May 8, 2025 • 22 mins
Dive into the prophetic words of Jesus as He reveals the profound and awe-inspiring events that will signal the end of the age and the return of the Son of Man.
In this episode, Jesus provides His disciples with a detailed description of the signs and events that will precede the end times and His return. He emphasizes the importance of being vigilant, standing firm in faith, and recognizing the true signs of His coming amidst the trials and deceptions of the last days.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 24:36, from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
But no one knows of that day and hour, not
even the angels of heaven, but my Father only Matthew
twenty four thirty six. Heavenly Father, we come before you
with grateful hearts, acknowledging your supreme wisdom and control over
(00:22):
all things. We surrender our worries and anxieties about the
end times to You. Lord. We recognize our need for
your peace and guidance each day. Help us to trust
in your perfect timing and plan, knowing that you hold
(00:44):
the future in your hands. Change our hearts to focus
on being faithful in the present, living each moment for
your glory. Strengthen us to act in love, kindness, and righteousness,
reflecting your light in this world. Empower us to be
(01:07):
steadfast in our faith, bringing hope and encouragement to those
around us. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen, Thank you
for praying with me to day. This is the Jesus Podcast,
Gospel inspired stories crafted to inspire, encourage, and teach. If
(01:31):
you've enjoyed this podcast, we would love it if you
left a review and shared it with a friend. The
sounds of people moving about the temple courts blended together
into one harmonious hung. The atmosphere was notably different than
it was several days prior when Jesus had driven out
(01:53):
the merchants. Instead of the guile shouts of salesmen, one
could hear the prayers of people being lifted up to
God most High. Jesus had indeed made his father's house
a house of prayer. Jesus took a seat on a
(02:13):
wooden grate. The disciples gathered round him. He motioned to
them to look at the scene across the courtyard. Opposite them,
under the colonnades, sat two boxes. They were affixed with
upward facing metal trumpets. People were seen lining up to
(02:36):
deposit coins as offerings to the Lord. The rich would
proudly upturn large purses, causing the metal trumpets to ring
out for all to hear. The disciples thought back to
Jesus teaching on giving to Caesar what was Caesar's and
to God what was God's. They turned to judas the
(02:58):
keeper of their money, thinking Jesus was encouraging them to
join the others in their giving.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Let's see, we've just spent a decent amount on a
place to stay, and we need to get food in
the market, which leaves us.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
With no, No, you've missed the point. Please just watch
with me. Jesus watched the queue cycle through. There was
a small grin on his face as a small, elderly
woman approached the offering boxes. Unbeknownst to the disciples, she
(03:36):
had lost her husband several years earlier and was nearing
the end of her savings. Her frail fingers fumbled through
a small purse hanging at her side. She removed her
hand from the bag. Pinching two small copper coins between
her fingers, she held them up before her face, mouth
(04:00):
to prayer. Unlike the rich, who added their coins with
force to increase the noise in the offering boxes, the
woman delicately dropped her coins in. They gave the tiniest
clang as they fell in and hit the pile within.
She turned and walked away with a smile on her face.
(04:25):
Jesus began to speak to the disciples, though his voice
was delicate, as though he were talking to himself.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all the others. The rich give without a
second thought or worry, giving their gifts out of their wealth,
but she out of for poverty. Faithfully put in all
she had to live on.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Are you in pain after walking, running, or even just standing.
It's not your feet, it's your shoes. This summer switched
to Jediphi. She use with patentive Verso shock technology, which
aligns your body, provides superior shock absorption and trampoline like
energy return. Gdphi offers souls and styles for any activity,
(05:13):
plus two free orthotics. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent,
or always on the go, Gdiphi shoes deliver the comfort
and versatility your fee crave. Say goodbye to discomfort and
hello to unparalleled support this summer. Enjoy a special summer offer.
Visit gdiphi dot com and get twenty dollars off your
(05:34):
order of one hundred dollars or more with code Prey.
Experience the miracle of ultimate comfort with g Deiphi shoes.
Visit g d e f y dot com.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Today the end times, millions of dollars have been made
by preachers who claim to know the day or the hour.
But wasn't Jesus clear? Nobody but the Father knows. Our mission,
in light of Christ's words, is to be present, faithful,
and vigilant. This is the Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from
(06:09):
pray dot Com. Today we continue through our miniseries on
Jesus disrupting the status quo and showing us a new
way to live. This series showcases Jesus's teachings and passion,
and we will learn about God's heart for people and
his kingdom. Today we're diving into one of the more
mysterious and intriguing teachings of Jesus, his discourse on the
(06:31):
end times in Matthew chapter twenty four. Now, I know
that talking about the end times can sometimes feel like
opening a box of puzzles, But don't worry. We're going
to approach this with a light heart and an open mind,
looking for the lessons that Jesus really wants us to grasp.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Jesus and the disciples began making their way out of
the temple courts. They had wondered what sort of application
Jesus intended for them and the lesson of the widow's giving.
Was he telling them to deposit what money they had left?
Was there a deeper meaning he meant to convey that
they had missed. As their minds mused on the possibilities,
(07:16):
the sun shifted and reflected brilliantly bought the temple's gold
and facade, As though instantly forgetting Jesus emphasis on the
significance of the widow's humble gift, they began to gawk
at the temple's beauties.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It truly is marvelous. Never in my life have I
seen such a beautiful sight. The stone work is impeccable.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
And don't even get me started on the gifts people
leave to God, missing the more luxurious parts of life?
Are we Matthew.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Matthew cast his eyes toward the ground in embarrassment.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Ah, don't mind, John, he's just jealous. We didn't grow
up with a lot of money, you know. We don't
hold that part of your life against you. We've all
got past the care.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Of course, of course I was only joking, But you
do have a point. The temple is truly stunning.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
The disciples had noted Jesus' silence up until this point.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I will admit it is marvelous, But a word for you.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
All the disciples immediately gave Jesus their full attention.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
What you see here is of this world, and as
such it is only a momentary thing. It will pass away,
and the time will come when not one stone will
be left on the other. Every one of them would
be thrown down.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
The disciples astonishment that what Jesus said outweighed their curiosity,
for none of them could get themselves to speak. Their
eyes gazed up once more at the temple. It seemed
an impenetrable fortress of God's glory. The walls hewn of
(08:58):
magnificent storms, were stacked perfectly upon one another. They could
only imagine what force could bring it down. Daylight was
disappearing under the thick blanket of dusk. The disciples spent
the day in the city, pitching their tents near the
Mount of Olives. They made their way about the camp.
(09:22):
As they prepared dinner, the fire crackled as a pot
hung from a few propped up branches. The smell of
boiling broth and vegetables lingered in the night air. The
disciples reclined around the fire. Jesus had departed from them
(09:44):
to pray, leaving them to openly discuss the day's events.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Can you believe Jesus said the temple would be destroyed? Ah?
I can't even imagine what would cause that.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
As Matthew and Philip began forming their own theories. Andrew
leaned over to Peter, James and John.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
You three spend the most time with him. Did he
say anything else to you?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
The three looked at one another. Following jesus transfiguration, he
had mentioned the Son of Man rising from the dead,
but they had been obedient not to share anything they
had witnessed with the others. They shrugged at Andrew as
they muttered empty responses.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
Maybe we should ask him ourselves. It feels like we're
always missing something. Who knows, Maybe he even wants us
to ask him.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
The two sets of brothers discreetly rose to their feet
and walked away from the rest of the group. They
knew where Jesus tended to pray on the mount and
set off to find him. It wasn't long before they
rounded the base of the mountain and found Jesus a
little ways up, casually strolling through the olive trees that
(10:59):
lined the landscape. Jesus noticed them making their way towards him.
He greeted them with a warm smile.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Ah shaloon, my friends finished with dinner already. I can't
say I blame you. I noticed Philip was on cooking duty. Tonight,
and it seems my cousin's bizarre culinary choices rubbed off
on him during their time together.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
Oh no, it's not that. It's just well, we had
some questions for you.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
By all means, ask whatever you'd like.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
We were all wondering about what you said earlier. Today.
With the destruction of the.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Temple, Jesus's face remained placid, as though he had anticipated
this moment.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Surely it must be a sign of the end of
the age and your return. When will these things happen?
And will there be a sign?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
The look on Jesus's face turned stern and serious.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
I've been waiting for one of you to ask. Come
take a seat. This might take some time.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Jesus patted the storms beside him where he now sat.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Let me begin with a warning. In the last days,
many will come in my name claiming I am the Messiah.
Many will be deceived and follow them, But you must
watch out and see that no one deceives you. You
are my disciples, and you will know me. At this time.
(12:24):
You will also hear of wars and uprisings, but you
do not be afraid. Such things must happen, But the
end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom. In various places across the earth,
there will be famines and earthquakes. All of these are
(12:46):
the beginnings of sorrows.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
But what is the point of these sorrows? Master?
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Just as a mother must endure the pains of birth
before welcoming a child into the world, so too will
the earth endure these pains before the return the Son
of Man.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
And where shall we be when all of this occurs.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Jesus looked at James, then to his brother John. It
had only been a short while since they came to
Jesus with their mother, asking to sit at his left
and right in the Kingdom of heaven.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Dear brothers, you must be on your guard as my followers.
You will be handed over to the local councils and
flogged in the synagogues, but you shall stand before them,
governors and kings as witnesses to them. For the gospel
of my salvation must be preached to all nations. So
(13:38):
take heart. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial,
do not worry beforehand about what to say, for it
is the Holy Spirit who will give you words of
wisdom to speak that your adversaries cannot deny.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Their minds raced with pictures of what Jesus was saying.
They couldn't help but fear ill a little fear in
the idea of persecution. But they marveled at the thought
of the Spirit speaking through them to proclaim the Gospel
to kings and many nations. I do not speak the
following of you, but of others. You will see brother
(14:16):
betray brother, even unto death, families turned against one another.
Many will turn away from the face, betraying and hating
each other, and they will come to hate you. As
this wickedness rises, their love will become cold. But you
and anyone else who stands firm to the end, who
(14:37):
will be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will
be preached in the whole world as a testimony to
all the nations. And at this time the end will come.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
But Master, how will we know when it's truly the
end of all things?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will
know that its desolation is near. Then the people of
Judaea must flee to the mountains, and those in the
city must escape. They shall leave their possessions and not
turn back. Then there will be great distress, a time
of punishment that will be unequaled from the beginning of
(15:20):
the world until now, never to be equaled again.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
But Lord, you still have not told us how we
will know you've returned again.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I say to you, false messiahs and false prophets will
appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive. They
will even try to deceive you. But you must be vigilant,
for I am warning you ahead of time. So if
anyone tells you there he is out in the wilderness,
(15:52):
it's the Messiah. Listen, do not go out. And if
they say he is here in the inner rooms, do
not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the
east is visible even in the west, so will be
the coming of the Sun of Man.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Are you speaking in metaphors, Lord, Please, for our sake,
speak plainly. What will your coming look like?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Just as the prophets have described the great events that
shall precede the coming of the Sun of Man, so
to will I. On that day the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light. Even the
stars in the heavens will fall from the sky, as
the heavenly bodies shake.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
The disciple's eyes widened, barely keeping up with the imagery
Jesus painted with his words.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Then the sign of the Sun of Man will appear
in the heavens. Then all the people of the earth
will see the Sun of Man coming on the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory, and his angels
will go before him with the sound of great trumpets.
(17:09):
And these things begin to take place. Stand up and
lift up your heads, because you will know your redemption
draws near.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
The disciples breathed slowly and heavily. They could hardly believe
the words that they had heard. They had not been
prepared for such a vivid answer when they had first
come to Jesus to ask their questions, But what they
were hearing now made them see Jesus and a whole
(17:44):
new light.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
In Matthew chapter twenty four, Jesus speaks to his disciples
about events that are to come, including the destruction of
the temple, wars, famines, and his events will return. It's
easy to get caught up in trying to decipher every
detail to pinpoint exactly when and how these things will happen.
But here's the thing. While Jesus gives us glimpses into
(18:11):
the future, his primary concern isn't about giving us a
detailed map of the end times. Instead, he's calling us
to be faithful and ready in the here and now.
But let's start with the context. Jesus and his disciples
are leaving the Temple, and the disciples, perhaps still in
awe of its grandeur, point out its impressive buildings. But Jesus,
(18:32):
knowing what's to come, tells them, do you not see
all these things? Assuredly? I say to you, not one
stone shall be left here upon another that shall not
be thrown down? Matthew, chapter twenty four, verse two. This
would have been shocking to hear. The temple was the
center of Jewish life, a symbol of God's presence and favor,
(18:53):
but Jesus is hinting it something deeper, something beyond the physical.
The disciples naturally curious, when will these things be? And
what will be the sign of your coming and of
the end of the age Matthew Chapter twenty four, verse three.
They're essentially asking for a timeline, a clear picture of
what's going to happen, But instead of giving them a
(19:14):
straightforward answer, Jesus begins to describe a series of events,
false messiahs, wars, famines, earthquakes. He warns that these things
will happen, but they are not the end. They are,
as he puts it, the beginning of sorrows. Matthew, Chapter
twenty four, verse eight. Now this is where we can
(19:34):
often get stuck. We might start thinking, okay, so what
does this mean for us? Are we supposed to be
on constant alert, analyzing every earthquake or political event as
a sign that the end is near? But Jesus redirects
our focus. He says, take heed that no one deceives you.
See that you are not troubled. For all these things
(19:55):
must come to pass, but the end is not yet Matthew,
Chapter twenty four, Verses four and six. What Jesus is
really teaching here is that while these events are significant,
they are not meant to be our primary concern. Our
focus should be on living faithfully and staying grounded in
our relationship with him. Yes, he gives us warnings and signs,
(20:18):
but these are not to create fear or frantic speculation.
They are reminders to stay vigilant, to keep our hearts
and our minds. Aligned with God's will. One of the
most poignant lessons in this chapter is Jesus's warning about deception.
He says, for many will come in my name, saying
I am the Christ, and will deceive many Matthew, Chapter
(20:39):
twenty four, verse five. Deception is a real danger, especially
when we are eager for answers or reassurance about the future.
But Jesus is reminding us to keep our eyes on him,
to measure everything against his truth, not the noise and
confusion of the world. So what does this mean for
us to day? It means that our primary task is
(21:00):
not to predict the future, but to live faithfully in
the present. Jesus calls us to be witnesses of his
love and truth, to be beacons of hope in a
world that often seems uncertain and chaotic. We aren't religious
radicals seeking to dismantle every worldly power, nor are we
called to withdraw from the world and fear. Instead, we're
(21:21):
called to engage with the world, to live out the
Gospel in our communities, our workplaces, our families. Our citizenship
is in heaven, but we are called to be good
citizens here on earth. We live in the tension of
the already and the not yet. The Kingdom of God
is here, but it is also coming in fullness. Until
that day. Our job is to reflect Christ in everything
(21:44):
we do, to be His hands and his feet in
a world that desperately needs his love and grace. Jesus's
discourse in Matthew chapter twenty four isn't about filling us
with fear or confusion about the future. It's about anchoring
us and the hope and assurance that no matter what happens,
God is in control. The end times, with all their
(22:06):
mysteries and uncertainties, are not meant to distract us from
our mission, but to remind us of the urgency and
importance of living for Christ here and now. So as
we go about our lives, let's keep our focus where
it needs to be, on loving God, loving others, and
sharing the hope we have in Jesus. Let's be people
(22:28):
who are not easily shaken by the troubles of the world,
but who stand firm in the faith, knowing that our
Redeemer is coming. And until that day, let's be found faithful,
living each moment for the glory of God and the
good of His kingdom.
But no one knows of that day and hour, not
even the angels of heaven, but my Father only Matthew
twenty four thirty six. Heavenly Father, we come before you
with grateful hearts, acknowledging your supreme wisdom and control over
(00:22):
all things. We surrender our worries and anxieties about the
end times to You. Lord. We recognize our need for
your peace and guidance each day. Help us to trust
in your perfect timing and plan, knowing that you hold
(00:44):
the future in your hands. Change our hearts to focus
on being faithful in the present, living each moment for
your glory. Strengthen us to act in love, kindness, and righteousness,
reflecting your light in this world. Empower us to be
(01:07):
steadfast in our faith, bringing hope and encouragement to those
around us. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen, Thank you
for praying with me to day. This is the Jesus Podcast,
Gospel inspired stories crafted to inspire, encourage, and teach. If
(01:31):
you've enjoyed this podcast, we would love it if you
left a review and shared it with a friend. The
sounds of people moving about the temple courts blended together
into one harmonious hung. The atmosphere was notably different than
it was several days prior when Jesus had driven out
(01:53):
the merchants. Instead of the guile shouts of salesmen, one
could hear the prayers of people being lifted up to
God most High. Jesus had indeed made his father's house
a house of prayer. Jesus took a seat on a
(02:13):
wooden grate. The disciples gathered round him. He motioned to
them to look at the scene across the courtyard. Opposite them,
under the colonnades, sat two boxes. They were affixed with
upward facing metal trumpets. People were seen lining up to
(02:36):
deposit coins as offerings to the Lord. The rich would
proudly upturn large purses, causing the metal trumpets to ring
out for all to hear. The disciples thought back to
Jesus teaching on giving to Caesar what was Caesar's and
to God what was God's. They turned to judas the
(02:58):
keeper of their money, thinking Jesus was encouraging them to
join the others in their giving.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Let's see, we've just spent a decent amount on a
place to stay, and we need to get food in
the market, which leaves us.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
With no, No, you've missed the point. Please just watch
with me. Jesus watched the queue cycle through. There was
a small grin on his face as a small, elderly
woman approached the offering boxes. Unbeknownst to the disciples, she
(03:36):
had lost her husband several years earlier and was nearing
the end of her savings. Her frail fingers fumbled through
a small purse hanging at her side. She removed her
hand from the bag. Pinching two small copper coins between
her fingers, she held them up before her face, mouth
(04:00):
to prayer. Unlike the rich, who added their coins with
force to increase the noise in the offering boxes, the
woman delicately dropped her coins in. They gave the tiniest
clang as they fell in and hit the pile within.
She turned and walked away with a smile on her face.
(04:25):
Jesus began to speak to the disciples, though his voice
was delicate, as though he were talking to himself.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all the others. The rich give without a
second thought or worry, giving their gifts out of their wealth,
but she out of for poverty. Faithfully put in all
she had to live on.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Are you in pain after walking, running, or even just standing.
It's not your feet, it's your shoes. This summer switched
to Jediphi. She use with patentive Verso shock technology, which
aligns your body, provides superior shock absorption and trampoline like
energy return. Gdphi offers souls and styles for any activity,
(05:13):
plus two free orthotics. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent,
or always on the go, Gdiphi shoes deliver the comfort
and versatility your fee crave. Say goodbye to discomfort and
hello to unparalleled support this summer. Enjoy a special summer offer.
Visit gdiphi dot com and get twenty dollars off your
(05:34):
order of one hundred dollars or more with code Prey.
Experience the miracle of ultimate comfort with g Deiphi shoes.
Visit g d e f y dot com.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Today the end times, millions of dollars have been made
by preachers who claim to know the day or the hour.
But wasn't Jesus clear? Nobody but the Father knows. Our mission,
in light of Christ's words, is to be present, faithful,
and vigilant. This is the Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from
(06:09):
pray dot Com. Today we continue through our miniseries on
Jesus disrupting the status quo and showing us a new
way to live. This series showcases Jesus's teachings and passion,
and we will learn about God's heart for people and
his kingdom. Today we're diving into one of the more
mysterious and intriguing teachings of Jesus, his discourse on the
(06:31):
end times in Matthew chapter twenty four. Now, I know
that talking about the end times can sometimes feel like
opening a box of puzzles, But don't worry. We're going
to approach this with a light heart and an open mind,
looking for the lessons that Jesus really wants us to grasp.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Jesus and the disciples began making their way out of
the temple courts. They had wondered what sort of application
Jesus intended for them and the lesson of the widow's giving.
Was he telling them to deposit what money they had left?
Was there a deeper meaning he meant to convey that
they had missed. As their minds mused on the possibilities,
(07:16):
the sun shifted and reflected brilliantly bought the temple's gold
and facade, As though instantly forgetting Jesus emphasis on the
significance of the widow's humble gift, they began to gawk
at the temple's beauties.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It truly is marvelous. Never in my life have I
seen such a beautiful sight. The stone work is impeccable.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
And don't even get me started on the gifts people
leave to God, missing the more luxurious parts of life?
Are we Matthew.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Matthew cast his eyes toward the ground in embarrassment.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Ah, don't mind, John, he's just jealous. We didn't grow
up with a lot of money, you know. We don't
hold that part of your life against you. We've all
got past the care.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Of course, of course I was only joking, But you
do have a point. The temple is truly stunning.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
The disciples had noted Jesus' silence up until this point.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I will admit it is marvelous, But a word for you.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
All the disciples immediately gave Jesus their full attention.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
What you see here is of this world, and as
such it is only a momentary thing. It will pass away,
and the time will come when not one stone will
be left on the other. Every one of them would
be thrown down.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
The disciples astonishment that what Jesus said outweighed their curiosity,
for none of them could get themselves to speak. Their
eyes gazed up once more at the temple. It seemed
an impenetrable fortress of God's glory. The walls hewn of
(08:58):
magnificent storms, were stacked perfectly upon one another. They could
only imagine what force could bring it down. Daylight was
disappearing under the thick blanket of dusk. The disciples spent
the day in the city, pitching their tents near the
Mount of Olives. They made their way about the camp.
(09:22):
As they prepared dinner, the fire crackled as a pot
hung from a few propped up branches. The smell of
boiling broth and vegetables lingered in the night air. The
disciples reclined around the fire. Jesus had departed from them
(09:44):
to pray, leaving them to openly discuss the day's events.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Can you believe Jesus said the temple would be destroyed? Ah?
I can't even imagine what would cause that.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
As Matthew and Philip began forming their own theories. Andrew
leaned over to Peter, James and John.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
You three spend the most time with him. Did he
say anything else to you?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
The three looked at one another. Following jesus transfiguration, he
had mentioned the Son of Man rising from the dead,
but they had been obedient not to share anything they
had witnessed with the others. They shrugged at Andrew as
they muttered empty responses.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
Maybe we should ask him ourselves. It feels like we're
always missing something. Who knows, Maybe he even wants us
to ask him.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
The two sets of brothers discreetly rose to their feet
and walked away from the rest of the group. They
knew where Jesus tended to pray on the mount and
set off to find him. It wasn't long before they
rounded the base of the mountain and found Jesus a
little ways up, casually strolling through the olive trees that
(10:59):
lined the landscape. Jesus noticed them making their way towards him.
He greeted them with a warm smile.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Ah shaloon, my friends finished with dinner already. I can't
say I blame you. I noticed Philip was on cooking duty. Tonight,
and it seems my cousin's bizarre culinary choices rubbed off
on him during their time together.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
Oh no, it's not that. It's just well, we had
some questions for you.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
By all means, ask whatever you'd like.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
We were all wondering about what you said earlier. Today.
With the destruction of the.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Temple, Jesus's face remained placid, as though he had anticipated
this moment.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Surely it must be a sign of the end of
the age and your return. When will these things happen?
And will there be a sign?
Speaker 1 (11:49):
The look on Jesus's face turned stern and serious.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
I've been waiting for one of you to ask. Come
take a seat. This might take some time.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Jesus patted the storms beside him where he now sat.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Let me begin with a warning. In the last days,
many will come in my name claiming I am the Messiah.
Many will be deceived and follow them, But you must
watch out and see that no one deceives you. You
are my disciples, and you will know me. At this time.
(12:24):
You will also hear of wars and uprisings, but you
do not be afraid. Such things must happen, But the
end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom. In various places across the earth,
there will be famines and earthquakes. All of these are
(12:46):
the beginnings of sorrows.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
But what is the point of these sorrows? Master?
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Just as a mother must endure the pains of birth
before welcoming a child into the world, so too will
the earth endure these pains before the return the Son
of Man.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
And where shall we be when all of this occurs.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Jesus looked at James, then to his brother John. It
had only been a short while since they came to
Jesus with their mother, asking to sit at his left
and right in the Kingdom of heaven.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Dear brothers, you must be on your guard as my followers.
You will be handed over to the local councils and
flogged in the synagogues, but you shall stand before them,
governors and kings as witnesses to them. For the gospel
of my salvation must be preached to all nations. So
(13:38):
take heart. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial,
do not worry beforehand about what to say, for it
is the Holy Spirit who will give you words of
wisdom to speak that your adversaries cannot deny.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Their minds raced with pictures of what Jesus was saying.
They couldn't help but fear ill a little fear in
the idea of persecution. But they marveled at the thought
of the Spirit speaking through them to proclaim the Gospel
to kings and many nations. I do not speak the
following of you, but of others. You will see brother
(14:16):
betray brother, even unto death, families turned against one another.
Many will turn away from the face, betraying and hating
each other, and they will come to hate you. As
this wickedness rises, their love will become cold. But you
and anyone else who stands firm to the end, who
(14:37):
will be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will
be preached in the whole world as a testimony to
all the nations. And at this time the end will come.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
But Master, how will we know when it's truly the
end of all things?
Speaker 3 (14:56):
When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will
know that its desolation is near. Then the people of
Judaea must flee to the mountains, and those in the
city must escape. They shall leave their possessions and not
turn back. Then there will be great distress, a time
of punishment that will be unequaled from the beginning of
(15:20):
the world until now, never to be equaled again.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
But Lord, you still have not told us how we
will know you've returned again.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
I say to you, false messiahs and false prophets will
appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive. They
will even try to deceive you. But you must be vigilant,
for I am warning you ahead of time. So if
anyone tells you there he is out in the wilderness,
(15:52):
it's the Messiah. Listen, do not go out. And if
they say he is here in the inner rooms, do
not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the
east is visible even in the west, so will be
the coming of the Sun of Man.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Are you speaking in metaphors, Lord, Please, for our sake,
speak plainly. What will your coming look like?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Just as the prophets have described the great events that
shall precede the coming of the Sun of Man, so
to will I. On that day the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light. Even the
stars in the heavens will fall from the sky, as
the heavenly bodies shake.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
The disciple's eyes widened, barely keeping up with the imagery
Jesus painted with his words.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Then the sign of the Sun of Man will appear
in the heavens. Then all the people of the earth
will see the Sun of Man coming on the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory, and his angels
will go before him with the sound of great trumpets.
(17:09):
And these things begin to take place. Stand up and
lift up your heads, because you will know your redemption
draws near.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
The disciples breathed slowly and heavily. They could hardly believe
the words that they had heard. They had not been
prepared for such a vivid answer when they had first
come to Jesus to ask their questions, But what they
were hearing now made them see Jesus and a whole
(17:44):
new light.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
In Matthew chapter twenty four, Jesus speaks to his disciples
about events that are to come, including the destruction of
the temple, wars, famines, and his events will return. It's
easy to get caught up in trying to decipher every
detail to pinpoint exactly when and how these things will happen.
But here's the thing. While Jesus gives us glimpses into
(18:11):
the future, his primary concern isn't about giving us a
detailed map of the end times. Instead, he's calling us
to be faithful and ready in the here and now.
But let's start with the context. Jesus and his disciples
are leaving the Temple, and the disciples, perhaps still in
awe of its grandeur, point out its impressive buildings. But Jesus,
(18:32):
knowing what's to come, tells them, do you not see
all these things? Assuredly? I say to you, not one
stone shall be left here upon another that shall not
be thrown down? Matthew, chapter twenty four, verse two. This
would have been shocking to hear. The temple was the
center of Jewish life, a symbol of God's presence and favor,
(18:53):
but Jesus is hinting it something deeper, something beyond the physical.
The disciples naturally curious, when will these things be? And
what will be the sign of your coming and of
the end of the age Matthew Chapter twenty four, verse three.
They're essentially asking for a timeline, a clear picture of
what's going to happen, But instead of giving them a
(19:14):
straightforward answer, Jesus begins to describe a series of events,
false messiahs, wars, famines, earthquakes. He warns that these things
will happen, but they are not the end. They are,
as he puts it, the beginning of sorrows. Matthew, Chapter
twenty four, verse eight. Now this is where we can
(19:34):
often get stuck. We might start thinking, okay, so what
does this mean for us? Are we supposed to be
on constant alert, analyzing every earthquake or political event as
a sign that the end is near? But Jesus redirects
our focus. He says, take heed that no one deceives you.
See that you are not troubled. For all these things
(19:55):
must come to pass, but the end is not yet Matthew,
Chapter twenty four, Verses four and six. What Jesus is
really teaching here is that while these events are significant,
they are not meant to be our primary concern. Our
focus should be on living faithfully and staying grounded in
our relationship with him. Yes, he gives us warnings and signs,
(20:18):
but these are not to create fear or frantic speculation.
They are reminders to stay vigilant, to keep our hearts
and our minds. Aligned with God's will. One of the
most poignant lessons in this chapter is Jesus's warning about deception.
He says, for many will come in my name, saying
I am the Christ, and will deceive many Matthew, Chapter
(20:39):
twenty four, verse five. Deception is a real danger, especially
when we are eager for answers or reassurance about the future.
But Jesus is reminding us to keep our eyes on him,
to measure everything against his truth, not the noise and
confusion of the world. So what does this mean for
us to day? It means that our primary task is
(21:00):
not to predict the future, but to live faithfully in
the present. Jesus calls us to be witnesses of his
love and truth, to be beacons of hope in a
world that often seems uncertain and chaotic. We aren't religious
radicals seeking to dismantle every worldly power, nor are we
called to withdraw from the world and fear. Instead, we're
(21:21):
called to engage with the world, to live out the
Gospel in our communities, our workplaces, our families. Our citizenship
is in heaven, but we are called to be good
citizens here on earth. We live in the tension of
the already and the not yet. The Kingdom of God
is here, but it is also coming in fullness. Until
that day. Our job is to reflect Christ in everything
(21:44):
we do, to be His hands and his feet in
a world that desperately needs his love and grace. Jesus's
discourse in Matthew chapter twenty four isn't about filling us
with fear or confusion about the future. It's about anchoring
us and the hope and assurance that no matter what happens,
God is in control. The end times, with all their
(22:06):
mysteries and uncertainties, are not meant to distract us from
our mission, but to remind us of the urgency and
importance of living for Christ here and now. So as
we go about our lives, let's keep our focus where
it needs to be, on loving God, loving others, and
sharing the hope we have in Jesus. Let's be people
(22:28):
who are not easily shaken by the troubles of the world,
but who stand firm in the faith, knowing that our
Redeemer is coming. And until that day, let's be found faithful,
living each moment for the glory of God and the
good of His kingdom.
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