No one can predict when Jesus will return, but many of the things He spoke of indicates we are entering the Last Days. Just notice some recent headlines.
(1) 8.8 Chile Quake Just the Beginning, What Happens in 2012?
(2) Iran begins Production of Cruise Missiles!
(3) Dire Warning: Israel Must Strike Iran Now!
(4) Coming Hyperinflation! Disaster to Shatter US Dollar.
TV news programs and the newspapers report almost daily various developments and events that point to some of the Last Day prophecies recorded in the Bible. There are many Last Day prophecies throughout the Bible, but the major prophecies are found in the books of Daniel and Revelation. Matthew, Mark and Luke have provided us with Jesus’ own teaching on what we should expect in the Last Days. Today our study will be in Matthew.
Please turn to Matthew chapter 24 and we’ll start in verse 1.
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
Almost 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Commander Titus leading the Roman Army sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in 70 A. D. Still today the Jews worship at the western wall, also known as the “wailing wall.” And too there are some small portions of the other walls still intact, stones still set upon another. As you may already know, much of prophecy is often dual. First, the temple destroyed in 70 A. D. and then sometime in the future completely fulfilling Jesus’ words, “not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down.” Possibly a nuclear attack from Iran?
Continuing in verse 3,
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
Generally speaking this verse refers to false preachers speaking in the name of Christ, but they really don’t understand what Jesus taught. You may recall some of the Sunday morning TV programs? Even so, a few people have claimed to be Jesus and there’s one right now on KSGF Sunday morning radio.
Verse 6,
6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows.
There have always been wars and disease, droughts and famine, earthquakes and destructive weather. These things are just the beginning of suffering.
Verse 9,
9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
Right now today, people in other nations are being imprisoned and even tortured and killed for being a Christian. Because our government is anti-God and anti-Christ, it’s just a matter of time it will happen here. We already see the beginning of this when teachers and professors are mocked or even fired for believing in a Creator instead of evolution. Government offices and many other work places prohibit the wearing of crosses and other religious symbols or displaying the Nativity at Christmas time. We know these are not, but they are perceived as Christian. Sister verse from Mark says, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.”
Verse 10,
10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
We see this in the Muslim hate for Jews and Christians and vice-versa. Sorry to say, we even see it sometimes in the Church of God.
Verse 11,
11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Again, may I remind you of Sunday morning TV? But this is nothing new, please hold your place in Matthew and turn to Jeremiah chapter 23, Verses 25 to 32,
25 "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'
26 "How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart,
27 "who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.
28 "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.
29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
31 "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
32 "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD.
Back to Matthew 24, verse 12,
12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Our Lord may have been thinking of Hosea’s time, please turn to Hosea chapter 4 and we’ll begin with verse 1,
1 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
Just as it was in Hosea’s day, Jesus prophesied that in the Last Days, “Sin would be abundant and overflowing.” And it’s no wonder with the schools forbidding the Bible and teaching evolution and what’s even worse the churches teach God’s laws were nailed to the cross. Another problem is TV advertising, it deceives people into thinking they need every new thing, promoting greed and selfishness. It pushes sex in almost every advertisement fostering lust. Our politicians lie and steal from us, most people accept it as the norm. Too often the children are neglected because both parents (if there are two parents) work and they’re too tired to pay attention to them. Instead they buy them video games, computers, cell phones and almost anything else they can afford. Of course the message is, “Don’t bother me kid!” It has become a “me” world and there is little love for one another today.
While we’re still in Hosea, drop down to verse 6,
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
7 "The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people; they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds.
10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; they shall commit harlotry, but not increase; because they have ceased obeying the LORD.
Turn back to Matthew 24 and we’ll continue in Verse 13,
13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Thank you Jesus for your promise of salvation! James 1, verse 12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Revelation 3:5, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Continuing in verse 14,
14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
This has been pretty much accomplished with missionaries traveling to almost every area of the world, Radio and TV evangelism and now the internet. Much preaching has been mixed with traditions and ignorance, but the true gospel is out there if people would only listen.
I did a search on the internet, it is estimated that there is over 100 translations of the Bible just in English. As of 2005 at least one book has been translated into 2,400 of the 6,900 known languages including, 680 languages in Africa, followed by 590 in Asia, 420 in Oceania, 420 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 210 in Europe, and 75 in North America. Right now the Bible is available in whole or in part to some 98 percent of the world's population in a language in which they are fluent. The United Bible Societies are presently assisting in over 600 Bible translation projects. By the year 2025 they hope to have the Bible in every language.
Continuing in verse 15,
15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),
There are three references to the abomination of desolation in the Book of Daniel. I’ll read one, Daniel 11:31 and 32, “And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
The prophecy speaks of Antiochus Epiphanes who plundered Jerusalem and killed thousands of Jews, notice what Josephus wrote, “He compelled the Jews to dissolve the laws of their country, and to keep their infants uncircumcised, and to sacrifice swine’s flesh upon the altar; against which they all opposed themselves, and the most approved among them were put to death.
And from the New Jerusalem Bible, 1st Maccabees chapter 1, verses 41 to 50,
41. The king (Antiochus) then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each nation renouncing its particular customs.
42. All the gentiles conformed to the king's decree,
43. and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath.
44. The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adopt customs foreign to the country,
45. banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts,
46. defiling the sanctuary and everything holy,
47. building altars, shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts,
48. leaving their sons uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to all kinds of impurity and abomination,
49. so that they should forget the Law and revoke all observance of it.
50. Anyone not obeying the king's command was to be put to death.
Skipping down to verse 56,
56. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned.
57. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practicing the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death.
58. Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel.
59. On the twenty-fifth day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the altar of burnt offering.
60. Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict
61. with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who had performed the circumcision were executed with them.
62. Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food.
63. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed.
64. It was a truly dreadful retribution that visited Israel.
All these things happened well before Jesus’ time, let’s read verse 15 again, “Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand)” Jesus was warning his disciples of when the Roman Army brought ensigns into the temple and made sacrifices and worshiped them. Ensigns are defined as flags, most likely honoring Roman gods or pagan symbols. This happened in 70 AD when Titus sacked Jerusalem. It seems there will be a similar abomination in the future! Even today, the Jews are wanting to rebuild the temple and restore the daily sacrifices. I’ve read they have made ready all the temple vessels and appliances and the priests garments. They even have the corner stone ready!
Continuing with verse 16,
16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.
18 "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20 "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
Jesus foretells terrible destruction and urges people living in Judea in order to save their lives to quickly leave, don’t worry about your possessions, just get out! It will be miserable for women that are pregnant or with small children. Pray it’s not winter so cold and difficult to travel or on the Sabbath, when the gates of the city would be closed.
Verse 21,
21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Jesus has been prophesying destruction in Judea. A partial fulfillment in 70 AD, but even greater trials and devastation ahead. It could be nuclear war, but please consider the Wrath of God. Notice Hebrews 10, verses 29 to 31,
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people."
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I could be wrong, but I believe Jesus’ prophecy includes a future GREAT tribulation for all people no matter where they live. Please turn to Revelation chapter 6, verse 1,
1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."
2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Some believe this is Jesus or the Word of God, but Jesus is usually pictured with a sword, not a bow. I believe the white horse represents false christs, false religions and false churches.)
You won’t have to turn there, but notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11, verses 13 to 15,
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Continuing with verse 3,
3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see."
4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. (The red horse would identify with wars and rumors of war.)
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, (a denarius was about equal to a days wages.) and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." (In my opinion the black horse is a symbol for drought and famine.)
7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see."
8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. (Similar to the last two, war and famine, but the pale horse adds death by animals. Maybe the animals go wild for hunger or possibly the swine flu, rabies or some other plague.)
Verse 9,
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Verses 9 to 11 does not speak of people gone to heaven, remember this is John’s vision.
Verse 12,
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Scholar’s debate over what is literal and what is symbolic. I don’t know, but you can be certain that when these things happen it will be very frightening! There is a similar prophecy in Isaiah, please turn to Isaiah chapter 13, verses 1 to 13,
1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. (Scholars suggest Babylon represents the Roman Papacy or maybe Jerusalem. May I suggest, because of rejection of God and His Commandments you may take your pick, America, Europe or anyplace else on this Earth could be the end-time Babylon!)
2 "Lift up a banner on the high mountain, raise your voice to them; wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.
3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger-- those who rejoice in My exaltation."
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters the army for battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven-- the LORD and His weapons of indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore all hands will be limp, every man's heart will melt,
8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it.
10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.
11 "I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger.
The prophet Joel wrote, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.”
Now back to Matthew 24, I could be wrong but verse 29 seems to be a better fit to follow verse 21, I’ll read 21 again,
21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Verse 29,
29 "Immediately after the tribulation 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 the heavens will be shaken.
Sister verses from Luke say, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.”
Now verse 22,
22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.
24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (After all this terrible suffering and tribulation, the elect will be longing for Christ to return. This warning is given because it is possible to be deceived. If it wasn’t possible there would be no need to warn us. Remember, Satan deceives the whole world. Pray always, study the WORD and live to serve God and you will not be deceived!)
Verse 25,
25 "See, I have told you beforehand.
26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.
Again, Jesus warns us of false christs. In the 1990s, somewhere in Florida there was a guy calling himself Yahweh Ben Yahweh claiming to be the Messiah. I also remember a Lord Maitreya living in London writing on the internet calling for people to repent. In 1988 he supposedly just appeared out of nowhere to 6000 people at a prayer meeting in Kenya and was recognized as the Christ. I kind of forgot about it until I was working on this study, you can find more information about him and others on the internet. And then there’s the guy on the radio.
Verse 27,
27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Forgive me, but I’m going to put verse 30 next.)
30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
When Jesus returns He’s tells us it won’t be in secret, we won’t have to hunt for Him. His coming will be as bright as a flash of lightning or maybe he compares it with the brilliance of the sun. Remember what Luke recorded in Acts chapter 1, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Also notice a prophecy from Zechariah 9 verse 14, “Then the LORD will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” Let’s read what John wrote in the book of Revelation, please turn to Revelation chapter 19 starting in verse 11,
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Hold your place there and turn back to Matthew 24, verse 28,
28 "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
Bible scholars suggest this verse speaks of the morally dead Jewish nation and the eagles represent the Roman army and the destruction in 70 AD. In my opinion this verse points to a future event when Christ returns, notice back in Revelation 19, verse 17,
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
18 "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Please turn back to Matthew 24, and we’ll skip over 29 and 30. Verse 31,
31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Apostle Paul declared, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
Verse 32,
32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-- at the doors!
34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Jesus says, “As anyone knows, when the trees begin to leave out, summer is quickly approaching. Likewise, when you see all these things I’ve taught you, also know My return is imminent!” Let’s review: Wars and rumors of wars, not really a sign. We’ve had this since Cain rose up against Able. Temple stones scattered and the abomination of desolation. This happened in 70 AD, but there is a future fulfillment. False prophets and false christs, Moses and Paul both had to deal with them and we certainly see an abundance of them today. Reports of Christ’s return with signs and wonders, leading people astray. We must not forget Jim Jones and the poison Kool Aid, David Koresh and the Branch Dividians, Heavens Gate and the comet Hale-Bopp. There is no telling how much of this kind of thinking is brewing in the white supremacists and militia groups. Famine, disease, earthquakes and tsunamis, those things have been around almost forever, but it seems like we see them more often and more severe. Christians persecuted and killed, millions have been killed over the centuries since Christ. Christians have killed each other over doctrine. Today, Christians in China, India, Africa and in the Muslim nations are being tortured and killed for their faith. Lawlessness increased, betrayal and lack of love to one another. I don’t know if it’s increased, it seems like it. Christians required to testify before kings and governors. The Apostle Paul was brought up before King Agrippa and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs recordsdozens of testimony, Christians suffering for Christ from Nero to the nineteenth century. Gospel preached in all the world, this is almost accomplished. The sun and moon darkened, stars falling from the sky. Maybe this is symbolic or maybe a sign from God, I don’t know. The Great Tribulation. World War I, over 16 million people were killed. World War II, an estimated 72 million people died. Stalin killed over 20 million of his own people. On December 26th in 2004, a tsunami killed over 226 thousand people. The Great Tribulation is still to come!
Jesus gave us this information as a warning so we would be ready when He comes. Not so that we would be able to pinpoint His return, but to comfort us when these things happen, that we would have hope and confidence of salvation. We won’t know, until we see Him in the clouds. Sister verses from Luke say, “Men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Back to Matthew continuing in verse 35,
35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Sister verses from Mark, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”
That should be clear enough, NO ONE knows the time except the Father. When some fool claims he’s figured it out and sets a date, run the other direction. The man is not of God, he is claiming to be smarter than Jesus and by setting the date he is calling Jesus a liar!
Verse 37,
37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Just as Noah preached repentance in his time, the people ignored him. In the Last Days God’s church preaches repentance as warning and witness to salvation by Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom of God and people also ignore us.
Verse 40,
40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Rather than quitting our jobs and sitting around for waiting for Jesus to return, we are expected to continue our daily duties. We can be watching for these signs, but more importantly let us watch ourselves to follow Jesus and keep His commandments.
Verse 43,
43 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Jesus is not saying He’ll sneak back as some have taught, He’s saying, “When I come back, it will be a complete surprise to everyone that is not watching for Me!”
Verse 45,
45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46 "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47 "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48 "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'
49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51 "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sister verses from Luke 21, verses 34 to 36,
34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
My final two witnesses come from Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter.
Please turn to 2nd Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 to 5,
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Now turn to 2nd Peter chapter 3 beginning with verse 3,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
We surely have many signs of the Last Days, but we can’t be certain when Christ will return. Maybe in a few short years, maybe 50 years, maybe a thousand years. Brethren, let’s be ready doing all we’ve been called to do so when He appears, He will say to YOU, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Written by:
Larry St. Clair, Deacon
A Church of God Ministry
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