Practical Advice
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Last week we talked about Armageddon, the war of all wars where the Lord Jesus Christ returns to judge and make war with the Anti-christ, Beast, False Prophet and all those who have rejected Him as Savior at the end of the Great Tribulation.
[refs. Rev.6:12-17, 16:12-16, 19:11-20]
Tonight we’re going to look at some “Practical Advice” that Jesus gives to that generation that will experience the days of the Tribulation time and encounter His Second Coming. But this is also good advice that can be applied to the believers life today.
Text; Mt. 24:32-44
Matthew 24:32–44 (NKJV)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1. Parable of the Fig Tree; 32-36
1. Parable of the Fig Tree; 32-36
Parable- an earthly story with a heavenly/spiritual meaning. Placing two things side by side as a model or example which anticipates or precedes a later realization [Fig Tree beside Second Coming of Christ]
[32-33] Figs were a staple food in Israel and were cultivated and watched carefully. Jesus uses the fig tree in the parable so that the Jews would pay close attention.
When a fig tree … sprouts leaves, any Israelite knows that summer is on the horizon. It’s an obvious sign that’s not difficult to interpret. In the same way, when those living during the Tribulation [7 year period], witness the signs taking place (24:4–28), they can be certain that the Lord would follow after shortly.
[34] “This generation” refers the generation of people who will enter the Tribulation time after the Rapture of the church.
The events (signs) will be witnessed by one generation. The disciples had asked two questions—one about Jerusalem’s destruction and one about the end of the world. In answering their questions, Christ nowhere drew a definite line between the two questions. The signs and events that precede one shall precede the other. The implication is clear: just as the signs and destruction of Jerusalem took place within a generation, the signs and destruction of the world will also occur within a generation.
POSB, Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). Matthew: Chapters 16:13–28:20: Vol. II (p. 201). Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[35] Heaven and earth will pass away, done away with, but you can count on what Jesus has said concerning all these things to happen!
Jesus is simply saying, “it’s easier for the world to pass away than for My Word to be wrong!”
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.
So this brings up a good conversation to have right now. What is the next big event on God’s calendar after The Second Coming of Christ and appearance of the new heavens and the new earth? The Millennial Kingdom/1000 year reign of Christ with His saints.
2. Illustration of the Days of Noah; 36-44
2. Illustration of the Days of Noah; 36-44
Jesus now switches from a parable [making a comparison] to an illustration [example to clarify or prove something] of the end time events as he refers to the days of Noah. This illustration isn’t just something that Jesus pulled out of thin air, it is the only appropriate illustration in scripture to be used for this time.
There are 5 things I want us to see in this illustration
[36] The timing of the Lord’s return is only known by God.
There is a specific day and hour for His return, but that is only known by the Father.
We have to remember that when Jesus stepped out of glory and into flesh He voluntarily gave up the unlimited use of His divine attributes.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Christ designed that the day of his coming should be hid from us, that being in suspense, we might be as it were upon the watch.
Martin Luther
[37-38] People will be taken by surprise. The first outpouring of God’s judgment upon sinful people in the days of Noah has a natural connection with the final outpouring at the Lord’s return.
People will be going about their daily business, just as they were in Noah’s time (Genesis 7:15-24). Just as the flood caught them unawares (and after it was too late) and swept them away in judgment, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
[39] Judgment; “Took them all away” refers to judgment on those who are not God’s elect.
Took away [airo/ I ro], to remove, carry off, to pick up as stones in a field and remove because they are rejected.
In the time of Noah all but eight people were carried off in judgment. That is the picture Jesus paints here at His Second Coming. All the wicked will be judged.
[40-41] Grace will come to God’s elect; This does not refer to the Rapture of the church. If it did, then that would mean that the church would go through the Tribulation [God’s wrath] and that would be contrary to God’s word.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
To line up with this specific illustration concerning the days of Noah, the ones that are “taken” are the wicked whom the Lord will judge. The ones that are “left” are the believers who will be privileged to enter into the the Millennium kingdom to populate the earth during the 1000 years of peace and righteousness under the rule of Jesus Christ and his saints.
Matthew 19:28 (NKJV)
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
[42-44] Be Watchful; Jesus is telling all who will listen [His disciples, us today, and those who enter the tribulation] to pay attention and be watchful, alert and looking for the coming of the great Day of the Lord, and not to be foolish like those in the days of Noah. Especially those in the tribulation time to be able to understand the signs of the times, realize the coming chaos and judgment, and repent and give their life to Christ before it’s too late!
Close;
