Signs and the 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)  Persevere.  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.
    • (23 – 26)  Many false teachers and false Christs would occur, including some with miraculous powers.  At this time, Satan was still loose, albeit exiled, on the earth, so such powers were quite likely.
    • (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.