The Age In Which We Live
Review– These verses have a dual and overlapping application. Compare with Luke 21:8-24
They speak of aspects of the conditions in Jerusalem prior to its destruction.
They also speak of the centuries that have followed, right up to this present age.

I. The Exhortation To The Disciples

Jesus warns his disciples and the believers that would follow.
Many things would follow that would challenge the faith of the Christians thru the centuries.
Jesus gave a preview of the challenges that believers would face and still do face today.
He speaks that we would not be moved from our faith in Him.

A. Be Not Deceived

1. Deceived– planao- to lead astray, lead aside from the right way
2. Verse 4- Take heed that you be not deceived
3. Verse 5- False messiahs
4. Verse 11- False prophets
5. Verse 24- signs & wonders that would challenge the faith of the elect

B. Other Things To Guard Against

1. Verse 6- Troubled– throeo- to be troubled in mind, to be frightened, alarmed
2. Verse 8- Beginning of Sorrows– the pain of childbirth, intolerable anguish
3. Verse 10- Offended- skandalizo- to place a stumbling block so that one trips & falls. To cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey. To cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another.
4. Verse 12- love grows cold– love that wanes

II. The Events Before The End

V. 14- Jesus said that the following events would take place, and then the end would come.

A. False Messiahs V. 5

Ray Stedman– What On Earth Is Happening? Page 35
Theosophical Society- Krishmamurti had gone through a grooming process whereby his body and spirit were prepared to receive the spirit of Christ, much like Jesus of Nazareth had supposedly offered his body as a medium for the Christ Spirit to indwell.

1. 1 John 2:18, 19 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us…
2. Antichrist- A counterfeit Christ, a false messiah

a. The Bible speaks of a particular Anti Christ that will come to Jerusalem.
b. There have been and are many other anti-Christs w/Messianic claims

3. People or organizations that diminish of the divinity of Jesus, minimize His sacrifice on the cross, & substitute other methodologies for attaining salvation.
4. Anything that would contradict Biblical statements like John 14:6.
5. The spirit of anti-Christ is found in both cults & in some modern day denominations. Many denominations speak and act like Christians, but are anti-Christ in their actions and theology.
6. 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them…
7. Individuals, groups, & churches that seem outwardly Christian in their talk and behavior, yet reject the true Jesus Christ of the Bible, are anti-Christs, counterfeit Christs, false messiahs. This includes both cults and “mainline” churches.
8. Another form of the anti-Christ movement…
Anything that substitutes the mission of Matthew 28:19, 20 w/another mission.
There are many good but anti-Christian movements among us.

a. Liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, socialism, social action, “isms”.
b. Philanthropic work that exalts human service and diminishes the Gospel.
c. Environmentalism: “Love Your Mother” (Earth)
d. Those things become anti-Christ as they replace Christ and His mission.
e. Those things can be good, appealing to humanity, less threatening socially & politically, but save no one, & are dangerous as they replace Jesus.
f. Our culture has deified environmentalism and human services, and has humanized and minimized the person and the work of Jesus Christ
g. Those people & movements can be part of what deceives people.

B. Wars & Rumors Of Wars V. 6, 7a

1. Jesus didn’t speak of any one particular war, but characterized the general course of this age we live in which started then and continues until today.
2. Wars & rumors of war include human suffering, fear, death, terror, & misery.
3. Spiritually speaking wars can contribute greatly to people being deceived and moved away from God.
4. The classic question is this: If there is a God, and He is supposedly loving and all-powerful, then how could He allow these things to happen?
5. That question is dangerous if taken only on an emotional level. If responded by one saddened with human suffering, a good answer might be hard to find.
6. The answer needs to be as follows: What should God have done? Taken away everyone’s free will? Free will is one of the greatest gifts we have as humans. The ability to reason, desire, & achieve. Should God take that away from man?
7. The seeming indifference of God can cause many to be deceived, and fall away.
8. War can be used by Satan as a way to weaken or destroy faith in God.

C. Natural Calamities Vs. 7b, 8

1. Natural calamities have been with humanity since the beginning of time.
2. Christians can speak of creation displaying the power of God.
3. But what does nature teach us about God’s love when a natural calamity strikes?
4. People can falter or fail in their faith when natural calamities harm them, asking the question, “How could a God of love allow this to happen”?
5. These events can leave the unbeliever dismayed, and the believer unsure.
6. These losses can cause deception in the character & nature of Jesus Christ.
7. When speaking of the love of God, we turn not to nature, but to the cross.
8. Romans 5:6-11 speaks of God’s love displayed.
9. When natural disasters hit, may we show God’s love and assist the hurting.
10. May we be sure of God’s love, not measuring it by a disaster, but by the cross.
11. May we speak of the truth we have come to know in those dark hours.