He Is Coming Back
I speak of my grandchildren often. Maybe because God answered my prayers when He blessed us with them. But also because young children teach us so many lessons. Like when they would cry when their parents began dropping them off at our house. In my attempt to calm them, I would always tell them “He (or she) is coming back”. In Matthew 24: 1-14 Jesus began talking to His disciples about the end of the age. In particular, the signs that will signal the beginning of the events that will occur before He returns. While people may disagree on whether current events align perfectly with Jesus’ description of those “beginning of birth pains” signs, one thing is sure…. Jesus is coming back! And when He returns, He will establish His kingdom and deliver His people from the madness and chaos of this world. I pray that we will not be anxious about what is happening in our world, but will all maintain our faith in Jesus to the end and be ready for His return. Amen
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:1-3)
When the disciples came to Jesus in admiration of the temple that Herod had constructed, Jesus took the opportunity to speak to them prophetically about the future. He told them that the temple that they so admired would be destroyed. Because of Jesus’ pronouncements about the destruction of the temple, and earlier, the desolation of Jerusalem (see Matt. 23:38), some of His disciples came to Him later in private and asked 2 questions. When would the destruction of the temple occur? Additionally they asked Him, what sign would signal the end of the age and His return? Jesus addressed the second question in the following verses.
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8)
Jesus answered them with a warning, saying they should not be deceived by those who claim to be Him or alarmed by the occurrence of global wars and natural disasters that will come. All of those would indicate the beginning of the end of the age.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14)
While wars, famine and natural disasters will come, Jesus said the end times will also bring the persecution and death of Jewish believers. (Note: Jesus here in these verses was speaking specifically regarding things that would occur to Israel and His Jewish followers. These pronouncements are similar but not identical to Revelation 6 prophecy regarding the Church). This will cause many of them to turn away from their faith, hate and betray one another. Wickedness will increase during that time and love for Christ will grow cold. But in the midst of all of that, the good news of God’s kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world and turn people to Christ. Those who keep their faith in Jesus to the end of this period, will be delivered from it’s horrors and allowed to physically enter into God’s Kingdom.
While Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matthew 24, about things that would happen to Israel, Jerusalem and Jewish believers before His return, there are takeaways for the Church embedded in His message. Most importantly, Jesus will return! What does that mean for us as Christians? (1) We need to be ready (not get ready). (2) We need to avoid getting excited by false teachers and rumors. And (3) we need to hold on to our faith in Him and endure to the end for our salvation. There continue to be people who believe they have seen the signs and it is the end of the age. Jesus told us not to get anxious about the catastrophic events, the signs or the people who claim current events prove that the end is here. Instead, just stay ready and keep our faith in Him. Beyond that, there’s only one thing we really need to know… He’s coming back!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
