Monday: The Countdown
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus painted history in broad strokes as He responded to the questions of the disciples: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).
Jesus’ famous sermon, recorded in Matthew 24, covers the uninterrupted, historical timeline from His days until the Second Coming and beyond.
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Jesus wanted to give His people throughout the ages a rough sketch of the divine schedule for end-time prophecies, so that those living at the end of time could be prepared for the ultimate event. He wanted us to be able to rest confidently in His love, even when everything around us was falling apart.
Adventists know well Daniel’s description of “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (Daniel 12:1). Jesus wants us to be prepared for this event, which precedes His Second Coming.
What will His coming be like? How can we avoid being deceived? Read Matthew 24:4-8, Matthew 24:23-31.
Jesus’ coming will be a literal event at the end of time. Considering the space given in prophecy to His return, and even in Jesus’ sermons, this is a big deal.
The last time there was a worldwide climactic event only eight people in all the world were ready for it. Jesus compares the unexpectedness of the Second Coming to that event — the Flood (Matthew 24:37-39). But although no one knows the day or hour of the Second Coming (Matthew 24:36), God has given us a prophetic countdown that we can watch happening in the world around us.
We have been given a role to fill in this prophetic drama. What is our part? Focus on Matthew 24:9-14.
In this cosmic conflict, we are more than just observers. We are to be active participants in spreading the gospel to the ends of the world, which means that we, too, will face persecution.
| What does it mean to “endure to the end”? How do we do that? What choices do we need to make every day in order not to fall away, as many have done, and as many will do? |
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The proximity of Christ's coming has spawned a whole industry of prophetic and current event interpreters that must bring a smile of satisfaction to DVD manufacturers and Internet provider services. Hardly a news event passes, that someone interprets as a "sign of the end" and/or evidence of "God's wrath being poured out". I am in my mid seventies and have been a Seventh-day Adventist all my life and to be quite honest I have heard most of them. Not only the Adventist ones but a lot of other churches who believe and teach the second coming.
You know what happens when somebody gets on a pet topic and every time you see them they start chewing on it again don't you? You either avoid them, or you just close your ears.
I believe we are living in the time of the end. But I do not have to spend my time trying to make signs out of current events. As one Adventist pastor said in a sermon recently; "We don't have to jump every time the Pope sneezes!"
Jesus said:
It wasn't just about where Jesus would come, but about trying to predict his coming by sign watching. The compelling message is that Jesus return will be unexpected.
The big message of the apocalyptic passages of the Gospels is to live now as though Jesus is coming today. There are no brownie points for accurately determining that a particular event is a sign. Now is the time to develop a relationship with Jesus. We are more effective witnesses if we live as though we are in the time of the end, rather than being current event commentators.
'Enduring to the end' and 'spreading The Gospel' in the meanwhile is a 'message' I grew up with. Looking back, although the spreading of The Gospel is meant to be about focussing on others, the whole package was rather self-focussed. I remember prayer at church each week typically concluding with "may we be found ready and waiting" - which was along the lines of 'may we be found faithfully holding down the fort by defending its doctrines'.
I have since learned - via the difficulties of life that I encounter and which others encounter - that Christianity (and Adventism in its earlier days) was always meant to be about getting out there to assist others in whatever way we can because we are all travelling a journey together - and there are one of two destinations our journeying will take us.
On a day-to-day basis, it doesn't really matter whether Jesus coming is in 1 year, 10 years, 100 years or 1000 years. Every day there are people who are either trying to live their lives - or struggling to live - and some of them are looking for something more, even if they don't yet know what that is. And at the same time I am growing in my walk both personally and in the course of interacting with other humans who are journeying.
If I think back to the time when I was part of 'holding down the fort' versus now venturing out from the 'fort' with God to be part of the humanity that is journeying, there really is no comparison between the two. Journeying with others, providing practical help to benefit others with no-strings-attached and, where they are open to it, chatting about what life is about and where its headed is so much more 'alive'. I am waiting for God to return and end the suffering and distress that so many people are experiencing - but I am not just waiting around anymore...
Matt.24:9-14KJV -
Could it be that in this passage - 'the love of many shall wax cold' - speaks to iniquity rising in the ranks of those who confessed to believe the Gospel of Christ?
Could it be that some will give up their faith in the Gospel of Christ Jesus, saving themselves by betraying their former brethren?
Could it be that this is the true test the believer experiences as they wait for the coming of the Lord - 'to hold on to the faith and self-sacrificing love and so endure to the end'?
I think the time of the end will greatly test the believer's love of the Father and our fellow man. How do we prepare for this:
Hebr.12:2-3 Amplified Bible -
" ..looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Rom.12:2 Amplified Bible -
"And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
Phil.4:8 Amplified Bible
"Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect whatever is right and confirmed by God's word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in our heart].
When Jesus told His disciples about this coming disaster, they thought that something that destructive could happen only at the end of the world. For this reason, they asked Him, " 'When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?' " (Matthews 24:3, NKJV).
The disciples were actually asking two differen questions. Their first question, " 'When will be the signg of Your coming, and the end of the age?' ". In His reply, as recorded in Matthew 24, Jesus blended the two events. He told about events that would lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D 70.
The Jewish historian Josephus describes the devastating effects of the siege. He says that the starving people "driven by hunger, some ate manure; some, the cinches of their saddles;......"The Destruction of Jerusalem, " D.J. Muehlenbruch, trans. (St. Louis, MO; Concordia Publishing House, 1922).
These events would serve as a preview of what would happen just before His second coming.
In Matthew 24, Jesus mentioned the signs that would precede His return. These signs reveal the nearness of His coming.
The lesson:
The Saviour did not give us a date for His coming, but He did tell us about signs that would allow us to know when it was near. Jesus' sermon on last-day signs focuses on four specific areas:
1). Signs in the realm of religion,
2). International affairs,
3). Nature, and
4). Society.
These signs include false spiritual revivals, global conflicts, wars, famines, natural disasters, pestilences, pandemics, rising crime, increased violence, waning morality ,and finally the rapid spread of the gospel to the whole world.
Matthew 24 outlines the signs of Christ's return; Revelation 14 is an urgent appeal to be ready for His coming.
May we all be prepared! May we all be watching! May we all choose to be with Jesus every day! "As in the days of Noah...!" How come only such a small group of people were listening to the call of God? Are we going to be like that too, even among brothers and sisters of the same congregation? Where is our focus today? Are we asking ourselves these questions? Are we too busy about our own business and forgeting about the Lord's? Which part are we playing in the individual Mission that God has for each one of us?
In Matt 24(Mark 13, Luke 21) Jesus replies to two questions with one answer, which gives students of prophecy a general view of what will prevail before the return of Jesus in glory.
The main message of Jesus was contained in His first and last words: “Take heed lest any deceive you”(Mark 13:5), and “Take heed, watch and pray!”(Mark 13:33). If we understand Daniel(12:10), the wicked shall not understand, but the wise shall understand. So when Jesus says “Take heed”, He is telling us to be wise, for as Daniel tells us, “God giveth wisdom unto the wise”(Dan 2:21). We have seen many take the words of Jesus and misapply them, so we must be wise in order to understand.
I believe one of the best descriptions of "our part" is found in Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” In Matthew 25 Jesus tells three parables that illustrate the manner in which God's people must “take heed” and “watch”, and their first work is to have oil in their Lamp.
Those three parables of Matthew 25 demonstrate the meaning of enduring to the end, by remaining faithful to duty.
Robert - as you probably noticed, when reading your comments I often inquire about the meaning you place in a word, your understanding of it.
I am curious how you understand 'duty' in the context of faith and the commandment to love one another. You understand 'that Matthew 25 demonstrates the meaning of enduring to the end, by remaining faithful to duty.'
The definition of 'duty' per Oxford dictionary:
1. a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility - "It's my duty to uphold the law".
2. a task or action that someone is required to perform - "the queen's official duties".
I am sure that you and I are very conscientious persons who seek to meet obligations to the utmost of our abilities. Believing and following the Faith of Christ, His Gospel, in a practical way is what I accepted *when I confessed that I believe*.
There is one overarching component of Christ's Faith without which I cannot do this; it is Christ's new commandment - love one another - John 13:34-35.
When the Pharisees as the upholders and defenders of the legal aspect of the law, trying to find proof that He is a blasphemer, asked Christ Jesus to tell them which is the *great commandment* in the Law, Christ Jesus answered them by pointing to the essence on which all written law rests.
In Matt.22:34-40, Christ Jesus is recorded saying that 'loving God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind' is the great and first commandment. The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Concluding His statement, He highlights again the importance of Love by saying that - "On these two commandments DEPEND all the Law and the Prophets."
Is this how you understand 'duty', that without also coming to emotionally, from the heart, loving God and our fellow man we cannot please God? - 1John4:20.
I see "duty" as a term to generally describe something perhaps more specific. When we respond to the gospel and surrender ourselves to Christ as our Lord, we will have "duties" in this new life to remain faithful to. This might be very specific in our daily life and we are led to some place to do some thing in service of the Lord. It could also mean to not look back at our former life with certain fondness, and eventually find ourselves back in the same position as slaves to sin.
There are terms such as "fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life", or "...let him deny himself, take up his cross", or "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God", etc. So our Christian "duty" is to follow the Lamb wherever He leads us in this life. One duty for the Wise is to keep our lamp filled with Oil.
A quick google search for "Christian Duty" found this:
What are the duties of a believer?
Job Description
Be a Living Sacrifice (Romans 12: 1-2)
Work Out Our Salvation (Philippians 2: 12)
Bring Him Glory (Matthew 5: 16)
Proclaim the Gospel (Mark 16: 15)
Love People (John 15: 12)
Make Disciples (Matthew 28: 19-20)
Other Duties as Assigned (Ecclesiastes 3: 1)
Robert - thank you for your reply. I appreciate what the google search pointed out as the 'duties' of a believer, though these remain 'works' when done *without* the underlying motivation of love for God and man.
My question was posed to find out your personal understanding of 'remaining faithful to duty'. How do you remain faithful to 'duty', what motivates you?
I can understand remaining faithful to the Gospel message or faithfully remembering that it admonishes us to love God and love our fellow man, but how does one 'remain faithful to duty'? Can one 'do the *right* thing', which is based on faith, without love? I suppose so, - the priests and Pharisees did that.
I can see one 'doing right' without loving the recipient when one wills himself to do 'what is expected of him/doing the right thing', being motivated by self-discipline or perceived duty one has imposed on oneself - legalism, works. I think dedication based on this type of motivation can/will lead the faithful to become judgmental and feeling *burned-out*.
My hope is that we remain "faithful to always loving God', HIS Justice, which is mingled with Mercy and Grace - His wisdom; loving our fellow man when we do 'what is right in our Father's eyes' - conducting ourselves loving and caring as we diligently engage in the life of service for others." - John 15:12; Rom.12:1-2?
After reading the lesson today, the statement, stay ready popped into my mind. Although no one knows the day or hour of the Second Coming (Matthew 24:36), my thoughts are to stay prepared. Stay ready, meaning we don’t need time to prepare to give the best version of ourselves. I'm staying open and willing to do what it takes to get right with Christ. Don’t wait until you get your life together. If you are working on your relationship with Christ, keep going. Pray and prepare. May we all be prepared! Don’t wait until you get your life together.
I recommend watching Ty Gibson's 4 part series entitled The End for an interesting perspective on the End.
What to expect and how to prepare.
Religion, Politics, Economics, Preparations.
How the signs will increase exponentially in speed and intensity, like childbirth.
The End
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Before Christ returns, satan comes claiming to be God. Many will be deceived thinking he is Christ. Matthew 25:15 again the antichrist will be revealed.26 When you hear he is in the desert, don't go.30 Then real Messiah comes. Mark 13:14 Same warning. 20 The days have been shortened. Revelation 9:5,10. Luke 21 Same story, God's elect will witness against the antichrist. So many of us know of our saviors return, how could we be caught off guard? Many will think he is already here. Mark of the beast, worshiping the false Messiah. antichrist comes at the 6th Trump, our savior at the 7th. Do not believe me or any man, read it for yourself. KJV.
I'm not sure if anyone has already mentioned this or not. I like how Jesus Himself warned us of what will come to pass, especially the part that will be vitally important in these last days of history, "24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand."
Jesus already knows what the enemy of our souls will do to deceive many in the time of trouble; how he, Satan, will send out false christs and false prophets with messages that may sound good "on the surface", but full of errors, but just enough truth to be "believable".
Also, I like how Jesus also warned us about those false christ and false prophets will "show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the very elect"; this is a direct warning to us, His elect. I don't know what those great signs and wonders that the enemy will use, but this is why Jesus again warns, "Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it." Jesus is using repetition (He said this twice) in the hopes that His warnings are clear and that it will stick within our minds.
It's going to be seriously crazy time. For example, what if one of the signs and wonders is that a false prophet is healing all kinds of diseases. You should not be surprised to see how many people will flock to that person, just to see if they can be healed too. But Jesus said, do not go, "do not believe it". He said, "See, I have told you beforehand"(Matthew 24:25), or paraphrasing, I told you that this would happen.
It's definitely going to be a crazy, weird experience for those of us that are still alive during that time of trouble. But we can Rest in Christ that He will bring us through it., I pray that we remember Jesus' words and warnings. He said "...I will never leave you nor forsake you", Hebrews 13:5. Use any of God's word to help bring you comfort, and we will make it through (our current time and the time of trouble) with His help. Rest in Christ!
Sorry if I'm repeating this interpretation, if someone else already spoke on it. But I have been thinking about this since I read all the Bible text for this week's lesson on Sabbath afternoon. Please don't think that we can not be deceived. However, the only way to not be deceived is to continually pray (pray without ceasing) and stay connected to Jesus.
I would like to add what I think my role is, to what the lesson asked. Isaiah 49:8 and Luke 19:9 are just two texts that tell us that salvation is TODAY, as well as some time in the future. Our role is to show this to those that are searching. Until they understand that it is for them, today, telling them about someday down the road, won’t give them the peace they’re looking for right now. Once they experience this peace in their day to day lives, then they will be able to understand the bigger picture and look forward to eternal peace. At least that is how I see it.