NO MAN KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR
MATTHEW 24:3-14, 36
Key verse: v. 36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Introduction:
The disciples came unto him privately. Not all of them, but Peter, James, John, and Andrew, Mark 13:3, “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” The prediction that the temple would be destroyed had been made in the presence of all the apostles, Matthew 24:2, “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” A part of them now came privately to know more particularly when this would be.
I. THE GENERAL SIGNS OF HIS COMING
Matthew 24:3, “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
A. The budding of the fig-tree, Mark 13:28-29, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.”
1. Fig tree was used as a symbol of the nation of Israel.
2. However, here it is used to show the nearness of the coming prophetic events.
B. The Love of many waxing cold, Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
1. Through discouragement from apparently fruitless efforts to do good, Psalms 40:12, “For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.”
2. Through resentment at ingratitude and injustice, 2 Timothy 3:2, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
3. Through general influence of an evil example and environment, Romans 1:28-31, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”
C. Wars and Rumors of wars, Mark 13:7-8, “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”
1. These are the BEGINNINGS OF SORROW, Jeremiah 4:31, “For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.”
a. The death-agony of this age is the birth-agony of the next, Isaiah 37:3, “And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.”
b. Nation against nation and Kingdome against kingdom, Jeremiah 25:32, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.”
c. Earthquakes, famines and troubles, Luke 21:11, “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”
II. TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU
B. False Messiahs and other false teachers, v. 4; 2 Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
Josephus informs us that there were many, who pretended to Divine inspiration, deceived the people, leading out numbers of them into the desert. “The land,” says he, “was overrun with magicians, seducers, and impostors, who drew the people after them in multitudes into solitudes and deserts, to see the signs and miracles which they promised to show by the power of God.”
C. The Prophets prophesy lies, Jeremiah 14:14, “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.”
D. These things are happening before our eyes today and many are blind to the truth, Ezekiel 12:2, “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.”
1. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord, Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
2. Many shall be offended, Matthew 24:10, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”
3. The Gospel shall be preach to every nation and then the end of the age shall come, Matthew 24:14, “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.”
CONCLUSION
The Lord will come after His children and the next chapter in God’s plan will begin. Our admonition is to watch, Matthew 24:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”