Signs Of The Second Coming Of Jesus
9-7-2011 Vol. 5 Part 7
Psalms 41:7-13 NLT All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst. "He has some fatal disease," they say. "He will never get out of that bed!" Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. LORD, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back! I know You are pleased with me, for You have not let my enemies triumph over me. You have preserved my life because I am innocent; You have brought me into Your presence forever. Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen! Father we praise your name, we give you all the glory. Jesus we ask that you comfort all that have difficult times like victims of floods and droughts, this summer. Jesus bless all that read this message and help them with any situation that they may be enduring. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!
Matthew 24:32 – 35
Matthew 24:32-35 NLT "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
The majority of the books of the New Testament mention the second coming of Jesus. With it being mentioned so many times throughout the whole Bible, how can anyone think the world will never end, but yes, there are people who think this. Is it because they have never read the Bible and they don’t know what it states? Could it be they have read it, but couldn’t understand it? Could it be the church they attend has never taught on the topic? Do they think the Bible is just a history book? I blame the churches for not preaching and teaching on the end time events. If pastors, priests, ministers, etc. don’t preach and teach on the second coming of Christ then I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes standing before God. The second coming of Christ is a very important part of the Bible.
This past summer I and a small group of individuals have been going out on Saturday nights in the Illinois Valley and witnessing to people about Jesus. I have been amazed at how many people don’t believe in the end time events and don’t believe there is a God. We have only met a handful of people claiming they are Born Again individuals. I really don’t know if they are, because only God can see what is in their hearts. The majority of people base their faith on themselves and their good deeds, or what makes them happy.
Verse 32: "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. This verse is a parable and Jesus used a lot of parables to help explain what he was saying and also to hide the meaning from others. Do you know why Jesus used parables? He used parables because He knew what was in the people’s hearts. Jesus knew that the Pharisees, Sadducees, and even people of today wouldn’t believe, even when He spoke in plain and simple terms. Mark 4:10-12 NKJV But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that 'SEEING THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND HEARING THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND; LEST THEY SHOULD TURN, AND THEIR SINS BE FORGIVEN THEM.' " He uses parables in a way that leaves nonbelievers confused, but believers will be able to comprehend the truth and true meaning. I feel it fits hand in hand with Matthew 7:7 Ask, Seek, Knock. Jesus wants us to put forth that effort. It is that veil that is lifted when a person gives their heart to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:13-16 NKJV 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.(Meaning the Old Covenant) 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, (Meaning some religions and cultures are still legalistic/ritualistic today and don’t understand totally what Jesus did for us.) because the veil is taken away in Christ. (Meaning Jesus completely did away with all of the Old Testament ritualistic laws when he died on the Cross. The only laws remaining are the moral laws; the Ten Commandments.) 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
So this parable about the fig tree Jesus is referencing the coming of summer. When a tree starts to bud, blossom, and set leaves in the spring you know that summer is just around the corner. This is what Jesus is stating about the end time events. Pay attention to what is going on in the world and around you. Pay attention to what is going on in the Middle East with Israel, pertaining to wars, be aware of shifting weather patterns around the world, make note of the many earthquakes and their intensity globally, take note of worldwide floods, famines, diseases, etc. Matthew 24:6-8 NKJV And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Verse 33: So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! This verse is just stating that all the things listed above will be more frequent and of greater intensity as time draws near to the Tribulation.
Verse 34: Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. What does Jesus mean when he states, “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” in verse 33? This is interpreted by many in various ways. Some think Jesus was talking about the current generation of his time. A time period of 30 - 100 years, so we have proof that was wrong. Others have interpreted “generation” to mean “Israel”. In other words, the nation of Israel would not die out before Jesus returned. We know this is false, because Israel is God’s chosen people and God is going to preserve his people through this present age and into the future. Recently some people have thought that 40 years after Israel became a nation in 1948 Jesus was going to come back in the year 1988. That never happened, so we have another false prophet.
What Jesus is really saying is this, and you have to go back and read verses 3 – 33. Everything Jesus stated in the previous verses ties in with verse 34 especially verse 33 “……when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors”. He is speaking of the generation that will witness the earthquakes, floods, pestilence, etc. As these things keep getting more frequent and with greater destruction, it is a sign the Tribulation is at hand. How soon, we don’t really know so we just need to go on living our life, keeping a close eye on what is happening in the world, and living our life for Jesus so when the time comes we will be Rapture up into Heaven and not have to go through the Tribulation.
I must make a comment here, there are people that think the Rapture happens after the Tribulation. They are referred to as “post tribulation”, but according to what the Bible teaches, the Church (meaning Born Again individuals), will be taken up to Heaven at the beginning of the Tribulation. The book of Revelation substantiates this because in chapters 1 – 5 the church is mentioned numerous times, but starting with chapter 6, the Tribulation, the church is never mentioned or what Born Again individuals will have to do during the Tribulation. If you think about this, it makes sense, because why would God put His saints through those awful times?
Verse 35: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. If you believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, then you have to believe in what the Bible says. After all the Word is Jesus and Jesus is the Word, and we all know God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit do not lie, otherwise the Ten Commandments mean nothing. John 1:14 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
If Jesus says the heaven and earth will pass away, then it will pass away. This doesn’t mean the present earth and heavens will be totally destroyed it only means they will be purged. The heavens and earth will always remain, but there qualities will be altered. They will be renewed and refined, the bad qualities (mans sin nature), and evil forces (Satan), which are present now will be removed and pass away. Satan will no long be able to roam the heavens in search of souls. 2 Peter 3:10 NKJV But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Here again, if you believe, you know what is written in the Bible will come to pass. Jesus words, “My words will by no means pass away”, are just as much alive today as they were when the heavens and earth were created. Here is a couple verses that substantiate this: Matthew 5:18 NLT I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. Isaiah 51:6 NLT Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but My salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Mat_24:35; Psa_102:26; Luk_16:17, Luk_21:33; Heb_1:11-12; 2Pe_3:10-13; Rev_20:11
God hasn’t changed, he is the same today as he always was, and will be in the future. Revelation 1:8 NLT "I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One."
So how much worse do things have to get before the Rapture happens? We don’t know, only God knows. Will I see the Rapture? Yes, I think it is possible. The question is are you ready if the Rapture happens tomorrow, next month, or next year? Have you had a Spiritual Birth, are you living for God or yourself? These are some questions you have to think about, because I can make this statement and be 100% correct. We are all going to die! What is your eternal destiny? Heaven or Hell, there is no in between. If there was an in between called Purgatory which some people believe in, then who is going to pray them into Heaven after Armageddon?
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth,
Unless you are Born Again, you cannot enter into Heaven, the Kingdom of God."
Bill
Last Week’s Trivia: What actually did Jesus hold against the Nicolaitans? Revelation 2:6 NLT But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
Answer: The Nicolaitans were believers who compromised their faith in order to enjoy some of the sinful practices of Ephesian society. The name Nicolaitans is held by some to be roughly the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word for "Balaamites." Balaam was a prophet who had induced the Israelites to carry out the eating of things sacrificed to idols, and to committing fornication. When we take part in an activity that we know is wrong, we may make excuses to justify our behavior, saying that it isn't as bad as it seems or that it won't hurt our faith. Christ has strong words for those who look for excuses to sin. The world needs Christians who will stand for God's truth and point people toward right living.
This week’s Trivia: How big was Og’s bed?
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