Morning Message: When These Things Begin To Happen

This morning's message is a detour from our ongoing study in the book of Acts. Pastor Bob will be out of commission for a little while longer as he recovers from surgery. He is doing well, and making progress.   Please keep Pastor Bob in your prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

This week's message is from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 1-14.

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "When These Things Begin To Happen"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

There is an old familiar adage that people often quoted, "Seeing is Believing." It means that a person will not trust or accept that something is real until they have witnessed it with their own eyes. The phrase is a shortened version of the original quote by the 17th century clergyman, Thomas Fuller. He used the phrase in a spiritual context linked to the account of Thomas, the apostle, who doubted the resurrection of Jesus until he could physically see and touch the wounds in His hands and His side (John 20:24-29). With those famous words, Thomas earned a nickname that he would be remembered by throughout history—Doubting Thomas.

For Thomas, and for many of us, seeing is believing. But Thomas’s skepticism was not the same as worldly opposition to the truth. Sincere faith does not prohibit sincere investigation, and Jesus knew his sincerity, and guided him back to faith. “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29, KJV).

Spiritually speaking, "seeing" is not the prerequisite of biblical faith. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). It is also not the test for truth. "The Bereans were praised for receiving the message with eagerness, "examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" - Acts 17:11 (cf. 1 John 4:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21).

In our modern world deception has become an artform and used everywhere, from salesmen, to media, from government officials to religious leaders. Even with modern technology, computer software programs and AI, we can count on deception to grow exponentially. There are no 'safe places" that we can hide from it. This reality is here. There are no boundaries to which sinful man will not create it and use it to benefit himself at the expense of, or the destruction of others.

In Matthew 24, Jesus is answering His disciples' question about the "Signs of His Coming and the End of the World."  "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many . . . For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." - Matthew 24:4-5, 24.

Who are these counterfeit christs? They are those who will falsely claim divine authority, and whose influence will be strengthened by "lying signs and wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10).

The allure will be attractive, amazing and visual (lying signs and wonders), yet they will not be what they appear to be. What impresses the eyes can mislead the heart.

A compelling demonstration does not, by itself, establish the truth of the message behind it. The disciples were warned by Jesus’ words, and the same is true for us today. Every event must be seen and evaluated in the light of the Bible. The closer we come to Christ’s return, the more we need a discerning eye.

Deception is not just a future event—it is already at work today through false teachings, cultural pressure, and distorted truth. What comes from deception is the very real danger of destruction. Accepting it as common practice or common place will hardens our hearts, giving heed to it will lead us from truth and away from the Lord.

In order to combat deception, Scripture instructs us to stand firm in the faith, to put on the whole armour of God, and gird ourselves with the belt of truth (Ephesians 6). In order to do that, we must stay rooted in Scripture, test everything against God’s Word, and rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. Knowing the truth allows us to see clearly, walk in righteousness, and remain steadfast in faith.

Discernment is defined as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; an act of perceiving something; a power to see what is not evident to the average mind.” The definition also stresses accuracy, as in “the ability to see the truth.” Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error. It is basic to having wisdom. The only way to develop and increase in spiritual discernment is to: 1) pray for it; 2) go to the Bible to learn the truth and, by meditation on the Word, reinforce the truth.

Now is the time to seek Jesus Christ. We must build our foundation on His Word, and train our hearts to recognize truth so that we are not deceived when greater deception comes. The battle for truth is already here—stand firm!

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Matthew 24:1-14 - "When These Things Begin To Happen"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

The end of the age (“end of the world” in the KJV) refers to the end of this present era and the commencement of the next dispensation. It is the period that precedes the second coming of the Son of Man as the Righteous Judge. The end of the age includes the rapture, the tribulation, the second coming, and the judgment of the nations, all of which help usher in the age to come. Jesus used the phrase the "end of the age" to refer to that time in the future when the kingdom of God is established, true justice reigns, and the wicked are judged.

In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples come to Him with a question about the end of the age: “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). What follows is the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ summary of end times’ events, and God's plans for Israel. The disciples thus understood the end of the age to mean the final judgment that accompanies Jesus’ second coming. The end of the age will be a great calamity for those who persist in their rejection of Christ.  Judgment will fall swiftly and with finality.

One “age” or era leads to another. Jesus spoke of both “this age” and “the age to come” (Matthew 12:32). The current age, the one in which we live, is the age of grace, which we also call the church age. In this dispensation, all mankind is called to repent of their sin and turn to Christ for salvation. This age has lasted for 2,000 years because God “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). But this age must eventually come to an end. At the end of the age, the age of grace will be complete, and a far more glorious age will be ushered in. Until then, “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2)—repentance should not be delayed.

The beginning of sorrows started with wars and rumors of wars, with Jesus assuring us, “…but the end is not yet.” But make no mistake; God’s plan is unfolding every day. “Looking up” has a two-fold purpose: First, we look up to see Jesus coming in the clouds as we are taught in Acts 1. That He is coming reminds us to be ready, and welcoming, anticipating the great joy that will overwhelm us, with hope fulfilled, and faith turning to sight. Second, looking up takes our focus off the things that are happening around us to the places we love. Look UP!... so that we are not turning back longingly to what is left behind, as Lot’s wife did. We see Lot and his family; we see Noah and his family, and we see the possibility facing the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:30), “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy (whole) house.” All are types of the Rapture!

Believers will escape the Great Tribulation. Others will go through it. But all who endure to the end shall be saved.

Scripture teaches that believers do not need to fear the end times or death because Scripture clearly details the future and promises a triumphant hope. The Lord will be King over the whole earth, the whole universe as we know it will be replaced by the new heaven and the new earth, where we will dwell in glory with Him forever. This is our hope. This is the blessed hope of every believer. We are looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Olivet Discourse - Matthew24:1-25:46 is known as the Olivet Discourse. It is the orderly and extended teaching given by Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives. His subject is the end times. This discourse is recorded in Matthew 24:1 – 25:46. Parallel passages are found in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-36. The record in Matthew is the most extensive, so reference here will be to Matthew’s Gospel. In this last discourse Jesus will speak of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the course of the present age. He will also give signs leading up to His Second Coming.

Buildings of the Temple (24:1) - Herod the Great began this temple in 20 B.C., and it was still under construction when the romans destroyed it in A.D. 70.   At the time of Jesus' ministry, the temple was one of the most impressive structures in the world, made of massive blocks of stone bedecked with gold ornamentation.  Some of the stones in the temple complex measured 40 by 12 by 12 feet and were expertly quarried to fit perfectly against one another.  The temple buildings were made of gleaming white marble, and the whole eastern wall of the large main structure was covered with gold plates that reflected the morning sun, making a spectacle that was visible for miles.  The entire temple mount had been enlarged by Herod's engineers, using large retaining walls and vaulted chambers on the south side and southeast corner.  This doubled the large courtyard area atop the temple mount.  The whole temple complex was magnificent by any standard.  The disciples' conversation her may have been prompted by Jesus' words in 23:38. They are undoubtedly wondering how a site so spectacular could be left "desolate."

Not One Stone (24:2) - These words are fulfilled literally in A.D. 70.  Titus the Roman general, built large wooden scaffold around the walls of the temple buildings, piled them high with wood and other flammable items, and set them ablaze.  The heat from the fires was so intense that the stones crumble.  The rubble was then sifted to retrieve the melted gold, and the remaining ruins were "thrown down" into the Kidron Valley.

Mount of Olives (24:3) - This is the hill directly opposite the temple, across the Kidron Valley to the east.  This spot affords the best panoramic view of Jerusalem.  At the base of this mountain is Gethsemane.

What will Be the Sign of Your Coming (24:3) - Luke 19:11 records that the disciples still "thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately."  the destruction of the temple (v.2) did not fit the eschatological scheme they envisioned, so they asked for clarification.  Jesus addresses their questions in reverse order, describing the prophetic sign of His coming (actually a series of signs) in verse 4-35 and then addressing their question about the timing of these events, beginning in verse 36. When they ask about His coming, they do not envision a Second Coming in the far-off future.  They are speaking of His coming in triumph as Messiah, an event which they, no doubt, anticipated would occur presently.  Even if they were conscious of His approaching death, which he had plainly prophesied to them on repeated occasions, they could not have anticipated His Ascension to heaven and the long intervening church age.  However, when Jesus uses the term "parousia" (second coming, presence) in His discourse, He uses it in the technical sense as a reference to His Second Coming. 

But the End is Not Yet (24:6) - False prophets, as well as wars and rumors of wars, characterize the whole of the present age, but will escalate toward the end (cf. 2 Timothy 3:13).

Sorrows (24:8) - The word means "birth pangs."  Famines, earthquakes, and conflicts have always characterized life in a fallen world; but by calling these things "the beginning" of labor pains, Jesus indicated that things will get notably and remarkably worse at the end of the era as these unique tribulations signal the coming of Messiah to judge sinful humanity and set up His millennial kingdom (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 6:1-17; 8:1-9:21; 16:1-21).

Deliver You Up (24:9) - Persecution of believers has often been the official policy of governments.   Such persecutions give opportunity for testifying to the truth of the gospel. 

Many Will Be Offended (24:10) - "caused to stumble," suggesting professing believers who fall away and even turn against "one another" in shocking acts of spiritual treachery.  Those who fall away in such a manner give evidence that they never were true believers.

Endures to the End . . . Will Be Saved (24:13) - The people who endure are the same ones who are saved, not the ones whose love grows cold.  True believers are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation (1 Peter 1:5).  We are sealed by His Spirit, and nothing can pluck us out of His hand. Love and endurance are two of the great virtues of the Christian.  That is not to say that the Christian is passive in the process, but God promises to keep us.  We are to hold fast to our faith (Hebrews 10:23). Jude 21 is a good example of this, he urges believers to keep yourselves in the love God" and immediately point them to God, "who is able to keep you from falling" in verse 24. 

Preached In All the World (24:14) - Despite all the tribulations that would come, deception of false teachers, wars persecutions, natural disasters, defections from Christ, and all the obstacles to the spread of the gospel.  The message ultimately penetrates every part of the globe.  God is never without a witness, and He will proclaim the gospel from heaven itself, if necessary (Revelation 14:6).

The End Shall Come (24:14) - "The End" refers to the final, excruciating birth pangs.  This is how Christ characterizes the time of the Great Tribulation described in the verses that follow.

Personal Application:

Matthew 24:1–14 (part of the Olivet Discourse) records Jesus warning His disciples about the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, global upheavals, spiritual deception, and the endurance required before the end of the age.

1. Do Not Be Alarmed by Global Chaos

The Reality: Jesus points out that wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes will happen, calling them the "beginning of the birth pains" rather than an immediate doomsday trigger. 
Personal Application: When headlines feature global crises, political instability, or natural disasters, avoid panic-driven doomscrolling or sensationalist predictions. Ground your peace in Christ rather than current events. 

2. Guard Against Spiritual Deception

The Reality: Jesus warns that many false messiahs and false prophets will arise to mislead people.
Personal Application: Test everything, and I mean everything against Scripture. Cultivate personal time in the Word of God, Study, Meditate, Put in Practice and Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach and lead you into all truth. Pray for Discernment and Wisdom.

3. Guard Your Heart Against "Cold Love"

The Reality: As lawlessness increases, the love of many will grow cold.
Personal Application: Actively resist cynicism, bitterness, and self-protection. Choose deliberate acts of humility, forgiveness, and obedience to keep your heart warm toward God and others, even when the surrounding culture hardens. 

4. Persevere Through Opposition

The Reality: Believers will face trials, hatred, and persecution for following Jesus, and endurance is tied to salvation ("the one who endures to the end will be saved"). 
Personal Application: Expect pushback for your faith at work, school, or in social circles. Rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit to keep going rather than quitting when following Jesus gets costly.

5. Focus on the Mission: Proclaim the Gospel

The Reality: "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." - Matthew 24:14
Personal Application: Shift your focus away from calculating the exact date of the end times and redirect your energy toward faithful witness, sharing the gospel, and loving your immediate community. As believers, our identity and hope remain anchored in Christ, and His purpose rather than shifting cultural opinions (consensus).