February 13, 2022
Morning Service

Last week gave us a very good example of where we are in our study.  On Monday we were all watching the weather forecast which was predicting the winter storm that hit us on Thursday.  The meteorologists were all very confident that a powerful storm was headed our way.  They warned us of the danger ahead with freezing rain that could possibly bring us power outages.  We all listened and prepared in our own way for the difficult time that we had been warned of.  We went to the store, carried in wood, laid out candles, and checked on others who may have needed something.  We made preparations for the storm that was coming.

            In our study, we are have begun Jesus’ “Olivet Discourse” which, just like the meteorologist, warns us of a coming storm and encourages us to be prepared.  As we looked over the city of Jerusalem, Jesus revealed to us the signs of “the beginnings of sorrows.”  “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”  He then warned us of the tribulation that will come against us who have chosen to follow Jesus.  We will be hated, betrayed and persecuted for ties with our Lord.  Many will come to deceive, lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold.  A storm is coming and we need to prepare for it.  Just as we prepared for the winter storm, we must also prepare for the spiritual storm that is coming. The meteorologists encouraged us that the storm would end on Friday and better weather was ahead for us.  Jesus also leaves us with hope; “But he who endures to the end will be saved.”  Up to this point (verse 14), the commentators feel is the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation period.  It is at this midpoint that things change again and for the worse.

Mat 24:15-22 "Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), (16) "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  (17)  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  (18)  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  (19)  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  (20)  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  (21)  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  (22)  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

            Things will change in dramatic fashion as Daniel prophesied of the “Abomination of Desolation” will occur.  Many thought this occurred when Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD and sacrifice a pig (an unclean animal) upon the altar of God defiling it.  This is a future event and will have something to do with the revealing of the Antichrist as he will falsely proclaim himself to be god in the Temple, defiling it greatly.  This will begin a time on the earth of great tribulation “such as has not been since the beginning of the world.”  People will flee to the mountains with no thought of saving any of their possessions, but consumed with only preserving one’s life.  In perspective we can think of terrible times like the Holocaust in Nazi Germany and how unbelievable that was, but this time will be worse.  No more details of this are given to us here, but the Book of Revelations shows us more.  No one would survive except that God chooses to shorten the days for those He has chosen. He now warns that we must be careful not to be deceived.

 

Mat 24:23-28 "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.  (26)  "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  (27)  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  (28)  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

            We must all examine the foundation we are standing upon and be sure it is solid.  It will not be easy to withstand this time of deception and persecution as Jesus tells that there will be “great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  Deception will arise saying that Christ has come, but know that this event will be seen by everyone and happen as quickly as lightning streaks across the sky.  It is vital that we build our faith through the study of the Word to be confident that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God” and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through.  Now is the time we have been given to prepare for the storm; redeem the time and draw closer to the Lord building your foundation solidly upon Him.  In chapter 25, Jesus makes it very clear that we need to make preparations because “he who endures to the end will be saved.”  At the end of this terrible time, when we feel all is lost, our faith will become sight and our hope will become reality in an instant in time.  Keep your mind focused on how this ends, not what we must endure to get there.

 

Mat 24:29-31"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  (30)  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  (31)  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

1Th 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  (15)  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  (17)  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  (18)  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

            Through the entire time of the Great Tribulation we must hold onto the hope of what will occur at the end.  Any suffering and persecution will last only for a relatively short period of time.  Jesus will return as He promised us and we will never again part ways.  Jesus wins!  We who endure to the end win!  Our struggles will be forever behind us and we will be left with the stories of how faithful our Savior has been to us. “Comfort one another with these words.”  There should be a confident assurance about us knowing how all of our journeys will end.  Our focus needs to be on what God would have us to be doing in preparation for this coming storm.  Love God and love you neighbor as yourself should be our focus.  There should be no fear, but a deep settled peace that comes from knowing God is in control.  Paul described what that looks like as we prepare for the coming storm:

 

Php. 4:6-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (8)  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

            Let our hearts and minds be filled with the peace that passes all understanding knowing we win in the end!  Focus your thoughts on the good attributes of God knowing that we are victorious through Christ.  Redeem the time we have been given to prepare before the storm and be ready when it comes.  Pray, study, and be busy about our Father’s business; but don’t be afraid.  Enjoy the days God blesses us with the loved ones we have around us but begin preparing.  I challenge you to pray over this scripture this week and ask God to help you to live a life that lines up with this.  Trust in the Lord and He will remove all fear, stress, and worry in our lives with a peace that passes all understanding.

 

Heavenly Father, grant us the faith to allow the Spirit to work in our lives to produce the attributes.  Let Your peace dwell in our lives even during the times of trouble that lie ahead.