Man’s idea about the future has always been bright, optimistic. Many politicians and false preachers have always deceived people, promising ache din, amrit kaal, and a golden age. But the world has never seen that. In Matthew 24, the true final great prophet tells us what is going to come in the future. He said it 2,000 years ago, and every generation is a witness to how true his words are. This very chapter proves God alone could have spoken these things.
For the disciples who asked these questions, it was not merely intellectual curiosity. It was a very personal, emotional, and interesting subject. Suppose I were to tell you the whole of Bangalore will soon face a war and many earthquakes; it will be so severe that not only will all tall buildings fall, but not one brick will be upon another in any house—all will become desolate. None of you would hear that news carelessly, but with great personal emotional concern. But here, the Lord does not talk about just Bangalore, but the entire world. How much more we ought to listen to the Lord’s forecast of the future not with curiosity but with attention.
This chapter, which Christ speaks just before His death, was intended to prepare them and all of His disciples for future things. It has very practical lessons. Sadly, it has become a chapter of so much debate and argument among Christians. We need the special help of the Holy Spirit (HS) to understand it in a way that leads to our edification and the strengthening of our faith and life change.
We need to remember the context after His three-year ministry and final rejection. He leaves the temple, pronouncing judgment on that guilty generation: “Your house will be desolate.” When Christ leaves, that house is indeed left desolate, which is the New Testament Ichabod: “The glory is departed; their defense is departed.” Three days after this, the veil of the temple was torn; it would no longer be a sacred place.
When He left the temple, His disciples left it too and followed Him. That is a true disciple of Christ. He will be where Christ is and where His words of eternal life are preached. Christ is not there where His word is not preached. There are people who call themselves Christ’s disciples but are just religious Pharisees who will stick to the building with a death grip; the building is all for them—grandfather, father, I, my son. Even when Christ is not there, and His word is not preached, and Christ leaves, they will not leave that building and become desolate with it.
The disciples leave, but we still see their weakness and attachment to that great, fine building. They point out the magnificence of the building and the massive stones with which the temple is built in exclamation and wonder, hoping the Lord will reverse the sentence. Our Lord, in response to their exclamation, makes a shocking prophecy.
Christ, instead of reversing the decree, ratifies it: “Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be left one stone upon another.” He speaks of it as a certain ruin: “I say unto you. I, that know what I say, and know how to make good what I say; take my word for it, it shall be so; I, the Amen, the true Witness, say it to you.” All judgment being committed to the Son, He speaks of it as an utter ruin. The temple shall not only be stripped, plundered, and defaced, but utterly demolished and laid waste; not one stone upon another.
As they move further, the Lord climbs the Mount of Olives and sits there as the sun is setting, with the beauty of the temple shining, facing a beautiful scene. The disciples are in deep thought, following Him. The four disciples, not disputing either the truth or the equity of this sentence, nor doubting of the accomplishment of it, come to Him, asking the questions about the time when it should come to pass and the signs of its approach. We should explain this chapter in the context of these questions.
- First question: “Tell us, when will these things be?” What things? One stone upon another—the destruction of Jerusalem.
- Second question: “And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
How can anyone say this doesn’t talk about the destruction of Jerusalem? This is the problem with the dispensationalist; to fit their scheme of charts, they completely take this chapter out of context. So, there the Lord is sitting on the Mount of Olives, directly facing the temple, and from thence, He might have a full prospect of it at some distance. There He sat as a Judge upon the bench, the temple and city being before Him as at the bar, and thus He passed sentence on them.
In the disciples’ thinking, and so their question, the end of Jerusalem and the end of the world were the same. They thought the destruction of the temple must needs be the end of the world. If that house be laid waste, the world cannot stand; for the Rabbis used to say that the house of the sanctuary was one of the seven things for the sake of which the world was made; and they think, if so, the world will not survive the temple. The Lord corrects that in His response.
Though it seems like He speaks of diverse events, it is prophetic language talking about two important future events in the history of redemption:
- The destruction of Jerusalem and the utter ruin of the Old Covenant (OCov) Jewish church and nation.
- Then looking further, to Christ’s coming at the end of time and the consummation of all things, of which the destruction of Jerusalem is a type, foretaste, and figure.
Why should the Holy Spirit write about the destruction of Jerusalem to us, which is over? This prophecy is of standing, lasting use to the church, and will be so to the end of time; for “the thing that hath been, is that which shall be” (Ecclesiastes 1:5; 1:6; 1:7; 1:9), and the series, connection, and presages of events, it keeps happening even now. So that upon the prophecy of this chapter, with the Holy Spirit’s help and wisdom, looking at the old destruction of the nation, we can have spiritual lessons—”an unprecedented deep amount of soul-searching, determination, foresight… with settled calm, knowing these things happened and will happen and prognostication” may be made, and such constructions of the signs of the times as the wise spiritual man’s heart will know how to improve in various changing society, political, and world situations.
So these events happen around the destruction of Jerusalem, but the text also goes beyond the destruction of Jerusalem and describes conditions that will happen between the First Coming and the Second Coming. The First Coming was in His humiliation to suffer, die, and rise, and the Second Coming will be in all glory. That period is often called the inter-advent period. Whether you realize it or not, you and I are in that time, and it is written for us to handle whatever comes in our lives in this time.
The Lord’s aim was not to give detailed, pre-written history to satisfy our knowledge or curiosity, but He had very practical guidance for them and for us. His burning concern was to prepare His people practically for the coming days, not to fill their heads with details. So, He gives warnings, prophecies, and encouragements for the people of God living between the First and Second Coming.
In the first section, He talks about five signs in verses 4–14, and then He doesn’t leave it but gives us a practical command on what we should do, in terms of warning and encouragement. So, if you ask me what will mark the time between the First and Second Coming, the first thing is…
First, Spiritual Deception (v. 4-5)
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
The very first sign is spiritual deception. Many will come in My name by claiming they represent Christ or even have the arrogance to claim they are apostles or even say that they are Christ themselves. The deceivers would pretend to divine revelation, an immediate calling from God, and a spirit of prophecy, when it was all a lie. The very first sign He highlights is that this inter-advent period will proliferate itself with false teachers and false Christs and will be an atmosphere of religious deception. How true this is for the last 2,000 years! Every generation had them. In the last 100 years, the very famous Rev. Sun Myung Moon, David Koresh, and Jim Jones called themselves the Messiah. Messiah-figures have sprung up in every generation to offer new revelations or new religious twists—all moving people away from the sufficiency that is found in Jesus Christ and the gospel. How many rise up in our day telling stories that God revealed to them when committing suicide, in jail, or in disease about to die? How many rise up in His name? So foolish are some of their claims.
But you know what is tragic? The prophecy says: “and will deceive many.” Mark says, “they shall lead many astray.” Many will be duped. That is the tragedy of the warning. Our Lord saw with accurate prophetic insight the horrible gullibility (tendency to be easily persuaded that something is real or true) of men in things pertaining to religion. Man’s capacity for gullibility in religion seems almost infinite. Messages/Claims that would cause people to look foolish and lunatic in worldly matters, but in Christianity elevate them to prophets and prophetesses, apostles, and even Christ in great spiritual things.
As we approach the end of the age, spiritual deception will increase because spiritual gullibility will increase. Having turned away from the truth, people will follow anyone who speaks with authority and promises to help solve their problems and give meaning to daily life. Note carefully what I Timothy 4:1 says: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” Those “deceiving spirits” are in the world today, and their evident success rate seems to be very high.
He amplifies this, speaking with reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. Even before the destruction of Jerusalem, many will claim to be Christ.
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
This is true even before Jerusalem was destroyed. Now, Israel, rejecting the true Messiah, will believe many false Messiahs after this. Josephus speaks of several such impostors between this and the destruction of Jerusalem: one Theudas, who was defeated by Cospius Fadus; another by Felix; Dositheus said he was the Christ foretold by Moses (Origen adversus Celsum). See Acts 5:36; Acts 5:37. Simon Magus pretended to be “the great power of God,” Acts 8:10.
“They shall show great signs and wonders” (Matthew 24:24). Not true miracles, as those are a divine seal, and with those the doctrine of Christ stands confirmed. But these were lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9), wrought by Satan. It is not said, They shall work miracles, but, They shall show great signs; they are but a show; either they impose upon men’s credulity by false narratives, or deceive their senses by tricks of legerdemain, or arts of divination, as the magicians of Egypt by their enchantments.
The success they should have in these attempts:
- They shall deceive many. Their deceptive influence will be so pervasive and persuasive. One would think even the elect of God are going to be drawn aside by the magnetism of their religious influence and by their miraculous powers.
- It talks about the strength of the delusion: it is such as many shall be carried away by (so strong shall the stream be), even those who were thought to stand fast. Men’s knowledge, gifts, learning, eminent station, and long experience will not secure them; but, notwithstanding these, many will be deceived.
- So strong… If possible… Implied in that verse is that it is not possible, for they are “kept by the power of God,” that “the purpose of God, according to the election, may stand.” They were given to Christ; and of all that were given to Him, He will lose none, John 10:28.
If this is going to be the atmosphere of the inter-advent time, what are we supposed to do? What is the application? Notice the strong warning:
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Jesus uses the word in Mark: “lead you astray.” Lead you astray from what? Astray from the attachment to the only true Christ, from the attachment to the one and true narrow way which leads unto life. Take heed, see to it, constantly be on the lookout that no one leads you astray. New deceptions will come; it will be a big temptation for you. You need to constantly take heed; you will be living in an atmosphere of deception between the First and Second Coming, so much deception that even if possible, the elect could be deceived. If you don’t take heed seriously, you are already living in that deception. Be constantly watchful that no man leads you astray; many will be deceived.
The practical lesson the Lord wants us to learn, so we are not deceived, is this: You and I must be passionately concerned to know and be deeply rooted in biblical theology and the deep truths of Scripture, and to stand fast in that; otherwise, you will be easily deceived. You need to put time and effort into knowing the identity of God’s only Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. We must be especially well-grounded and deeply understand the foundational truths of the authority of God’s word, who God is, His providence, the fall of man, and the identity of Christ as the only mediator; the glory of His salvation; what salvation does to you; how you are saved by effectual calling, justifying, adopting, sanctifying, saving faith, and repentance—all truths taught in our confession of faith (COF).
In other words, if you do not have a passionate concern for a doctrinally intelligent faith in Christ, you will be led astray easily. Some of you are so ignorant that you do not even know the basics of faith, yet you are careless about putting in the time and effort to learn and grow in the truth. We spend evenings trying to give you that theological foundation; how few make it a point to attend and learn! The Lord is speaking to you. Take heed; be on your guard that no one leads you astray. You will be led astray unless you commit yourself to be thoroughly rooted and grounded in truth. That is why it is so important that in the membership classes, we take all the time in our busy schedules to help teach you the foundations. You shouldn’t stop with that, but you must do your own study afterward. For others who are already members, how strongly are you growing in the truth—reading and developing? Take heed! If you are not constantly growing in truth, you may be on the path of deception. You will be led astray; your difficulties and temptations in life will lead you astray if you don’t read, hear messages, and “upgrade yourself” with the sermons. That is why we encourage you to re-listen to sermons, read books, and read your Bibles. We live in deceptive times.
Deceivers will be present not only prior to the destruction of Jerusalem but throughout the entire inter-advent period. They will come with greater concentration in the unfolding of human history, but you and I must be on our guard. He says this deception will mark the inter-advent period.
Second Sign: International Conflict (vv. 6-7a)
6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
“You will be hearing,” meaning that we live in an age of unending commotion and upheaval. This is so true. For 2,000 years, every generation has seen wars. This is what has happened. Just in the last 200 years, the most terrible wars of WWI and WWII occurred, and we do not realize that in the last 50 years, there have been wars in Rwanda, Cambodia, Chechnya, Serbia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Iraq, Kashmir, Northern Ireland, Somalia, Kuwait, Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and dozens of lesser-known bloody conflicts around the world. Now we can add Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Korea, Vietnam. Now, in front of our eyes, this prophecy is fulfilled in Russia. One man sitting with a nuclear button, his mind spoiled, could press the nuclear button and most of the world would be gone. He is threatening the world with that.
“Nation will rise against Nation.” Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea against all the Western and European countries. The history of humanity is the history of wars. Even the quiet in the land, and the least inquisitive after new things, cannot but hear the rumors of war. Nation shall rise up against nation, and there will be civil wars within our country. We are going toward civil war, one community against another, one province against another, one party or faction shall rise up against another. We feel so helpless when these things are happening. The big Prime Ministers and Presidents in their rooms make decisions that will affect the whole nation; masses will die. So frightening.
The Third Sign (v. 7b)
And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
When men, in their pride and arrogance, plan war and destruction, there is a limit and some control. But who can control natural disasters? Famines—clouds that carry a certain amount of rainfall to a certain region, turning the land that was full of lush green crop suddenly barren, with cracks. A country suffering from basic food needs; rates going up for basic needs, even for water; many dying in famines with no food, no water.
Natural disasters, over which we have no power, are so frightening. Who can control earthquakes that cause such destruction of cities and places, killing lakhs? Or earthquakes in the ocean that send huge Tsunamis over all the nations on the borders, dragging millions into the ocean helplessly? Then, should I explain pestilence? We have seen with our own eyes this prophecy fulfilled just a few months ago—an outbreak of disease from one place, spreading to all nations, locking up and putting the entire globe to a stop, such as never seen in our lifetime. Thousands died, and bodies were floating in rivers, burning, and being buried in heaps.
Famines, earthquakes, and outbreaks of disease. These were the three judgments which David was to choose one out of, and he was in a great strait, for he knew not which was the worst. But what dreadful desolations will they make when they all pour in together upon a people! But our Lord says these will mark the entire inter-advent time: there will be famines, wars, more wars, international tensions and conflicts, natural disasters, and pestilences.
The Command: Do Not Be Troubled
Now, what should we do when these happen? What is His command, His guidance? See verse 6: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled.”
Wow, when these things happen, I should not be troubled. How can anyone not be troubled? A small thunder is enough to trouble me! But He says when these things happen, not to be troubled! The very strong word used here and in Mark means to be inwardly disturbed or frightened—for example, like little children in a thunderstorm, trembling, confused, inwardly agitated, frightened, feeling very insecure, keeping a hand on the head, or throwing hands in the air, asking what else will happen, in despair.
Lord, how can we not be troubled? Wars, nation rising against nation, war aircrafts flying over my home—who will throw a bomb and wipe out our whole city? Putin presses one button, and it’s gone. Famine, earthquakes, and Corona. War brings brutal bloodshed, millions die. Famine brings disruption of supply, not knowing what to eat, no water. An earthquake destroys a beautiful, hard-built house. Pestilence means everyone dying. How can I not be troubled? Are we to be stoic when these are happening? On what basis are we not to be frightened?
If you, as My people and My disciple, guard yourself so much from false teaching influence and these political influences, from the love of this world, and know the reality of the future, and live for My kingdom, you can obey this. He gives two reasons why we should not be troubled.
How can anyone not be frightened when these appear?
1. The Divine Necessity: They Must Come to Pass
Notice two things He says. Firstly: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
It must be in the plan and purpose of God; there is a fixed purpose, there is a fixed decree. There is a divine “must.” These must happen. Ruin must be brought upon this sinful, God-rejecting world. By this, the justice of God and the honor of the Redeemer must be asserted; and therefore, all those things must come to pass; the word is gone out of God’s mouth, and it shall be accomplished in its season.
Note: The consideration of the unchangeableness of the divine counsels, which govern all events, should compose and quiet our spirits, whatever happens. God is but performing the thing that is appointed for us, and our inordinate trouble is an interpretative quarrel with that appointment. Let us therefore acquiesce because these things must come to pass; not only necessitate decreti (as the product of the divine counsel) but necessitate medii (as a means in order to a further end). The old house must be taken down (though it cannot be done without noise, and dust, and danger) before the new fabric can be erected. The things that are shaken (and ill shaken they were) must be removed, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:27).
This is so that no one will ever mistake that this age is for the age to come. This age will continue. These events should tell you all this is heading to the destruction and demolition of this house, and a new heaven and new earth is coming, and you should be ready for that.
Is it possible to hear such sad news and not be troubled? Yes, where the heart is fixed, trusting in God, it is kept in peace, and is not afraid, not even of the evil tidings of wars. Our Lord says behind these, there is a divine “must be.” These must needs come to pass, but the end is not yet. In the language of Romans 8:22-25, the whole creation groans and travails until now. This present order will continue to be in a state of travail, waiting for the manifestation at the return of Jesus Christ. The period between the two comings will be marked with these.
2. They Are the Beginning of Sorrows
The second thing the Lord says so we are encouraged and not troubled is that they do not signify the end, but the beginning.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
These are the beginnings of birth pangs; more is coming on this world. More bowls of wrath will be poured. This is just the beginning. Therefore, be not troubled; do not give way to fear and trouble; sink not under the present burden, but rather gather in all the strength and spirit you have to encounter what is yet before you. Be not troubled to hear of wars and rumors of wars, for then what will become of you when the famines and pestilences come? These things do not signify the end, but are the beginning of the end. They will continue until the end, until the Lord returns.
Practical Application
We should be so grounded in truth and Christ and abide in Him and trust in His decrees; these things should not cause us trouble. Christ does not want our blood pressure or heart rate to increase with every rumbling outbreak of war or famine. A believer is not to be nervous or lose sleep when he hears about international tensions, hears of war breaking forth, or of more wars, earthquakes, famine, or plague. He is not to be disturbed. Why? Because to be disturbed is to be disobedient to his Lord who lovingly told him these will happen. To be filled with inward agitation and fear is sin, because international tensions and natural calamities are part of God’s decree and purpose. The Christian, knowing that there is a divine “must” behind all this, does not meet these things with stoic indifference or be heartless in the face of famine or the horrible tragedies that war brings which melt hearts and tear families apart. We do not look upon these things with indifference.
When Jesus, with prophetic vision, saw the destruction of Jerusalem, He wept: “O Jerusalem, O Jerusalem.” We also weep and pity and have compassion, but our Lord’s word is do not be inwardly unstrung; do not be as one who has lost his bearing. Be not put into confusion or commotion; not put into throes, as a woman with child by a fright; see that you are not distraught. Note: There is need of constant care and watchfulness to keep trouble from the heart when there are wars abroad, and it is against the mind of Christ that His people should have troubled hearts even in troublous times.
This passage should be a preventative against ever pursuing a dream of a utopia ushered in by the combined action of world governments. I am amazed how naïve people are. People actually think there will be peace among nations; diplomacy and peace talks will solve all problems. There will be ache din or amrit kaal. I hope we are not caught up with all these things, with politicians promising good days.
Our Lord says there shall be wars; nation will rise up against nation. No amount of development, education, or scientific research concerning when earthquakes or Tsunamis may come, or how we can stop them, none of those things will stop them from coming. There shall be famines, and wars.
We, as people of God with this insight, should not be drawn into every cause that comes in our way, claiming our time, energy, and money, to promote a utopian world—a world aiming for a state in which everything is perfect, idealistic, or based on social development. The idea that they can turn this world into heaven, solve world hunger, stop famine, solve the war problem and bring peace to nations, or solve world diseases and stop pestilence—no, that is not the biblical view.
The Lord has said there must be these things, and He encourages us not to be troubled. Embedded in that encouragement is the certainty of their presence.
Fourth Sign: Fierce Persecution (v. 9)
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”
This is a verse no one likes to read or memorize. I’ve never known anyone who chose it as a “life verse.” It’s too negative to be very popular, yet there it is, clear and easy to understand, right from the lips of our Lord. Jesus told his disciples to expect the worst. A time will come when the followers of Christ will be hated by all nations because of our relationship to Him.
Mark expands this, saying they will receive all unjust and abusive treatment at the hands of the religious as well as civil authorities.
9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
They shall deliver you to councils and synagogues, the Jewish religious places; you will be flogged by religious authorities. Not only religious, but even civil, before rulers and kings you will stand for My sake—the Roman authorities.
Verse 12 focuses on the unnatural hatred of family members. Think of it.
12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Think of it: our children fight with each other, hit one another, pull, and fight, but here, a brother not only plans but actually delivers his brother to death, and even a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Unjust and abusive treatment will come not only from religious authorities, but from civil authorities, and even from unnatural hatred and betrayal by family members. Jesus predicts universal hatred for us. That is not encouraging. Matthew verse 9 says: “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”
He says this is what will happen during the inter-advent time. We see that happening. But in many places, persecution and hatred of Christians is on the rise. That trend will continue in the days to come and will come to a fearful climax in the final days preceding the return of our Lord.
More and more countries continue to tighten the rope on open displays of Christianity. We see that happening in our own country: attacks on churches and anti-conversion laws passed, licenses canceled, and plans to take away our voting rights. Our Lord told us ahead of time not to be surprised by this. Christians, for 2,000 years, have been handed over to tribulation or trials or pressure situations. Some are killed; all will be hated. The antipathy of the world toward the gospel and toward Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord has not abated.
Fifth Sign: Widespread Apostasy (vv. 10-12)
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10-12).
He says many will turn against the truth. When sticking to the truth begins to cost men dearly, then many shall be offended, shall first fall out, and then they will begin to pick quarrels with their religion, and eventually revolt from it, hate one another, and become false prophets. When times are good, everyone will want to follow Christ, but when persecution comes, true believers will be revealed. Suffering and persecution times will show who are true preachers and believers. He says many will turn away from faith because of the suffering. Paul often complains of deserters who began well, but something hindered them. “They were with us, but went out from us, because they were not truly of us” (1 John 2:19). They shall betray one another; that is, those who have treacherously deserted their religion shall hate and betray those who adhere to it, for whom they have pretended friendship. Apostates have commonly been the most bitter and violent persecutors.
Even some who professed to be Christian will turn against believers, betraying them to authorities out of hatred. Apostasy will mark the waves of church history.
These verses paint a picture of unprecedented religious apostasy in the last days. They especially apply to so-called Christian leaders who depart from the Christian faith. These are the leaders who (in the name of ecumenism) deny the inerrancy of the Bible, deny the necessity for the blood atonement, deny the virgin birth, deny the lostness of all people, deny the reality of eternal hell, and deny that those who die without Jesus Christ are lost forever. They turn away after fads and popular social causes and pander to the powers that be. They support the killing of unborn babies, support gay rights, and support the right of pornographers to practice their evil trade. They do not preach the gospel because they do not even believe the gospel. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
II Timothy 3:1-9 tells us that in the last days “terrible times” will come as men become lovers of pleasure instead of lovers of God. They will turn away from the truth because their minds are depraved. False teachers who cleverly counterfeit the truth will lead many others astray. Truly those “terrible days” are upon us. So-called ministers of the gospel deny every tenet of the Christian faith and still remain in the pulpit. They can even justify gross immorality because they have rejected God’s Word. The worst is yet to come.
These terrible times of apostasy are seducing times; many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Thirdly, there will be the general declining and cooling of most (Matthew 24:12). In seducing times, when false prophets arise, and in persecuting times, when the saints are hated, expect these two things:
- The Abounding of Iniquity: Though the world always lies in wickedness, there are some times in which it may be said that iniquity does in a special manner abound. This happens when it is more extensive than ordinary (as in the old world, when “all flesh had corrupted their way”) and when it is more excessive than ordinary, so that hell seems to break loose in blasphemies against God and enmities toward the saints. The presence of God’s people living in faithfulness to Him offers restraints upon a society—salt and light affecting the community. But when people fail to pay attention to their doctrine and begin to follow the teaching of false prophets, then sin and unconcern for the law of God increase, love for God and man declines, and true believers face greater persecution.
- The Abating of Love: This is the consequence of the former: “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Understand it in general of true serious godliness, which is all summed up in love; it is too common for professors of religion to grow cool in their profession when the wicked are hot in their wickedness, as the church of Ephesus in bad times “left her first love” (Revelation 2:2-4). Or, it may be understood more particularly of brotherly love. When iniquity abounds—seducing iniquity, persecuting iniquity—this grace commonly waxes cold. Christians begin to be shy and suspicious of one another, affections are alienated, distances are created, parties are made, and so love comes to nothing.
This gives a melancholy prospect of the times, that there shall be such a great decay of love. But, first, it is of the love of many, not of all.
So, rather than a rosy picture, Jesus painted a realistic picture for believers in every century. If you complain because you continue to meet with the world’s animosity due to your faith in Christ, pay attention. Jesus has foretold us that it will happen until He comes.
Encouragements in the Face of Reality
This is reality; this will happen. But now, notice the encouragements He gives in the face of these realities. He says the gospel will triumph over all this and spread to the entire world.
1. Persecution Becomes a Testimony
First, He says such treatment will be an occasion for a testimony for the sake of Christ.
Mark 13:9 You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
They think they are in control and are going to restrain the progress of the gospel by arresting believers, but in the very effort, “I create a marvelous sounding board even to the great ones of the earth through you.”
See how that was literally fulfilled in Acts: you find Paul standing before King Agrippa, standing before Herod, standing before the very center of the Roman government at Rome, making his defense on more than one occasion. When all the great ones of the earth gathered at Rome, he, in a sense, preached the gospel to the whole world through this.
So, our Lord encourages us that in this unjust and abusive treatment, unnatural hatred, and universal hatred, such treatment will be a testimony for the sake of Jesus.
2. The Gospel Will Not Be Stopped
Secondly, such treatment will not stop the spread of the gospel.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Oh, I hope we can sense the unshaken certainty of the words of Jesus. Later on, while concluding, He will say in this chapter that heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. This is one of them that will not pass away: this gospel must be preached. Why? Because Almighty God has set His love upon a vast multitude whom no man can number out of every tribe and language. He will call them through the gospel. So, God will order the events so that in the midst of the motion of wars, famine, earthquakes, nation against nation, hatred and opposition to the gospel, and false Christs and false prophets deceiving the majority of people, He encourages His people that the gospel will be preached unto all the nations.
“In the whole inhabited world as a witness to all of the peoples. ‘This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.'” What a triumphant statement this was to the disciples, especially as they considered the gospel going into the Gentile world! Yes, they would face many difficulties, but they were to persist in proclaiming the gospel. We are not to grow slack because of persecution and opposition. We are not to withdraw into some safe cocoon or retreat. We are to push forward with the gospel of Christ. “Proclaim the good news to every people group,” Christ tells us. That is the divine agenda as we wait for the end. Comfort, ease, and self-security are not our rights as Christians. We have a King to proclaim—let us be about that work to His glory!
3. Special Help from the Holy Spirit (HS)
Thirdly, He encourages us with special help given by the Holy Spirit in the midst of opposition.
Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
People abuse this, saying preachers don’t have to study and prepare systematically, but can just stand up and let the Holy Spirit speak. Listen to their preaching; their blabbering is a clear indication the Holy Spirit is not speaking to them.
This is a peculiar promise given to a peculiar situation: when hatred against us is so tense that we are seized upon and brought before the great ones of the earth, led to judgment, and delivered up. Our Lord, knowing we might sit in our cell wondering what to say—not even knowing what questions they will ask or how to lay out our testimony—says that when you are sitting in that jail, remember He will give you what needs to be said. In His plan, you are in jail; He is attached to you. When people come and drag you before men, it is mine to believe that in that hour, He will give me what to speak by the powerful enablement of the Holy Spirit.
Oh, do you see these encouragements that the Lord gives in the face of terrible opposition against the gospel? Jesus encourages us: such treatment will be an occasion for testimony, such treatment will not stop the spread of the gospel, and special help will be given by the Holy Spirit in special times of need.
The Command: Unshakable Perseverance
What then is demanded of the true disciples in the midst of all this opposition, persecution, and apostasy?
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
We are to pay attention to what is going on about us—to notice the changing religious climate so that we are not caught unaware. We are to face the facts of the world’s hatred, and even the reality of what it might cost us to live as Christians in an unchristian world. But Christ’s direction is not for us to hide or move to a commune, knowing all this will happen and that the gospel will triumph. The demand is unshakable perseverance. There is to be a tenacious, unflinching attachment to Christ and the gospel.
Jesus Christ calls for endurance, perseverance, and continuing on as a Christian in spite of the circumstances. Perseverance gives evidence of genuine faith. To endure means that we bear up even in difficulties and times of suffering. The word literally means, “to abide under.” You continue to abide in Christ even when under the intensity of persecution. He calls us to be disciples, to be His followers through thick and thin. We can persevere because He preserves us and provides for us to continue on as Christians.
To the end of their lives, to the end of their present state of probation, or to the end of these suffering, trying times, to the last encounter, though they should be called to resist unto blood. Secondly, it is comfortable to those who do thus endure to the end and suffer for their constancy, that they shall be saved. Perseverance wins the crown, through free grace, and shall wear it. The crown of glory will make amends for all.
All promises in Revelation made to the seven churches are made to the overcomers. They are promises of salvation. True salvation shows in our perseverance; he who is truly saved will endure to the end. Our High Priest secures our perseverance.
“End” doesn’t mean the end of time; it means he who endures to the end of the trial—the trial that has come in connection with confessing the gospel. We may be killed—for some, hanged, tied to stakes, or burned. The end for some is dying of starvation. Our Lord says what is required in the face of these warnings and encouragements is a tenacious, unflinching attachment to Christ and to the gospel.
Remember what He said: whoever saves his life will lose it, and whoever is ashamed of the gospel in this adulterous generation, He will be ashamed of.
In the light of these warnings and encouragements, what is demanded is a calm, resolute trust in the faithfulness of God and a tenacious, unflinching attachment to Christ and to the gospel, even unto the end. That is our salvation.
Whatever your preconceived notions may be concerning the end-times, I hope that you will see that the greater priority must be on keeping first things first. Discern the times that we have been living in since Jesus ascended. We are in a world that continues to be eaten up by its sin. But Christ tells us, “See that you are not frightened.” We are in a world that views Christians with contempt and hatred. Christ tells us to endure to the end. And in that endurance, keep up the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom.
How foolish for the dispensationalists, or even those disciples sitting there, to take this chapter and say to them, “Don’t worry, all this will not affect you, because before things get too bad, we’re out of here via a rapture.” But that is not what our Lord is teaching. He prepares believers in every century to understand that being a Christian goes against the thinking of the world. That teaching came from the American false teachers who never knew what persecution means for Christ’s sake and can never think of Christians going through this.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 