under the watchful eye of our Creator. Jesus told His Disciples:

1. There shall be DECEPTION. Jesus said:

   Matthew 24:4-5 (KJV)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man DECEIVE you.   [5]   For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall DECEIVE many.

Mormonism – founded by Joseph Smith – claims that Jesus began His existence as Michael the Archangel. The Mormons believe that Jesus was the first one created, and then He was used by Jehovah to create everyone else. When Jesus came to earth He was just a perfect human being. Mormon theologian Bruce McConkie states, “The appointment of Jesus to be the Savior of the worlds was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer, son of the morning. Haughty, ambitious, and covetous of power and glory, this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the savior of mankind.” Among the Mormons salvation is not all of Christ, but part Christ and part man. The Mormon book The Gospel Principles states Jesus “became our savior and He did His part to help us return to our heavenly home. It is now up to each of us to do our part and become worthy of exaltation.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is “a god” and not God the Son, and mistranslate every Scripture related to Jesus to make Him no more than a mere man. When Jesus died on the Cross He made salvation possible, but only if you prove yourself worthy of salvation. They write

“Jesus, no more and no less than a perfect human, became a ransom that compensated exactly for what Adam lost … Thus, when God sent Jesus to earth as the ransom, he made Jesus to be what would satisfy justice, not an incarnation, not a god-man, but a perfect man, ‘lower than the angels.’ ”

There are thousands of cults the present themselves as the Christ. There are also many mainline denominational and non-denominational Churches that twist Christ. But Christ is not a mere man. He is God Incarnate. John wrote:

John 1:1-3 (KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  [2]  The same was in the beginning with God.  [3]  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

And the Apostle Paul wrote:

Hebrews 1:8-9 (KJV)  But unto the Son {the Father} saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.  [9]  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Colossians 1:14-17 (KJV)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  [15]  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  [16]  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  [17]  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

2. There Shall Be DISTRACTION. Jesus said:

   Matthew 24:6-8 (KJV)   And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.   [7]   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.   [8]   All these are the beginning of sorrows.

If the Devil cannot deceive, He will distract. There will be secular distractions. Wars, rumors of wars. Riots all across America and protests are in every news account. People openly plot to murder the President. The imbalanced shoot people while at a charity event. Nation rises against nation. What will North Korea do? Do they have a viable ICBM? Then there will be famines, pestilences, earthquakes.

These are what Jesus said “the beginning of sorrows”. The word “sorrows” is the Greek ὠδίν ōdin which means “pain of childbirth, birth pangs”. When a mother is in birth pain or in labor it is not unto death, but to bring forth new life. Though the mother cries now, there will come a time when a beautiful reward in the person of a child will be given to her. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that these bad things happening in the secular world were not toward death, but a precursor to life. Just like labor pains these things are temporary, but what comes after is much better.

When Jesus comes things will be much better!

3. God’s People Shall Be DELIVERED UP As Civilization DECREASES. Jesus said:

   Matthew 24:9-10 (KJV)   Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.   [10]   And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Those who stand in the light of Christ can be expected to be attacked by the darkness. The darkness hates the light. Jesus said:

John 15:18-19 (KJV)   If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.   [19]   If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

That part is understandable, but Jesus went further. He said that the sign of the end is when “many shall be offended, and shall betray one another”. Hatred and evil would increase not just toward the light, but even the darkness would battle. We live in a day filled with discourtesy and discord. Common manners are gone. People have no seeming basic decency. In my day we held doors open for people, but today people slam doors in other people’s faces.

We are less civilized today than we have ever been. As people drift from God, they drift from decency. Why? Because the wages of sin is death. Always. Rather than preachers address the problem false prophets rise up.

Matthew 24:11-12 (KJV)   And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.   [12]   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

When false prophets RISE civilizations FALL.

When the pulpits are filled with MAN’S WORD,

GOD’S WORD ceases to be.

And as Iniquity or Evil ABOUNDS

LOVE DIES.

Love has died in many Churches – Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Anglican. Why? Because where sin abounds it destroys Grace. God’s Grace was given to make us more like Christ, not more like the world. What has God said to His Children:

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (KJV)  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  [18]  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God’s people are meant to be IN the world but not OF the world. As iniquity or evil abounds it destroys unity with God. God is love. The closer we are to God, the greater our love will be. But the farther from God the farther from love. The more sin abounds, the farther from God we are. People say:

“What does it matter? Let’s be inclusive. Let’s be tolerant”

If you rub against poison ivy you will get a rash. If you rub against someone who handled poison ivy you will get a rash.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV)  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  [7]  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  [8]  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus was sacrificed for us, but many do not process what this means. He died because sin is horrid. He died because God loves us, and wanted to redeem us. But the sign of the times is that iniquity has grown, and love has decreased. C.H. Spurgeon said:

“Oh friends, if the frost of sin rules in a Church, every tender flower is injured and nothing flourishes! Love is a sensitive plant and if it is touched by the finger of sin, it will show it. The lilies of love’s paradise cannot bloom amid the smoke and dust of unholiness.”

Israel and it’s Temple was destroyed by Rome because Israel and it’s Temple loved sin and loved God less. They rejected the Son. He came unto His own, but His own did not receive Him. He spoke and they would not listen.

Matthew 23:37-39 (KJV)   O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!   [38]   Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.   [39]   For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

As iniquity grows there is but one stay against it, and it is the love that God’s people have for God and His Word. As God’s people compromise His Word we cease being effective in stopping evil. Jesus warned His Church:

Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV)   Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.   [14]   Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.   [15]   Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.   [16]   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

God’s people are to love God first. We are to put Him first. We are to stand strong no matter what may come. Jesus said:

Matthew 24:13 (KJV)   But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.

Those born again of God will endure to the end. We will endure because God is in us, and God is with us. Though the world will fail, and Churches cease, those who are Christ’s will continue on. As the world spins down and the end comes I can say with the Apostle:

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Those who are His will stand even when everything else falls. Why hasn’t Jesus come back yet? Jesus said that there is one crucial thing that must occur before He returns:

Matthew 24:14 (KJV)   And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and THEN shall the end come.

The whole world must hear the Gospel, THEN the end shall come. We must share the Gospel of love. We must tell others of His Cross. We must help missionaries do what they need to do in spreading the Gospel of His Kingdom. THEN Jesus will come.

I look forward to that day!

May God touch your hearts with His Word!