Matthew
24:32- 25:13
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation* will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”—Matthew 24:32-35 *Greek translated race
1.
Not one stone of the temple shall be left upon another which will not be torn
down (Matthew 24:2)
2. Many will come in my name saying I am the Christ (Matthew 24:4-5)
3. You will hear of war and rumors of war (Matthew 24:6)
4. Nation will rise against nation and kingdoms against kingdom and there will be famines and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7)
5. They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name (Matthew 24:9)
6. Many will fall away and deliver up one another and hate one another. (Matthew 24:10)
7. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many (Matthew 24:11)
8. And because lawlessness is increased most people’s love will grow cold (Matthew 24:12)
9. The abomination of desolation will be standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15)
10. There will be a great tribulation (Matthew 24:21)
11. Unless those days had been cut short no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short (Matthew 24:22)
12. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29)
13. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30)
14. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather His elect from the four winds from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:31)
A Message from Jesus to the elders, pastors and teachers:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”—Matthew 24:42-44
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”—Matthew 24:45-51
A Message from Jesus to engaged couples and to working men and women:
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”—Matthew 24:36-41
What does this say about Christ’s return?
1. People will still be eating and drinking and going to parties. (There is nothing inherently wrong with that if it is not done to excess.)
2. Couples will still be getting engaged and planning their wedding. (There is nothing inherently wrong with that either but they must be willing to change their plans at a moment’s notice if the Lord comes back.)
3. Men will still be working hard at their jobs. (There is nothing wrong with that but they must be aware that their co-workers need to hear the gospel before it is too late).
4. Women will still be working hard at their jobs. (There is nothing wrong with that either but they too must be aware that their co-workers need to hear the gospel before it is too late.
5. When the Son of Man comes normal life as people now know it will all change forever.
A Message from Jesus to teenage boys and young single men:
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.” –Mark 13:32-34
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.” –Mark 13:35-36
I don’t know if any of you have ever pulled guard duty on the night shift before, but I have. I can tell you it was very hard to stay awake. I can also tell you when the drill instructor came to the door in the middle of the night I was glad that he did not find me asleep on duty.
Article 113 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) states:
“Any sentinel or look-out who is found drunk or sleeping upon his post, or leaves it before he is regularly relieved, shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the offense is committed at any other time, by such punishment other than death as a court-martial may direct. Maximum punishment:
(1) In time of war. Death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.
(2) While receiving special pay under 37 U.S.C. § 310. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years.
(3) In all other places. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year."
That is man’s punishment. God’s punishment is much more severe.
2. Many will come in my name saying I am the Christ (Matthew 24:4-5)
3. You will hear of war and rumors of war (Matthew 24:6)
4. Nation will rise against nation and kingdoms against kingdom and there will be famines and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7)
5. They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name (Matthew 24:9)
6. Many will fall away and deliver up one another and hate one another. (Matthew 24:10)
7. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many (Matthew 24:11)
8. And because lawlessness is increased most people’s love will grow cold (Matthew 24:12)
9. The abomination of desolation will be standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15)
10. There will be a great tribulation (Matthew 24:21)
11. Unless those days had been cut short no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short (Matthew 24:22)
12. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29)
13. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30)
14. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather His elect from the four winds from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:31)
A Message from Jesus to the elders, pastors and teachers:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”—Matthew 24:42-44
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”—Matthew 24:45-51
A Message from Jesus to engaged couples and to working men and women:
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”—Matthew 24:36-41
What does this say about Christ’s return?
1. People will still be eating and drinking and going to parties. (There is nothing inherently wrong with that if it is not done to excess.)
2. Couples will still be getting engaged and planning their wedding. (There is nothing inherently wrong with that either but they must be willing to change their plans at a moment’s notice if the Lord comes back.)
3. Men will still be working hard at their jobs. (There is nothing wrong with that but they must be aware that their co-workers need to hear the gospel before it is too late).
4. Women will still be working hard at their jobs. (There is nothing wrong with that either but they too must be aware that their co-workers need to hear the gospel before it is too late.
5. When the Son of Man comes normal life as people now know it will all change forever.
A Message from Jesus to teenage boys and young single men:
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.” –Mark 13:32-34
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.” –Mark 13:35-36
I don’t know if any of you have ever pulled guard duty on the night shift before, but I have. I can tell you it was very hard to stay awake. I can also tell you when the drill instructor came to the door in the middle of the night I was glad that he did not find me asleep on duty.
Article 113 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) states:
“Any sentinel or look-out who is found drunk or sleeping upon his post, or leaves it before he is regularly relieved, shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the offense is committed at any other time, by such punishment other than death as a court-martial may direct. Maximum punishment:
(1) In time of war. Death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.
(2) While receiving special pay under 37 U.S.C. § 310. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years.
(3) In all other places. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year."
That is man’s punishment. God’s punishment is much more severe.
A
Message from Jesus to teenage girls and young single women:
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
"‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
"‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also
came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” –Matthew 25:1-13
I must say first of all explain that these virgins in this parable are not being given or taken by the groom. He is coming for the bride. These virgins are her bridesmaids. To understand this parable you have to have some knowledge of the ancient Jewish wedding customs, which Jesus did because he had attended at least one Jewish wedding feast.
1. The first step is the betrothal or contract made by the groom with the bride’s parents.
2. The second step is the bridegroom goes away for a period of time to prepare their new places of residence.
3. The third step is the return of the bridegroom to get his bride for the wedding celebration. This was usually at night. The groom and his best man and other groomsmen would go to get the bride by torch-light and return to the groom’s father’s house for the wedding celebration. Because the bridesmaids and the bride does not know which night he will arrive, the groom’s men shout ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ to wake the bride and her bridesmaids up.
4. The bridesmaids of the bride would accompany the bride and the groom and his groomsmen and they would have their own little oil lamps to light the way.
The bridesmaids and the bride know that the groom may come at any time. Of course the bride would be ready and waiting expectantly and the bridesmaids were also supposed to be ready and to have their lamps trimmed and to have enough oil in their lamp to make the night time journey to the wedding ceremony. The foolish bridesmaids had lamps but they brought no oil for them. They like the idea of being called bridesmaids and hanging out with the other girls their age and playing games but they were not willing to pay for the oil.
I remember when Janet and Jonathan got married and it was time for her and the bridesmaids to go down the aisle. The church door was shut right before I walked her down the aisle. They had orders that no one gets in after the door is shut because all the attention is now to be on the bride and not the latecomers.
So what does it mean to “Watch!”? Another way of asking this question is to ask “What does it mean to live expectantly?”
1. It means to wake up in the morning with the thought that this may be the day that the LORD comes back.
2. It means that you do all of your work wholeheartedly throughout the day as unto the Lord and not to men.
3. It means that you let your light shine before men and women and teenagers and children in such a way that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
4. It means that you share the truth of the Gospel with your unbelieving family members and friends and classmates and co-workers every chance you get because, they may never get another chance.
A Message from Jesus to everyone:
“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”—Mark 13:37
Let’s pray.
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” –Matthew 25:1-13
I must say first of all explain that these virgins in this parable are not being given or taken by the groom. He is coming for the bride. These virgins are her bridesmaids. To understand this parable you have to have some knowledge of the ancient Jewish wedding customs, which Jesus did because he had attended at least one Jewish wedding feast.
1. The first step is the betrothal or contract made by the groom with the bride’s parents.
2. The second step is the bridegroom goes away for a period of time to prepare their new places of residence.
3. The third step is the return of the bridegroom to get his bride for the wedding celebration. This was usually at night. The groom and his best man and other groomsmen would go to get the bride by torch-light and return to the groom’s father’s house for the wedding celebration. Because the bridesmaids and the bride does not know which night he will arrive, the groom’s men shout ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ to wake the bride and her bridesmaids up.
4. The bridesmaids of the bride would accompany the bride and the groom and his groomsmen and they would have their own little oil lamps to light the way.
The bridesmaids and the bride know that the groom may come at any time. Of course the bride would be ready and waiting expectantly and the bridesmaids were also supposed to be ready and to have their lamps trimmed and to have enough oil in their lamp to make the night time journey to the wedding ceremony. The foolish bridesmaids had lamps but they brought no oil for them. They like the idea of being called bridesmaids and hanging out with the other girls their age and playing games but they were not willing to pay for the oil.
I remember when Janet and Jonathan got married and it was time for her and the bridesmaids to go down the aisle. The church door was shut right before I walked her down the aisle. They had orders that no one gets in after the door is shut because all the attention is now to be on the bride and not the latecomers.
So what does it mean to “Watch!”? Another way of asking this question is to ask “What does it mean to live expectantly?”
1. It means to wake up in the morning with the thought that this may be the day that the LORD comes back.
2. It means that you do all of your work wholeheartedly throughout the day as unto the Lord and not to men.
3. It means that you let your light shine before men and women and teenagers and children in such a way that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
4. It means that you share the truth of the Gospel with your unbelieving family members and friends and classmates and co-workers every chance you get because, they may never get another chance.
A Message from Jesus to everyone:
“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”—Mark 13:37
Let’s pray.
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