The Sign of His Coming
Matt 24- The Sign of his Coming
This subject- argued and debated over centuries, with views constantly changing from one generation to the next.
This is no surprise as it is the dream of any believer who understands the event; to be around when the Lord Jesus returns. Therefore everyone wants it to be right…for them.
Around 1/3 bible is about the latter events of the history of the world.
The bible which was written many years ago speaks of a distant event and yet each generation that lives believe that they will be there to witness it, this one being no different. Apostle Paul gave hints that he might see the day.
Its not that any are wrong in hoping or believing it is just the prize is so great. We are urged to live our lives as if the Lord were to return today.
The big question
Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Matt 24:3
Last week we looked at a general overview of the signs of the end of the world
1- Increase in population
2- Increase of knowledge
3- Increase of wickedness
4- Increase of self gratification
5- Increase of irreverence towards God
But today I want to see what Jesus says about this incredible second part to the question they asked of Jesus
What sign will signal your return?
This question of the disciples was an incredible one, which gives huge indicators that they had grasped something of the teaching of Jesus. What sign will signal YOUR return? They recognized that Jesus was coming back. Could it be that they had remembered the amazing words that Jesus gave them. Don’t let your heart be troubled, trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:2-3
Jesus has taught that he WILL come again; he will come back to establish his Kingdom and to reign in it, but prior to that to judge the world for their sin.
At the same time the church, the believers in Jesus Christ will be rescued from this coming judgement, the wrath of God by being gathered to him… the bible goes on to say “and then they will be forever with the Lord.”
In the days immediately before the Lord’s return there will be some horrific things happening across our world.
In our modern times Hollywood is obsessed by the Apocalyptic, with films about huge meteors and disasters destroying the world and within that man’s quest to save mankind from destruction. This will not be how it ends.
The Bible says that God has ordained a time. In the light of this what does the bible say about the end of the age and the sign of his coming?
It says that things are going to get worse and worse and last week we looked at the general things.
It talks of an unprecedented time. V21 for there will be greater anguish than at any other time since the world began.
Great Tribulation
Some say this time has happened in the first century, but as evil, wicked and horrific it was those days there have been times when the world has fallen even lower in its destruction and hatred of God’s people.
Some 2m Jews died in the first century, but since that time countless millions have died under other evil antichrists, in our modern times Stalin said to have murdered 10m, Hitler 6m but in this time before the Lord’s return it will be worse that all of these and any other time in the history of the world.
Theologians often refer to this time as the Great Tribulation, recognising that God’s people have always faced tribulation as they do today, but that day will surpass it, it will be a time of Great Tribulation.
Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don't be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don't believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 2 Thess 2:1-4
Here in Thessalonians Paul is writing about the same events,
The coming of the Lord and the gathering of his people in v1 The same two questions that the disciples asked in Matt 24. This is known as the day of the Lord.
But clearly here it states before Jesus returns this man of lawlessness, Antichrist, which ever title you want to attribute to him has to come. He will act as God as the Messiah and promote himself to the WORLD and the world will follow. The context in v 4 is the same as v16 in Matt 24. “The abomination of desolation “.
Let’s look at this time of Great Tribulation and see how Jesus answered this question about his return in these verses.
1- There will be false Messiah’s v
2- Wars and rumours of wars v6
3- Famines and earthquakes v7
4- Martyrdom and death v9-11
5- Sin will be rampant v12
6- Great signs and wonders will seem to have taken place. V24
The scroll in Revelation
Revelation gives us a picture of a scroll in chapter 5-6. Only Christ is worthy and able to open it and read it.
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.
No one was found able to open it…except Jesus. Why because Jesus had shed his blood, redeemed his people and conquered the grave and now was glorified. He is worthy and he alone to judge the world.
Jewish culture the scroll was always the law, whether it be the Torah attached to the front door or whether it was a legal document which contained the conditions or punishments of a given crime.
They were rolled and sealed. The outside of the scroll contained the indictment and the inside the judgement. Now obviously the scroll could not be fully read until the seals were broken and unrolled.
The seals were conditions that had to occur before the scroll could come into fulfilment.
In the scroll mentioned in Rev 6 there are 7 seals all relating to the conditions leading up to the scroll been read and the judgement given.
This is this Great Tribulation that Matt talks about.
It is not God’s wrath, it is only on the day when the 7th seal is broken when God himself come; in the person Jesus to judge the world.
Seal 1- Antichrist, Seal 2- War, Seal 3 Famine, Seal 4- Death, Seal 5 Martyrdom, Seal 6-
When these other conditions happen they are still just birth pains, the main event is still to come.
What then will be the sign immediately before the return of the Lord?
God has always given us signs, just as in the 1st coming of Christ- Jacob’s star
In 13 books of the O.T and from teaching by John, Peter, Paul and Jesus the sign of his coming will be this…
“Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Matt 24
Revelation says
I watched as the lamb broke the 6th seal and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood and the stars fell to the earth …Rev 6:12-14
The universe will go black and then Jesus will comeFor as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. Matthew 24:27
Jesus will literally be the light of the world
No wonder the world will be awestruck, no wonder every knee will bow, no wonder the world will mourn
And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. 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 the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world*—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Matt 24:30-31
Why will there be a deep mourning- because the church and God himself through his angels would have been declaring to the inhabitants of the earth about his return through this tribulation period. Satan will continue with his lies trying to counter this, it will be a time of mass spiritual warfare, many believers will be martyred.
Then they will see, everyone will see him, it will be too late to change
The question is, do you know Christ, and on that day, will he be your Saviour who rescues you from Wrath of God or will he be your judge.
Some say how God can act in this way. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. 2 Pet 3:9
Judgement has to come on disobedience and the breaking of any laws. God laws are the highest laws and everyone whatever their status in life will be judged for what they have done. But God has made a way out so that we will not face the wrath of God, but people reject it, believing that Jesus will not come back.
You are entitled to your own opinion but God is never wrong. Can that be said of you or me?
Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." 2 Peter 3:3-4
Conclusion
These events are too big to grasp, I spent over a year studying the Day of the Lord and I am still a beginner, but the importance of all this is to know that you know that know the Lord for yourself, don’t be caught out, because it will be too late.
Whatever difficult times we face, if this generation see the Lord return we know that the future is glorious r
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Tribulation can’t, death can’t, Satan can’t, evil can’t, persecution can’t, nothing can…
So encourage each other with these words
When he comes the bible says that we will be changed in an instant in the twinkling of an eye, out of these decaying bodies into a body fit for God, fit for glory and all because Jesus loves us and has saved us, it is not about us it all about him.
To those of us who know Jesus personally what are we doing to tell others about Jesus? The final days of this world will be a time when we have to make our minds up, how much do we really love the Lord?
Are we prepared to lay down our life or be imprisoned for him?
Even today thousands if not more, believers are facing this question. The church is in apathy, tribulation time could come any time and it will show the real church the real people of God…are you one of them or will you be deceived are you living a lie. Behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation
What happens then?
The Lord comes in great glory to earth to judge and at the same time he calls believers to himself, he gathers us together, to himself.
The believers who have already died will be raised together with the believers who are still on the earth.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died* will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. .1 Thess 4
The believers will be longing for the Lord’s return, due to the persecution going on in the world
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 2 Thessalonians 1:7
Do I believe in a literal period of Great tribulation, yes, because that is clearly what the bible teaches, and I believe on the authority of God’s word that the church will go through it…But be spared before the Lord himself comes in wrath to judge the world?
Satan himself is the orchestrator of these trouble times, through the Antichrist. That day will not come unless there is great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed 2 Thess 2:3
But above all else I believe that Jesus is coming back soon and we better be ready