To teach that Jesus (God) knows all about the future.

To teach some signs that would be evident in the latter days and just before His coming.

To teach that as God's children, we can depend on the Holy Spirit's help during trials and tribulations.

To teach of the terrible tribulation that is to come on the earth and that Christians will escape it.

To teach what we should be doing and how we should be living in these last days.

INTRODUCTION: In our lesson today we see Jesus, the omniscient God, and the Master Servant revealing the events of the future. It was important that He do this for He soon would die and ascend to Heaven. His followers needed instruction that would help them during His absence. Let's study His teaching. It is assuring to know that He who created all, also knows the future and controls it.

As Jesus departed from the temple and later rested on the Mount of Olives, from which He had a beautiful view of the temple area to the west, the subject of the temple was raised. The four disciples wanted to know the time of the dread catastrophe, the signs of His coming and of the end of the world (Matthew 24:3). So Jesus proceeds to tell them.

Note carefully that in this discourse He speaks of His second coming as a unit. He is not at the moment differentiating in detail between His future coming for the Saints (I Thessalonians 4:16,17) and His coming with His Saints to the earth to reign (Revelation 19:11-20:6). In these verses, Jesus teaches of things that shall occur between the time He leaves and His return.

Vs. 5&6 -- Many false teachers have arisen claiming to be the coming deliverer.

Vs. 7&8 -- During His absence, the age would be characterized by war and few have been the years when war wasn't being waged on earth since He left. Earthquakes -- In the eighteenth century, 640 earthquakes were recorded, in the nineteenth century, 2119 earthquakes were recorded. In the twentieth century, 60,000 earth tremors are recorded every year. Famines -- one-half of the world's population goes to bed hungry every night. These are the beginnings of sorrows. In other words, these things will become increasingly worse as the age progresses and will reach their gravest point during the tribulation period as recorded in Revelation.

Vs. 9,11,12 -- The disciples in our Lord's day, and believers through the centuries, would experience hatred, persecution, arrest and death for their Saviour's sake. The Holy Spirit would be their wisdom and stay in hours of darkness and need.

Vs. 10 -- As the course of the age moved on to its end in Christ's coming, the gospel would be published throughout the known world. Via Radio, Television, and the Internet, this is being done now.

Jesus at this point moves right in to what we know to be the tribulation period of seven years which is graphically spoken of in Revelation. It had been foretold by the prophet Daniel 9:24-27.

Vs. 13 -- The enduring to the end doesn't refer to the salvation of the soul for all are and will be saved by grace. Those in the tribulation that endure the trials and persecutions will eventually be saved and spared by God's coming in the clouds. Revelation 19. Those that are saved spiritually in the tribulation will be saved by grace. God will shorten the days of the tribulation so that the Anti-Christ won't kill so many of the Jews. CF. Vs. 20.

Vs. 14 -- We need to distinguish between "the abomination that maketh desolate" spoken of in Daniel 11:31, which refers to the image of Jupiter set up in the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes during the 400 silent years (between Malachi and Matthew) and the "abomination that maketh desolate" of Daniel 12:11, which refers to a desecration yet to take place. This latter is what our Lord refers to and is spoken of in Revelation 13:14,15 as being the image of the Anti-Christ.

Vs. 15-23 -- When the Anti-Christ rules and breaks his covenant with Israel in the middle of the seven year tribulation period, then the Jewish people had better flee to the mountains and hills. This they will do. These truths concerning the future will literally come to pass (Vs. 31) and the Jews will profit if they hearken to His words.

Jesus coming to make war and rule (Revelation 19) will occur "after that tribulation". Then just before He comes, amazing phenomena will occur in the heavens. When He comes, He will gather all living saints (the elect) to Him in Jerusalem.

Vs. 28&29 -- The fig tree refers to Israel. Jeremiah 24:1-7. He is saying, when Israel becomes a nation again then know that His second coming is near. Israel became a nation, May 15, 1948. Today she has a President, a Congress, an Army and a Navy. She is a full-fledged nation.

Vs. 30 -- This generation refers to the Jewish race. For 2600 years they roamed this earth without a homeland yet they still remain today, a distinct people.

Vs. 31 -- The Word of God is unchangeable, timeless and reliable.

Vs. 32-37 -- No one knows when Jesus will come but because of His word and world events we know it will be soon. He exhorts us to live every day as if it will be the day He comes. We are to be watching everyday for His coming.

CONCLUSION: He who knows all things has taught us what we need to know about the future. Time is short. Time is running out for this world and we should be doing all we can to get people saved before it is too late. Are you doing all you ought to be? What are some things we as individuals can do to win people to Christ?