Signs and a Thief in the Night
Matthew 24 (see also Mark 13 and Luke 21)
- (1 – 2) Jesus commented that the Temple would be destroyed.
- (3) In response, the disciples asked two questions:
- What will be the signs of Your coming?
- And the end of the age?
- (4 – 34) Signs of the destruction of Jerusalem
- (4 – 5, 23 – 26) False claims to being the Christ
- (6 – 8) Wars, famines, earthquakes
- (9 – 10) Persecution of Christians
- (11) False prophets
- (12) Lawlessness will increase; love will decrease.
- (14) The gospel will be preached to the whole world.
- (15) Connection to Daniel 9:24 – 27.
- (13, 16 – 20) When Jerusalem is attacked (Luke 21:20 – 21), get out of town. Pray for good timing for escape.
- (21 – 22) Worst time on all of history. But God will keep it short for the sake of the Christians.
- (27 – 31) Figurative section.
- (27 – 28) It will be quick with lots of death.
- (29) Sounds like Joel 2:30 – 32, the same as Peter cited in Acts 2.
- (30) A reference to Daniel 7:13 – 14, Jesus receiving His kingdom upon His return to heaven.
- (31) Gathering the elect into the church.
- (32 – 34) Pay attention. All of this will happen in this generation
- (35) Transition to the second question
- (36) Answering the second question
- (36) No one but the Father, not even Jesus while on earth, knows when the end of time will be.
- (37 – 39) Like before the Flood – a total surprise.
- (40 – 41) Not according to geography.
- (42 – 51) Parable of the faithful servant who was prepared at all times versus the evil servant who delayed preparation because he thought he had time.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11
- (13) The topic is the disposition of deceased Christians.
- (14 – 17) Deceased Christians will return with Jesus and be joined by physically living Christians in the air. Everyone gets their resurrection bodies together (1 Corinthians 15:35 – 53).
- (1 – 2) The Thessalonians were well aware that the end will come unexpectedly.
- (3) The end will come when predictors say it is not.
2 Peter 3:3 – 12
- (3 – 4) Some will ridicule the concept of the end of the physical realm, claiming that the laws of physics don’t change.
- (5 – 6) The skeptics overlook Noah’s flood. Catastrophic changes have happened.
- (7) Judgment Day will come with fire.
- (8 – 9) The promise of Judgment is not slow in coming. The delay is due to God’s patience.
- (10) The physical realm will be consumed without warning (no signs).
- (11 – 12) Use this fact as a reminder to be prepared at all times.