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THE SIGNS OF HIS RETURN 1. Truly I Say to You Matthew 24:1-2 Matthew 24:1–2 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Tonight we’re launching into the study of one of the most RADICAL passages in the entire Bible. It is known as the Olivet Discourse because Jesus taught these things on the Western slope of the Mount of Olives — facing the Temple Mount. This discourse (Matthew 24-25) is the second longest by Jesus (next to the Sermon on the Mount that takes up 3 chapters in Matthews account of the life and mission of Jesus Matthew 5-7). This discourse has it’s beginning as Jesus and the disciples are leaving the Temple Mount. It begins in the first verse of Matthew 24 with an observation made by the disciples followed by a mind-blowing prediction made by Jesus in verse 2. By verse 3 they have crossed the Kidron Valley and made their way on to the side of the Mount of Olives. In the course of their walk that prediction would birth a three-fold question. In response to their question Jesus would lay out for them the flow of events in human history leading up to His Second Coming to the earth. He sets forth for them signs that will precede His return at the end of the Great Tribulation to set up His rule upon the earth for 1,000 years. WE NEED TO LAY SOME IMPORTANT GROUND WORK HERE! 1. These are NOT the signs of the coming of Jesus for the Church A.K.A. “the Rapture.” The rapture is not mentioned in these chapters. Jesus does not begin to make known His coming FOR the Church until the night before He dies

John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

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The particulars of the rapture would be further revealed in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15 which predict that Christ will come for His church. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 we’re told that when Jesus comes for the church Christians who have died will be resurrected and Christians who are living will be caught up with tremendous force and will meet the Lord in the air. In 1 Corinthians 15 were told that in a moment — in the twinkling of an eye their bodies will be suddenly transformed — and they will forever be with the Lord (fulfilling the promise of Jesus in John 14:3. I believe the event of the rapture will take place before the specific end-time events of the Great Tribulation that Jesus describes in this discourse. Following the event of the rapture the events predicted in this discourse will transpire with great speed leading up to the return of Jesus TO the earth WITH His Church We don’t want to confuse the Rapture (Jesus coming FOR His Church) with the Second Coming (Jesus coming WITH His Church to the earth) 2. Jesus is laying out for His disciples SIGNS that will mark His return to the earth and rule in righteousness upon the earth for 1,000 years. This period of 1,000 years is mentioned 6 times in Revelation 20. This 1,000 year reign of Jesus is referred to as “the Millennium” — from two Latin words: mille, ‘thousand,’ and annum, ‘year.’ There are THREE theological views concerning this period of time. The Amillennial view — This view holds that the number of years in Revelation 20 is a symbolic number, not a literal duration of time. It also says that the millennium has actually already begun and is identical with the church age. In other words — we are in the Millennium right now. Satan is bound in the sense that his power is now limited because of the Cross of Christ. The Post-Millenial view — Like the Amillennial view Post Millennialism also takes the position that the period of a thousand years is not to be taken literally. They think of it as a long period of time — and at the end of that long period of time (hence the prefix post) the Gospel will have advanced until the entire world is finally and totally surrendered to the rule of Jesus. At the end of that long period of time Jesus will return. Here’s how one of the most influential Christian leader in America framed it

“there will be no organizations or government… there will be a Church.”

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The problem with this view is that the words of Jesus in these two chapters speak of increasing evil — climaxed by judgment at the return of Jesus/ The Premillennial view — is the belief that upon His return Jesus will literally reign on the earth for 1,000 years. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it positions this current age as being before (hence the prefix pre) this thousand year rule of Jesus. BEFORE we look at the third bit of our groundwork I need to say something really important — something I wish I had taken to heart a long time ago in my ministry. When it comes to the area of prophecy, I think it's important to have a humble spirit and an open mind when it comes to studying prophecy. Let me explain. When you hear me teaching about the deity of Jesus Christ, or justification by faith, substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, or the Trinity, you will never hear me say anything to the effect of This is my opinion, or This is what I think or Someday we'll figure this out. Those are doctrines that we hold in a closed hand! They are non-negotiable. if you don't teach those things or agree upon those things you have left historic Christianity and you've gone into some other realm. But When it comes to the study of escatology (the study of last things) and the prophecies that pertain to the last days — or as the prophet Daniel referred to it “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4; 9) there are godly, Jesus loving, Bible honoring men and women have a different hermeneutic (a different way of interpreting) prophecy — and as a result they come up with different conclusions about the way the end of the story is going to roll out. So in this realm of theology we can humbly say that at the end of the day we really are going to figure it out — because Jesus will set up His rule and He will usher in a New Heaven and a New Earth and He will reign forever and ever, amen! I’m pretty sure that when we are in His forever Kingdom that we aren’t going to see one prophecy camp rubbing it in saying, We got it right; you got it wrong. We’re just going to be basking in the glory of Jesus. So on this side of forever I think it's important to have a humble spirit an open mind. I didn’t always used to be that way. Let’s get back the third element of our groundwork.

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3. These chapters are PROPHETIC in nature. It is just so huge for us to not miss who it is that is speaking prophetically in Matthew 24-25 — and when it is that He took the time to speak. The one speaking is the very God who raised up — sent — and spoke through the prophets of the Old Testament! He is stopped everything He was doing in His final hours before being nailed to the cross to tell us the things that will happen and must happen before He returns to the earth! One of the great tragedies of 21st century Christianity is the way the study of Biblical prophecy has been to a large degree diminished, and even dismissed by many as irrelevant and that those who have a high view of prophecy and its fulfillment are the eccentric fringe of the church. Such a low view of prophecy is a total disregard of the high view of prophecy Jesus had — a total disregard for how Jesus went out of His way to talk at great length (97 verses in these two chapters of Matthew) about very real future events of planet earth that would precede His return to the earth. And that weight is amplified by the fact that he carved out a big chunk of time to do this when He had only a hours before He would be crucified. The word watch was the key theme: “When you see these things…..” There were specific things that were going to happen — in fact had to happen — that would signal His return. If you are reading and studying the New Testament you can’t just pretend like prophecy isn’t a big deal. One of every ten Holy Spirit inspired verses of the New Testament deal with prophecy concerning the rapture of the church or the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The New Testament makes mention of the New Birth 7 times. The doctrine of the New Birth is ESSENTIAL to the Christian faith — essential to the nature of what a Christian is. The New Testament speaks of repentance and faith 20 times. Faith is ESSENTIAL to salvation — ESSENTIAL to how you become a Christian — ESSENTIAL to how we live as Christians. The New Testament speaks of baptisms (plural) 70 times (baptism of the Holy Spirit, water baptism, baptism into the Body of Christ). There are over 300 hundred mentions of the return of Jesus Christ for His church and with His church. It is by far the broadest subject in the New Testament. Such breadth and depth dedicated dedicated to prophecy concerning the Lord’s return for His Church and the Lord’s return with His Church to the world should not strike us as odd. Put yourself in the Lord’s place — the place of the bridegroom looking for the day when He will come for his Bride. Certainly in your writings, the greatest part of your writings would deal with the subject of when you were going to see each other again.

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John 17:24 NKJV Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

It is in the heart of Christ for us to be gathered to Him. Yet He knows that as we wait for that day, we will live through an age that will be troubled. So, Jesus tells us that when we see these difficult things, as difficult as they are, they are SIGN of His coming! One of the things we must bear in mind in the study of prophecy is that when God predicts future events, they always come to pass exactly as He prophesied. SO we simply must pay close attention to what is actually said because the details are very important. With that groundwork laid — Let’s dig in!

Matthew 24:1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Mark adds this –

Mark 13:1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

The Temple was originally built by Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians. It was rebuilt under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Ezra (Ezra 6:15). It was the center of Jewish life for almost a thousand years. It represented to them not just their worship — but the stability and certainty of their nation. It was so vital a part of the nation that it was customary to swear by the temple (Matthew 23:16), and speaking against the temple could be considered blasphemy (Acts 6:13). The Temple was later greatly expanded and improved by Herod the Great — a very little man who built very big things. After Herod's work, the temple and its precincts was huge - nearly 500 yards long and 400 yards wide. Herod's rebuilding work started in 19BC. The project continued for decades after his death. Herod’s remodeling project was finally completed in 63AD — 80+ years! The temple was finished only seven years before it was destroyed. Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings! I want us to see why these men said were so impressed. To enlarge the Temple Mount Herod

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made a huge retaining wall comprised of massive stones that were quarried and pre-cut outside of the city. An especially large course of stones is visible on the southern and western walls today. In what is today called the “Rabbi’s Tunnel” you can see what is called the “Master Course”. It consists of four stones. The largest of which weighs 570 tons. It is 44 feet long x 10 feet high x 12-16 feet deep. The next largest stone in the wall is a mere 40 feet long.

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SENSE OF SCALE - The largest stone in the Great Pyramid weighs 11 tons. The bottom of that largest stone is cut to the shape of the bedrock so it just fits in place perfectly.

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On the top level is Today’s “Western Wall”

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There are many stones there over 20 feet long, 5 feet high, 8 feet thick — put in place with no mortar! You can’t put the blade of your pen-knife between the stones.

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THAT’S JUST the retaining wall! Then there was the Temple itself! 150 feet tall! But the temple wasn't just big — it was absolutely beautiful. Garrard’s Model

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The Jewish historian Josephus says that the temple was covered on the outside with gold plates that were so brilliant that when the sun would shine on them it was blinding to look at. Where there was no gold, there were blocks of marble that were so pure white that from a distance, strangers thought there was snow on the temple. So these men were moved at the majesty of this place — struck by the spectacular size and beauty of the Temple and its courts. We need to remember that a lot of these guys were from the North, in Galilee. They were viewed as the country bumpkins of Israel. They lived in homes that were about the size of four or five of our parking spaces. For them to see a building that was more than one story tall was a really big deal, and they’ve been spending days in the shadow of the 12 stories tall Temple in Jerusalem. It was glorious. So as they’re leaving the Temple mount they can’t stop talking about how magnificent it was. But beneath all of that they were moved by the sense of security and significance this magnificent place lent to the nation.

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Then Jesus drops this radical prediction on them.

2But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” That would have literally been UNTHINKABLE for these men! They remembered their history. They had the book of Jeremiah — they had the book of Lamentations — the inspired records of the utter destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon’s temple. It was UNTHINKABLE that such a thing could ever happen again. They couldn’t imagine the deliberate force that would have to be unleashed dislodge the stones and structures they were marveling at. Less than 40 years after Jesus dropped this prophetic bomb on them there was a widespread Jewish revolt against Roman rule in Israel. Ultimately the legions of Rome under Titus Vespasian came to crush the rebellion — beginning at the top of the land working downward to Jerusalem.

“Titus decided to encircle and seal the entire city by building a (siege) wall. In late June, the Romans stormed the hulking Antonia Fortress that commanded the Temple itself and then razed it, except for one tower where Titus set up his command-post.”1

There was no ingress or egress. For a period of about three years, the people of Israel suffered intensely within the walls of Jerusalem. Historians tell us that about two million people died during those three years. They could not go out of the city and bury them. They were are piling bodies up inside the city. It was a horrible grotesque moment in Israel’s history. It is said that at when the fall of Jerusalem finally came, the last surviving Jews fled to the temple, because it was the strongest, most secure building in the city. Roman soldiers surrounded it, and a soldier started a fire that soon engulfed the whole building. The ornate gold work melted down in the cracks between the stone walls of the temple, and to retrieve the gold, the Roman commander ordered that the temple be dismantled stone by stone. The destruction was so complete that today archeologists still haven’t been able to find where the exact location of the Temple was on the Temple mount.

1 Simon Sebag Montefiore. “Jerusalem.”

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DON’T MISS THIS — This prophecy was fulfilled literally. There was nothing symbolic about it. Nearly 2 million Jews died. About 90,000 Jews were carried away as slaves. The stones of this magnificent structure were thrown down — crushing the pavement in the Tyropean Valley below the Temple. The literal fulfillment of this prophecy establishes the tone for the rest of the prophecies in the chapter. We should expect a literal fulfillment for these as well. If Jesus could prophesy in detail — some 38 years in advance — an event that was literally unthinkable in the minds of the men listening — I think it’s very important for us to listen to the rest of the chapter too. I believe with all my heart that everything else He says in this chapter will be happening prior to His return exactly as He said. DON’T MISS THIS — The fulfillment of the prophecy was NOT immediate! There was not a stone thrown down for 38 years. The work of renovation, though completed in its large part, would carry on for 31 years. For the next 31 years stones were ADDED — not thrown down. BUT the day did come — Just as Jesus predicted! And the Temple was so completely destroyed that it’s has been virtually impossible for archeologists to determine it’s exact location on the temple Mount. TWO BIG APPLICATIONS 1. We can’t discount prophecy because it seems impossible and inconceivable to the human mind — because it seems impossible and inconceivable in light of what we understand about the world. It really struck me today just how strong a thing unbelief can be. When it comes to things in the Word of God that are beyond our ability to conceptualize we say, That certainly can’t happen — or This must not be taken literally. We say that and think. That about the Bible when we are living in a world where our every day lives are surrounded by things that were impossible and inconceivable to man at one time (space flight — global telecommunication). 2. We do not want to misinterpret God’s delays — Some mistake God’s delays as evidence that He will NEVER act to fulfill His Word — or that He will NEVER act in judgment.

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First of all — To the contrary, His ACTS are NEVER delayed. God is NEVER LATE. He is only LATE — He only DELAYS — from our vantage point. He ALWAYS does what He has purposed to do — in His PERFECT timing.

Isaiah 46:8-11 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors,9remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’11…… I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Secondly – The passing of time in the fulfilling of a prophecy is out of MERCY.

Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” As man view this — he concludes that if Jesus hasn’t come in 2,000 years HE AINT COMIN at all!

2 Peter 3:1-9 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

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that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come……

Yes — Jesus HAS (from our point of view) “delayed” His return for nearly 2,000 years! Peter tells us why: God wants to give this sinful world opportunity to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:1).

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Back to the destruction of the Temple — 38+ years passed from Matthew 24:2 until Jerusalem was destroyed because Jesus wanted to give the descendants of Abraham an opportunity to repent. Jesus prefaced His prophetic statement with the words 2 Truly, I say to you Peter said that Christians — UNLIKE the unbelievers — should remember the predictions of the holy prophets. QUESTION — WHY does man turn a blind eye to the reality of fulfilled Bible Prophecy and Bible Prophecy yet to be fulfilled? Because if you look at the predictive nature of the Bible and the unerring accuracy of those predictions there are RATIONAL and INESCAPABLE conclusions

There is a GOD — God Himself said (Isaiah 46:9-10) that He declared the end from the beginning to show that He alone is God. There is a HEAVEN and HELL This world is coming to an end!

Everything that this world values is TEMPORAL and is of ZERO value apart from its relationship to Christ! Not just your “stuff” — but your life itself!

TRAGIC OBSERVATION — The average church-goer and the average church today ignores and/or avoids books of the Bible or portions of books of the Bible that are prophetic in nature because the world that they know and presently enjoy is too precious to them. Bible prophecy rains on that parade! That’s why they don’t want to study passages like Matthew 24-25. That’s why they don’t want to believe that the events of Matthew 24-25 are actually going to happen. They’re O.K. with the Bible as long as it is looked at as a “How To” manual to improve their quality of life and lifestyle in this present world rather than what it really is: The revelation of God to man — truth that transforms their lives in this present age. A true understanding of Bible prophecy as a whole and Matthew 24-25 in particular should motivate us to obey God’s Word — motivate us to share God’s invitation with a lost world. Prophecy should provoke MINISTRY and EVANGELISM and PURITY of heart.

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CLOSING APPLICATIONS FIRST — The magnificent Temple made these Jews from Galilee stand in awe. It was not only majestic but in the eyes of many Jews it stood as something unshakable and immovable in their lives. It stood as THE constant in the face of Roman occupation. SURELY the lesson for us is that whatever we might think is the SURE thing — whatever we might look to on this earth for STABILITY Is really NOT so sure. There is ONLY ONE thing that cannot be shaken. The life found IN Christ and found standing upon His Word.

Hebrews 12:26–27 NLT When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

LASTLY — For many the Temple gave a FALSE sense of security in their relationship to God. But God was not O.K. with the spiritual life of Israel. The men overseeing the Temple worship and functions had just been exposed by Jesus as the worst of religious hypocrites. The men overseeing the Temple had turned the House of God into a den of thieves. The men overseeing the Temple of the Living God had only days earlier rejected the promised Messiah of Israel and now they were desperate to see Him destroyed. LISTEN to these words of the Prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah 7:1-4 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord. 3Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’

The Jews of the Old Testament had found FALSE security in the Temple that had just been renovated in the day of Jeremiah. The Jews of Jesus’ day found false security in the Temple that had just been renovated.

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There are many attending churches this very day — perhaps here at Metro tonight who look at their church, their church attendance, their church involvement and conclude that all is well with them and God. IF that is your security with God you will find not one stone left standing.