The Olivet Discourse Discussion - Part 2

What you doing tonight, the Bible offers clues about the rapture of the tribulation and the second coming with some of the most powerful ounces come straight from the words of Jesus today on Turning Point. Dr. David Jeremiah examines those answers what they mean for his hear his name and now from the handwriting on his David to introduce the conclusion of his message. All of this course discussion. Well, we are in the book of Matthew, even though were also in the book of Daniel, the old and the New Testament go hand-in-hand to understand some of the things in Daniel, you need a little perspective and so we've taken for broadcast and inserted them right into this verse by verse discussion of Daniel know certain things in life are predictable with a measure of accuracy based on prior occurrences in the world but the rule of the kingdom of God on earth under the reign of God son has never happened before. There is no precedent. And so Jesus in this great section of Scripture called the Olivet discourse gives us a tutorial on what's going to happen. Not when the rapture takes place. But when the second coming happens at the end of the tribulation. So I hope you stay with us as we get into that again today and will be back in the verse by verse of Daniel on Thursday. Right now, and just a moment were going to finish up our discussion of the Olivet discourse. Well, we had a good start to this yesterday and were going to have a good finish today.

So open your Bibles to our chronology again when the church age. The rapture comes the tribulation. And then the kingdom's in our timeline take place immediately before the kingdom. What events the tribulation events seven years prior to the millennium is the tribulation. So what Jesus is doing as he answers these questions in Matthew 24 and 25 is he is teaching the disciples what would happen immediately before the kingdom is established and so he runs through the events of the tribulation. Now we can study all of this chapter, we don't have time to give you a survey of it so you can see what I'm talking about.

The first thing that Jesus does in Matthew 24 is to state the general signs of the. That lead up to the second coming. In other words, he is answering the question. The disciples asked what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the beginning of the kingdom. Jesus said all right, here's the answer to that question begin reading verse four and Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of war see that you be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows, then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you. You shall be hated of all nations for my namesake. Obviously a reference to the Jewish people and then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold, but he that shall endure unto the end, the end of what he that shall endure unto the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom, the coming kingdom of Christ shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. In other words, Jesus is saying to the disciples you want to know what's going to happen before the kingdom was set up all right, here's what's going to happen and he just runs in front of them in panorama for these are the things that will transpire. What's he talking about is talking about the events of the tribulation. Which immediately proceed the kingdom now.

The second thing that Jesus does is to give the specific sign of the beginning of the great tribulation.

Now I'm not always terms a confusion.

Let me explain what I'm talking about the tribulation period of seven years first 3 1/2 years is the tribulation period beginning at the 3 1/2 year period of time. There is the beginning of what the great tribulation. The tribulation is bad, but the great tribulation is worse, and the tribulation period grows in intensity until at the table of the tribulation. An event happens which will get to later which causes all hell to break out on earth, and the events which transpired in the last 3 1/2 years are the worst events that take place in all of the world's history on this earth. Now Jesus said you asked me what is the kingdom going to come and what can I expect immediately before. All right here are the general things that are happening with verse 15 here's the specific thing that's going to happen when he therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place close. So let him understand, and then he goes on to describe what is going to be like, immediately before the kingdom then let them who are in Judea flee into the mountains.

Let him was on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house, neither let him was in the field return back to take his close and wall into those are with child into those nurse children in those days, pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time know nor ever shall be, and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Then if any man shall come unto you and say hello, here is Christ for their believe it not, for there shall arise false Christ and false prophets shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Behold, I have told you before, wherefore if they shall say of you beholding as in the desert go not forth beholding as in the secret chambers. Believe it not for as the lightning cometh out of the east and shine even to the west, so shall also be the what the coming of the Son of Man.

The second Advent. Christ coming in judgment upon this world. For wherever the carcass is, there will be eagles be gathered together. Now the details of this passage of Scripture are expanded upon in the book of Revelation, chapter 4 through 18.

We have all the files in the trumpets of the judgments and everything they tell us all the details of what's going to happen in this reference of time that is described here. But what Jesus is teaching in Matthew 24 is not what is going to happen before the rapture is not teaching that the rapture is not even in the mind of our Lord.

At that particular time for his disciples, he is teaching the disciples in answer to the question. This is what's going to happen before the kingdom is established. This is what you can expect some people really bothered by the fact that he doesn't mention the rapture but has no reason to. The rapture will come in due time, information that he gives to the disciples I need to be honest and tell you that our posterior relational friends love to find the rapture and the church.

In this passage and I want to get around how it applies to us. So don't throw it away. Cut out your Bibles, assailants, Jewish just hang onto it now show you how it fits in just a moment, but I want you to know that they love to get the rapture in this passage of Scripture and one of the reasons why many pre-trips have a difficult time understanding their position is they don't understand how the rapture fits into this passage of Scripture and I can tell you it's very easy. It doesn't fit is not there.

Usually one way they try to get the church or chapter 24 verse 31 and he shall send his angels with a great sound of the trumpet, they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Turn your Bibles to Mark chapter 13 comparative passage verse 27 Mark 1327 and then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Now the Bible teaches clearly that immediately before the millennium starts, there will be a gathering of the elect, in preparation for the millennium, but that is not the rapture. He could not possibly be the rapture. There is no mention here of the translation of any saints. There is not one word concerning a resurrection. First Thessalonians 4 tells us that associated with the rapture is the resurrection of those were dead in Christ there is nothing here that has the earmark of the rapture is simply a reference to the final gathering of the elect before the millennial period begins and the fact that it's a gathering because of some people to think it's the rapture and the fact that the word elect issues even confuses them more. But even if the elect includes those who are non-Jewish.

It is still not the rapture is not here. You can support it from the Scripture another place they try to get the rapture in Matthew 24 is in verses 40 and 41 tell you what I've heard some potent sermons on this passage and a lot of people have been saved because they were great preaching on verses 40 and 41 and I don't want to ruin it for you. I really don't but I just want to understand what it says and what it means. Are you ready to go then to shall be in the field. The one shall be taken and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill.

The one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. When it's a great rapture passage is put it in the rapture. I can hear the sermon now ringing in my ears.

There's coming a day, my friends, when you will be driving in your car and your wife will be seated at your side and all of a sudden you look over and she'll be gone. She's a Christian you're not you be left alone in the car you will be in your office working all of a sudden you look around and desks will be vacant. The rapture will live, and all the saved will be taken out of your office and you will be left one shall be taken and the other left. Is that true shirts true. That's exactly how it's going to be when the rapture happens I have in my file, a newspaper that somebody printed as if it were the paper that comes out the day after the rapture. It shows planes going off like this in cars going like this you know some people say you worry about the jubilation. I wonder if a person who is not saved as ever seriously thought about what it might be like to be on an airliner piloted by a Christian me that's kind of a certain problem in itself. The Bible teaches that the rapture will be just like what I describe, but this passage does not speak about the rapture. I think I can prove it. Go back in your Bibles now and the start of verse 36 but of that day and hour north. No man know about the Angels of heaven but my father only.

But as the days of Noah were sold shall also be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and rapture them all away. Same word. One was taken and the other was left.

How were they taken taken in judgment not in the rapture when the flood came, those who have rejected Noah's message were not rapture day were taken away by the flood and judgment, and what this passage is teaching is that in the day of the tribulation when the Lord comes in judgment upon this earth. Some will be just jobs like that, independently, immediately there will be mass judgment totally across the whole world, but independent individuals will be judged one will be judged and another left. If you want a clear indication of that turn in Luke chapter 17.

I've read some really good post relational commentaries on Luke 17 dealing with this very passage and it's been interesting to me that they all leave out one verse I want you to read Luke 1734 through 36 here's the other passage hears Luke's account. He said I tell you, and that night there shall be two men in one bed, one shall be taken and the other shall be left to women shall be grinding together. The one shall be taken, the other left. Two men shall be in the field. The one shall be taken ever (as you see the rapture not notice the next verse and they answered and said to him, where Lord.

In other words, where are they going to be taken, and he said unto them, wherever the body is there will be eagles be gathered together.

Was he talking about.

He's talking about the vultures that are going to get their carcasses in judgment at the rapture taken in judgment. So Matthew 24 does not teach that we are going to go through all of these terrible events in their Son of Man comes in. One shall be taken and the other shall be left those passages speak of being taken in judgment not taken in the rapture. In fact, the word taken there is the same word that's used in John 1926 of our Lord Jesus Christ being taken to Calvary for the judgment of the sins of the world you say preacher gone you, I thought.

Matthew 24, 25, was neat and you just run now what am I supposed to do. I don't even know how it fits hot when I do with that. Now let me put it back in focus for you cannot pay my little picture again were in the church age rapture is going to come and then the tribulation. And then the second coming of Christ and then the millennium right okay now listen carefully all the events of Matthew 24 and 25. We talked about where are they, seven years before the coming king of Christ in the kingdom right. Where's the rapture right before the tribulation.

Do you think there's any chance that the things that are full-blown during that seven year period of time are going to just like that when the rapture comes. No way. In fact I think right here in Matthew 24 we have an indication from our Lord as to how were to view these events.

I want you to look with me at closing.

In Matthew 24 versus 32 and 33 the parable that our Lord used I think is the key to how we interpret this passage for in advance of these events. He said now learn a parable of the fig tree when its branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

So likewise, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door, verily I say unto you, this generation or the generation that sees the sign shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Now we do not know the exact times and seasons, but I do believe that the Bible teaches that we can know when we are nearing the time of the end of all things. Perhaps this parable explains the Lord Jesus was simply teaching that even the fig tree tells you when summer is near. He said when you see the buds coming out on the tree, you know that summer is near.

Now you don't know exactly when it will come but you know it's coming. You may not know exactly when it will take place. But you know that the time is nearing.

He was teaching his disciples a very valid principal of Bible interpretation, and this is it ready Bible interpretation rule coming events cast their shadows before the coming events cast their shadows before. I don't mean to suggest that there are signs that need to be fulfilled before the rapture can take place. But the Lord does say that if you study the Scripture. And if you look at God's movements and the affairs of men. You will have some indication as to when God is setting the stage that will consummate in the coming of the son of God see what he saying to us, these things are prophecies which will be fulfilled immediately before Christ comes to set up his kingdom. But before these things are in full bloom. The church is going to be rapture. So if we now in this day and age are beginning to see the setting of the stage with these events. It simply tells us that our redemption is near the rapture must certainly come because before they can get in full gear. We've got to be gone and we see those things happening on the horizon. I wish I had time just take all the signs in Matthew 24, 25 and show you how though they do not prophesy the rapture. They prophesied the second Advent, by their very presence on the horizon.

They tell us that the rapture is near, just like the fig tree. See I can do that with all of them, but let me just share one thought with you about one of the signs Jesus said would come to pass before the kingdom was set up. Remember, the disciples of Lord, what is the sign of thy coming in the end of the age. And Jesus gave many signs. One of them. He said was that there would be famines that the world would be a hungry world. You read your paper. Are there famines today all over this globe and for the first time, for many of us in my generation its beginning even to touch our own land.

I personally believe that the next great crisis in this world will be universal family. All you have to do is ponder the population explosion.

We do a little mathematics for you that we help you understand what I'm talking about, you know that it took all of recorded history for the world to produce its first billion inhabitants around 1850 words from creation until 1850. It took that long to produce the first billion inhabitants of this globe that it took 80 years to pass the 2 billion mark in 1930 and another 31 years to reach 3 billion in 1961, but only 15 years were required to add the fourth billion by 1976 and those who have studied it tell us if we continue to grow at our present rate in 900 years we will have 60 million billion people on the earth, or 100 people for every square yard of her slander. See you say that can happen. I know it can happen. Some sky happened before. That doesn't the projection for this disaster involving the population, natural resources, food and industrial output has gone off the chart. Knowing project wasn't me. Well, if you study the world, you know, in India it means for sterilization slated to curbing his population in our country.

It means the energy crisis is just begun and it will continue to grow the world's resources of pass the half-full point and are moving toward empty, the average political leaders face not only with the realization of the world's problem but with his own local problems as well. It is becoming more and more obvious. According to Carl Jeong that it is not starvation, not microbes, not cancer, but man himself was mankind's greatest danger, famine, it's inevitable and is received that developing.

That means that the kingdom of Christ is coming and that means that seven years before that the rapture of the church is coming and that means men, women, the Lord's coming back soon. That's all that's teaching coming events cast their shadows before them.

The same is true with wars and rumors of wars and pestilence, and all of you with things that are in the passage of Scripture.

It is not wrong to say as we study this passage that these things are telling us that the Lord's coming draws nigh it is wrong to say that all of these things happen and then the rapture comes. That's not what is teaching you know most women I know who do not know the Lord really could care less about these problems there caught up in the treadmill of their own daily experience and existence. That's all they care about trying to get through the agony of one day after another. I remember reading some time ago, a statement written by John Powell. He said that when you repress or suppress things that you don't want to live with. You don't really solve the problem because you don't bury the problem dead. You bury the problem alive and it maintains itself alive and active in your heart you know what our world is filled with men and women who have buried the problems of our day alive within them. It's no wonder they're coming apart at the seams. What prophecy does for you more than anything else focuses.

It gives you a perspective on the future certain knowledge that Christ is in control with the world is in his sovereign hands that he is a plan in a program and as you study it you see it. Find out how you fit into it you can live every day rejoicing in Jesus Christ. He might come today, but if he doesn't I'm going to live my life to the fullest accomplishing what is Jesus is coming again were so happy to have you here today. Thank you for joining us as we have talked again from the New Testament in preparation for tomorrow, when we get back to the book of Daniel in the eighth chapter draws lessons called superpowers in conflict is a prediction of what's going to happen someday and we can see little venues of that starting to open up to us even as we look at our culture and history of playing up for today so don't miss tomorrow over getting into some of the more exciting parts of the book of Daniel and tomorrow we will jump into this eighth chapter you will you see what I mean when you join us. Today's message originally from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Dr. David Jeremiah how was God been using Turning Points to minister to you like to let us know as Turning Point PO Box 383, San Diego, CA 92163 visit our website at David Jeremiah dog/right you a copy of David's helpful and encouraging you both announces to questions about living in the last things learned how to live with citizens.

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