The Messiah and the End Times Fulcrum
Text: Matt. 24:32-51
Introduction
1. Illustration: A fulcrum is the point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots, but it can also be a thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation.
2. Jesus gives us 5 principles to live by when it comes to the last days...
a. The Fig Tree Principle
b. The Noah Principle
c. The Left Behind Principle
d. The Two Servants Principle
e. The Big Idea Principle
3. Of these five principles, the one that all the others hinge upon is the big idea or the principle of readiness.
4. Lets stand together as we read Matt. 24:32-51
Proposition: The most important thing that Jesus wants us to know about the last days is simply to be ready at all times.
Transition: The first principle is...
I. The Fig Tree Principle (32-35).
A. Lesson From the Fig Tree
1. The first principle that Jesus teaches has to do with reading signs.
2. He says, “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door."
a. In the winter months figs lose their leaves, so just buds and new leaves in spring indicate that summer is near.
b. When the fig tree buds and the leaves begin to break out, it is clear that winter is over and summer will soon begin.
c. Jesus used this to show us that the signs he has given us are reliable (Horton, 529).
d. Jesus stated earlier that the general distressful events of this age must not be interpreted to mean that the Lord is near.
e. However, as the end grows closer, subtle increases of difficulty begin to mark the end.
f. The budding tree can be overlooked; it is not spectacular and can even be unnoticed until too late (Wilkins).
g. Therefore, when his disciples see "all these things," they should be alert that the end may be imminent.
h. All people during this age should stay alert, because the arrival of summer can come unnoticed.
i. But for those who are alert, there are indications that the end is near, specifically the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to all nations.
j. Therefore, "summer" here refers to the age of blessedness and fruitfulness that will occur when Jesus has returned. This helps disciples to stay alert.
k. But because the budding is not spectacular but subtle, it can be overlooked.
l. The point is that people must stay alert and must be forewarned by certain signs at the very end (Wilkins).
3. Then Jesus says something that we're not real sure what to do with? He says, "I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear."
a. The Greek word used here is related to word used in 1 Pet. 2:9 which is also translated "generation" and refers to the members of the Church.
b. People didn't think of generation necessarily as an age group, like we do, they thought of it more in the sense of nationality. like Roman, Greek, or Jewish (Horton, 531).
c. Perhaps it is best to see a twofold reference, as Jesus has done throughout the discourse.
d. The disciples to whom Jesus is speaking on the Mount of Olives most naturally will be "this generation" that sees the events of the destruction of the temple, which shows the applicability of the discourse to A.D. 70.
e. Further, within the context of Jesus' statements about the coming of the Son of Man, there must be primary applicability to those at the end of the age who see the events surrounding the abomination of desolation occurring.
f. When these signs of the end of the age appear, those waiting for his arrival will recognize that their redemption is drawing near.
g. In other words, the saying is a word of warning to those of the generation with Jesus and those in the future who have not yet repented that the arrival of the Son of Man will bring judgment.
h. But the saying is also a word of encouragement to his followers that tribulation will not go on forever, as it may appear to those who are suffering in it (Wilkins).
i. These are statements that we can trust and they will not change with time like so many things do.
j. Jesus word will endure because he is the truth and there is nothing false about him.
k. They will endure long after the earth, stars, sun, and moon have ceased to exist. Therefore, we can be confident in his principles and stand upon his promises.
B. Signs
1. Illustration : Sign tell us a lot of important things and ignoring them can be dangerous. Here are some examples.
a. Stop
b. Do Not Enter
c. Danger Men
2. The signs God gives us should not terrify us.
a. Jeremiah 10:2 (NIV)
This is what the LORD says: "Do not...be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.
b. The signs that the Lord gives us are not there to scare us but to warn us.
c. They are there for our benefit.
d. They are there to make us ready.
e. They are there to encourage us and give us hope.
f. Jesus is coming and that is always Good News for those that believe.
3. We should not be obsessed with signs other than the sign of belonging to Christ.
a. Mark 16:17 (NLT)
These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.
b. We are not called to go around and read the signs of the times.
c. We are called to go around demonstrating the signs of a disciple.
d. We are not in the business of reading signs; we are in the business of being signs of the Kingdom.
e. Be about your Lord's business and the signs will take care of themselves.
Transition: The next principle is...
II. The Noah Principle (37-39).
A. Noah's Day
1. Jesus tells us that the last days will be like the days of Noah.
2. He said, "In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat."
a. The point that Jesus is trying to make is that in the days of Noah people were completely engrossed in their own lives and had no time for God.
b. They thought it was going to be the same as any other day but it wasn't. On that day the flood came and it was too late to change your mind.
c. That is exactly how it will be when Jesus comes. People who are self-absorbed in their own plans and ideas will be caught off guard and unprepared (Horton, 533).
3. Jesus said in those days, "People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes."
a. The people in the days of Noah did not heed the warnings of judgment that were given to them.
b. They continued to carry on in the everyday activities of eating and drinking, marrying and giving their children in marriage.
c. Jesus' point is not that these activities were sinful, but that the people were so wrapped up in everyday activities that they were caught off-guard because they had no concern for righteousness and spiritual realities.
d. On the other hand, Noah and his family went about with preparations for the coming flood, even though they saw no specific signs of it’s coming and did not know when it would arrive.
e. Jesus' return will catch unawares all who do not heed whatever warnings are given and who are spiritually unprepared (Wilkins).
B. "It's Not Coming"
1. Illustration: Jesus return is going to be like when the Browns win the Super Bowl; no one is going to expect it!
2. The Bible tells us there will be skeptics.
a. 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)
3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.
4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
b. It warns us that people will say, "I'll believe it when I see it!"
c. It warns us that people will be unbelieving.
d. It warns us that people will mock us.
e. But they will be the ones to suffer.
3. The reason for the delay is to give us more time to repent.
a. 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)
8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
b. He wants to give people more time to change their ways.
c. He wants to give us more time to preach His word.
d. He wants to give as many people as possible the chance to come to Him.
Transition: The third principle is...
III. The Left Behind Principle (40-41).
A. Two Men; Two Women
1. This principle has to do with separation.
2. Jesus said, “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left."
a. Not only will Jesus coming mean sudden and unexpected judgment, it will also mean sudden and unexpected separation.
b. Jesus indicates that when He comes people will be going about their business and believers will be working beside unbelievers.
c. Jesus lived in an agricultural society and going to the fields is simply what they did in those days.
d. Jesus' words show that people will simply be going about their business when He comes for believers.
e. The word "taken" in this verse means "taken along to," or "taken to ones self" (in this context, taken to Jesus, who was speaking).
3. Jesus continues this point saying, "Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left."
a. Just as men worked in the fields, women worked at the mill.
b. They would use a small hand held stone mill to grind the grain to make flour for bread which was a main staple of their diet.
c. Therefore, Jesus is saying that at the time of the Rapture women will be doing their daily tasks as usual, and one will be taken along for that great meeting in the air, while the other will be left behind (Horton, 535).
B. Separation and Judgment
1. Illustration: Left Behind Awareness: Barna Research reports 24% of adult Americans are aware of the Left Behind series and 9% have read at least 1 of the 8 books in the series. Readers include born again Christians (19%) and adults who attend non-mainline Protestant churches (18%). While born again adults constitute the majority of the Left Behind reading audience, an estimated 3 million non-born again adults have read one or more of the books. George Barna claims the series represents one of the most widely experienced religious teaching or evangelistic tools among non born again adults. He notes that the series has reached a larger unduplicated audience of non-believers than most religious television or radio ministries. To date 45 million copies of Left Behind books have been sold (Barna Online 10/22/01).
2. Some people are already separated from God.
a. Ephesians 4:18-19 (NLT)
18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
b. They are separated from God because of their sin.
c. They are separated from God because of their hard heartedness.
d. But for the moment there is still hope for them to turn to Jesus.
3. However...a day is coming!
a. Revelation 20:15 (NLT)
And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
b. There will come a day when they will be judge for their sins and rebellion.
c. There is coming a day when they will be called to task for their hard hearts.
d. There is coming a day when they will be separated from their loved ones forever.
e. There is coming a day when they will be separated from God and His love forever.
f. A day is coming, and it is called the great and terrible day of the Lord!
Transition: The fourth principle is...
IV. The Two Servants Principle (45-51).
A. Faithful Servant
1. Here Jesus tells the story of two servants.
2. First he talked about “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns."
a. In this illustration Jesus' contrasts the results of faithfulness and unfaithfulness.
b. The servants involved were slaves who were made business managers of the master's estate.
c. It was common in those days for wealthy people to do so.
d. The test of his responsibility occurs when the master is absent; will he faithfully carry out his tasks?
e. He fulfilled his appointed tasks with regularity and with a sense of responsibility.
f. The master will reward the faithful and wise servant. Since he proved himself trustworthy and dependable his master will put him charge of the whole estate.
3. However, "if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
a. The long absence of his master allows the servant to abuse his authority, mistreat his fellow servants, and consort drunkenly with bad acquaintances.
b. When the master does return, the slave is caught unaware. As a result, he is cut in pieces.
c. The wicked servant is further described as being placed with "the hypocrites," one of Jesus' favorite expressions for sinners who put on external righteousness that attempts to mask an evil heart.
d. His place with hypocrites deserves treatment that is proverbial for the eternal condemnation of hell, "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Wilkins).
B. Be Found Faithful
1. Illustration: "Nothing in life can take the place of faithfulness and dependability. It is one of the greatest virtues. Brilliance, genius, competence all are subservient to the quality of faithfulness."
2. Will you be found faithful?
a. Revelation 14:12 (NIV)
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
b. When Jesus comes for you what will He find you doing?
c. Will He find you doing His will, preaching His word, and living your life according to His requirements?
d. Will He say well done or go away?
3. What will your spiritual temperature be when Jesus comes?
a. Revelation 3:15-16 (NLT)
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!
16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
b. Will He find you on fire for Him?
c. Will He find you lukewarm?
d. Will He find that your fire has gone out?
Transition: The greatest principle of all when it come to the End Times is...
V. The Big Idea Principle (36; 42-44).
A. No One Knows
1. I'd like to return to idea of a fulcrum. The idea of a thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation.
2. The fulcrum of Jesus teaching on the End Times is "no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows."
a. Here Jesus is saying clearly what He has implied throughout this entire chapter.
b. It is the central theme of everything that Jesus teaches about the Last Days and His second coming.
c. This is Jesus' direct answer to the question about the time of his coming. No one knows!
d. The expression "day or hour" is used throughout Scripture to indicate a general reference to time.
e. This includes not only a literal day and/or time of day, but also the year and/or month.
f. This saying of Jesus apparently governs the rest of the discourse and should be the key to interpreting the next section.
g. In the light of the unknown day or hour of his return, he exhorts his disciples to watch and be prepared (Wilkins).
3. As a result, Jesus says, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming."
a. "Watch" implies not only to keep looking but also to be prepared. Jesus stresses the deep division between those who are ready and those who are not.
b. Their preparedness will mean either blessing at the coming of the Son of Man or judgment, so they must keep watch and be ready at all times.
c. This is the only time that the expression "your Lord" occurs in Matthew's Gospel and accentuates that Jesus, as the coming Son of Man, is the disciples' Lord (Wilkins).
d. Neither believers or unbelievers will have any advance warning when Jesus comes.
e. The only way to be prepared for the coming of Jesus is to maintain a state of readiness at all times.
B. Be Ready
1. When Jesus comes will you be ready?
a. Revelation 16:15 (NLT)
“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
b. Will He find you committed to Him or committed to yourself?
c. Will He find you serving Him or serving sin?
d. Will you be clothed in righteousness or clothed in your old self?
2. When Jesus comes will you be awake or asleep?
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (NLT)
5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
b. Don't be caught off guard.
c. Don't be caught asleep.
d. Live each day like it is your last.
3. Illustration: Video "I Wish We'd All Been Ready"
Conclusion
1. Jesus gives us 5 principles to live by when it comes to the last days...
a. The Fig Tree Principle
b. The Noah Principle
c. The Left Behind Principle
d. The Two Servants Principle
e. The Big Idea Principle
2. Of these five principles, the one that all the others hinge upon is the big idea or the principle of readiness.
3. Are you ready should the Savior call today? Will he say well done or go away?
