The End According to Jesus, Part 5

We come to the end, we have looked at: The destruction of Jerusalem and how within that there is the fulfillment of the abomination of desolation, great tribulation, the sign of this being the vindication of Jesus, how all of these things took place within the lifespan of the disciples as Jesus said that it would.

This is the Advent season we are in. Advent today looks back to the birth of Christ. But until the middle ages advent was linked to the second coming of Christ. Traditionally it was to be a time of fasting and prayer looking forward to the return of Jesus.

Today we are looking at the return of Christ. More than that I want to focus on being prepared for the return of Christ.

Not in stocking up on food or ammo.

Being spiritually prepared for His second coming.

Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus is answering two questions in this passage.

1) When will be the destruction.

2) When is the parousia.

But Concerning

v.36

We see Jesus change topics here. BUT CONCERNING.

This is a clear change.

The Signs

In the passage above concerning the destruction of the temple, there were crazy signs.

Signs in the heavens, signs on the earth, disturbances in the nation.

But now(v.37)....like the days of Noah.

v.38-39 describes that people went about life just like usual.

There wasn’t catastrophic events to disturb the normal flow of life…until there was.

If you thought there were no signs during the time of Noah, you’d be wrong.

Have you ever seen two animals of every kind, gathered together in one place?

There were signs taking place.

Just not huge, bold signs. You had to be alert, awake, paying attention.

So it will be in the last days.

Widespread Complacency

People not serving God, not studying.

2 Peter 3:3-4

2 Peter 3:3–4 ESV

3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

People will be scoffers, they will follow their own sinful desires and be asking, where is the promise of His coming.

All that people will recognize is that life is going on the same way it always has.

Then the Lord will come, and we see people still continuing their daily work.

v.40-42

People were still working in the fields, grinding at the mill.

Two people with a close relationship, yet one a believer. The other, not.

One is taken up to join the Lord on His precession down to earth.

The other is left to face the judgement.

Stay awake, be alert!

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 ESV

9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I believe this to be one of the signs.

The man of lawlessness. He won’t be blatantly evil where everyone will see that he is evil.

For only those who have a love for the truth will recognize that He is evil.

Those who do not love to study their bibles, to spend time with God. They will be deceived.

It won’t be a gigantic flashy deception, but subtle. One that “Christians” will fall for. One you have to be paying attention to see.

Luke 21:34-36

This is why Jesus warns us in Luke.

Don’t be hungover or drunk, these are pretty basic but things that we need to be careful of.

We need to be focused on our task, not in an inebriated mind where we cannot think or function properly.

Cares of this life.

How many people are to comfortable today?

To concerned with things going on rather than heaven.

Jesus said that when a sower went out to sow, some of the seeds fell into the thorns and were choked out by the cares of this world.

Here Jesus warns us again, don’t be chocked by the concerns of this life.

Are we more concerned about:

Checking our facebook page, the news, OR Our daily devotions and reading the bible?

Peoples opinions OR God’s opinion?

Recreation (Kids sporting events, the big game, the nascar race) OR Meeting together with the people of God?

We must be preparing ourselves, not for this world. But for heaven.

As we come to this advent season, are we preparing ourselves to stand before the Son of Man?