"Snapshots of the Second Coming"
Matthew 24:1-51
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Introduction: I think that it is fairly normal for those of us who are Christians to gradually change our focus as we get older. I have found that to be true in my own life and from my observations of my fellow believers that seems to be the case for them as well. I know this because of the Scriptures that we focus on and the songs and hymns that seem to enjoy. They both become more precious to us with the passage of the years. Squire Parsons singing, "Beulah Land" means a lot more to me today than it did say, 40 years ago and I can almost envision myself "Camping In Canaan Land!"
Bryan Jay writes - "Very often, when we speak of Christ's coming, the emphasis is on the particulars of the event, and we forget the person of the event. What makes the second coming so encouraging to us as believers is that it is JESUS who is coming. If Jesus isn't precious to us...if we fail to see his glory and the desirability of being in his bodily presence, then we will have missed the encouragement that we can receive by remembering that the glorious bridegroom of the church is coming back to earth."
Let's focus on the person of our soon coming Lord Jesus for these next few moments:
I. His coming shall be secret vs 36, 42, 44
Oddly enough the first predictions of the Lord's coming occurred in about 500 AD and happened sporadically for several years afterwards, picking up steam until these announcements became quite regular from the 18 century onward till today! Let me give you just a few examples:
Emanuel Swedenborg - Followed the Last Judgment in 1757, which took place in the spiritual world.[8][9] This was one of many events recounted in his works resulting from visions of Jesus Christ returned. He tells of almost daily interaction with Christ over the course of almost 30 years. His return is not in the flesh, but in His Holy Spirit. "Neither shall they say see here or see there, for behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20).[10]
Johanna Southcott - This 64-year-old self-described prophet claimed she was pregnant with the Christ child, and that he would be born on Christmas Day, 1814. She died on the day of her prediction, and an autopsy proved she was not pregnant.[12]:109
1844 October 22 William Miller - The fact that this failed to happen the way people were expecting was later referred to as the Great Disappointment. Some Millerites continued to set dates; others founded the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Advent Christian Church, which continue to expect a soon Second Coming but no longer set dates for it.
1874 Charles Taze Russell - The first president of what is now the Watchtower Society of the Jehovah's Witnesses, calculated 1874 to be the year of Christ's Second Coming, and until his death taught that Christ was invisibly present, and ruling from the heavens from that date prophesied.[16][17][18][19] Russell proclaimed Christ's invisible return in 1874,[19]:175 the resurrection of the saints in 1875,[19]:104--108 and predicted the end of the "harvest" and a rapture of the saints to heaven for 1878,[19]:68, 89--93, 124--126, 143 and the final end of "the day of wrath" in 1914.[19]:189 1874 was considered the end of 6,000 years of human history and the beginning of judgment by Christ.[20]
1891 Joseph Smith - In the History of the Church Volume 2, page 182, an eyewitnesses account of Joseph Smith's prophecy in 1835 is recorded as: "President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because God had commanded it; and it was made known to him by vision and by the Holy Spirit. He then gave a relation of some of the circumstances attending us while journeying to Zion--our trials, sufferings; and said God had not designed all this for nothing, but He had it in remembrance yet; and it was the will of God that those who went to zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh--even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." Though this was not a prediction from Joseph Smith, he stated, "I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time." (D&C 130:14-17)
David Koresh and the Branch Davidians - More recently and I might tragically; a self-styled prophet by the name of David Koresh predicted the second coming and led a large group (85) of men, women, and children to their death in the siege of their compound in Waco, TX and all of us remember the predictions concerning the year 2,000!
Mark Blitz - Starting in 2008, Mark Biltz began teaching that Christ's return would correspond with the September 28, 2015 lunar eclipse. His idea, known as the Blood Moon Prophecy, attracted attention from well-known pastor John Hagee (who stopped short of claiming Christ would return on that precise date) and mainstream media such as USA Today.[34]
What do these all have in common? They were all wrong and the reason they were wrong is simple. They all claim some extra-biblical knowledge or revelation but it could not be any plainer that it is in the teachings of the Lord himself who declared:
Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
II. His coming shall be sudden vs 27
When we see in Scripture that Jesus' return will be sudden, we understand that the suddenness of his coming is an encouragement to those who love him, while it will be dismaying to those who don't." Bryan Jay
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
To get some idea of just how sudden, we go to the Scriptures which speak of, "...a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..." (1 Corinthians 15:52) to describe the suddenness of His return, the resurrection and the subsequent judgment of all men. The Jewish scholars combined these two words to emphasis that this change would occur rapidly. The word moment occurs only here and is the word that we get our word "atom" that is, an indivisible point of time. In the twinkling of an eye; as soon as a man can wink; which expressions show that this mighty work is to be done by the almighty power of God, as he does all his works, He calls, and it is done!
III. His coming shall be spectacular vs 29-31
The Lord came into this world in almost total obscurity but He will return with universal observation for "...every eye shall see Him..." and "...all the tribes of the earth shall mourn and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Jesus said, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27
"He is not coming as a babe in a manger again - this time He is coming with all the glory of God as a KING and a JUDGE" www.cai.org
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
IV. His Coming shall be separating vs 40-41
Has it occurred to you that the vast majority of people alive when Jesus returns will not be glad to see Him come? For millions and perhaps even billions, (with a b) Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn...it shall be a day of great terror. Those who have never prayed will hide Revelation 6:15 ...themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And pray to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
There are many metaphors used in the Bible to describe this time of separation. There are the tares and wheat of Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. There are the "sheep and the goats" of Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Our text declares that the second coming will be a time of separation: Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
A popular book series (16) and (4) movies have sought to characterize this time of separation based on the first book, "Left Behind" by Dr. Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Whether you believe in a "rapture" or not there is one thing that is undeniable and that is the second of Christ will be a time of separation. If you are a Christian you be with Christ for all eternal; everyone else will have to endure separation from Christ, their family and friends forever in a place called Hell.
ILL - When I was a little boy, my brother and I were riding on a country road with my father. Our mother was following behind us in another car. My dad asked if I would like to ride with my mother. I thought that was a good idea, so my father stopped the car and let me out on the side of the road. My mother was probably two or three miles behind us at that time. So, I waved goodbye to my father and brother and began watching for my mother to arrive. Soon I saw her car in the distance and I began jumping up and down and waving my arms.
Suddenly, for some unknown reason, she passed me by. My first impulse was to begin running after her car. Soon, I found myself standing there in tears. I have never forgotten how it felt to be left behind. When Jesus Christ comes back again, many people are going to be left behind. James O. Davis
I've had two of these parting experiences that produced separation anxiety for me. One when I was about 14 and another later at 17. Let me tell you that they were nothing compared to what will happen to those who are not prepared when Christ shall come.
V. His Coming should be sanctifying vs 45-46
The hope of heaven is a powerful strength for godly living that many people seem to virtually ignore in their daily lives. It was Myrtle Erickson who wrote:
Think of stepping on a shore and finding it heaven
of taking hold of a hand and finding it God's hand
of breathing new air and finding it celestial air
of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality
of passing from storm and tempest to unbroken calm
and looking up and finding it home!
Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979) p.545. Identifying Myrtle Erickson as the author came from old notes I took from a sermon by E.M. Fjordbak at Lakewood Assembly of God in Dallas, Texas.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
VI. His Coming should be sobering v. 42, 44
THE CAPITAL DECLARATION
The Dome of the Capitol in Washington D.C. has this inscription: "One God, one law, one element; And one far off, divine event to which the whole creation moves."
SOURCE: SermonCentral.com Citation: Jeff Strite, Church of Christ, Logansport. Indiana.
Verse 44 emphasizes the need for "readiness" at the Lord's return. Someone said, "It is useless to set the day and hour for Christ's coming and it is folly to neglect it."
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
ILL - Dr. Tim LaHaye is a prolific writer of this generation. He writes a lot concerning theology, family, and other Christian subjects. As a young boy, his father took him to the Henry Ford factory in Dearborn, Michigan, for a tour. One thing that caught his attention was the huge electromagnetic crane. At the flip of a switch, all the metal and debris inside a boxcar would shoot up and stick to that electromagnet. However, each time a load was picked up, some items fell back into the boxcar. Passing closer, the boy saw pieces of wood that looked like steel at a distance, but would not stick and fell back into the boxcar again and again. He soon learned that some things in the boxcar were not made of the right components and would fall every time.
Those who do not have the right components of salvation on the day that Jesus shouts will not rise to meet Him in the air.
Conclusion: There is nothing more poignant than considering the end of things. Whenever we experience the end of things it helps us consider what is really important. I was struck this week by John Piper's journal entry: He recounted as he sat beside the bed of his father keeping a vigil. He monitored his breathing, he prayed aloud into his ear with Bible texts and pleadings to Jesus to come and take him. For Piper, he said that he felt an unusual sense of partnership with his father as he pressed on the Lord to relieve his father, this warrior of his burden. He thanked God that his father is not suffering but quietly going home. His breathing stopped. Nothing more. He stroked his fathers head and sang: "My gracious Master and My God Assist me to proclaim To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of thy name". His journal entry then recounted the faithfulness of his father: "Daddy, how many thousands awaited you because of your proclamation of the great gospel. You were faithful. You kept the faith, finished the race, fought the fight. "Make friends for yourselves with unrighteous mammon that they might receive you into eternal habitations." Piper called the rest of his family His final words were: "Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for sixty-one years of faithfulness to me. I am simply looking into his face now. Thank you. You were a good father. You never put me down. Discipline, yes. Spankings, yes. But you never scorned me. You never treated me with contempt. You never spoke of my future with hopelessness in your voice. You believed God's hand was on me. You approved of my ministry. You prayed for me. Everyday. That may be the biggest change in these new days: Daddy is no longer praying for me. I look you in the face and promise you with all my heart: Never will I forsake your gospel. O how you believed in hell and heaven and Christ and the cross and the blood and righteousness and faith and salvation and the Holy Spirit and the life of holiness and love. I rededicate myself, Daddy, to serve your great and glorious Lord Jesus with all my heart and with all my strength. You have not lived in vain. Your life goes on in thousands. I am glad to be one. I kissed him on his cold cheek and on his forehead. I love you, Daddy. Thank you. It was 12:55 as I walked out of room 4326. Just before the elevators on the fourth floor in the lounge, a young man in his twenties was sitting alone listening to his iPod with headphones. I paused. Then I walked toward him. He stopped his music. Hello, my father just died. One of the greatest tributes I could pay to him is to ask you, Are you ready to meet God? "Yes, Sir." That would make my father very happy. You know Jesus is the only way? "Yes, Sir." Good. Thank you for letting me talk to you".
