The World of The End by Dr David Jeremiah is a prophecy book, focusing on Jesus' own words of Matthew 24. I honestly don't read much prophecy but I do trust Dr Jeremiah and have quite a number of his books. I like his simple straightforward style of writing and most important of all it is bible based.
Chapter 1 - The Prophecy
The Olivet Discourse is not only found in Matthew 24 and 25 but also in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Jesus answered questions from 4 of his disciples - Peter, James, John and Andrew while sitting on the Mount of Olives - Mark 13 verse 3.
Olivet is the ridge east of Jerusalem that overlooks the city. Fewer than 50 days later Jesus ascended into heaven from that same mountain and he will return to that same spot - Acts 1 verse 12 and Zechariah 14 verse 4.
Today approx 150,000 people are buried on the slopes in concrete tombs.
The Olivet Discourse is the second longest sermon in Matthew.
Passover fell in early April. Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem" for this final trip. He walked through the Jordan Valley to Jericho where he healed 2 blind beggars and gave them sight - chapter 20 verses 29 to 34. Then they ascended old Jericho Road hiking upward toward the backside of Mount of Olives. When they arrived in Bethany he visited with friends who lived there - Mary and Martha prepared supper and Lazarus undoubtedly again thanked Jesus for restoring his life. Mary anointed his feet with oil and the house was filled with that fragrance - John 12 verses 1 to 7.
When they woke on Sunday morning they trudged up the eastern side of Olivet to the crest and then Jesus asked his disciples to fetch him a colt. Large crowds of Galilean pilgrims welcomed him by singing "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" Matthew 21 verse 9. Jesus entered the temple briefly before returning to Bethany for the night.
On Monday morning Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree on his way back to the Holy City - Mark 11 verses 12 to 14. Later that day he caused a stir in the temple as he overturned the tables of the money changers - Mark 11 verses 14 to 18. The chief priests and scribes were angry enough to kill him. Monday evening he returned to Bethany with the 12 disciples.
On Tuesday morning Jesus returned to the temple. There he delivered a blistering rebuke to the Jewish leaders and the nation of Israel - Matthew 21 - 23. In Matthew 5 Jesus had stared his ministry with "blessed are" now in chapter 23 he concludes his public ministry with a series of curses "woe to you". The Pharisees were called hypocrites 7 times, blind 5 times, fools 2 times, whited sepulchers (verse 27), Serpents or snakes and children of poisonous vipers (verse 33). He also declared that they were in danger of going to hell. Jesus wept for Jerusalem - verses 37 to 39.
The last thing he did before he left the temple was to sit opposite the temple treasury and watch people give their tithes and offerings. He watched as the rich gave much but a poor widow only her 2 mites - Mark 12 verses 41 to 44.
Jesus departed the temple symbolizing the withdrawal of God's presence from there - chapter 24 verse 1. That's when the disciples remarked about the temple - Mark 13 verse 1. Jesus foresaw the soon coming destruction of everything they were gazing at - the entire series of edifaces on the Temple Mount - Matthew 23 verse 38. When he rebuked the Jews for their unbelief - "your house is left to you desolate."
On his triumphal entry into Jerusalem he also predicted temple destruction - Luke 19 verses 42 to 44.
The temple was built on the same spot as Solomon's temple which was destroyed by Babylonians in 586 BC and replaced by smaller temple. Herod the Great started renovating this smaller temple before Jesus' birth. Actually he created one of the wonders of ancient world. Went on building for more than 40 years and not completed until AD64. Herod sought to fulfil Haggai's prediction - chapter 2 verse 9. Employed 10,000 skilled workmen along with 1000 priests all acquainted with fine work in wood and stone. He doubled the original area of the Temple Mount by constructing huge supporting walls and leveling the terrain. Most expansive, majestic and important building in the world.
AD70 responding to Jewish insurgency throughout Judea the Roman general Titus built large wooden scaffolds around the walls of the temple buildings. He piled them high with wood and other flammable items and set them on fire. The intense heat weakened the temple structure and the Romans were able to dislodge the giant stones prying them off one by one and casting them into the valley below. Afterward soldiers sifted through the rubble left on the site to retrieve any gold that had melted into the smouldering ruins. All that remained was flattened down to the retaining walls - just as Jesus had predicted.
Less than 40 years after Jesus' message the temple was gone. That prophecy was the prelude to the Olivet Discourse, The disciples response - they asked 2 questions - tell us when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
In verses 4 to 8 Jesus began to answer by describing the initial group of what we often call "the signs of the times" - the things that will happen just before he returns. The word "sorrows" is the Greek term odin literally meaning birth pains - the contractions that begin and increase during the birth of a baby.
Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 1 to 3 used same figure of speech.
Revelation 6 verses 1 to 8 "seal judgments" unfold over a period of perhaps years. Revelation 8 verse 7 - 9 verse 21 and 11 verses 15 to 19. The trumpet judgments over a shorter period of time, perhaps weeks and Revelation 16 verses 1 to 21 the bowl judgments over a period of perhaps a few days or even hours.
When Christ comes to the air for his church - 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 17 every single Christian on earth will be removed - and with the Christians the indwelling Holy Spirit who is the restrainer of all evil. At that point all hell will break loose and the signs given in Matthew 24 verses 6 to 14 will accelerate to tribulation speed.
Matthew 24 verses 1 to 3 - 3 things about our current life
1. Jesus wants to teach us about the future
2. Jesus wants to transform us for the future
3. Jesus wants us to trust him with the future
Chapter 2 - In a world of deception, Be Honest
Deception is frequent topic in scripture - begins in the garden of Eden. Eve said "The serpent deceived me and I ate" Genesis 3 verse 13. Look at Revelation 20 verse 10 "the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire." Satan enters the picture 3 chapters in to the bible and he is cast into the lake of fire 3 chapters from the end of the bible.
Matthew 24 verse 4 "take heed that no one deceives you." Disinformation will play a major role in the world of the end. Mark 13 verse 6, Luke 21 verse 8, Matthew 24 verses 23 and 24. The judgments promised in Matthew 24 verses 4 to 11 parallel the first 5 seal judgments of Revelation 6 verses 1 to 11.
Seal 1 - a false Messiah - see Revelation 6 verses 1 and 2.
The rider on the white horse is counterfeit, a false Christ. Arise as a global champion, the person of the hour to rescue the world from impending catastrophe. He will mutate into the Anti Christ. Leading up to his appearance many others will come and falsely claim to be the Messiah - 1 John 2 verse 18.
Acts 5 verse 36. Theudas claimed to be somebody. Acts 21 verse 38 the Egyptian. Barkokhbah, 100 years after Christ - revolt was extinguished by Roman emperor Hadrian AD 135. In every century after Christ's death and resurrection imposters have claimed to be the Messiah or some sort of Saviour to their people or to the world - all pretenders. Matthew 24 verse 11 "then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many" for every imposter claiming to be the Messiah there are 10 others at least false prophets.
The bible says the date of our Lord's return is unknown - Matthew 24 verse 36, 42, 44, Matthew 25 verse 13, Mark 13 verse 32.
New Testament epistles warn God's people about possibility of being deceived no fewer than 11 times. Romans 16 verse 18, 1 Corinthians 3 verse 18, 2 Corinthians 11 verse 3, Galatians 6 verse 7, Ephesians 5 verse 6, Colossians 2 verse 4, 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 3, James 1 verse 16, 22, 1 John 1 verse 8.
Spiritual deception is one of Satan's weapons. 30 times the apostles spoke of it - 2 Corinthians 11 verses 13 and 14. What is Satan's universal strategy? Genesis 3
1. He disputes God's word - verse 1 tried to water down what God said. To change it. Just a little. He whispered in Eve's ear that she may not have heard God correctly.
2. Satan denies God's word - verse 4 "You shall not die" Doubts lead to denials.
3. Satan displaces God's word - verse 5 "You will be like God". When we all allow Satan to sow doubts in our minds about the significance of sin we've opened our hearts to the devil's deception.
4. Satan discounts God's goodness. God's generosity - Genesis 2 verses 16 and 17. Yet Eve reframed God's original command when she spoke with Satan "we may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden" verse 2 she omitted God's gracious provision that she and Adam could "freely" eat of every tree in the garden.
5. Satan dramatizes God's restrictions. Nowhere in Genesis 1 and 2 do we find that God told them not to "touch" the forbidden tree - verses 2 and 3. Handling God's word carelessly gives Satan an inroad into your life. You will soon be focused more on what you can't do rather than what you are privileged to do.
6. Satan diminishes God's penalty "lest you die" (might happen) Genesis 2 verse 17 left out "surely die" ie death is inevitably connected with sin.
Sowing seeds of doubt about the word of God. John 10 verse 10. Satan is conducting a rampage of deception designed to destroy you and me. The solution to deception in the world of the end.
1. Seek truth - wherever it may lead! The Bible - need it, read it, heed it and speed it on its way to others.
2. Speak the truth - Colossians 3 verse 9 and 10.
3. Show the truth through the witness of our everyday lives. We are representatives of our Lord who is the truth. "Buy the truth and do not sell it" Proverbs 23 verse 23.
Chapter 3 - In a world of war, Be Calm
1457 BC Egypt v Canaanites first recorded battle in world history secured in the valley of Armageddon - commonly called the Battle of Megiddo - scene of as many 200 battles over the years. Anti Christ will set up his forward operating base is final war of history - Revelation 16 verse 6. Armageddon is a Hebrew term. Har Megiddo or Mountain of Megiddo. A man made hill gained height from repeated destruction and rebuilding of the city.
Jesus warned that dissension would increase and that global warfare would envelop humanity in mounting measure.
3 important ways our world has been, still is and will be influenced by this phenomenon called war.
1. The curse of war. The world has only been at peace 268 of past 3,400 years. 108 million people killed in wars in 20th century alone.
2. The cause of war is the human heart. "war remains as it always has been one of the chief human mysteries". First Adam and Eve hid from God then Cain killed Abel. The Old Testament word for war occurs 300 times. Saul, David, Moses and Gideon were all military men. The New Testament does reference war - James 4 verse 1, 1 Peter 2 verse 11, Romans 8 verse 37, 1 Timothy 1 verse 18.
3. The course of war. Years without national and international conflict - when Jesus was alive there was relative tranquility in the Roman Empire.
"rumours" translation of original Greek term akae means report or sound ie hear of actual wars and of reports of others that couldn't be verified.
Can mean wars and threats of wars, wars near and far or impending wars - increase in intensity scope and fearfulness as the age draws towards its God ordained conclusion.
War will be suddenly interrupted by the majestic return of Christ from whose mouth will proceed a sharp sword - Revelation 19 verses 11 to 21. He will save his people from annihilation, save the world from total destruction and establish a kingdom where peace and justice will reign supreme - the course of war will eventually lead us to Christ.
"see that you are not troubled" Greek word for "be troubled" is to be terrified, to cry aloud, to scream. Don't panic. The answer is wrapped up in the peace we can find from God's promise, God's presence and God's plan. One day war will cease.
God will be with us - Deuteronomy 20 verse 3 and 4, 31 verse 8, Joshua 1 verse 9, Isaiah 43 verse 2, Hebrews 13 verses 5 and 6.
"All these things must come to pass". Indicates the indisputable inexorable decrees of almighty God in things large and small that must and will be fulfilled.
Chapter 4 - In a world of disasters, Be Confident
"There will be famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places"
The world of the end will increasingly be filled with devastation and disaster along with all their ensuing effects. What will be unique is the frequency and intensity with which those events will impact our world. The closer we get to the final chapter of human civilisation the more we will experience the inescapable dangers Jesus predicted in Matthew 24.
"famines" - Israelites first went to Egypt in Genesis. Naomi and her family to Moab in Ruth. Elijah's day for 3 1/2 years.
Revelation 6 John's prophetic vision the fiery red horse of warfare is followed by the black horse of famine and pale horse of death.
"plagues" Greek word is loimos - huge in scale and impact. They will sweep over large regions of the world and be difficult to control.
Deuteronomy 32 verse 24 curses that would befall Israel. 2 Chronicles 20 verse 9 king Jehoshaphat of Judah.
War results in food shortages. Global pandemics have been rare. In the 6th Century 30 to 50 million people were killed. In the 14th Century the bubonic plague brought 200 million deaths. In the 20th Century the spanish flu epidemic 40 million people were killed. The Asian flu and Hong Kong flu 1 million deaths in 1950's and 1960's. The HIV/Aids epidemic 35 million deaths. Swine flu, SARS, Ebola and COVID 19.
"Earthquakes" are random.
One day an ultimate global earthquake will bring down the cities of the world including Babylon, the city of the Anti Christ.
Revelation 16 verse 18 "a great earthquake such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth."
Isaiah 2 verse 19 - Matthew 27 verses 50 to 54 when Jesus died. In scripture earthquakes are associated with God's power and judgment - think of Mount Sinai and giving of 10 Commandments Exodus 19 verses 18 and 19.
Elijah - the Lord appeared, there was an earthquakes, a powerful wind, a firestorm and still small voice 1 Kings 19 verses 11 and 12.
King Uzziah earthquake came as a rebuke to Judah and Israel - Zechariah 14 verse 5. Psalm 18 verse 7. Job 9 verse 6. Way to combat fear of natural disasters is by spiritual discipleship which allows the Holy Spirit to flood our lives with encouragement, conviction and hope - Hebrews 6 verse 19.
4 elements of God's nature and character that will fill us with confidence as we focus on him and seek his fire.
1. Confident in God's protection. God is described as our shield, fortress, hiding place, keeper, refuge, rock, shade, shelter and stronghold. Joel 2 verses 12 to 14 plague of locusts was used as an opportunity to warn people of their sins and turn them toward God. Philippian jailer Acts 16 verses 30 and 31.
2. Confident in God's perspective.
3. Confident in God's provision - Matthew 6 verse 11. 1 Kings 17 widow of Zarephath. Genesis 22 verse 8. Philippians 4 verse 19 1 Timothy 6 verses 17 and 18.
Let us find confidence in God's provision
1. in God's provision for ourselves
2. in his provision through us to others
God sees what's coming in the world and he has told us in advance how everything will end. For that reason you and I can navigate this world of disasters be confident.
Chapter 5 - In a world of persecution, Be Prepared
Jesus was the first then the disciples - think of Stephen in Acts 7. 11 of 12 disciples perished violently except John who was banished to island of Patmos. Revelation 1 verse 9. Peter and Paul died through reign of Nero who falsely blamed Christians for the fire that ravaged Rome in AD 64. 70 million Christians have been martyred throughout history more than half occurred in the 20 the Century. 1 million killed between 2001 and 2010. 900,000 between 2011 and 2020. 3 specific stages Christ predicted: tribulation, death and hatred.
1. Tribulation - Greek word thlipsis - describes a grinding pressure or crushing from which is no escape - growing build up of opposition as we move toward final days. 5th seal in Revelation 6 is persecution and martyrdom. It follows deception war, famine and death.
2. Martyrdom - someone slain for the faith in Jesus. Acts 22 verse 20. Revelation 2 verse 13. Revelation 17 verse 6. Greek word martus means witness.
3. Hatred - "you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake". We are talking about people who experience harm or harassment specifically because of their belief in Jesus Christ and their connection to his name.
Several principles that will empower us in the face of persecution whenever and however it comes.
1. Recount your blessings - Matthew 5 verse 10
2. Respond with worship - Acts 16 verse 23 Paul and Silas
3. Re-evaluate your suffering - Romans 8 verse 18. Suffering and joy.
4. Recover your reward - James 1 verses 2 to 4
Chapter 6 - In a world of betrayal, Be Faithful
Jesus included betrayal in his list of trends that would intensify before his coming. Betrayal exposes vulnerability. Every evening people all over the world go to bed with the feeling they were burned by someone and the pain lingers for a long time. Many of them seek to forgive and move on but its a hard and painful process.
The sin of betrayal goes back to a critical point before the beginning of human history when the archangel Lucifer turned against his Creator - Ezekiel 28 verse 15 "I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God." But this mighty angel deserted his God and led a host of angels in rebelling against him. Ever since that point, betrayal has cascaded through the human story like falling dominoes. Adam and Eve were seduced by Satan. Cain betrayed his brother Abel. Jacob double-crossed his brother Esau. Think of Joseph when his brothers stripped off his colourful robe, threw him in a cistern and sold him into slavery. Delilah betrayed her husband. Samson and the psalms of David are filled with anguish over various acts of betrayal - including an attempted coup by his own son Absalom.
Only one matches the horrendous betrayal of Satan against God the Father - the betrayal of God the Son by Judas Iscariot - Luke 22 verses 3 and 4. When we study the character of Judas in the bible, almost every reference includes his act of betrayal. Matthew introduced him Judas Iscariot who also betrayed him - 10 verse 4.
Luke describes him as Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor - 6 verse 16.
John said "And supper being ended the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon's son to betray him - John 13 verse 2. Even today the word Judas is synonym for traitor.
Verse 10 "Then many will be offended, will betray one another and will hate one another."
"offended" - a translation of Greek term skanalizo - our modern word scandal and scandalized. Used 30 times in New Testament and it refers to a hidden foot trap in the ground that causes someone to stumble and fall - trip others up - to be a stumbling block.
Preaching the gospel may offend people who don't want to hear it. As Christians our biblical world view may be offensive to those who reject it.
To offend someone in the biblical sense of skandalizo means to allow spiritual failure to populate in our lives in ways that trip up weaker believers. Jesus warned that this trend would grow and increase leading up to the world of the end. Many will be tripped up and betrayed.
"betray" Greek word is paradidomi.
Used 121 occasions in the New Testament. Translated into several English words including "deliver", "betray" and "give over". In context of Matthew 24 it paints the picture of Christians attempting to escape persecution or justify themselves by delivering or handing over other Christians to be judged, punished or even put to death.
The saddest part is the phrase "one another". Christians will betray Christians or perhaps more accurately people who claim to be Christians will betray those who really are.
Alexander the coppersmith - 1 Timothy 1 verse 20 he was saying untrue things about God among the church goers in Ephesus. Paul removed him from the fellowship of the church along with another heretic named Hymenaeus. Paul delivered them "to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."
Many believe that Alexander harboured a deep bitterness toward Paul and at some point betrayed Paul's whereabouts to Roman authorities. This led to Paul's final arrest perhaps in Troas. All this took place during the most dangerous days the church had yet experienced when Emperor Nero declared Christians as public enemies of the Roman government. If correct Alexander's betrayal led to the imprisonment, trial and execution of the greatest evangelist and missionary in Christian history - see 2 Timothy 4 verses 10 to 16.
Example - Richard Wurmbrand - he was betrayed by a friend, resulting in 14 years of imprisonment and torture.
Hatred - even worse. People may be tricked into betraying you or they may do so out of weakness. But when people harm out of hatred, they have reached a new level of evil.
Second mention of hate by Jesus - verse 9 he warned that the world would hate us which is a hatred coming from outside the church. But in verse 10 he warned that Christians (or so called Christians) would "betray one another and ... hate one another" which means Jesus was warning of hatred from within the church.
We need to realize that genuine followers of Christ - those who are abiding in Christ and growing in him - are not the sources of hate but the objects of it. Institutionalized religion and apostate Christianity, however, will be vengeful against true believers.
That's why we need to keep all forms of hatred, resentment and bitterness out of our hearts.
Betrayal is painful. Backstabbing is commonplace in our world.
The real question is, what can we do about it? How do we respond to the reality of betrayal both now and in the future? How do we prepare for it?
The answer: we must be faithful!
Some steps to take right now as we seek to shine the light of God's goodness and grace into a world struggling with disloyalty.
Choose Your Friends Carefully - in the bible Job had a set of friends who came to comfort him in his distress. At first, they wept with him and sat with him in empathetic silence (Job 2 verses 11 to 13). But when they started giving their opinions and sharing their advice, they upset him until he finally cried out, "Miserable comforters are you all! ... Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has struck me!" (chapter 16 verse 2, 19 verse 21)
Despite it all, Job remained loyal to God and to his friends. Even more surprisingly, his friends remained loyal to God and to him. We often rightly criticize Job's friends for their bad advice, but we should remember that at the end of the story they took God's rebuke humbly, offered sacrifices for their sins, and made things right.
"So Eliphaz ... and Bildad ... and Zophar ... went and did as the Lord commanded them ... And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends." (Job 42 verses 9 and 10)
Job's story teaches us many important principles, but this is one of them: friendships may go through ups and downs, but we need friends who will remain loyal to God and to us when all is said and done.
Proverbs 12 verse 26 says, "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray."
Do your friends help you draw closer to God, or do they push you away from God?
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (chapter 17 verse 17). Take a moment to recall a recent time of pain or difficulty in your life. Who was there to help? Who was present with you? And with whom have you stood during their time of struggle?
We need friends who will be honest with us, telling us the truth and keeping us from mistakes or missteps. Proverbs 27 verse 6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
The best way to avoid people who are stumbling blocks or betrayers or hateful is to nurture a handful of rich friendships with people who are sold out to God. If they are loyal to him, they will be loyal to you. And they will lift you up, not tear you down.
Stay Focused on Your Purpose - when you find yourself cheated or betrayed in some way - likely despite your efforts to cultivate solid friendships - how should you respond?
Like Jesus.
What did Jesus do when he knew Judas had left the upper room to inform officials of his whereabouts? Jesus still had work to do before his arrest and in John 14 to 16 he gave his disciples the greatest sermon of his life. Then, in the Kidron Valley, Jesus offered his longest prayer recorded in the bible - John 17.
In the middle of betrayal, Jesus remained focused on his purpose.
Even later, after he was arrested because of John's betrayal, Jesus remained steady in the awful work, before him. He didn't let that betrayal derail him. Instead, he continued forward, even to the cross. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus, "For the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (12 verse 2)
Betrayal can be so painful, so agonizing, that we are unable to focus on anything else. We can't let go. Our hearts become bitter. We chew on the possibility of revenge. All this does nothing except create greater harm.
When you face betrayal, choose to focus not on yourself but on your purpose. Just like Jesus, choose to live above the mindset of bitterness and revenge by pouring your life into the work God has called to you achieve.
Staying focused on your purpose will allow you to keep the pain in perspective.
Pursue Loyalty - loyalty and commitment are often unpopular because they require us to think of others rather than ourselves. But the beauty in loyalty counterbalances the bitterness of betrayal. We see evidence of that beauty in scripture:
"Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4 verse 2)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." (Galatians 5 verse 22)
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2 verse 10)
In a world of betrayal, let us pursue the kind of loyalty that inspires others to remain faithful in their commitment to Christ.
Do Good to those who hate you - we know from Jesus that people will betray us - even people who call themselves Christians. This will happen. We can count on it. With that in mind, how should we respond?
This is one of those questions to which the bible gives a simple answer. We are called to show love and do good to those who harm us. Even to those who betray us. The bible couldn't be any clearer on this matter:
"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you" (Proverbs 25 verse 21 and 22)
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5 verses 43 and 44)
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse ... Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay' says the Lord" (Romans 12 verse 14, 17 to 19)
"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." (1 Peter 3 verse 9)
Jesus has warned about the potential of betrayal. But that same Jesus also commanded us to go as far as possible to show goodness and grace. Jesus gave us the Olivet Discourse so we wouldn't be surprised by the hatred around us. He was preparing us to be light in the darkness because that's when the light is all the more impressive and when God looks all the more glorious.
Count on the character of God - in the midst of betrayal, count on the character of God. Grasp the sovereignty of God. Lean on the love of God.
This was the conclusion Joseph made after years of processing his brothers' betrayal. He said, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 50 verses 19 and 20)
When Paul was sold out by Alexander the coppersmith, he pressed on to write his final book, 2 Timothy, with the resolution of finishing his race and keeping the faith. That final epistle contains these words: "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen!" (4 verses 17 and 18)
Perhaps the key to processing the betrayal we experience as followers of Jesus is reckoning that for every person who deserts us, God has blessed us abundantly more with his never-ceasing faithfulness.
Friends will fail us and foes assail us, but our Saviour will never leave us or forsake us. His loyalty is as immeasurable as his love. His overruling sovereignty will eventually turn our moments of bitterness into occasions for praise. Count on it!
The apostle Paul said, "I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8 verse 38 and 39)
Chapter 7 - In a world of lawlessness, Be Kind
Everything Jesus described in his Olivet Discourse will create distance between humanity and heaven. Nations will intentionally abandon the values and priorities prescribed in scripture. Cultures will uncouple from institutions that provide the safety, security and success we currently take for granted.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way: "The most experienced psychologist ... knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the cross of Jesus. The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is."
Bonhoeffer went on to say, "Worldly wisdom knows what distress and weakness and failure are, but it does not know the godlessness of man. And so it also does not know that man is destroyed only by his sin and can be healed only by forgiveness. Only the Christian knows this."
Jesus knew that! Look again at Matthew 24 verse 12 "Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold" The word because implies a cause-and-effect relationship between the 2 clauses of that sentence. As people reject the justice that comes from God's righteousness, they will forfeit the love that comes from his grace. This, then, becomes a vicious downward cycle. Lawlessness begets lovelessness, and lovelessness produces more lawlessness.
When Jesus said "Lawlessness will abound" he was describing more than the absence of laws or law enforcement. His words call to mind periods of human history that were defined by chaos and disorder - the Dark Ages for example, or the bloody legacy of the first half of the twentieth century. The lawlessness Jesus pointed to at the World of the End will be exponentially worse than anything we've witnessed before.
Right and wrong will be inverted, with entire cultures celebrating what is evil and condemning what is good.
The prophet Isaiah offered a foreshadowing of this season of lawlessness: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" (Isaiah 5 verses 20 and 21)
While society is moving ever closer to the World of the End, we feel the currents of the tribulation blowing backward into our own atmosphere. As never before, we need to be able to articulate biblical positions on moral issues without confusing or reversing right and wrong.
And as never before, we need to understand that the growing insanity in our world isn't primarily a political or military problem. It is a spiritual problem. The further our world strays from Christ, the closer it drifts toward cruelty and chaos. Jesus said wickedness will increase.
Love Will Grow Cold - this growing wickedness will cause the love of many to grow cold. Not just many people, but most people. The further we drift from God's justice, the less we will reflect God's love, and the more anger will beget anger.
Anger produces a chain reaction that can travel around the globe, and it can do it now with the click of a button. We never know where violence will erupt next.
Because of the increase of violence, true godly love as a human force is being frozen out of our culture, which in turn begets more violence.
Because of the growing wickedness, the love of most people "will grow cold". That phrase is a translation of the Greek root word psycho, which literally means "to breathe or blow". That's where we get our English words psyche and psychology.
But in Matthew 24 verse 12, the word is used literally in the sense of blowing air across something. As the winds of lawlessness blow across our world, it chills our love, and the world becomes a colder place.
Think of the loneliness and lostness of multitudes of people around us.
Look also at the rise in "diseases of despair" over recent decades, including addiction, anxiety, depression, suicide and more - all of which are skyrocketing in America and across the world.
The Way of Kindness - it's difficult to watch the world disconnect from God. Humanity's slide toward lawlessness and lovelessness is painful. We feel a jolt when outside forces corrupt the institutions and customs we've cherished for so long. The darkness seems to be deepening over our culture like the edge of night.
But we are not powerless. We are "children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom (we) shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life." (Philippians 2 verses 15 and 16)
One of the biggest ways we can make a difference is by bringing back a revolutionary concept called kindness, which in many ways is the antidote to lawlessness. We have limited ability to control the lawlessness and lovelessness in our society - but we can control how we respond to those factors. Specifically, we can use those realities as opportunities to offer kindness even when others don't deserve it - in fact, especially when they don't deserve it!
3 specific ways to show kindness in a culture of wickedness.
Embrace God's kindness - before we can demonstrate God's love and kindness to anyone in the world, we need to embrace that love and kindness for ourselves. We all battle issues of self-worth, and perhaps everyone wonders at some point whether God loves them.
Oh, may God give you "power together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3 verses 18 and 19)
People who possess that knowledge are insulated from the chilling winds that cause warm love to become hard ice. When we embrace the love of God through Christ our own love will not grow cold.
That's why Paul reminded the earliest believers, "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5 verse 5) And that's why John said, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4 verse 19)
Our sense of God's love deepens as we spend time with him.
It's very hard for your love to grow cold when the fervent love of God is surging through your veins.
Express God's Kindness - when we embrace God's love, it becomes natural to express his love. In many ways, kindness is God's love expressed through action. And nothing is more obvious in the bible than God's commands to love this world in tangible ways, such as providing a "cup of cold water" in Jesus' name to the thirsty (Matthew 10 verse 42).
This isn't a call for a select few followers of Jesus but all Christians. The bible says, "Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy" (Psalm 82 verse 3).
Proverbs 14 verse 21 "Blessed is the one who is kind to the needy".
Jesus said "He who has 2 tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise" (Luke 3 verse 11).
James said "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble" (1 verse 27).
The apostle John said, "But whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3 verse 17)
Expressing God's kindness means fulfilling these commands in small ways.
The point is that we do something. God's love is not about warm thoughts or well-wishers. It is expressed through action. Through actually being kind.
In expressing God's love through our daily attitudes and actions, we'll keep it boiling. We'll keep it fervent. It's hard for the devil to blow his cold breath over a heart percolating with God's love for those in need.
Sometimes the ones with the greatest needs are those closest to us.
Those of us who know God and have embraced his love must resist the urge to grow callous or complacent. We must carry the flag of Christ. We must embody his kindness and share it with others in tangible ways that meet real needs in today's world.
Embody God's kindness - how do we pour kindness in a world increasingly defined by lawlessness? First, be embracing God's love daily so it fills us up. Second, by intentionally expressing that love to others through regular action. Third, as we encounter God's love in greater degrees - both receiving and giving - we will begin to embody that love. Meaning, God's love will become part of our identity.
There is no better solution to the World of the End than for God's people to embody God's kindness to a world in need.
What if you and I were to reflect God's love to such a degree that the world around us felt astounded? Even dumbfounded? What if we were to offer God's love with such generosity and such regularlity that people said, "No way. That can't be?" What kind of difference could we make if we achieved that level of goodness and kindness in a world afflicted on every side by wickedness?
Jesus gave us another picture of what it means to embody God's love. Take a moment to transport yourself mentally back to the ancient world of Jesus' day. it's late in the evening. The sun has set, and the last of its light is fading from the night sky. You've been walking for more than 10 hours under the heat of that sun, and you're not sorry to see it go. But you're also tired. And sore. And hungry.
Then you see it: a glimmering light in the distance. After another few minutes of walking, that light becomes the welcoming glow of a city built next to the road on the side of a hill. The light you see is not produced by wires and bulbs but by cookfires and hearths and oil lamps hanging on doorposts. There are people in that city. And water to wash the grim off your feet and a table to recline by as you take your evening meal.
As a weary traveller, can you imagine anything warmer and more wonderful in that moment? Could you stumble upon anything more welcoming and refreshing?
That is the image Jesus used to describe how his church should shine the light of the gospel in the middle of a dark and dreary world. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5 verses 14 to 16)
Here's a simple principle: light shines brightest in the darkness. And in a world from lawlessness and the lack of love, you and I have the opportunity to radiate the radical warmth of the gospel. The warmth of community. The warmth of kindness. The warmth of fellowship. The warmth of intimacy with our Creator.
Though we have limited control over the overall trends of lawlessness and lovelessness in our culture, we can control how we respond personally to those realities. We can choose to display forgiveness rather than bitterness. We can choose to heal rather than harm - to help rather than hurt. We can choose to be welcoming witnesses when everyone else practices the emotional equivalent of social distancing.
In short, we can be kind.
Jesus makes the difference - it's true that our world has lost something important. We've drifted away from God's justice and love. Not just drifted - we've defected. Humanity is in the process of intentionally rejecting its Creator, and the future may feel bleak.
But you and I have an opportunity to capitalize on those losses. We can show the world what's missing. We can take a stand for goodness and kindness and return what's been lost, even if only for a season. As we do so, we can add that little extra gift that makes all the difference - an extra serving of God's love.
The breakdown of law and order is like a deadly wind blowing across our nation and world, chilling the love of many - of most - people. But the fire of God's love keeps us warm and impassioned for Christ as we await his return.
You can make a difference in the World of the End, and you can be the difference in someone's life. It's in so doing that you and I can achieve what the early Christians did - turning the world upside down.
How? By choosing to be kind!
Chapter 8 - In a world of bad news, Be The Good News
On one of the last days of his natural life, Jesus predicted a time when the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to the ends of the earth, heralding the approach of his return. No one in those days could have conceived of it. Jesus of Nazareth was a country preacher in the rural mountains of Galilee. He encountered a lot of skepticism on the rare occasions he came to Jerusalem for the Jewish festivals. He spoke in simple parables and pastoral teachings and few people outside his circles even knew about him.
Yet, speaking privately with his disciples shortly before his brutal death, Jesus said that one day his unique message would touch the farthest corners of the globe. It would go to the ends of the earth - and when it did, the world would be near its end.
This one is the most implausible.
Let's start with the word gospel. The Greek term is evangelion. You can instantly see how we get the word evangelism from it. But look closer. Notice the middle letters: ev-angel-ion. What is an angel doing in the middle of the gospel? Well the word angel literally means "messenger". The Greek prefix ev means "good". So the word gospel literally means "good message" or "good news".
This word appears for the first time in the bible at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Matthew 4 verse 23 says, "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people."
The gospel is the set of historical facts relating to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes the eternal repercussions of these facts for those who place their faith in Christ. They enter a living relationship with God, by grace and through faith. Christ alone offers us forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
Ephesians 1 verse 13 says "In (Christ) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the (good news) of your salvation."
The word good seems like the world's greatest understatement. Our culture loves superlative terms like amazing, awesome and spectacular. To us good is far down on that list of adjectives. But the bible uses good as a moral quality of God and a way to describe the nature of the gifts he has given us. In his vocabulary, good is far beyond amazing, awesome and spectacular. It may be his highest adjective. We can pack every superlative we want into those 4 letters - G-O-O-D - and there will still be an eternity of room left over.
The gospel was sealed and settled by Jesus' shed blood at Calvary and his glorious resurrection. When we receive this message by simple faith and confess Christ as Lord of our lives, we become living recipients and embodiments of the good news. In other words, we say yes to Jesus.
There's something else to notice. The verse says, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached."
Why is it called the "gospel of the kingdom?" The answer can sound complicated. The word kingdom is short for the "king's domain". Except for once, every time Matthew used the word gospel, he crouched it in that phrase "gospel of the kingdom."
There's a famous theological phrase that says our Lord's kingdom is "already but not yet". When Jesus came to our world the first time. He planted the kingdom of believers on this planet, infiltrating the nations and placing the foundation for his church. Colossians 1 verse 13 says "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. "When Christ comes again, he will establish his theocratic kingdom in Israel and reign from there for 1000 years.
So in one sense, Jesus' kingdom is already here. In another sense it is still to be established - "already but not yet."
In Mark's version of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus was recorded as simply saying "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations" (Mark 13 verse 10). That's the key point. Both the current kingdom of the church age and the coming kingdom of the millennial age spring from the historical facts of Jesus' death and resurrection. The same gospel that makes you and me instant members of God's heavenly kingdom right now will be the power plant allowing Christ to rule the world after his return to earth.
This work's out as a double fulfilment in Matthew 24 verse 14.
The unstoppable message of the gospel before the Rapture - the first verse of the Olivet Discourse carry an "already but not yet" flavour. They describe the days leading up to the rapture of the church. Then they rewind and take us through the same general sequence of events during the first half of the tribulation with a deeper level of judgment and distress.
On one level, the Lord Jesus was predicting the deterioration of world events during the epochs leading up to his return in the clouds for his people. These are the times we are experiencing now. There will be increasing danger from deceivers, wars, international conflict, famine, pandemics and natural disasters. Persecution will spike around the world, and love will fade away as a uniting force.
The one positive trend amid these signs is the good news: "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24 verse 14)
The end of what?
The end of the church age. The presence of the Spirit-indwelled church will be removed from this planet in a flash of time. Graves will become launching pads. believers will fly into the clouds to be instantly transformed with glorified bodies.
Jesus repeated his claim in Acts 1 verse 8 telling his disciples, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
Shortly after, on the day of Pentecost, 3000 people confessed Christ in Jerusalem and were baptized (Acts 2 verse 41). Many of them went home from the festival of Pentecost, taking the message of Jesus to provinces, cities, towns and islands throughout the Roman Empire. Soon the number of believers reached 5000 (chapter 4 verse 4). The disciples began multiplying exponentially (chapter 6 verse 1) and the number of churches multiplied as well (chapter 9 verse 31).
From Antioch, the first official church-sent missionaries were commissioned (Barnabas and Paul) and the age of organized missions began (Acts 13). By the early 300's the Roman Empire had been reshaped by the gospel. Every generation of Christians has spread the news to those around them. Most of the work has been accomplished by barefoot evangelists - people like you and me who share our testimonies in the same way mariners tell the stories of their rescues from shipwrecks.
Today we're starting to penetrate even the most difficult barriers by means of new technology.
We can see the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy in real time the gospel is being preached throughout all the world as a witness to all nations and all peoples. When that process is complete, the stage will be set for the end.
The Unstoppable Message of the Gospel after the Rapture - the events prophesied in Matthew 24 verses 1 to 14 will back up and replay after the rapture of the church, this time at a higher volume and with greater intensity. After believers vanish from the earth, there will be a new round of deceivers, including the Man of Lawlessness (the Antichrist) and an unprecedented time of war and rumours of war. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. As we see in the breaking of the 7 seals in Revelation 6 there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places - all leading up to the middle of the tribulation and to the terrible period known as the great tribulation.
Many people don't realize the first half of the tribulation will be one of the greatest evangelistic awakenings in human history. The gospel will be unstoppable.
If the church is removed, who will be evangelizing?
The troubles of those days will lead many people to search out the billions of bibles and New Testaments left behind, along with all kinds of Christian books, recordings and literature.
The Lord is going to commission 144,000 Jewish evangelists who will spread the gospel with the zeal of the apostle Paul to the ends of the earth (Revelation 7 verses 1 to 4). Everyone converted under their ministries will also reach others and many of them will be martyred (verses 9 to 17). Don't forget the 2 superevangelists the Lord will place in Jerusalem described in Revelation 11.
The gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world, and then the end will come.
The unstoppable message of the gospel will be - and is being - spread by unstoppable messengers. In our generation, that's you and me, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Jesus predicted his followers would be unstoppable in taking his gospel to the world. He said "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4 verse 35). He said "I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16 verse 18)
How does the Lord use us? What can you do to spread the gospel of the kingdom in these last days? Let me give you 3 unstoppable ways to share the uncontainable good news.
Our most basic testimony has to do with our lives - daily exhibiting a biblical lifestyle in this ungodly age. That requires a constant walk with the Lord, a desire for personal holiness, a growing attitude of Christlikeness and a burden to love others and to meet their needs in Christ's name.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. let your light to shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5 verses 14 to 16)
1 Peter 3 verses 15 and 16 says "In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
Live in a way that reflects the power of the gospel, and always be ready to share the message of the gospel when opportunities arise. Those are 2 simple principles that have eternal impact.
As we look for opportunities and think of others more than ourselves, the Lord lets us come alongside others and influence them.
At some point in sharing our faith, words are necessary. They can be spoken, printed, or texted, but people need to receive vital information that they often can't find out for themselves. God has revealed it in the scripture - that he loves us, that our relationship to hi is broke, that Christ has died for our sins and risen from the tomb, and that we need to repent of our sins and trust his good news of salvation.
Sooner of later, we have to communicate these truths to others. That's why the bible says, "Do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4 verse 5). Remember that Greek word evangelion? The word with an angel in the middle of it, meaning "messenger"? The bible is telling you to be a good news messenger. Every day. All the time.
Doing so doesn't require a theological degree. Just a willingness to share your faith.
If the Lord is tarrying his return, it's only to give a few more people time to come to repentance. it's only to give you and me enough time to share the gospel with one more person.
Ask God to open a door for you to share your faith. Practice your testimony. Learn some verses that summarize the gospel, such as Romans 6 verse 23 "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Cast our fear, and don't be afraid of failure. Trust God to give you the right words at the right time, then leave the results to him.
we also share the gospel sharing our resources for the expansion of the kingdom. When we regularly, prayerfully give our tithes and offerings to our local church and to the other ministries Christ lays on our hearts, he receives our offerings as worship. Then he transmutes them into tangible works of grace. The Philippians provided financial support for Paul's journeys, and his success became their success.
We're living in the last days and we're the only ones who have good news for this world! The media doesn't. Academia doesn't. The entertainment industry doesn't. The politicians and statesmen certainly don't.
The only place where hope is found is in the proclamation of the good news by the followers of Jesus. And today, people all over the globe are risking their lives to share it.
What a privilege then, for us to show the gospel, to share it, and to support it.
The message of the gospel is unstoppable - continuing to the end of the age. And the messengers of the gospel are unstoppable - going to end of the world.
People need the Lord. our world has never needed him more. let's all be barefoot evangelists for Christ wherever we go, whatever the cost, until everyone on earth has heard the good news of Jesus and his story, of Jesus and his glory and of Jesus and his love.
Let's be the good news!
Chapter 9 - In a world of the end, Be Determined
The "signs of the times" about which Jesus prophesied were frightening for many reasons. He warned about deception, both from outside and inside the church. He warned about wars and rumours of wars. He warned about famines and earthquakes and pestilences. He foresaw tribulation and persecution, lawlessness and lovelessness. Even those who professed to be Christians would fall away.
But all the negatives lead to an incredible positive, a phenomenal promise: "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24 verse 13).
That promise was true for Christ's earliest disciples as they endured attacks from the Roman Empire and the religious leaders of their own community. That promise has been true for all who remained faithful to God's kingdom throughout the ups and downs of history. And that promise is especially critical for believers today as we approach the World of the End.
Yes we will certainly face obstacles and difficulties. In so many ways, this world is a giant Sahara Desert. But we have a race to run and we must not give up. We must keep going - with enthusiasm, the strength of Christ within us and the victory in sight.
"But he who endures"
The scriptures are packed with admonitions and encouragements for God's people to keep going in tough times. The biblical writers employed many terms to describe this quality of our character; endurance, steadfastness, faithfulness, perseverance and so on. But the basic idea is for followers of Christ to keep following Christ all the way, come what may.
Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9 verse 62).
Paul instructed Timothy to keep going in the face of trials. "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2 verse 3). A few verses later he added, "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (verses 8 to 10).
James wrote, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him" (chapter 1 verse 12).
The Greek word for endure in Matthew 24 is hupomeno, which is a combination of hupo ("under") and meno ("stay" or "remain"). So the picture Jesus used to describe those who endure is those who are determined to stay under the load until Christ lifts the load. It refers to submitting to a specific directive or command, choosing to stay in a certain spot even if others have moved on or moved away.
In today's terminology, we might say, "But the person who hangs on to the end shall be saved."
Jesus' call for endurance was a command for his followers to take a stand. To push against the current and refuse to be moved. To hold firm in their convictions and their character even when it seems as if the whole world is against them.
As Paul wrote to the earliest believers:
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand." Ephesians 6 verses 10 to 13
Only heaven knows how many Christians are standing with him and like him on the earth. But we must be among them. "And having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6 verse 13)
Notice the middle section of our Lord's sentence "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24 verse 13).
The end of what?
That's a widely debated question, and if you read 10 commentaries you might get 9 different answers. But it's not so difficult.
Perennial Stamina - first we're to keep on going until Christ comes for us or calls us home. We are perennials, not annuals. We keep coming back again and again, fruitful, growing, pressing forward with whatever God has for us until, like the Lord Jesus, we can say, "I have glorified you on the earth, I have finished the work which you have give me to do." (John 17 verse 4)
We're to pursue the Lord's will and calling for our lives until we can say, like Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4 verse 7)
We're to wait and watch and work until we can say, like aged Simeon "Lord now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2 verses 29 and 30).
We can't do it in our own strength. We pray like the prophet Isaiah: "Be our strength every morning" (Isaiah 33 verse 2).
For those of us living in the World of the End, Jesus' words are a call to keep going as the signs of the times explode around us. We're to run through the smoke, through the trembling earth, through the spinning battlefield, and through the agitation of our age.
We'll never stop until Jesus comes!
This attitude doesn't always appear as public feats of gallantry. Usually it shows up quietly in our lives.
In Acts 20 he told the Ephesian elders, "See now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (verses 22 - 24).
Personal Stamina - second, a careful analysis of Matthew 24 gives us a further clue about the stamina we need to endure to the end. It's personal. A fluent student of biblical Greek can tells us that up to this point in the Olivet Discourse, Jesus had been speaking to his disciples in the plural. This isn't obvious in English because our word you can be either singular or plural. But the Greek language is different.
Jesus used the plural you in the earlier verses:
- "Do you (plural) not see all these things?" (verse 2)
- "Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you (plural)" (verse 4)
- "You (plural) will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you (plural) are not troubled" (verse 6)
- "Then they will deliver you (plural) up to tribulation and kill you (plural) and you (plural) will be hated by all nations for my name's sake" (verse 9)
- "Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many (plural) will grow cold" (verse 12)
- "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1 verses 2 to 4).
- "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5 verses 3 to 5)
- For the church at Ephesus: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (chapter 2 verse 7)
- For the church at Smyrna: "He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death" (chapter 2 verse 11)
- For the church at Pergamos: "To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." (chapter 2 verse 17)
- For the church at Thyatira: "And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end to him I will give power over the nations - He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' - as I also have received from my Father; and I will give him the morning star" (chapter 2 verses 26 to 28)
- For the church at Sardis: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life" (chapter 3 verse 5)
- For the church at Philadelphia: "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write on him my new name" (chapter 3 verse 12)
- For the church at Laodicea: "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne" (chapter 3 verse 21)
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