sf381 - The Second Coming Of Christ - Part 4 Of 11 - The When And What Of The Second Coming (Matthew 24 1-3)
Matthew 24:1-3
Introduction
Matthew bracketed the Lord’s public ministry between two sermons: the Sermon on the Mount, in which the emphasis was practical; and the Olivet discourse, in which the emphasis was prophetic.
In one sermon we read of the rules of the Kingdom; in the other we read of the return of the King.
Before the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord was baptized, after giving the Olivet discourse, the Lord was buried.
Prior to the first sermon He proved that the tempter could not conquer Him; after the last sermon He proved that the tomb could not conquer Him.
The Olivet discourse can be divided into two parts: the Lord’s end-time prophecy in Mathew 24 and the Lord’s end-time parables in Matthew 25.
The prophecy deals with the course of this age, the parables with the climax of this age.
The prophecy is concerned with God’s judicial dealings with mankind; the parables deal with God’s judgmental dealings with mankind.
In the text before us we find the disciples asking two very strategic questions:
Ø When will these things be?
Ø What will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age?
Ø Essentially they were asking about the destruction of the Temple, which would be fulfilled in AD70; and the coming of Christ in glory, which is yet to be fulfilled.
Today we will examine the historical background specifically the Jewish expectations, the disciples motivation and the Messiah’s explanation.
1A. The Jewish Expectations
1B. The historical context
For centuries they had been subdued by one foreign tyrant after another.
Ø 722 B.C. Assyrian conquered the northern ten tribes.
Ø 556 B.C. the southern tribes fell to Babylon.
Ø Then came the Medo-Persians, the Greeks, and finally the Romans.
2B. The Old Testament promises
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
3B. A well developed eschatology
1. The coming of the Messiah would be preceded by a time of terrible tribulation.
2. In the midst of that tribulation an Elijah-like forerunner would appear heralding the Messiah’s coming
3. The Messiah would appear and establish His kingdom.
4. An alliance of nations would unite and fight against the Messiah.
5. The Messiah would destroy those opposing nations.
6. The city of Jerusalem would be restored to its former glory.
7. The Jews scattered throughout the world would be gathered back to Israel.
8. Palestine would become the center of the world, and all nations would be subjugated to the Lord.
9. With the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom would come a new and eternal age of peace, righteousness, and divine glory. (A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ; by Emil Schuer)
When John the Baptist appeared on the scene, reminiscent of the preaching and life-style of Elijah, the people’s interest was intensely piqued. And when Jesus began His ministry of preaching, with unheard of authority and of healing every sort of disease, many Jews were convinced that He was indeed the Messiah. When He rode into Jerusalem on the colt, the crowds were beside themselves with anticipation, and they openly hailed Him as the Messiah, the long-awaited Son of David (Matt. 21:9).
At that point, however, Jesus’ ministry rapidly and radically departed from their expectations.
2A. The Disciples Motivation
1B. The disciples were thoroughly Jewish both in culture and theology.
2B. The Temple was central to Jewish theology.
Herod’s Temple
Ø Some of the stones measured 40 feet by 12 by 12 and weighed up to a hundred tons they were white marble overlaid with pure gold decorations.
Ø The east wall was gold-plated.
Ø The disciples wondered how such an amazing edifice, especially one dedicated to the glory of God, could be left desolate, as Jesus had just predicted. (23:38-24:2)
3B. The disciples were convinced that the Lord was going to establish His kingdom immediately.
Luke 19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
Ø They has just experienced the Triumphant Entry, the cleansing of the Temple, the rebuke of the Jewish leadership, momentum seemed to be building for the Lord’s ascension to the throne of David.
Even after the resurrection, the disciples still held to the same expectation.
Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Ø In fairness to the disciples, the Old Testament prophets also saw the Messiah’s coming and establishing His kingdom as a single event.
3A. The Messiah’s Explanation
1B. The impending demise of Judaism. (23:38-24:2)
Ezekiel 11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.
Ø The holy sanctuary that had once been God’s house was His no longer because the glory of the Lord would soon depart from it.
2B. The mystery of the church to be revealed.
The church age was a mystery to them, a mystery, as Paul explained, “which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested” (Rom. 16:25-26).
3B. The second coming of the Lord proclaimed.
Coming translates parousia, which has the basic meaning of presence and secondarily carries the idea of arrival.
Ø Jesus used it later in this chapter (vv. 27, 37, 39) and as it is often used elsewhere in the New Testament in referring to His second coming (see, e.g., 1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 2:8; 1 John 2:28)
End translates sunteleia, a compound word that refers to completion, as in the final culmination of a planned series of events.
Ø Jesus used the phrase the end of the age in the parable of the wheat and tares and the parable of the dragnet, where in both cases it represented the gathering of the wicked by God’s angels in preparation for judgment (Matt. 13:39, 49). He also used the phrase at the conclusion of the Great Commission, assuring the disciples, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
Application
1B. Humbly seek to understand the details of the Lord’s coming.
Even sincere godly men can be wrong.
2B. Rejoice in God’s sovereignty and mercy in His dealings with sinful man.
God has chosen to save men by the means of the preaching of the gospel.
3B. Live in expectation of His coming!
He may come today!!!!
Matthew 24:1-3
1A. The Jewish ______________________________
1B. The historical context
For centuries they had been subdued by one foreign tyrant after another.
2B. The Old Testament _______________________ (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-2; Jeremiah 23:5-6)
3B. A well developed eschatology
1. The coming of the Messiah would be preceded by a time of terrible tribulation.
2. In the midst of that tribulation an Elijah-like forerunner would appear heralding the Messiah’s coming
3. The Messiah would appear and establish His kingdom.
4. An alliance of nations would unite and fight against the Messiah.
5. The Messiah would destroy those opposing nations.
6. The city of Jerusalem would be restored to its former glory.
7. The Jews scattered throughout the world would be gathered back to Israel.
8. Palestine would become the center of the world, and all nations would be subjugated to the Lord.
9. With the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom would come a new and eternal age of peace, righteousness, and divine glory. (A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ; by Emil Schuer)
2A. The Disciples ____________________________
1B. The disciples were thoroughly Jewish both in culture and theology.
2B. The Temple was central to Jewish theology.
3B. The disciples were convinced that the Lord was going to establish His kingdom immediately. (Luke 19:11)
Even after the resurrection, the disciples still held to the same expectation. (Acts 1:6)
3A. The Messiah’s ________________________
1B. The impending demise of Judaism. (23:38-24:2; Ezekiel 11:23)
2B. The mystery of the church to be revealed. (Romans 16:25-26).
3B. The second coming of the Lord proclaimed.
Coming translates parousia, which has the basic meaning of presence and secondarily carries the idea of arrival. (Matthew 24:27, 37, 39; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 John 2:28)
End translates sunteleia, a compound word that refers to completion, as in the final culmination of a planned series of events. (Matthew 13:39, 49; 28:20)
Application
1B. Humbly seek to understand the details of the Lord’s coming.
2B. Rejoice in God’s sovereignty and mercy in His dealings with sinful man.
3B. Live in expectation of His coming!
