Matthew 24:3 - As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
If redemption is an important hope for fallen mankind, then the second coming of our Lord is an important hope for redeemed saints!
Among all the major religions in the world, only Christianity gives real hope for the future.
In all of human history, only our Lord Jesus Christ promised to come back for His people.
Among world leaders, Jesus is the only one who gives us the promise of a return.
The teaching of the second coming of Jesus is the backbone of Christianity and a pillar of church doctrine.
That will be the day the dreams of thousands of God’s people’s come true.
Today we believe Him, love Him, serve Him, and worship Him without seeing Him, but on that day, we will see Him face to face.
The hope of the world is in the coming of our Lord.
There is no hope in governments.
There is no hope in religions.
There is no hope in science and technology.
His coming is an urgent necessity in a world where people are tired of politics, religion, technology, and human leadership.
Matthew 24:3 - As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
The disciples asked Jesus three genuine questions:
(1) When will this [Destruction of the Jerusalem temple] happen? (2) What will be the sign of your coming? (Second coming of Jesus) (3) What will be the sign of the end of the age?
There are four witnesses that testify of His Coming:
1. The OT Prophets (Enoch to Malachi) 2. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself
3. The Angels
4. The Apostles (Paul, Peter, James, John & Jude)
There are four signs concerning His Coming:
(We categorizes the 4 signs into four groups)
1. The Jewish Nation
2. World Governments
3. The moral state of the world
4. The signs in nature
Matthew 24: 33-34 - Even so, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. When you see all these things Until all these things have happened. He is near, right at the door.
Compare the study of the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 to the 7 parables in Matthew 13.
1. The Church of Ephesus vs. The Parable of the Sower
Church of Ephesus: AD 30-170
Matthew 13:1-23 – The parable of the sower - The apostles were scattered into the whole world and sowed the seed.
2. The Church of Smyrna vs. The Parable of the Weed
Church of Smyrna: AD 170-312
Matthew13:24 -30 – Parable of the weed - The weed of false teaching and paganism started to grow along with the true seed.
3. The Church of Pergamum vs. The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Church of Pergamum: AD 312-606
Matthew 13:31-32 – Parable of the Mustard seed - The church flourished like a mustard seed when it turned into the Roman pagan church (the small tortured holy secret church became the Roman Royal Church)
4. The Church of Thyatira vs. The Parable of the Yeast
Church of Thyatira: AD 606-1520
Matthew13:33-35 – Parable of the Yeast - The church was corrupted with the yeast of paganism (false doctrines & wicked practices)
5. The Church of Sardis vs. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Church of Sardis: AD AD 1520-1750
Matthew13: 44 – Parable of the Hidden treasure – The Reformation broke out. Individuals like Martin Luther found out the truth of the scripture.
6. The Church of Philadelphia vs. The Parable of the Pearl
Church of Philadelphia: AD 1750-1906
Matthew13: 45-46 – Parable of the Pearl – Missionaries started to travel around the world to spread the truth.
7. The Church of Laodicea vs. The Parable of the Net
Church of Laodicea: AD 1906 – to the Rapture
Matthew 13: 47-50 – Parable of net - The rapture of the church.
Let us be ready to meet our Lord in the cloud very soon!