The Other Signs of the Lord's Return that the Church is Neglecting

Matthew 24:1-8 NIV Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.  (2)  Do you see all these things? he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."  (3)  As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us,” They said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 

When Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple, which eventually happened in A.D. 70, it was such an unimaginable event for them, that this led them to ask Jesus about when this would happen, and related it to the signs of the end of the age.

This is usually the chapter we run to when we begin to experience calamities, earthquakes (like we have been experiencing recently in the Philippines), severe storms, wars, and other calamities.

(6)  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  (7)  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  (8)  All these are the beginning of birth pains.

This is the reason why many are using the recent earthquakes we have been experiencing to warn everyone that our Lord is returning, and that this should move us to repent and turn to Him. And, surely, these are signs, and we should be warning others. But did you notice that Jesus said that these were just "birth pains"? Birth pains begin sometimes weeks before the actual delivery of a child. What a mother waits for is the actual sign.

This is why what I would like to point out is an emphasis that our Lord placed as He answered His disciples, which many of us seem to be overlooking as a “sign” of his coming.

When the disciples asked Jesus what the signs would be of the end of the age, the first thing that Jesus answered was:

(4)  Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  (5)  For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. 

Then, again, in verses 10-14:

Matthew 24:10-14 NIV At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, (11) and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 

Watch out that no one deceives you. Deception. Many will come claiming to be the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one, and will deceive many. The first thing Jesus tells His disciples is that they should not be deceived. Whether it was about the destruction of the temple, the signs of His coming, or the end of the age - the one thing that the disciples were to be warned about was deception.

Hasn't this been a "sign" that has been happening for so many years already? Are we not aware of the deception that is spreading around the world, bringing people away from Jesus Christ as the Messiah, as the One the Father sent, for our forgiveness of sins. No matter how much we share the gospel to them, they have other messiahs they can count on.

And deception today is not just about false religions or false gods. Money, material things, the economy, politics/politicians - these are the “messiah’s” of today. And the number one messiah, the answer to all our problems – OUR SELF. This is the deception that the people of the world are running to. As long as they have money, material things, the right political leaders, and as long as they are enjoying life, there is no need for Jesus Christ.

 Now, notice that, in chapter 24, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. He is warning them not to be deceived! How many Christians are aware that the same false messiah’s that the world is presenting are the same deceptions that are being spread within the church! Money, material things, the economy, politics/politicians, are the “messiah’s” of today. And the number one messiah, the answer to all our problems – OUR SELF How many so-called Christians are present during a Sunday service, but in reality, are worshiping false messiahs being preached in the pulpit. And even if pastors are preaching the right gospels, how many so-called Christians have been deceived by these false messiahs in their heart. 

There was another “sign” the Lord spoke of that many Christians are neglecting to look at:

(12)  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (13) but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

Because of the increase of wickedness, THE LOVE OF MOST WILL GROW COLD. Because many Christians have been caught in the deception of the world, their love for the Lord, love for the church, for fellow believers, grows cold. Isn't this happening within the church? How many claim to be Christians, but are just focused on themselves? There are so many Christians today, who may still be attending church services, but in their hearts are following false Christs.

Those who stand firm to the end will be saved. Those who stand firm against the deception of false Christs, false gods, false religion, and who keep the love of God in their hearts – these are the ones who will be saved.

This is why the gospel of the kingdom needs to be preached, shared, more aggressively, both in the world AND IN THE CHURCH! 

 (14)  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Notice what signals the end? It is when the gospel is preached to the whole world as a testimony to the nations that the end will come. And yet, how many Christians are neglecting preaching or sharing the gospel of the kingdom? We are so focused on ourselves, our lives, on how God will bless us and take care of us.  

No wonder, there is another “sign” that Jesus mentions that Christians today neglect to see, or check, in our lives:

Matthew 24:37-42 NIV As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  (38)  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; (39) and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  (40)  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  (41)  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 

We are eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage. We’re just enjoying the life of the world. And we know nothing about the return of the Son of Man! And so, when He returns, we are surprised, just like those who did not heed the preaching of Noah.

Just like the flood, there are some who will be taken by the flood, and some that will be left. Who are those who will be taken, who will be caught flat-footed when our Lord Jesus returns? Those who did not keep watch. 

What did the Lord tell His disciples?

(42)  Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

It wasn’t about keeping watch for earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, famine, etc. It was to keep watch against deception, keep watch against false messiahs, and keep watch that we are living as a people who know that our Lord is returning.

The signs are already there. We don’t need earthquakes to tell us our Lord is returning. We should be keeping watch of the false messiahs that deceive us, the love of God growing cold in our hearts, and we should stand firm in our walk and obedience to our Lord. We should be taking heed of these signs the Lord has told us about – and not be deceived.