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Sunday Worship 15 September 2024 : Let him understand

Text: Matthew 24:15-28
15 September 2024

INTRODUCTION

1. Biblical Eschatology

a) It is complex

b) It involves complex and intricate nuances

i) History

ii) Prophecy

iii) Interpretive principles

2. Seeking understanding

a) This is fundamental

b) Faith in the Lord must be built alongside

A VITAL PROPHETIC WARNING

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

Matthew 24:15-20

1. Warning concerning the destruction of the Temple

a) The words of warning taken from the book of Daniel

b) The “abomination of desolation” (Daniel 12:11)

i) This speaks of desecration

ii) Desecration can take many forms

2. The lament of The Psalmist Asaph

3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs.

5 They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees.

6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers.

7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8 They said in their hearts,
“Let us destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

Psalm 74:3-10

a) The desecration of the Temple described

b) Defiling of the Temple (“dwelling place of Your name”)

c) Burning up of all the meeting places of God in the land

3. Necessary practical words of advice

a) To flee the land

b) The disciples who heeded escaped

c) Those who rejected chose to flee to Jerusalem

d) These perished

FOR THE ELECT’S SAKE

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24:21-22

1. Tribulation was forewarned

a) First word of warning

“Persecution” as part of tribulation (Matthew 24:9)

b) Second word of warning

“Great tribulation” forewarned (Matthew 24:21)

c) Third word of warning

“Tribulation” warning repeated (Matthew 24:29)

2. A word of comfort

a) The tribulation period would not last forever

b) They will be shortened

c) “For the elect’s sake” (Matthew 24:22)

“DO NOT BELIEVE IT”

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

Matthew 24:23-28

1. The rise of false saviours

a) False Christs

b) False prophets

2. A strong word to all Disciples

a) Do not be deceived

b) “Do not believe it!”

3. The Return of the Son of Man

a) It is compared to lightning

b) He will come from heaven

CONCLUSION

1. Let us seek to be Discerning

2. Let us determine not to be Deceived