April 1, 2010
SOMEDAY, IT WILL BE TOO LATE, BUT WE STILL HAVE TODAY.
Matthew 24:15-31
Scott Coy
Central Truth
This is one of the key passages given to explain the future return of Christ. The disciples asked Jesus, "[W]hen will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming [again]?" (Matthew 24:3)
Key Verse | Matthew 24:30
"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN [caps mine], and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY 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
Serious followers of Christ and religious enthusiasts have been trying to get their arms around the "end times" for millennia. Though God has committed large portions of His Scripture to the subject—including Daniel and the Book of Revelation—He has made it obvious that He alone knows the time of Christ's return. God has not given us any secret formulas or codes to sleuth out the answer so that we can dazzle members of our community groups.
Understanding the times and signs of Jesus' return is another issue entirely. He wants us to be ready and to invest our lives as though He is coming back today! And He may! When He does come for His Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) or when He returns to reign (Matthew 25:31), there will be no more second chances for us to participate in sharing the good news of Jesus, no more opportunities to share our story of grace, and no more opportunities for us to love the unlovable or serve the needy. We will have no more occasions to extend forgiveness or reconcile conflicts that may have given us the opportunity to tell our friends, family, or associates about the One who gives life.
My philosophy of ministry changed a number of years ago when I realized that friends I shared life with died before “their time,” and I would never have another "better" chance to express my love or Christ's love to them again. I decided that Jesus provided today to me, and future chances to share my faith are not guaranteed. Do I still miss opportunities? You bet I do, but not nearly as many. Jesus could have chosen a million different ways to tell people about His love, forgiveness, and purposes. But He chose you and me, and we have been given today.
Jesus is coming again. Are you waiting for a better opportunity? Do you have someone to call and ask their forgiveness or tell them you love them? You still have today. Love faithfully those that God puts in your path today.
Discussion Questions
1. List any unfinished business you have that you would like to complete before Christ returns.
2. Do you have anyone in your life who would ask, "Why didn't you tell me about Jesus?"
3. What holds you back from living a life of urgency when it comes to living like Christ's return is imminent?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The Bible tells us that Jesus will come back to earth! How does it say He will come back? What should we look for?
2. Draw a picture of Jesus returning using verses 30 and 31.