Future Events
November 30, 2021
Commentary
Matthew 24 is a very exciting passage. There is no biblical subject which can create the same amount of curiosity that this subject can create. It is a great sermon on the Second Coming preached by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is known as the Olivet Discourse. As I stated in yesterdays passage it is a sermon in answer to the questions the disciples ask. It warns the unbeliever of the judgement to come and encourages the believer with the rewards to come.
At the end of Matthew 24:15 we have an interesting parenthesis – “whoso readeth, let him understand." This shows the importance of reading Matthew’s Gospel in the latter days. It tells of the Middle of the tribulation period which was prophesied by Daniel centuries ago (vv. 15-22) (Dan. 9:24-27, Dan. 12:11). It also tells of the end of the tribulation when the conditions will be so terrible that men will wonder if there is any relief to come (v. 23). This will give false Christ’s opportunities to deceive many. The prophets spoke often about “the day of the Lord” (v. 20). They describe it as a time of horrific destruction, planet-wide judgments and fierce wrath. Jesus said, “unless those days are shortened, no flesh will be saved” (v. 22).
Jesus speaks directly about His return to earth; then He gave applications and instructions in light of His return (vv. 24-31). The main application is directed toward the future generation that will experience the tribulation days and will look forward to the immediate coming of the King of Kings. Another application is for believers to be prepared, watching and faithful.
Application
Jesus could come today. How can I be prepared, watching and faithful? It is good to share with my family, and others who cross my path, the way that we can be prepared.
Matthew 24:15– 31 (NET)
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation —spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, 18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 Remember, I have told you ahead of time. 26 So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. 27 For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Illustration: Christ is Coming Again
Evangelist Billy Graham says: “One of the best ways to get rid of discouragement is to remember that Christ is coming again. The most thrilling, glorious truth in all the world is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When we look around and see pessimism on every side, we should remember the Bible is the only Book in the world that predicts the future. The Bible is more modern than tomorrow morning’s newspaper. “The Bible accurately foretells the future, and it says that the consummation of all things shall be the coming again of Jesus Christ to this earth. If your life is dismal, depressed, and gloomy today, Christ can turn those dark clouds inside out. The sunlight of His love can still shine into the darkest part of your life.” (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #6280).