Tag: Matthew 24:36
“Watch out that no one deceives you.”
Scripture reading for October 11: Matthew 24-25
These chapters of Matthew contain the last major teaching of Jesus to his disciples as recorded by this Gospel writer. Jesus remarked to His disciples about how not one stone would be left upon another at the temple. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:2-5)
Deception will be a mark of the last days before the return of Jesus Christ. The world we live in is full of counterfeit religions and cults that claim that they are the only way to God. In the church there are numerous false teachers who are deceptive and seductive. Jesus pointed to wars and rumors of wars among the nations as signs. There would be famines and earthquakes in numerous places and great distress. Persecution of Christians will result in the death of the saints and hatred toward God’s people. Many will turn away from following Jesus and their love for God will grow cold. (Matthew 24:6-13)
As for when this would take place, Jesus had a different warning. Jesus emphatically taught that no one will know the day or hour of His return. (Matthew 24:36) It will be like the days of Noah when the flood came suddenly and swept the world of that time away. It would be like a thief coming to a house suddenly at night. It would be like a master coming back to find his servant neglecting his duties and doing evil. The point of these illustrations was that each person must be in a state of readiness at all times. Jesus would return at a time when we least expect it.
To illustrate this point, Jesus told two parables. The first was about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. The virgins consisted of five who were foolish and five others who were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil for them. The wise took oil along for their lamps and were ready. The bridegroom was delayed and they all fell asleep. The midnight cry woke them up to prepare for his arrival. Only the wise were prepared and got to go with the bridegroom to the wedding feast. The foolish were late and missed the party!
Our Lord just emphasized the need to be prepared for the immanent coming of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Are you prepared? Is your lamp burning bright and have you purchased plenty of oil? May the truth of this message cause faith to arise to watch and work in expectation of the wedding banquet!
The Day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24: Ezekiel 29-32
Whenever they got into trouble, Israel would often seek to go back to Egypt. After Moses led them out with a mighty deliverance, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that that was a land of idolatry and slavery. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel and left a remnant there in the land of Israel, that group went down to Egypt for protection, against the advice of Jeremiah the prophet. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 was a prophesy given to Ezekiel concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned them that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt and that the Lord was sovereign. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel was to then announce that the day of the Lord was near. That day was to be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. His Word from the Lord came to pass and Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
We often hear the messages of the “day of the Lord” and “the end” and tend to think that they are a long way off. We feel that this could possibly be thousands of years away, or at least, not in our lifetime. I want to encourage you that this day could be today! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. We don’t know when that day might come, but we do know that it is nearer today than yesterday!
The sign of the Son of Man
Scripture reading for July 30th: Matthew 24
Key Scriptures: Matthew 24:27-31 “”For as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, an the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man 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. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.””
Matthew 24 records one of Jesus’ last teaching concerning what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age. The disciples had asked Him specifically about the sign and the end and Jesus described coming events leading up to the end. A great tribulation with many falling away and increased wickedness would occur first. Those days would be cut short for the sake of the elect and with great suddenness and publicly displayed glory, the Son of Man would come to earth and gather His elect. This is not the rapture, which occurs before the great time of tribulation and happens discretely, taking believers like a thief in the night. These are those saved during the tribulation and immediately following there will be great signs in the heavens and on earth. The final sign is the appearance of Jesus Christ seen by all earths inhabitants. Those unsaved will mourn as they bow to the King. The elect will be reaped by chosen angels. This is the ultimate sign of the end of the age!
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.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I trust You to bring this evil age to an end at the time You have chosen. I thank You for mercy and encouragement for those who are truly saved and part of Your eternal family. Help me today to share the sign of the Son of Man and His return to earth with those in need of Your grace and salvation. May no one I know or love have to mourn at Christ’s return.
Matthew 24:44-46 “”Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom His Master has set over His household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom His Master will find so doing when He comes.””
The day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. After Moses led them out of Egypt by God’s powerful hand, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that Egypt was a land of slavery and God had called them out of there. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel, a remnant left there in Israel chose to go down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 God gave Ezekiel a prophetic word concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt ever again and that the Lord was sovereign over nations. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel announced that the day of the Lord was near. That day would be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
When we hear the message about the “day of the Lord” and “the end”, we tend to think they are a long way off. We believe that they apply to a distant time, possibly be thousands of years away and surely not in our lifetime. However, we should be living as if today was the day! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is nearer today than yesterday! Are you ready?