THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS
MATTHEW 24:1-14
PART 2
Key: v. 8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Introduction:
This is the continuation of the first message on this theme. Before the coming of the Lord for the second time many things will happen.
Many will be deceived by the ministers of Satan as they speak with fair speeches denying the truth of the Word of God. They will declare their liberty as “Christians” to live a life of sin and lust that dishonors our Savior.
Wars and rumors of wars will be common and throughout the world will be famines and pestilence and sign in the heavens as well as here on the earth. But the end is not yet.
I. A TIME OF JUDGMENT BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS
A. It will begin in the House of God, 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
1. The time of separation:
a) Of the wheat and chaff, Matthew 3:12, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
b) Of wheat and tares, Matthew 13:30, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”
2. Who can stand at such a time? Malachi 3:2-5, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.”
II. PEACE AND SAFETY WILL BE THE MESSAGE OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
A. Of the enemies of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”
1. The one-world government will be agreed on, Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
2. Religion will move toward a one-world religion with it message of peace and safety.
B. Then sudden destruction will come, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
1. This destruction IS NOT ANNIHILATION that many think takes place after death.
2. This is the BREAKING UP OF THEIR PEACE and SECURITY through the outpouring of God’s wrath, Matthew 24:8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
III. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
A. We are in the last days, 1 John 2:18, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
1. The spirit of antichrist is here, 1 John 4:3, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
2. The deniers of Christ are here, 1 John 2:22, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”
B. Many have gone out from those of us who preach the truth, 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
1. Some have grown cold, Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
2. Some have never been saved, 1 John 4:6, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
CONCLUSION
W. A. Criswell is quoted as saying before he died that he would be surprised to see 25% of his members in heaven. A. W. Tozer said that the number of lost professing Christians could be as high as 85%. Satan has been a busy man during the centuries.
Our time is limited and the stage is set for the Second Coming of Christ. What can we do that we are not doing to win others to Christ?