The Flood

Must remember the setting... Jesus was clear in his judgement concerning the temple and its destruction. The Disciples marvel at this and they ask one question in three parts. The “When and What” the “when will the temple be destroyed and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age”? He warned us to understand that many will come to deceive you... there will be birth pains, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, persecution, apostasy, false prophets, and lawlessness... the tribulations that lead to the great one. It will begin when you see the abomination that leads to desolation...Defined by Luke’s gospel of the armies surrounding Jerusalem. You had better dig out... they saw it ... some said let us make like a tree and leave... bye bye ...like they say in China... Asta lavista. Don’t go back to your house to pack... go to the shelter in the mountains. Woe to the pregnant or nursing mothers and pray that your don’t have to do this in the winter or the Sabbath. He is still hammering away with judgement in AD 70 with poetic imagery...The disciples asked “when” this would happen... Jesus said before the end of this generation. And now… The second part of their question cannot be answered this way... because.

Matthew 24:36–44 NLT

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

The grass withers the flower fades but the word of our God stands forever.

I. However

- There is a real “subject” change here.

A. The Greek “Peri de” However - is used to indicated a change of subject. Used this way by Matthew, by Paul in his Epistles as such. It is used to form a new beginning. A new train of thought. So we see now the shift where Christ is gonna deal with the next part of the question.

B. “That Day” is used in the singular as opposed to the Plural of “those days” So he is signaling the question of that particular day.

C. We saw that the former event could be seen and predicted, but now there is a switch from the known to the unknown. Its maybe easier to understand if I put it this way. When is the destruction... soon, when will be the day of the Lord... no one knows.

D. Jesus knows from when all these things will happen, but now does not know the day or hour... clearly shows that the subject has changed. And a shift.

E. Matthew makes clear... that he is pointing out the second part of the question, by using the greek word “parousia” which was used when asked. And a shift.

F. We will also see that Matthew does not use words like ... then, in those days, immediately, it is near... indicating time. Because nobody knows. Now lets flush it out a little bit.

II. The Time is Unknown for the Day

- We Do Not know.

A. What does he mean by “that day”? It means Judgement...the salvation of his people and the judgement. Used just like “Day of the Lord” for judgement in the Old Testament. Christ will be on the throne on that day... the king judging the nations on his glorious throne. Understood in history as ... The Second coming of Christ to judge the living and the dead. Pretty simple and clear.

B. But first things first… why does Jesus not know??? Isn’t He One in substance, power and eternity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit? He and the Father are One. Couple things here.

C. # 1 This is a beautiful picture of the “economic Trinity” namely the “humiliation of Christ” - did not consider equality with God taking the form of a servant and becoming like men. He came to obey the Father and became dependent on Him even death on the cross... this whole truth, we are dependent upon for our salvation. No humiliation no salvation... just like no exaltation no salvation

D. # 2 This is a firm rebuke to date setters and the followers of them... How many times in History do we see this...

1. In 1843 it was supposed to happen, 1844, 1914, 1988, 2000

2. Well Jesus said day and hour...not month and year... thats not the point.

3. We heard Camping say Oct 21, 2011. Recently. He was positive? Really? Was he really positive? - The test

E. The Son does not know, do we dare presume that we would somehow know? Why do you think you know… Christ does not even know. Hello??? Do not be deceived.

F. Would my son presume that he would know something as important as when I am coming back from Miami, If Jeanine didn’t. Let me tell you how arrogant it is for those who set dates.

G. Are we suggesting that God the Father thought it more important to tell you and not his Apostles or His Only Begotten Son? What arrogance we have in the date setters and the followers of them? Do we not see the horrendous blasphemy in our culture when it comes to end times. We take away the Biblical fulfillments of God’s promises AND we think God the Father will tell us something that Christ does not know.

III. We will be caught unaware.

- And we will be surprised.

A. If the day and the hour is not known then it is clear that it will catch us by surprise. Just like the flood... people went on living their lives as normal and just like the time of the flood they were swept away or could be trans. taken away.

B. RT France - People were caught unawares, no one could evade it, and only those who made advanced preparation escaped. So will be the parousia. The coming of the Son of Man. We will not be prepared. Unless you are prepared already.

C. He continues with examples of this particular point ... to illustrate for us.

D. There are them who are doing the routine mundane things in life... carrying on as usual ... and then wham. One of them will be taken and the other left.

E. Will they be taken in a secret rapture or will they be taken into judgement? To be honest, this is not hard to answer.

1. When we read this... getting left behind is a good thing.

2. We must be careful not to read the scriptures based on what we already assume in our minds - whether we believe in the secret rapture or not ... this is not being taught here. Its judgement not salvation.

F. It is context that declares how a word is to be defined... “taken” is fine but in what sense? They were taken in the flood so one will be taken... flows perfectly

G. They are taken in judgement. Let the scriptures declare it.

Jeremiah 6:11 ESV

Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord; I am weary of holding it in. “Pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the gatherings of young men, also; both husband and wife shall be taken, the elderly and the very aged.

- Not scripture, but Ecclesiasticus - makes the statement - Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he kept the race alive; therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came.

H. Ligon Duncan - In fact, it very likely means that one will be taken to judgment and the one who is left behind will be spared from judgment because Matthew usually uses the verb, here to be taken to refer to being taken to judgment.

I. And re-look…

Matthew 24:38–39 ESV

For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

J. So we want to be left behind. At least in this passage of scripture. I do not believe that there will be a secret rapture. All of the passages with the trump of God imagery meeting Him in the air. These are passages are concerning the second coming of Christ. When he comes back it will be time to judge eht eliving and the dead.

IV. Stay Awake

- The warning that Christ gives.

A. The Burglary is a model of the unexpected time of the coming of Christ. It is gonna take us by surprise.

B. It is illustrating constant alert... There are no signs... no calculation can help in anticipating the surprise of the coming of Christ. No one knows.

C. The Burglary not only shows that it will be a time unknown but it is a time that we do not expect. C.H. Spurgeon said “because they have predicted that He is coming in 1866, I don’t believe He will.”

D. Noah and his family were not able to predict the flood, neither do I believe that they laid awake at night waiting for it... but God said it was coming and they were ready.

E. How do we get ready?? Thats what the rest of the discourse will be about.

V. To Know and Be Known

- The implications of the gospel.

A. Is this a problem... what is this incredible need to know what is going to happen? Is it for God’s best or is it for Your best?

B. Not only do we see the arrogance of date setting, but what of the selfishness?

C. Investors read end-time prophesy books so that they can find out where they should invest their money. What countries will emerge.

D. This whole subject ... this unknowable subject is debated, written about, with sooo much insight and creative number gymnastics, playing rubics cube with scripture texts, unsubstantiated current events which we watch on TV and try to make it fit into scripture... making prophetic fit a news report thats not even true

E. How many times does John Walvoord’s book need to be revised... every time the stage is set. 1974... then revised in 1976. 1990. One about OPEC one about the gulf war... now one about terrorism. Why does it need to revised?

F. Cause we don’t know, but is it important for us to know?

G. It was extremely important for me to know as a teen age “Christian” young man who was filled with youthful lusts... Why?

H. I wanted to know ... so that I could live my life they way I wanted to live it, then when I see the the signs of the end. I can get my life straight and go to church and get right before he comes back. Like a despicable little scoundrel.

I. I did not want to be left behind... But the gospel changed it all.

J. This is why we need to hear Gospel every Sunday ... not prophecy updates

1. The Gospel is the news that Jesus has died for our sins... and he rose on the third day.

2. He brought me back to the original relationship and practice of worshipping God... and I can have this now

3. I want to spend my life worshipping God as a transformed child of God who has been changed by its power... I can have this now

4. I don’t need to be concerned about the end-times events because I am saved by the work of Christ... it does not matter what I did to get right before Jesus comes back... it is not by works, but by the grace of God. And the life I have now in Christ is the life I want right now. The life of preparedness is the life I want right now.

5. But God I went back to church, I was memorizing scriptures, I was spending time in prayer, I stopped doing all the bad stuff I was doing... He will say depart from me i never knew you... alI that info will not help. It wont make a difference, Salvation belongs to the Lord. We are saved by grace not by getting right before the end...false repentance and confession.

6. It is about repentance and the forgiveness of sin ... all through Faith

K. The Gospel shows that Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit will transform us into the image of Christ and we will proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth

L. Its not about what we have done ... it is about what He has done. If Jesus is ok with not knowing ... then I am too.

M. We rejoice in our salvation... the time will come and we eagerly await his return. We know we are his because He is what we want now.

1. I can do what I want... and what I want is to be a child of God

2. I will continue to fail at it... but He is faithful to forgive me

3. He will forgive us... so then why can’t we do what we want and sin, cause he will forgive? Why would we want to? Why go back to what destroys us... why go back to slavery. Why be a despicable son?

4. But even that he will forgive... his mercies are new every morning

O. He has conquered hell death and the grave and he will give us life

P. He is our reward... not riches, not crowns, not mansions, and not eternal life, But Christ our King who we love with our whole hearts...

Q. It is what your new heart wants if God is drawing you... or has drawn you

R. There is life for you and forgiveness of sins for you today

S. Rejoice, He is our Lord today. He is the Lamb. He is the Messiah. He is the soon coming King.