Matthew
End Times, Don’t Lose Sight of What is to Come
Matthew 24 are exciting times because as the world gets darker
More and more people are looking for the light
The Church, the Bride of Christ has always increased in times of persecution
Because the gifts of heaven far outweigh our homes, cars, and earthy treasures
Make sure when you read Matthew 24 you meditate on verses 13 & 14
But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world
as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
End Times, Don’t Lose Sight of What is to Come
Matthew 24 and 25 have put fear in the hearts of believers
from the time Jesus spoke these words till now, 2000 years later.
Every generation has seen fulfillment of these verses.
Since the time Jesus warned of things to come,
believers have thought they would be the last generation.
It is important that we are eagerly waiting
the coming of the Lord.
But what is not good is reading these verses
and giving up hope and being filled with fear.
I remember the days of Idi Amin Dada Oumee
(/ˈiːdi ɑːˈmiːn, ˈɪdi -/, UK also /- æˈmiːn/; c. 1925 – 16 August 2003)
Who was a Ugandan military officer and politician
who served as the third president of Uganda
from 1971 to 1979.
He ruled as a military dictator
and is considered one of the most brutal despots
in modern world history (Wikipedia)
I remember the horrible stories of Christians
being persecuted and killed.
I thought for those believers in Uganda
their tribulation may not have been the Great Tribulation
but to them it was no different, it was great tribulation.
I grew up in a church that viewed the world
as a place that would become more and more evil.
A world where darkness would overcome all good
and then Christ would return.
Sadly, I still see among believers this same mindset.
I am so glad there are churches who did not give up hope
and continues in the face of darkness…
Churches who let their light shine beyond the church walls
into a world of darkness.
I have had many friends,
who believed Christ would come before they died
and they died not seeing the return of Christ in their lifetime.
Does this mean things will go on as they always have?
Does this mean Christ will not return?
NO!
When we read of the wars, earthquakes, and abomination,
Jesus said would come…
We should not make our focused on what
is going on in this world.
The Earth will pass away,
so don’t make this world your focus.
God’s Word and His Kingdom will never pass away.
There is not a time when we should stop praying,
the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven
Our focus is to be on the Kingdom of Heaven.
From it comes a light that darkness cannot overcome.
Don’t stop reading at Matthew 24:12…
Because of the increase of wickedness,
the love of most will grow cold,
But continue to read verses 13 and 14…
But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world
as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Up to the end and in the end are “Overcomers”.
Read Revelation 2 and 3…
The Angel speaking to the churches
to be overcoming churches.
The message we are to preach to all nations is…
The Word of God that will not return void.
What does this mean?
God the Father is not looking at the darkness
in the world as to when He will send
His Son to bring judgment.
God the Father is looking at the church.
Ephesians 5 is a chapter on marriage…
The role of the husband and the wife.
In verse 32 he says…
This is a profound mystery —
but I am talking about Christ and the church.
What the Father is waiting for is…
The preparation of a Bride for His Son.
See Ephesians 5:25-28…
Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Revelation 19:7-8 says…
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
2 Corinthians 11:2-3…
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.
I promised you to one husband, to Christ,
so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
As you and I read Matthew 24 and 25…
Don’t lose sight of this glorious Bride,
without spot or wrinkle.
A Bride radiant, full of light, shining in this world.
She is strong.
She is an Overcomer.
When Christ comes for His Bride,
the Church will be greater, stronger, more beautiful than ever before.
The Bride will be conducting the business
of the Kingdom
while the groom is preparing a place for her.
When Christ comes…
The Bride will be ready to rule and reign
with Him for ever and ever.
What we read in Matthew 24 are exciting times because…
As the world gets darker, more and more people
are looking for the light.
The Church, the Bride of Christ has always
increased in times of persecution.
Because the gifts of heaven far outweigh
our homes, cars, and earthy treasures.
Make sure when you read Matthew 24…
You meditate on Matthew 24:13,14.
But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached
in the whole world as a testimony to all nations,
and then the end will come.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 24:3-14
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
NIV
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