What’s That on the Horizon Pt 2

Series: “The Gospel Truth”

Text: Matt 24:29-51

Introduction: (What?)

In our last message we saw both the near and far fulfillment of prophecy regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the Coming of the LORD and the “last days”. In this message we will see what Jesus had to say about His second coming and what we should do in preparation for it.

Examination: (Why?)

1. THE Sign and the Parable (vv29-35)

Mt 24:29-35 “29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples 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 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Here Jesus is definitely referring to the End of Time. The phenomena in the heavenlies is something that has never happened before and is a common feature among prophesies of the end times. Jesus drew from Is 13:10 and Is 34:4 where the fall of Babylon and the judgment on Edom is prophesied. The people to whom Jesus spoke these words would grasp the meaning because they knew the words of the Prophet Isaiah. The things described here will occur during the reign of the Beast.

(Rev 13:1-4 “1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?””

The “Sign of the Son of Man”, according to John McArthur and other commentators, is the Son of Man Himself. He needs no other sign than His own appearing which, as we saw in the last message, will be seen by everyone everywhere at the same time. The “peoples of the earth” are those who have rejected Messiah. In contrast, those who have surrendered to Jesus will be swept up by angels “from one end of the sky to the other.” This is Jesus’s version of the Rapture.

Then Jesus used a parable to give the people an understanding of the events He has described. A common sign of the coming of summer in that day was that the fig tree put forth leaves. In the same way, Jesus said, when you see the things He has just described, His return is “at the door”. The generation that sees these things happening will still be alive right up to the end. Then Jesus reminded them, and us, that even though everything we know…heaven and earth…will pass away, His words are eternal. They will be fulfilled to the letter.

2. Beware Prognosticators (vv36-44)

Mt 24:36-44 “36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone. 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. 44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Many people have sought, and unfortunately some still seek, to nail the date and time of these final events. Books have been written and sermons preached predicting dates and times. People have claimed to have dreams and visions that show the date and time. However, the words of Jesus leave no leeway concerning this. In bold print and capital letters He said, “NOW, CONCERNING THAT DAY AND HOUR NO ONE KNOWS---NEITHER THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN NOR THE SON---EXCEPT THE FATHER ALONE.” Hey folks, if Jesus doesn’t know you can be assured that “Joe Blow” who wrote a book doesn’t have a clue.

In vv 37-39 Jesus likened His coming to an event that the people of that day were very familiar with…the flood. Business was going on as usual right up to the coming of the flood. In the same way people will be “doing their thing” when Jesus appears. People will be going to work, going on vacations, getting married, going out to eat....and BAM! The universe as we know it will disintegrate and Jesus will appear once again on earth, not as a Savior, put as the Judge of the unbelieving world.

Since no one knows the timing of these events, it is imperative that we live in constant readiness. He may come back sooner than we think, or He may come back later than we think. His emphasis is not on KNOWING the time, but on being ready at all times.

3. Faithful to the End (vv45-51)

Mt 24:45-51 “45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

These parables are designed by Jesus to teach those who have surrendered to Him how to live. He wants them to be busy about the work that has been assigned to them. Remember that in the Great Commission, Jesus said that as believers are involved in making disciples of all nations that He will “be with them until the…END OF THE AGE.” The work of disciple-making is to go one until Jesus returns. If we decide that we can just float along until Jesus returns, guess what? Jesus has a word for us about that. Vss 48-51 clearly spell out the fate of those who do not take seriously the assignment they have been given. This does not mean that some will lose their salvation. It means that some who pretended to be Christ followers, but really had never surrendered to Him will be exposed. These are the ones Jesus spoke of in Matt 7:22-23 “22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’”

Only those who have surrendered to Jesus and are actively obeying Him will survive.

Application: (How should I prepare for His coming?)

If you have never, or aren’t sure if you have ever surrendered to Jesus, now would be a good time to do it. If you even have an urge to do it realize the urge was put in your heart and mind by God who desires you to be saved. Respond to Him today.

If you have cooled in your fervor for Christ and have become sloppy in your discipleship, you will be saved, but as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, your service will be tested by fire and revealed either as wood, hay and stubble, or as precious jewels, gold and silver. Repent today and renew your service to the King.