Signs of the End and Christ's Coming
Signs of the End and Christ’s coming
Matthew 24 is one of the most debated and variously interpreted words of Jesus. Let’s just agree that what is contained in this chapter is difficult to understand but not impossible. If Jesus did not want us to know about these events, he would have remained silent. After all Jesus was answering three specific questions asked by His disciples.
"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?" Matthew 24:3.
We can agree on some points. One of these is that when Jesus pointed to the temple and said it will be destroyed, it was destroyed in A.D.70. Most of the remaining prophecies in Mathew 24 are on-going and some will take place in the future. There are on-going wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and all kinds of natural disasters, but Jesus said it is not the end.
There will be a great tribulation like never before which is to come. Many believe the church will not be here during the great tribulation since we will be carried into heaven (raptured) by Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Some believe that the church will be here during the great tribulation. I personally believe the former because the tribulation is the wrath of God and Christ has saved His church from the wrath.
Verse 29 says immediately after the tribulation, Christ will come for the whole world to see. It will be very obvious and no one will miss seeing Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus said that "all the tribes of the earth will mourn". Why mourn? Because it is too late. They were all given a chance to believe and trust the only Savior Jesus Christ. Now it is too late and what remains is judgment into everlasting hell.
Our responsibility now is not to be deceived but to watch and pray and live for Christ as His witnesses of His saving grace. Our responsibility is to warn the unbelieving of the impending judgment so they can escape and be reconciled to God. We are Christ's ambassadors and we are pleading on his behalf (2 Corinthians 5).
May the Lord continue to give us understanding of His Word. May we continue to live out and proclaim the gospel for people to escape the great wrath of God by trusting Christ’s work on the cross. Amen
Have you escaped the great tribulation that is to come? May we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Are you ready for His coming? Thank you God the Holy Spirit for making us ready. The Holy Spirit living in us guarantees our redemption (Ephesians 1:14 and 2 Corinthians 1:22).
Matthew 24: 15-31 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’[c] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
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. 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. 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.
Matthew 24 is one of the most debated and variously interpreted words of Jesus. Let’s just agree that what is contained in this chapter is difficult to understand but not impossible. If Jesus did not want us to know about these events, he would have remained silent. After all Jesus was answering three specific questions asked by His disciples.
"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?" Matthew 24:3.
We can agree on some points. One of these is that when Jesus pointed to the temple and said it will be destroyed, it was destroyed in A.D.70. Most of the remaining prophecies in Mathew 24 are on-going and some will take place in the future. There are on-going wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and all kinds of natural disasters, but Jesus said it is not the end.
There will be a great tribulation like never before which is to come. Many believe the church will not be here during the great tribulation since we will be carried into heaven (raptured) by Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Some believe that the church will be here during the great tribulation. I personally believe the former because the tribulation is the wrath of God and Christ has saved His church from the wrath.
Verse 29 says immediately after the tribulation, Christ will come for the whole world to see. It will be very obvious and no one will miss seeing Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus said that "all the tribes of the earth will mourn". Why mourn? Because it is too late. They were all given a chance to believe and trust the only Savior Jesus Christ. Now it is too late and what remains is judgment into everlasting hell.
Our responsibility now is not to be deceived but to watch and pray and live for Christ as His witnesses of His saving grace. Our responsibility is to warn the unbelieving of the impending judgment so they can escape and be reconciled to God. We are Christ's ambassadors and we are pleading on his behalf (2 Corinthians 5).
May the Lord continue to give us understanding of His Word. May we continue to live out and proclaim the gospel for people to escape the great wrath of God by trusting Christ’s work on the cross. Amen
Have you escaped the great tribulation that is to come? May we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Are you ready for His coming? Thank you God the Holy Spirit for making us ready. The Holy Spirit living in us guarantees our redemption (Ephesians 1:14 and 2 Corinthians 1:22).
Matthew 24: 15-31 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’[c] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
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. 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. 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.
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