July 27th, 2025: Jesus Predicts the Temple Destruction | Matthew 24:1-14

IYKYK. If you know, you know! A common saying on social media has many spiritual applications. Our understanding is based on the experiences we’ve had and the patterns we discover and attempt to apply. The problem is we don’t know what we don’t know. The disciples were excited to show Jesus the additions and enhancements to the temple which were being built by Herod, the project was still unfinished, but there was much excitement about it. The disciples knew about the expansion and the new buildings. What they didn’t know was that less than 40 years would pass before Titus destroyed it and nearly starved the entire city to death during his siege. 

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

As limited human beings, we rely on the information we have and often put value and confidence in things that fail us. One tremendous benefit to being a Christian is that we have the Holy Spirit of God living within us, and He knows the past, the present, and the future. We can rely on the word of God that never changes and the patterns of behavior that the Bible illustrates for us. It’s possible that Jesus upset his followers with these words; they believed in Him as the Messiah, a King who would rule in Jerusalem and bring them times of freedom and peace. How would that be possible if the temple were destroyed? Jesus knew that He was going to Calvary, and they were beginning to understand how little they knew about His purpose.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

The disciples came to Him privately, concerned about the future. They asked Him three questions: when will the temple be destroyed, when are you coming in power and authority, and when is the end of the world? They knew the prophecies of the Old Testament about a ruler who would be sent from God, and we know about the promise Jesus made after His resurrection about His return. However, God alone knows when and how it all will come to pass. We have not been asked to figure it all out, although study and meditation on prophecy can be a blessing. We are told to obey this command: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3;5-6).

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

We are also commanded not to be deceived. We are not to fear and panic every time someone raises an alarm. We have the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them that men would arise who would claim to be the authority on the future, even claim to be Christ, but we don’t have to believe them. We need a historical and not a hysterical view of prophecy. Every word of God prophesied will be fulfilled. God knows the beginning and the end of human history. He has never been surprised, and we can rely on what He knows, instead of being terrified by what we think.  

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

A lot of history has happened since Jesus preached these words. The fall of Rome, the Crusades, European Kingdoms, the Ottoman Empire, World Wars, and much more. Upheaval and disaster are the rule and not the exception. Through all these things ,the church of God has survived and thrived. As the end grows nearer, the frequency of these hard times will increase. Isaiah describes it to be like a woman in labour, the pains increase in frequency and intensity.  

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

All the disciples hearing Jesus teach would be martyred except for John, and he endured fierce persecution. The church has suffered attacks since its beginning and continues to be attacked all over the world.  It is worth mentioning that Christians are enduring the most severe persecution today, not in the US but in places all over the world including Syria, China, Russia, and many others.

Jesus said not only would trouble come, it will divide. Those who are not committed to Christ will betray those who are. The boundary line between good and evil will grow more and more clear.  We see the middle ground erasing all around us these days.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

What love will wax cold? The love for God. As it becomes harder and harder to follow Christ without consequences, many will decide if it is worth continuing. They will fall away and choose an easy life over an eternal one.  

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This is how you win: Trust Christ and Don’t Quit! When will the end of the world come? When the gospel has reached the last soul who will respond. What should we do to prepare for the end? Exactly what he told us to do when he stepped on a cloud and ascended into Heaven.

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:7-8.

Get busy and be a witness, know that God has given you what you need to know the truth.  Live in the pattern of Christ and don’t get discouraged by Satan’s latest fear tactic. You can’t lose if you trust Him.

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!