GETTING READY FOR HIS RETURN

September 06, 2021

The whole point of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24 is to clear up our misunderstandings of the second coming of Christ and get us ready. If you want to know the exact time of His coming, you will be disappointed, for only the Father knows that hour.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN BEFORE HIS RETURN?

Jesus clarifies several things. Before He comes, there will be ...

• False Messiahs and false prophets.
• Wars and rumors of war.
• Famines and earthquakes.
• Persecution of believers.
• Many supposed believers who fall away.
• Lawlessness will increase, and most people’s love will grow cold toward Christ.
• The great tribulation will come.
• The sun and moon will be darkened.
• Stars will fall from the sky, and the heavens will be shaken.
• People will be living life normally, unsuspecting of His coming.

Christ describes a lynchpin moment in His teaching. It is the one qualifier that defines the time of His coming.

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (vs. 24) 

WHAT WILL HIS COMING BE LIKE?

His coming will be sudden and inescapable. We will see the Son of Man “coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory, and He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other” (vs. 30-31).

SO, HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE?

The whole point of Christ teaching in this marvelous chapter is that He is coming. He has promised, and His word will not be broken, and we must be ready. Those who are found trusting and following Him will be “put in charge” in the coming days of His kingdom.

“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” (vs. 44-47)

Millions are ready and faithfully serving Him. Are you?

Father, thank You that Your Son will return and began the final process for the coming of a new heaven and new earth. Thank You for your clear teaching and call. Help us take your gospel to every tongue and tribe and people and nation. Give us grace to be ready.

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