"The Beginning of Sorrows"
(A Message to the Multitude)
(Preached Sunday Evening, June 28, 2020)
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
(Matthew 24:7-8)
- “Nation shall rise against nation”
-
-
- WW1
- WW2
- WW3 – now pending
-
- “Kingdom against kingdom”
-
-
- Tribes against tribes – such as the mass genocides of Rwanda
- Political groups against political groups – such as the many mass genocides of Communism under Mao, Stalin, and many others
- Religious groups against religious groups (and especially against Christians) – 911: need I say more?
- Global Christian martyrdom at its historical highest in the 20 Century as they now continue to be in the Millenium… need I say more?
-
- “Famines” – Haiti, Ethiopia, etc., etc. – need I say more?
- “Pestilences” – AIDS, COVID-19, the locusts are coming, etc., etc. – need I say more?
- “Earthquakes in [different] places” – current news story after news story this year, with scientific prediction fulfillments upcoming – need I say more?
- “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Jesus was right! He called it! Jesus predicted it! He warned you of the signs of his coming!
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:7-8)
- Jesus is coming again… soon!!
I. What should you be doing as Jesus comes?
- “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:21)
- And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)
- “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” (James 4:9)
II. What could you be doing as Jesus comes?
- “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)
- “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
- “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
III. What shall you be doing as Jesus comes?
- “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:26)
- “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
- “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.” (Matthew 13:49-51)
- Wailing (adjective): a) crying with pain, grief, or anger; b) making a prolonged high-pitched sound.
- Gnashing (verb): a) grind (one’s teeth) together, typically as a sign of anger. Example: “No doubt he is gnashing his teeth in rage.” (Similar words: grind; strike together; grate; rasp; grit; frostbite; (of teeth) strike together; grind.
Conclusion:
You were warned…
- By his herald…
“And saying, ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2: What he preached before the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus began!
- By him…
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Jesus (Matthew 4:17: The first thing that Jesus preached, at the very beginning of his ministry here on Earth!)
- 7,000 years ago: It was prophesied that Jesus would come!
- 2,000 years ago: Jesus did come!
- And today?
- Today our planet suffers from the major symptoms of the end of the world!
- Today our planet is dying (thanks to our inept care of it)!
- Today our planet is concluding its ability to sustain human life!
- Today, you must prepare, you must admit, you must cry out that statement of the truth of that inevitable second advent of the divine!
- Today, you must own whatever that means to you!
- Today… Jesus is coming again!!!
Matthew 13:51: “Jesus saith unto them, ‘Have ye understood all these things?” They say unto him, ‘Yea, Lord.”
OUTLINE:
“The Beginning of Sorrows!”
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:7-8)
I. What should you be doing as Jesus comes?
II. What could you be doing as Jesus comes?
III. What shall you be doing as Jesus comes?
“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2: John the Baptist)
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17: Jesus)
HYMNS:
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (210: video accompaniment)