Introduction

Background: The disciples asked two questions in Matt 24:3

1. What will be the sign of your coming?
2. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Having answered the disciples’ second question in verses 4-14, Jesus now turns His attention in verses 15-31 to answer the first – the sign of His coming.

Prophetic sequence of Pretribulation events (Arnold Fruchtenbaum):

1. World Wars I and II - Mt 24:1-8
2. The Re-Establishment of Israel in 1948 - Ezek 20:33-38; 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2
3. The temple will be reconstructed (AKA; 3rd Temple or Tribulation Temple) and be under Jewish control - Dan 9:27; Mt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev 11:1-2
4. The Rapture will precede the Tribulation - 1 Thess 4:16-17
5. The Russian invasion of Israel (with Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia) - Ezekiel 38:1-39:16
6. The One-World government - Dan 7:23
7. The ten kingdoms - Dan 7:24a
8. The rise of the Antichrist - Dan 7:24b; 2 Thess 2:1-3
9. The period of peace and false security - 1 Thess 5:1-3
10. The seven year covenant - Dan 7:27; Is 28:14-22

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Background: The disciples asked two questions in Matt 24:3

1. What will be the sign of your coming?
2. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Having answered the disciples’ second question in verses 4-14, Jesus now turns His attention in verses 15-31 to answer the first – the sign of His coming.

Prophetic sequence of Pretribulation events (Arnold Fruchtenbaum):

1. World Wars I and II - Mt 24:1-8
2. The Re-Establishment of Israel in 1948 - Ezek 20:33-38; 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2
3. The temple will be reconstructed (AKA; 3rd Temple or Tribulation Temple) and be under Jewish control - Dan 9:27; Mt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev 11:1-2
4. The Rapture will precede the Tribulation - 1 Thess 4:16-17
5. The Russian invasion of Israel (with Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia) - Ezekiel 38:1-39:16
6. The One-World government - Dan 7:23
7. The ten kingdoms - Dan 7:24a
8. The rise of the Antichrist - Dan 7:24b; 2 Thess 2:1-3
9. The period of peace and false security - 1 Thess 5:1-3
10. The seven year covenant - Dan 7:27; Is 28:14-22

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Most people are curious about the future -- the Jews of Jesus’ day were no different!

Background:

1. This is the last public speech Jesus ever gave to the people of Israel.
2. In chapter 21-23, He pronounced judgment on the nation Israel, judgment on the false leaders and judgment on the people who followed their deceptions – culminating in two profound statements:

--One of judgment: “Your house is left unto you desolate”, which would be fulfilled in 70 AD in the destruction of the temple.

--One of prophetic hope: “For I say unto you, you shall not see Me henceforth till you shall say, ‘Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord’”, which will be fulfilled when all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26).

3. The Jewish understanding of eschatology was limited: There would be a time of great tribulation (Roman rule); The coming of a herald who would announce the Messiah. (John the Baptist); The Messiah would come (and He did) ; The Messiah would gather the dispersed Jews and establish His kingdom.

1. They had no concept of a 1st Coming of the Messiah as a Suffering Servant followed by a 2nd Coming as a reigning and ruling King! As a result, they were filled with a heightened sense of eschatological anticipation!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Most people are curious about the future -- the Jews of Jesus’ day were no different!

Background:

1. This is the last public speech Jesus ever gave to the people of Israel.
2. In chapter 21-23, He pronounced judgment on the nation Israel, judgment on the false leaders and judgment on the people who followed their deceptions – culminating in two profound statements:

--One of judgment: “Your house is left unto you desolate”, which would be fulfilled in 70 AD in the destruction of the temple.

--One of prophetic hope: “For I say unto you, you shall not see Me henceforth till you shall say, ‘Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord’”, which will be fulfilled when all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26).

3. The Jewish understanding of eschatology was limited: There would be a time of great tribulation (Roman rule); The coming of a herald who would announce the Messiah. (John the Baptist); The Messiah would come (and He did) ; The Messiah would gather the dispersed Jews and establish His kingdom.

1. They had no concept of a 1st Coming of the Messiah as a Suffering Servant followed by a 2nd Coming as a reigning and ruling King! As a result, they were filled with a heightened sense of eschatological anticipation!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

There have always been (and will be) leaders like this in the church:

1. In the OT, God repeatedly confronted Israel’s corrupt leadership - Ezekiel 34
2. In the NT, Jesus warned of “false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” - Matt 7:15
3. Paul warned the elders that “from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves - Acts 20:30

Theme of this passage:

1. The scribes and Pharisees are identified as religious bullies!
2. Jesus stands up to them as the Deliverer and Champion of the church!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

There have always been (and will be) leaders like this in the church:

1. In the OT, God repeatedly confronted Israel’s corrupt leadership - Ezekiel 34
2. In the NT, Jesus warned of “false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” - Matt 7:15
3. Paul warned the elders that “from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves - Acts 20:30

Theme of this passage:

1. The scribes and Pharisees are identified as religious bullies!
2. Jesus stands up to them as the Deliverer and Champion of the church!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

I The Flawed Leadership Model of the Pharisees

Background on the scribes and Pharisees:

The scribes and the Pharisees were the religious leaders and scholars of the day. They had made it their life's vocation to study the law, interpret its application to daily life and enforce it’s observance. Together, they dominated the common people's understanding and practice of their religion.

The Pharisees (the Separated Ones)

1. They were Israel’s religious Navy Seals!
2. There were only 6,000 of them at any one time
3. They spent all their lives observing every detail of the scribal law
4. They had codified the Scriptures into 365 negative commandments and 248 positive commandments (613 in total)
5. They taught that if men kept all these, they would be acceptable to God!

The teachers of the Law

Teachers = Scribes = Grammateus = “To write”

1. Civil: Notaries and secretaries (Shimshai in Ezra 4:8)
2. Ecclesiastical: Interpreters/articulators of the Law (Ezra 7:10, 12)

- They were learned in the Mosaic Law and in sacred writings

- They were experts-authorities on the interpretation of the Scriptures

- They preserved and defended the Law

- They devoted themselves to the careful study of the text and laid down rules for transcribing it with the most scrupulous precision

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

I The Flawed Leadership Model of the Pharisees

Background on the scribes and Pharisees:

The scribes and the Pharisees were the religious leaders and scholars of the day. They had made it their life's vocation to study the law, interpret its application to daily life and enforce it’s observance. Together, they dominated the common people's understanding and practice of their religion.

The Pharisees (the Separated Ones)

1. They were Israel’s religious Navy Seals!
2. There were only 6,000 of them at any one time
3. They spent all their lives observing every detail of the scribal law
4. They had codified the Scriptures into 365 negative commandments and 248 positive commandments (613 in total)
5. They taught that if men kept all these, they would be acceptable to God!

The teachers of the Law

Teachers = Scribes = Grammateus = “To write”

1. Civil: Notaries and secretaries (Shimshai in Ezra 4:8)
2. Ecclesiastical: Interpreters/articulators of the Law (Ezra 7:10, 12)

- They were learned in the Mosaic Law and in sacred writings

- They were experts-authorities on the interpretation of the Scriptures

- They preserved and defended the Law

- They devoted themselves to the careful study of the text and laid down rules for transcribing it with the most scrupulous precision

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com