6/30/02

FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW:  THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 163  

TITLE: GREAT TRIBULATION  

TEXT:  MATTHEW 24: 16-28

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE TERM “GREAT TRIBULATION” IS USED 3 TIMES IN THE N.T., ONCE IN OUR TEXT TODAY AND TWICE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

* IT REFERS TO A SPECIFIC TIME IN THE FUTURE THAT IS UNIQUE IN ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY.

** IT REFERS TO THE FUTURE ESCHATOLOGICAL DAY OF DIVINE JUDGMENT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE JESUS CHRIST RETURNS TO ESTABLISH HIS EARTHLY KINGDOM.

*** AT THIS TIME GOD POURS OUT HIS WRATH ON THE WORLD AS NEVER BEFORE, HAVING NO PARALLEL IN HUMAN HISTORY.  NEVER HAS SUCH WORLDWIDE DEVASTATION HAPPENED.

**** IN FACT, AT ONE POINT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION THINGS WILL BE SO BAD FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SURVIVED UP TO THAT POINT, THAT THEY WILL TRY TO COMMIT SUICIDE AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO, REPLACE REV. 9:6.

(2)  AND THEN DANIEL 12:1 DESCRIBES THIS PERIOD AS “A TIME OF DISTRESS SUCH AS NEVER OCCURRED SINCE THERE WAS A NATION UNTIL THAT TIME.”

* AND THEN IN OUR TEXT TODAY IN MATTHEW 24:21 IT SAYS: “FOR THEN THERE WILL BE GREAT TRIBULATION, SUCH AS HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD UNTIL NOW, NOR EVER SHALL.”

** NOW IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE, THE TERM, “GREAT TRIBULATION” CANNOT DESCRIBE THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN A.D. 70 OR ANY OTHER HISTORICAL EVENT.

*** THIS TERM WE BELIEVE DESCRIBES A FUTURE TIME OF DIVINE PUNISHMENT ON THE WHOLE FALLEN WORLD BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.

**** AS REVELATION 6:17 SAYS, THE “GREAT DAY OF THE WRATH OF GOD AND THE LAMB.”

(3)  NOW THE EVENT THAT TRIGGERS THE GREAT TRIBULATION TIME ACCORDING TO JESUS IS WHEN THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION STANDS IN THE TEMPLE, MATTHEW 24:25, WHAT WE STUDIED LAST SUNDAY.

* SO THE EVENT THAT ACTIVATES THE BIRTH PAIN SIGNS WILL BE THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, WHICH WE INTERPRET TO BE THE ANTI-CHRIST, THE MAN OF SIN STANDING IN THE TEMPLE, SHOWING HIMSELF TO BE GOD AND WANTING WORSHIP, II THESS. 2:3-12.

** NOW WHEN THAT HAPPENS, A WARNING IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE LIVING IN THAT DAY OF GREAT TRIBULATION WHICH WILL BE A TIME OF GREAT PERIL AND CALAMITY.

*** AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED OUR MESSAGE TODAY, “GREAT TRIBULATION” AS WE STUDY MATTHEW 24:16-28.

**** AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS:  NO. 1 THE CALAMITY, VV. 16-22; NO. 2 THE CONFUSION, VV. 23-26; AND NO. 3 THE COMING OF CHRIST, VV. 27&28.

(4) AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER TODAY WE’LL GET RIGHT INTO OUR FIRST POINT, THE CALAMITY, LOOK AT MATTHEW 24:16 PLEASE.

I.  THE CALAMITY, (READ V. 16)

A.  NOW AS I SAID EARLIER, THE EVENT, THE SIGNAL, THE TURNING POINT THAT ACTIVATES THE BIRTH PAIN SIGNS OF VV. 4-14 WILL BE WHEN THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION STANDS IN THE TEMPLE.

* WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION, THE GREAT TRIBULATION START, THE CALAMITY BEGINS.

** BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, LET THOSE IN THE REGION OF JUDEA, IN PALESTINE FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS.

(GO TO THE MAPS)

*** NOW WHY ARE PEOPLE TO FLEE FROM JUDEA?  BECAUSE THE BIRTH PAINS ARE GOING TO START, AND THE COMING DESOLATION IS GOING TO BE SEVERE, THE HOLOCAUST TO COME IS GOING TO BE HORRIFIC, TERRIBLE.

**** THE PEOPLE IN THIS GEOGRAPHICAL AREA ARE TO FLEE.  AND THE GREEK WORD FLEE HERE IS RELATED TO OUR ENGLISH TERM FUGITIVE, A PERSON WHO TAKES FLIGHT IN ORDER TO ESCAPE DANGER.

1.  AND THEIR ONLY HOPE FOR SURVIVAL WILL BE TO RUN FOR SAFETY, COMMUNICATED IN THE EXHORTATION TO FLEE JUDEA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TAKE REFUGE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

* NOW WHY IS ONLY JUDEA MENTIONED HERE?

** WELL, NO. 1 JESUS WAS IN JERUSALEM, THE CAPITAL OF JUDEA AT THAT TIME, WHERE THE TEMPLE WAS AT.

*** JERUSALEM IN A SENSE WILL BE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD AT THAT TIME.

**** NO. 2 THIS GEOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE IS ONLY TYPICAL OF THE FLEEING TO BE DONE IN EVERY REGION.  IT IS BUT NATURAL THAT THIS FAMILIAR REGION WOULD BE USED TO EMPHASIZE THE REALITY OF THE DANGER.

2.  AND IT WOULDN’T HAVE MADE ANY SENSE AT THAT TIME TO SAY, LET THOSE IN CANTON FLEE TO RIPLEY, WEST VIRGINIA, RIGHT?

* THERE WAS NO RIPLEY AT THAT TIME, AND CERTAINLY OUR STUDENTS AT CAMP THIS WEEK CAN TESTIFY THAT THAT WAS A HUGE LOSS TO THE ANCIENT WORLD.

** BUT SERIOUSLY NO. 3, THE PEOPLE IN JUDEA, BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE PROFANED TEMPLE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST IN JERUSALEM, WILL BE IN THE MOST IMMEDIATE DANGER FROM THAT EXTREMELY POWERFUL AGENT OF SATAN.

*** AND ALTHOUGH EVERYONE ON EARTH WILL BE SUBJECT TO HIS TYRANNY, THE ANTI-CHRIST’S SUPREME FURY WILL BE VENTED AGAINST JEWS, AS GOD WILL DEAL WITH THEM IN A UNIQUE WAY IN THE TRIBULATION, FOR REMEMBER THIS IS THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE.

**** FOR JEREMIAH 30:7 SAYS:  “ALAS!  FOR THAT DAY IS GREAT, THERE IS NONE LIKE IT; AND IT IS THE TIME OF JACOB’S DISTRESS, BUT HE WILL BE SAVED FROM IT.”

3.  AND SO AS WE BELIEVE THE TRIBULATION WILL BE WORLDWIDE, IT WILL DEAL WITH THE JEWS IN A UNIQUE WAY.

* IN FACT, FROM ZECHARIAH 13:8&9 WE LEARN THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE JEWS WILL DIE DURING THIS TIME, FOR IT SAYS:  “AND IT WILL COME ABOUT IN ALL THE LAND,” DECLARES THE LORD, “THAT TWO PARTS IN IT WILL BE CUT OFF AND PERISH; BUT THE THIRD WILL BE LEFT IN IT.  AND I WILL BRING THE THIRD PART THROUGH THE FIRE, REFINE THEM AS SILVER IS REFINED, AND TEST THEM AS GOLD IS TESTED.  THEY WILL CALL ON MY NAME, AND I WILL ANSWER THEM; I WILL SAY, THEY ARE MY PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL SAY, THE LORD IS MY GOD.”

** AND THEN WHEN YOU MOVE INTO ZECHARIAH 14 YOU SEE IT ALL COME TOGETHER AS ARMAGEDDON TAKES PLACE AND THE LORD COMES BACK AND THE LORD WILL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH IN ZECHARIAH 14:1-9.

*** AND WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, WHEN THE MAN OF SIN STANDS IN THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, LET THOSE IN JUDEA FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS.  NOW LOOK AT V. 17, AS I REALLY NEED TO GET MOVING THROUGH THE NEXT FEW VERSES.

B.  READ V. 17.  NOW AGAIN OUR LORD CONTINUES THE CALL FOR URGENCY TO FLEE AT THIS TIME.

* FOR MANY PALESTINIAN HOUSES OF JESUS’ DAY HAD OUTSIDE STAIRWAYS LEADING TO THE HOUSETOPS WITH FLAT ROOFS WHERE THE FAMILY OFTEN WENT IN THE EVENING TO RELAX AND COOL OFF FROM THE WORK AND THE HEAT OF THE DAY.  (SHOW PICTURE OF HOUSE).

** NOW FOR THE PERSON WHO HAPPENS TO BE ON HIS ROOF WHEN HE HEARS OF THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SHOULD NOT WASTE EVEN THE FEW MINUTES REQUIRED TO GO BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO RETRIEVE A FEW PRECIOUS THINGS TO TAKE WITH HIM INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

*** FOR NO MATERIAL POSSESSION WILL BE WORTH THE RISK OF THE SLIGHTEST DELAY.

**** TO ESCAPE IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, NOT THE COMFORT OR THE PROVISIONS WITHIN THE HOUSE.  AND THIS URGENCY CONTINUES IN V. 18.  LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE.

C.  READ V. 18.  NOW WORKERS IN THAT DAY WOULD WEAR AN OUTER CLOAK TO THE FIELDS WHEN THEY BEGAN THE DAY ABOUT 6 A.M.

* THEN AS THE DAY GREW WARMER, THEY LEFT THEIR CLOAKS ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD.

** AND THE POINT AGAIN IS THE CALAMITY THAT OBVIOUSLY COMES SWIFTLY IS A REASON TO RUN AND GET OUT OF TOWN.

*** THE DANGER IS TO BE VIEWED AS SO PERILOUS THAT A WORKER SHOULD FLEE WITHOUT EVEN RETRIEVING HIS CLOAK AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD.  MATERIAL THINGS DON’T MATTER WHEN YOUR LIFE IS AT STAKE.

**** AND THE URGENCY CONTINUES TO BE COMMUNICATED IN THE NEXT TWO VERSES.  FIRST OF ALL LOOK AT V. 19 PLEASE.

D.  READ V. 19.  NOW AGAIN THE POINT IS GET OUT OF THE WAY AND RUN, FLEE.  AND BEING PREGNANT OR NURSING A CHILD WILL MAKE TRAVEL MORE DIFFICULT.

* FOR WOMEN IN SUCH CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE FAST AND WILL THEREFORE BE AT GREATER RISK OF BEING CAPTURED AND KILLED.

** AND EVEN A GREATER WOE TO WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEIR BABY OR UNBORN CHILD BY THE HEINOUS PRACTICES OF A MAN OF SIN, THE SON OF PERDITION.  THIS WILL BE A TIME OF WOE FOR THEM.

- NOW LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE.

E.  READ V. 20.  NOW OBVIOUSLY PALESTINIAN WINTERS ARE NOTHING LIKE OURS, BUT IN THE WINTER IN THAT AREA, OTHERWISE DRY CREEK BEDS WERE FLOODED WITH WATER AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CROSS.

* BEYOND THAT, TRAVELING ON THE SABBATH BROUGHT SOME RESTRICTIONS.  FOR ACCORDING TO THE INTER VARSITY PRESS BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY, JEWISH LAW PROHIBITED RIDING HORSES, MULES AND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE SABBATH; AND EVEN ONE’S WALKING DISTANCE WAS REGULATED.

** SO TRANSPORTATION AND PASSAGE WOULD BE DIFFICULT ON THE SABBATH, ESPECIALLY WITH LEGALISTIC JEWS TRYING TO STOP YOU FROM BREAKING THEIR RULES.

*** AND AGAIN THE POINT OF VV. 16-20 IS FLEE WITHOUT HESITATION.  DELAY WILL BE COSTLY.  EVERY SECOND COUNTS.  WHY?  BECAUSE THIS TIME WILL BE THE WORST TIME EVEN IN HISTORY, PAST AND FUTURE.  LOOK AT V. 21.

F.  READ V. 21.  NOW V. 21 OFFERS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF URGENCY JUST PRESENTED AND USES THE TEMPORAL ADVERB THEN TO CONNECT THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS WITH THE PREDICTION OF THE WORST TRIBULATION EVER, WHICH WILL ALSO BE WORSE THAN ANYTHING TO FOLLOW.

* CHRIST THUS PAINTS THE PICTURE IN THE DARKEST TERMS POSSIBLE.  AND ALL THE WORLD’S HOLOCAUSTS AND DISASTERS COMBINED COULD NEVER COMPARE WITH THIS.

** AND THIS HORRIFYING TIME IS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN REVELATION 6:16 WHERE THE SEAL, TRUMPET AND BOWL JUDGMENTS EXHIBIT THE ESCALATING INTENSITY OF GOD’S WRATH UPON SINFUL REBELLIOUS MANKIND.  (SOME DAY PAYDAY)

*** AND IT’S INTERESTING THAT BOTH THE BOOKS OF REVELATION AND OF DANIEL COMMUNICATE THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL TYRANNIZE THE WORLD FOR 3 ½ YEARS, AND 3 ½ YEARS IS A TIME PERIOD USED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THESE TWO BOOKS, DANIEL 7:25 AND DANIEL 12:7, AS A TIME, TIMES AND A HALF A TIME – A YEAR, TWO YEARS AND A HALF A YEAR – 3 ½ YEARS.

**** THEN IN REV. 11:2 AS 42 MONTHS – 3 ½ YEARS, IN REVELATION 12:14 A TIME, AND TIMES AND A HALF A TIME, 3 ½ YEARS LIKE DANIEL, AND IN REV. 13:5 AS 42 MONTHS, OR 3 ½ YEARS.

1.  AND WE BELIEVE THESE TIMES CORRESPOND TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION, A TIME OF 3 ½ YEARS, WHERE A ONE TIME ONLY KIND OF JUDGMENT TAKES PLACE ON PLANET EARTH.

* AND AS WE MOVE ON TO V. 22, THESE TIMES ARE SO SEVERE, IF THE LORD DIDN’T LIMIT THE TIME, EVERYONE WOULD DIE.  LOOK AT V. 22 PLEASE.

G.  READ V. 22.  NOW NO ONE WOULD SURVIVE IF THE LORD DID NOT CUT THIS TIME SHORT.

* IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WILL BE A TERMINATION OF THIS TIME PERIOD, IT WILL END.  IF IT WERE TO GO IN INDEFINITELY, NO ONE WOULD SURVIVE.

** AND BELOVED I BELIEVE THIS STATEMENT RELATES TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD’S PLAN.

*** FOR IN HIS DECREED WILL, HE SET THE LIMIT OF DAYS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION SO THAT ALL HUMAN FLESH WOULD NOT BE DESTROYED.

**** AND SPECIFICALLY IN HIS SOVEREIGN PLAN THIS WAS DONE FOR THE SAKE OF THE ELECT.

1.  AND THE GREEK WORD FOR ELECT IS EK-LEK-TOS WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, AND IT BASICALLY MEANS, PICKED OUT, CHOSEN, CHOSEN BY GOD.

* AND IN GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN, HIS CHOSEN ONES WILL BE SAVED OR RESCUED DURING THIS TIME.

** GOD WILL PRESERVE HIS ELECT, HIS CHOSEN ONES AS A REDEEMED REMNANT DURING THIS TIME, BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES.

*** AND JOHN MACARTHUR IN HIS COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 24-28 SAYS THIS AT THIS POINT AND I QUOTE.

**** “IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST USE OF THE TERM ELECT IN THE N.T., AND THROUGH IT JESUS INTRODUCED A NEW CONCEPT CONCERNING THOSE WHO BELONG TO HIM.  THEY HAVE BEEN DIVINELY CHOSEN AND CALLED OUT AS HIS OWN PEOPLE AND INDEED HIS VERY OWN CHILDREN.”

1.  “AND WHEN GOD CHOOSES PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF, HE WILL RESTRUCTURE THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE IF THAT BECOMES NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEM AND TO FULFILL HIS PROMISES CONCERNING THEM.”  (END QUOTE)

* AND BELOVED GOD’S PURPOSES WILL SURELY BE ACCOMPLISHED BOTH IN JUDGING PEOPLE AND SAVING HIS ELECT EVEN PHYSICALLY DURING THIS TIME.

** BUT AGAIN, IT WILL BE SO BAD AT THAT TIME, IF GOD DIDN’T LIMIT THIS TIME EVERYONE WOULD DIE.

*** AND THAT IS THE CALAMITY OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE CONFUSION OF THE TRIBULATION.  LOOK AT V. 23 PLEASE.

II.  THE CONFUSION, (READ V. 23)

A.  NOW AT THIS POINT IN HIS DISCOURSE, JESUS RETURNED TO THE WARNING CONCERNING IMITATION CHRISTS.

* A LOT OF DECEPTION WILL BE GOING ON AT THIS TIME, FOR PEOPLE WILL BE DESPERATE AND VULNERABLE.

** AND THE ELECT THAT ARE FLEEING, ON THE RUN, ARE TOLD NOT TO FALL FOR A FALSE CHRIST IN THEIR TIME OF DISTRESS.

*** AND SATAN IS THE MASTER OF DECEIT AND LIES, A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT ACCORDING TO JOHN 8:44.

**** AND NO DOUBT SOME OF HIS FALSE TEACHERS WILL CLAIM CHRIST HAS COME BACK AND IS IN THEIR MIDST, AND OTHERS WILL PERHAPS CLAIM HE IS BACK IN JERUSALEM OR ELSEWHERE IN JUDEA.

1.  AND THESE FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS WILL BE ABLE TO DO SOME SUPERNATURAL THINGS, LOOK AT V. 24 PLEASE.

B.  READ V. 24.  NOW THESE FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS WHO WILL APPEAR AT THIS TIME WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS, WHICH AGAIN POINTS TO A FUTURE TIME.

* AND THESE FUTURE SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL BE SO DRAMATIC AND POWERFUL THAT EVEN THE ELECT, GOD’S CHOSEN ONES WOULD BE MISLED, IF POSSIBLE.

** BUT THAT’S NOT POSSIBLE.  THE REASSURANCE IS THAT APPARENTLY SUCH DECEPTION IS NOT ACHIEVABLE.

*** AND BELOVED IT IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE GOD PRESERVES HIS ELECT.  BUT IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, THESE FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE TEACHERS ARE SO SLICK AND POWERFUL THAT THEY WOULD BE DECEIVED.

**** AND SO IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT THE UNSAVED WILL FALL FOR THE LIES AND DECEPTION OF SATAN DURING THIS TIME.  SEEING SIGNS AND WONDERS MAKES BELIEVERS OUT OF THE NON-ELECT.  SEEING IS BELIEVING.

- NOW LOOK AT V. 25.

C.  READ V. 25.  NOW THE POINT OF V. 25 IS THAT WHEN THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE, THESE FUTURE DISCIPLES ARE NOT TO BE SHAKEN.

* THESE HAPPENINGS PROVE THAT JESUS IS IN CONTROL, A PART OF HIS FUTURE PLAN.

** JESUS DECLARED THESE THINGS IN ADVANCE OF THEM HAPPENING AS PROPHECY, SO THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE FOR THE GODLY REMNANT TO BE DECEIVED, FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN WARNING, I TOLD YOU IN ADVANCE – PROPHETICALLY.

*** SO GOD’S ELECT AT THIS TIME CAN BE PREPARED BEFOREHAND.  THEN ONE LAST WARNING OF SATAN’S CONFUSION AT THIS TIME, LOOK AT V. 26 PLEASE.

D.  READ V. 26.  NOW A FINAL WARNING IS GIVEN HERE.  IN FACT THIS WARNING IS A REPETITION OF VV. 23&24.

* AND THAT IS, AS YOU ARE OUT IN REMOTE PLACES, FLEEING FOR THE MOUNTAINS, AND HEAR THAT THE MESSIAH IS IN THE WILDERNESS, THE DESERT LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST OR IN SECRET ROOMS, INNER ROOMS, IN SECRET CHAMBERS, WHERE NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT BUT US, DON’T BELIEVE THEM, THEY ARE LYING.

** AGAIN DON’T FALL FOR THIS DECEPTION ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE VERY VULNERABLE AND TIRED AND ON THE RUN, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A REMINDER TO US WHEN WE ARE WEAK, WE NEED TO BE STRONG IN GOD’S GRACE AND SUPERNATURAL POWER.

*** BUT BE ON GUARD.  AND OF COURSE CHRIST IS TELLING DISCIPLES AT THE END OF THE AGE, TO BE ON GUARD HERE.  DON’T BE CONFUSED ABOUT MY COMING.

**** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE COMING.  LOOK AT V. 27 PLEASE.

III.  THE COMING, (READ V. 27)

A.  NOW HOW THEN, WILL GOD’S ELECT KNOW WHEN THE TRUE LORD REALLY DOES APPEAR TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM?

* HOW WILL THEY DISTINGUISH HIS TRUE COMING FROM MANY COUNTERFEITS?

** WELL, JESUS COMMUNICATES THERE IS GOING TO BE A HUGE CONTRAST FROM HIS COMING AND THE COUNTERFEITS.

*** THERE WILL BE NO SECRECY, NO HIDDEN MEETING IN INNER ROOMS.  HE’S NOT GOING TO APPEAR IN THE WILDERNESS.

**** FOR YOU SEE HIS COMING WILL BE VISIBLE FROM COAST TO COAST, AS LIGHTNING THAT FLASHES FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST.  IT WILL BE VISIBLE FOR ALL.

1.  AND BELOVED, CHRIST’S COMING WILL BE QUICK, SUDDEN, PUBLIC, VISIBLE, UNIVERSAL AND GLORIOUS.

* JESUS WILL COME AGAIN IN HIS REVELATION IN REV. 19 AND ACCORDING TO REV. 1:7 EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM.

** AND JUST AS HE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN, SO WILL BE PHASE TWO OF HIS COMING AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION, NOT THE RAPTURE OF I THESS. 4:13-18 AND I COR. 15:51-56, BUT THE REVELATION OF CHRIST AS HE COMES BACK AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM.

*** AS ACTS 1:11 SAYS (REPLACE IT)

**** AND HE ASCENDED FROM EARTH BODILY AND HE WILL RETURN TO EARTH BODILY NOT SPIRITUALLY.

2.  AND WHAT A WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE THAT WILL BE FOR HIS ELECT TRIBULATION SAINTS AND WHAT JUDGMENT IT WILL BE FOR THE LOST.

* AND IN V. 27 WE HAVE A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FALSE CHRIST’S APPEARANCE AND THE TRUE CHRIST’S APPEARANCE.  IT WILL BE UNMISTAKABLE, LIKE LIGHTNING.

** NOW LOOK AT V. 28 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL QUICKLY LOOK AT OUR LAST VERSE TODAY.

B.  READ V. 28.  NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERPRETATIONS TO THIS VERSE, I’LL GIVE YOU TWO QUICK ONES.

* NO. 1, WITH THE SPECTACULAR APPEARANCE OF CHRIST, THERE WILL BE THE CARNAGE OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AS MANY PEOPLE DIE, AND THE VULTURES, BIRDS WILL GATHER TO EAT THE FLESH OF THOSE WHO DIE.

** AND THIS WOULD CORRESPOND WITH REVELATION 19:21 WHERE IT SAYS:  “AND THE REST WERE KILLED WITH THE SWORD WHICH CAME FROM THE MOUTH OF HIM WHO SAT UPON THE HORSE, AND ALL THE BIRDS WERE FILLED WITH THEIR FLESH.”

*** NOW THE SECOND INTERPRETATION THAT FITS THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 24 IS THIS:  WHEN AN ANIMAL LIES DEAD OR ROTTING IN THE DESERT, ITS LOCATION CAN BE PINPOINTED WITH ACCURACY FOR MILES BECAUSE OF THE BUZZARDS OR VULTURES CIRCLING OVERHEAD.

1.  HERE’S THE MEANING, CHRIST IS SAYING THAT IN A SIMILAR WAY, HIS RETURN, LIKE BIRDS CIRCLING OVER SOME DEAD FLESH, WILL BE OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE NEAR AND FAR WHICH FITS THE CONTEXT OF V. 27.  BUT REGARDLESS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TIME OF GLORY AND JUDGMENT.

AND AS I WRAP UP THINGS TODAY:  TWO QUICK APPLICATIONS.  ONE OF JOY AND ONE OF SORROW.

* NO. 1 OF JOY, WHAT A WONDERFUL TRUTH TO KNOW THAT GOD PRESERVES HIS ELECT, HIS CHOSEN ONES AT ALL TIMES, NOT JUST DURING THE TRIBULATION.

** THAT IT IS GOD’S GRACIOUS CHOICE THAT STARTED OUR SALVATION IN ETERNITY PAST AND GUARANTEES FUTURE GLORIFICATION.

*** ILLUST. ROMANS 8:28-30.  FOREKNEW – FORELOVED, FOREORDAINED, PREDESTINED, CALLED, JUSTIFIED, AND GLORIFIED – PAST TENSE.  FIVE LINKS IN THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN.

**** TALK ABOUT ROMANS 8:1, 8:31, 33, 35-39.  WHO WILL BRING A CHARGE AGAINST GOD’S ELECT?  GOD IS THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIES HE GLORIFIES.

- CHRISTIAN, THIS SHOULD LEAD US TO APPLY ROMANS 12:1-8.

(2)  NO. 2 IN APPLICATION TODAY, IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY WITHOUT CHRIST, I HAVE SORROW FOR YOU.

* FOR JUDGMENT IS COMING FOR THIS WICKED WORLD PHYSICALLY AND JUDGMENT IS COMING ETERNALLY.

**  REV. 20:14&15.  I CALL YOU TO REPENT AND TURN TO THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN RESCUE YOU FROM YOUR SINS AND GOD’S WRATH, CHRIST.  IT’S REPENT OR PERISH.  LUKE 13:3