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.