The “Last Days”

The speaker discusses the concept of the "last days" and the confusion surrounding when exactly these last days are. They mention Peter's warning about scoffers questioning the coming of the Messiah. The speaker then focuses on Matthew chapter 24, where Jesus gives an outline of the end times. They explain that Jesus separates the destruction of Jerusalem from his second coming and emphasizes the importance of Gentiles in relation to the kingdom. The speaker also mentions Luke's account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the times of the Gentiles. They argue that the church age will continue until the rapture, which some believe will happen in the middle of the tribulation. The speaker concludes by stating that God is not finished with Israel and that there are still prophecies and promises that need to be fulfilled. at the all things future and just kind of go through, and I don't know, we're not going to go very deep into a lot of the end time stuff, but just kind of go through an overview and understanding of what's going on, and what do you think of when you hear the phrase the last days? We're living in the last days. It's been a long period of time, because like he said, from the time that Jesus Christ ascended, these were the last days, and they're going to continue until he comes again, and so we're in the last days. The problem is, is which is the, when is the last last days? We've been going on for 2,000 years, right? And even Peter warns, he said that there's going to be those that come in the last days, scoffers that are talking about where's this coming of the Messiah that you keep talking about and everything, and so what I want us to look at is when you look at really probably the best outline and the greatest thing that we have of the end times is when Jesus Christ gave his Mount Olive discourse, and he was there with his disciples. If you go back and you look in Matthew chapter 23, he had been talking to his disciples and giving them last information and the last stuff that was there, and then all of a sudden at the very end of chapter 23, he told them about the judgment, and he was going to judge the Jews because they rejected him as the Messiah. When he was doing this, this is just a couple of days before he's being crucified, and so the ultimate judgment against the Jews is they rejected him as the Messiah. They thought that when Jesus Christ came that he would come back riding a white horse, that he would overthrow the Roman government and establish his throne because nowhere in the Old Testament does it speak of anything of this church age, and so the disciples didn't understand that. They didn't know what was going on, and when you look at the context of Matthew, Matthew is writing his gospel to show that Jesus Christ is a royal king. He gives the lineage through Joseph, his father, all the way back through Solomon and David, showing that he had the rightful heir to the throne as king, but not only does Matthew show that he is the king, but he also comes and writes his whole gospel to prove that he's the Messiah. He is the one that is prophesied in the Old Testament, and so Matthew is proving that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, even though he did not institute the prophesied kingdom of the Old Testament at his first coming. The kingdom is not going to happen until the millennial reign. It's going to be right at a thousand years, give or take a little bit, depending on what we don't really know the exact, because there's going to be a war with Satan and all of them, and so it's not going to be exactly 1,000 years. It's going to be ended a little bit before that, but Matthew will also seek to prove the importance of Gentiles in relation to the kingdom. When you look at the genealogies of Matthew in chapter one, he goes through this lineage of being king, and in that lineage there's about four Gentiles that come out, and so we're looking at this relationship of the kingdom with the Gentiles. You remember Jesus Christ said he came unto his own, and his own received him not, so then he turns and goes to the world and to the Gentiles, and we see that happening in Acts. When they don't accept him in Jerusalem, he scatters them out into the world, and all of a sudden they start going. Paul goes to the Gentiles and begins to establish churches that was there, and so Matthew 24 gives us an outline of the events where the Lord Jesus Christ answered three questions that was asked by him. As they finally have wandered up in Matthew, they come to chapter 24, and they are just outside of the temple, and at that particular time, it was Herod's temple that was there in Jerusalem in the days of Jesus Christ, and it was not fully completed. It was still in the process, and Jesus Christ makes the statement that this temple is going to be destroyed, but it's going to be built back, and so because of that, the disciples are looking as being Jewish men, they are looking for Jesus Christ. It is now when this is going to happen. It's just what you're fixing to do, and that's why they were totally blindsided and caught off guard with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, because they thought, man, he's going to go before Pilate, and he's fixing to let everybody know what's going on and establish the kingdom, and everything is going to be hunky-dory, and so you come to chapter 24 and verse 1, and it says, And Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See you not all things, verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. And so Jesus separates this destruction of Jerusalem from his coming of establishing the kingdom. When you study end-time prophecy and everything, there's a lot of the historical ones that look at end-times as a historical event. Look at the tribulation and the millennial reign that we're already living in that, because the time clock started in A.D. 70, when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. But here, in this passage of Scripture, Jesus Christ is separating the destruction of Jerusalem from his second coming. In other words, he's looking at two different events. And so he's making sure that his disciples here understand that this destruction of Jerusalem and the temple did not signify the end. When you go to verse 6 of chapter 24, he says, And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. And so this is happening after the destruction of Jerusalem. And he said, guess what? When you hear of these wars and rumors of wars, the end is still not here. It's still not available. When you look at Luke, who also talks about this, Matthew does not even record Jesus answering anything about the destruction of the temple. When you go to Luke, in chapter 21 and verse 24, Luke tells us about the destruction and talks to them about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Luke says in verse 20 of chapter 21, And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter thereunto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon his people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and they shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Now this, when you get over into Matthew chapter 24, there is some phraseology that is almost exactly the same as this. When the Antichrist sets up his abomination of desolation in the middle of the tribulation period, he tells them also, when you see that happen, you better flee. And he mentions the same thing, woe to a mother that's giving suck to their child, woe to them if it happens during this time frame. But these are two different events. And so Luke is not talking about the middle of the tribulation. What Luke is talking about is the temple destruction in A.D. 70. And then, when the temple is destroyed, then he says, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And so from the time that the temple is destroyed and Jerusalem is destroyed, there is going to be a time of the Gentiles. We know that to be the church age that we're living in right now. It's referred to as the church age. It's referred to the time of the Gentiles. It will take place until the rapture happens, where I believe the rapture will happen. Some believe that it happens in the middle of the tribulation. But either way, that's what we're looking for. That's the event that will happen. And so these are marked by two different things. And a lot of people have messed up when they study the end times and look at things because they look at this destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and start the time clock there. But there's a lot of things and a lot of stuff that doesn't line up and match. And so I wanted to be sure to understand that. Now, when you go back to Matthew 24, Jesus Christ just basically ignored everything about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple because, and I didn't put the verse here, but in Matthew 23, right before this, when He gives the pronouncing, He says in verse 36 of chapter 23, He says, Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophet and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how oft would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and you would not. Behold, your house is left you desolate. For I say unto you, you shall not see me henceforth till you shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus went out and departed from the temple and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See you not all these things. Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. And so that is the only reference in Matthew about the destruction of the temple that was going to happen in A.D. 70. But it was going to happen because of their rejection of the Messiah. I read again the other day somebody that's saying that God is finished with Israel. God is not finished with Israel. There's still a lot of prophecy and a lot of promises and covenants that God has made with Israel that still have to be fulfilled. And so God is not finished with Israel, but Israel rejected Him. And so therefore, they went into judgment. But there's a time that He's going to they're going to repent and He's going to forgive them. And then we come into the millennial reign. And so here we find that He asked three questions in verse three. Now, in Matthew 24, three, he says, And as He set upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately saying, Tell us. And here's three questions that He asked. When shall these things be? What what is they asking? They are asking when is the destruction of this temple? When is this temple going to be destroyed? That's the context. So that's what the first question is. The second question is, is what shall be the sign of your coming? Now, what coming are we referring to? We're talking about the second coming. When are you going to come back and establish this kingdom? And then the third question they ask is, when is the end of the world? And so this is the outline for Matthew chapter 24 that Jesus is fixing to take these three questions and He's going to answer them in order. He's going to, but He's going to kind of partially skip over this first one. Luke is the one that fills in the details for us that is there. And so the first question he asked, when shall these things be? And what he is dealing with is wanting to let them know that the destruction of the temple in AD 70 is different than when Christ is going to come back. It's two different events. And so as he explains that, notice what he says in verse four. And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many, and notice I underline these, shall come. This is the word for the future. It's going to happen. It hasn't happened, but this is in the future. And so He's speaking to His disciples and He says, many shall come in my name saying, I am the Christ and deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. And so we're not to the end of the world yet. We're dealing with something that is happening before the end of the world, but it's something in the future. And so then He says, per nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places. All these things are the beginning of sorrows. Now, and goes on in verse nine, then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. And you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. And then shall the end come. So that answers the first question. When will these things shall be? When's this going to happen? Then he answers the second question. What shall be the sign of thy coming? This starts in verse 15. He says, when you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, the prophet stand in the holy place, whosoever read it, let him understand. Then let them, which be in Judea, flee into the mountains, let him, which is on the housetop, not come down to take anything out of his house. Neither let him watch, which is in the field, return back to take his clothes and woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days. But praise you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day, for then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. But for the elect's sake, these days shall be shortened. Then, if any man shall say unto you, lo, here is Christ or there, believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before, wherefore, if they shall say unto you, behold, he is in the desert, go not forth. Behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not." And so now this is, all these verses deal with the second half of the tribulation period, the time right before Jesus Christ is ready to come back. We know that Daniel prophesied 70 weeks. We know there's a seven-year period of weeks that is left at the end. That's the tribulation period. He's dealing with the first half of the tribulation period in the answer to the first question. He's dealing with the second half, and we'll deal with that next week and that. And then he answers the third question, and what shall be the sign of the end of the world? How do we know when God is going to destroy this entire world and bring a new heaven and a new earth in, as the Old Testament had prophesied? And then he picks up in Matthew 24, 27, and he deals with this question, for as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For whosoever the carcass is, there will be eagles gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. And so this is dealing with now the second coming of Christ in the millennial reign that's there. And so that's how he breaks it down. And you say, well, how do you gather all of this? Well, what are some characteristics of the last days? Notice he says, all of these are the beginning of sorrows. That word sorrow is literally translated the birth pains. It has to do with a mother giving birth. Now, I know from not personal experience, but from my wife's experience that, guess what? The more the pregnancy goes on, the more sorrow and the more discomfort, the more unpleasure there is. I also know that the birth pains start, but they're not really, a lot of times she didn't even realize she was having contractions and birth pains. She thought it was heartburn or she thought it was gas or something else. But the closer it came time to the baby being born, the contractions would get stronger. They would get harder. They would get more realizable till finally one afternoon, I come in from work about five 30. She's still doing piano lessons. And she says, Donnie, I think I'm having real contractions. And I said, okay. And she said, they're about six minutes and getting pretty consistent. Well, our hospital was 35 miles away. So I said, let's load up and let's go check things out. And it was a good thing that we did because they admitted her that night. She had the baby the next morning. And what would happen? These contractions would get stronger and more painful as the night progressed until finally the baby was delivered. And so that's what he's talking about. All these things are the beginnings of sorrow. That's why when we talk about the last days, they are beginning when Jesus Christ ascended back into heaven. But there's going to be a time when they are very noticeable. They're very distinct. And that's not going to happen until the tribulation period. Yes, we have all Paul tells us. Peter tells us in his letters, all of these things are happening right now, but they are not to the extent that they're going to happen when the tribulation period happens. And so that's what I want us to understand as we think about this. When we go back to Luke in his description, he says in Luke chapter 21 and verse 28, and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. When these things are starting to happen, when you see these things in the intensity that God describes them and explains them here, he says you need to be looking up when you get to revelation. Guess what you find out in the middle after the seventh seal is or the sixth seal is open before the seventh seal. The Jews look up, but instead of looking for the Messiah, what do they do? They curse God and they curse him for all of the stuff that he is allowed here upon this earth. And so they don't do that. And so here's some of the characteristics. Here's the things that he tells us. Number one, there's going to be a false Christianity. He says in verse five, for many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ and shall deceive many. He also makes mention in verse 11 and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. Now, what's he talking about? There are going to be people at this particular time that claim to be the Christ. They are the Messiah. There's other people that are also going to be claiming that they are the deliverer. They're the ones that's going to deliver the people. Now, we have seen that happen in our lifetime, right? I mean, I think about Jim Jones. I think about David Koresh in my lifetime. These were guys that claimed to be the Christ. They claimed to be the deliverer. But what were they? They were false prophets. And so it's happening. But guess what? There is a deceptor. There is one that is going to claim to be Christ that is greater than all of these put together. And that is the Antichrist. And if you go in Revelation and you start in Revelation chapter six with the opening of the seals and you lay Revelation chapter six down side by side with Matthew chapter 24, guess what? All four, the first four seals line up perfectly with what the first four parts that he's answering of when will these things happen. And I'll show you. Look at what he says in Revelation six and one. And I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard as it were before the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, come and see. And I saw and behold a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him. And he went forth conquering and to conquer. Now notice who is this on the white horse? The false Christ, what we know is the Antichrist. And this is one of the things I was telling, we're talking about how to study the Bible in my Sunday school class. And this is one of them things that gets people in trouble because they run a reference to this white horse. And who also comes back on a white horse? Jesus Christ. But they're two different events. This is not the one when Jesus Christ comes back on the right white horse. What does he have? He has a name that we don't even know written on his side. He comes with a sword and he comes to destroy, right? That's not what's happening here. This guy is coming on a white horse and he has a bow, but notice he doesn't have any arrows. He don't need them. And what does he do? They put a crown upon his head because he has the power and he has the authority, but he don't need ammunition. They automatically make him in charge. And what does he do? He goes forth and starts conquering and taking over and taking over places without any errors. And so this is referring to the Antichrist. The Antichrist, as we know in biblical prophecy, is going to make a seven year treaty, according to Daniel chapter nine, with the Jews and allowing them to offer sacrifices in the rebuilt temple of Jerusalem. Daniel chapter nine and verse 27 talks about this Antichrist. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. And for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate even under the consummation. And that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. And so here is the Antichrist. He's going to make a seven year treaty, but halfway through the seven years, that's where we get the three and a half years. What's going to happen? He's going to walk in the temple. He's going to make an abomination of desolation. Everybody is going to know that he is not the Messiah. He is not God. And that's when Matthew tells us what? The minute that happens, you better flee, get out of Jerusalem because it's not going to be good. Because what's his number one target? His number one target is Jews. He wants to destroy them. He wants to get rid of them. In first John chapter two and verse 18, he says, little children, it is the last time. And as you've heard, that Antichrist shall come. Even now are there many Antichrist, whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But you have an unction from the Holy One and you know all things. And so what John is saying is, guess what? When he is writing this letter in first John, he's saying there are already Antichrist. But it's not the one that is still yet to come. They're not the ones coming in on the white horse. So there's going to be this false Christianity. You can imagine when you think about it, if what everybody seems to speculate in prophecy and everything, is that you're going to have all three major religions of the world worshiping on the Temple Mount. Can you imagine what type of idea of Christianity it's going to be? If you've got the Jews worshipping there, you've got the Muslims worshipping there, and then you've got those so-called Christians under the Catholic flag that are worshipping there. You've got all three groups worshipping. Can you imagine the message of Christianity that they're going to come up with? And they're going to be talking about these Christ and these deliverers. And it's going to be a time of great and tremendous deception that is there. Then he mentions this national and international conflict. Notice he says in verse 6, And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. And so he says there's going to be rumors of wars. How many of you have lived through many wars? Right? I was born during the Vietnam War. And then we had the Koreans. We've had the, I can't even remember all the ones that we've had in Saudi Arabia and Iran and all of the freedoms and all of the ones that we fought now, Afghanistan. And they're everywhere. What's going on right now? Israel and them are fighting, right? And what's the rumor? What's the deal? Russia and China is going to get in. Everybody's a player. Korea, right? Everybody. And so what have we heard? Rumors of wars. Everybody wants to start something, but nobody's willing to do it. He said when you're hearing all of this, know that guess what? This is still not the end. This is because not all of these things have come about. So there are events that are occurring, but this is not what he's talking about. He's talking about when you go to Revelation 6 and you look at the second seal. Then when he opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, come and see. And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given to him that set their own to take peace from the earth and that they should kill one another. And there was given unto him a great sword. So what's happening now? This guy that was conquering everything with no weapons and everything, but did what? Then Christ signed this treaty of peace. Now what's happening? Now it says he went out on a red horse with the power given him to take peace. When everybody thinks they're comfortable and everybody thinks everybody is going good and this treaty is working and we are all worshipping on Mount Calvary together, then all of a sudden, guess what? He goes and he says, I'm fixing to take away that peace from you. And so all of these countries and stuff are going to rise up and are going to start fighting. Then go back to Matthew 24, verse 7. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places. Now these next two seals and these two references from Jesus Christ kind of overlap in and about. One of them causes the other. And so really you don't know where to separate. But he says nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and it will cause famine, pestilence, earthquakes in all kinds of various places. Now that word for, prepositions are important. That word for there indicates that because. In other words, you've got the Antichrist with the first seal that's done what? He's come in, he's made a peace treaty. He's starting to work on getting the ten nations of the Roman Empire together. Or it's going to be a one world order, one economic, one religion. All of this is happening and taking place. And then what's happening? When everybody thinks everything has calmed down and settled, then all of a sudden the battles is fixing to start. He's fixing to start taking, slowly taking away peace and start making control. Now because of that, because of the opening of the second seal, now what happened? Because of that, nation will turn against nation. Now kingdom will turn against kingdom. And when that happens, then there's going to be famine, there's going to be pestilence, there's going to be earthquakes in all kinds of different places. So it's because of these things. So Matthew 24, verse 6 and 7 actually kind of parallels with the second, third and fourth seals that are fixing to be opened up. When you go and you look at these different ones, the Antichrist is the one that is leading both the nation and the kingdom. He is the one ultimate one that is in control. And all of a sudden these nations throughout the world are going to rise up against each other. But the Antichrist is going to form this ten nation confederacy in this process that will be the basis of his eschatological kingdom. He's going to have a kingdom. If you go back to Daniel, and we're not going to get into a lot of the depths of all of this, but you go back and you read in Daniel, you remember that it was the stone and all of a sudden he had his kingdom and then the Antichrist's stone broke away because Jesus took it away. And so the Antichrist will have a kingdom during that seven year period. And so this is what's forming and what's taking place. So go back to Revelation chapter 6 and verse 5. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld in lo a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. Now what are balances for? Measuring and weighing out stuff. Well, what did Jesus say in Matthew is going to be one of the signs before his coming. That there's going to be famines and pestilence. And so guess what? They're going to start measuring this stuff out. It's going to start getting scarce because of the famine, because of the wars and the rumors of wars in the kingdoms. Everybody's going to come in. Everybody's going to be turning against each other and it's just going to cause an economic mess. And so that's what he's talking about. This black horse is going to come in. Then out of that, God's going to add natural disasters to the back. He mentions in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 7 that there's going to be earthquakes in various places. Now we have earthquakes today, but not anything like what's going to happen when the fourth seal is being opened. When you go to Revelation chapter 6 and verse 7, and when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold, a tail horse. And his name that sat on him was Death and Hell, followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beast of the earth. And so look at what all is happening here. A fourth of all of the earth, when the fourth seal is opened, is going to be destroyed. Why? He mentions four things. They're going to be killed with the sword. Remember what happened in the second seal? The Antichrist goes out and starts conquering. He now starts taking peace with weapons and everything. So he's killing people. Then he says with hunger. What's going on? There's famine and stuff in the land. Then there's death. What's bringing about the death? The sword and the hunger. So people are literally dying. One fourth of the whole entire earth will die. And then there's also going to be beasts that are rising up that, guess what? Are also hungry and experiencing all of these problems. And people are forced out of their homes and out of their cities. And guess what? Now the animal life is going to be able to destroy. Matthew 24 and verse 8. All these things, the first four seals that are opened up are the beginning of sorrows. Now when these things start happening, guess what? The birth pains are happening. Contractions. This is fixing to take place. You know it. You're going to be able to recognize it. Then he said there's going to be religious persecution. In verse 9, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated of all nations for my namesake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And when he had hated one another. So that's the description of what Jesus gives there. This persecution though is not against the Christians. It's against the Jewish people. Understand that the tribulation, that's why I am pretty trivial. And I can't look at prophecy. And I'm not going to argue with you if you believe in the middle of the week. But I cannot see it because of Daniel chapter 9. And because of everything that lays out. The next event that we are to be looking for is the rapture. And so he's not talking about Christians. He's talking about the Jews. What's he trying to do? He's trying to get the Jews to repent. In Matthew chapter 23, he says, Y'all have killed me when I came. You didn't accept me the first time. And so guess what? Judgment is going to happen. And that's what Daniel chapter 9 verse 24. He says that this 70-week period is going to happen because of the sins of the people, because of their transgression and their hatred toward God. And he says that's why they're having this week. So to me, let's just look at it exactly. Daniel 9 verse 24. He says 70 weeks are determined upon thy people. We're in the Old Testament. Who's the people of God? The Jews. Upon thy people and upon the holy city. Where's the holy city? Jerusalem. So the 70 weeks are upon thy people and the holy city to finish with what? Transgression. To make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to fill up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. Now, and here's the issue that I have, and until somebody proves me otherwise, I don't even spend a lot of time. There's a big movement now to where they've given up on the mid-trib because if you know the mid-trib and you know that the abomination of desolation is going to happen in three and a half years, like Scripture says, then you know the day and the hour that Christ is going to return. So a lot of them have backed away from the exact mid-trib and what they call it now is pre-wrath. Before God pours out and opens up the... Out of the seals comes the trumpets and then the bowls. The trumpets and vows happen very rapidly, very quick, and that's the second half of the tribulation period. And so they say Christ is going to come back before He does that. So that gives us face of time so that nobody can say, you know what, nobody knows the day or the hour. We can get real close, but we don't know when. But here's the problem that I have. See, first of all, He says, Thy people, which He's talking to the Jews, Jerusalem is their holy city. What are we called today? We're not God's people. We're God's sons and daughters, aren't we? And where is our city? Where is our throne? Where does our king sit? In heaven, right? Not on this earth. How many times did Peter and Paul say, we're just pilgrims past. This world is not our home. We're just living here. And so them two things is the first thing. But then He mentions three things there. He mentions in verse 24, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity. Sin, transgression, and iniquity. What did we do when we believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins? What happens to us? Are our sins forgiven? Are we made the righteousness of God? How many times do we preach and everybody will say, amen, when we say, God looks at me. I'm still a sinner in the flesh, but when God sees me, He sees the blood of Jesus Christ and He has made me righteous. He has made me holy. So guess what? To me, if I step one foot into the tribulation period, then the death of Jesus Christ was not sufficient. The 70th week. It was for the Jews. It's not for Christians. It's not for the church. And so, my sins have already been taken care of. My transgressions have already been taken care of. And so because of that, then what's He talking about? He's talking about this death that is going to come and people are going to betray. He's talking about the Jews that are there. When you parallel and jump over to Revelation 12, and look at verse 1, He says, and look at verse 1-17, this persecution is going to be tremendous. And people are going to turn on each other. Now, remember at this point, remember because of the famine and everything, you remember the Satan Revelation 6-9 gives a chronological of what's going to happen over in six weeks or four. Chapters 10-18 deal with a visual description of what's going to take place. And so you can parallel them down, but what's going to be happening during this time? The mark of the beast is going to happen. You're going to have to have His sign in order to order food. If you reject that, what's going to happen? You're going to die. He's going to kill you if you don't accept the mark of the beast. And so, there's going to be martyrs that are going to happen. And so we see that right there in this process. And so, but in verse 9, notice what he says. He says, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. And you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. That then marks a transition in the story. In other words, before we've seen these four seals that have been opened up and pretty much the Antichrist has been controlling everything. But now when you get to that fifth seal, all of a sudden, then it turns on to the people, on to the Jews. And there are going to be some Gentiles that reject this Antichrist and everything. That's there. And we'll see that later on in our study this summer. But the persecution is going to be so great that the people are going to betray each other for their own survival. And focus the attention on somebody else and leave me alone. That's why he says in verse 10, And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. Revelation 6. We open up the fifth seal. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for what? The Word of God. So what do we have here? Martyrs. The same thing that Jesus said over in Matthew, that there would be those that would die for His namesake. And in the fifth seal, it says, I saw the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them. And it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled. And so there's going to be martyrs that's going to happen. It's going to take place. And then he explains in Matthew 24, verse 12, that there's going to be this abounding sin. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. There is going to be a rebellion against all authority. I mean, can you imagine when your food sources have been taken down? People are raising the prices because of the limitations. I mean, we watched how chaotic it was during 2020 when people ran short of toilet paper. We saw how people would act over toilet paper. Can you imagine how people are going to act when they can't get food? When they can't eat? And you're not going to take the mark of the beast and all of that. And so what's going to happen? There's going to be robbing. There's going to be plundering. There's going to be all of this chaos that is taking place all over the world. And there is going to be no morals or anything. If the church and the Christians are gone and the Holy Spirit has departed, then guess what? Man is up to their self. And how does that work out for us? We can go and read Judges, right? When men do what's right in their own eyes, what happens? It's against God's eyes. And we don't get better. We get worse, right? Go back to Genesis 5 and chapter 6 in the days of Noah. What happened? The sons of God began to marry the daughters of men. And did it make the daughters of men more toward God? No. The sons of God was turned by the hearts of the daughters of men. And what happened? It said they become increasingly wicked and abominable in God's eyes. And so that's what's happening here in the tribulation period. But then here's some other confusion that we have in our studies today and in our opinions of things. There's going to be extensive gospel preaching. But notice it says the gospel of what? The kingdom. The kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. Now, in the Bible, there's two different gospels. There is the gospel that we know and understand the gospel of salvation. Romans 1.16 Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power unto God, unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, right? What is the gospel? He said in Corinthians that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. That's one gospel in the Bible. But there's also another gospel in the Bible. There is the gospel which means good news. There is the good news of salvation, but there's also the good news of the kingdom. You remember when Jesus Christ started His ministry, what was John the Baptist's message? Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand, right? And that was exciting to them, right? That was what they wanted. Because why? The Roman Empire was no longer going to be in control and rule and reign. Because why? God's kingdom is fixing to be established. And so this was good news to everybody. That's why many people followed Jesus Christ, right? Until He started getting spiritual and moral on them, right? If you want to be a part of this kingdom, you remember the Sermon of the Mount? You say, but I say, right? If you even just think, have anger in your heart for your brother, you're guilty of murder, right? And it said after He preached about His kingdom, He said that many of them walked away and they were no longer happy. They were no longer excited, but they were sad and sorrowful. The rich young ruler said, Lord, I want to be a part of Your kingdom. He said, good, go sell all you've got and give to the poor. He said the rich man walked away sorrowful. So he heard the good news, but he wasn't willing to do what it was to accept. And so there's the gospel of salvation, and then there's the gospel of the good news of the kingdom. That's what is seen in Revelation. When you go to Revelation 14, in verse 6, it says, I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell of the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment has come and worship Him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of the water. Now, what's he saying? Salvation is implied in this, but he's talking about the gospel of the kingdom. He's preaching that God has come. His kingdom is fixing to be established. You need to be ready to accept Him. But what are they doing? Go back to chapter 6 and chapter 7 and chapter 8 of Revelation. They're constantly cursing God. They don't want God. They don't want anything to do with God. They want it to go their way. You remember the disciples in Acts chapter 1 after Jesus Christ had been crucified? After He rose from the dead, He had been with them 40 days. Remember what their question was right before His ascension? It said, When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again Thy kingdom to Israel? What do the disciples steal? They've had 40 days of personal testimony, personal witness after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And what are they still focused on? The kingdom. Because the good news, they want the kingdom. They want that millennial reign. They want that second coming of Jesus Christ. But they're enduring persecution, even being martyred during the tribulation. And many of them will die as martyrs. But what does He say in Matthew 13? But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved. Why does He say that? And we'll quit right here because we're out of time. Why does He say those that endure to the end, the same shall be saved? Are we talking about gospel salvation? No, you're not saved by enduring. But what's He talking about? He's talking about all of these events, these birth pains, these opening of these four seals, five seals. And He's saying, guess what? If you can endure, if you survive all of this, then what's going to happen? You're going to live through the tribulation. Either you're going to be martyred and you're going to be able to go to heaven or you're going to go into the millennial reign. So you're going to be saved, not from the gospel, but from the tribulation. That's what He's referring to, the birth pains, the suffering that is there. Zephaniah 13, it says, And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, sayeth the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die, but the third shall be left therein. When you study perseverance in the Bible, perseverance is always the action of a believer. A believer will hang in there. They won't be persuaded. They won't give in. Why are people going to reject the mark of the beast? Not because they're hungry, but because why? They recognize the Antichrist. They recognize that this is not God, and so they refuse it. And so what happens to them? They die. They're martyred. They persevere. On the other hand, apostasy. You remember we talked about that in Hebrews? Apostasy is always associated and marks a false believer. Someone that believes, but what? When times got hard, when things got difficult, what did they do? They came back. They fell away. They didn't really want them. And what do we do? We see some Jews during the tribulation period that persevere. They believe in Jesus Christ. You've got your two witnesses that we'll talk about later that are spreading the Gospel. You've got 144,000 that have already been sealed that are witnessing, that are bringing all of this stuff up. And there's going to be those that are going to persevere. But there's also going to be them Jews that, you know what? We're not going to accept it. We're not going to do it. And so that brings us to the middle of the tribulation period. And so we'll pick up in the next section of Matthew next week, and we'll look at the second half of the tribulation when he answers that question. And that will correspond with the seven trumpets and the seven vows that will be opened up. Any questions or comments? And what we're just going to do is we're just going to hit some of the major events and some of the things to look for. But I kind of got convicted on this because there's so many people today and Christians that are making statements and different things that does not line up with the Bible. And part of the reason we have scoffers and we have people that are falling away and people that are not being committed is because we're not being true and honest to the Scriptures. And so, man, we need to be true to the Scriptures. But sometime this week, if you've got time, just take it down and look at Matthew 24 and read Revelation 6 and 6 through 9 and side by side, everything that Jesus said he gives to John in the Revelation. All right. Let's dismiss in prayer. Father, we just thank you so much for your love. We thank you so much for showing us what's going to happen so that we can know and be warned and be ready and be prepared, but also to understand that we believe in you and that you are our Lord and Savior. You've died for our sins. And even the Jews today, there's many Jews that have given their life to you that will not have to go through the persecution and the tribulation of a nation because they have been taken care of. They repented of their sins and all through the Bible, from the very beginning of Genesis all the way to Revelation, all you have ever asked us to do is to confess our sins. And when we do that, you're faithful and just to forgive us our sins. You told your people way back in 2 Chronicles if they would humble themselves and repent and pray, you would forgive them and heal their land. But yet, Father, they rejected you as their Messiah. And as a nation, they still reject you. They're still right now today, very busy trying to build a temple and trying to do things their way and on their own. They're trying to produce and raise red heifers to offer the sacrifices. And Father, we know that when you got ready for Solomon to build that first temple, when you got ready for Moses to build that tabernacle, that you supplied everything that they needed from the blueprints to everything else. But Father, they reject you and they're not following Your instructions and what You would have them to do. And Father, we just pray that we as Christians today will persevere, that we will look at this and that we will see that it is better to trust in You than to trust in the powers and the things of this world. There's so much deception and so much lying and so much falsehood in this world today. But Father, we're so very thankful that we can be grounded in Your foundation. We can be grounded in the Word of God. And that we can know what You have done for us and what You're going to do for us. And we just give You the praise for it. In Your name we pray. Amen. Amen.