Dr. Brad Patterson

October 15, 2023

“Could This Be The End?”

Part 1:  Happening Now

Matthew 24:3-14

³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 

⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 

⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 

⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 

⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 

⁸ All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 

¹⁰ And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 

¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 

¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 

¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

What are the Signs of the End of the Age?

• False Teaching
• Wars and Violence
• Religious Persecution
• Increased Wickedness
• Worldwide Proclamation of the Gospel

  

1. False teaching from false prophets. Matthew 24:4-5, 11

            Matthew 7:15

            ¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

 

Mark 13:12

¹² And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.

2. Wars and Violence.    Matthew 24:6-7

    Matthew 13:7

      ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

 

3. Religious persecution and betrayal. Matthew 24:9-11

 

     2 Timothy 3:12

     ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

 

         John 15:18

    ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

 

    Matthew 5:10

               ¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of               heaven.

 

4. An increase in wickedness. Matthew 24:12

 

     Luke 17:26-30

     ²⁶ Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 

       ²⁷ They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 

      ²⁸ Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 

     ²⁹ but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 

so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

 

5. The gospel is preached to the whole world.    Matthew 24:14

    Matthew 28:19-20

    ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

       ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

    Romans 1:19-20

     ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 

        ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,^[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.      

TAKE AWAY OF THE DAY:

 

REGARDLESS OF WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON IN THE WORLD, WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO STAND FIRM.