Overview:
Matthew 24:3–14
Today’s world seems fascinated by and preoccupied with the future. Bestselling books are often those that offer predictions and warnings concerning future events. Astrology continues to captivate people by the millions. Even the film and television industries have made a bundle from science fiction and future fantasy ideas dreamed up in the minds of imaginative producers. But invariably, one major subject is overlooked or denied altogether—the return of Jesus Christ. Few things are more clearly set forth in all of Scripture. This single prediction is woven through the teachings of Christ, especially during His final months of ministry, as well as the writings of the apostles. In this section of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, just east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. They are full of questions, and He graciously responds to their concerns.
Message Summary:
In “How Should We Interpret God’s Calendar?” Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses the widespread fascination with the future and the various predictions that captivate modern culture. While society often looks to astrology or science fiction for answers, Swindoll directs our attention to the most reliable source of future truth: the words of Jesus Christ. Focusing on the Olivet Discourse, this message explores how Jesus responded to His disciples’ questions about the “end of the age.” Swindoll emphasizes that while we are not given a specific date, we are given a spiritual “calendar” of signs intended to produce readiness, not panic, as we await the certain return of our Lord.
Message Key Facts:
- The Universal Preoccupation: Humanity has an innate fascination with the future, yet often denies or overlooks the single most predicted event in Scripture: the return of Christ.
- The Mount of Olives Context: This teaching (the Olivet Discourse) took place just days before the Cross, highlighting its urgency and importance to Jesus’ final mission.
- The Disciples’ Curiosity: The teaching was prompted by two specific questions: “When will these things happen?” and “What will be the sign of Your coming?”
- The Warning Against Deception: Jesus’ first and most frequent warning concerning the end times is to “see to it that no one misleads you.”
- The “Beginning of Birth Pangs”: Jesus describes wars, famines, and earthquakes not as the end itself, but as the initial pains that signal the coming of a new era.
Message References:
1. The Setting of the Prophecy (Matthew 24:1–3)
Swindoll sets the stage by describing the atmosphere in Jerusalem.
- The Temple’s Fate: Jesus predicts the total destruction of the temple, shocking His disciples and prompting their private questions on the Mount of Olives.
- Two Vital Questions: The disciples sought to know the timing and the signs of the end of the age.
2. The Dangers of the End Times (Matthew 24:4–8)
Jesus outlines the characteristics of the “present age” as it moves toward its conclusion.
- Religious Deception: Many will come in Christ’s name claiming to be the Messiah, leading many astray.
- Global Turmoil: Wars and rumors of wars are expected; Jesus commands His followers not to be “frightened,” as these must take place.
- Natural Disasters: Famines and earthquakes in various places serve as a reminder of the “birth pangs” of the coming kingdom.
3. The Pressure on the Faithful (Matthew 24:9–12)
The “calendar” of God includes a period of significant testing for the church.
- Persecution and Hatred: Believers will face tribulation and be hated by all nations because of Christ’s name.
- Internal Deflection: Many will fall away, betraying and hating one another as lawlessness increases.
- The Cooling of Love: One of the most tragic signs of the end is that the love of most will “grow cold.”
4. The Promise of the End (Matthew 24:13–14)
The message concludes with the ultimate goal of God’s calendar.
- The Necessity of Endurance: The one who endures to the end—staying faithful despite deception and lawlessness—will be saved.
- The Global Gospel Mandate: The end will not come until the Gospel of the kingdom has been preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.
