Signs of the Times: Signs that are NOT “Signs”

Signs of the Times: Signs that are NOT “Signs”

Signs: Signs that are NOT Signs
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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I.        PROMISE OF EVENTS TO COME
A.       FALSE RELIGION
1.       WARNING
Mt 24:4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one misleads you.
2.       GENERAL OBSERVATION
Mt 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will mislead many.
I John 2:18
**FALSE RELIGION is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return

B.       FRIGHTENING PROSPECTS
1.       WAR
Mt 24:6a And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.
2.       IDEOLOGIES
Mt 24:7a For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,
**WAR/BLOODSHED is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return

C.       FEARFUL CALAMITIES
1.       DISASTERS
Mt 24:7b and there will be famines, infestations and earthquakes in various places.
**NATURAL DISASTER is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return
2.       PRELIMINARIES
Mt 24:8 All those are just the beginning of labor pains.


D.       FATEFUL PROMISES
1.       PERSCUTION
Mt 24:9a Then they will deliver you up to trouble, even putting you to death
**PERSECUTION is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return
2.       BRANDED
Mt 24:9b and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
Galatians 6:17
**HATRED OF VALUES is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return

E.       FORSAKING CHRISTIANITY
1.       TOO HIGH
Mt 24:10 And then many [professing Christians] will fall away, even betraying and hating one another.
I John 2:19
John 8:31
Heb 3:12
II Tim 2:11-12
Luke 9:62
**APOSTASY is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return
2.       DECEPTIVE LEADERS
Mt 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
**FALSE LEADERS are NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return
3.       BREAKDOWN
Mt 24:12 And because anarchy will increase, the love of many will grow cold.
**BREAKDOWN OF SOCIETY is NOT a specific sign of Messiah’s return
4.       FAITHFUL
Mt 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.
II Tim 3:1-5
Luke 21:19
Rev 2:11

II.       REACTION TO EVENTS TO COME
A.       FAITHFUL PROCLAMATION
1.       PERSPECTIVE
Mt 24:6b See that you’re not troubled; it is necessary for all these to occur, but it is not yet the end.
2.       CERTAINTY
Mt 24:14a And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world

B.       FINAL STAGE
1.       PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
Mt 24:14b as a testimony to all nations
2.       THEN THE FINAL EVENTS
Mt 24:14c and then the end will come.