PART I — ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS?

“When You See These Things”

Matthew 24:33

“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!”

Introduction

There is a question being asked throughout the world:

Are we living in the end times?

Wars continue.

Nations threaten nations.

Technology advances at breathtaking speed.

Moral standards are changing.

Truth is increasingly treated as something each person can define for himself.

False teaching is widespread.

Fear and uncertainty fill many hearts.

But the Christian must not interpret the times merely by watching television, social media, politics, or world events.

We must interpret the times through the Word of God.

And when we open Scripture, we discover something important:

Biblically speaking, the “last days” have already begun.

Hebrews 1:1–2 says:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…”

The New Testament places the Church within the era of the last days.

We are not waiting for the last days to begin.

We are living in them.

The greater question is:

How close are we to their culmination and Christ’s return?

Scripture does not give us a date.

But Scripture repeatedly commands us to watch.

1. JESUS WARNED ABOUT DECEPTION

Matthew 24:4:

“Take heed that no one deceives you.”

Notice what Jesus mentions first.

Not earthquakes.

Not wars.

Not famine.

Deception.

One of the greatest dangers facing the Church in the last days is spiritual deception.

Jesus continues:

“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
— Matthew 24:5

The closer we come to Christ’s return, the more important biblical discernment becomes.

Not everything called Christian belongs to Christ.

Not everyone holding a Bible correctly teaches the Bible.

Not every miracle proves that God is behind it.

Not every preacher who says “Jesus” faithfully represents Jesus.

Church, know the Word.

2. JESUS SPOKE OF WARS AND TURMOIL

Matthew 24:6:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled…”

Jesus did not tell His disciples to panic.

He said:

“See that you are not troubled.”

That is important.

Biblical prophecy should produce preparedness, not hysteria.

The Christian should never live terrified of tomorrow.

Why?

Because tomorrow belongs to God.

Governments may shake.

Economies may shake.

Nations may shake.

But Hebrews 12:28 speaks of believers receiving:

“a kingdom which cannot be shaken.”

Our confidence is not in the stability of this world.

Our confidence is in the King whose kingdom cannot be shaken.

3. PAUL DESCRIBED THE CHARACTER OF THE LAST DAYS

2 Timothy 3:1 says:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”

Then Paul describes people:

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers…”

And eventually:

“lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

Notice something fascinating.

Paul does not primarily describe the last days by technology, politics, or military power.

He describes the human heart.

The greatest evidence of spiritual decline is not what happens in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Jerusalem.

The greatest issue is what is happening inside the human heart.

People become:

Lovers of themselves.

Lovers of money.

Lovers of pleasure.

But not lovers of God.

4. THE GOSPEL WILL GO TO THE NATIONS

Yet the end-time message is not merely darkness.

Matthew 24:14 says:

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

While darkness spreads—

the Gospel continues.

While deception increases—

the Gospel continues.

While kingdoms rise and fall—

the Gospel continues.

Jesus Christ is still saving sinners.

The Holy Spirit is still transforming lives.

The Word of God is still being preached.

And the Church still has an assignment.

Therefore, the believer should not spend all his time asking:

“When will Jesus come?”

We should also ask:

“Whom can I tell about Jesus before He comes?”

5. JESUS SAID TO WATCH

Matthew 24:42:

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

That destroys every attempt at date-setting.

If someone tells you:

“Jesus will return on this particular day.”

Do not follow that teaching.

Jesus Himself said:

“But of that day and hour no one knows…”
— Matthew 24:36

We may recognize the season.

We may observe biblical patterns.

We may understand prophecy.

But God has not authorized us to set the date.

Our responsibility is simpler:

Watch.

Pray.

Remain faithful.

Preach Christ.

Live holy lives.

Be ready.

Because Jesus could come at a time when many are not expecting Him.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!