Introduction
A. Lets turn to Matthew 24:32 - 34, I believe that this is one of the more misunderstood passages in the gospels
Matthew 24:32-34 (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. {33} "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors! {34} "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
1. The fig tree, Some believe, represents Israel
a. When the tree begins to put forth leaves, summer is near
(1) Its not summer yet
(2) But it is close at hand
2. But the fig tree might represent the times
a. The signs that Jesus has revealed
b. If we are watching, we can see the leaves of the tree beginning to grow
(1) So we should be watching for the beginning of the signs Jesus has already spoken of
(a) Lets turn to Matthew 24:4-8
3. The entire passage, verses 4 - 28 tell us generally and specifically the signs of the times
a. But, we shall only read verses 4-8
Matthew 24:4-8 (NKJV)
And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. {5} "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. {6} "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. {8} "All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(1) Religious deception will be rampant
(a) Many claiming to be Christ
(b) And false prophets of a false Christianity
(2) Wars and rumors of wars
(a) Racial tensions will be escalating
i) Tension between Black and White
ii) Tension between Jew and Arab
iii) Tension between various tribes
(b) Wars between nations
i) This includes internal strife
ii) And external war
(3) Famines
(a) Starvation caused by natural disasters
(b) Caused by war
(c) Caused by political unrest
(d) Caused by economics
(4) Pestilence
(a) Zika Virus
(b) Aids, we haven’t heard much about this one recently
(c) Pneumonia seems to be on the rise
(d) West Nile Virus
(e) We could name so many more
(5) Earthquakes
(a) Just a short while ago, there was a quake reported to have been greater than the San Francisco quake that leveled the city on April 18, 1906
(b) Earthquakes in China
(c) Earthquakes in South America
(d) Earthquakes all around the world
i) The tsunami in Japan was the result of an undersea quake
(6) And along with earthquakes, we should consider the weather lately.
(a) Here in Colorado we have had mild weather
(b) But the West Coast had drought conditions
(c) And the East Coast was drowned out
(d) Other places, Europe, Africa, Asia have not faired any better
i) We have had the largest El-Nino on record
(7) Are these the signs of which Jesus spoke?
(a) These things have been going on since Cain murdered Able
(b) There are a few very specific things to watch for
i) The building of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem
ii) The Abomination of Desolation
iii) And others
a) Lets turn again to Matthew 24:34
B. What is a generation
Matthew 24:34 (NKJV)
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
1. What is a generation?
a. In this context, what is a generation?
(1) Many have said that this verse applies to the generation which was living at the time of the establishment of the modern Israel on May 14, 1948.
(a) However, those people around in 1948 would be, 62 at the very youngest
(b) And well over 71 for those adults who were around in 1948, that is those who were 21 in 1948
(2) Today, many say that this is those around when all these signs take place
(a) J Vernon McGee says this generation is the nation of Israel who are alive when these things begin to take place
i) Israel will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
ii) Since Jesus was talking about the future of Israel, this makes sense
2. So why did Jesus make the statements found here in Matthew chapter 24?
a. So that we might see these things beginning to happen and anticipate Christ’s return to catch up the church prior to the tribulation
b. And so that those who receive Christ as Savior after the rapture will know what lies before them in those 7 years
c. There are very specific instructions to follow before hand
d. There are very specific instructions to follow during the 7 years of tribulation
e. There are very specific signs of His second coming
(1) Please turn to 2 Peter 3:8-9
C. The expectation of Christ’s coming
1. Men look at the time, 2,000 years since Christ ascended and wonder
a. So many things on the list have happened, over and over again
b. Yet, Christ still has not come
c. Many unregenerate men have begun to believe that the second coming is a fable, the figment of a hopeful imagination
d. But God knew that this would happen
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {9} The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
(1) Peter told us this would happen
(2) Believer do not lose heart
(a) Turn to Romans 13:11
2. Study the Scripture
a. Stay awake, be alert, do not become complacent
(1) The Lord is coming again
Romans 13:11 (NKJV)
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
(2) Lets turn to Matthew 24:35
D. The eternal words of God
Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
1. In a word
a. Christ and God and His Word are eternal, will never stop being
b. Every thing else is ephemeral, temporary, will come to an end
(1) Turn to Matthew 24:8
2. There are three things that Christ says will happen
a. The first will be the beginning of sorrows
Matthew 24:8 (NKJV)
"All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(1) All these, what things, the terrible signs of the times we have already spoke of
(a) Turn to Matthew 24:21
b. The second will be The tribulation period
Matthew 24:21 (NKJV)
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
(1) And turn to Matthew 24:29 - 30
c. The third thing will be the coming of the Son or Man
Matthew 24:29-30 (NKJV)
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. {30} "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
d. History of mankind will certainly include these three events
(1) Turn to Matthew 24:36
E. Only the Father knows
Matthew 24:36 (NKJV)
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
1. We learned last week that the time of Christ’s second coming is mentioned precisely
a. But, the time of the tribulation is in the hands of God the Father
(1) Notice that Jesus says, “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only”
(a) Turn to Acts 1:6-8
2. Another word from Christ
Acts 1:6-8 (NKJV)
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" {7} And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. {8} "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
a. The disciples ask nearly the same question that Jesus is answering in our Matthew 24 passage, Matthew 24:3
Matthew 24:3 (NKJV)
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
(1) Master, when?
(2) In Matthew 24:36
(a) No one knows the hour or the day
(3) In the Acts passage
(a) Not the times or the seasons
(b) This is the Father’s jurisdiction
i) Only the Father knows
ii) Not even the angels
iii) I would also say, the Christ in His humanity was ignorant of these things
iv) However, when Jesus ascended into heaven, He could not help but know because in His deity nothing would remain hidden from Him
b. But in the Acts passage He specifically says that these things are not for us to know
(1) We cannot know the day or hour
(2) We cannot know the time or the season
(3) However, Jesus has told us enough to know when the fig tree will produce its fruit
(a) Turn to Mark 13:35-37
(4) What has our Lord commanded us?
Mark 13:35-37 (NKJV)
"Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming; in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning; {36} "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. {37} "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
(a) Knowing the signs of the time
(b) Watch
(c) You don’t know the day or hour
(d) You don’t know the time of the season
(e) But you know enough to watch
(f) You will know the blooming of the fig tree
i) Turn to Matthew 24:37 - 39
F. The illustration of Noah
Matthew 24:37-39 (NKJV)
"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. {38} "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, {39} "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
1. The coming of the Son of Man will be a surprise to those who are not watching
a. Noah built a boat
b. The flood didn’t happen until the boat was finished
2. During the building of the arc, the populace was going on as usual
a. Eating and drinking
b. Marrying and giving in marriage
3. When Noah finished the arc and entered there in the it started to rain
a. The fig tree will not bloom until our Christ given task here is done
b. Watch, Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming
(1) Turn to Matthew 24:40-41
G. Two will be and one will be taken
Matthew 24:40-41 (NKJV)
"Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. {41} "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
1. Men and women, the Lord includes both men and women
2. People will be about their normal daily routine
a. Working in the fields
b. Working at household chores
c. One man will be taken
d. One woman will be taken
e. Taken, taken where?
(1) Two ideas
(2) One will be on the right side of the kings throne among the sheep
(3) One will be on the left side of the kings throne among the goats
3. Those among the sheep will be blessed, to take their place in heaven
4. Those among the goats will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
II. Conclusion
A. We are given the hour, day, time, or season of Christ’s return
1. But we have been given things to watch for
B. And as long as we remain here in this time we are to be about the Lord’s business
1. We are to be witnesses for Christ through out the world
a. Bringing the lost to Jesus
b. Like we do in AWANA
2. We are to watch for the return of the Master
a. We are to be loyal and faithful servants of the Lord
b. Until He calls us to Himself
(1) That may be the end of our life on the earth
(2) Or it may be the rapture
(3) It does not matter
(4) Lets be about or Master’s business until our journey is finished
