Preparing our hearts so we are not deceived, not afraid, and not unprepared.
Building on Daniel 9 and the 70 Weeks, now focusing on the signs and spiritual climate of the last days.
Series Timeline
Recap
Previously in this series we looked at Revelation 21 and the New Jerusalem, and then
Daniel 9 and the 70 Weeks. We walked through Daniel’s prayer—admitting sin, seeking
forgiveness, and referencing Jeremiah’s 70 years—and then God’s answer through Gabriel, laying out the
prophetic timeline.
This week builds on that foundation. Instead of just the timeline, we focus on the
moral and spiritual condition of the last days, so that we are not surprised by what we see
around us, and we are spiritually prepared to persevere.
Introduction
Last week we learned of the 70 weeks of Daniel and examined the timeline of the End Times. This week we are
going to be looking at the signs the Bible describes for us to be aware of as we walk through
this part of history so that we will not be scared during these end time events nor unprepared for them
spiritually, allowing us to persevere in the Word and way of Christ, encouraging one another as the day draws
near.
Proposition
Why do we need to prepare today for the events of the end times?
The sermon answers this by showing that preparation helps us:
Watch out that no one deceives us.
Recognize those who hold to a form of godliness but deny its power.
Remain steady and untroubled when lawlessness increases.
Why We Prepare: Guarding Against Deception
Watching that no one deceives us (Matthew 24:3–5)
Matthew 24:3–5 (HCSB)
3 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.
Jesus’ first pastoral word about the end of the age is not a chart, but a warning:
“Watch out that no one deceives you.” Many will come in His name, claiming authority and
offering answers, but their goal is to deceive.
Recognizing hollow godliness (2 Timothy 3:1–7)
2 Timothy 3:1–7 (HCSB)
1 But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!
6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Paul describes a culture where people love self, money, and pleasure more than God, yet still
hold to a form of godliness. They look religious, but they deny the power of the gospel to
cleanse and transform.
Commentary Insight
These women and teachers masked inner disarray through religious practices and study, but remained blind to
the truth.
“These women were mirror images of the false teachers they followed. They masked the disarray of their inner
spirit through religious practices, especially Scripture studies. They were probably familiar with the Old
Testament and could discuss the intricate doctrinal strategies of their teachers. But because their souls had
not been cleansed of sin, they were blind to the truth… Despite the hours they invested in studying, they
were always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”
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Commentary Insight
False teachers targeted “weak women,” likely wealthy and at leisure, hoping to enrich themselves through
their support.
“The Greek term translated weak women may refer particularly to those who were wealthy and at leisure. False
teachers hoped to enrich themselves off their support, and these women, beset by their sins, would grasp at
any teaching that offered an escape from their bondage, even if it was false teaching.”
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Beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:5–8)
Matthew 24:5–8 (HCSB)
5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of birth pains.
Wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes are alarming. Yet Jesus says,
“See that you are not alarmed.” These events are the beginning of birth pains, not the end
itself.
Key Takeaway
“By knowing the Word of God, you know the Truth of these things and are prepared, not caught off guard.
Being prepared you will not be afraid, running to any person who offers escape, but will remain steadfast and
trusting in the Lord for deliverance.”
Being Prepared: Not Easily Upset or Deceived
The man of lawlessness and strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12)
2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 (HCSB)
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, 10 and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, 12 so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.
Paul urges believers not to be easily upset in mind or troubled by claims that the Day of the
Lord has already come. There is a sequence: apostasy, the revealing of the man of lawlessness, and then his
destruction by the brightness of Christ’s coming.
Lawlessness is already at work, but it is restrained. The Holy Spirit, dwelling in believers,
hinders evil from running unchecked. When the restrainer is removed, deception will flood the world, and those
who refused the love of the truth will believe what is false.
Days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26–36)
Luke 17:26–36 (HCSB)
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: 27 People went on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: People went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. 29 But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: One will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together: One will be taken and the other left. [36 Two will be in a field: One will be taken, and the other will be left.]”
Life will seem ordinary—eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting, building—until sudden judgment
comes. The moral climate will resemble Noah’s day and Lot’s day: lawlessness and immorality of every type.
Yet this does not mean we are already in the Great Tribulation. The sermon notes emphasize that
the rapture must happen first, the removal of the Holy Spirit’s restraining presence in the
church, before the rise of the Antichrist.
False messiahs and false prophets (Matthew 24:23–24)
23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it! 24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
Key Takeaway
The Bible constantly repeats: “Do not be deceived.” Knowing the signs and sequence of end
time events keeps us from panic and from chasing every voice that promises escape. Instead, we cling to the
love of the truth and trust Christ’s ultimate victory.
Conclusion: Preparing Our Hearts
Start preparing today by embracing the love of truth in the Word of God.
We might be nervous about signs of wars, earthquakes, and famines, but then remember God’s Word and
fear not. The Lord has told us these things ahead of time so that we can have peace, not
panic.
Pray that your eyes will be open to recognize deception. Do not take anyone’s word alone, but
search the Scriptures. Ask tough questions of your pastor. Let the Word of God be your
anchor.
Have peace even in these times, for God has revealed these things for your peace. The same Jesus who warned of
deception and lawlessness is the One who will destroy the man of lawlessness with the breath of His mouth and
bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming.
Do not trade the love of the truth for the comfort of a lie. Hold fast to Christ.
Reflection & Application
Questions for Personal or Group Study
Where do you see the traits of 2 Timothy 3 (love of self, money, pleasure) in our culture—and in your own
heart?
How can you practically “watch out that no one deceives you” in an age of constant information and
spiritual claims?
What Scriptures give you peace when you hear of wars, earthquakes, and famines?
Are you embracing the love of the truth, or looking for easier messages that avoid
repentance and holiness?
How might God be calling you to encourage others as “the day draws near”?