WHEN JESUS RETURNS
Christ’s Coming Ready or Not
Matthew 24:32-51
Jerry A Collins
SCC
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What is the meaning of the parable of the fig tree?
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Why are the days just before Jesus return like Noah’s day?
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How should a believer be prepared for Christ’s return?
1. This whole discourse is an answer to the
disciples question of vs 3.
2. Jesus then told of six birth pains which occur
in the 3 1/2 yrs prior to His Second Coming (deception, wars, worldwide
devastation, deliverance, defection and declaration 4-14).
3. These events contemporaneous with rise of
Antichrist or abomination of desolation of vs 15 taking His seat in the temple
worshipped as god (2 Thess 2:3-4; Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).
4. In Judea people must flee to the mountains not
stopping, retrieving anything. Many signs associated with this abomination and
launches 3 1/2 yrs of great tribulation (Rev 6-19) while they must not believe
false messages (15-28).
5. When Christ appears every eye shall see it with
total darkness and sky split open as He returns in glory and power (29-31).
6. Now this generation is told to anticipate that
return and be prepared for it (32-51).
1. THE FIG TREE SPEAKS 32-35
~Here is something to learn meaning that it is
something you can apply to your life.
~A parable has one point to it and is a parable if
it is stated to be. It uses a story from common life to illustrate the truth
conveyed.
~Because a fig tree, common in Israel, produce
fruit first and then its leaves meaning that the leaves appearance indicates
summer with harvest near. In Matthew harvest means judgment (3:12, 10; 9:37-38;
13:30).
~So when these signs all these things vs 33 appear
He has been describing, the time of His return and judgment are very near
(birth pains, abomination, flee, upheaval). The emphasis is on ALL. While
various events in history have been pointed to as the fulfillment of this
prophecy, clearly all these things have never occurred and yet future.
~These signs will be fulfilled during the same
generation living in the end when Christ returns. They will witness the birth
pains as well as the birth!
~What Jesus predicted will not fail to come to
pass. It would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for Christ’s
words to fail.
2. LIKE THE
DAYS OF NOAH 36-41
~Altho there will be observable and unmistakable
indications of His coming just before it occurs, the exact time will not be
revealed in advance. The general time period will be known but not the precise
day or hour (24:42,44,50).
~Neither will the supernatural world, angels, know
the precise time of His coming.
~Not even Jesus knew the time when He was on earth.
He obediently restricted His knowledge to those things the father wanted Him to
know during in His humanity.
~To illustrate the approximate time of His coming
Jesus spoke of the time of Noah. In at least two respects these time will
parallel.
~First, they will not be expecting His return vs
37-39. Then people were enjoying the normal pursuits of life while they
watched the ark being built. While Noah built the ark he also preached (2 Peter
2:5). But they were unconcerned about both the building and the preaching. They
had never seen rain before because until then the earth was apparently covered
and watered by a vapor canopy that provided the moisture necessary for life to
flourish (Gen 1:7, 2:5-6). For 120 yrs Noah built and preached but not until
they were in the ark and the flood came did that generation understand the
truth.
~Unfortunately, the tribulation generation will
neither heed the warnings signs nor the appeals of God’s witnesses up until the
very moment the Son of Man appears to confront them.
~Second, they will be taken away in judgment vs
40-41. In keeping with the illustration of the time of Noah, the ones taken
away are the unbelievers. The individuals left are believers who will then
remain on the earth to populate the kingdom of Jesus Christ. At the rapture of
the church it is believers who are taken and unbelievers left. The reverse
happens at the second coming.
3. THREE ATTITUDES BELIEVERS MUST HAVE THEN 42-51
~The first attitude is alertness42-43. The
tribulation period will have a definite beginning and ending but the people
living then will only know the general timeframe. Therefore watchfulness is
important. There should be a continual expectation of His return.
~The second attitude is readiness vs 43-44. If
a person who knows the approximate time a thief may come to break into his
house, he takes precautions and prepares accordingly. Jesus is comparing His
coming to the stealth and unexpectedness of a thief’s coming (Luke 12:35-40; 1
Thess 5:2; 2 PT 3:10; Rev 3:3, 16:15). Since both the day vs 42 and the hour vs
44 are unknown, for this reason be ready, spiritually prepared to meet Christ
as Lord and King rather than judge.
~The third attitude is preparation vs 45-51. This
is illustrated by the faithful servant vs 45-47. The believer who is faithful
to the Lord, carrying our His will while Christ is away will be rewarded for
that service when the Lord returns. Every person holds his life, possessions
and abilities I trust from God whether he acknowledges God or that trust. A faithful servant then
can expect that he will be rewarded in the kingdom to follow.
~The
evil slave are unbelievers who determine that His master will not return soon
and so feel free to indulge themselves in whatever sins and pleasures they
desire. So he can take advantage of others , live wickedly and assume there is
no accountability with God for this.
~Like
the wicked people of Noah’s day he was unaware of the sudden coming judgment vs
50. The Master will not come as Savior and King but as judge and executioner vs
51. It will be a judgment of destruction, death, separation dealt with as
hypocrites who pretend to have faith and suffer torment. Each time Matthew
refers to weeping and knashing of teeth (8:22, 13:42,50, 22:13, 25:30)
it is judgment on sinners before Millenium established. Sorrow, grief, physical
agony. This dreadful prospect must motivate people to escape it! By way of
application:
Three
things to strive for in your ministry if you want to be rewarded in the kingdom
of heaven.
1.
To be faithful God with your decisions and your provisions. Do not focus on
appetites as they were doing in the days of Noah. Before 1960 appetites were
something seen to be controlled now something to be served.
2.
To be sensible not foolish in that you are alert and ready to face Christ when
He returns. Have an eternal focus for your life. Dont mortgage the future for
the present.
3.
To be doing so when Jesus comes. Determine to finish better than you started.
Strive to move toward the heart of God not away from and still please him