March 31, 2016
CARNAGE AND FEARS WILL BE REPLACED BY A TRUMPET AND CHEERS!
Matthew 24:15–31
Su Goldenberg
Central Truth
Just when we think things can't get any worse, Jesus comes to the rescue.
Key Verse | Matthew 24:30
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. (Matthew 24:30)
Matthew 24:15–31
The Abomination of Desolation
15 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 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 heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 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. 31 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.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 24:15–31
All great stories of death and destruction ending in a hero's rescue are only an imitation of the greatest rescue that Jesus pulls off. Never in my greatest fears did I imagine that I would be diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. While I met this diagnosis with some fear, Jesus never allowed me to feel hopeless or abandoned. He calmed my fears and demonstrated to me how He had prepared the way for that time. And He rescued me from one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind.
Today, we read about a time in the future when God will pour out His judgments on this world. Jesus warns us that this time will certainly arrive. It is known as the Great Tribulation and will occur when the Antichrist establishes himself as the god to be worshipped in the Temple. It will be a time of the greatest death and destruction that the world has ever seen. This time can only end when Jesus comes to the rescue. Jesus' return to the earth will be unmistakable and visible to all. And He will return just as He left the earth (see Acts 1:9-11).
Perhaps you have suffered in a way similar to mine or even far worse. I hope you could see God's great provisions as I did. If not, I want to challenge you today to be prepared for a time in your life of great tribulation. It will certainly happen, and only God knows the time. Jesus is the only One who can pull off a perfect rescue. Trust Him with your good times and hard times to come. Know that He is the only rescuer who can bring complete healing from the pain of death and destruction. We are all going to die and experience a life in eternity. He is the only One who offers eternal life with Him, not by our works, but by His grace and love.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you prepared for a time when you will experience difficulties that you will wish never happened?
2. Have you experienced a time of tribulation when you were blindsided by a difficult occurrence? Can you look back on it and see God's provisions? If so, what did you see; or if not, why not?
3. How can God use our difficult experiences to help others?
4. Do you know your Great Rescuer, Jesus Christ, personally? If not, don't wait to know Him because only He knows when our time of tribulation will arise. Visit Watermark.org, and you will find friendly and flawed people, and they can show you how God is waiting to rescue you the way He rescued them!