Yes, Jesus is coming again and we see the signs all around us. That is a central fact that all serious Bible Scholars agree. What Biblical scholars are is not in agreement with is the when of His return. But there are some things we are in agreement about: Jesus will return physically and with power. Jesus will return not just in Spirit, but in His body and Jesus will return on the clouds of Heaven and every eye will see Him.
Revelation 1:7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So, it is to be. Amen.
It will be no secret when He does come. Everyone in the whole earth will know it. The finer points of his actual physical return are described in bits and pieces throughout Scripture and how it is all put together is very much in discussion. Be wary of those who seem to have all the answers, exclaiming everyone else with a different view is wrong.
What is interesting to note, is that in Jewish theology, they look at the coming of the Messiah as not yet happen, but when the Messiah comes, it will be an end time scenario, the Day of the Lord, much the same as we Christians view it. It is believed that many Jews will come to know Jesus as the Messiah before that Day does come. The question this morning is, however, when will that day be? That is the focus of today focal passage. Just when is Jesus coming again?
Matthew 24:32–41
A gardener for a large estate in northern Italy was conducting a visitor through the castle and the beautiful, well-groomed grounds. As the visitor had lunch with the gardener and his wife, he commended them for the beautiful way they were keeping the gardens. He asked, "By the way, when was the last time the owner was here?" He said, "It was about ten years ago." The visitor asked, "Then why do you keep the gardens in such an immaculate, lovely manner?" He said, "Because I’m expecting him to return." He persisted, "Is he coming next week?" The gardener replied, "I don’t know when he is coming, but I am expecting him today." Although he didn’t come that day, he was living in the light of the owner’s imminent return. The gardener wasn’t hanging over the gate, watching down the road to see whether his master was coming. He was in the garden, trimming, cutting, mowing, weeding, and planting. He was busy.[1]
As followers of Jesus we are not to just stand and wait for Jesus to return, we are to be busy until that day comes. Jesus tells us:
Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
We are told, no one knows the day or the time. There is a tension between verses 32-35 and verse 36-41. On one hand we are told to watch for the signs and on the other we are told, that we do not know the day or the hour.
It is interesting to note the three parables Jesus tells in the verses that follow our passage today (and we will be covering them in the weeks ahead). The first parable about thief in the night (Matt 24:43-44) is about His unexpected return. The next parable, about a slave in charge of his master’s household (Matt 24:45-51) is about Jesus’ return that is sooner than expected. And the third parable with the 10 bridesmaids (Matt 25:1-13) is about His return later than expected. Jesus cover all the bases. We don’t know when. his return may be sooner or later, and it will be unexpected.
But Jesus does not want us to be un-aware. The fact that the Day of His coming is drawing closer, should motivate us all the more to bring in more of our friends and family into the fold of God. But the fact of the matter is, the delay of His coming only seems to make us lazy. We put off the things we know we should be doing today. Peter talks about this. He tells us of skeptics and mockers as that Day approaches:
2 Peter 3:3–4 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
So life goes on, day end and day out. Jesus commented on this. Jesus compared this to the day of Noah:
Matthew 24:37–38 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark ...
Noah was sounding the alarm the whole time he was building the ark. 2 Peter 2:5 tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. The people of Noah’s day obviously discarded his message, but they must have wondered about that big boat being built in his backyard. But even Noah did not know the exact time of the flood until God shut the door to the ark, then it was too late for everyone else.
Matthew 24:39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
The world will not understand about the coming of Jesus, and the coming judgment, even though we are sounding the warning. But when that day comes, they will know and the word tells us in serval places that whole world will be morning that day. Why? Because judgment has come. But to the church, to God’s people, we are told to watch for the signs.
Matthew 24:32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near ...
We get this, budding trees indicate the warmer weather is ahead. When we see azaleas in bloom we know spring is here.
Matthew 24:33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
We see the signs. We don’t have to go looking for them. All we need to do is just open our eyes to the world around us. Not only the signs that Jesus mentions in this Olivet Discourse, but from those indicators given to us through a study of the overall scriptures.
We see the beginnings of the one world government and we see the groundwork being laid for the control of the people of the world and we see the possible means for the mark of the beast.
We see the beginnings of governments being shifted from the purpose of government from the model we see in Romans 13, that of authority to keeping law and order, protecting the citizens and rewarding good and punishing evil. governments are now drifting not just into corruption, but a government that models Revelation 13. The Revelation 13 model of government is one that serves Satan, a government that increasingly becomes demonic, promoting evil and calling it good (Isaiah 5:20).
We are seeing and experiencing government turning its political power as a weapon against God and His people. These are happening before our eyes. It is happening not just here, but around the world. In Romans 1 Paul tells us that such rebellion against God results in God giving them over to a depraved mind. We are seeing this not just with individuals, but with whole groups of people and those in government. What are we to make of these things?
For example, the LGBTQ agenda is straight from the pits of hell and we see in our own nation, starting from the very top of our government, is indorsing the LGBTQ adgenda and promoting it. We, as a nation, have killed off a whole generation through abortion. In fact, abortion has become the leading cause of death in the world today. Can the end be far off?
We are seeing the conditions and the stage being set for the one world ruler, the beast of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7 to come onto the world scene. Can we ignore what is taking place?
Matthew 24:34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
What generation was Jesus speaking about? Not that generation in the first century, but the generation that experience all of the sign that Jesus is speaking about in verses 4-28. Wars, famines, betrayals, persecution, the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place, and great tribulations. We are seeing many of these things taking place today and watching for their fulfillment. And Jesus added:
Matthew 24:14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The Gospel is being preached to the whole world. This too is being accomplished today in ways we never imagined possible 50 years ago. And then the end will come. How will we, as God’s people experience this?
Matthew 24:40–41 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
This picture Jesus is giving are folks going about everyday life. Just like in the days of Noah. Eating, drinking, giving in marriage, and in this picture, working at the normal tasks of life. The two men and the two women are similar in circumstances except one is taken and one is not. Do not get hung up about who is the one who is taken and who is left behind. Depending on the scholar/commentator, some say the one that is taken, is taken in judgment, like in the days of Noah. Others will say the one taken is the one taken in the rapture to meet Jesus in the air, as alluded to by the angels gathering the elect as mentioned in Matthew 24:31. This is my position.
However, the point being made here clear, and it is the suddenness and unexpected nature of the of Jesus coming for His own. When it happens, there will be no warning, there will be no getting ready. Look at the verse that follows (the verse we will start with next week):
Matthew 24:42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
The next few messages I will bring will focus on just this fact, our need to be ready, now and always. Are you ready? Or do you think the Lord will delay His coming?
How certain are these things? Jesus said:
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
These words of Jesus are most certain. All of the universe will be wiped out before one word of His Word is destroyed. Jesus said the same, not just these words in this discourse, but for all of God’s Word, the Bible.
Matthew 5:18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
We can trust the Word of God. The word tells us that the Day of the Lord, the coming again of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night (next week’s message). Only the fool will ignore and doubt these words.
The question I’ll be asking over and over again is this: Are you ready? Do you know Jesus? There may be no tomorrow.
It matters little if Jesus comes today, or He gives you your last heartbeat. Are you ready to meet Jesus?
[1] www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/71886/second-coming-by-sermon-central. (From a sermon by Jason Jones, "Redbuds, Baseball, and Turkeys Gobbling" 1/29/2009)
