Signs of the End: How We Must Respond

Jesus sets the tone for giving by holding up the great exchange of 2 Corinthians 8:9. Though he was rich, he became poor, so that the church might become rich in him. That grace reframes money and possessions as God’s, with believers standing as managers who give back in worship, trusting God to use resources for his kingdom.

Matthew 24 then steps forward and speaks about the end times. The temple looms large, but Jesus says not one stone will be left on another. The disciples ask two questions: when will this happen, and what will be the sign of his coming and the end of the age. The text works with a pattern that prophecy often carries two horizons. Like 2 Samuel 7 first looks to Solomon and then to Jesus, so this chapter looks to both the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and to the ultimate future.

Jesus warns of false messiahs before the temple falls. History records them. He also names wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines. Yet he calls these “the beginning of the birth pains,” not the finish line. The image lands: contractions tell the truth that something is coming, but they are not the delivery itself. Revelation’s seals echo these signals. The last days are real, and they are hard.

Tribulation follows for Jesus’ people. Acts confirms it, from Stephen’s stoning to James’ beheading to Paul’s beatings. Under pressure, many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. Lawlessness will increase. Love will grow cold. That diagnosis fits the drift of any age that prizes self and scorns obedience.

But Jesus gives courage. “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” That endurance does not prop up salvation. God preserves his own. “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” Endurance receives the reward already secured in Christ. Then the horizon widens: “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” That is the time the church inhabits now. So the call lands clear: believe in Jesus; know and follow God; remain faithful even if others quit; and share the gospel to the ends of the earth. Do the hard stuff. Learn his voice. Refuse counterfeits. Stay steady when love grows cold. The signs remind, but the mission remains.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Prophecy unfolds in two horizons Prophecy often has a near fulfillment and a greater one, so Matthew 24 reads both backward to AD 70 and forward to the consummation. That frame keeps the church from forcing all details into one date or one chart. It also allows the text to speak pastorally to first hearers and missionally to later generations. The same word warns and steadies across time. [32:27]
• 2. Birth pains, not the finish line Wars, quakes, and famines are real sorrows, but Jesus calls them contractions, not delivery. The image anchors hearts in realism without panic. The pains announce nearness, invite alertness, and train endurance. They do not license despair. [39:27]
• 3. Tribulation tests love and loyalty Pressure reveals allegiances, and Jesus says some will betray and hate while lawlessness rises. The answer is not harder hearts but deeper obedience. Faithfulness holds its shape when it costs something, and love refuses to cool when the air goes cold. [46:30]
• 4. Endurance rests in God’s keeping “The one who endures” is not white-knuckling salvation but walking inside the Father’s grip. Assurance fuels perseverance, and perseverance tastes the reward God already secured in Christ. Present pain cannot rival the glory that is coming. [48:21]
• 5. Share the gospel while it is day The assignment is plain: this gospel to all nations, then the end. Technology and travel only widen the stewardship, but courage still carries it. Mission is not a side project in the last days; it is the reason for the delay. [49:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [19:44] - Bringing Back Offering Plates
• [23:13] - Grace That Makes Us Give
• [29:12] - It’s The End And “I’m Fine”
• [30:39] - Summer Of Prophecy Roadmap
• [31:31] - Opening Matthew 24
• [34:12] - Not One Stone Left
• [37:21] - Two Questions On The End
• [39:01] - False Messiahs And Rumors
• [41:57] - Beginning Of Birth Pains
• [43:27] - Tribulation And Falling Away
• [46:30] - Love Grown Cold
• [47:29] - Endure And Be Saved
• [49:49] - Gospel To All Nations
• [51:38] - Four Responsibilities Now

Bible Reading
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."

Matthew 24:6-14 (ESV)
"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

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Observation questions

1. What two fulfillments of prophecy are described in the sermon, and how does 2 Samuel 7 illustrate this pattern? [32:27]
2. According to Matthew 24:6-8, what does Jesus call wars, earthquakes, and famines? What metaphor does He use to describe their purpose? [39:27]
3. What specific examples of tribulation for believers are mentioned in the sermon (e.g., Stephen, James, Paul)? [44:55]
4. What two responsibilities does Jesus link to the timing of the end in Matthew 24:14?

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Interpretation questions

1. Why might Jesus use the metaphor of “birth pains” to describe disasters and hardships instead of calling them “the end”? How does this shape our perspective on current events? [39:27]
2. Tribulation is said to “test love and loyalty.” How does pressure reveal whether someone’s allegiance is truly to Christ or to comfort/safety? [46:30]
3. The sermon states, “Endurance does not prop up salvation—God preserves His own.” How does this clarify the relationship between human perseverance and divine assurance in salvation? [48:21]
4. If the Great Commission (Matthew 24:14) is the reason for the delay of Christ’s return, what does this imply about the church’s priorities in the “last days”?

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Application questions

1. Jesus’ sacrifice in 2 Corinthians 8:9 reframes everything we own as God’s. What is one area of your finances or possessions where you struggle to live as a “manager” rather than an owner? How could you surrender this to worship?
2. When have you been tempted to interpret global crises (wars, disasters) as reasons to panic or despair? What practical steps could help you view them as “birth pains” that point to Christ’s ultimate victory? [39:27]
3. Tribulation exposes where our love grows cold. Are there relationships or situations where you’ve felt your compassion shrinking under pressure? How could you actively choose obedience and warmth instead? [46:30]
4. The sermon emphasizes that endurance is “walking inside the Father’s grip.” What spiritual habits or truths help you rely on God’s strength rather than your own willpower during trials? [48:21]
5. Sharing the gospel is tied directly to the timeline of Christ’s return. Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus, and what bold step could you take this week to share with them? [49:49]
6. When others around you compromise or abandon their faith, how can you cultivate intentional faithfulness? Are there relationships or routines that need to change to strengthen your resolve? [58:40]