Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 24:36 (NLT)

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.

Only the Father knows.

This is one of the hardest sermons to write for me, because I don’t want to be the scary guy on the street corner holding a sign “THE END IS NEAR”.

On the other hand, I have to tell you the truth about what has, is and will occur as signs that the End Times are fast approaching.

I won’t be telling any stories today.

I will telling you about what the Bible says and what is happening around us.

Did you know that prophecy is 27% of Bible content.

Today we will taking about the coming of the end of days.

I believe we are in the end times right now, but I cannot tell if the Second coming of Jesus will be today, tomorrow, next week , next month, this year, next year or even this decade.

But I do believe that it will occur sometime soon and very soon.

Let me set the stage for you as to why I believe this.

Setting the Stage:

The Miracle Rebirth of Israeli

The modern-day rebirth of the nation of Israel 74-years ago, on May 14th, 1948.

This is such an unprecedented act in world history and is considered an outright ‘miracle’ in the most classic sense of the word.

That is, it could only have been achieved by divine intervention.

This is especially true in light of the uniquely dire circumstances under which Israel’s re-emergence among the family of nations took place.

The prophet Isaiah alludes to these travails when he asks in Isaiah 66:8:

Further we read in Psalm 102:16

The rebirth of Israel is a key trigger point within the prophetic timeline: With out this rebirth the remaining prophecies throughout the Bible leading into and in the Book of Revelation cannot come to pass.

Hear now, Jesus tell us about the timing of the end times Matthew 24:34:

Thus, if we combine the prophecy of Isaiah, Psalm 102 with Jesus’ own words and the rebirth of Israel we can reasonably conclude that the end times and the Second Coming of Christ sit in the wings of today’s stage.

In Matthew 24:34, Jesus says “this generation shall not pass”, however, if we look at the original Greek the deeper meaning of this refer to the last or end or terminal generation.

If we assume that the rebirth of Isreal in 1948 is also the birth of the terminal generation, then we have to ask how long is a generation.

We know from statics that the average human lifespan is 80 or so years and that maximum life span is 120 years.

So if we count from 1948 the Second Coming will occur between today and no further out than the year 2068.

Since these prophecies when held together tell us essentially that the last person born at the Rebirth in 1948 shall not die before He comes, we can conclude we are indeed in the End of Days.

The thought of this takes my breath away.

Does it do that for you?

If it does or doesn’t: Let us take a deeper look at what Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 to see what are the signs of the end times.

Signs Will Precede the Rapture:

I personally believe that Matthew 24 is the single most important chapter in the Bible for Christians on end-times’ prophecy.

If you don’t know anything else, first go to this chapter, and get to know it inside and out, especially in these days, in these years leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

JESUS, WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK?

Matthew 24:3.

The disciples had been with Jesus for close to 2½ years and they are getting the idea that He is leaving them, that He is taking off for heaven, and they want to know when He is coming back.

They want a little advance notice before Jesus returns, and so they ask Him for two signs, a sign of His coming, and a sign of the end of the age.

THE BIRTH PAINS – THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Matthew 24:4-8.

These verses describe the “birth pains.”

They take place during the end-times, that time period starting with the regathering of the Jews to Israel and ending with the coming of Christ (Daniel 12:4, 9).

There has been much discussion as to when these signs started, or will start, but personally, I believe they have already begun, culminating in the return of the Jews to their homeland which began in the 1948.

Let me mention some key points about these birth pains:

1.These verses describe four major events taking place all over the world during the end times.

We read about false christs, wars, famines and earthquakes.

Mark 13:6-8, Luke 21:8-11a, and Revelation 6:1-8 are all parallel passages to Matthew 24:4-8, confirming and emphasizing the importance of these birth pains.

Luke 21 includes plagues and Revelation 6 includes economic distress, meaning that these things will also be occurring in the world during the time of these birth pains.

2.These events are global events, but they are not necessarily occurring in every sector, in every place, in every city in the world.

We read that people “will be hearing of wars…” and “in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.”

The words “hearing” and “various places” mean that many people in the world will not personally experience these events, but will hear that they are taking place.

At this time in history, with the internet and smart phones, we almost immediately know when some catastrophic event is occurring in some other location.

This was not possible 2000 years ago, let alone 100 years ago.

It is quite clear that this verse could not have been fulfilled in the distant past, only now in these days with our modern technology.

3.These events are like the “birth pains” of a mother.

Birth pains, the labor pains a woman experiences before the birth of her baby, will increase in both intensity and frequency.

As we get nearer to the return of Christ, the events described in Matthew 24:4-7 will increase in intensity, by getting stronger and stronger, and will increase in frequency, by getting closer and closer together.

As these birth pains continue to happen, I believe Christians especially will be able to sense that Christ’s coming is getting closer and closer, as the writer of Hebrews has told us – “Encourage one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:25

4.Matthew 24:6 says, “those things (the birth pains) must take place but that is not yet the end.”

This word “end” is referring to the end of the age.

These terrible disasters will be occurring in different places around the world, and increasingly so, but there is still a ways to go before Christ’s return.

we know Christ’s coming is drawing near, but it’s not right away.

These birth pains are only the beginning events that will take place and need to take place before the rapture the church.

5.Jesus instructs us to not be frightened.

Yes, there will be many events that could make us fearful, but we are to trust God and not be afraid.

“Do not fear, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10).

Many people react wrongly and worry when “terrifying” things happen.

We are God’s children, and Jesus is telling us ahead of time what will be taking place, and therefore, we should not be surprised or scared when these things occur.

“Behold, I have told you in advance” (Matthew 24:25).

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, for I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

6.There will be death associated with these events.

A few verses later, in Matthew 24:28, we read, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Revelation 6:8 speaks of this pale horse who had the “name Death; and Hades was following with him.”

Psalm 46 is talking about wars and earthquakes, what I believe are some of these end-time events.

In verse 10, God tells the believers living on earth at that time, “Be still and know that I am God, and that I will be exalted in the earth.”

There are 22 Rapture verses in the Bible.

There are two verses for us to consider today:

First Revelation 3:10 which clearly defines the timing of the rapture

Second, Matthew 24:13

This verse and others might at first glance might suggest a Rapture in the middle or the end of the Tribulation period.

But as the Bible is a harmony to be taken in total, the Rapture must be taken to occur before the Tribulation.

There is some evidence that there may be two Raptures: One before Tribulation and the Second at the end of Tribulation for those who become Believers during the Tribulation and do not take the Mark of the Beast.

But that is a topic for another day.

Matthew 24:14.

Focuses on Christians really stands out, reminding us that our primary purpose in the end-times is to preach the gospel.

We are not to shrink back or be fearful.

We are to be strong and courageous, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost.

This gospel is to be preached in the whole world, “and then the end will come.”

What is this end?

It is the “end of the age” spoken of in verse 3 and the “end” referred to in both verses 6 and 13.

Matthew 28:19-20 essentially tells us the same thing – “Go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and lo, I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

Christians are to persevere and preach the gospel to the end of this age, and then Jesus Christ will return in the clouds to rapture them and take them to Himself, and then on to heaven.

Signs of the End Times

Matthew 24:23-26.

It’s clear that Christ wants us to know what will be taking place in the end-times.

He tells us, “Behold, I have told you in advance.”

Just think, Christ has told us ahead of time everything we need to know about the end-times.