SIGNS OF THE END!

MATTHEW 24: 3-14

COVID 19
• Killed millions of people
• Local and international
Travel restrictions
• Face masks and face
Shields
• School, work, factories,
and airports were closed.
Economic Meltdown
• Prices of commodities
going up
• Salaries are not enough
Economic Meltdown
• Prices of commodities
going up
• Salaries are not enough
War in Ukraine and in Israel
Chinese aggression in our coastal
Territories
Sexual revolution
• The commonly accepted
understanding and definition of
• gender have changed. The
definite difference between men
and women, even the physical
• aspect is no longer the
determining factor. For our time
the definitions and difference are
• being redefined, changed and re-
evaluated.
Unprecedented natural calamities
• Should we be concerned or
worried? Should we be afraid for
our future and our children’s
• future? Are these times of
anxiety, trouble, and uncertainty?
Or are these times for us to be
• watchful, aware and be guided by
the wisdom of the Holy Spirit?
Are these times, times for
• the church and the Christians to
redouble our efforts for
missions?
 Matthew 24: 3 – 14
“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?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name,
claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 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.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all
nations because of me. 10 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. 12 Because
of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to
the end will be saved. 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.”
Today’s current events call our
attention to
the Urgency of Proclaiming the
Gospel to All nations.
Current events, the occurrences we see on the
news, on TV and on social media are signs
of the times that Jesus mentions on Matthew 24
that his return is near. The fulfillment of
the signs as actual live events brings to our
awareness the urgency that the 10/40 window
(nations) calls our attention to.
The 10/40 Window is
a rectangular
geographic area
stretching from
North Africa
through the Middle
East to Asia,
covering 68
countries.
 Matthew 24: 6, 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.
 Jesus return is becoming clearer and clearer
every
day the number of people who need to hear the
gospel, even those who live near us or are
living with us is still staggering!
 city of Troy

But while they

were sleeping comfortably in their beds,
destruction came!
Our tumultuous current times call us (the
Church/Christians) to persevere and
persist in sending, supporting, praying for
MISSIONS in the Face of Challenges,
Hindrances and changing times.
Matthew 24:13, but the one who stands firm to
the end will be saved.
Our tumultuous current times call us (the
Church/Christians) to persevere and
persist in sending, supporting, praying for
MISSIONS in the Face of Challenges,
Hindrances and changing times.
 But the difficulties of our times, our own personal
needs, tragedies and persecutions are
not reasons for us to fall back in our missions work
and support. On the contrary, they
are a call for us to continue, to persevere, to do more!
Because the hindrances and
hardships are part of the work of bringing the
message of the gospel to the nations! Jesus
himself predicted it! The signs of His return and of the
end times will be hard and
difficult times!
 Matthew 24: 10 - 13, as the end of the age
approach, 10 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. 12 Because
of the increase of wickedness, the love of most
will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands
firm to the end will be saved.
Villie Cataluna Gregorio
Diagnosed with Cancer
Going through Treatment
Staying and continuing her ministry
in Hongkong despite hardships,
financial need, undergoing
treatment, and physical stress.

She is an example of Paul’s

personal Testimony in the mission
field 2 Timothy 4: 7, I have fought
the
good fight, I have finished therace,I
have kept thefaith.
 Modern opinions, beliefs and philosophies
contradict the Word of God and should
be an eyeopener for the church to embrace the
Great Commission and bring God’s
truth to the nations
Matthew 24:9, 9 “Then you will be handed over
to be persecuted and put to death, and you will
be hated by all nations because of me.
 The world is going towards a different direction. Beliefs are changing, ideologies and
preferences are changing. What was once true and right is now wrong and illegal.
People are changing the basis and foundation of truth. Even physical reality is being
changed: a man maybe a woman inside or vice versa or both or nothing at all… changing
to the freedom of becoming who people want and desire to be!
Verse 10 – 12, 10 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. 12 Because of the
increase of
wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
The Bible is now considered obsolete and
irrelevant. The truth and wisdom of the
Bible
is now considered ignorance and
obstinate.
Christians and followers of Christ are now
seen as the enemies of perceived
freedom and
change! The farther the world walks away
from God the more they hate the followers
and
disciples of Jesus!
Ptr. James Sarenas
of how they travel
on foot for days,
even weeks just to
reach
people and tribes
for the gospel.
 As the world changes around us it is also becoming more difficult
to share about God and
about the Bible, but this should not surprise us. Everything going
on is part of the signs
of imminence of the second coming of Jesus. We should anticipate
more oppositios. We
should anticipate more hatred and anger because they are signs
of Jesus return. We
should embrace it as part of the great commission, part of our
calling, part of the cross
we are to carry and should motivate us to call more, send more,
give more and pray more
for our missions’ work!
 Matthew 24:14 sets the stage why the Church/Christians should
be focused and
enthusiastic in obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
and Acts 1:8
reveals how it can be accomplished
 18 Then Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.”
 He
said to them:
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by
his own
authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the
earth.
 Should we be concerned or worried? Are
these times of anxiety, trouble and uncertainty? Or are these
times for us to be watchful,
aware and be guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit? Are
these times, times for the church
and the Christians to redouble our efforts for missions?
 Matthew 24: 32 - 35 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:
As
soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you
know that summer is near. 33 Even
so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near,
right at the door. 34 Truly I tell
you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these
things have happened. 35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never
pass away
 when the twigs
become tender
and leaves
sprout, it indicates
that summer is
near.
 The fig tree
represents a
symbol of
awareness and
discernment.
God is sovereign and in control! As his
church we should recognize and
discern the
working and movement of God in our
midst and in our time – and we should
readily
participate and become involved! We
should prepare our lives to be ready in
the center of
God’s working in our generation! We
should not let the current events bring
depression,
fear, and worry! But should open our
eyes and prepare us so that God can
use us to his
utmost!
 Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will never
pass away.”
God has not changed, his plan has not
changed, his word for us has not
changed!

PAY ATTENTION!!