The Destruction of the World
A Sermon on Matthew 24:3-14
Originally preached Feb. 8, 1959
Scripture
3¶ 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? 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take …
Sermon Description
Some make the charge that the gospel failed because the world is not a better place. In this sermon from Matthew 24:3–14 titled “The Destruction of the World,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones walks through these questions and how to analyze them from a biblical perspective. First, Scripture never claims that its purpose is to reform the world and make it better. Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that this is a teaching derived from an evolutionary worldview in which everything gradually improves over time. Second, in stark contrast to this evolutionary teaching, Scripture actually claims the opposite—that things will continue to get worse until Jesus returns. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that this is another reason Scripture can be trusted. Unlike false worldviews, the Bible can explain and account for the present realities in the world. Third, Scripture explains why things are the way they are—the lust of the flesh. If one is seeking to change the world, make it a better place, and long to see right prevail over wrong, Dr. Lloyd-Jones has one question: “what is your attitude towards God?” In order for anything to change, people must individually address the state of their own sinful hearts, ask forgiveness for sins, and believe in Jesus Christ—only then can true, lasting change take place.
Sermon Breakdown
- The Gospel has never claimed to reform or improve the world.
- The Gospel explicitly states the opposite - that the world will remain in a constant state and even get worse.
- Jesus prophesied trouble, wars, rumors of wars, pestilences, earthquakes, deceit, and hatred of Christianity.
- The state of the world proves the truth of the Gospel, not its failure. The Gospel predicted the world would be this way.
- The explanation for the state of the world is the evil in men's hearts - lust, greed, rebellion against God.
- Acts of Parliament and education cannot change man's lusts and nature.
- Every generation needs the Gospel because every person is born with a sinful nature. There is no inheritance of acquired characteristics.
- The Gospel is about being born again, not moral and social improvement.
- The problem is not the state of the world but the state of our own hearts. The world is just the multiplication of individuals.
- We must examine our own attitude to God and view of Jesus Christ. We need new hearts and natures, not just external changes.
- Jesus calls us to repent, believe in Him, and find rest. We can be saved from destruction and understand the world through Him.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Jesus Prophesy About the Future of the World According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as a common misunderstanding about the purpose of the Gospel?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, many people misunderstand the Gospel as promising to "improve and reform the world" or as "a gospel of social improvement, social amelioration, righting wrongs, mitigating sufferings." They think Christianity failed because after 2,000 years of preaching, the world is still filled with wars and suffering. However, Lloyd-Jones firmly states that "the Gospel has never said, has never claimed, has never set out to reform or to improve the world." This misunderstanding comes not from the Bible but from philosophers, scientists, and unfortunately, even some preachers who mixed evolutionary theory with Christianity.
What does Jesus actually prophesy about the future of the world in Matthew 24?
In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesies not a world that gets better and better, but one that experiences continued and even worsening troubles. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that Jesus predicted "wars and rumors of wars," "famines and pestilences and earthquakes," false prophets who would deceive many, persecution of Christians, and that "because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Far from promising improvement, Jesus says, "All these are the beginning of sorrows." Lloyd-Jones states that the world situation today, rather than disproving Christianity, actually confirms the accuracy of Jesus' prophecies.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say the world remains in its fallen state?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the world remains in its fallen state because of "the evil that is in the heart of men" - the lust, greed, and deceit at humanity's core. He states that the fundamental problem is "man's evil heart" and humanity's "final hatred of God." As he puts it, "The moment man doesn't bow before God, he becomes a God himself," leading to conflict as each person pursues their own desires. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this condition cannot be legislated away or educated out of existence because "every person that is born into this world is born like that" - we do not inherit moral improvements from previous generations, and "every generation needs the gospel."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the true purpose of the Gospel?
The true purpose of the Gospel, according to Lloyd-Jones, is not world improvement but individual salvation. He states, "The Son of God didn't come into the world to improve the world. He said himself, 'The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.'" The Gospel's message is that each person needs "a new heart," to be "born again," and to receive "the gift of life by God after God has forgiven him for his sin." Christ died on Calvary "to rescue us and redeem us out of this present evil world before it is hurtled to the final disaster." The focus is not on transforming society but on offering individuals salvation from sin and eternal destruction.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones use the current state of the world as evidence for the truth of Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the current state of the world actually proves the truth of Christianity rather than disproving it. He states, "The state of the world this evening, far from proving that the gospel isn't true or that the gospel has failed, proves the truth of the gospel in a way that nothing else does." While philosophers and politicians have consistently been optimistic about humanity's ability to create a better future through education and reform, the Gospel has consistently taught that the world would continue to experience wars, deception, and suffering. Lloyd-Jones concludes, "I know of nothing that is such a proof of the divine inspiration of this book as the way in which the modern world at this very minute is proving the truth of its case."
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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.