The BLB Blog

The official blog of Blue Letter Bible

The New Testament on the Second Coming of Jesus (continued)

Posted on Posted by

20130306_Ntprophecies

Guest post by Justin Alfred

Previous posts in this series:

Last week, we finally entered the primary focus of this study:  an analysis of the the New Testament prophecies considering the Second Coming of Jesus. We began with Matthew 24, and will continue to unpack that passage over the next few weeks. Jesus Himself is speaking in Matthew 24, so the passage is of primary significance in its prophetic insight.

In last week’s post, we introduced the first two of several important points found in this passage. Today’s post is a continuation of the second point.

Matthew 24:4-14

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. 10 “And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. 11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. 12 “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.

“Wars, famines, and earthquakes” (verses 7-8)

Jesus says that all of these—wars, famines, earthquakes—are the beginning of “birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8). He also says, “see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end” (verse 6). In this instance, the phrase “see that” is from the Greek word ὁράω (horaō), which means “to perceive with the eye, to be mentally and spiritually perceptive, and to experience an event.”

As if He were anticipating the “fear” that would come with seeing “wars, famines, and earthquakes,” Jesus quickly dispels any reasons to hold such fears. He tells them, “that is not yet the end.” He wants His disciples, including us, to spiritually perceive and experience His peace in the midst of seeming chaos, and He wants us to rest in the fact that He is in control—that such madness is “not yet the end” but that there is a greater end.

Here’s the good news: Jesus’ message has been the same for the past 2000 years, and it will remain the same until he returns! When He comforted His disciples with these words, He offers the same words to us today. For example, many people thought that Adolph Hitler was the Anti-Christ, and that WW2 was the prelude to the Tribulation; however, he wasn’t and it wasn’t. On the other hand, God still sovereignly used WW2 as the staging ground for the re-establishment of the Nation of Israel! Consequently, God is in control! We do not know when Jesus is returning, nor do we need to. We can just rest in the fact that He is, that no matter how hellbent the world becomes, this is “not yet the end.” The end is so much greater.

“They will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name” (verse 9)

At the return of Jesus, persecution of God’s people is going to be great in its scope and its reach. It will permeate the world’s population in every geographical area. Yes, we are promised that we will be delivered from God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:9-11), but on the other hand, we have also been told and promised that persecution will come to all who are following Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:1-13).

We have been living in the “last days” for 2000 years. This may seem like a long time to us, but in God’s sight “one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). As believers in the Lord Jesus, we need to prepare ourselves to stand for Jesus in the midst of intense opposition and persecution, just as believers have for 2000 years, and just as believers in countries around the world do today.

Let us resolve to be “salt and light” on a “hill for all to see—with real faith—versus a people who hide behind pseudo-spirituality as a cover for our fear to take a public stand for the truth of the Gospel in the “public square” (Matthew 5:10-16).

Next week, we will cover verses 10-14.

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for this study. I look forward for them each time. The disciples as they walked with Jesus as he opened the writings to them, I to to some degree become excited as I follow this study. Again, THANK YOU!

  2. Does this mean that we will experience the tribulation or will Jesus remove us before this occurs? Also, what is your supporting scripture?

    • Bob~

      I hope you don’t mind if I offer an explanation. The verses that Justin cited (II Tim. 3:1-13) tell us that believers will, indeed, experience persecution. This is referring to mistreatment, cruelty, and oppression from the hand of man. However, as the other verses (I Th. 1:9-10; 5:9-11) illustrate, believers will not experience any such thing by the hand of God; we are exempt.* In Romans 1:18, we read, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” For believers, God’s wrath upon our unrighteousness was satisfied through Christ; therefore, we are not subject to it anymore and will be removed during the time when God pours out His wrath on those on Earth who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior. It is interesting to consider that, while this will be a horrific time for those left upon the Earth, it is actually a great, last act of grace on the part of God telling His creation that He does exist and that He does have the right to judge His creation so that, hopefully, they will turn from their sin and to Him and not experience for eternity that which they are experiencing for that present time.

      *Revelation 7:3-4 also says that 144,000 from the tribes of Israel will also be exempt, being sealed to God.

      I hope I have answered your concerns.

      Have a blessed day~
      Barbara

  3. Just as we have been living in the “last days” for 2000 years,is it scriptural to believe that there will be a ‘beginning of the end’ progressing through a series of events over a period of time and culminating in the ‘end of the end’ along with the return of our Lord on to the throne of David to rule the earth for a thousand years with the saints ?

  5. This world is for the glory of God. Jesus is His Name. We are too much concerned with me.

    Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
    Isa 43:22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

    • Bob~

      Could you rephrase what you have written? I read it several times, and it sounds to me like you think that we should forgo Sunday meetings to go help others. Thanks.

      Barbara

      • Barbara,
        We have the example of Jesus and the apostles. There is need of preparation, learning, comfort and corporate worship. Most of the lost are not comfortable with churches. Churches are storehouses and meeting places for those who have heard and are growing in belief. Churches need to be supported so many behaviors are involved with this purpose. We have the example of Martha or the installation of deacons in this yet the gospel is not for physical churches. The religious were too involved, a good Samaritan rather blessed the victim of thieves with love.
        Jhn 4:35, Luk 9:56-62, 14:23, 2Cr 4:3

    • Beautiful chapter in Philippians Bob. But aren’t they all. Paul was really something huh? I have VERY poor eyesight and can relate in that way with Paul. Although I don’t know how in the world he and Silas could have sung while in prison and because they did and stayed in jail a whole family was brought to Christ.

      • Tess, you certainly would sing when suffering for the testimony of Jesus as given voice by the Holy Spirit within you. Your comments, your witness on these blogs confirm this and are edifying for all who read them. We will sing the praises of our God together with all of the members of His Body.

        • 1 Corinthians 13

          Thank you so much Bob,
          I sat exactly where Paul and Silas were both physically and spiritually. I was terrified. I begged to be able to keep my bible and was able to.

          I was able to read in those hours about them and although I could not sing I thought about them alot that night. I think when the doors of prison are open there can be only one answer to why we’d still stay seated. We’re busy reading and singing hymns to God and sharing that joy with others. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can do something like that. Every fleshly, intellectual thought would have said at that moment. OK you are free to go. Of the flesh we would do just that. After all there were great signs and the door flung open but something in them allowed them to realize I’m not done with my story and my song yet. I think maybe when we are able to keep the flesh at bay and listen to the Spirit and finish our witness THEN we are able to be free indeed. After all, we are not on this earth to escape trials and tribulations. We’re here as witnesses to the glory and majesty of God.

          We, of course don’t know what they talked about and how they reacted. I chuckle sometimes and think, I bet Silas said, PAUL! Look, the doors are open let’s go and Paul responded I’m not done yet and Silas might have said, OK you want me to go get help? And Paul might have said, no wait a minute son, we have all the help we need right here but these poor other fellers don’t so let’s sit still and make sure they get the message before they step out and face the sword and then when the jailer encountered such behavior it was the very thing that saved both his physical life and spiritual life.

          But those are just my thoughts and I’ve been noticing they are often attacked by others but that’s their problem, not mine. I understand the perplexities, the motivations and higher theological bible battle and sometimes babble, but I learned the ABC’s of salvation long ago. He’s still revealing and teaching the rest of the Spirit filled alphabet to me and it glitters with such brilliance that I know I’ll never tire of it. I love to tell The Story, twill be my fame in glory. To tell the old, old story, of Jesus and HIS love. There are great big gems of glory waiting when we allow the Spirit to lead us into ALL truth. I sit and read these posts and grab up the gems ya’ll drop along the way. The Lord and I take them out one by one. We marvel together we chunk the faux and then we start anew each day gathering up glory and watching as it sparkles. Those sparkling gems will be my garments some day in heaven. I’m all about the bling! 🙂

          Be blessed and well Bob. And please brother. Share the bling of the remez, derash and sod He reveals to you with me. I’M INTO IT! LOL