Be Ready

Matthew 24:32-44

Matthew 24:32–44 NKJV

“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. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 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, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 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. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

“One should keep in mind that the primary application of this section is directed toward the future generation that will experience the days of the Tribulation and will be looking forward to the immediate coming of the King in glory” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, )

It is absolutely critical to distinguish between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ.

Rapture has to do with the Church

Second Coming with Israel.

Rapture happens before the Tribulation Period

Second Coming happens after Tribulation Period

Rapture we meet Jesus in the Air

Second Coming Jesus comes to the Earth

With that being said, Jesus is now going to illustrate His teachings with parables. Tonight we will look at the Parable of the Fig Tree.

Jesus begins with “Now learn this lesson” shows that Jesus is beginning to apply what He had been teaching. Jesus uses the Fig Tree to illustrate His teaching to the disciples.

What about the fig tree? Two things I think are important to note about His illustration of the fig tree.

Summer is not here yet. The fig tree blooms before summer comes. You cannot change what God has set in motion. For example no matter how hard you try you can’t get blooms out of season. God determines a set order and no one can change it.

Summer is certainly coming. The statement that summer is near is a declaration that it will be here. You cannot stop the coming summer and you cannot stop the Coming Lord!

So the context of this passage is The Second Coming has not happened yet, but it is certain it will. Just as one can look at the budding fig tree in the spring and know summer is near, the signs listed earlier also show that the Return of Jesus Christ is near.

Vs 34 who is this generation? There are a number of interpretations of this phrase.

Some spiritualize this passage and say all this was fulfilled in 70 AD. What happened in 70 AD? Jerusalem was sieged by the Roman Military during the first Jewish revolt. The fall of the city marked the effective conclusion of a four year revolt campaign against the Jewish insurgency in Judea. The Romans destroyed much of the city, including the Second Temple.

The only problem with this interpretation is according to the Scripture is 7 years after this the Lord would have to come Back. He didn’t so those who hold this view spiritualize his Second Coming as spiritual coming not a literal coming.

The second view is that the generation who see all these signs will not pass away until the return of the Lord.

The Last view is the word generation taken in its basic usage of race, kindred, family, stock, breed means the Lord is promising that the nation of Israel shall be preserved until the consummation of her program at the Second Coming of Jesus in spite of the work of the Anti-Christ trying to destroy her. This seems to align with the teaching on Israel in Romans 9-11.

Sensationalists have been trying to predict when Jesus would return based on Israel becoming a Nation in 1948. Some have even taken the passage in the Psalms that says a generation is 75 years and may be even 80 years. They add that to 1948 subtract 7 years for the tribulation and they come up with 2021.

The only problem with this is it is unbiblical. The key is in the next verse. In verse 35 Jesus said “heaven and earth will pass away , but my words will by no means pass away”.

What that means is we get our Eschatology from the Bible, not from the signs or from men, but from God. History does not prove the Bible. So what does the Word of God say about these future events?

No One Knows (Vs36)

Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour, not the angels, not the Son, only my Father. What makes someone so arrogant that they presume the can predict when Christ is coming or to determine that He has already come spiritually?

That goes against the words of Christ. That violates scriptural principles. Remember we are not to look for signs but focus on Christ.

The days of Noah (Vs37-39)

Jesus uses a simile here to make a comparison of the days leading up to the Second Coming and the days of Noah.

If you read this the first notion is to think He is talking about the wickedness that led to the flood. But I think He is talking about the lack of preparedness of the people.

Indifference to the Lord and His promised coming. They are sidetracked with the World, consumed with their own lives they are oblivious to whats going on around them. Do you know what the greatest depressor of the Pandemic we just went through? We couldn’t do what we wanted. We weren’t able to be consumed with all the things of the world. Just like the days of Noah.

Be Ready (Vs 40-44)

In verses 40 and 41 there is a separation that takes place. The sudden coming of the Lord separates the saved and the lost. Verse 31 indicates at the Second Coming the angels” gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” It stands to reason there will be a separation of the lost and saved.

The disciples are told to watch, be alert because you don’t know when He will come. Verse 43 tells us if the owner of the house knew when the thief was coming he would have watched and not allowed the his house to be robbed.

You have already been informed so you must watch. Be ready because the Son of Man is coming when you think not.

Again this is talking about the Second Coming of Christ. What about us? What is the application of this passage to the Church?

We too must be ready. There are two eminent events that affect us. First the eminent event of death. Any of us could die at any moment. We cannot be so wrapped up in life that we are not prepared for death.

The second eminent event is the Rapture of the Church. It could happen at any moment. The saved will be taken out of this world before the Tribulation period.

How do you prepare for these eminent events? First of all you must be born again, saved. Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross. You must believe that Jesus died for you, that He was buried and that He arose from the grave and that He will save you if you believe on Him.

Secondly if you are saved you live with an awareness that you could literally be with Him at any time. Being prepared is that you are ready to meet Him face to face.

Lastly I believe we should help others find and follow Jesus. This is the most productive work we can do. Jesus concludes this parable with “therefore be ready”. Are you ready?