The Arrival of Jesus Matthew 24
The Arrival of Jesus Matthew 24
Do you get easily distracted? I confess that I do. Even when I am reading the Bible, I get distracted and my thoughts run off – even onto legitimate things, but before I realise it, I have lost half an hour. Jesus, in this chapter, said to stay awake and be ready for His return, yet I get distracted when I read His word, even words of His return. But what happens to us all is that we get distracted in life and we waste years focussing on something that does not have any real significance or meaning, either for ourselves or others. Certainly, we can’t be complacent or distracted with respect to this morning’s topic.
Social media is always abuzz about the prophetic. No topic is more spoken of, certainly in Christian feeds and forums, than the return of Christ. Many have made ministries just from this one subject. Some have been legitimate and focussed on the central aspect of Christ’s teaching, being the cross and resurrection, and have been used to save people from their sin. Others have been cults, like Harold Camping in the US who said Jesus would return on May 21, 2011– fail! HE died at the end of 2013 – a false prophet. Many have gone before him. In fact, over 150 significant false prophecies are recorded by one website since the time of Christ to today. The Lord said this would happen and will only increase. In fact, that’s what you see in succeeding centuries.
But the Lord speaks a lot on this subject and, like everything, we need to be biblical with our understanding and see what it has for us today. So, let’s look just at this chapter.
The signs (verses 3-14) 2 questions in verse 3: They are 1. When? & 2. What are the signs?
The immediate temple – not one stone will be left on another – fulfilled in AD70 – soldiers of Titus literally turned the stones over to get the gold that had melted. That was fulfilled, but what about the close of the age? (verse 3) Many will come in my name. We know some did: Thaddeus and 400 men that the priests and Gamaliel speak of in Acts 4&5, but many have come after AD70. Wars and rumours of wars. There was disruption in the Roman Empire in the mid-1st century – the Jews wanted freedom, and were rebelling against Rome, (verse 7) nation against nation was literally happening and were birth pains in one sense; (verse 9) many were delivered up – 11 out of 12 apostles had violent deaths. After the stoning of Stephen, there was a great persecution, many fell away and betrayed one another (verse 10) to remain within Jewish society – not truly converted, the love of many grew cold. But! There is a greater fulfilment (verse 14), the gospel is to be proclaimed throughout the whole world – Paul did the Roman world, but not China, India, Asia, America, Australia. So, not just a single fulfilment here. Gospel everywhere? – we are not even close at the moment!
The sign of the “abomination that desolates” (verses 15-28)
What about this abomination of desolation (verse 15) spoken by Daniel? Well, the Jews thought Daniel, who was writing in about 536BC, had this prophecy fulfilled in 167BC (400 years later when the Greek Antiochus Epiphanes whose name meant ‘god manifest’ when he sacked Jerusalem offered the abomination of sacrificing a pig and other unclean animals in the temple). But no, while he was a type, Christ said there is another fulfilment. When Titus came in AD70, he burned the temple, then pulled it down. He did not occupy it and want to be worshipped. In fact, Titus didn’t accept a wreath of victory believing he was an instrument of God’s wrath – certainly he was. This is what Christ meant as fulfilment. Yes, but not all, as verse 22 says. Greater tribulation will occur. Over 1 million Jews were killed in AD70, but this is not to be compared to what we read in Revelation. Indeed, 6 million were killed last century under Hitler and Nazi Germany. Verse 22, some see as the 70th week of Daniel 9:27 & the 42 months of Revelation 11:2, being cut short by the Antichrist at the end (possibly). Verse 24 - false Christs and prophets producing signs and wonders – not fulfilled in AD70, but in the future with the Antichrist and false prophet that Paul spoke about in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Christ’s return is obvious – like lightning! Quick, all will see. Vultures/Eagles gather – obvious, people see it – something’s dead, they gather.
The literal return (verse 29-31)
Sun, moon, stars & powers – Many prophets including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel and Amos have used this language. Speaks of the end times because both Peter (2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12) and John (Revelation 6:13-14) speak of cosmic forces. So, this part of Christ’s prophecy wasn’t vaguely fulfilled in AD70, but will only be fully realised at the consummation – I.E. the end of the age when He returns (verse 30) as Daniel said (Daniel 7:13-14, Rev 19:11-16). Just as Jesus said to the disciples, as He left, so He will return. (Acts 1:11) Trumpet call (1 Corinthians 15:51,52 & 1Thess 4:14-16) to gather His elect.
Discerning the time - A lesson from a fig tree 32-35
What does this generation (verse 34) mean? Does it mean only those who Jesus is speaking to, or those alive in AD 70, or does it also include us and those alive at the end of the age when Jesus returns? The answer is ‘yes’ to all, but specifically to the Jewish race and people: the generation of the Jews – then and now. But there is also a sense that “this generation” refers to all those who are affected by the problem that Jesus came to deal with. This ‘sinful’ generation. The next verse (verse 35) puts it into context. Heaven and earth will pass away…I.E., from that point to the end of the age when there will be a burning up of this earth and current heavens – this will be fulfilled.
But regarding the disciples’ second question of when…., Jesus said, (Verse 36)…We don’t know when, but we know how and why, therefore…verse 36 – 52.
Therefore, WHAT’s THE MESSAGE! Judgement is coming, just like what happened in Noah’s day, no one listened, only eight were saved. Peter said the same thing, people will say where is this judgement, one day the door will be shut…they will carry on life, eating, drinking, marrying – right up to when the rain starts. The same with when Jesus returns: two men in a field, one taken one left; two ladies grinding away in the workplace, one taken one left. One day the Lord will say that’s enough, times up.
Therefore 1. Stay awake (verse 42ff and Matthew 25:1-13 10 virgins) 2. Be faithful and wise (verse 45ff) this servant beat other servants. The analogy here is that believers beat up other believers. In the church, this is a disgrace. Servants need to use their talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The final judgement involves the church serving the believers. (Matthew 25:31-46)
When we have so much distraction literally at our fingertips, may the focus in our minds and hearts be upon the return of Jesus. We are His ambassadors for this message.
This week I had an opportunity with someone who came here to do work at the church – believed in God but didn’t believe we could know Him. I said but we can, Jesus said all those who have seen Me have seen the Father. These red letters, the words of Christ, are seeing the Father. This is knowing God.