NATION AGAINST NATION (9-11)
Matthew 24


This message was preached on Sunday following the September 11 terrorist attacks

I - SIMILARITIES {vv 1-2} 
"-...for to show him the buildings of the temple..."
-The disciples were very proud of the "buildings of the temple"
-The World Trade Center was one of our greatest building achievements
-"...see what manner of stones..." {Mark 13:1}
-"...great buildings..." {Mark 13:2}
-"...adorned with goodly stones..." {Luke 21:5}
-"...forty and six years was this temple in building..." {John 2:20}
-"...shall lay even with the ground..." {Luke 19:44}



II - SEARCHING {vs 3} 
-"Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?"
-The disciples had many questions and recognized that the destruction of their beloved temple had some connections with the return of Jesus and the end of the world
-We too, have many questions. We too, are searching for answers, searching for God, for peace, for comfort, for hope. We too, see a connection in the latest terrorist attack on America and the return of Jesus as well as the end of the world! We wonder WHAT is the significance? Is it judgment? Is it solely because of our stand with Israel? Has God removed his protection? We too, are searching for answers



III - SIGNS {vv 4-7} 
-"...ye shall hear of wars..."
-With the destruction of the temple on their mind and the return of Jesus as well as the end of the world looming in the future, Jesus, instead of giving dates, gave signs to look for
-The signs are still here to remind us of the imminent return of Jesus
-deception {Matt 24:4}
-false Christs {24:5, John 5:43, Acts 5:36-37, 8:9-10}
-wars and rumors of wars
-nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom
-famine
-pestilence
-earthquakes
-In the midst of all these things Jesus reminds us: "...SEE THAT YE BE NOT TROUBLED..." for these things MUST come to pass. With trust and faith in Jesus Christ the Christian does not have to have the spirit of fear
-{Psa 27:1-6, Isa 26:3-4, 20-21, 2 Tim 1:7}



IV - SORROWS {vv 8-10} 
-"All these are the beginning of sorrows..."
-Jesus warned his disciples that the destruction of the temple AND the signs such as pestilence and famine were just the beginning of sorrows. We must remember that evil men shall wax "worse and worse". What we have witnessed on Tuesday is the continuation of "evil men" and we must realize that it will get worse!
-Jesus warned his disciples that there would be affliction, killing, hatred, betrayal, and offences in their future. The betrayal would include parents, brethren, and kinfolks {Luke 21:16}
-The Jews would be hated for the name of Christ. We in America are hated by the Muslims because we are a Christian nation AND because we support Israel
-We MUST CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND ISRAEL!! {Genesis 12:1-3}
-This world will NOT get better until King Jesus sits on the throne in His Millennial rule



V - SATAN {vv 11-15} 
-"...many false prophets shall rise..."
-Jesus details some of Satan's work. Work that we still see today
-false prophets {vs 11}
-deception {vs 11}
-abounding iniquity {vs 12}
-waning love {vs 12}
-FALSE PROFESSIONS {vs 13; Heb. 10:39}
-to keep people from hearing the gospel {vs 14}
-desecration of the temple {vs 15; 2 Thes 2:3-4}



VI - SAFETY {vv 16-22} 
-"...flee into the mountains..."
-When great tribulation hits... there will be no safety but for those who are elect and sealed {Luke 21:22-26, Rev. 7:3, 1 Thes 5:3}
-Safety is to be found TODAY, under the precious blood of Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour {Psa 4:8; Prov 18:10, 29:5; Ex 12:13}



VII - SECOND COMING {vv 23-31} 
-"Lo, here is Christ..."
-Many, even in our day, claim to be Christ. Koresh, Farrakhan, Jones, etc. When Christ appears there shall be NO QUESTION as to if he is the real one! {vs 27}



VIII - SCHEDULE {vv 32-36}
-"...this generation shall not pass..."



IX - SENTINEL {vv 37-51} 
-"Watch therefore..."