1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,000 We come to probably the toughest chapter in Mark’s gospel. 2 00:00:03,000 –> 00:00:05,040 So, I hope you’re braced and ready. 3 00:00:05,040 –> 00:00:06,280 Let me promise you this, 4 00:00:06,280 –> 00:00:09,840 it is full of glorious truth 5 00:00:09,840 –> 00:00:13,560 that will lift our hearts and lift our lives. 6 00:00:13,560 –> 00:00:15,740 But I do hope you’ll have your Bible open in front of you. 7 00:00:15,740 –> 00:00:17,680 There’s much to learn here. 8 00:00:17,680 –> 00:00:20,240 And I want us to follow closely in the Bible together, 9 00:00:20,240 –> 00:00:23,200 particularly as this is not the most familiar 10 00:00:23,200 –> 00:00:26,280 nor the easiest chapter in Mark’s gospel 11 00:00:26,280 –> 00:00:28,120 for us to grasp together. 12 00:00:28,120 –> 00:00:29,820 So Mark’s gospel chapter 13 13 00:00:29,820 –> 00:00:32,959 and a quick reminder of where we are in the story. 14 00:00:32,959 –> 00:00:36,160 We come to the Tuesday of Holy Week. 15 00:00:36,160 –> 00:00:38,799 Sunday, our Lord Jesus came into Jerusalem 16 00:00:38,799 –> 00:00:40,540 riding on a donkey. 17 00:00:40,540 –> 00:00:42,400 Monday, he goes into the temple, 18 00:00:42,400 –> 00:00:45,000 overturns the tables of the money changers 19 00:00:45,000 –> 00:00:47,959 and the benches of those who are selling doves. 20 00:00:47,959 –> 00:00:51,439 Tuesday, he comes back into the temple again 21 00:00:51,439 –> 00:00:55,599 and the lawyers turn up along with other leaders 22 00:00:55,599 –> 00:00:58,919 and it’s a time of questions and answers. 23 00:00:58,919 –> 00:01:01,200 By what rights and by what authority 24 00:01:01,200 –> 00:01:03,160 did you do what you did in the temple yesterday? 25 00:01:03,160 –> 00:01:05,660 Throwing over these tables and causing all this trouble. 26 00:01:05,660 –> 00:01:06,900 That was one question. 27 00:01:06,900 –> 00:01:09,620 What do you have to say about paying taxes to Caesar? 28 00:01:09,620 –> 00:01:11,160 That’s another question. 29 00:01:11,160 –> 00:01:13,000 How can a person possibly believe 30 00:01:13,000 –> 00:01:14,760 in the resurrection of the body? 31 00:01:14,760 –> 00:01:16,040 That was a third question 32 00:01:16,040 –> 00:01:18,639 and we looked at these together last week 33 00:01:18,639 –> 00:01:21,559 and Jesus answered clearly and wonderfully 34 00:01:21,559 –> 00:01:24,360 and we were reminded of the antagonism 35 00:01:24,360 –> 00:01:27,220 that is often felt by many people towards the gospel 36 00:01:27,220 –> 00:01:31,599 and was shown here towards our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 37 00:01:31,599 –> 00:01:34,139 So, Tuesday had been a tough day in the temple 38 00:01:34,139 –> 00:01:36,879 of intense questions and answering 39 00:01:36,879 –> 00:01:41,879 and of antagonism towards our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 40 00:01:41,959 –> 00:01:43,059 Now we take up the story 41 00:01:43,059 –> 00:01:46,519 in Mark’s Gospel chapter 13 and verse 1 42 00:01:46,519 –> 00:01:48,800 and you notice there that at the end of Tuesday 43 00:01:48,800 –> 00:01:51,279 they are leaving the temple 44 00:01:51,279 –> 00:01:53,620 and it is reasonable to assume 45 00:01:53,639 –> 00:01:56,620 that on the nights up until the Thursday 46 00:01:56,620 –> 00:01:59,180 when Jesus was betrayed and arrested 47 00:01:59,180 –> 00:02:02,320 that our Lord and the disciples were staying in Bethany 48 00:02:02,320 –> 00:02:04,879 which would have been just over the Mount of Olives 49 00:02:04,879 –> 00:02:06,900 and so returning home from the temple 50 00:02:06,900 –> 00:02:09,460 at the end of the day, they would have left Jerusalem, 51 00:02:09,460 –> 00:02:13,740 they would have climbed the very beautiful Mount of Olives 52 00:02:13,740 –> 00:02:15,639 and then would have had to go down further 53 00:02:15,639 –> 00:02:17,839 on the other side to Bethany 54 00:02:17,839 –> 00:02:20,279 where they would have stayed the night. 55 00:02:20,279 –> 00:02:22,199 Looking back over Jerusalem 56 00:02:22,279 –> 00:02:23,899 from the top of the Mount of Olives 57 00:02:23,899 –> 00:02:26,300 is still a magnificent view today 58 00:02:26,300 –> 00:02:30,139 and would have been a magnificent view in those days too, 59 00:02:30,139 –> 00:02:34,339 looking in those days over the Temple of the Lord. 60 00:02:34,339 –> 00:02:37,000 And so I want you to picture the scene in verse three 61 00:02:37,000 –> 00:02:39,380 where we’re told that Jesus and the disciples, 62 00:02:39,380 –> 00:02:41,380 they’re on the journey home Tuesday night, 63 00:02:41,380 –> 00:02:44,559 they’re sitting on the Mount of Olives 64 00:02:44,559 –> 00:02:46,919 opposite the temple. 65 00:02:46,919 –> 00:02:49,199 It’s been a tough climb up the big hill 66 00:02:49,199 –> 00:02:51,520 and now they’re resting, they’re getting their breath back 67 00:02:51,520 –> 00:02:53,279 and then they’re enjoying the view. 68 00:02:54,240 –> 00:02:58,279 But the disciples have something on their minds 69 00:02:58,279 –> 00:03:00,479 because as Jesus and the disciples 70 00:03:00,479 –> 00:03:03,419 had been coming out from the temple, 71 00:03:03,419 –> 00:03:05,279 Mark tells us that someone had pointed out 72 00:03:05,279 –> 00:03:06,720 what a magnificent building the temple 73 00:03:06,720 –> 00:03:09,679 and its surrounding area was. 74 00:03:09,679 –> 00:03:13,860 And Jesus said in Mark 13 in verse two, 75 00:03:13,860 –> 00:03:17,619 do you see these great buildings? 76 00:03:18,320 –> 00:03:22,820 Not one stone will be left on top of another. 77 00:03:22,820 –> 00:03:25,399 Everyone will be thrown down. 78 00:03:27,320 –> 00:03:28,880 Now if you can try as it were in your mind 79 00:03:28,880 –> 00:03:31,440 to get inside the skin of the disciples at this point, 80 00:03:31,440 –> 00:03:32,880 that must have been devastating 81 00:03:32,880 –> 00:03:34,320 and disturbing to them 82 00:03:35,199 –> 00:03:37,259 because the Temple was really the symbol 83 00:03:37,259 –> 00:03:40,160 of national unity and strength 84 00:03:40,160 –> 00:03:42,320 rather like the White House 85 00:03:42,320 –> 00:03:46,399 or the US Capitol would be for us today. 86 00:03:46,460 –> 00:03:48,619 Now you imagine, if you were walking 87 00:03:48,619 –> 00:03:51,220 out of the center of Washington, D.C., 88 00:03:51,220 –> 00:03:53,259 in the company of the son of God 89 00:03:54,259 –> 00:03:55,639 and he said to you, 90 00:03:55,639 –> 00:03:58,259 do you see these magnificent buildings? 91 00:03:58,259 –> 00:04:01,820 I tell you, not one stone will be left on top of the other. 92 00:04:02,899 –> 00:04:05,979 Well, now, if that happened, you would be deeply disturbed 93 00:04:05,979 –> 00:04:08,020 and as soon as you had the opportunity, 94 00:04:08,020 –> 00:04:10,720 you would want to ask him privately, 95 00:04:10,720 –> 00:04:13,339 well, when are these things gonna happen 96 00:04:13,339 –> 00:04:14,619 and what will be the sign 97 00:04:14,720 –> 00:04:16,980 that they are going to be fulfilled? 98 00:04:16,980 –> 00:04:18,839 And that is exactly what happens 99 00:04:18,839 –> 00:04:20,399 at the top of the Mount of Olives 100 00:04:20,399 –> 00:04:22,760 when the disciples sit down with Jesus 101 00:04:22,760 –> 00:04:23,940 for a breather, as it were, 102 00:04:23,940 –> 00:04:26,480 after climbing the hill, they’re looking over 103 00:04:26,480 –> 00:04:29,220 and the disciples now want more information, 104 00:04:29,220 –> 00:04:32,019 verse four, about this disturbing word 105 00:04:32,019 –> 00:04:34,079 that Jesus has spoken about 106 00:04:34,079 –> 00:04:36,140 the destruction of the temple. 107 00:04:37,239 –> 00:04:39,720 Now Mark chapter 13 contains Jesus’ answer 108 00:04:39,720 –> 00:04:42,160 to this question but much more 109 00:04:42,160 –> 00:04:44,760 because Jesus’ answer expands 110 00:04:44,760 –> 00:04:47,579 well beyond the range of their question. 111 00:04:47,579 –> 00:04:49,119 They ask about the temple, 112 00:04:49,119 –> 00:04:51,100 Jesus answers them for sure 113 00:04:51,100 –> 00:04:53,279 but he also tells them much more 114 00:04:53,279 –> 00:04:58,279 relating to his own coming in power and in glory. 115 00:04:58,299 –> 00:05:00,119 And so we’re getting to listen in 116 00:05:00,119 –> 00:05:01,880 on a very private conversation 117 00:05:01,880 –> 00:05:04,239 in which Jesus brings disciples, 118 00:05:04,239 –> 00:05:06,160 folks who believe, us, 119 00:05:06,160 –> 00:05:09,480 into the picture of what the future holds 120 00:05:09,540 –> 00:05:14,059 so that we may be prepared and ready for it. 121 00:05:14,059 –> 00:05:18,059 And this is in fact the longest section of teaching 122 00:05:18,059 –> 00:05:19,640 that Jesus gives to his disciples 123 00:05:19,640 –> 00:05:22,959 in one place that’s recorded in the whole of Mark’s Gospel 124 00:05:22,959 –> 00:05:26,440 and so it is very significant for us today. 125 00:05:28,079 –> 00:05:31,040 Now the difficulty that we have with this chapter 126 00:05:31,040 –> 00:05:33,940 is that it is not always easy to know 127 00:05:33,940 –> 00:05:36,619 what relates to the destruction of the temple. 128 00:05:36,619 –> 00:05:38,019 That was their question 129 00:05:38,600 –> 00:05:40,320 when it happened in the year A.D. 70 130 00:05:40,320 –> 00:05:41,980 when the Romans destroyed the temple 131 00:05:41,980 –> 00:05:43,920 and the whole of Jerusalem. 132 00:05:43,920 –> 00:05:45,779 Not easy to know what relates to that 133 00:05:45,779 –> 00:05:48,079 and what relates to the day of the Lord’s 134 00:05:48,079 –> 00:05:51,359 return in power and glory. 135 00:05:51,359 –> 00:05:53,920 And just to give you a feel of how complex this is, 136 00:05:53,920 –> 00:05:55,559 look at verse 30 which is perhaps 137 00:05:55,559 –> 00:05:58,720 one of the most difficult verses of all 138 00:05:58,720 –> 00:06:02,000 where Jesus says, I tell you the truth, 139 00:06:02,000 –> 00:06:05,679 this generation will certainly not pass away 140 00:06:05,700 –> 00:06:09,459 until all these things have happened. 141 00:06:09,459 –> 00:06:12,779 Now what is the generation he’s talking about 142 00:06:12,779 –> 00:06:14,980 and what are the things he’s talking about? 143 00:06:16,079 –> 00:06:18,480 Does he mean the disciples generation 144 00:06:18,480 –> 00:06:20,640 will not pass away until the temple 145 00:06:20,640 –> 00:06:22,519 in Jerusalem has been destroyed? 146 00:06:23,899 –> 00:06:26,339 Or does he mean that the generation 147 00:06:26,339 –> 00:06:28,700 that sees the events of verse 24, 148 00:06:28,700 –> 00:06:30,459 the sun darkened and the moon no longer 149 00:06:30,459 –> 00:06:32,339 shining, that that generation won’t pass 150 00:06:33,000 –> 00:06:36,600 away until the Son of Man returns in power and glory? 151 00:06:36,600 –> 00:06:39,880 Or, are we to understand the word generation 152 00:06:39,880 –> 00:06:41,959 figuratively as a reference to the Jewish race? 153 00:06:41,959 –> 00:06:43,380 The Jewish race won’t pass away 154 00:06:43,380 –> 00:06:45,700 until all of these things are fulfilled? 155 00:06:45,700 –> 00:06:49,200 Well, it frankly isn’t easy to be sure. 156 00:06:51,160 –> 00:06:54,000 These things are kind of mixed up together 157 00:06:54,000 –> 00:06:55,920 and thinking about this, it struck me. 158 00:06:55,920 –> 00:06:58,600 You know, it’s rather like a plate of pasta 159 00:06:58,600 –> 00:07:01,399 in tomato sauce. 160 00:07:01,399 –> 00:07:03,720 Separating the pasta from the sauce 161 00:07:03,720 –> 00:07:06,980 would be an exceedingly difficult thing to do. 162 00:07:06,980 –> 00:07:08,420 I suppose you might be able to do it 163 00:07:08,420 –> 00:07:10,839 at some point, wipe every piece of pasta clean, 164 00:07:10,839 –> 00:07:13,859 but then you think what would be the point of doing that? 165 00:07:13,859 –> 00:07:15,320 Because the pasta’s in the sauce 166 00:07:15,320 –> 00:07:19,399 because these two things belong together. 167 00:07:19,399 –> 00:07:22,040 Now think of it, Jesus, as it were, 168 00:07:22,040 –> 00:07:25,079 puts the pasta of his teaching 169 00:07:25,140 –> 00:07:27,380 about the destruction of the temple 170 00:07:27,380 –> 00:07:30,640 in the sauce of his teaching 171 00:07:30,640 –> 00:07:33,600 about what believers experience in every generation 172 00:07:33,600 –> 00:07:35,739 and what we look forward to 173 00:07:35,739 –> 00:07:39,660 on the day of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 174 00:07:39,660 –> 00:07:42,859 And if Jesus chose to mix these things together, 175 00:07:42,859 –> 00:07:44,760 as clearly he did in his teaching 176 00:07:44,760 –> 00:07:47,579 recorded in Mark’s Gospel in chapter 13, 177 00:07:47,579 –> 00:07:49,619 why should we be so concerned 178 00:07:49,619 –> 00:07:52,959 about teasing these things apart? 179 00:07:52,959 –> 00:07:54,940 In fact when you think about it, 180 00:07:55,559 –> 00:07:57,160 our Lord Jesus had good reason 181 00:07:57,160 –> 00:07:59,880 for blending these things together. 182 00:08:00,859 –> 00:08:05,339 If he had spoken only about what would happen in Jerusalem 183 00:08:05,339 –> 00:08:07,380 in the eight year AD 70, 184 00:08:07,380 –> 00:08:10,299 then his teaching would be relevant only 185 00:08:10,299 –> 00:08:12,600 to the disciple’s generation 186 00:08:12,600 –> 00:08:16,220 and not to any generation afterwards. 187 00:08:16,220 –> 00:08:19,299 And if Jesus had spoken only about the events 188 00:08:19,299 –> 00:08:21,579 that would take place at the time of his coming 189 00:08:21,579 –> 00:08:23,260 then his teaching would be relevant 190 00:08:23,339 –> 00:08:25,660 only to the generation alive at that time 191 00:08:25,660 –> 00:08:28,299 and not to any past generations before us 192 00:08:28,299 –> 00:08:29,980 who have already lived and died 193 00:08:29,980 –> 00:08:32,919 and gone into the presence of the Lord before his coming. 194 00:08:33,780 –> 00:08:35,780 So if it is all about yesterday 195 00:08:35,780 –> 00:08:36,900 or if it’s all about tomorrow 196 00:08:36,900 –> 00:08:39,099 it’s not really speaking to today 197 00:08:39,099 –> 00:08:42,539 and we are convinced that all of the scripture 198 00:08:42,539 –> 00:08:45,679 is for all of God’s people. 199 00:08:45,679 –> 00:08:48,840 So when Jesus answers a very specific question 200 00:08:48,840 –> 00:08:53,020 that they ask about the destruction of the temple 201 00:08:53,179 –> 00:08:55,900 that the disciples have on their mind in verse four 202 00:08:55,900 –> 00:08:58,760 what he does is he broadens it out 203 00:08:58,760 –> 00:09:01,260 and gives to us wonderful teaching 204 00:09:01,260 –> 00:09:03,979 that speaks to us today 205 00:09:03,979 –> 00:09:06,299 with regards to what we can expect to face 206 00:09:06,299 –> 00:09:08,659 in this world in any generation 207 00:09:08,659 –> 00:09:11,140 and also what we can look forward to 208 00:09:11,140 –> 00:09:15,599 when Jesus Christ comes again in power and glory. 209 00:09:16,739 –> 00:09:18,380 Now, with that introduction 210 00:09:18,380 –> 00:09:21,979 I want us to approach this passage in two parts, 211 00:09:21,979 –> 00:09:24,760 first for us to look together 212 00:09:24,760 –> 00:09:27,580 at some things that are happening now 213 00:09:27,580 –> 00:09:28,619 and then we’re going to look 214 00:09:28,619 –> 00:09:31,299 at some things that are still to come. 215 00:09:31,299 –> 00:09:34,419 Things that are happening now, verses five to 13 216 00:09:34,419 –> 00:09:35,880 and then things that are still 217 00:09:35,880 –> 00:09:40,000 to come verse 14 through the end. 218 00:09:40,000 –> 00:09:41,460 Things that are happening now. 219 00:09:43,359 –> 00:09:45,000 I want you to notice that Jesus uses 220 00:09:45,000 –> 00:09:48,500 a picture here that’s wonderfully helpful. 221 00:09:48,500 –> 00:09:51,520 It’s the picture of childbirth, 222 00:09:51,520 –> 00:09:54,640 the pain that a woman goes through 223 00:09:54,640 –> 00:09:59,080 in the process of giving birth to a child 224 00:09:59,080 –> 00:10:01,239 and Jesus speaks about this in verse eight, 225 00:10:01,239 –> 00:10:03,520 he says what I’m talking about here 226 00:10:03,520 –> 00:10:08,520 is the beginning of birth pains. 227 00:10:09,419 –> 00:10:14,020 Birth pains, what you’ve got to go through 228 00:10:14,020 –> 00:10:17,280 in order to get to something wonderful 229 00:10:17,900 –> 00:10:20,679 and Jesus describes to the disciples 230 00:10:20,679 –> 00:10:23,760 what they, what we have to go through 231 00:10:23,760 –> 00:10:28,679 in order to get to something wonderful. 232 00:10:28,679 –> 00:10:30,679 In fact, thinking about this whole message 233 00:10:30,679 –> 00:10:32,239 and this whole chapter 234 00:10:32,239 –> 00:10:33,200 let me assure you 235 00:10:33,200 –> 00:10:35,039 as we go through some things 236 00:10:35,039 –> 00:10:36,739 that are pretty hard and pretty painful 237 00:10:36,739 –> 00:10:38,020 in the message this morning, 238 00:10:38,020 –> 00:10:40,559 hang in there because we are going to get 239 00:10:40,559 –> 00:10:43,419 to some things that are genuinely wonderful 240 00:10:43,419 –> 00:10:45,919 but Jesus says let’s take a look first 241 00:10:45,940 –> 00:10:50,099 at the beginning of birth pains. 242 00:10:50,099 –> 00:10:52,700 It’s interesting that Paul uses 243 00:10:52,700 –> 00:10:54,780 the same picture in Romans eight. 244 00:10:55,619 –> 00:10:56,979 He says in Romans 8 22 245 00:10:56,979 –> 00:11:01,239 that the whole creation has been groaning 246 00:11:01,239 –> 00:11:03,640 as in the pains of childbirth 247 00:11:03,640 –> 00:11:05,739 right up to the present time. 248 00:11:06,900 –> 00:11:09,659 So this is a long labor. 249 00:11:09,659 –> 00:11:11,099 Now the mums are thinking about 250 00:11:11,099 –> 00:11:12,359 how long their labor was 251 00:11:12,359 –> 00:11:13,840 with one child or with another 252 00:11:13,840 –> 00:11:14,940 and which was the longest 253 00:11:15,380 –> 00:11:17,299 and how painful it was. 254 00:11:17,299 –> 00:11:19,059 And Paul’s using that picture 255 00:11:19,059 –> 00:11:21,179 and he’s saying, this is a labor 256 00:11:21,179 –> 00:11:22,700 that goes on a long time. 257 00:11:22,700 –> 00:11:24,500 We know now it has been continuing 258 00:11:24,500 –> 00:11:26,619 for two thousand years 259 00:11:27,859 –> 00:11:29,619 and still continuing. 260 00:11:31,179 –> 00:11:33,140 Think about the analogy of labor pains. 261 00:11:33,140 –> 00:11:34,960 Jesus says verse seven, 262 00:11:34,960 –> 00:11:36,619 such things must happen 263 00:11:36,619 –> 00:11:40,299 but the end is still to come. 264 00:11:40,299 –> 00:11:41,140 The labor pains 265 00:11:41,140 –> 00:11:42,500 aren’t the end of the story. 266 00:11:42,500 –> 00:11:44,140 They are part of the process 267 00:11:44,140 –> 00:11:46,119 leading to something wonderful 268 00:11:47,559 –> 00:11:49,320 and we all know that labor pains 269 00:11:49,320 –> 00:11:51,820 increase in frequency 270 00:11:52,619 –> 00:11:55,299 and in intensity 271 00:11:55,299 –> 00:11:58,200 as the time for the birth draws near. 272 00:11:59,460 –> 00:12:02,099 Now the Bible speaks about a future time, 273 00:12:02,099 –> 00:12:04,419 the great tribulation, 274 00:12:04,419 –> 00:12:07,140 a period of intense suffering, 275 00:12:07,140 –> 00:12:08,979 greater suffering than ever before 276 00:12:08,979 –> 00:12:11,799 that will come at the end times 277 00:12:11,799 –> 00:12:14,400 and clearly, when Jesus speaks about 278 00:12:14,400 –> 00:12:16,280 the birth pains, and we think of them 279 00:12:16,280 –> 00:12:19,500 increasing in intensity and in frequency, 280 00:12:19,500 –> 00:12:22,880 that points us into things that will be happening 281 00:12:22,880 –> 00:12:24,479 during the great tribulation 282 00:12:24,479 –> 00:12:26,719 but I want you to see that we cannot limit it 283 00:12:26,719 –> 00:12:29,359 to the great tribulation, it’s not only that 284 00:12:29,359 –> 00:12:31,719 because Jesus is speaking to the disciples 285 00:12:31,719 –> 00:12:34,380 about their experience of the beginning 286 00:12:34,380 –> 00:12:36,280 of these troubles and we’re going to see 287 00:12:36,280 –> 00:12:38,400 as we look at what these birth pains are 288 00:12:38,400 –> 00:12:40,760 that we also experience the beginning 289 00:12:40,780 –> 00:12:44,700 of them as well so what are these birth pains 290 00:12:44,700 –> 00:12:46,679 that have been with us from the beginning 291 00:12:46,679 –> 00:12:48,039 of the church or with us now 292 00:12:48,039 –> 00:12:52,619 and will increase in frequency and intensity 293 00:12:52,619 –> 00:12:57,619 during the time of great trouble that is still ahead? 294 00:12:58,239 –> 00:13:02,739 Well here’s number one, widespread deception 295 00:13:02,739 –> 00:13:06,780 verses five and six, the first birth pain. 296 00:13:07,340 –> 00:13:11,299 Watch out, the no one deceives you. 297 00:13:11,299 –> 00:13:14,919 Many will come in my name claiming I am he 298 00:13:16,000 –> 00:13:18,099 and will deceive many. 299 00:13:19,359 –> 00:13:21,840 Now notice that this deception in the first place 300 00:13:21,840 –> 00:13:25,119 is aimed at the disciples themselves. 301 00:13:25,119 –> 00:13:27,679 Watch out, Jesus says to Peter, James and John 302 00:13:27,679 –> 00:13:30,440 and Andrew, the four of them who asked the question, 303 00:13:30,440 –> 00:13:34,859 he says watch out that no one deceives you, disciples. 304 00:13:35,299 –> 00:13:37,280 It’s an important reminder for us 305 00:13:37,280 –> 00:13:42,280 that deception is always aimed at Christian believers. 306 00:13:44,260 –> 00:13:47,159 Jesus is talking about leaders who rise up 307 00:13:47,159 –> 00:13:50,200 within the church, claiming that they have 308 00:13:50,200 –> 00:13:52,580 the real message that everyone else has lost 309 00:13:52,580 –> 00:13:54,419 and calling people to follow them. 310 00:13:55,679 –> 00:13:57,580 By the way, keep this in mind. 311 00:13:58,700 –> 00:14:01,260 That the mark of the true teacher 312 00:14:01,299 –> 00:14:05,099 is that he opens the bible and shows the teaching 313 00:14:05,099 –> 00:14:08,039 of Jesus calling people to follow him. 314 00:14:09,500 –> 00:14:11,799 The mark of the false teacher 315 00:14:11,799 –> 00:14:15,039 is that he quickly proclaims that he has a special message, 316 00:14:15,039 –> 00:14:17,900 a unique message, a message that everyone else has lost 317 00:14:17,900 –> 00:14:20,900 and nobody else really has, and therefore by default, 318 00:14:20,900 –> 00:14:22,580 you either have to follow that leader, 319 00:14:22,580 –> 00:14:24,020 that speaker, or at the very least, 320 00:14:24,020 –> 00:14:25,380 you have to join his movement. 321 00:14:25,380 –> 00:14:27,099 That is the nature of every cult 322 00:14:27,099 –> 00:14:29,419 and of every false teacher, 323 00:14:29,419 –> 00:14:31,599 arising in every generation 324 00:14:31,599 –> 00:14:34,460 within the church of Jesus Christ. 325 00:14:37,000 –> 00:14:40,219 The deceivers pitch their books 326 00:14:40,219 –> 00:14:44,520 and their seminars to believers, 327 00:14:45,419 –> 00:14:50,280 to folks within the church who tend to be gullible 328 00:14:50,280 –> 00:14:54,099 and are quick to believe well-presented stuff 329 00:14:54,099 –> 00:14:55,700 that claims to be original 330 00:14:55,700 –> 00:14:58,820 and nobody else has anything quite like this. 331 00:15:00,080 –> 00:15:03,020 And Jesus says, such folks come in my name, 332 00:15:04,099 –> 00:15:06,640 and Jesus says, when we hear claims like this, 333 00:15:06,640 –> 00:15:09,020 verse 21, we’re just not to believe them, 334 00:15:09,020 –> 00:15:10,659 pay no attention. 335 00:15:10,659 –> 00:15:11,520 Don’t be distracted. 336 00:15:11,520 –> 00:15:13,320 Don’t be deceived. 337 00:15:14,739 –> 00:15:16,900 See, it really is important to be as clear 338 00:15:16,900 –> 00:15:19,460 about what you do not believe 339 00:15:19,460 –> 00:15:22,380 as you are clear about what you do believe. 340 00:15:22,380 –> 00:15:24,500 And Jesus warns his own followers here 341 00:15:24,500 –> 00:15:27,400 about the great danger of being gullible 342 00:15:27,640 –> 00:15:29,859 to those who rise up within church world 343 00:15:29,859 –> 00:15:32,559 proclaiming something new that everyone else has lost. 344 00:15:32,559 –> 00:15:34,020 And now we’ve found the way. 345 00:15:34,960 –> 00:15:36,320 So pay any attention to it. 346 00:15:38,000 –> 00:15:39,400 They’ll try and deceive you. 347 00:15:40,559 –> 00:15:42,119 Now, the apostles experienced 348 00:15:42,119 –> 00:15:43,460 that throughout the New Testament. 349 00:15:43,460 –> 00:15:45,520 You read the letters of the New Testament 350 00:15:45,520 –> 00:15:47,520 Galatians, and so forth, Colossians, 351 00:15:47,520 –> 00:15:49,179 you find that they are full 352 00:15:49,179 –> 00:15:51,440 of struggles that the apostles faced 353 00:15:51,440 –> 00:15:55,099 with false teachers arising in the church, deceiving many. 354 00:15:55,979 –> 00:15:58,059 And we experience the same today. 355 00:15:58,059 –> 00:16:01,260 It has been so throughout the history of the church, 356 00:16:01,260 –> 00:16:03,580 cults, and other movements that arise 357 00:16:03,580 –> 00:16:05,780 in every generation claiming somehow 358 00:16:05,780 –> 00:16:08,960 to have truth that nobody else has really discovered. 359 00:16:08,960 –> 00:16:11,260 And as the coming of the Lord draws near, 360 00:16:11,260 –> 00:16:15,380 this labor pain will increase in its frequency 361 00:16:15,380 –> 00:16:17,159 and in its intensity. 362 00:16:17,159 –> 00:16:21,979 So Jesus says, you watch out that no one deceives you. 363 00:16:21,979 –> 00:16:23,619 This really is speaking to us. 364 00:16:25,700 –> 00:16:29,700 Second birth pain, international conflict, 365 00:16:29,700 –> 00:16:30,940 verses seven and eight. 366 00:16:32,700 –> 00:16:36,140 When you hear wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. 367 00:16:37,099 –> 00:16:41,679 Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 368 00:16:42,659 –> 00:16:44,820 Nation will rise against nation 369 00:16:44,820 –> 00:16:47,940 and kingdom against kingdom. 370 00:16:50,020 –> 00:16:53,460 Now this issue of war and rumor of war 371 00:16:53,460 –> 00:16:56,919 would have been very alarming to the disciples 372 00:16:56,919 –> 00:17:00,340 because remember that they were living 373 00:17:00,340 –> 00:17:05,339 during the Pax Romana, the Roman Peace. 374 00:17:06,099 –> 00:17:07,319 It was a pretty miserable thing 375 00:17:07,319 –> 00:17:10,540 to be under the iron rule of Rome, 376 00:17:10,540 –> 00:17:12,540 but at least under the dictatorship 377 00:17:12,540 –> 00:17:14,260 and power of the Roman Empire, 378 00:17:14,260 –> 00:17:15,900 there wasn’t a lot of international conflict. 379 00:17:15,900 –> 00:17:18,819 No one had the power to rise up against Rome. 380 00:17:18,819 –> 00:17:21,540 So there was the Pax Romana. 381 00:17:21,540 –> 00:17:23,219 There was the Roman Peace. 382 00:17:24,079 –> 00:17:26,540 But a time came, of course, when that broke up 383 00:17:26,540 –> 00:17:29,140 as every empire eventually breaks up. 384 00:17:29,140 –> 00:17:31,699 And when the great power begins to break up, 385 00:17:31,699 –> 00:17:32,520 what do you find? 386 00:17:32,520 –> 00:17:35,780 Wars and rumors of wars. 387 00:17:35,780 –> 00:17:38,640 And Jesus is speaking to the disciples here 388 00:17:38,640 –> 00:17:40,800 because it would have been natural for them to think, 389 00:17:40,800 –> 00:17:43,300 oh, this must be the end of all things. 390 00:17:44,719 –> 00:17:46,060 The breakup of the Roman Empire. 391 00:17:46,060 –> 00:17:47,900 And Jesus says, no, it’s not the end, 392 00:17:47,900 –> 00:17:49,939 the end is still to come. 393 00:17:49,939 –> 00:17:51,420 What he’s teaching us here 394 00:17:51,420 –> 00:17:55,780 is that this dreadful business of international conflict 395 00:17:55,780 –> 00:17:59,739 will be a recurring pattern throughout human history. 396 00:17:59,739 –> 00:18:02,199 And as the coming of the Lord Jesus draws near, 397 00:18:02,199 –> 00:18:05,979 we should expect this labor pain to become more intense 398 00:18:05,979 –> 00:18:07,819 and for it to become more frequent. 399 00:18:09,099 –> 00:18:12,640 Third labor pain, natural disasters. 400 00:18:14,060 –> 00:18:16,300 Verse 8b, there will be earthquakes 401 00:18:16,300 –> 00:18:18,939 in various places and famines. 402 00:18:19,939 –> 00:18:22,560 And these are the beginning of birth pains. 403 00:18:24,180 –> 00:18:26,819 Now again, you can chart historically 404 00:18:26,819 –> 00:18:29,180 how in the time of the disciples, 405 00:18:29,180 –> 00:18:30,520 the first generation of Christians, 406 00:18:30,520 –> 00:18:32,119 there were a number of severe earthquakes 407 00:18:32,119 –> 00:18:33,380 and indeed famines. 408 00:18:34,319 –> 00:18:35,800 Is that still with us today? 409 00:18:35,800 –> 00:18:37,699 Of course it is. 410 00:18:37,699 –> 00:18:40,219 Should we expect it to increase in intensity 411 00:18:40,219 –> 00:18:43,859 and in frequency as the coming of the Lord draws near? 412 00:18:43,859 –> 00:18:45,020 Yes, we should. 413 00:18:45,979 –> 00:18:49,660 Fourth mark, fourth birth pain, 414 00:18:49,660 –> 00:18:53,400 religious persecution, verses nine and 11. 415 00:18:53,400 –> 00:18:54,979 You must be on your guard. 416 00:18:54,979 –> 00:18:58,099 Notice Jesus is speaking to four disciples here privately. 417 00:18:58,099 –> 00:19:00,780 He says you will be handed over to the local councils 418 00:19:00,780 –> 00:19:03,540 and flogged in the synagogues. 419 00:19:03,540 –> 00:19:05,699 And on a count of me you will stand before governors 420 00:19:05,699 –> 00:19:08,420 and kings as witnesses to them. 421 00:19:08,420 –> 00:19:11,939 Verse 11, Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, 422 00:19:11,939 –> 00:19:14,280 do not worry beforehand about what to say. 423 00:19:14,300 –> 00:19:17,060 Just say whatever is given to you at the time 424 00:19:17,060 –> 00:19:21,280 for it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit. 425 00:19:21,280 –> 00:19:23,119 Did the disciples experience these things? 426 00:19:23,119 –> 00:19:26,719 Yes they did, they were flogged, handed over, 427 00:19:26,719 –> 00:19:28,800 faced trial, you read about it in the book of Acts 428 00:19:28,800 –> 00:19:30,219 many times. 429 00:19:30,219 –> 00:19:32,920 Does the Church in the 21st century experience 430 00:19:32,920 –> 00:19:34,319 persecution like this today? 431 00:19:34,319 –> 00:19:35,300 Absolutely. 432 00:19:36,880 –> 00:19:39,599 Should we expect across the world that it will increase 433 00:19:39,599 –> 00:19:41,839 in its frequency and its intensity as the time 434 00:19:41,839 –> 00:19:44,020 of the Lord Jesus return draws near? 435 00:19:45,280 –> 00:19:46,280 Yes we should. 436 00:19:48,119 –> 00:19:51,760 And then notice the fifth of these birth pains 437 00:19:51,760 –> 00:19:55,119 because this happens in the context of great pain 438 00:19:55,119 –> 00:19:58,359 gospel proclamation, verse 10. 439 00:19:58,359 –> 00:20:03,359 The gospel must first be preached to all nations. 440 00:20:05,260 –> 00:20:09,000 Now again, the apostles began this work in their lifetime. 441 00:20:09,000 –> 00:20:11,699 The book of Acts tells us the wonderful story 442 00:20:11,699 –> 00:20:14,260 of how the gospel broke out from Jerusalem 443 00:20:14,500 –> 00:20:17,579 to Judea, Samaria and then right across the Roman empire. 444 00:20:17,579 –> 00:20:19,099 It was a marvelous thing. 445 00:20:19,099 –> 00:20:22,699 It could so easily have remained just a small Jewish sect 446 00:20:22,699 –> 00:20:25,819 believing in Jesus but the gospel spread 447 00:20:25,819 –> 00:20:27,939 throughout the Gentile world in the first generation 448 00:20:27,939 –> 00:20:32,359 and has continued to spread at differing paces ever since 449 00:20:32,359 –> 00:20:34,719 and it’s still happening today. 450 00:20:34,719 –> 00:20:38,500 Thank God for the wonderful emphasis in the church 451 00:20:38,500 –> 00:20:42,979 in our generation on reaching unreached people groups. 452 00:20:43,020 –> 00:20:45,520 That is people groups hidden within the world 453 00:20:45,520 –> 00:20:47,859 who have never yet heard the gospel 454 00:20:47,859 –> 00:20:50,739 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 455 00:20:51,839 –> 00:20:53,420 And we must pursue that. 456 00:20:54,619 –> 00:20:56,819 But then think about this because it’s not just 457 00:20:56,819 –> 00:20:58,619 the number of unreached people groups 458 00:20:58,619 –> 00:21:01,140 that we can count and calculate and target 459 00:21:01,140 –> 00:21:02,540 and tackle and so forth. 460 00:21:02,540 –> 00:21:05,140 I checked the statistics on the internet this week. 461 00:21:06,260 –> 00:21:09,280 There are 240 people 462 00:21:09,880 –> 00:21:13,760 and 45 people born 463 00:21:13,760 –> 00:21:16,780 in the world every minute. 464 00:21:18,160 –> 00:21:19,680 245 every minute. 465 00:21:20,920 –> 00:21:25,920 That is over one third of a million new births 466 00:21:26,280 –> 00:21:28,880 in the world every day. 467 00:21:28,880 –> 00:21:31,979 A third of a million every day. 468 00:21:34,180 –> 00:21:35,859 And of these third of a million people 469 00:21:36,099 –> 00:21:37,640 who are born every day, 470 00:21:38,739 –> 00:21:40,859 not one of them has heard the gospel 471 00:21:40,859 –> 00:21:41,900 at the time of their birth. 472 00:21:41,900 –> 00:21:45,020 They all need to be reached with the gospel, right? 473 00:21:45,020 –> 00:21:47,300 See, the work of evangelizing the world 474 00:21:47,300 –> 00:21:49,060 needs to be repeated, 475 00:21:49,060 –> 00:21:52,199 needs to be redone in every generation. 476 00:21:53,400 –> 00:21:57,060 The world dies every 65 years. 477 00:21:57,060 –> 00:22:00,000 Entire turnover, but that’s the average 478 00:22:00,000 –> 00:22:02,859 life expectancy across the world, 65 years. 479 00:22:03,839 –> 00:22:07,540 And so what Jesus is saying to us here 480 00:22:07,540 –> 00:22:11,859 is that we face this immense challenge 481 00:22:11,859 –> 00:22:14,979 of the proclamation of the gospel, 482 00:22:14,979 –> 00:22:17,599 and we will face this challenge in every generation 483 00:22:17,599 –> 00:22:20,699 throughout history until He comes, 484 00:22:20,699 –> 00:22:23,380 and that we will find that we need to do it 485 00:22:23,380 –> 00:22:25,660 in the middle of widespread deception, 486 00:22:25,660 –> 00:22:27,900 in the middle of great international conflict, 487 00:22:27,900 –> 00:22:30,699 natural disasters and religious persecutions. 488 00:22:30,699 –> 00:22:32,979 That is the environment, here is the work. 489 00:22:32,979 –> 00:22:36,619 We are to proclaim the gospel to all nations, 490 00:22:36,619 –> 00:22:41,000 and that is the work that is trusted into our hands. 491 00:22:41,839 –> 00:22:44,339 By the way, one of the really practical applications 492 00:22:44,339 –> 00:22:46,699 of this teaching of Jesus, 493 00:22:46,699 –> 00:22:49,739 is that if we really hear what he says, 494 00:22:49,739 –> 00:22:54,180 we will reshape our expectations 495 00:22:54,180 –> 00:22:56,859 of life and ministry in this world. 496 00:22:57,420 –> 00:23:01,959 Because some of us carry within our minds and hearts 497 00:23:01,959 –> 00:23:04,540 this idea that we’re sort of heading towards a time 498 00:23:04,540 –> 00:23:05,660 that we’ve never quite got to, 499 00:23:05,660 –> 00:23:07,540 but we think we’re gonna get there, 500 00:23:07,540 –> 00:23:09,900 a time when, you know, peace will reign 501 00:23:09,900 –> 00:23:12,119 and truth will be honored and all will be well 502 00:23:12,119 –> 00:23:15,619 and the Bible never promises us that 503 00:23:15,619 –> 00:23:19,239 in advance of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 504 00:23:20,619 –> 00:23:23,020 So if you have an expectation 505 00:23:23,020 –> 00:23:25,160 that somehow Jesus is promising to you 506 00:23:25,160 –> 00:23:27,520 a life of comfort and convenience, 507 00:23:28,520 –> 00:23:31,599 you’ve really not grasped the teaching of Mark 13. 508 00:23:33,380 –> 00:23:36,540 In this world Jesus said to his disciples, 509 00:23:36,540 –> 00:23:38,579 you will have trouble, 510 00:23:39,959 –> 00:23:43,640 but I will be with you. 511 00:23:45,979 –> 00:23:50,979 Now, if we could really take that teaching of Jesus 512 00:23:51,560 –> 00:23:52,660 into our worldview, 513 00:23:54,219 –> 00:23:57,119 and reshape our expectations by the Bible 514 00:23:57,119 –> 00:24:01,439 rather than by the vaunted claims of culture 515 00:24:03,459 –> 00:24:05,339 then we wouldn’t be half so surprised 516 00:24:05,339 –> 00:24:07,939 when suffering and hardship comes into our life 517 00:24:08,900 –> 00:24:10,760 or when we face difficulty in the life 518 00:24:10,760 –> 00:24:13,300 and ministry of the church. 519 00:24:13,300 –> 00:24:14,560 This is very practical. 520 00:24:15,500 –> 00:24:19,619 Jesus is shaping expectations for his disciples 521 00:24:19,739 –> 00:24:23,280 and for us and for believers in any age 522 00:24:23,280 –> 00:24:25,420 until the time of his coming. 523 00:24:25,420 –> 00:24:27,900 And he says here’s what it’s gonna be like. 524 00:24:27,900 –> 00:24:30,380 You’re gonna be up against widespread deception. 525 00:24:31,420 –> 00:24:33,819 You are going to see international conflict 526 00:24:33,819 –> 00:24:36,579 and you’re gonna hear rumors of more of it. 527 00:24:36,579 –> 00:24:38,219 You are going to turn on your television 528 00:24:38,219 –> 00:24:40,079 and you’re going to see natural disasters 529 00:24:40,079 –> 00:24:42,780 and famines that will make you weep. 530 00:24:42,780 –> 00:24:44,839 You’re gonna face religious persecution 531 00:24:44,839 –> 00:24:48,020 and in the middle of all of this I call you 532 00:24:48,579 –> 00:24:51,439 to go and to proclaim the gospel. 533 00:24:53,219 –> 00:24:56,180 Now, we see that all around us. 534 00:24:56,180 –> 00:24:58,920 That speaks to us, that’s life, that’s our world. 535 00:24:59,859 –> 00:25:02,819 And Jesus speaks to us about it clearly. 536 00:25:04,579 –> 00:25:05,900 I want you to notice another application 537 00:25:05,900 –> 00:25:07,900 here before we move on and that’s the wonderful 538 00:25:07,900 –> 00:25:11,219 encouragement that Jesus gives us in verse 11. 539 00:25:11,219 –> 00:25:12,180 Let’s not miss this. 540 00:25:12,180 –> 00:25:14,660 A promise about the Holy Spirit 541 00:25:14,660 –> 00:25:17,959 in the middle of trouble that we face. 542 00:25:17,959 –> 00:25:22,239 And Jesus says, whenever you’re arrested, verse 11, 543 00:25:22,239 –> 00:25:23,520 whenever you’re brought to trial, 544 00:25:23,520 –> 00:25:26,180 don’t worry beforehand about what to say. 545 00:25:26,180 –> 00:25:29,239 Just say whatever it is givento you at the time 546 00:25:29,239 –> 00:25:34,239 for it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit. 547 00:25:35,920 –> 00:25:40,140 By the way, this has nothing to do 548 00:25:40,140 –> 00:25:42,760 with preachers ditching their preparation 549 00:25:42,760 –> 00:25:46,079 and winging it in the pulpit on Sunday morning. 550 00:25:46,079 –> 00:25:47,739 Which is reprehensible. 551 00:25:49,520 –> 00:25:51,640 I tell you, I was amused just thinking back 552 00:25:51,640 –> 00:25:52,560 on a memory here. 553 00:25:52,560 –> 00:25:55,079 I know a pastor who regularly preached 554 00:25:55,079 –> 00:25:56,280 two different sermons. 555 00:25:56,280 –> 00:25:57,439 He had to preach a morning sermon 556 00:25:57,439 –> 00:25:58,959 and an evening sermon every week 557 00:25:58,959 –> 00:26:01,520 and it worked out how he would do this. 558 00:26:01,520 –> 00:26:03,060 He said, well here’s what I’ll do. 559 00:26:03,060 –> 00:26:06,560 I’m gonna work hard on the Preparation of the Morning Sermon 560 00:26:07,479 –> 00:26:11,880 and the evening sermon I’m just gonna spontaneously speak 561 00:26:11,880 –> 00:26:13,500 as I’m led by the Holy Spirit. 562 00:26:14,300 –> 00:26:17,939 And I knew some folks from his congregation 563 00:26:17,939 –> 00:26:19,819 and one of them said to me once, 564 00:26:19,819 –> 00:26:22,020 here’s something very strange. 565 00:26:22,979 –> 00:26:25,380 The sermons our pastor prepares are better 566 00:26:25,380 –> 00:26:28,060 than the ones he tells us comes from the Holy Spirit. 567 00:26:30,060 –> 00:26:32,680 That’s a complete abuse, isn’t it, of this text. 568 00:26:32,680 –> 00:26:37,219 There is no excuse for lack of preparation 569 00:26:37,219 –> 00:26:39,020 in relation to the work of God. 570 00:26:39,020 –> 00:26:41,560 He calls us to apply ourselves. 571 00:26:41,560 –> 00:26:43,060 But here’s the point, 572 00:26:44,420 –> 00:26:46,280 there are some situations 573 00:26:46,280 –> 00:26:49,540 for which you could never be prepared. 574 00:26:51,520 –> 00:26:54,459 And the practicality is that for some of us 575 00:26:54,459 –> 00:26:56,280 we may be there right now. 576 00:26:56,280 –> 00:26:57,880 Something has happened. 577 00:26:57,880 –> 00:27:02,540 A change of circumstances has tipped you into a situation 578 00:27:02,540 –> 00:27:04,479 that you never thought you would be in. 579 00:27:06,300 –> 00:27:07,800 And you don’t know what to do. 580 00:27:09,040 –> 00:27:10,699 You don’t know what to say. 581 00:27:11,660 –> 00:27:13,560 You feel completely overwhelmed. 582 00:27:13,560 –> 00:27:18,079 There was nothing that could have prepared you for this. 583 00:27:20,380 –> 00:27:21,939 And here is the promise of Jesus 584 00:27:21,939 –> 00:27:23,939 that does apply precisely to you. 585 00:27:25,420 –> 00:27:27,280 The Holy Spirit will be with you. 586 00:27:28,739 –> 00:27:30,719 He will guide you in what to do. 587 00:27:31,979 –> 00:27:34,540 He will give to you what to say. 588 00:27:35,939 –> 00:27:38,939 You can count on the sufficiency 589 00:27:38,939 –> 00:27:43,540 of the Holy Spirit in all things in life 590 00:27:43,540 –> 00:27:45,920 and especially in those things 591 00:27:45,920 –> 00:27:50,300 for which you could not possibly have been prepared. 592 00:27:51,339 –> 00:27:54,420 Thank God for that. 593 00:27:55,959 –> 00:27:59,500 Now these are all things that speak to us today. 594 00:27:59,500 –> 00:28:01,099 Things that are happening now. 595 00:28:01,099 –> 00:28:03,520 Let’s look secondly in the chapter 596 00:28:03,520 –> 00:28:05,040 at things that are still to come. 597 00:28:05,119 –> 00:28:06,579 Here we’re going to focus in 598 00:28:06,579 –> 00:28:09,359 on verses 14 through 31. 599 00:28:09,359 –> 00:28:11,979 Verses 14 through 31. 600 00:28:11,979 –> 00:28:13,560 And I have to say that these verses 601 00:28:13,560 –> 00:28:16,739 are especially difficult to understand 602 00:28:16,739 –> 00:28:19,420 and even in our own congregation 603 00:28:19,420 –> 00:28:21,060 there will be different ideas 604 00:28:21,060 –> 00:28:24,739 as to how these verses should be interpreted. 605 00:28:25,939 –> 00:28:28,459 Some writers see these verses as all future 606 00:28:28,459 –> 00:28:30,400 relating to the Great Tribulation, 607 00:28:31,660 –> 00:28:33,900 but again, notice verse 14. 608 00:28:34,380 –> 00:28:36,060 Jesus says to Peter, James, John, and Andrew, 609 00:28:36,060 –> 00:28:40,859 when you see the abomination that causes desolation, 610 00:28:40,859 –> 00:28:42,680 we’re talking about something that they would see, 611 00:28:42,680 –> 00:28:44,339 it can’t all be future. 612 00:28:45,819 –> 00:28:47,140 And then I’ve read folks this week 613 00:28:47,140 –> 00:28:50,459 who see Jesus’ words here in these verses 614 00:28:50,459 –> 00:28:53,500 as all past, relating to the destruction of Jerusalem. 615 00:28:53,500 –> 00:28:55,719 But verse 24 speaks about something 616 00:28:55,719 –> 00:28:57,680 that has not happened yet 617 00:28:57,680 –> 00:28:59,500 and relates to his second coming, 618 00:28:59,500 –> 00:29:01,160 the darkening of the sun 619 00:29:01,160 –> 00:29:05,140 and the stars shooting off from their courses 620 00:29:06,099 –> 00:29:08,300 and a time, verse 26, when the son of man 621 00:29:08,300 –> 00:29:10,780 will come in clouds and great power and in glory. 622 00:29:10,780 –> 00:29:12,680 So it can’t all be past either. 623 00:29:12,680 –> 00:29:13,800 It’s clearly future. 624 00:29:15,479 –> 00:29:16,900 Now, how are we to think about this? 625 00:29:16,900 –> 00:29:19,839 Well, William Hendrickson, in his commentary, 626 00:29:19,839 –> 00:29:23,180 points out that often in prophecy, 627 00:29:23,180 –> 00:29:28,140 you find two events that are telescoped into one. 628 00:29:29,119 –> 00:29:30,599 And he has a useful analogy. 629 00:29:30,599 –> 00:29:32,479 He says it’s rather like when you look 630 00:29:32,479 –> 00:29:33,739 at a range of mountains and you say, 631 00:29:33,739 –> 00:29:36,160 you see, I’m going to climb that mountain, 632 00:29:36,160 –> 00:29:38,160 and you begin to climb up the hill, 633 00:29:38,160 –> 00:29:39,719 and then you discover the mountain peak 634 00:29:39,719 –> 00:29:41,880 you were looking at is actually behind 635 00:29:41,880 –> 00:29:43,319 the hill that you’re on, 636 00:29:43,319 –> 00:29:44,880 and that there’s a big valley in between, 637 00:29:44,880 –> 00:29:47,339 and that what you thought was one looking from a distance 638 00:29:47,339 –> 00:29:51,439 is actually two hills that just appeared as one 639 00:29:51,439 –> 00:29:53,239 from the vantage point at which you looked. 640 00:29:53,239 –> 00:29:54,859 I know from experience 641 00:29:54,859 –> 00:29:57,880 that that can be very, very discouraging, indeed, 642 00:29:57,880 –> 00:29:59,319 climbing on hills in Scotland, 643 00:29:59,319 –> 00:30:01,180 and finding I’m not on the one 644 00:30:01,180 –> 00:30:04,900 that I thought I was trying to get to the top of. 645 00:30:04,900 –> 00:30:08,339 Now, I want you to see that this is not unusual in prophecy 646 00:30:08,339 –> 00:30:11,979 and so I’m going to take a moment to give you two examples. 647 00:30:11,979 –> 00:30:13,579 You might like to turn to them. 648 00:30:13,579 –> 00:30:17,180 The first is in Joel and Chapter 2. 649 00:30:17,180 –> 00:30:19,020 Joel and Chapter 2. 650 00:30:20,540 –> 00:30:21,859 You find the book of Daniel 651 00:30:21,859 –> 00:30:24,140 and then move forward a little bit through Hosea 652 00:30:24,140 –> 00:30:27,420 and then you get to Joel and Chapter 2. 653 00:30:27,939 –> 00:30:32,939 I want you to see here how Joel telescopes together 654 00:30:33,420 –> 00:30:36,339 the Day of Pentecost that happened 2,000 years ago 655 00:30:36,339 –> 00:30:38,319 and the day of the judgment 656 00:30:38,319 –> 00:30:41,339 which is still future and still to come, 657 00:30:41,339 –> 00:30:42,839 but in Joel it kind of looks like 658 00:30:42,839 –> 00:30:43,979 they’re all the same thing, 659 00:30:43,979 –> 00:30:46,300 though actually they’re two hills, 660 00:30:46,300 –> 00:30:47,979 though from Joel’s vantage point 661 00:30:47,979 –> 00:30:50,560 you might easily think that they were one. 662 00:30:50,560 –> 00:30:52,119 Look at Joel 2, 28. 663 00:30:53,140 –> 00:30:56,000 I will pour out my Spirit on all people. 664 00:30:56,000 –> 00:30:57,819 Your sons and daughters will prophesy, 665 00:30:57,819 –> 00:30:59,260 your old men will dream dreams 666 00:30:59,260 –> 00:31:01,319 and your young men will see visions. 667 00:31:01,319 –> 00:31:03,079 Now that was fulfilled at Pentecost 668 00:31:03,079 –> 00:31:05,439 and we know that because Peter said so. 669 00:31:05,439 –> 00:31:09,040 He said, this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel 670 00:31:09,040 –> 00:31:11,459 and quoted these very verses. 671 00:31:11,459 –> 00:31:15,719 But if you look on at what Joel says in the same prophecy 672 00:31:15,719 –> 00:31:18,800 he says, in verse 31, the sun will be turned to darkness, 673 00:31:18,800 –> 00:31:19,939 the moon will be turned to blood 674 00:31:19,939 –> 00:31:21,439 before the coming of the great 675 00:31:21,439 –> 00:31:23,420 and dreadful day of the Lord. 676 00:31:23,420 –> 00:31:25,459 That did not happen at Pentecost. 677 00:31:26,260 –> 00:31:28,359 That relates to the day of Christ’s coming, 678 00:31:28,359 –> 00:31:29,300 it’s the judgment day. 679 00:31:29,300 –> 00:31:32,800 So from Joel’s vantage point, he’s looking forward 680 00:31:32,800 –> 00:31:34,839 and he sees the events of Pentecost 681 00:31:34,839 –> 00:31:36,640 and the events of the judgment day, 682 00:31:36,640 –> 00:31:38,180 it looks as if it’s all one thing 683 00:31:38,180 –> 00:31:40,739 and he speaks about it as one, telescope together, 684 00:31:40,739 –> 00:31:43,420 but actually as we move forward in the timeline of history 685 00:31:43,420 –> 00:31:45,640 we see it’s more than one thing. 686 00:31:45,640 –> 00:31:47,359 There’s two hills separated by a valley, 687 00:31:47,359 –> 00:31:49,160 2,000 years so far. 688 00:31:50,920 –> 00:31:53,479 Let me give you a second example, just these two examples 689 00:31:53,479 –> 00:31:55,479 but I want you to see the pattern. 690 00:31:55,479 –> 00:31:59,599 Isaiah chapter 11, Isaiah chapter 11 691 00:32:00,719 –> 00:32:04,000 and here we find Isaiah the prophet telescoping 692 00:32:04,000 –> 00:32:06,479 the first coming and the second coming 693 00:32:06,479 –> 00:32:08,640 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 694 00:32:08,640 –> 00:32:12,040 Notice verse one, Isaiah 11. 695 00:32:12,040 –> 00:32:15,160 A shoot will come out from the stump of Jesse 696 00:32:15,160 –> 00:32:18,599 from his roots a branch will bear fruit 697 00:32:18,599 –> 00:32:20,319 and the Spirit of the Lord will be upon him 698 00:32:20,319 –> 00:32:22,239 the spirit of wisdom and of understanding 699 00:32:22,239 –> 00:32:23,160 of counsel and power of knowledge 700 00:32:23,160 –> 00:32:24,959 and of fear of the Lord 701 00:32:24,959 –> 00:32:27,439 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. 702 00:32:27,439 –> 00:32:28,479 That’s already happened. 703 00:32:28,479 –> 00:32:30,800 This is the birth of Jesus, 704 00:32:30,800 –> 00:32:32,280 this is the ministry of Jesus 705 00:32:32,280 –> 00:32:34,560 when he says the Spirit of the Lord is upon me 706 00:32:34,560 –> 00:32:36,199 this has happened being fulfilled 707 00:32:36,199 –> 00:32:39,079 in the first coming of Christ. 708 00:32:39,079 –> 00:32:40,239 But then if you look at what he says 709 00:32:40,239 –> 00:32:42,400 in the same prophecy in verse 4 710 00:32:42,400 –> 00:32:47,400 he will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth 711 00:32:47,739 –> 00:32:50,579 but with the breath of his lips 712 00:32:50,579 –> 00:32:53,000 he will slay the wicked. 713 00:32:53,040 –> 00:32:55,400 Jesus didn’t do that during his earthly ministry 714 00:32:55,400 –> 00:32:59,160 that relates to the day of judgment that is still to come. 715 00:32:59,160 –> 00:33:02,439 But Isaiah looking forward sees these 716 00:33:02,439 –> 00:33:05,040 what we now know to be two hills 717 00:33:05,040 –> 00:33:08,280 but they’re telescoped together in the prophecy 718 00:33:08,280 –> 00:33:13,280 and they look to Isaiah as if they are one. 719 00:33:14,439 –> 00:33:15,939 Now let’s come back to Mark’s Gospel 720 00:33:15,939 –> 00:33:17,959 chapter 13 in verse 14 721 00:33:18,680 –> 00:33:23,079 And we’ll see that the same thing pertains here. 722 00:33:23,079 –> 00:33:24,479 So, think of it this way, 723 00:33:24,479 –> 00:33:26,160 it’s almost like a hologram 724 00:33:26,160 –> 00:33:30,660 where you have two images superimposed on each other 725 00:33:30,660 –> 00:33:32,119 and one minute you’re looking at one, 726 00:33:32,119 –> 00:33:34,079 the next minute you’re looking at the other 727 00:33:34,079 –> 00:33:38,719 because they’re both in the image superimposed together. 728 00:33:39,859 –> 00:33:42,839 Now in verse 14, Jesus speaks about 729 00:33:42,839 –> 00:33:46,939 the abomination that causes desolation. 730 00:33:48,040 –> 00:33:50,900 This was first spoken about by Daniel, the prophet, 731 00:33:50,900 –> 00:33:52,839 several times in his prophecy, 732 00:33:52,839 –> 00:33:55,239 for example, chapter 11 in verse 31, 733 00:33:55,239 –> 00:33:58,859 he speaks about a king whose army 734 00:33:58,859 –> 00:34:01,560 would desecrate the temple, 735 00:34:01,560 –> 00:34:04,380 abolish the daily sacrifice 736 00:34:04,380 –> 00:34:08,340 and set up the abomination that causes desolation, 737 00:34:08,340 –> 00:34:10,500 that’s Daniel 11 in verse 31. 738 00:34:11,399 –> 00:34:13,300 The question is, when did that happen? 739 00:34:14,300 –> 00:34:19,300 Well, it had actually happened once already 740 00:34:19,500 –> 00:34:21,800 before the birth of the Lord Jesus. 741 00:34:23,040 –> 00:34:24,620 Some centuries after Daniel, 742 00:34:24,620 –> 00:34:28,300 but more than 150 years before the coming of Jesus, 743 00:34:29,419 –> 00:34:34,419 Antiochus Epiphanes marched into the temple in Jerusalem 744 00:34:34,899 –> 00:34:39,739 and erected a pagan altar in the temple, desecrating it 745 00:34:39,739 –> 00:34:41,560 and the disciples knew that that had happened. 746 00:34:41,560 –> 00:34:43,219 It was part of their history. 747 00:34:43,419 –> 00:34:45,520 It had to be 150 years before Jesus. 748 00:34:46,800 –> 00:34:48,439 But now Jesus says, you know, 749 00:34:48,439 –> 00:34:50,459 this thing that Daniel spoke about, 750 00:34:50,459 –> 00:34:52,600 you are going to see another manifestation 751 00:34:52,600 –> 00:34:54,459 of it in your own lifetime, verse 14. 752 00:34:54,459 –> 00:34:57,260 When you see, he says to his disciples, 753 00:34:57,260 –> 00:34:59,000 the abomination that makes desolate. 754 00:34:59,000 –> 00:35:00,300 So it’s gonna happen again. 755 00:35:00,300 –> 00:35:04,280 And it did, as the Roman armies in the year A.D. 70 756 00:35:04,280 –> 00:35:06,760 marched into Jerusalem with their standards 757 00:35:06,760 –> 00:35:08,840 bearing the emblem of the Emperor, 758 00:35:08,840 –> 00:35:11,479 desecrated and destroyed the temple 759 00:35:11,739 –> 00:35:14,320 and destroyed the whole of the city of Jerusalem. 760 00:35:16,100 –> 00:35:19,860 But clearly this desecration points beyond even that 761 00:35:19,860 –> 00:35:22,320 to another hilltop, as it were, 762 00:35:22,320 –> 00:35:24,300 that the New Testament also speaks of, 763 00:35:24,300 –> 00:35:25,659 a time still to come. 764 00:35:26,780 –> 00:35:31,439 Paul speaks in 2 Thessalonians in chapter two and verse four 765 00:35:31,439 –> 00:35:33,179 about how the man of lawlessness, 766 00:35:33,179 –> 00:35:38,179 the antichrist, will set up in God’s temple 767 00:35:38,239 –> 00:35:43,179 proclaiming himself to be God. 768 00:35:44,260 –> 00:35:47,419 So clearly there’s a future reference here 769 00:35:47,419 –> 00:35:49,800 as well as an imminent reference. 770 00:35:50,719 –> 00:35:53,500 And Jesus speaks about these future days 771 00:35:53,500 –> 00:35:58,500 as being days of unequaled distress, verse 19. 772 00:35:58,739 –> 00:36:03,159 Those will be days of distress, unequalled from the beginning 773 00:36:04,479 –> 00:36:06,959 when God created the world until now 774 00:36:06,959 –> 00:36:11,100 and never to be equaled again. 775 00:36:14,060 –> 00:36:16,620 Now, let me suggest to you that we really 776 00:36:16,620 –> 00:36:20,020 need to feel the weight of this. 777 00:36:22,199 –> 00:36:25,260 See, there are different opinions 778 00:36:25,260 –> 00:36:28,100 within our own congregation and among Christians 779 00:36:28,100 –> 00:36:32,820 more widely as to where we will be 780 00:36:32,820 –> 00:36:35,659 during this time of Great Tribulation. 781 00:36:37,320 –> 00:36:40,739 Some Christians think that we will endure 782 00:36:40,739 –> 00:36:43,780 this time of great and unparalleled distress. 783 00:36:44,919 –> 00:36:47,100 Other Christians believe that the Lord 784 00:36:47,100 –> 00:36:50,419 will take us home about halfway through. 785 00:36:52,179 –> 00:36:56,139 Probably most of us believe that the church 786 00:36:56,139 –> 00:36:58,679 will be taken into the presence of the Lord Jesus 787 00:36:58,679 –> 00:37:02,080 before this happens, that is we believe 788 00:37:02,080 –> 00:37:07,080 in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. 789 00:37:10,760 –> 00:37:14,760 If we believe that, it is easy for us to think, 790 00:37:14,760 –> 00:37:18,080 well, we don’t need to worry 791 00:37:18,080 –> 00:37:23,080 because we’ll be gone, and I say how selfish can you get? 792 00:37:26,939 –> 00:37:30,860 Just last sunday, we faced the teaching 793 00:37:30,899 –> 00:37:35,379 of Jesus, love your neighbor as yourself. 794 00:37:37,360 –> 00:37:41,800 The intensity of suffering in this great tribulation 795 00:37:43,500 –> 00:37:47,879 will be so severe, the intensity of the labor pains, 796 00:37:50,120 –> 00:37:52,199 that Jesus says, verse 20, 797 00:37:52,199 –> 00:37:54,899 if God had allowed these days to continue, 798 00:37:54,899 –> 00:37:56,979 if he didn’t step in and shorten them, 799 00:37:56,979 –> 00:37:59,699 no one would survive. 800 00:38:01,580 –> 00:38:04,600 But for the sake of his own people, 801 00:38:06,419 –> 00:38:07,500 God steps in. 802 00:38:09,159 –> 00:38:11,919 Now, I want you to notice how he does that. 803 00:38:11,919 –> 00:38:15,879 First, in verse 24 he steps in to shorten these days 804 00:38:15,879 –> 00:38:18,439 by shaking the heavens. 805 00:38:18,439 –> 00:38:20,520 In those days, following that distress, 806 00:38:20,520 –> 00:38:22,139 the sun will be darkened and the moon 807 00:38:22,139 –> 00:38:23,540 will not give its light. 808 00:38:23,540 –> 00:38:25,399 The stars will fall from the sky 809 00:38:25,399 –> 00:38:28,360 and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 810 00:38:28,360 –> 00:38:29,199 Well, think about it. 811 00:38:29,239 –> 00:38:31,300 The sun is darkened. 812 00:38:31,300 –> 00:38:33,560 The moon doesn’t have any light to reflect. 813 00:38:34,719 –> 00:38:36,679 And without the gravitational pull, 814 00:38:36,679 –> 00:38:40,360 the whole of the solar system begins to split apart, 815 00:38:40,360 –> 00:38:45,360 stars shooting off their orbits down to their doom. 816 00:38:49,000 –> 00:38:53,479 Bible speaks several times of God shaking the heavens, 817 00:38:53,479 –> 00:38:57,800 and that’s what Jesus refers to here. 818 00:38:57,800 –> 00:38:59,439 He steps in in that way and He steps in 819 00:38:59,439 –> 00:39:01,919 in another more wonderful way. 820 00:39:01,919 –> 00:39:04,800 Jesus Christ will come in power and glory. 821 00:39:04,800 –> 00:39:07,419 Verse 26, at that time, 822 00:39:07,419 –> 00:39:10,760 men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds 823 00:39:10,760 –> 00:39:14,399 with great power and with glory. 824 00:39:15,320 –> 00:39:16,719 And so in the mercy of God, 825 00:39:16,719 –> 00:39:20,159 these days of unequaled distress are shortened 826 00:39:20,159 –> 00:39:22,199 as Christ steps in, 827 00:39:22,199 –> 00:39:26,000 and the days of unequaled distress now give way 828 00:39:26,040 –> 00:39:29,919 to days of unequal joy for all of God’s people. 829 00:39:31,840 –> 00:39:33,280 And notice the joy. 830 00:39:33,280 –> 00:39:38,280 First, we will share in the joy of seeing Jesus Christ. 831 00:39:40,360 –> 00:39:43,199 At that time, men will see the Son of Man 832 00:39:43,199 –> 00:39:45,639 coming in the clouds and we will see His power 833 00:39:45,639 –> 00:39:47,520 and we will see His glory. 834 00:39:49,879 –> 00:39:53,659 Second, we will share the joy of being gathered together 835 00:39:53,679 –> 00:39:56,820 by Christ with all of His people. 836 00:39:56,820 –> 00:40:00,500 Verse 27, He will send His angels and gather His elect 837 00:40:00,500 –> 00:40:03,199 from the four winds, from the ends of the earth 838 00:40:03,199 –> 00:40:05,899 to the ends of the heavens. 839 00:40:06,959 –> 00:40:08,459 The gathering of all Christ’s people, 840 00:40:08,459 –> 00:40:10,479 all the believers who are with Him already 841 00:40:10,479 –> 00:40:11,820 being gathered from heaven, 842 00:40:11,820 –> 00:40:14,219 all the believers who are living on earth 843 00:40:14,219 –> 00:40:17,659 being gathered into His presence coming to Him. 844 00:40:19,560 –> 00:40:21,340 Now again, you will find different opinions, 845 00:40:21,379 –> 00:40:23,139 even among us, and certainly more broadly 846 00:40:23,139 –> 00:40:25,580 among Christians, as to where exactly 847 00:40:25,580 –> 00:40:27,360 we will be at this time. 848 00:40:27,360 –> 00:40:29,459 Will we be in heaven coming with the Lord 849 00:40:29,459 –> 00:40:31,979 because we’ve already been taken into His presence, 850 00:40:31,979 –> 00:40:34,199 or will we be among those who are on earth 851 00:40:34,199 –> 00:40:36,459 who are gathered together with those who have died 852 00:40:36,459 –> 00:40:40,419 and brought together by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ? 853 00:40:41,739 –> 00:40:43,580 Whichever way you take that, 854 00:40:44,459 –> 00:40:49,120 we will be part of this great event 855 00:40:49,120 –> 00:40:54,120 being gathered together by the Lord Jesus Christ, 856 00:40:54,360 –> 00:40:58,120 all the people in His presence in heaven coming with Him, 857 00:40:58,120 –> 00:41:00,760 all the people who are looking to Him on the Earth 858 00:41:00,760 –> 00:41:05,760 being gathered to Him, to be forever with the Lord. 859 00:41:07,040 –> 00:41:10,459 So here are the great future events 860 00:41:10,459 –> 00:41:13,179 that inspire our hope today. 861 00:41:14,679 –> 00:41:17,320 We will share the joy of seeing Christ. 862 00:41:18,239 –> 00:41:22,080 We will share the joy of being gathered with His people. 863 00:41:23,919 –> 00:41:26,520 And then there’s one more thing that Jesus just points to 864 00:41:26,520 –> 00:41:29,479 and it’s beyond even these two events 865 00:41:29,479 –> 00:41:30,879 and it’s in verse 31. 866 00:41:30,879 –> 00:41:35,879 Jesus says, heaven and earth will pass away. 867 00:41:40,520 –> 00:41:43,580 My words won’t pass away but notice what He says. 868 00:41:43,820 –> 00:41:48,820 Heaven and earth will pass away. 869 00:41:52,360 –> 00:41:54,199 There’s a lovely reference in the book of Hebrews. 870 00:41:54,199 –> 00:41:55,899 I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed it. 871 00:41:55,899 –> 00:41:59,939 Hebrews chapter one and the writer there says, 872 00:41:59,939 –> 00:42:04,860 the heavens and the earth are the work of your hands. 873 00:42:04,860 –> 00:42:09,860 They will perish but you will remain. 874 00:42:11,020 –> 00:42:13,500 Then the writer to the Hebrews says of the heavens 875 00:42:13,540 –> 00:42:17,479 and of the earth they will all wear out like a garment. 876 00:42:18,739 –> 00:42:23,479 You will roll them up like a robe. 877 00:42:25,879 –> 00:42:27,280 You know the Bible said that about the heavens 878 00:42:27,280 –> 00:42:28,179 and the earth, 879 00:42:29,020 –> 00:42:34,020 that God will roll them up like a robe? 880 00:42:35,979 –> 00:42:38,479 The heavens and the earth that we think of as being 881 00:42:38,479 –> 00:42:41,600 so substantial, so strong, so enduring, 882 00:42:41,600 –> 00:42:43,260 rolled up like a robe. 883 00:42:44,300 –> 00:42:46,860 And Peter says in keeping with God’s promise, 884 00:42:46,860 –> 00:42:51,840 we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth. 885 00:42:53,159 –> 00:42:54,300 Jesus says heaven and earth will pass away, 886 00:42:54,300 –> 00:42:56,239 but my words that are more solid 887 00:42:56,239 –> 00:43:01,239 than the ground you walk on will never pass away. 888 00:43:02,040 –> 00:43:03,919 Whether the new heaven and the new earth, 889 00:43:03,919 –> 00:43:08,260 we are to think of it as totally new creation, 890 00:43:08,260 –> 00:43:11,060 separate from even the matter of creation now 891 00:43:11,600 –> 00:43:14,080 or whether we are to think of the earth melts 892 00:43:14,080 –> 00:43:15,639 with fervent heat and, therefore, 893 00:43:15,639 –> 00:43:19,020 will be purged and, therefore, renewed and redeemed, 894 00:43:19,020 –> 00:43:20,580 there are different ideas on that, 895 00:43:20,580 –> 00:43:23,620 but what is clear is that the heavens 896 00:43:23,620 –> 00:43:25,879 and the earth will so wonderfully new. 897 00:43:25,879 –> 00:43:28,300 There will be no place for evil. 898 00:43:28,300 –> 00:43:30,780 There will be a new cosmos, 899 00:43:31,979 –> 00:43:35,939 that Peter says will be the home of righteousness. 900 00:43:35,939 –> 00:43:38,300 Now think about this. 901 00:43:38,360 –> 00:43:42,399 That is why you and I need to become new creations 902 00:43:42,399 –> 00:43:46,760 in Christ now so that we will be able to participate 903 00:43:46,760 –> 00:43:48,979 in his new creation then. 904 00:43:48,979 –> 00:43:52,239 That is why we need to receive the righteousness 905 00:43:52,239 –> 00:43:56,000 of Jesus Christ now so that we will able to be part 906 00:43:56,000 –> 00:43:57,260 of the new heaven and new earth 907 00:43:57,260 –> 00:43:59,639 that is the home of righteousness then 908 00:43:59,639 –> 00:44:01,239 because without being a new creation 909 00:44:01,239 –> 00:44:03,439 and without having the righteousness of Christ, 910 00:44:03,439 –> 00:44:05,879 how could we possibly be part of the new creation 911 00:44:05,879 –> 00:44:07,540 that is the home of righteousness, 912 00:44:07,540 –> 00:44:10,739 which is where the whole of God’s sovereign plan 913 00:44:10,739 –> 00:44:12,219 for history is going. 914 00:44:13,840 –> 00:44:16,500 And so, it is that Jesus Christ came into the world 915 00:44:16,500 –> 00:44:18,399 to seek and to save the lost. 916 00:44:18,399 –> 00:44:20,959 We saw him saying that in Mark’s gospel 917 00:44:20,959 –> 00:44:22,879 in chapter 10, verse 45. 918 00:44:23,379 –> 00:44:25,979 He came into the world because there’s something 919 00:44:25,979 –> 00:44:30,840 you need saving from and something you need saving for. 920 00:44:32,060 –> 00:44:33,860 You need to be saved from the judgment 921 00:44:33,860 –> 00:44:36,820 of the old creation and saved for life 922 00:44:36,860 –> 00:44:39,580 in the new creation, and that is why Christ 923 00:44:39,580 –> 00:44:41,139 goes to the cross. 924 00:44:41,139 –> 00:44:43,340 That is why, and we’ll see this as we follow 925 00:44:43,340 –> 00:44:45,979 the story, when he hangs on that cross 926 00:44:45,979 –> 00:44:47,959 the sun, it is darkened, 927 00:44:49,340 –> 00:44:51,979 because he’s actually bearing the judgment 928 00:44:51,979 –> 00:44:55,219 that is to come on behalf of all who will 929 00:44:55,219 –> 00:44:58,280 turn to him in repentance and faith 930 00:44:58,280 –> 00:45:00,120 so that you may enter the new world. 931 00:45:01,399 –> 00:45:04,000 He rises to offer the power of his risen life 932 00:45:04,000 –> 00:45:05,979 and a remade life to you. 933 00:45:07,139 –> 00:45:11,520 If you will come to him in faith and in repentance. 934 00:45:14,060 –> 00:45:16,600 This teaching has many things that are 935 00:45:16,600 –> 00:45:20,419 hard to understand, but oh it is full 936 00:45:20,419 –> 00:45:23,000 of practical relevance to our lives. 937 00:45:24,100 –> 00:45:26,600 Do you hear the words of the Lord Jesus here? 938 00:45:26,600 –> 00:45:28,540 Will you allow his teaching to shape 939 00:45:28,540 –> 00:45:31,139 your expectations of life in this world really? 940 00:45:32,780 –> 00:45:35,080 If you find yourself tipped into a situation 941 00:45:35,139 –> 00:45:37,320 for which you could not possibly be prepared, 942 00:45:37,320 –> 00:45:40,280 will you rely on the promise of his Spirit 943 00:45:40,280 –> 00:45:42,979 to be with you, to guide you, to give you what to say? 944 00:45:44,760 –> 00:45:48,639 And then just in these last moments two other 945 00:45:48,639 –> 00:45:50,699 quick applications, they’re so important. 946 00:45:52,000 –> 00:45:54,479 Jesus says we don’t know the time when he 947 00:45:54,479 –> 00:45:58,760 is going to come but we’re to live in the light of it now. 948 00:45:58,760 –> 00:46:01,679 We’re to watch, we’re to pray, we’re to be alert, 949 00:46:01,679 –> 00:46:03,100 we’re to be on our guard. 950 00:46:04,060 –> 00:46:09,060 If you knew the time of the Lord Jesus coming 951 00:46:11,860 –> 00:46:16,300 you would fight temptation more vigorously 952 00:46:16,300 –> 00:46:17,639 than you did last week. 953 00:46:19,560 –> 00:46:21,959 You would endure suffering more joyfully 954 00:46:21,959 –> 00:46:23,840 than you did last week. 955 00:46:24,860 –> 00:46:27,060 You would examine yourself and you would confess 956 00:46:27,060 –> 00:46:28,939 your sins more than you did last week. 957 00:46:28,939 –> 00:46:31,360 You would witness love and serve more urgently 958 00:46:31,459 –> 00:46:32,300 than you did last week. 959 00:46:32,300 –> 00:46:34,500 You would give yourself to the Lord more fully 960 00:46:34,500 –> 00:46:36,100 and completely than you did last week, 961 00:46:36,100 –> 00:46:36,939 and so would I. 962 00:46:38,620 –> 00:46:41,320 If we knew the date of the Lord Jesus coming 963 00:46:41,320 –> 00:46:45,260 we would find it much easier to go into work tomorrow 964 00:46:45,260 –> 00:46:46,979 and say, everything here is gonna pass away. 965 00:46:46,979 –> 00:46:49,060 The one thing that matters is that I honor 966 00:46:49,060 –> 00:46:52,000 and am faithful to Jesus Christ in everything that I do. 967 00:46:52,000 –> 00:46:53,320 And you see what he’s saying? 968 00:46:53,320 –> 00:46:55,320 That’s how we’re to live everyday. 969 00:46:56,540 –> 00:47:00,020 That’s the effect of the knowledge of his surecoming. 970 00:47:00,560 –> 00:47:02,620 Upon our daily lives. 971 00:47:03,800 –> 00:47:05,340 And here’s the very last thing. 972 00:47:06,719 –> 00:47:09,459 We don’t know how everything will work out. 973 00:47:09,459 –> 00:47:11,639 There are many things not clearly revealed to us, 974 00:47:11,639 –> 00:47:15,840 but Christ has clearly revealed the end of the story. 975 00:47:16,860 –> 00:47:18,659 You know how it will end. 976 00:47:20,300 –> 00:47:22,939 Evil will be overthrown. 977 00:47:24,419 –> 00:47:26,600 Christ will be exalted. 978 00:47:27,399 –> 00:47:30,840 His people will be gathered to himself. 979 00:47:32,679 –> 00:47:35,300 The heavens and the earth will be liberated 980 00:47:35,300 –> 00:47:36,939 from bondage to decay. 981 00:47:38,219 –> 00:47:42,520 And we will see his face. 982 00:47:44,899 –> 00:47:46,500 Come Lord Jesus, quickly. 983 00:47:47,379 –> 00:47:50,540 And all the people of God said amen. 984 00:47:50,540 –> 00:47:54,860 Father, apply your word deep in our hearts 985 00:47:55,500 –> 00:48:00,500 for your praise, glory and honor in Jesus’ name. 986 00:48:03,040 –> 00:48:03,860 Amen.