The Second Coming of Christ
Part 4: God Talks about the Timing
The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 24:29-44
Sermon by Rick Crandall
(Prepared March 10, 2023)
BACKGROUND:
*Please open your Bibles to Matthew 24, and we will study two more of the Lord's parables. You may remember that a parable is simply an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and Jesus told about 40 parables during His earthly ministry.
*But before we read our Scripture, you should know that in Matthew 21 Jesus had reached the last week before His crucifixion and resurrection. Now here in Matthew 24, Jesus began to talk about His second coming. Verses 1-3 tell us why:
1. Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2. And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.''
3. 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?''
*Today's parables are part of the Lord's answer to their questions. And these parables help us get ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Let's begin by reading Matthew 24:29-44.
MESSAGE:
*By this time, it was only 2 or 3 days before the cross. Jesus had just finished condemning the Jewish leaders for stubbornly rejecting Him as the Messiah. The Lord also condemned them for their arrogance, their lack of mercy, their hypocrisy, and more.
*Then, here in Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples that every stone of the Temple they admired would be thrown down. That's why in Matthew 24:3, "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?'"
*When will these things be? Today we will talk about the timing. But there are some questions about the timing, so I want to start by focusing on some sure things in today's Scripture.
1. FIRST: THE RETURN OF OUR REDEEMER IS SURE.
*The return of our Redeemer Jesus Christ is very sure. Verses 29-31 make this truth clear, because Jesus said:
29. "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.
31. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
*In these few verses, the Lord tells us 9 things that will surely happen. We can look forward with a sure hope that it will be just as He said. Our Redeemer will surely return!
*Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that more than a fourth of the whole Bible is future prophecy. Over 1,800 references to Christ's return appear in the Old Testament. And in the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are more than 300 references to the Lord's return. Twenty-three of the 27 books in the New Testament refer to this great event!
*Dr. Sweeting reported that for every single prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 prophecies for the Lord's second coming. What a comfort this is for us as Christians. Jesus is coming again! The return of our redeemer is sure! (1)
2. ANOTHER SURE THING IS THE BIBLE, BECAUSE IT IS THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD IS TIMELESS.
*Down in vs. 35, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." The Bible has been ridiculed, and rejected, but it never has, and it will never pass away!
*Author Chuck Colson gave this testimony about the Word of God, "The Bible: Banned, burned, beloved. More widely read; more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it, and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. And fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints." (2)
*Wise men and women down through the ages have looked to the Word of God for strength and renewal in life. And if you want something you can hang on to, something that will last forever, this is it! No matter what kind of madness is going on in the world, and no matter what kind of problems you are facing in your personal life, hang on to the Word of God, because the truth of God's Word is timeless.
3. BUT TODAY'S SCRIPTURE TALKS ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE LORD'S RETURN. AND THE TIMING OF THE SEASON SHOULD BE STUDIED.
*Jesus talked about the season of His return in vs. 32-34. And here, the Lord said:
32. "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 very doors.
34. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled."
*Bible scholars see a picture of Israel in this parable, because the fig tree was one of the symbols of Israel. In Hosea 9:10 for example, the Lord God said, "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, and separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved."
*That verse shows us two of the Old Testament symbols for Israel: The fig tree and the grapevine. John Phillips tells us that the grapevine picture of Israel showed up a few days before this discussion between the Lord and His disciples. The grapevine was central in a parable Jesus told the Christ-rejecting chief priests and elders in the Temple.
*That parable is back in Matthew 21, where Jesus said:
33. "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
34. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
35. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.
37. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
38. But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'
39. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?''
41. They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.''
42. Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
44. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.''
45. Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.
46. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
*The grapevine was an Old Testament symbol of Israel. But in John 15:1-2, just a few hours before the cross, Jesus made a change when He said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
*In New Testament times, Jesus Christ is the true grapevine. But what about the fig tree? John Phillips explained that the fig tree here in Matthew 24 was the symbol of Israel for two very specific times: The generation that was alive during Jesus' ministry on the earth about 2,000 years ago, and the generation that would be alive when Jesus would come again. Both of these generations are alike in this big way: The Jewish people would be living in the land, but not believing in their Messiah, spiritually symbolized as a fig tree with leaves but no fruit. (3)
*In the final days before the cross, Jesus addressed the nation of Israel as a fig tree, and He did it two ways. The first was through a powerful miracle, and the second was through one of today's parables.
*The miracle of the fig tree took place back in Matthew 21. One of my study Bibles estimated that it was very early on this same day. Jesus was on the way to the Temple that morning, and God's Word says:
18. Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again.'' And immediately the fig tree withered away. (4)
*This was the only judgment miracle Jesus ever worked. And He did it because that fig tree represented the leadership, and most of the people in Israel at that time. They had the appearance of fruit, but no fruit, because they had rejected their Messiah.
*That's why John 1:10-11 says this about Jesus: "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."
*Now here in Matthew 24, Jesus used the fig tree as a timepiece for His return. Again in vs. 32-34, Jesus said:
32. "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 very doors.
34. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled."
*The problem was that just as the physical fig tree withered and died, the nation of Israel also withered and died, just as the Lord said it would.
*In the Luke 21 report of this discussion, in vs. 23-24 Jesus said, "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
*That horrible destruction that took place in 70 AD. The Roman army under General Titus destroyed the Temple, and over 1,100,000 Jews were killed. But the Romans under Hadrian crushed a second Jewish rebellion in a 3-year war that ended in 135 AD. During that later war, the Romans killed 580,000 Jews, and completely destroyed the City of Jerusalem. They are thought to have run plows over at least part, and maybe even the whole city. The surviving Jews were expelled and banned from ever returning to Jerusalem. (5)
*Jesus said the Jews would be led away captive into all nations, and they were. The fig tree was dead, but not forever, because our miracle-working God had other plans! We could spend days talking about the rebirth of the nation of Israel. We could look back at Ezekiel 36-39 to see the dry bones of the dead nation coming back together, and coming back to life. We could also study the great future war that will come between the coalitions of nations lining up today.
*But for now, let's focus a little on the return of the Jews to their homeland. God prophesied that this would happen. For example, in Isaiah 43:5-6 God gave this prophetic word for the Jews: "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth."
*In 1880, there were more than 7 million Jews in the world, but the Jewish population in Palestine was next to nothing. However, God was about to fulfill His promise in Isaiah 43. The first large migration began in 1882. Then, when World War I began in 1914, there were 80,000 Jews living in Palestine.
*The Balfour Declaration of 1917 gave British approval for the Jews to establish a national homeland. Great Britain later backed down in the face of Arab pressure, but 400,000 Jews had settled in the homeland by 1939. In that year, Great Britain reversed their support for a Jewish homeland. They announced an absolute limit of only 75,000 more Jews being allowed to immigrate to Palestine. But the Lord Jesus wasn't in on that government decision! So, in 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence. And today there are about 7 million Jews living in Israel.
*In Luke 21:24, Jesus said Jerusalem would be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled. And Jerusalem was under the control of the Gentiles for almost 2,000 years. But on Wednesday, June 7th, 1967, the Jews regained control of the city during the 6-Day War, and they have had it ever since.
*For the Jews to do this was a miracle from God, for the Jews to even exist after 20 centuries is a miracle of God. No other conquered people in the history of the world have survived with their national identity intact. The Lord miraculously brought the Jews back to Israel. And He miraculously gave them victory over their enemies.
*The fig tree has been putting out leaves, but the vast majority don't believe in the Lord, yet. There are estimated to be only 20 thousand Messianic Jews in Israel today. So after almost 2,000 years, Israel, the fig tree, is in the same situation it was when Jesus went back to Heaven: Living in the land, but not believing in their Messiah. (6)
*But again in vs. 32-34, Jesus said:
32. "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 very doors.
34. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled."
*This is why the timing of the season must be studied.
4. BUT WHEN WE STUDY THE TIMING, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE DAY HAS BEEN DELAYED.
*As the Lord said in vs. 36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." We have to be very careful not to set a specific date for the Lord's return.
*Jesus tells us that knowledge of His return date has been delayed. This fact is certainly true for unbelievers. We know this, because in vs. 37-39, Jesus said:
37. "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."
*Knowledge of the Lord's return day is delayed for unbelievers, but it is also delayed for Christians. As Jesus told His followers in vs. 42, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."
*What do the years 1000 AD,1874, 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1992, and 1994 all have in common? These were all years when people wrongly predicted that Jesus would return. (7)
*One of the most frantic times regarding the Lord's return was just before 1000 AD. None of the events required by the Bible were taking place, but there seemed to be something special about the number 1,000. During last months of 999 AD, everyone was on his best behavior. Worldly goods were sold and given to the poor. Many groups of pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem to meet the Lord there. Buildings went unrepaired. Crops were left unplanted. And criminals were set free from jails. But we do not know what hour our Lord is coming. (8)
*I have a book titled 101 REASONS WHY CHRIST RETURNS BY 1988. I got it back in the late 1970's, and it's a good book too. Most of the 101 reasons make perfect sense. But of course, Jesus didn't return in 1988.
*Probably the most tragic prediction in modern times happened in 1992. A Korean group called "Mission for the Coming Days" had the Korean churches in an uproar. They predicted Oct. 28, 1992, as the date for the rapture. Numerology was the basis for the date. Several camera pictures somehow contained ghostly images that were thought to be a supernatural confirmation of the date.
*An estimated 5,000 people sold their homes and deserted their jobs and their families to wait for Jesus' return. Several expectant mothers reportedly had abortions so they could be more easily raptured. What a horrible mistake! And anybody who tries to set a specific date for the Lord's return is making a mistake. (8)
*Many different people in different places at different times with different theories have predicted the date for Jesus to return. They were different in a whole lot of ways, but they all had one thing in common: They were all wrong. So we must be careful not to set a specific date for the Lord's return, because our knowledge of the day is delayed.
5. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE READY, SO THE NEED TO PREPARE IS PARAMOUNT!
*The Lord warns us in vs. 37-39:
37. 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."
*The need to prepare is paramount, so Jesus stressed this truth again in today's second parable. In vs. 42-44, Jesus said:
42. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."
CONCLUSION:
*Everybody needs to get ready for the Lord's return. This is so important that the Lord gave two more parables to help us. And Lord willing, we will look at those over the next couple of weeks.
*But are you ready for the Lord's return? The only way to get ready is to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. So trust in the cross of Christ and the price He paid for our sins. Our Risen Savior Jesus Christ is surely coming again, and He will surely save anyone who will trust in Him. That is the only way to get ready for the Lord's return.
*Make sure you are ready as we go back to God in prayer. But Christians, since we are ready, we need to do everything we possibly can to help more people get ready. Let's ask the Lord to help us as we go back to God in prayer.
(1) SermonCentral illustration submitted by Guy Caley - Source: "Today in the Word", MBI, December 1989, p. 40
(2) Quotation by Charles Colson - Source: "Bible Illustrator for Windows" - Topic: Bible - Index: 414-434 - Date: 10/1995.10185 - Title: Bible
(3) Adapted from "Israel, God's Timepiece - Parable of the Fig Tree" by John Phillips - Dr. John Phillips Ministries International - drjohnphillips.com
(4) "Harmony of the Gospels" - THE OPEN BIBLE - "The Old Time Gospel Hour Edition" - Copyright 1975 by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville TN - "Harmony of the Gospels", p. 868
(5) http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/e31.htm
(6) Sources:
-SermonCentral sermon "The Role of Israel in the Last Days" by John Stensrud - Matthew 24:32-39 - Immanuel BC of Elgin, IL on Dec. 9, 2001
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Jewish_history
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Israel
(7) Russell Chandler, "Doom's Day" - p. 91 - Source: Sermons.com sermon "When Satan Comes Out of the Closet" by James Merritt - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
(8) Sources:
-"End of the World Date Prediction Timeline" - RaptureReady.com - 06/15/2004 - Source: http://rense.com/general53/endt.htm
-"Miscalculated Rapture: October 28, 1992," - WEF-Theological News 23, no. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1992), 1 - Source: "The Imminent Return of the Lord" by Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D. - Chafer Theological Seminary - CTSJ 4:1 - January 1998 - Chafer.nextmeta.com/files/v4n3_radm.pdf
