Events Precding the Second Coming of Christ
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Essentially we are going to speak about the events that will take place before Christ second coming.
Also how should we live in light of His second coming.
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
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.”
They where given Jesus a tour of the temple. They were really trying to impress Him with the beauty and magnificence of it.
Josephus said the temple was the most marvelous edifice which they ever seen.
It was a site to behold.
So Jesus then Jesus said the temple would be destroyed and not one stone would be left upon another.
So the disciples asked two question.
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?”
So they asked two questions “Tell us when will these things be?”
Referring to the destruction of the temple.
&“What will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?”
Matthew didn’t record the answer to the first question “Tell us when will these things be.” but Luke did.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
depopulation of Jerusalem and the temple as a result of their abomination or desecration
And that happened during the Jewish war in AD 66-73 (70) The destruction of the temple and Jerusalem.
Now Jesus describes the first half of the seven year period preceding His second coming.
These events correspond somewhat to the seven seals in Revelation 6.
A. First he speak of false Christs
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
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.”
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.
This ruler has a bow without an arrow, indicating that the world government which he establishes is accomplished without warfare
So it seems like this world ruler has to be somewhat very persuasive very wise as if to cause peace without a arrow. Or without violence.
B. Wars and Rumors of wars.
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.
When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”
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.
Now this ruler is sent to take peace from the earth.
The first gives peace or a false sense of peace this one takes away the peace.
The future world government begins with a time of peace but is soon followed by destruction.
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
The second rider had a large sword. This was a picture of political power with the rider as the world ruler.
Thats when you go down to Matt. 24:7
Matthew 24:7 (NKJV)
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
So theres will be great hunger in these times.
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.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
Essentially a quart of wheat for a days wage or 3 quarts of barley for a days wage.
So a quarter of a gallon. So a very small portion. Though it can sustain.
So essentially one would only make enough for a scarce portion to eat. Very lean portion.
Also one wouldn’t have enough for oil or wine.
Famine is the inevitable aftermath of war.
This will be a major cause of death in the Great Tribulation. The black color of the horse speaks of famine and death.
Earthquakes
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.
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.
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
This earthquake will be like a earthquake that was never seen before.
So much so the sun will turn black.
The moon will turn blood red.
And the stars will fall out the sky like old figs from a fig tree.
The whole universe will be effected by this earthquake.
Death of the martyrs
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
Revelation 6:8–11 (NKJV)
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.
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.
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?”
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.
A forth of the population will be killed in these times which is in todays numbers 2 billion people.
This is the time of Jacobs trouble.
Jer. 30:7.
Daniel 12:1 (NKJV)
“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
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.
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
These things haven’t happened yet.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Arno C. Gaebelein referred to his longing for Jesus’ second coming as “the homesickness of the new life.” Someone else put it this way, “Blessed are the homesick, for they shall be called home.”
Anonymous
Plan as though Christ were not coming for ten years. Live as though He were coming in ten seconds.
Anonymous
The primitive church thought more about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than about death or about heaven. The early Christians were looking not for a cleft in the ground called a grave but for a split in the sky called Glory. They were watching not for the undertaker but for the uppertaker.
Alexander Maclaren