In this sermon, the preacher discusses the signs of the end times and the coming of the Son of Man. He emphasizes that there will be wars, nations rising against nations, and widespread panic. He warns that during this time, Christians will be hated and persecuted for their faith. The preacher also references the story of Noah, highlighting the importance of being prepared and watchful for the coming of the Son of Man. He concludes by urging the audience to pay attention to the signs and be ready for the return of Jesus.

Will you please turn to the Gospel according to Matthew. Chapter 24. We'll read from verse 1 through verse 14. Again, I will read it in English first, and my brother will read it in Chinese. And Jesus went forth and went away from the temple. And his disciples came to him to point out to him the buildings of the temple. And he answering said to them, Do ye not see all these things? Verily I say to you, not a stone shall be left here upon a stone which shall not be thrown down. And as he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall all these things be? And what is the sign of thy coming and the completion of the age? And Jesus answering said to them, See that no one misleads you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall mislead many. But ye will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye be not disturbed. For all these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. For nations shall rise up against nations, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places. But all these are the beginning of truth, which means birth. Then shall they deliver you up to tribulation and shall kill you. And ye will be hated of all the nations for my name's sake. And then will many be offended and will deliver one another up and hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise and shall mislead many. And because lawlessness shall prevail, the love of the most shall grow cold. But he that has endured to the end, he shall be saved. And these glad tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole habitable earth for a witness to all the nations. And then shall come the end. Jesus said to them, Did you not see the electric fish? I tell you, in the future there will be no stone left on the rock, and it will not be destroyed. Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, and said to his disciples, Tell us, when will these things take place? What foretellment do you have for the coming of you and the end of the world? What foretellment do you have for the coming of you and the end of the world? Jesus answered, You must be careful, lest some may mislead you. For in the future there will be many who will come in my name and say, I am a Christian, and I will mislead many. You must also hear the war and the sound of war. Do not be alarmed, for these things are inevitable. It is just that the end has not yet come. The people will attack the people, and the country will attack the country. There will be famine and earthquakes everywhere. This is the beginning of the disaster of production. At that time, people will put you in trouble, and they will kill you. You will be hated by the people for my name. At that time, many people will fall, and they will harm and hate each other. There will be many false prophets, and they will mislead many. Because there are so many things that are not lawful, many people's hearts will gradually become cold. Only those who endure to the end will be saved. This is the blessing of heaven. It will spread to the world and be a witness to the people. Then the end has not yet come. Chapter 24, verse 32. But it is near at the doors. Verily I say to you, this generation will not have passed away until all these things shall have taken place. The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away. But of the day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, but my Father alone. But as the days of Noah, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. For as they were in the days which were before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day on which Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not till the flood came and took all away. Thus also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two shall be in the field, one is taken and one is left. Two women grinding in the mill, one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for ye know not in what hour your Lord comes. But of the day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, but my Father alone. But as the days of Noah, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. For as they were in the days which were before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day on which Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not till the flood came and took all away. Thus also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two shall be in the field, one is taken and one is left. Two women grinding in the mill, one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for ye know not in what hour your Lord comes. Let's have a word of prayer. Dear Lord, we want to thank Thee for giving us Thy table. Dear Lord, we want to thank Thee for giving us Thy table. What a privilege that Thou hast bestowed upon us. We praise and thank Thee because Thou exhibit before us. We praise and thank Thee because Thou exhibit before us. Exhibit to us Thy deep love for us. We thank Thee for the blood that Thou hast shed for us. We thank Thee for the body that is broken for us. O dear Lord, may Thy love touch us deeply. That we will give ourselves totally over to You. And allow Thee to work out our full salvation in us. That glory be unto Thee. We commit this time into Your hand. Speak. Thy servants hear it. We ask in Thy precious name. Dear brothers and sisters, we have come to the last of our time together. As we have mentioned at the first day, this time our burden is the Gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens. The reason why we feel such a burden, it is because this Gospel of the Kingdom of Heavens is the one that brings in the age of grace. We know that God is going to change the age. He wants to change from the age of the law to the age of grace. And it is this Gospel that brings in the change. For we find John the Baptist began to preach, repent, for the Kingdom of the Heavens has drawn nigh. And even when our Lord Jesus was ministering, this is the very Gospel that he preached. He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens. The King has come. And He is looking for His Kingdom. He is looking for His people. So what the Lord has done when He was on earth, was to prepare the people. That is the work of our Lord on earth. But we find at the same time, it is also the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heavens that makes another change. It changes from the age of grace to the age of Kingdom. Why is it so? Because we find in Matthew 24, verse 14, these glad tidings of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole habitable earth for a witness to all the nations and then shall come the end. In other words, when the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heavens was preached in the beginning, it was to tell us that the King is coming. Because He has come, therefore His Kingdom will follow. But again you find when this Gospel of the Kingdom of Heavens has been preached to all the habitable earth, as a witness to all the nations, then the end will come. It means that after the King has come upon this earth, and He is building His Kingdom, He is gathering His own people. And when His people has gathered enough strength to destroy the work of the enemy, to thrust through the air, and arrive at the throne, that means the end of this age. So we find how important must be this Gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens. We must not only hear it, but we must enter into it. And the Lord Jesus said, what is this Kingdom of the Heavens? We find in Matthew chapter 5 to 7, we find the Kingdom of the Heavens is none other but the King rules over all. When His people began to take upon themselves the character of Christ the King, and prove themselves they are truly the citizens of the Kingdom of the Heavens, then one day, that Kingdom will appear publicly upon this earth. Today, the Kingdom of the Heavens is already here, because our Lord Jesus said from the day of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of the Heavens is to be taken by violence, and the violence seized upon it. So brothers and sisters, in a sense, the Kingdom of the Heavens is already here. It is still in the making. It is hidden from the world. But it is spiritually already here. But one day, when that Kingdom has grown to maturity, then you will find it will be publicly appeared upon this earth. So, that is what we find in the Gospel according to Matthew. Now today, as we see in the world, we find that the Kingdom of the Heavens in today's appearance is a mystery. Why is it a mystery? Because it doesn't look like what it is. So, that's why we find in Matthew Chapter 13, there are these parables. And from these parables, we realize that whenever our Lord Jesus was planting His seed, the enemy at the same time is planting his own seed in the same field. And that's the reason why the Kingdom of Heavens looks today very, very confused. How God's people, even God's people, are confused. For instance, the common explanation of that parable of the Master's seed, the common explanation is that shows us the growth, the wonderful growth of the Church. But we know this is not the truth. Instead, you find it is an abnormal growth. Because a Master's seed, when it grows, it is a plant. This is what God has ordained it to be. But strangely, it becomes a tree. Out of its kind. And this is out of God's order. So the result is, the birds will come and brood in it. In other words, the evil forces will be there. And the same thing with the leaven. He tells us that all these evil teachings will leaven up the whole thing. The three measures of meal is supposed to be an offering to God. But now it has been so leavened. It is not fit for God. So brothers and sisters, what you see today is Christianity of Christendom. Where the influence of so-called Christianity has spread. But within it, you find it is a mixture. But thank God, there is truth in it. It is like the treasure, it is like the pearl. But it is hidden. So dear brothers and sisters, we say Matthew chapter 13 is the mysteries of the Kingdom of the Heavens. But thank God, one day the Kingdom of the Heavens will appear upon this earth publicly. That is the time of the end of this age. And that is the time of the second coming of our Lord Jesus. So this morning we would like to turn to Matthew chapter 24 and 25. That tells us how the Kingdom of the Heavens come publicly upon this earth. That is the end of this age. And it is also the coming, second coming of our Lord Jesus. The record you find in Matthew chapter 24 and chapter 25. You find it is also recorded in the other Gospels. You find that in Mark 13. And you also find in Luke 21. And also some in Luke 17. But here you find our Lord Jesus as he was leaving the temple. His disciples show him the greatness, the beauty of the temple. We know this temple actually was the second temple built by the remnant that returned from Babylon. But it was a small. But later on you find King Herod, he tried to enlarge it. So that temple was built with brick stones and also gifts from the nations. It was a wonderful building. And it was the pride of the Jewish people. So even the disciples of our Lord Jesus, they were Jews. So they were so proud of their temple. This was the center of their national life. It was the glory of Judaism. So his disciples, even his disciples pointed out to the Lord, look how wonderful is the temple. To their surprise. The Lord Jesus says, what you have seen today. One day, not a stone will be upon another stone. In other words, there will be total destruction. And it was a shock to the disciples. They dare not ask him again in public. So they waited until our Lord Jesus go to the Mount of Olives. And then you find the disciples came quietly. And in the gospel according to Luke, you find who are these disciples. They are Peter, Andrew, John, and James. These four people came privately to the Lord. And asked him, when shall these things be? When will the temple be totally destroyed? When is the sign of your coming? And what is the sign of the end? In other words, when the disciples ask these three questions, to them they are one question. Because when the temple was destroyed, that means the end of the age. And that is the coming of our Lord Jesus. Then our Lord Jesus began to answer them. Now when you read Matthew 24 and 25, you will find that he answered them in three different sections. From 24 verse 4. Until 24, 31. In this section, he is answering the question to the Jews. And then from 24, 32. To Matthew 25, 30. He is speaking of the church. And then from 25, 31. To the end, which is 48. And that is to the Gentiles, to the nations. So in other words, when our Lord was answering this question, he is dividing the whole thing into three sections. To the Jews, to the church, and to the Gentiles. This is what the world is composed of. Now dear brothers and sisters, we do not have the time to go through all these. We will try to concentrate ourselves on the section of the church. We know that after our Lord Jesus ascended to heaven, then you find upon the earth there will be wars and rumors of war. There will be those who come and say they are the Christ. And there will be earthquakes and pestilences. But the Lord said, these are the beginning of the thralls. Beginning of birth pain. In other words, there is a birth pain going on. And what is to be produced out of the birth pain? Out of it will produce the kingdom of the heavens. And in Matthew 24, actually our Lord Jesus did not answer them about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Actually, if you want to know that, you have to go to Luke 21. But he began to tell his disciples what would happen in the world so far as the Jews are concerned, until the end. So what is to be produced out of the earth? So we will leave this aside. And we will concentrate ourselves on the matter of the church. What will happen to the church? At the end of the age and at the second coming of our Lord Jesus. And you'll find in chapter 24, 32, a parable. Our Lord Jesus said, learn the parable from the fig tree. You know, when our Lord was on earth, there is only one thing that our Lord has cursed. He cursed the fig tree. Because in Matthew chapter 21, and verse 18, our Lord Jesus spent a night in Bethany. But early in the morning, as he came to the city of Jerusalem, he hungered. And seeing one fig tree in the way, he came to it and found on it nothing but leaves only. And he says to it, let there be never more fruit of thee forever. And the fig tree was immediately dry. Now we know that the fig tree is a symbol of the Jewish nation. And here you'll find our Lord Jesus, he spent time trying to make the fig tree to give fruit. But all it grows was leaves. There was no fruit. So finally you'll find our Lord cursed it. And it dried up immediately. So brothers and sisters, when you find the fig tree, you know that it is a symbol of the Jewish nation. And in other gospels, it says not only the fig tree begins to burn and to have leaves, but also all other trees. And it also began to bud. So here you'll find it refers to 1948. The Jewish nation was destroyed for a long, long time. There was no government anymore. But to the surprise of all the world, we find in 1948, the Jewish nation was restored. Not only that, but during the 19th and 20th century, you'll find all nationalities began to come up. Many nations in the East, Asia, in Africa, they all declare their nations. But the restoration of the Jewish nation is not what the Bible really is after. Because you'll find even though the Jewish nation has been restored, it is only a political restoration. It is not a religious restoration then. But anyway, there is the beginning. And the Lord said, when you see this sign, then you know the summer is near. So when you see all these things, know that it is near at the doors. At the doors. Brothers and sisters, here you'll find the door is plural number. Now in the Western world, when you are at the door, it means that when the door is open, you're already in the house. But if you have the Eastern background, like in China, in the old days, when you come to a house, it has a number of doors. You find at the very outside will be a door. But when you open the door, you get into a court. It is not a house yet. And if it is a big house, you may have to go through one or two more doors before you really come to the house. But anyway, if you are at the doors, it means you are very close. So dear brothers and sisters, that is the reason why we believe that the coming of the Lord is very near. Because He's already at the doors. And we do not know how many doors He has to enter. But anyway, it is near enough. So that is the situation. And the Lord Jesus of this generation will not pass away until all these things shall come to pass. Now usually we think of a generation as a generation of 30 or 40 years. But here it is different. Because here you find this generation is marked by a special characteristic. A wicked and a dirty generation. And we find this is the symptom of the generation. What marks this generation? It is a wicked generation. It is a dirty generation. It was like that in the time of our Lord. And it is like that even in our days. And this generation will not pass away until all these things shall come to pass. But nobody knows the hour or the days or the seasons. Even the angels did not know that. You know, the evil angels try to tell us at a certain day, the end will come. There are all kinds of predictions on the end of the world. But brothers and sisters, the Lord said nobody knows. Not even the spirit angels. Only the Father knows. But anyway, brothers and sisters, we should not try to figure out when it will come. You know that great scientist Newton, Isaac Newton, actually he figured that it was 2004. But we know you cannot believe in such things. The Lord said nobody knows. But it is near. It is already at the door. Now what are the symptoms of the time? The Lord said, as the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man. Brothers and sisters, we know that in the Bible, there are several words that represent the coming of the Lord. For instance, apocalypse. That means the appearing of the Lord. He shall appear upon this earth. But here the word used is parousia. Parousia is presence. It means that there will be the presence of the Lord. Why? Because today, so far as the Lord is concerned, physically speaking, He is absent. We remember how He ascended up to heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father. So He is absent so far as we are concerned. Even though spiritually, He is with us. But so far as physically, He is absent. But one day, He will be present. That is the coming of the Lord. Now the problem is, how will He be coming? Now you have to turn to Acts chapter 1. In Acts chapter 1, because it tells us how our Lord Jesus left. The Lord took His disciples to the Mount of Olives. The Lord took His disciples to the Mount of Olives. There He left them and ascended to heaven. If you read verse 9. And after having said these things, He was taken up. They behold Him and a cloud received Him out of their sight. That even though they could not see Him anymore. Because a cloud had taken Him. But He is still ascending. So the disciples were still looking upward. And then in verse 10. And as they were gazing into heaven as He was going. Behold, also two men stood by them in white clothing. Verse 11. Who also said, men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven. Shall thus come, in the manner in which ye have beheld Him going into heaven. Now here you find the way that our Lord Jesus departed. He departed from the Mount of Olives and go up. And the disciples could see Him. Visible. But then a cloud took Him. Invisible. But He is still ascending. Until He was seated at His Father's throne. So here you find the leaving, the departure of our Lord Jesus, all in two sections. The first section, from Mount of Olives to the cloud. Visible. The second section. From the cloud to the throne. Invisible. But thank God He has arrived there. Why? Because on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down. That is a proof that He had arrived at the throne. And the two men in white say, the way He is leaving you is the way He is to be present with you. So the presence of the Lord is in two sections. From the throne to the air, invisible. From the air to Mount of Olives is visible. And the Bible uses two different signs to show it. The Lord said His coming is like a thief. Now, if the thief is visible, now he is not able to steal anything. So we find that the thief seems to know when you are not noticeable. And he suddenly comes. And then he left. Now, when he comes, what will he steal? Will he steal your garbage? May he come every night. Of course. Somehow he knows where your treasure is. So he comes for your treasure. And he left your trash. That is the way how the Lord will come in the first section. And the second part, the Bible used lightning. The Lord said, you do not hear people say the Lord is here or is there. When He comes, He is like lightning. He is from the east to the west. Everybody sees Him. That is the appearing of the Lord Jesus. From the air to Mount of Olives. Everybody can see Him. And it was at that time that the Jewish nation will turn to Him. That you find in Zechariah. So brothers and sisters, here our Lord Jesus is telling us now His coming is like the days of Noah. And before Noah entered into the ark, people eating and drinking, marrying and getting married. Everything seems to be normal. It is just engaged in the things of the world. But when Noah entered into the ark, then the flood came. And caught them unaware. And then you find in Luke, there is another example. The coming of the Lord is like when He left Sodom and Gomorrah. And then you find fire. The great spring storm will come upon these cities. And they are just building and engaging business and planting. In other words, it is all the same. Their hearts are all in the world. Everything seems to be normal. But suddenly, after the Lord left, then the fire came down. So the Lord said, so shall be the coming of the Lord. So far the world is concerned. Everything seems to be going on as usual. Everyone is engaged in this world. Seeking this world. But suddenly, something happened. Now when death happened, what will happen to Christians? I think this is what we are interested in. And the Lord said, at that time, two men were working in the field. One is taken one is left. Two women they were grinding the meal. One is taken and one is left. And Luke said, she was sleeping. Two were sleeping. One was taken one was left. That will happen at the time she will come as a thief. Now why is it you find the two here? Because two is the least of priority. So it refers to Christians. But why is it two? We find that the complete number is twelve. And here you have only two. Where are the ten? In chapter 25, the ten virgins. Now the ten virgins actually refer to the saints who have died through the ages. The ten virgins represent the saints who have died through the centuries. Christians who were looking for the coming of the Lord. Because they all took their torch and going out to meet the bridegroom. But because the bridegroom seemed to be delayed so they all went to sleep. Not only the foolish one went to sleep the wise one went to sleep too. So you cannot explain it spiritually. It is physical. For the centuries even from the first century those who loved the Lord they are waiting for the coming of the Lord. And because the Lord delayed His coming so they went to sleep. They died. And then suddenly the voice came. The bridegroom comes and you remember how they all woke up. It means resurrection. And they tried to trim their torch. The five wise ones have oil in the vessel so they can pour the oil on the torch. But the foolish one didn't have the extra oil. Maybe in the vessel they filled up things they think they were very precious. Instead of the oil which is the Holy Spirit they all had the Holy Spirit inside. But they do not have the extra oil to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So they couldn't. They find their torch was dying. And when they went to buy the extra oil you know the extra oil has to be bought. The indwelling Holy Spirit is given to you. But to be filled with the Holy Spirit you need to pay a cost. But when they went to buy the oil the bridegroom and the door was closed. Now brothers and sisters so here the two here speaks of those who are living at the coming of the Lord. And yet you find some are sleeping some are working and some are grinding. Why? Not that you have six people here. Only two. It shows the earth is round. So when the Lord shall come some are sleeping and in some place it is early in the morning grinding. And in other places it is midday. Because the earth is round and the Lord comes and the same thing you find one is taken, one is left. Awkwardly no difference. Brothers and sisters go to sleep tonight. Do not be afraid to sleep because even you are sleeping one will be taken. Do not cease working because when you are working one is taken. You know in the world, in the history we find people say the Lord is coming so they leave their work they go to the wilderness and they were there waiting for the Lord to come but the Lord did not come. So brothers and sisters just continue on because it is the inward thing that matters. It is not the outward thing. The Lord knows your inside. Are you really waiting for Him? Are you watching? Are you following Him? And those whose hearts are towards Him suddenly they are taken. So one day brothers and sisters hopefully it is today suddenly someone disappeared. That is the beginning of the coming of the Lord. So dear brothers and sisters you know in Christianity we have a number of hymns concerning the coming of the Lord. Hymns beautiful hymns when the trumpet shall sound then the Lord is coming brothers and sisters it is too late because that is coming as a lightning from the air to the holy what concerns us is the from the throne to the air because we will all be taken to the air The overcomers of the church will be taken before the great tribulation Even those who are not overcomers they will be taken with the resurrected saints together to the air not to the throne the Lord has already from the throne to the air so you find in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 we shall all be gathered together in the air there will be the judgment seat of Christ and it will be decided who will be rewarded with the kingdom that comes and who will be disciplined in order they will be completed so dear brothers and sisters this is roughly what we see what will happen at the end of the age now seeing such things how must be we be watch so far as our life is concerned we need to be like the wise virgin not only just to have the indwelling Holy Spirit let the indwelling Holy Spirit teach us and let us obey let us deny ourselves take up the cross and follow the Lord that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit brothers and sisters so far as our work service is concerned let us like the wise and faithful servant what the Lord has entrusted to us even though it's all different according to our ability but if the Lord gives you five talents and you earn five talents the Lord gives you two talents and you earn two talents you are good and faithful servant you are good and faithful servant the Lord says come and enjoy together but what the Lord has given you as talent if you bury it the Lord says you are lazy and wicked servant because you do not understand you misunderstand the Lord's heart and you bury what He has given to you so let us be faithful to the Lord in life be filled with the Holy Spirit in service let us be faithful and when the Lord shall come we will see Him with joy so dear brothers and sisters the Lord said that's what we need today so may the Lord be merciful to us let's pray dear Lord how we praise and thank You because Thou does love us and love us to the uttermost Thou want us to follow Thee it is because Thou want us to be like Thee even though it may mean the cross but so far as Thy thought is concerned it is the crown that Thou has imbued so dear Lord do encourage all the brothers and sisters Lord, how we long that we may see Thee prepare us day by day then when shall we see Thee we shall see Thee with joy may all glory be unto Thee we ask in Thy precious Name we pray in Thy precious Name Amen