The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 24:33,
"Even so, when you see all these things [signs at the end of the age], you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I [Jesus] tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
At the end of his earthly ministry, just before his crucifixion, Jesus was in Jerusalem and as he was leaving the temple area, his disciples came to him and asked him two questions of timing: when will the destruction of the temple take place and when will the end of the age come when Jesus comes again.
The answer to both questions are interwoven in this chapter. The destruction of the temple came in 70 AD, and, of course, the end of the age is something we still await. In addition to some signs to watch for as that day approaches, Jesus made two interesting observations.
His first observation is that no one knows the timing of his return, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Verses 36-39.
If anyone tells you they know when the Lord is coming, ignore them. They don't know what they are talking about. Some so-called "Christian" groups have had their beginnings, at least partially, on the basis they thought they knew the date the Lord would be coming. As an example, the Seventh Day Adventists had their (the Millerites) beginnings based on such foolishness in the 19th century.
The other observation, conversely, is that we, as believers, should know the season. "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things [signs Jesus gave to watch for], you know that it [the Son of Man coming] is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Verses 32-35.
"Even so, when you see all these things [signs at the end of the age], you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I [Jesus] tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
At the end of his earthly ministry, just before his crucifixion, Jesus was in Jerusalem and as he was leaving the temple area, his disciples came to him and asked him two questions of timing: when will the destruction of the temple take place and when will the end of the age come when Jesus comes again.
The answer to both questions are interwoven in this chapter. The destruction of the temple came in 70 AD, and, of course, the end of the age is something we still await. In addition to some signs to watch for as that day approaches, Jesus made two interesting observations.
His first observation is that no one knows the timing of his return, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Verses 36-39.
If anyone tells you they know when the Lord is coming, ignore them. They don't know what they are talking about. Some so-called "Christian" groups have had their beginnings, at least partially, on the basis they thought they knew the date the Lord would be coming. As an example, the Seventh Day Adventists had their (the Millerites) beginnings based on such foolishness in the 19th century.
The other observation, conversely, is that we, as believers, should know the season. "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things [signs Jesus gave to watch for], you know that it [the Son of Man coming] is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Verses 32-35.
I have two of my own observations. It seems there have always been those in every generation who thought the Lord was coming in their lifetime. The other is, many generations never realized or had a full appreciation for the historical significance of the times they were living in.
Matthew 24 is a chapter we should all be well-educated in.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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