Further Thought: “The man who received the one talent ‘went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.’” “It was the one with the smallest gift who left his talent unimproved. In this is given a warning to all who feel that the smallness of their endowments excuses them from service for Christ. If … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 25:13-30. What role does using our gifts have in preparing us for the return of Christ? Though Jesus told a different parable here than the one just before, both talk about being ready for the return of Christ. Both deal with those who were ready and those who weren’t. And both show the fate … Continue reading –>
After His discourse in Matthew 24 about the signs of His coming, in Matthew 25 Jesus talks about how to be prepared for it. Read Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the Ten Virgins. What is Jesus saying here that should help us understand how we can be prepared for His return? Jesus starts this phase of … Continue reading –>
In His great discourse on the end time, Christ points to “the abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15), an image from the book of Daniel (Dan. 9:27, Dan. 11:31, Dan. 12:11) . God declared something an “abomination” when it was a serious violation of His law, such as idolatry (Deut. 27:15) or immoral sexual practices (Lev. 18:22). Hence, this “abomination of desolation” involved some sort of … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 24:9 and Revelation 13:11-17. What parallels exist between what Jesus said here in Matthew and what He inspired John to write about in Revelation? Christ’s concern for His people in the end time includes a global deception that causes nations to oppose the true faith and to impose a false worship on the world. Those who … Continue reading –>
In the final days before the Cross, the disciples spoke with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. Imagine hearing Jesus say that the temple will be destroyed. Who knows exactly what went on in their minds, but the questions that they asked afterward indicate that they linked the destruction of the temple with “the end … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 24:1-25, Rev. 13:11-17, Matt. 7:24-27 , Luke 21:20, Matt. 25:1-30. Memory Text: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24, NIV). In Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus reveals important truths about end times and about how to be prepared. In a … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: The same dragon, Satan, who made war against God in heaven (Rev. 12:7) is the one who makes war with God’s people on earth, those who “keep the commandments of God” (Rev. 12:17; see also (Rev. 13:2, Rev. 13:4). In fact, Satan himself becomes an object of worship, too (Rev. 13:4). So the war against God, which Satan started … Continue reading –>
God’s law, the Ten Commandments, is still binding (see also James 2:10-12) , and that law includes the seventh-day Sabbath. Why, then, do so many Christians keep Sunday when there is no biblical justification for it? Daniel 7 talks about the rise of four great empires: Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and then Rome, the fourth and final earthly … Continue reading –>
As we saw yesterday, the texts commonly used to promote the idea that Sunday replaced the Sabbath say no such thing. In fact, every reference to the seventh-day Sabbath in the New Testament reveals that it was still being kept as one of God’s Ten Commandments. Read Luke 4:14-16, Luke 23:55-56. What do these passages tell us … Continue reading –>
