Don't Let Anyone Fool You

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 17th of November, 2024.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, we don’t have to look too far to see someone trying to fool us nowadays, do we.  They come in through our mail, our email, our telephone and text messages.  They croon their sweet promises over our TVs and radios.  They even come right up to our front doors.  All these people trying to get something from us, whether it be our money, our personal information, or our vote to keep them or put them in power.

There’s an old saying that, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”  If it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is not true.  Wise folk heed those words and use extreme caution when presented with these false promises.  Be wise, and don’t let anyone fool you.

Our scripture reading this morning comes from the day after Jesus and His disciples made their last trip into Jerusalem together, in what we call His triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.  On that Sunday, Jesus chased all the moneychangers and merchants out of the temple and then He and His disciples left town to spend the night in Bethany, probably with His good friend Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary.  The next day they went back into town and Jesus began teaching in the temple, where He condemned the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of Moses before leaving the temple once more.

Our scripture reading picks up with what comes next.  Now, while both Matthew and Mark report all of this in their individual Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus, each has a little something extra to add.  So I am going to be reading from both accounts to get a more complete picture.  Please listen and follow along to what the Apostles Mark and Matthew recorded for us in their Gospel accounts, and I’ll be reading from the Contemporary English Version of our Holy Bible this morning.

First from Mark, chapter 13, verses 1 through 8…

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at these beautiful stones and wonderful buildings!"

2 Jesus replied, “Do you see these huge buildings? They will certainly be torn down! Not one stone will be left in place.”

3 Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private. 4  They asked, "When will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

5 Jesus answered:

"Watch out and don't let anyone fool you! 6 Many will come and claim to be me. They will use my name and fool many people.

7 "When you hear about wars and threats of wars, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. 8 Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. There will be earthquakes in many places, and people will starve to death. But this is just the beginning of troubles."

--Mark 13:1-8 (CEV)

And from Matthew, chapter 24, verses 9 through 14, with Jesus still speaking…

9  "You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations. 10 Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people. 12 Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. 13  But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved. 14 When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come."

--Matthew 24:9-14 (CEV)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, we thank You for making sure we would have the words our Lord Jesus spoke and the mighty deeds He performed during His short life as a mortal man.  Thank You for inspiring the men who recorded those words and deeds, and for seeing that they have been preserved throughout the generations.  Sadly though, we don’t always give much time reading and studying these words.  We could better our relationship with Jesus if we would.  But the busyness of the world crashes down on us.  Our spirits are just too often wearied by all the lies and evilness filling our days and our views, all the people trying to fool us into believing what just isn’t true.  Forgive us these times, Father.  Please help us draw closer to You and Jesus.  Help us be more obedient to You and Your Son’s command to spread Your word and the Good News it bears.  Give us the courage and the will to step out into the world witnessing to the non-believers, sharing the Gospel and showing Your love.  Please forgive us when we hesitate to speak and act on behalf of You and our Lord Jesus.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand Your message today.  Help us share the Good News of forgiveness and everlasting life in our daily walk.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience think this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it. “And so,” concluded Kierkegaard, “will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators.”

I believe this brings up two good points.  First, will we realize the end is here when it comes?  Will we recognize the signs Jesus told us to watch for, or will we allow ourselves to be misled by the pundits and talking heads on our TVs that tell us not to worry, this is all normal?

And perhaps more telling of our culture, are we just spectators, watching the events of the world as they unfold, cheering as the curtains come crashing down in flames?  Or are we out there doing the work Jesus assigned us, participating in the spreading of the Gospel?

“Watch out and don't let anyone fool you!”, Jesus said.  “They will use My name and fool many people.”  I think we’ve seen that they don’t even have to claim to be the Christ or use the name of Jesus to fool many people.  All they have to do is offer a lot for a little, or pull on the heart strings, or bring up safety or security concerns.  People are fooled all the time, and they end up doing things they really didn’t want to do, maybe end up losing their life’s savings.

In this case, though, Jesus is talking about the end of times.  He’s saying that many will come forward claiming to be the returned Christ, here to judge the world.  Some of them may even offer salvation… for a price. 

And many people will be fooled.  We’d like to think that the fooled people would be non-believers, but some will likely be Christians, for we don’t all understand what to expect.

Wars and threats of wars?  Check – got those all around the world, with the talking heads all warning about a coming world war.  Nations and kingdoms fighting against each other?  Check – in Eastern Europe, in Asia, and in the Middle East.  The fights that have a greater impact on most of us, though, are those between gangs and between groups with conflicting ideologies.  We’ve had a war on drugs, a war on poverty, a war of words – seems like some folks are always fighting somewhere, even in our neighborhoods.

Earthquakes?  Check – and floods and hurricanes and tornados and wildfires and all manner of natural disasters.  People starving to death?  Check – especially in certain areas of the world, but even here in the US some folks struggle to find enough to eat.

But is all this a sign of the end?  No, not yet, Jesus says.  This is just the beginning.  Which means it’s going to get worse before it gets better.  It’s going to get much worse before Jesus returns.

Jesus goes on to say that Christians will be arrested, punished, even executed for their belief.  We see that in certain countries, and even the beginnings of similar persecutions here in the US.  People will hate us, not only from here but from all over the world.

In the Apostle John’s Book of Revelation, we’re told that we will not be able to engage in normal commerce unless we accept the Antichrist as lord and get his mark on our hand or forehead.  We won’t even be able to buy food for our families if we don’t renounce Jesus.  Many good believers won’t be able to take it.  They’ll give up, turn against us, even betray us.

False prophets will make false promises and fool many.  Evil will spread and brotherly love will become scarce.  It will be a struggle, but if we remain faithful to Jesus, we will be saved.

And then Jesus gives us one more sign to watch for.  The Gospel message, the good news about the kingdom of God, will be preached all over the world and told to all people.  Has this happened yet?  No, for there are still millions who have never heard the good news, never been told, never even heard the name Jesus.  So we’re not quite there yet, no matter what someone may tell you.

There is one more sign to watch for, one more event that has not yet occurred.  In the 25th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 15 through 22, Matthew recorded Jesus again warning us saying…

15  "Someday you will see that 'Horrible Thing' in the holy place, just as the prophet Daniel said. Everyone who reads this must try to understand! 16 If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. 17  If you are on the roof of your house, don't go inside to get anything. 18 If you are out in the field, don't go back for your coat. 19 It will be a terrible time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. 20 And pray that you won't have to escape in winter or on a Sabbath. 21  This will be the worst time of suffering since the beginning of the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. 22 If God doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God's chosen ones, he will make the time shorter."

--Matthew 24:15-22 (CEV)

The "horrible thing" Jesus names is what Daniel refers to as the "abomination of desolation", that which defiles the temple.  This is the Antichrist, standing in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem, preaching his false gospel.  When this happens, it’s time to seek higher, safer ground.  It may be wise to keep a "bug-out bag" ready and at hand.

This may very well be referring to the start of the seven year Tribulation that we read about in Revelation.  And it will be a terrible time to be alive.  But Jesus says God will cut the time short for the sake of His chosen ones, His elect – those who believe in and accepted His Son Jesus as Lord.  This is the verse that primarily leads me to believe that Jesus will return to call His church home before the Tribulation begins.

I pray this has helped you better understand that the end is not yet here.  There are still indicators that have not made an appearance, signs that have not yet come to pass.  Mainly, the entire world has not yet heard the Good News of salvation through Jesus – everyone has not yet had the chance to be saved – and the Antichrist has not yet made himself known, nor entered the Temple’s most holy place.

And of course, Jesus Himself said it is not quite time, not yet.  So don’t be afraid, don’t worry, and definitely don’t let anyone fool you.  The end my be getting closer, but it isn’t here yet.

Be strong, be brave, stay faithful.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for insight into what is yet to come so that we can be better prepared.  By studying our bible, we can be aware of the signs that must first appear indicating the end is near.  Thank You for preparing those signs for our benefit.  Please forgive us for not spending more time in study of Your word, Father.  Help us set aside our concerns for what is going on in the world and seek the truth from Your word.  Forgive us when we let the world tell us what to do and how to act.  Please help us reach out more into the world, serving You by serving others, loving You by loving others.  Help us be more like Your Son Jesus, being more forgiving and merciful in our dealings with others.  Please strengthen our spirits to do Your will and help us do a better job of sharing Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and His sacrifice.  

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You told us not to be afraid, for the end is not yet here.  And You gave us signs to watch for, the harbingers of the end.  Now, Lord, please help us give of our lives in service to You and our Father God.  Please help us be prepared for the end by remaining faithful and true to You and our Father God.  Help us be more like You, more considerate and caring of others, more understanding, more merciful, more giving and forgiving.  And heal the hurts that still separate and divide us one from another.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.