The Second Coming in Retrospect
(Mark 13:24-37)
1. Aerocondor was experiencing money problems in Peru and needed to cut back expenses. So, rumor had it they hired two blind pilots.
Story soon spread about these pilots, but no one believed it. So one day the plane was loaded and up came the two pilots, with dark glasses and walking sticks. The passengers laughed and said, "this must be a joke."
The plane taxied down the runway and then prepared for take-off.
The airplane sped off down the runway, faster & faster & faster & they approached the end of the runway. The passengers looked out the windows and saw the end of the tarmac and just as they were about to run out of airstrip, they all screamed.
The pilots then pulled back on the stick and the plane went up and away. The passengers all sighed in relief.
A moment later one pilot says to the other, "one day they aren't going to scream and we are going to be in trouble!"
2. Sometimes it seems like the world around us is being directed by a God Who is blind. But such is not the case. God can see clearly, and sees all at once. He has revealed His plans for the end time, partly, I believe, to reassure us that He is in control, especially during times when it would be easy to believe He is not.
3. If He is in control at the very worst of times, it is easier to believe He is in control during times that are not the worst. End time Bible prophecy strengthens our faith.
4. Our text is in reverse order. It begins with Jesus’ return to the earth, then addresses the Tribulation generation, and then addresses current believers, you & I.
Main Idea: Are we living in a way that anticipates the Lord’s return?
I. Yeshua’s SECOND Coming to Earth (24-27)
A. MANY Old Testament passages form the foundation for this teaching.
Daniel 7:13-14, ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
B. Heavenly bodies SHAKEN
We are all afraid of some things. On blogger writes, “Today, my school put on a
musical. I was one of the leads, and in the middle of my solo, I got a huge nosebleed. A little girl in the front row screamed.” Blood tends to shock us.
• Some things bother some people but not others; but the heavenly bodies being disrupted will bring fear and terror to all.
• Greek word asthr gives us asteroid, aster, Babylonian Esther
C. This is the VISIBLE return of Jesus to the earth.
D. Believers are GATHERED after he appears (unlike the Rapture).
Constable writes, “Jesus pictured all believers converging to Him at His Second Coming—whether alive or dead, on earth or in heaven. He will become the universal center of attention, and then He will begin reigning. Unbelievers will not experience resurrection until the end of Jesus' millennial reign (Rev. 20:7-15).”
E. The second coming consists of TWO phases.
1. Coming to the clouds and believers RESURRECTED
2. Coming through the clouds to the earth to REIGN and additional resurrection(s)
3. Debate: How much time BETWEEN these two events
F. Lesson: God’s way to LEARN and grow is little by little.
1. Progressive revelation
2. We begin with the bones, and then God adds meat to the bones
3. Don’t become frustrated, but faithfully accumulate and let things sit
II. The TRIBULATION Generation (28-31)
A. The fig tree: ISRAEL responds to Jesus.
This was Tuesday. A few hours before, the disciples saw the dead fig tree that Jesus cursed on Monday, when it was healthy. I think it is fair to suggest the parable and the cursing of the fig tree are connected.
The Rebirth of Israel in 1948 and Jewish control of Jerusalem in 1967 are indications that the stage is being set…
B. The generation of the ABOMINATION is the generation of Jesus’ RETURN.
28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
C. The permanence of Jesus’ words: will not PASS AWAY.
Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
1. Plenary inspiration
2. Truly biblical faith does not change; our perception of it improves or lessens
III. CURRENT Believers: Stay Awake! (32-37)
A. Any MOMENT: later revelation suggests an “anytime” rapture.
Thomas Constable writes: “That generation of disciples, and all succeeding generations of disciples, learned later that Jesus would return for His own at the Rapture before He comes at the Second Coming (1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Thus, while His Second Coming [to earth] is at least seven years away, His return at the Rapture will be sooner... it could be at any moment. Therefore, all that Jesus said about the importance of being vigilant—anticipating His return—is applicable to and relevant for us.”
B. No One KNOWS The Day or Hour.
1. How come Jesus did not know?
2. He knows now; the Son of God knew before He became man & emptied self
C The Parable of the Security Porter teaches us to be READY.
Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
D. Wisdom tells us to both PLAN AHEAD for this life and for ETERNITY.
1. Many people have made FOOLS of themselves by setting dates.
• Create an expectation that leaves people in the lurch
• They get angry if you don’t believe them, but don’t help you pick up the pieces if you empty out your bank accounts, quit your job, stockpile things you don’t need…
• Blogger: “Today, at the job I've had for eight years, I finally got the raise I was supposed to get a year ago. One hour later I found out the store was closing and we were all out of a job in two weeks.”
2. Worse, they HURT others, neglecting long-term planning for this life.
3. We must embrace two TRACKS of thinking, not one.
E. How to be READY!
And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming (I John 2:28)
