Daniel 11 & Matthew 24:4-14: Don't Be Misled

Matthew 24 and Daniel 11 in Their Historical Context

Please remain standing and turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 24 once again. We're still in our study of Daniel. Hear now the inspired word of God. And Jesus answered and said to them, See to it that no one misleads you, for many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many.

And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place. But that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.

And in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you. And you will be hated by all nations on account of my name.

And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. And his gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations. And then the end shall come. Let's pray. Father, once again as we look into your word, we ask that you'd be pleased to bless it.

And just as you have promised that it would not return void, but it would accomplish every purpose for which you send it. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Please be seated. The name Jonestown has become a catchphrase for cultic abuses and disasters, no matter where they occur.

It comes from in 1978, 638 adults and 276 children died in a mass murder-suicide in Guyana, South America. But that's not the only one. In 1993, 86 people died in a blazing inferno in Waco, Texas. A man named Vernon Howell, also known as David Koresh, convinced his followers that he was the Messiah.

He said, and I quote, If America could learn these seals, they would respect me. I am the anointed one. I teach the seven seals. There's one truth that ties men into God, and that's the seven seals. And the anointed one is the only one that can present it, and that's me.

Unquote. So he convinced his followers that the raid by the ATF agents was the beginning of the end of the world. Then again in March 1997, 39 bodies were found in a collective suicide in a luxurious mansion in Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego.

Marshall Apperwhite, the leader of the Heaven's Gate cult, convinced his followers that the Hale-Bopp comet was hiding a UFO that would take them to a better planet if they committed suicide. When we look back on these examples, we wonder, we scratch our heads, how could these leaders deceive so many people into taking such drastic measures?

But we find other examples that are not so drastic, and some of them even within the confines of the evangelical church. In 1843, William Miller convinced his followers that Christ would return between March 1843 and March 1844.

When that didn't happen, they revised the calculation to October 22nd of 1844. They sold all their possessions and gathered together to await the return of Christ. That always bothered me, they sold their possessions.

Did they think they were taking their money with them? I don't know. But anyway, they sold all their possessions, gathered to await the return of Christ. But there's been even more recent date-setters.

Hal Lindsay predicted the return of Christ within 40 years after the formation of Israel in 1947. That's come and gone. Edgar Wiesen gave 88 reasons why Christ would return in 1888. When that didn't happen, he revised it to 89 reasons why it will be 1989.

And then more recently, a book titled 1994 created no small stir, even in reformed churches. The new millennium has produced even more interest in biblical prophecy. But it's not a new phenomenon. Throughout history, people have been predicting the end of the world, even many Christians.

And much of the prophetic speculation is based upon the text we began to examine in Matthew 24 a few weeks ago. It's interesting that a portion of scripture that begins with the admonition of Christ to be careful, see to it that no one misleads you, that is subject to so much of the controversy.

And has been used, misused I should say, to mislead many. Now don't forget we're in the midst of an exposition of the last three chapters of the book of Daniel. These chapters are the culmination of the prophecies revealed to Daniel by God.

And he speaks of the events of this prophecy as occurring at the time of the end. We've also learned from the text in Daniel, given the prophecies, that this end of times is not the final action of history or the end of time.

But it is the end of the old covenant that Daniel addresses. Which also means it's the time of the beginning of the new covenant. And we've also seen that this was to occur during the time of the fourth kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar's vision.

That is the time of the Roman Empire having dominion over the world. The prophecy in Daniel shows that this will be a time of great turmoil and chaos. We read from Daniel 11 again this morning. We've repeated that passage because it's so poignant and so relevant to what we're talking about.

Kingdoms are pit against kingdoms. And we decided that to more fully understand these times, that's the times spoken of in Daniel 11, that it would be helpful to jump ahead to the Olivet Discourse of Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus expands on the same time period that Daniel addresses in his book. We also see this theme expanded upon even more fully in the book of the Revelation. And in fact, we're not going to cover it now.

But there's a correlation between Daniel being told to seal up the book and the seals in the scrolls in the book of the Revelation. And not how David Koresh interpreted them, by the way. But the immediate context of Matthew 24 is important.

Remember, Jesus gives this discourse in response to the questions of his disciples. As Jesus foretells of the destruction of the temple. That even is crucial for the end of the Old Covenant. And the institution of the New.

Remember in Matthew 24, verse 3. As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately saying. And that's important, by the way. They came privately. This was not a discourse that was given to the general public.

But this was for the disciples. For the beginning of the church of Jesus Christ. They came to him privately saying, tell us. When will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming? And of the end of the age?

How do we know that Jesus is speaking of the same time as Daniel? Well, because Jesus tells us so. In Matthew 24, verse 15. Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation. Which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place.

Let the reader understand. Daniel 12, verse 1. Now at that time, Michael the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.

And that time your people, everyone who was found written in the book will be rescued. And here's what Jesus said about those days. In Matthew 24, verse 21. For then there will be a great tribulation.

Such as has never occurred since the beginning of the world until now. Nor ever will. Unless those days have been cut short, no life would have been saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

So it's not mere speculation. That both prophecies are addressing the same time period. Both of the prophecies serve as an encouragement to the believer. That God's justice is served. But at the same time it is a warning to all the false teachers.

False Messiahs and the Warning Not to Be Misled

Look at the first words of Jesus. In response to the disciples.

Verse 4.

See to it that no one misleads you. Now that's an extremely important statement. When they ask the question, when will these things be? Jesus tells them, well no you're mistaken. You don't understand.

He doesn't say, well you don't have to worry about the end of the age because that won't happen for thousands of years. He doesn't say that. And these are his disciples. The chosen ones. The ones who he didn't hide things from.

He told them, you're my friends and I reveal things to my friends. And he begins speaking plainly. He says, don't let anyone mislead you. The warning itself indicates that there will be a danger of being misled in this area.

And the warning is meant first and foremost for the ears of the disciples. Now is this warning appropriate for us? It certainly is. As you will see this chapter has relevance for us in this age and in every age of the church.

But the direct answer and the first application was for the disciples in their lifetime. Let me state very clearly. The Bible teaches a physical return of Jesus Christ at the last day of history. Jesus Christ will come again.

Make no mistake. And in fact if you don't believe that you're outside the realm of orthodoxy. And that will be the time of the general resurrection unto judgment. When everyone will be judged according to his deeds.

But that's not what Christ is speaking of in these verses today. So he says, see to it that no one misleads you. And then look how he continues. What is he talking about being misled? Verse 5. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many.

Jesus plainly says that many will come in his name. Many will claim to be the Christ. And they will, as a matter of fact, according to the prophecy of Jesus, they will mislead many. So he says, so don't you be misled.

The prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled with certainty in the lifetime of the apostles. The book of Acts lists three such imposters. Thutis, Judas of Galilee, and Simon the magician. Historians verify these and many other imposters who led people astray.

Jerome quotes Simon Magus as saying, I am the word of God. I am the comforter. I am almighty. I am all there is of God. Irenaeus says that Simon claimed to be the son of God and the creator of angels.

Eusebius records the words of Justin and his description of Simon as a false messiah. In fact, he states there was an inscription in Latin between two bridges which said, Simoni Dio Sancto, which means to Simon, the holy God.

He states nearly all the Samaritans, a few also of other nations, worship him, confessing him as the supreme God. And Josephus, he tells us of a certain imposter, Thutis, who persuaded a great number to follow him to the River Jordan, which he claimed would divide for their passage.

Dosithius, a Samaritan, pretended he was the lawgiver prophesied by Moses. There were so many imposters preying on the gullibility of the people that Thomas Newton wrote in his commentary 200 years ago that under the procreatorship of Felix, many of them were apprehended and killed every day.

They seduced great numbers of people still expecting the messiah. This is what Jesus meant to protect his disciples from. His words were true, and those of his disciples who listened to him were saved from such deception.

But Jesus continues to address this time period. Look at verse 6 and 7, and you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. If you stop and think about it, this seems to describe almost any period in history, doesn't it?

Can you think of a period of time since the founding of this nation, our nation, where there weren't any wars any place? Not for very long. We're living in a time where we're praying again for peace, because we're seeing war in Ukraine, war in the Middle East.

So this is a significant prophecy of Jesus. Does it have any meaning at all since we see so many wars? Fair question. The answer is a resounding yes, if we look again at the historical context. Now it is true that in the history of the world there have been relatively few periods of real peace, but one of them, and a significant one, began in the reign of Caesar Augustus.

It's known as the Pax Romana, the Peace of Rome. For all of its decadence and immorality, the Roman Empire is known to have accomplished a few good things. The spread of culture through language, a system of roads that was amazing for its time period, and with world conquest came unprecedented peace.

Yet in the midst of what history records as a time of peace that lasted for two centuries, we find that this period, from the death and resurrection of Christ to the destruction of Jerusalem, that peace was fragile at best.

The Annals of Tacitus, covering a period from A .D. 14 to the death of Nero in A .D. 68, he describes this period with the following phrases. This is from Tacitus. Disturbances in Germany, commotions in Africa, commotions in Thrace, insurrections in Gaul, intrigues among the Parthians, the war in Britain, the war in Armenia, and I could go on and on.

Josephus states that Roman civil wars were so common at this particular time that he didn't give an exact count of them.

He says,.

I have omitted to give an exact count of them because they are well known by all, and they are described by a great number of Greek and Roman authors. Yet for the sake of the connection of matters, and that my history may not be incoherent, I have touched upon everything briefly.

He writes that in the wars of the Jews. We see again that what Jesus tells his disciples to be looking for happens exactly as he prophesied. That's exactly what we read in the prophecy of Daniel. The king of the north, the king of the south.

Let me read a couple of verses just as a reminder. Daniel 11 .5. The king of the south will grow strong along with one of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion. His dominion will be a great dominion indeed.

After some years they will form an alliance. The daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to carry out a peaceful arrangement, but she will not retain her position of power, nor will he remain with his power, but she will be given up along with those who brought her and one who sired her as well as he who supported her in those times.

But one of the descendants of her line will arise in his place and will come against the army and enter the fortresses of the king of the north. And it goes on and on about all these wars and rumors and deception.

They could make a mini-series out of it. Now we're seeing kingdom against kingdom, rumors, wars and rumors of war. If you read chapters 10 through 12 of Daniel, it becomes obvious it's the same period of time as the word of Jesus as he spoke, seated on the Mount of Olives.

Famines, Earthquakes, and Birth Pangs Before the End

But Jesus isn't finished yet. He continues. He says there will be famines and earthquakes. The Bible tells us that both of these calamities occurred during this time. Acts chapter 11, verse 27 and following.

Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch and one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world.

And this took place in the reign of Claudius. This is Holy Scripture speaking now. And in the portion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

And as they did this, sending in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders. Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, all record other famines during this time period. In fact, Tacitus reports of AD 51 in Rome. This year witnessed manned progenies, signs or omens, including repeated earthquakes.

Further portents were seen in the shortage of corn resulting in famine. It was established that there was no more than 15 days supply to food in the city. And the book of Acts also reports at least one earthquake.

We know this very well, Acts chapter 16. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God. Prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there came a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken.

And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. The historians report that there were earthquakes in Crete, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos, Laodicea, Heropolis, Colossae, Campania, Rome, Judea, Pompeii.

Earthquakes all over the place. Josephus describes an earthquake in Judea of such a magnitude, and I quote, that the constitution of the universe was confounded for the destruction of men. Edward Hayes Plumtree in a commentary on the whole Bible written back in 1897.

He says, perhaps no period in the world's history has ever been so marked by these convulsions as that which intervenes between the crucifixion and the destruction of Jerusalem. And yet with all of this taking place, what a time period.

Have you followed what was going on during this time period? Yet with all of that taking place, notice what Jesus says. Verse 8, but all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. In other words, the worst is yet to come.

And as bad as it may seem when you experience these things, he tells the disciples, it's not over yet. It's like the beginning of labor pains. Moms, you know what that means. Birth pangs start slow and easy.

They grow in frequency, intensity, and duration. They may begin minutes apart and relatively tolerable, but only to get seconds apart, so severe that they are described by some as the worst pain possible that there is.

That's what Jesus says about this time period. When you see these things, false prophets, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, it's only the beginning. Then comes a great apostasy. Look at verse 9.

Then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name. The book of Acts is replete with examples of the persecution of the saints. The very same men that Jesus spoke these words to were victims of persecution, and many were killed.

Remember Stephen? Remember the Apostle James? They were killed very early in this period of time. Most of the apostles were martyred. And then Paul gives this account of his life. Here's the Apostle Paul, who God used to write how much of the New Testament.

He did not live an easy life. 2 Corinthians chapter 11, starting in verse 24. Paul says, five times I've received from the Jews 39 lashes.

Five times.

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren.

I have been in labor and hardship. Through many sleepless nights in hunger and thirst, often without food and cold and exposure. Boy, how'd you like that job description? Want to be an apostle? Sign up here.

The persecution of Christians in the Colosseum and the tortures are well documented by historians. Tertullian wrote, and I quote, there was war against the very name of Christ. And that led to the great apostasy.

Look at verse 10. And at that time, many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. In such times as these, true faith is really tried. And while it's certainly true that the church grows stronger under persecution, it's the very nature of the church.

It's also true that many so-called believers fall away. Again, listen to the testimony of the Apostle Paul. Second Timothy 115. You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me.

How's that? All who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Philegius and Hermogenes. He writes again to Timothy in verse four. Make every effort to come to see me. For Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

Cretans has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me. He continues. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first defense, no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them. Families were torn apart, just as Jesus foretold, and many fell away.

Verse 11. And many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. We've already seen that false messiahs came on the scene, and now Jesus warns his disciples about false prophets. And we know from the biblical record that this is very true.

2 Peter 2, verse 1, Peter says,. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

And speaking about a similar situation, Paul writes,. For such men are false apostles, 2 Corinthians 11, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And Paul was not afraid to name names, and so he warns Timothy about false prophets, chapter 2 of his second epistle.

He says,. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place.

Thus they upset the faith of some. And then Paul warns the elders of the church in Ephesus when he departs them in Miletus. Acts chapter 20, I know after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

And from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. And John warns the people of the same thing in his first epistle, chapter 2. He says, Children, it's the last hour, and just as you heard that Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have arisen.

From this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us. For if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out in order that it might be shown that they are not of us.

And if that isn't bad enough, lawlessness increases, he says. Verse 12 of Matthew 24. And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. You know, lawlessness, in this particular time in Roman history, are almost synonymous.

While Rome supposedly was great for its legal system, Caligula, Nero, are the epitome of immorality, debauchery, and lawlessness. Their conflicts with the Senate in Rome are legendary. The murders and atrocities they committed are unspeakable even in polite company.

And yet I'm not sure that that's primarily what Jesus is referring to. Because we find increasing problems of lawlessness within the church as well. 1 Corinthians 5. It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles.

Did you hear that statement? Things in the church were worse than the Gentile non-believers. Is that lawlessness? He says, and you have become arrogant, and have not mourned instead, in order that the one who has done this deed might be removed from your midst.

And Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus, in Revelation 2, but I have this against you, that you have left your first love. The words of Christ to his disciples came to fruition with precision, with accuracy, that we would expect from a prophecy from our Lord.

Perseverance, Peace in Christ, and the Gospel to All Nations

But even with all of this looming in front of them, the Lord offers words of encouragement. Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. Jesus says, perseverance pays off. The admonition throughout the word of God is that the Christian will face adversity.

Nowhere is the Christian promised a life of ease. The Christian life is a discipline, and we face a battle on three fronts. We face the world, the flesh, and the devil. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christian will persevere through all the adversity that God brings into his life.

And so Jesus offers his disciples a word of encouragement, even in the midst of this bleak picture that he paints for them. But this is not the first time that he's done so. Back in John chapter 16, Jesus says this, I come forth from the Father and have come into the world.

I am leaving the world again and going to the Father. His disciples said, Lo, now you are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that you know all things and have no need for anyone to question you, but by this we believe that you came from God.

Jesus answered them, do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming and has already come for you to be scattered each to his own home and to leave me alone, and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.

These things, these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But, oh, and I love that little three-letter word. But, take courage. I have overcome the world.

In verse 14 he gives another word of encouragement. He says, and the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. The gospel will be preached in all the world.

What does he mean? That's how I begin next week's message. The question will be raised when we put forth that this took place during the time of Christ and his disciples. And the question was often raised, does this text then have relevance to us today?

And the answer is, of course it does. Just as the Sermon on the Mount was given to his disciples for their application, and yet it's valid not only for them, but for us for every age of the church. Just as Jesus prayed in his high priestly prayer for his disciples, and then says for you too.

This text, while meant primarily for the disciples and their circumstances, is a severe warning to the church of all ages. If men and women would take the warning from Christ, Jonestown may never have happened.

The tragic story of Waco could have been avoided had they listened to the warning about false messiahs. The Millerites wouldn't have been left standing upon a mountaintop. And seemingly intelligent people wouldn't have committed suicide to gain access to a UFO.

But the text is for us in the church as well. Just as in the time of Christ in our day, there are false messiahs, false prophets, who misuse the word of God, and they set themselves up as authorities.

Don't be misled. When taken in its proper context, this text, far from being misleading, is an example of the accuracy and the infallibility of the word of God. So Christian, be encouraged by the word of our savior Jesus Christ.

And if you're not saved, then you have just been presented with another example of the truthfulness of God's word. And the admonition of scripture to you is clear. Repent and be saved. Let's pray.