Olivet Discourse (Part 3)

vv.24-27 - Final Destruction (Already, but Not Yet)

“But in those days, after that tribulation” - After this distress (v.18), and yes a at the end of the age - when distress comes to an end.

This first took place at the fall of Jerusalem.

Josephus (Roman Historian) some say they saw chariots of fire in the sky, solders in the clouds, take this into account with reports of quaking and unfamiliar noises at Pentacost and you can see how many would think these happened then.

“Coming on the clouds”

This is made clear in Revelation, but should not be disconnected from the OT understanding of the “end of the age,” and the NT references to the “age of the Gentiles.”

Lukes account of the destruction of Jerusalem states, “Luke 21:24: They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

What we need to see here is that the judgement of God was felt in Jerusalem in 70AD (the end of the age of the Jews) and will again be felt at the end of this age.

(V.24-25) Creation as we know it will be altered - at the return of Christ, light and dark will cease to function as they were created to .

V.26 - Jesus will come “in clouds with great power and glory.”

This is far different than his first coming - the incarnation.

He will not come gentle and lowly, subtly and in the shadows, he will come in glory and power!

His elect will be gathered from the far corners of the globe.

All that he died to save will persevere to the end, will be guarded from the world, the flesh, and Satan, and will ultimately rule and reign with him.

Rev. 1:7-8

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Therefore we have hope, we persevere, and we believe that what he has said will come to pass.

Many have tried to disprove the authenticity of the scriptures, but here we have seen the warnings of Christ carried out in human history, therefore we can be confident that his other promises are true.

VV.32-37 NO ONE KNOWS, SO BE READY.

But, concerning that day - that day when the fig tree will bud, the temple will be destroyed, when the wars and earth quakes will finally come to an end, when the sun will darken, and the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give light - no one knows.

Not the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father.

“nor the Son”

Therefore “stay awake.”

Do not be led astray.

Be on guard.

Trust in the everlasting word of God

APPLICATION

Is your purpose in that which is passing or permanent?

v. 34 - The Parable of the man going on a journey.

Puts the servants in charge and each had a specific task.

The servants were in charge of the master’s house. It was not their house, to be treated how they would like, but the master’s

They each had specific tasks assigned to them by the master, not necessarily based on what they wanted to do, but surely based on the welfare of the house.

Christ has given us a place in his house, as a part of his plan, and with the power and authority to bring him glory.

May we never be persuaded by lesser glories, by lesser purposes.