The End Is Near Series

Several years ago, a businessman had to drive to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for work. He rented a big, brand-new, Chrysler 300 and enjoyed the ride so much that he blew past the first tollbooth. He had an I-PASS in his own car, so he didn’t think anything about it.

Then he realized that the rental car didn’t have an I-PASS, and he started to worry. He thought, “This car belongs to the rental-car company—not me. So they're probably responsible for any tolls, which may be covered in the cost of the rental.”

He drove past another toll, thinking, “Even if I am responsible for the tolls, there's only a few tolls between here and Indiana—maybe $4 round trip. I'm sure there's some threshold where they don't even bother sending you a bill for the tolls. I mean, it wouldn't be worth their time to send a bill for only $4. Nothing's going to happen!”

After he returned home from his business trip, a month or two went by. Nothing happened—and he knew nothing ever would. But then, six months later, he received a piece of mail that read: “Notice of Toll Violation.”

He was right, to a degree. The Tollway Authority didn’t bother sending him a bill for a measly $3.90 in tolls. But when they added in a $20 fine for every one of the 5 tollbooths he drove past, they did bother sending him a bill for $103.90!

He about had a heart attack. They had a photo of his rental-car's license plate and a record of the exact lane number he was in. The fact that months had gone by, and nothing had happened, didn't mean that nothing was ever going to happen (www. PreachingToday.com, April 2008).

A lot of people have the same attitude when it comes to Christ’s Second Coming. Nothing has happened so far, so they think that nothing will happen. But the signs of Christ’s Second coming are casting their shadow today like never before, and I believe something is about to happen.

We’ve been studying what Jesus has to say about the future in answer to three questions His disciples had asked him: When will the calamity come? What is the sign of Your coming? And what is the sign of the end of the age?

So Jesus answers those questions in reverse order: He described very clear signs for the end of the age. He described very clear signs for His Second Coming. And today, we’ll see His description of the timing of it all. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Matthew 24, Matthew 24, where Jesus sets the date for the coming tribulation and His Second Coming.

Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only (ESV).

What? No date! I expected a date, and I’m sure His disciples did too. But Jesus makes it very clear: “No one knows except His Father in heaven.” Oh, Jesus COULD know the timing of His return, because as God He is omniscient! Rather, in His humanity, He chose NOT to know.

And that makes perfect sense when you understand the wedding customs in Jesus’ day. In Jesus’ day, when a man wanted to marry a woman, he would go to the woman’s home and negotiate a bridal price with her father. After he paid that price, he went back to his father’s house to prepare a place for him and his bride to live. That preparation usually took about a year under the watchful eye of the man’s father. Then, when the father declared that the place was ready, the man would return to his bride’s home and bring her back to their new home together. That’s why only the father knows the time. The man might try to rush his preparations in anticipation of bringing his bride home, but the father wouldn’t let him. Only when the father was satisfied that their place was ready, would he allow his son to go and get his bride.

2,000 years ago, Jesus came to our home and paid the bridal price for his bride, the church. He did not pay that price with silver or gold, no. He paid that price with His own shed blood on the cross (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus gave His life for His bride! Then He rose again, after which He went back to His Father’s house to prepare a place for her (John 14:2-3).

I’m sure Jesus wanted to come back as soon as possible for His bride, but His Father kept saying, “No, not yet.” Now, it’s been 2,000 years since He left, and that place must be nearly ready! Imagine, after all that time, how magnificent our new home will be. It can’t be long until the Father says to His Son, “Your new home is now ready. Go and get your bride!” Perhaps today! So dear believer, just...