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good morning everyone welcome to free grace baptist church any visitors out there it's nice to have you with us we welcome you to our church and we do pray that there will be a blessing to you to have gathered here with us this morning just a couple announcements before we begin worship the first is that whilst we'll start our Sunday School next Lord's Day that occurs prior to the worship in the in the 930 hour when we have our bible study or our study in our confession of faith so that will be a sunday school for those who have signed up their children or who have indicated their interest for that will have a 325 three-year to five-year age group and a six and up age group again that's in the 930 hour prior to worship you if you you drop your children off for that you can come and join us upstairs for the prayer meeting or for the study in the confession of faith so that's that's that a reminder that next lord's day will be the Lord's Supper in the evening service and and also when we get to the prayer time you can be in prayer for a pastor Butler as he goes for surgery on Monday november seventh for for his hip replacement surgery so be in prayer for our brother and our pastor for that well let's turn in our Bibles and as we begin worship please turn to the book of Revelation the revelation of Jesus Christ we're going to read beginning in verse 4 b will read from verse 42 verse 6 this is Revelation chapter 1 beginning in verse for grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness the firstborn from the dead and the ruler over the kings of the earth to him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father to him be glory and minion forever and ever amen let's stand and sing together you can turn in your red Trinity Salter that's the thinner book in front of you you turn to Psalm 110 let's stand and sing together you you please be seated let's go to our God in prayer let us pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in this new day and we rejoice that it is your lord's day Sabbath we do pray that you would help us as we've gathered here in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we would worship you were right we would rejoice in Father Son and Holy Spirit that we would sing the praises of our triune God that we would rejoice in amazing and victorious grace and we do pray that the Lord Jesus Christ would be exalted upon the praises of this gathered assembly and we would pray again that we would buy your spirit and for your glory hallo your name in this place this morning and we do pray that around the world this day your name would be hallowed it would be hallowed in all the earth that the praises of the triune God would be sung that Jesus Christ his glories his riches his Excellency's would be upon the tongues of a multitude of redeemed Saints we do pray that you would help us now to reflect upon the joy and the glory that is found in the gospel of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we truly rejoice knowing that we've been brought forth from darkness to light not by deeds of righteousness which we have done but according to your mercy Lord God you saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit we thank you that saving blessings and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of the blessings of redemption come to us through the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit we know that we have not been saved by ourselves but rather from first to last midst and throughout the salvation comes from a triune God who saves without a helper and we do pray that we would sing your praises this morning we would ask Lord God that you would be with those who need prayer for the physical things as we prayed this morning for those who are sick for those who are diseased for those Lord God who are injured and all of those things we do just pray again that you had dirt each and every one up that you would strengthen them physically that you would heal even Lord those who are afflicted physically we do pray that you would comfort them in the midst of their trials and Lord God we pray in the midst of physical suffering that you would just cause them to be lifted up in spirit to rejoice in their God and to be holy resigned to your will in all things we pray Lord God for pastor Butler is he looks forward to the surgery on november seventh we do pray that you would comfort his heart that you would remove anxiety Lord God and that you would just cause him to be prayerful in all things we do pray for the guidance of the hands of those who would be doing surgery we pray that you would cause them to to have that precision of craft as they heal our brother we do pray ultimately as healing comes solely on alone from you on high we do pray God that you would guide their hands and that all would go well and we do pray for a swift recovery we would ask Lord God that you would be with those who need prayer for spiritual things we know Lord God that very often we need to be lifted back up upon those those hills of the joy of our salvation we do pray for that that you would cause us to be strong in the inner man rejoicing in Christ Jesus we pray that we would have that grace whereby we can daily puts into death and live unto righteousness knowing that we have all things all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus our Lord we do pray God again for the the persecuted Church as we prayed this morning we do pray that you would strengthen our brothers and sisters around the world those who suffer under the heavy hand of oppressors those who suffer under tyrannical governments and those who are the recipients of the the lying tongues and the beating blows of their own countrymen we do pray Lord that you would strengthen our dear fellow Saints in Christ we pray that you would cause them in the midst of such suffering and opposition to lay hold of the hope of their calling without wavering that they would be gripping upon the the solid and glorious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ and Lord we do pray that you would help them to endure in their faith we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute them we would pray again Lord knowing that the nations of this world are the nations of our God and of his Christ we do pray that you would put down those who would seek to oppose your church and to oppose your people ultimately to oppose the king of kings and Lord of lords we do pray that you would deal with them that you would God cause them to no longer bring harm upon your people we pray even Lord God that this removal of threat would come by way of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that you would make those who are presently your enemies that you would make them your friends by conquering grace and we do pray that those who are presently found in opposition to your people would be would be brought into the midst of them as those who are fellowshipping with them around the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ knowing that with you alone all things are possible and we would yet pray again for those who do remain in opposition that you would cause them to stumble like drunken men taking them out of the way that they may no longer bring violence upon the people of Christ we would ask on this note Lord then that you would be with the governments of the nation's we do pray Lord God that you would cause those who would seek to continue to to propagate wickedness in the land to to uphold the wicked deeds as those things which they might call virtue we pray that you would guide their hearts that you would even save those in positions of power that they might introduce laws that are in accordance with your will that they would introduce laws Lord God that uphold righteousness instead of casting it down we do pray and we long for change in the land and would you long to see Lord God righteousness and justice and equity reigning in the land that your name you know the earth might be vindicated we do pray that you would cause those to wither away like the snail who would seek to uphold wickedness and cast down virtue we would ask now Lord that you would be with us as we worship we pray for pastor Butler as he proclaims your word Lord that you would uphold him in the pulpit as we pray each and every Lord's Day we do know that ministers of your gospel do not lean upon their own strength but rather they rely upon that strength afforded by the triune god of Holy Scripture and we do pray that you give much to the preacher is he prone your word Lord be with us as well as we take that word in we pray for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit that your saints in this place would be well fed by your word we pray Lord God for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit that we might leave this place well instructed and in edified in the things of your truth that we might live for your glory safe we do pray again for the salvation of sinners in this place those who entered in these two doors outside of the Living Christ those who enter these two doors Lord in deming unbelief we pray that by amazing and victorious grace and the proclamation of your word that they would leave this place singing along with all of us Saints hallelujah what a savior might our gathering together now be unto the praise of your glorious grace and we pray in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus amen let's stand and sing again as a church to God and to each other that is him 392 and your Trinity hymnals that's the larger one let's stand and sing 392 together please be seated you can turn your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 21 our New Testament scripture reading will be Matthew 21 beginning in verse 1 and finishing in verse 22 Matthew 21 beginning in verse 1 the Word of God now when they drew near Jerusalem and came to bethpage at the Mount of Olives they then Jesus sent two disciples saying to them go into the village opposite you and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a Colt with her loose them and bring them to me and if anyone says anything to you you shall say the Lord has need of them and immediately he will send them all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying tell the daughter of Zion behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a Colt the foal of a donkey so the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them they brought the donkey and the Colt laid their clothes on them and set him on them and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying Hosanna to the son of David blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord hosanna in the highest and when he had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying who is this so the multitude said this is Jesus the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves and he said to them it is written my house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves then the blind and the lame came to him in the temple and He healed them but when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying out in the temple and saying Hosanna to the son of David they were in dig and said to him do you hear what these are saying and Jesus said to them yes have you never read out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany and he lodged there now in the morning as he returned to the city he was hungry and seeing a fig tree by the road he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves and said to it let no fruit grow on you ever again immediately the fig tree withered away and when the disciples saw it they marveled saying how did the fig tree wither away so soon so jesus answered and said to them assuredly I say to you if you have faith and do not doubt you will not only do what was done to the fig tree but also if you say to this mountain be removed and be cast into the sea it will be done and whatever things you ask in prayer believing you will receive a men will let us pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in this reading of the scriptures we thank you again that we have the full Bibles in our hands that we're able to read your revelation to the sons of men and we thank you that by virtue of the Lord Jesus Christ we can be called the sons of God that were adopted into the household of God and we just pray Lord God that as we continue to read scripture in that act of worship the preaching of your word as we take in your word Lord we pray that by your spirit that you would strengthen us that you would feed us that you would encourage us by your word that you would truly instruct us Lord that we might know better your truth and that we might rejoice all the more and our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we do pray Lord God that you would now be mighty to uplift and sanctify your Saints and that you would be mighty to save and Lord God that each and every tongue in this place because it is possible only with you would sing the praises of Father Son and Holy Spirit we pray in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ amen Laurel asked him before the preaching if you'll stand with me again is to 17 that's him number 217 let's stand a and in sing matthew chapter 24 begin reading in verse 1 then Jesus went out and departed from the temple and his disciples came up to show him the buildings of the temple and Jesus said to them do you not see all these things assuredly I say to you not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down now 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 and jesus answered and said to them take heed that no one deceives you for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will deceive many and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars see that you are not troubled for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet for nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom and there will be famines pestilences and earthquakes in various places all these are the beginning of Sorrows then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake and then many will be offended will betray one another end will hate one another then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many and because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold but he who endorsed to the end shall be saved and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world is a witness to all the nations and then the end will come therefore when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place whoever reads let him understand then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house and let him who was in the field not go back to get his clothes but woe to those who are pregnant into those who are nursing babies in those days and pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath for then there will be Great Tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time no nor ever shall be and unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved but for the elects sake those days will be shortened then if anyone says to you look here is the Christ or there do not believe it for false Christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect see I have told you beforehand therefore if they say to you look he is in the desert do not go out or look he is in the inner rooms do not believe it for as the Lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west so also will the coming of the Son of man be for wherever the carcass is there the Eagles will be gathered together immediately after the tribulation of those days the Sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and he will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other now learn this parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and put puts forth leaves you know that summer is near so you also when you see all these things know that it is near at the doors assuredly I say to you this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place heaven and earth will pass away but my words will by no means pass away amen let us pray father in heaven we thank you for the written word and we pray now for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit who has given us this word we ask that you would forgive us for all of our sins and our transgressions we know God you have saved us by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone it's not according to our works it's not because of our righteousness it's not because of our law keeping but it's solely on alone because of the finished work of our blessed Redeemer nevertheless you have saved us by grace and pointed us to your law as a rule of life and we have transgressed and we do not conform so we pray that you would cleanse us in that fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness and for any and all who have come here this morning that have yet come to Christ we pray that today would be the day of salvation we pray that you and your sovereignty and in your power and in your glory and majesty would open hearts to see and hear and to understand the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray that your word would be proclaimed throughout the earth that it would run swiftly and be glorified and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well as we've been looking at this all of that discourse we have reflected several times that there are three primary ways that one can understand this section of Scripture there are those who are called futurists and they see the bulk of the application or fulfillment of this passage in our future not there not the future at the time of the disciples but in our future there are those who seek to events at play here some suggest that what we have is the destruction of the temple in 80 70 and then as well we have a statement concerning the second physical coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and then there are those and this is what I would identify as one called a preterist who sees that this has indeed been fulfilled in its entirety in AD 70 and that's not just pulling rabbits out of hats I have really tried to show not just in chapter 24 but beginning in chapter 21 that cumulatively the argument is tight and consistent for a first century application of what Christ teaches here in the Olivet disc now we come to admittedly the most difficult challenge for this particular view of interpretation verses 29 to 31 last week we spent time on verse 29 and I sought to demonstrate that the prophet Christ remember he is functioning in this section as a prophet faster Porter just read that when Jesus comes triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem those who inhabit Jerusalem ask who is this man and the Galileans declared that he is the prophet so Christ assumes that prophetic posture here at all ivette and he uses language similar to the Old Testament prophets before him again we looked at many many passages last week that show or evidence that the language of Sun being darkened and Moon not giving its light and the stars falling from heaven and the powers of the heavens being shaken was the grammar of prophecy it was the language by which the prophets demonstrated or illustrated or highlighted the fall of particular kingdoms it is used in many instances in many places and I submit that Christ is doing the same thing here he connects this statement in verse 29 with what immediately precedes if verses 15 to 20 described the Great Tribulation that took place in the first century then whatever versus whatever verse 29 means it means it follows immediately on the heels of that and it is what we would expect in terms of the collapse of Jerusalem and it's temple and now we come to the coming of the Son of Man in verse 30 and then secondly the calling of God's elect in verse 31 as you would probably guess my argument is is that verse 30 does not describe the second physical coming of our Lord Jesus but his coming in judgment against the people of Israel that had rejected him that it violated the Covenant and are now reaping those curses associated with the Covenant we're going to just take up each of the particular clauses in view and again try to show that it's instant with the grammar of prophecy that we find in the Old Testament so we'll look first at the sign of the Son of Man secondly the tribes of the land and then thirdly the coming on clouds again language that is consistently used in the Old Testament but in the first place note this coming of the Son of Man with reference to the sign verse 20 verse 30 then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven remember that sine functions predominantly in this particular passage the disciples asked for a sign Jesus says that the false Christ's and the deceivers will present signs and wonders previously in Matthew's Gospel Jewish leaders are asking for signs and now Jesus indicates a specific sign that they are to be looking for notice the sign of the Son of Man will appear in evett the emphasis in this statement is on in heaven whatever the sign is or whatever the sign points to the emphasis is on in heaven and if this is the second physical coming then why in the world if Jesus is physically present would anybody be looking for a particular sign in heaven if Christ is among us in judgment in glory in power physically then it would be superfluous for of superfluous for us to search the heavens in looking for a particular sign know what is in view in verse 30 I submit is this when you see Jerusalem surrounded by its army or armies know that it's desolation is near when you see this vengeance come upon this people for their having broken the covenant then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven in other words this judgment taking place in AD 70 through historical means is a vindication of the Son of God this man of sorrows who was crucified this man of sorrows who was rejected this man of sorrows who was despised this man of sorrows who has delivered up to be crucified alongside of other seminoles this judgment will vindicate him this judgment will demonstrate that the son of man is in heaven the sign is the destruction of the temple very specifically and Jerusalem generally and when they see that happening then they will know that the Son of Man is at the right hand of the Father we just sang Psalm 110 verse 1 the battle cry of the early church Yahweh said to my lord sit thou at my right hand till I make all your enemies your footstool now we are so familiar with that language we sing it we read it we rehearse it we recite it but do we ever ponder and contemplate how the Lord will make all of his enemies his footstool certainly by conversion he saved us by His grace those who were a far off those who were at enmity with him those who raised the fist in rebellion at him and by His grace he has brought us an eye through his precious blood but if you ever pondered what he does in terms of the lowering of his foot upon his enemies to those he doesn't convert it is through destruction it is through devastation it is through judgment and that is precisely what's in view in 80 70 these people had received the Covenant of God these people had been told to go into the land and live faithfully and if they did blessing if they did not cursing judgment came from God in 587 22 via Assyria it comes in 586 via Babylon it comes finally in AD 70 via Rome so the sign of the Son of man in heaven is what we are looking for and if the Son of Man was physically on earth why would we be inclined to look up into heaven to try and find this particular sign the sign is the judgment the sign is the destruction the sign is the providential occurrences that have befallen these people and it testifies to that one who was a man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief who went through the shame and ignore many of the cross itself is now vindicated and ruling and reigning at the right hand of God Almighty and when they see this destruction they will know Gil says and he shall appear not in person but in the power of his wrath and vengeance on the Jewish nation which will be a full sign and proof of his being calm now note secondly the language simply applied here then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn it would be perfectly consistent and perfectly logical and within the realm of good translation to understand that what we have here is the tribes of the land when we hear the language tribes of the land and we're in the orbit of Christian scripture what do we typically think of the earth isn't usually carved up into tribes it's the Land of Israel we saw in verses 15 to 20 with the specific instruction for those who are in Judea to flee to the mountains to seek refuge during the siege by Rome in AD 70 and here the same idea is in view it's not the tribes of the earth it's not all people everywhere the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the land will mourn all of the tribes of the land will be remorseful not in repentance not having forsaken their sins but because they crucified the Lord of glory and now at the right hand of the Father on high he is executing this wrath and vengeance and judgment and curse the Bible consistently carves up the Land of Israel into tribes not the earth Gill says that is the land of Judea for other lands and countries were not usually divided into tribes as that was if I say the tribes of and you are a reader of the Bible you typically would associate the tribes of Israel CC it's a localized specific coming in terms of judgment upon an apostate people and what Christ says is that when this happens the sign of the Son of Man will air and it's in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn now the particular background is the Prophet Zechariah you can turn their Zechariah chapter 12 Zechariah chapter 12 again if you disagree with this interpretation which would then mean I disagree with your interpretation we are still friends and brethren and loved one each love one another each in the Lord Jesus Christ this is not a test of of Orthodoxy this is not the criteria by which men enter into heaven the only means by which men women boys and girls enter into heaven is through the blood of Christ it is through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ it's not a particular interpretive view of the Olivet discourse but it's an understanding of the reality that Christ came into this world sinners to save the reality that we have sinned against a holy God we have violated his law we have transgressed from commandment 12 commandment 10 we have taken that Decalogue in our carnality we have thrown it into the dust and we have trampled it underfoot as well we had heard the gospel we had heard of the Christian religion but we stiff-arm Jesus we wanted nothing to do with it we resisted him we despised him but in God's mercy and in God's kindness there came a time when he convicted us of our sin and this is what we hope and pray for every Lord's Day that anybody who comes here on a Sunday morning would understand something of the conviction of sin the reality that you're not okay I know this world likes to tell you that you're okay I'm okay isn't everything okay before a holy God you're not okay if you're not in Jesus Christ if you have not sought refuge in him if you are not in that strong tower that Yahweh has provided then you are certainly not okay the only means by which men are ever reconciled to God is through Christ the beauty of the gospel is not that he changed or that my feelings are strong or the beauty of the gospel is not my experience the beauty of the gospel is the life and the death and the resurrection of our Lord the fullness of the time God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to do what to redeem those under the law not in the first place to set forth an example not in the first place to start a new religion but Christ game in the fullness of the time to redeem those under the law the means by which he does that is obeying the father dying as a substitute and as a sacrifice and being raised the third day so that everyone who by the grace of God looks to him in faith will have everlasting life that's good news that's gospel that's glorious we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins that is what separates the Christian from the non-christian so again if you disagree with preterism and I end up disagreeing with you on futurism of the two events we are brethren in Christ we will love one another and serve with one another until that blessed day when Jesus comes but notice the specific background in Zechariah chapter 12 at verse 10 and I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication then they will look on me whom they pierced yes they will mourn for him as one mourns for His only Son and grieve for him as one Greece for a firstborn in that day there shall be great morning in Jerusalem like the morning of hey Dad remonte in the plane of Megiddo and the land shall mourn every family by itself the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves you see the point the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves the family of shimmy by itself and their wives by themselves all the families that remain every family by itself and their wives by themselves the one whom they pierced is the Messiah Zechariah fares large in Matthew's Gospel in chapter 21 is pastor Porter read this morning he quotes from Zechariah 99 when the Lord Christ comes into Jerusalem on the full of a donkey as well Zechariah lights that the Messiah will be the rejected Shepherd Zechariah 11 4 to 14 and the Shepherd that is killed by the sword Zechariah 1379 both passages quoted by Matthew when we get to the passion account the morning specifically identified here will occur in Jerusalem and the tribes are further delineated by families we're not dealing with the tribes of the earth we're dealing with the tribes of the land we are dealing with Judea we are dealing with a localized judgment in the first century identified by the Lord Christ as the Great Tribulation so whatever verses 29 to 31 are dealing with they have immediate connection with verses 15 that's one E and the morning is a result of their having pierced Christ's France says Jesus words here suggest then in the light of their Old Testament background that the people of Jerusalem will recognize what they have done to their Messiah but their morning will be prompted by seeing his eventual vindication and triumph when it will be too late to avert the consequences of having rejected him so the morning there isn't a morning in repentance it's a morning in the fact that they're receiving judgment now notice in the third place with reference to verse 30 this coming on clouds here again we appeal to the Old Testament with reference to the grammar of prophecy there are several Old Testament references to Yahweh coming on the clouds in judgment you can turn to the songs first again the point is is not to bury you in a multitude attacks and say therefore this position is right but to show you that what Jesus is doing is not new to show you as well that the disciples being very familiar with what we called the Old Testament would have understood the language they would have understood the sun in the moon and the stars language to suggest the fall of kingdoms they would understand the coming on the clouds in judgment to be God's judge coming on the clouds to be language of God's coming in judgment notice in Psalm 18 specifically beginning in verse psalm 18 verse 7 this is also second Samuel 22 but Psalm 18 verse 7 then the earth shook and trembled the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken because he was angry smoke went up from his nostrils in devouring fire from his mouth coals were kindled by it and we know that God doesn't have nostrils he is spirit he does not have body a body like man it's anthropomorphic language its language that is quite epic to display to us something of God's anger something of God's justice and his righteousness and his judgment that is to come same with Sun Moon and stars they're the biggest concepts that we can have or that we can begin to describe things and that's why it's utilized and in the grammar of prophecy note verse 9 he bowed the heavens also and came down with darkness under his feet you see he's coming right nobody argues in Psalm 18 at verse 9 that God was physically present I really don't know why we demand that of Matthew 24 30 the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven is language that finds its taproots in Old Covenant tax that the speak of the judgment of Yahweh notice he wrote upon a cherub and flew he flew upon the wings of the wind he made darknesses secret place as canopy around him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies from the brightness before him his thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire the Lord thundered from heaven and the most I uttered his voice hailstones and coals of fire he sent out his arrows and scattered the foe lightnings and abundance and he vanquished them then the channels of the sea were seen the foundations of the world were uncovered at your rebuke O Lord at the blast of the breath of your nostrils turn over to Psalm 68 and verse 4 again just showing the grammar a biblical prophecy uses this type of language to highlight Gods coming in judgment upon his enemies Psalm 68 verse 4 sing to God sing praises to his name extol him who rides on the cloud by his name yah and rejoice before him Psalm 97 vs. 126 Psalm 97 vs. 126 Yahweh rains let the earth rejoice let the multitude of Isles be glad clouds and darkness around him righteousness and justice of the foundation of his throne his lightnings light the world the earth sees and trembles the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the lord of the whole earth notice the heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see his glory there's two thoughts parallel to our passage in Matthew 24 Jesus is seen coming in judgment and it's a manifestation of his power and his glory and that is precisely what we find here God comes in judgment the presence of the Lord is known the heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see what they see his glory notice in Psalm Isaiah 19 something very parallel to what we find Jesus doing in the Olivet discourse again arguing this coming on the clouds language refers at least in one sense to the coming of God in judgment against pagan nations in the Old Testament notice in nineteen one of the prophet Isaiah the burden against Egypt behold the Lord rides on a swift cloud and will come into Egypt and I don't know if any biblical interpreter that thinks that God presently physically entered into Egypt it's the language of prophecy its apocalyptic it teaches us something concerning God's judgment and righteousness Yahweh rides on a swift cloud and will come into Egypt the idols of Egypt will taught her at his presence and the heart of Egypt will melt and its midst notice that Yahweh does this via historical means it is through Judah note verse 17 in the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself because of the counsel of the Lord of Hosts which he has against it this judgment in Egypt leads certainly to social collapse economic collapse and political collapse as the rest of chapter 19 indicates similar to what would happen and befall the nation of the Jews in the first century and then notice the prophet Micah Micah Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah just to demonstrate another judgment coming of Yahweh that no one interprets to be physical in terms of his presence among Egyptians or in this case Samaria and Judah notice in micah 12 here all you peoples listen to earth and all that is in it let the Lord God be a witness against you the Lord from his holy temple for behold the Lord is coming out of his place he will come down and tread on the high places of the earth the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will split like wax before the fire like waters pour down a steep place all this for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel what is the transgression of Jacob is it not Samaria and what are the high places of Judah are they not Jerusalem so a few passages there to demonstrate the grammar of Biblical prophecy when Jesus says they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory these Old Testament parallels suggest to us that it doesn't necessarily mean physically it means he comes in judgment but there is a reference here behind Jesus words that we need to pay close attention to and that reference is to Daniel 7 13 and 14 you can turn there again looking at this clause they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory turn to Daniel chapter 7 specifically verses 13 and 14 I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the son of man that's important because he's just described for beastly kingdoms fact he tells us these are these are men that rule on the earth but he likens each one of them or parallels each one of them or uses the grammar of Biblical prophecy to identify them in their beastly character nobody takes this description of these kings and say wow this is actually a half leopard half you know bird taught no no it's the language of Biblical prophecy Tupac Olympic it's demonstrating something so you've got these four beastly kings and then in verse 13 behold one like the Son of Man the contrast to start between the beasts and the man and he's one light the son of man he is a man to be sure but he's like the son of man in the sense that he's also deity and the very language ascribed to him in this particular passage highlights that you'll note very often that Jesus uses this identifier for himself in the New Testament not least of which is our text he refers to himself as the Son of Man you need to understand what he's doing when he uses that language there interestingly enough he's not highlighting his humanity you would think son of man indicates his humanity and Son of God must indicate his deity I think it's the other way around in Luke 3 Jesus is called the Son of God and the specific point is to demonstrate his humanity having gone all the way back to through the through the line of David and even ultimately you know to Adam it's the son of man that he takes upon his lips to ascribe to himself deity power glory majesty well the origin of this particular phrase as Christ uses it upon his lips for his own identification is here in Daniel 7 13 and 14 but notice i was watching in the night visions and behold one light the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven sounds just like 24 30 doesn't it everybody with me wake up take a moment to get a deep breath Spurgeon's right the next best thing to the Holy Spirit and the heart is oxygen in the brain so take a deep breath and gird up your loins of your heart or minds so that you can see again you may disagree with me at the end but I'd like for you to see why it is that I argue thus now notice it's the same language employed by the Lord Christ to identify his coming in judgment at that particular time and this is what you need to appreciate i was watching in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven now note the direction he came where to the Ancient of Days I think we oftentimes assume that 713 means he came from the ancient of days and we import that idea into Matthew 24 30 if we believe that 713 and Daniel means that he came from the Ancient of Days then it undergirds that interpretation that 24 30 is a physical coming but that's not the direction in 713 he comes to the Ancient of Days he comes to the Father 7 13 and 14 is an ascension text it's what happens after Jesus dies and Jesus has raised the third day and then Jesus ascends on high he goes into the presence here of the one identified as the Ancient of Days the father he goes to the ancient of days and then what happens and then the kingdom has given to him it is not the case that he comes from the ancient of days in order to do this particular judgment it is the case that he has come to the Ancient of Days has been given this kingdom and now is executing judgment and vengeance upon those who would break the Covenant that's the movement Calvin says this in my judgment ought to be explained of Christ's ascension for he then commences his reign as we see in numberless passes of Scripture don't we send out the pattern in the New Testament what happens in Acts chapter 2 God made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ he is established at the right hand of the Father he is sitting on the throne of David according to Peter and action after two what about Philippians chapter 2 he has given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord what about Ephesians chapter 1 God was pleased with the work of the father so he exalted him to his right hand he gave him this Dominion he gave him this time we're not waiting for Jesus to take the throne Jesus took the throne upon his ascension past reporter read it how did we how does John identify Jesus in John a revelation 1 he is present active indicative present tense he is the ruler over the kings of the earth you look at political events in our day you look at the political upheavals you look at the movements and the shakings and the doings and oftentimes believers can get very discouraged I'm going to confess it is discouraging there are things that you see that blow your mind instead of truth and integrity and honesty you know you you learn from week icky links that you can't trust anything you know what at the end of the day for the believer Jesus is over it for the believer Christ is enthroned on high for the believer Christ has been given Universal Dominion and Empire for the believer Christ should study the soul and Daniel 7 13 and 14 tell us that the same language employed by our by our Lord he is coming with the clouds of heaven he came to the Ancient of Days and they brought in near before him so when Jesus ascends on high after having died and after having been raised note what happens he ascends to the Father and then verse 14 then to him was given Dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples nations and languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom bia the one which shall be destroyed so the danielle 'ok son of man lay behind Jesus words in Daniel Matthew 24 at verse 30 and then before we move on we ought to appreciate a couple of New Testament references that indicate that every time it says that Jesus is coming it doesn't necessarily mean physically we've seen several in Matthew's Gospel notice in Matthew chapter 10 Matthew chapter 10 this is encouragement and instruction concerning the Jewish mission and Jesus tells them very specifically that they will suffer persecution fact there are similarities between this in the first section of this Olivet discourse notice in 10 22 you'll be hated by all for my name's sake but he endorsed to the end will be saved when they persecute you in this city flee to another for assuredly I say to you you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes again if you understand this in the language of coming and judgment upon apostate Israel it makes perfect sense but why would you tell somebody that who would be long dead before the second physical coming you see a similar usage in Matthew 16 28 assuredly I say to you there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom a very cryptic and odd message if it meant the second physical coming of course they'd all be dead and it doesn't refer to the Transfiguration as some would argue I suppose I believe it refers to his coming in his kingdom as evidenced by the destruction of Jerusalem one other txt we see ours but then notice in 2664 2664 the NIV and the ESV are to be commended here because the New King James renders a particular word or two words as sort of in definite notice in 64 jesus said to him it is as you said nevertheless i say to you hereafter oh that's really undefined hereafter could be tomorrow or it could be in two thousand years but the NIV and the ESV get it right it's from now on look at the language Jesus is using its that Daniel 713 isn't it it's at Daniel 713 language what's happening Jesus is under investigation Jesus is being scrutinized by an earthly tribunal Jesus is being treated like a criminal Jesus says the tables are going to turn things are going to be different it is as you said nevertheless I say to you from now on you plural not them in the 21st century but you plural the high priests the religious leaders those apostates who rejected Jesus who in this context instead of saying bring him to us that we may worship they say away with him away with him crucify him sometimes person say well this preterist interpretation comes down a bit hard on the Jews well you have to understand they did not receive the Messiah they cut him off they said give us Barabbas do you know that parabolas a notorious criminal Barabbas was like asking for one of the worst persons in society let him go well what should I do with this Jesus of Nazareth away with him away with him crucify him they invoked the curse of God upon themselves when they say let his blood be on us and our children Jesus says the table in this Tribunal is going to change from now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming on the clouds of heaven not in the physical Second Coming sense but in the Danieli judgment sense the reality that as yah rides upon the cloud and comes into Egypt to totter her idols so christ through the historical means of the Roman armies will destroy this apostate nation who has rejected the one that was sent to them now I don't believe that anti-semitism is warranted we ought not to hate anybody not suggesting that we hold every Jew presently guilty are culpable for what happened in the first century but if we understand the text of Scripture and the nature of Biblical prophecy in the way that they had violated the God of Israel the way they broke the Covenant this finishes their story so that when this happens they enter into the rank and file of every other nation and may come to Israel's Messiah through faith and repentance it's not because they're Jews that they are included and the new covenant promises it is if they believe the gospel and repent and then in the book of Revelation Jesus threatens to come to churches to bring judgment you can look up those later don't want to bog us down revelation 2 5 to 16 2 a 3 11 and 3 20 behold I stand at the door knock if anyone opens up to me what will he do he will come and dine with him do we immediately conclude that that means the second physical coming no it's spiritual it's communion with our Savior it's the blessing of intimacy with our Lord just like the coming and visiting in Matthew 24 30 is not the second physical it is a judgment coming upon Israel using the grammar of Biblical prophecy employed in the Old Testament prophets and throughout so in going back to 24 30 coming and view is not second physical but a coming in judgment by the vindicated Lord his judgment wrought upon Jerusalem and it's temple would demonstrate that Christ was in the right hand of God rot at the right hand of God where he must reign till all of his enemies are made his footstool this would be the display of his power and glory this would be the display of his power and glory that's what he says specifically in 24 30 and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory now let me ask you what's the first order of business when the King takes his throne it's the first order of business when the King takes its through his throne to gather his subjects gather his people if verse 30 in Matthew 24 corresponds to Daniel 7 13 then verse 31 corresponds to Daniel 7 14 he's ascended he's in throne Dominion and power and authority and rule are given to him now what he do that's verse 31 he calls his elect notice and he will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other no it's the Lord who sends these angels the Lord Jesus right that what's in view in Daniel 7 13 and 14 he comes to the Ancient of Days Dominion is given to him and now we would expect that he is the authorized representative of all things Kingdom and it would be him that sends forth the angels this is what we see at the end of Matthew's Gospel in Matthew 28 go therefore and make disciples of all the nations Christ is king over the messianic reign over the Messianic Kingdom and this is precisely what we'd expect now the Angels here again I think we bring our presuppositions to bear on Bible texts I don't think it's wrong to suggest that some people take what they believe 713 in Daniel is teaching that it's a coming from God to judge and we impose that on 24 30 but I think and I didn't do any gymnastics and it really is what it says he came to the Ancient of Days it's crystal clear in Daniel 7 30 he did come from the Ancient of Days but but angels what do i what do you think when I say angels these sort of heads with wings that strum harps and float around on clouds right so what an angel is spirit beings that that serve the church and serve people and help and do wonderful things the word angel can be translated messenger it's not always that spirit being do you know that John the Baptist in Matthew 11 is called the messenger of the Covenant literally the angel of the Covenant angels aren't always disembodied spirits they're not always those cherub little things that that stroke harps and float on clouds they're men at times operating under Christ to do his bidding functioning as messengers have you ever considered the way each of the letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor off right to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus does that mean the disembodied spirit that somehow is connected with Ephesus no it's the pastor the elder or the group of elders it's the the messenger of the church that was expected to take these letters written by John under the inspiration of the Spirit and that messenger of the church that angel of the church would stand behind whatever they used for a pulpit and they would read those letters to the people of God angel doesn't always mean this other worldly spirit ba the word means messenger and what I submit is that Christ here has in view that when he ascends the throne there's not only judgment and vengeance upon his Hannah knees but there's blessing and hope and salvation for his people that's the language employed now the sound of a trumpet is oftentimes used to signal a theophany that's a manifestation of God it's also used in Isaiah 2713 to call Jewish exiles to return to the land you see he's using biblical grammar he's using the grammar of prophecy nobody would have been blown away no pun intended by this reference to the trumpet they would have understood that trumpets signify theophany certainly when Christ comes in judgment to manifestation that the Son of Man appear or the appearance of the Son of Man is in heaven the often II would be consistent but as well this sounding of the trumpet to call forth exiles back to the land the sound of the trumpet marks the day of the Lord and Joel Joel to which this is a day of the Lord coming in judgment the sound of a trumpet also is indicative of the coronation of kings and 1st Kings 134 there's a there's a trumpet blown when when Solomon is crowned as the king in Israel again it's just so riddled with Old Testament language or illusion or concept that I do not believe for a moment that Jesus disciples would have missed it I really think they would have fully understood exactly what he was saying they were familiar with the coming of the our way judgment passages upon clouds this was not cryptic to them this was an answer to their very specific questions what would we make of a lord whose disciples asked him a certain couple questions and he confuses that or he confounds that or gives them answers that are more appropriate for you know somebody in the 21st century we don't expect that from our Lord we expect answers to questions and that is precisely what we find in this all of that discourse Zechariah 914 another passage that is used in conjunction with the trumpet blown it says Yahweh will be seen over them and that it will blow the trumpet to signal the deliverance of his people again it's Old Testament language applied to a new covenant reality that when the Son of Man is enthroned at the right hand of God most high it not only spells out judgment and destruction and vengeance for the breakers of the Covenant but it spells out blessing and inclusion and joy and salvation for his elect wherever they are gathered notice he will send His angels with the great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other the ascended Lord sends his messengers to call sinners to repentance and faith he's certainly ought to hear the echo when we get to Matthew 28 he says all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me go therefore and make disciples of all the nations see in our passage we move from the tribes of the land a judgment localized in Jerusalem first century now we've moved to the comprehensive expansion of the gospel of the kingdom he will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other RT France says the sequel to the enthronement of the Son of Man as king is the gathering of the subjects of this kingdom his chosen people so next time again you may go home and say you know he's out to lunch but next time you read Daniel 7 13 and 14 consider what Jesus is saying here in Matthew 24 30 and 31 I believe the correspondence is specific I think it's explicit and I think that's what our Lord intended and I'm certain at least I think that's not a good thing I'm certainly I certainly think that the disciples would have understand it in like manner and just before we move to the end of our discussion this morning or our sermon this morning there's Old Testament background here to Psalm 107 1 2 3 will give thanks to Yahweh for he is good his mercy endures forever let the redeemed of Yahweh say so whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy and gathered out of the lands from the east and from the west from the north and from the south the Old Testament background of God gathering his people from their exile is in the book of Deuteronomy Isaiah several times the Book of Jeremiah Ezekiel Zechariah to this is Old Testament language applied to a new covenant reality in the mouth of the Prophet Christ who is doing what he is doing to communicate to them the truth and note the contrast verse 28 tells us in the siege of Jerusalem my argument there was for wherever the carcasses there the Eagles will be gathered together the argument is twofold the carcasses apostate Israel and the Eagles could be a reference to the Roman n sins they carried Eagles on their on their flag poles and they were idolatrous in nature and they were offensive to people but here you've got the Roman in sins descended upon these carcasses but as well in Deuteronomy 28 it's a signal of the Covenant curse that the vultures the Eagles will destroy or will eat the flesh of those who died in judgment but there is a contrast here wherever the carcass is there the Eagles will be gathered together but in terms of Christ's throne Christ's rule Christ's reign over his church apostate Israel is a carcass and the Eagles gather to it the elect are gathered by the ascended Lord through the preaching of the Christian gospel well they're in concludes this portion of the Olivet discourse God willing we'll take up verses 32 to 35 next week but I would submit in closing that the way that we've approached this particular passage in terms of interpretation it deals with the larger context it's no accident that we began making these emphasis in Matthew 21 I mean remember what happens in Matthew 21 I know it's been a long time ago he comes into Jerusalem he comes into the capital city and they reject him pastor Porter read this morning he curses the fig tree the fig tree there a symbolic of Israel he says no fruit will ever grow on you again he immediately enters into the temple constructs and on the Tuesday of the Passion Week and he's hit by the religious leaders by what authority do you do what you're doing he puts them on the horns of a dilemma very successfully and then he tells three parables and one of the the recurring emphasis in each of these three perils parables is judgment that accidental judgment upon the people to whom he's speaking it's not accidental we get to chapter 22 and what we find is direct confrontation they come to him trying to trip him up trying to ask him questions that will seek to expose him as a fraud and he handles them readily and capably and then in 23 what does he do he warns his disciples and he warns the multitudes against associating with these religious leaders in so far as they teach the truth do it if they tell you what the law of Moses says accurately then you're duty-bound to do it but don't do as they do and then what happens in 2313 to the end of the chapter woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites you see cumulatively by the time we get to the all of that discourse which incidentally these these things going on in the temple happen on the Tuesday day and tuesday evening is the all of that discourse what other thing could he possibly be talking about what new reality what new of end the immediately a verse 29 connects us inextricably to the Great Tribulation of 12 15 to 20 the this generation and in verse 34 all these things will take place in this generation I think this interpretation makes heads or tails out of the parable of the fig tree notice specifically in verses 32 and 33 we'll see this next week in detail but learn this parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves you know that summer is near so you also when you see what all these things some might argue and say well it's just that relative to the destruction of Jerusalem but he doesn't say that he says all these things and I would say if 29 to 31 deal with the second physical coming then what need we of the parable or the lesson of the fig tree why this cryptic suggestion that we need help to interpret these things if Christ is present it's dealing with a spiritual coming in judgment and the fig tree is essential and necessary for these people so that they can rightly interpret the signs of the times and flee Judea when the Romans come it just makes sense of the passage it makes sense of the textual flow there's no textual indicator that says this is this and this is that this is that and this is this it is all up to 34 where he says decisively he says declaratively assuredly this is an all men statement I say to you this generation will by no means pass away so all these things take place we'll see next week that every time this generation is employed by Matthew it means the people to whom Jesus is speaking some suggest this generation means race the Jewish people will always be there you're going to run into big troubles in Acts chapter 2 if you define geass as as as race because Peter tells them to be saved from is crooked and perverse generation not race that's saying every single Jew is crooked and perverse he is saying be saved from this crooked and perverse generation this generation that despised and rejected the Messiah that was sent to them it deals with the context it deals with the declarative statement of Jesus assuredly I say to you not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down he's talking about the then standing temple they ask questions about the then standing temple Jesus answers about the venn standing temple it takes the passage as it is given secondly I hope we have seen the theological significance of the Olivet discourse the great epic calamity involved in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 wasn't body count person say and rightly you know there were more people killed in this particular war there were more people killed in this particular war the Jews have suffered wherever they've been and whatever they've done they've they've lost more people than at the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70 it is not in the first place body count it is the transformation of Covenant it's Matthew 2143 I say to you the kingdom of God is being taken from you and given to a nation that will bear the fruits of it it's the Covenant that's in view it's the magnitude of the Covenant transition as well transfer the kingdom 2143 the fulfillment of all things which are written Luke 21 tells us these are the days of vengeance so that all things written may be fulfilled what all things God would be unfaithful if he didn't bring to bear those curses of the Covenant upon a people who deserve that Leviticus 26 in Deuteronomy 28 were binding for this people and when they rejected the very Messiah sent to them they reaped upon themselves the curse of the Covenant as well the vindication of the son of man verse 30 as well the calling of the nations to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and then as terms of the practical application of everything we've seen up to this point real practically what ought we to learn from this passage first a necessity to be on guard against false teachers versus for 23 to 26 jesus highlights a warning against false teachers see I don't think we value doctrine the way we ought to I don't think we prize truth the way we ought to that's a generality I'm not judging you don't go home and cry and say you know Butler offended me today it's a general statement concerning the church what do we look for in a church what do we look for in a church that's decisive to me brethren if we look for a church where the Word of God is faithfully expounded then I think we do understand the necessity of sound doctrine all over the earth today all over the world today persons do not endure sound doctrine we live in days very similar to what Paul said in second Timothy chapter 4 Timothy preach the word why because the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine I mean people get offended today at the thought that Jesus is you know what he actually claims to be go and preach on the exclusivity of Christ alone for salvation outside of a church say like this I'm very thankful for this church I really praise God that there's no you know in addition I can say Jesus is the only way for salvation you can't do that in some places people get upset people get offended you can't say anything that will make me feel bad I'm just suggesting we should try to make few people feel bad but if the truth offends then blessed be the offense because maybe it'll bring sinners to an end of themselves and a hope in Jesus Christ the Lord we need to guard against false teachers we need to guard against carnal anxiety to do 24-6 doesn't Jesus say and those sort of precursors those signs that are those things that aren't yet the end he says and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars see that you are not trouble that doesn't mean we cannot be concerned and we ought not to pray for kings and and governors and all who in authority paal tells us we're supposed to do we're not supposed to be carnally anxious we're not supposed to freak out we're not supposed to be paralyzed we're not supposed to you know hide underneath our beds and suck our thumbs and just hope it all passes away oh Jesus says see that you were not troubled that's directly related to the reality of a Daniel 7 13 and 14 he's at the right hand of the Father on high he is the ruler over the kings of the earth it's because of that that were not troubled somebody at work says wow you seem to be a calm fellow or a calm lady and it's because Jesus is on the throne why do you pull your miserable self out of bed some mornings it's because Jesus is on the throne right isn't that what puts the that the spring in the step of the believer it is this Daniel 7 13 and 14 reality that he's come to the Ancient of Days the Kingdom and Dominion has been given to me to him and by His grace he's conquered me and gathered me to himself yeah I'm troubled by what I see but I'm not going to be paralyzed I'm not going to freak out I'm not going to get to the point where I cannot function as well the necessity of perseverance in all circumstances again the first part of the discourse Matthew 24 13 he who endures to the end shall be saved you know what young men young women you know what you desperately need faithfulness consistency endurance we all want the super gifts we don't want to be Spurgeon and we want to be AdWords we want to be Elizabeth Elliot don't nobody just want to get up and be faithful and that's what we need it's the church built on there's precious few Elizabeth Elliot's and Charles Spurgeon's and Jonathan Edwards or Calvin's or Luther's there's precious few of them the rest of us just need to be faithful endure to the end do what's right because gods commanded it and by a spirit he's enabled compliance be faithful be consistent be persevering be enduring it may not be glamorous it may not be romantic it may not be sensational but it's what our Savior calls us to it's not Fame but faithful ness that Jesus commands as well we need to understand I think biblical eschatology very often and rightly so this passage is marshaled into discussions concerning eschatology the doctrine of the end times the doctrine of last things I think the understanding of eschatology is important not so that we're right and can show everybody else they're wrong but it is in the first place to understand scripture shouldn't we be jealous to know what the spirit intended in the word that he is given by inspiration isn't it that the primary emphasis and Bible study we want to feel good but you know what we need to first understand what it means in its context relative to the rest of Scripture to understand scripture as well to promote holiness not sensationalism not fascination not curiosity but John in first John says everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as Jesus just as he is pure biblical eschatology ought to promote holiness as well that ought to guard against the tendency to make pronouncements concerning the end that are false again I'm not suggesting that everybody who disagrees with me falls prey to this but it is the case that it's plagued the church over its many many years that people date set I mean we heard Truman a couple weeks ago say that Luther in 1522 believed the world was going to end Luther believed in 1522 the world was going to end by the time he got to the 1540s he realized that you know what it's probably not going to happen you know what happened at 999 there's this big thing that the world was going to end you all remember y2k you know we all thought that the the world was going to end there we had everybody from the church over and right when the the hand struck midnight Doug Luiten and I went and flipped the breaker and all the power went off and I thought that was a bit of a a chuckle there but there's always this last days madness that I think an understanding a biblical eschatology can help least to soften and then as well it protects the prophetic integrity of the Lord Jesus one man says as a prophet Jesus staked his reputation on his prediction of the temples fall within a generation if and when it fell he would thereby be vindicated I've mentioned Bertrand Russell and there's others this generation they understand that language and they say Bertrand Russell says that Jesus Christ believed that he was going to come back to the people that he was speaking to he didn't come back to the people that he was speaking to so therefore Jesus Christ is a hoax that was the logic of Bertrand Russell I don't think Bertrand Russell took the time to look at verse 29 relative to the fall of kingdoms language of Sun Moon and stars in the Old Testament I don't think he took the time to investigate Daniel 7 13 and 14 in the reality that God coming into Egypt is described as coming and being present via a cloud he saw this generation and concluded based on the second physical coming that since it didn't happen Jesus was a hoax brethren let's not help the God haters by redefining this generation let's not help the God haters by minimizing the thrust of and immediately in the passage and the way the scripture tech are the text of Scripture flows and reads and as well I think it helps us overall with protecting the reputation of the Bible not that God needs us to protect it but we certainly ought to give us or give our hand or give our aid in terms of protection well as i said earlier when Jesus sits upon the throne it means blessing it means salvation it means inclusion and gathering for his elect but also means judgment and we certainly do learn this from the great tragedy I think everybody does agree i hope everybody does agree that at least in part Matthew 24 speaks to the destruction of his of Jerusalem and it's temple in AD 70 it was a ghastly horrific judgment that that was inflicted at that particular time it certainly does typify or point us forward to that day when Jesus comes again in glory to judge the living in dad now you're either with him or you're against him you are either by grace being gathered through the proclamation of the gospel or you will be cut off we noted on Wednesday night the typical significance of Solomon that means that Solomon when he SAT upon his throne pointed forward to David's greater son the Lord Jesus Christ howto solemn and secure his kingdom when he occupies the throne he secures it by obedience to the law of God and by eliminating the enemies of the kingdom of God so God Almighty raises up Solomon installs him upon the throne and one of the means by which he secures his kingdom is by eliminating enemies it's the same thing with reference to this greater than Solomon he takes the throne at the right hand of the Father he has given this Dominion and universal Authority and you are either with him or you are against him and I submit and I would entreat and I would implore and I would encourage you to believe to look to him to come to him to believe on Him and to receive the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life because what he will do on that day when he comes again to judge the living and the debt it'll be a walk in the park if you would have been in the first century AD 70 what Jesus is going to do then is not simply cause people to be removed from their city or to die physically fact he alludes to this in Matthew 1028 don't fear those who kill the body only and then can do nothing else but fear Him and in the context I think he's speaking about himself fareham who is able to kill both body and soul in hell do not die do not perish do not give up hope but rather by the grace of God come to Jesus believe on Jesus and you will be safe well let us pray father we thank you for the word of God and we thank you for the fact that Christ does save to the uttermost all who draws nigh unto God through him I pray that you'd open hearts and eyes and minds to the truth today not the truth of a particular prophetic interpretation but the truth that Jesus lived and he died and he rose again and all who looked at him in faith will have everlasting life go with us now we pray and we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed