Signs of the Times:The Terminal Generation•
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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Introduction: The theme of the 2nd Coming of the Messiah, Jesus, permeates the New Testament. Paul wrote (I Cor 15:51-53 “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”)
John added (I John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”)
So the answer to the middle question of the Disciples – just what exactly will be the sign of YOUR COMING – was still prominent in hearts a generation after the cross. Jerusalem and Temple destroyed. Wars. Desolating sacrilege of the Antichrist and then the GREAT TRIBULATION like the world has never known.
But THEN Jesus returns like a lightning flash from sky to sky. Paul reminds us to be prepared for this even (Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ)
I. UNMISTAKABLE PROPHECY
A. PROPHETIC ACTIVITY
Mt 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
1. CONCLUSION OF THE TRIBULATION
Luke 21:25-26 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
2. CONVULSION OF THE HEAVENS
Joel 2:1-2 “Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generation”
Isaiah 34:4 “All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree”
Revelation 6:12-14Then he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Luke 21:25-26 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.
B. PROPHETIC APPEARANCE
Mt 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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.
1. COMING OF JESUS
Revelation 19: 11 “I looked and saw that heaven was open, and a white horse was there. Its rider was called Faithful and True, and he is always fair when he judges or goes to war.
Isaiah 19:1 Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them
Psalm 104:3 He makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind
Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie dow
with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!
2. CRY OF THE PEOPLE
Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship Him the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelation 16:9 They did not repent and give Him glory.
Revelation 19:8,14 It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
C. PROPHETIC ASSEMBLY
Mt 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1. CALL OF THE TRUMPET
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
2. CONGREGATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS
II. UNALTERABLE PROPHECY
A. PROPHETIC ANALOGY
1. CONCEALED TRUTH
Mt 24:32 “From the fig tree learn the parable: As soon as its branch buds and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
Parable conceals truth. When explained, it reveals truth
2. CONCLUSION OF THE TIMING
Mt 24:33 So also, when you see these things [happen], you know that [the kingdom of God] is near, at the door.
Luke 21:29-31 Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near
B. PROPHETIC APPLICATION
Mt 24:34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
1. CYCLE OF LIFE
2. COME TO PASS
“All these things” = indicate He is near
24:1-3 Questions about “when”
24:4-14 Signs that aren’t signs; normal horrors!
24:15 Desolating sacrilege
24:16-22 Jerusalem/Temple destroyed
24:23-28 Great tribulation
24:29-35 Second Coming
24:36-51 Illustrations of suddenness/imminence
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
C. PROPHETIC AUTHORITY
Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
1. CATACLYSMIC EVENTS
II Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away
2. COMMAND OF GOD
Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Conclusion: Chuck Colson said, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t arrive on Air Force One”
II Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Romans 8:18,21,23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
I Cor 1:4-8 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:12-13 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ