THE SIGN OF HIS COMING

During Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem before His passion, His disciples were awed by the splendor of Herod’s Temple.  Jesus told them plainly that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed one day in the future.  He said not one stone would remain standing upon another.  It was statements such as these that offended the Jewish leaders, especially when He told them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19; see also Mark 14:58).  To the priests and doctors of the Law this sounded outright blasphemous! 

 

Understandably, Jesus’ disciples were curious about His statement and asked Him about it privately.  They wanted to know exactly when this would happen and what sign would mark the Lord’s return.  The Lord gave a very detailed answer to His disciples, identifying the signs and events that would lead up to His final appearance.

 

“And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3).

 

Jesus wanted His disciples to be armed with the truth so that they would not be deceived or disheartened by what they would see happening around them.  Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24 is divided into five sections that follow the events of the last days chronologically and terminate with His glorious Second Coming.  Let’s explore them together.

 

I.                THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

 

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many..” (Matthew 24:4, 5). 

 

At the top of Jesus’ list of things for His disciples to look out for was DECEPTION.  Deception and lies are the enemy’s most effective weapons against God’s people.  Satan doesn’t care if we use the name of Jesus if he can get us to believe lies concerning the Gospel.  We often focus on the beginning of sorrows being about wars and natural disasters.  We can miss that this period is also defined by the sadness of seeing so many of God’s children being deceived and going astray.  Christians must know the Word of God!  They cannot rely only on others to teach them the Truth – they must trust the Holy Spirit to give them revelation in the knowledge of the Word.  And He will do that!  One of the functions of the Holy Spirit in every believer’s life is to lead them into all Truth (see John 14:26; 16:13).  We must study the Word to show ourselves approved of God: workmen who need not be ashamed, accurately discerning the Truth. (See 2 Timothy 2:15).

 

Jesus prayed several very specific things for the Church prior to His passion.  One of those things was, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.” (John 17:17).  The best defense that we have against any and every lie is to know the Truth.  We are both sanctified through the Truth, and enlightened by the Truth as it sheds light on our pathway and informs our decision making.  There are those, however, who would corrupt the Truth and weave it in such a way as to serve their own selfish motives.  They will appear to us as messengers of the Truth to turn us from the simplicity of the Word, but they are deceivers and pervert what is right.  Jesus warned of this right up front in His discourse in Matthew 24. 

 

After Jesus’ ascension, the distorters of truth wasted no time in seeking to draw away disciples after themselves.  There were still many who were waiting and expecting Messiah to deliver them from the yoke of Roman oppression.  There were plenty of deliverers, zealots, and redeemers who were willing to step into that role and collect followers.  The Jewish historian Josephus tells of one called Theudas during the time when Cuspius Fadus was governor of Judea.  This man persuaded many people to follow him to the Jordan River where he said he would divide it by the word of the Lord so that the people could cross over.  Instead, Fadus came, routed the company and beheaded Theudas.  Acts 21:38 speaks of one called the Egyptian who convinced thirty thousand men to follow him to Mt. Olivet, but his force was defeated by Felix who was then the governor of Judea.  Josephus, Jerome, Origen, and Tertullian all mention others such as Simon Magus, a Samaritan sorcerer who claimed to be some great person; Dositheus the Samaritan who said he was the Christ; and Menander who taught that no one could be saved unless they were baptized in Menander’s name.  Under the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, impostors like these were so frequent that some were taken and killed almost every day!

 

The Apostle Paul warned, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).  Believers make a grave mistake by accepting every soul into fellowship simply because they use the name of Jesus and say they believe in God.  The devil believes in Christ also! (James 2:19).  We must be discerning and learn to judge people by the fruit they bear and not by the words or names they use.  (Matthew 7:20).

 

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8).  The “beginning of sorrows” is a period that is undefined in length.  It began after Jesus rose to the Father and has continued right up to our current time.  It is marked by deception, war, famine, pestilence, and earthquakes.  Jesus said that we should not be troubled by these things as though the end were imminent.  As bad as these things are, they are only setting the stage for what is to follow.

 

II.              PERSECUTION

 

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”  (Matthew 24:9-14). 

 

Persecution is a subject that Christians in Western nations would prefer to ignore.  Surely, God would not allow His children to undergo affliction or martyrdom!  The truth is: they already have and they already are.  In many Arab and Asian countries Christian baptism in water is often a death sentence.  Parents will often execute their own children if they choose to be baptized into Christ and turn their backs on Islam.  Christians in communist countries do not have freedom to worship and evangelize as they please.  There are state churches where the message is regulated by the atheistic Communist Party.  Anything that deviates from that is punished by fines, surveillance, and/or imprisonment.  When one’s life is threatened, it really tests the depth of one’s commitment and confession. 

 

Three things will happen when persecution against Christians intensifies: 1) many (who claim Christianity) will be offended at the Gospel; 2) as Judas betrayed Jesus, so shall many betray one another; and 3) the love of many for Christ shall wax cold.  These three things will make it easier for people to persecute the true followers of Jesus.  Only those who endure to the end will be saved.  The Bible warns of a “falling away” of believers in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2:3).  Once the Gospel of the Kingdom reaches every nation as a witness to the Truth, the end will come.  We can cling to the words Jesus spoke to the Church of Smyrna, however, saying, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10).

 

In the first century, the Apostle Paul wrote, “This know also, that in the last days perilous [meaning dangerous, hard to bear, fierce, savage, and violent] times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1).  He then offers an exhaustive list of behaviors that define these “perilous times.”  There are five that stand out and I believe best characterize the times that Paul is describing.  These five behaviors, along with the three things listed above, will help us to understand the attitudes of people living at this time and explain why they will be more accepting of the persecution that will be focused on true Christians.

 

These five behaviors will characterize people as:

 

1.       Lovers of themselves (2 Timothy 3:2). 

2.      Having no natural affection (2 Timothy 3:3).

3.      Despisers of those who are good (2 Timothy 3:3).

4.      Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4).

5.      Having a form of godliness but denying the power of true godliness (2 Timothy 3:5).

 

Let’s take a closer look at these.

 

LOVERS OF THEMSELVES

 

There’s an adage that says, “You can’t love others until you learn to love yourself”.  Psychologists and relationship experts largely agree that this is not true.  What is true according to the Bible, however, is that if a man loves his life, he will lose it in the end; but if he hates his life in this world, he will inherit eternal life (see John 12:25).  Christianity is about forsaking our own ambitions (which are mostly self-serving and vain) in favor of following the Lord in service to the Gospel. 

 

Jesus said that to follow Him (which should be the aim of every child of God) one must learn to deny himself.  He told His followers, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23).  One cannot be a lover of self and a lover of God at the same time.  I acknowledge that this is a progressive work and that we must die daily to self.  John the Baptist expressed it well when he said, “He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).  One must decide who they will choose to follow as lord of their life.  When one’s heart is divided, he/she will be ineffective and untrue.  When we get stuck in our spiritual walk and can’t discern the presence of God, it is often because we have chosen our own way over God’s path for us.  If we will go back to the place or time where we chose to be self-serving, we will find God waiting for us there to change our hearts.  Modern religion has become unrecognizable compared to the early New Testament Church.  We seem reluctant to jump all in for the Lord and to serve Him unreservedly.  People seem to be content with attending church, confessing to believe and then doing as they please.  I can hear the Prophet Elijah crying out to us from across the centuries saying, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal [one’s true lord, master, or owner], then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).

 

WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION

 

The phrase “Without natural affection” comes from the Greek word “Astorgos” which means “Devoid of affection, unloving, or hard-hearted toward kindred.  It implies the destruction of natural, familial love.” (From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible).  This indicates that in the last days even the bonds of family and friends will be weakened and broken altogether.  People will lack compassion and empathy for their fellow man.  Jesus warned His disciples about these times, saying, “Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.”  (Mark 13:12). 

 

The debate over political ideologies has turned extremely brutal over the last decade.  I have seen families and longtime friends refusing to speak or associate with one another because of where they stand politically.  And I have seen such disagreements become increasingly more violent.  I’m afraid that political and religious assassinations are going to become more commonplace as we proceed into the end times.  The Prophet Micah foresaw such things when he said, “Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.  For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.” (Micah 7:5, 6).  As it was in Nazi Germany and in Communist China under Mao, so will it be in every nation of the world when friends, neighbors and family members will inform on Christians and see them persecuted and imprisoned.  So shall men lose the natural compassion, love, and mercy toward their fellow men and even toward their families.

 

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the scourge of abortions performed in this country every year.  According to Society of Family Planning (#WeCount), there were roughly 1.13 million abortions in 2025.  Most of these were due to financial fears, bad timing, or relationship issues.  For a mother to decide that the innocent life growing inside them is not a person and therefore not worthy of life is one of the most horrific examples of people being without natural affection that I can think of. 

 

DESPISE THOSE WHO ARE GOOD

 

The last days will be marked by a deep animosity toward Christians and sound doctrine.  Already, we are seeing an increase in persecution against churches and Christian organizations.  Today, people open themselves up to attack on social media by simply speaking the truth.  The assassination of Charlie Kirk is blaring example.

 

The hatred that we receive from the world comes from their hatred for the truth.  We represent Christ in this world.  Therefore, we must remember that the world hated Jesus before they hated us; and if they hated the Master, then they will also hate His servants.  John reminds us to “Marvel not…if the world hate you.” (1 John 3:13).

 

LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THEN LOVERS OF GOD

 

Jesus warned of a general complacency that would blind mankind from the signs that would herald His return and from the judgment of this world and its citizens.  He said, “…as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:28, 29).  Modern man is so caught up in their TV, social media, buying and selling, eating and drinking, planting and building that they cannot discern the signs of the times that are all around them.  Lot and his family narrowly escaped the wickedness and moral pollution that was Sodom.  Everyone else was too entangled in it to notice the fire and brimstone falling from heaven.

 

Paul admonished the believers in Ephesus to “…put off concerning the former conversation the Old Man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the New Man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24).  In the Lord Jesus Christ, we have received transformative power to become changed into His likeness.  Such transformation can only occur by faith in the Word of God and love for our heavenly Father.  Whatever we love more than God will become a stumblingblock that will prevent us from reaching our potential in Christ.  We must beware lest fleshly pleasures and love for the world be our undoing.

 

HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF

 

In Moscow, the capitol city of Russia, there is a place called Red Square.  In and around Red Square are two impressive buildings.  The one is the Kremlin which is the administrative seat of the Communist Party and the main residence of the Russian President.  The other is St. Basil’s Cathedral which represents the Russian Orthodox Church.  These two entities can coexist only because the church has been stripped of its power by the government.  The Communist government is an atheistic organization, but they allow a form of godliness only if it is stripped of its power.  The church is not permitted to evangelize or make new converts to Christ, and they can only preach according to state-sanctioned topics which endorse government beliefs. 

 

I mention this arrangement because it is an example of the type of relationship that will exist between the Beast of Revelation (the Antichrist) and the Great Whore (the false church).  John’s vision in Revelation 17 says, “I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored Beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns”.  (Revelation 17:3).  This suggests a strong collaboration between the two.  As is illustrated in our example, the Great Whore has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof.  The very fact that she can associate so closely with the Beast (who receives his power and authority from the dragon, or Satan) shows that she has sold out to evil and committed spiritual fornication with the world and with its leaders.  Who is this Great Whore, and who are her harlot daughters who are also implicated in this wickedness? (Revelation 17:5).  I suggest that any church, Catholic or Protestant, that denies the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to deliver its people from sin and darkness and change them into the likeness of the Son of God has already invited the spirit of the antichrist into its midst.  “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:3). 

 

III.            THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

 

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.” (Matthew 24:15-20).

 

There is a specific event that scripture refers to in both the Old and New Testaments that involves the Beast of Revelation: it is called the “Abomination of Desolation”.  It is one act of unthinkable, abominable defiance against God that will unleash a great desolation upon the world and its inhabitants.  The Prophet Daniel spoke in detail about this event in his book, the Apostle John wrote of it in his Revelation, and Jesus mentions it here in Matthew 24.   While some of these prophetic utterances spoke of specific historic events that Israel would experience, they all reveal a broader, ultimate fulfillment in the last days prior to our Lord’s return.  

 

This Beast (also referred to as the Antichrist) will rise from being a minor influence on the world stage (he is portrayed in Daniel’s prophecy as a “little horn”) to the place where he exalts himself above even the Prince of princes and King of kings.  The ecclesiastical powers of the earth will enjoy the support and benefits of his reign for a time.  This is depicted prophetically by the Great Whore of Revelation riding on the back of the Beast (see Revelation 17).  This Antichrist will make a covenant of peace with God’s people for seven years; but after 3½ years, he will break the covenant and commit the abomination of desolation.  This is when he will enter the holy place (whatever and wherever that may be at that time) and declare himself to be God.  “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2: 4; see also Daniel 9:27 and 11:31).  The abomination appears to include the erection of a graven image of the Beast himself in the Holy Place along with the command to worship it.

 

There are several similarities between Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 and Paul’s admonishment to the Church at Thessalonica regarding these end time events.  The Christians in that city were concerned by false reports and forged letters purportedly written by Paul himself saying that they had somehow missed Christ’s return.  Because of the intense persecution and afflictions that that Church was suffering in Macedonia, they feared that they had already entered the great tribulation.  Paul’s message echoes what the Lord had spoken to His disciples.  He said, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).  The man of sin and son of perdition that Paul is referring to is none other than the Antichrist, the Beast of Revelation, and the Little Horn of Daniel.  In the above passage, notice that there is a strong connection between the “falling away” of believers and the Antichrist being revealed.  This lines up with Jesus’ warning that many shall be offended at the Gospel, many shall betray one another, and the love of many for Christ shall wax cold.  This is a precursor to the appearance of the Antichrist, and so we must be wary. 

 

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he [the Beast] might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [hinders, delays, or restrains] will let [hinder, delay, or restrain], until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-10).

 

The Church is the light of the world and the salt of the earth (see Matthew 5:10-16).  Her very presence sprinkled among the people of the earth (because of the Spirit of Christ manifest in their mortal bodies) is a restraining influence on the evil forces that are in the world.  The Church’s power - her spiritual influence - doesn’t lie in her own works, however, but in the power of the Holy Spirit operating within her.  “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). 

 

By Church, I am not referring to any organized body or brand, but to every individual who has been born again and filled with the Spirit of the Almighty regardless of their church affiliation.  There is a mystery of iniquity at work in the world, and there is also a mystery of godliness.  The mystery of iniquity is the power of lawlessness and rebellion that hides itself among the righteous just like tares are hidden among the wheat.  The mystery of godliness is the invisible Christ abiding in the hearts of the true believers.  He abides in us through His Holy Spirit according to the promise that He made to His disciples when He said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18).  It is Christ in us, this force within each true believer, Who the world cannot see and, therefore, cannot receive, Who abides in our hearts by faith and is our hope of glory.

 

If the spiritual influence of the Church were suddenly removed, then the cup of evil would be exposed in all its wickedness.  And that is exactly what will happen.  Many believe that this is when the rapture of the Church will occur.  Secretly, Jesus will return and lift all His children out of the world along with their righteous influence for good.  This is not what scripture teaches, however (please refer to the August 2026 issue of City on a Hill newsletter and the message entitled The Great Tribulation and the Rapture of the Church for a detailed teaching on the rapture and when it will occur).  What is clear in Revelation 12 is that the Church (the woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars) flees to the wilderness into a place prepared of God, where she is nourished for 3½ years. 

 

In 70 A.D., Roman Legions under Titus besieged the city of Jerusalem.  The Christian Church at Jerusalem was warned to flee the city before the city was surrounded and there was no longer a way of escape.  Titus destroyed the city, its temple, and many of its residents.  In the latter days, the Church will be similarly warned to flee to a place that God will prepare for them.  “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” (Jeremiah 31:2).

 

Remember, when studying the prophetic writings, that “Israel” once referred to the twelve tribes of Israel only, the Jewish people.  Once they rejected their Messiah, though, God made it clear that those who accepted Christ (both Jew or Gentile) were the “Israel of God”.  Therefore, many of the Old Testament prophecies and promises that were addressed to “Israel” are now become ours in Christ Jesus.  Consider these verses: “…for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children...” (Romans 9:6, 7).  “ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:28, 29).

 

Prior to the abomination of desolation, the Church will be prompted by the Holy Spirit operating within them to “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4).  This word will be directed to all of those who are yet entangled with the Great Whore.  It is right after this that the Beast will break his covenant with her and great judgment will come to her for her sins and apostacy.  As God warned Lot before the destruction of Sodom, so will He warn His people before the judgment of the Whore.

 

IV.            THE GREAT TRIBULATION

 

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”  (Matthew 24:21, 22). 

 

This Great Tribulation will begin after the Beast declares himself to be God, committing the Abomination of Desolation.  This will usher in the last 3½ years of end time events.  The last plagues of judgment will be poured out upon the earth at this time.  It will be a time of anguish, woe and misery on all those who have not found shelter in the Lord Jesus.  Jeremiah prophesied of this time when he wrote, “For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.  For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: but they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, Whom I will raise up unto them.” (Jeremiah 30:5-9). 

 

At this time, Satan will be defeated by the armies of heaven and cast down to earth along with his demonic host.  In his rage and fury, he will make war against the saints of God, but he will not prevail against them for the earth will help the Church and protect her from his wrath. 

 

“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.   And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Daniel 11:31, 32).

 

This period will be very challenging for the Church.  She will have to make some difficult decisions that may even involve loved ones.  I think of Lot’s wife, who was forced to leave married children behind because they would not heed the warnings to leave Sodom.  Her home, her possessions, her children, her life – they were all left in Sodom – and she could not resist the temptation to look back.  She paid dearly for her weakness.  This is why Jesus said, “…let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”

 

V.      THE SECOND COMING

 

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet [the seventh and last trumpet], and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:23-31).

 

The sign of Jesus’ appearance will be “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”.  He will not be in the desert or in some secret chamber, but all eyes shall see Him.  Just as lightning strikes in the east and is seen in the west, His appearing cannot be missed.  As eagles can see their prey from 2 or 3 miles away, so shall God’s “eagles” spot their Lord when He appears.  The signs will be plentiful.  The sun will be darkened and there will be no light from the moon.   The stars will fall from the heavens.  A mighty trumpet will sound.  “…and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

 

After Jesus arose from the dead, He appeared many times to His disciples.  Afterward, He led them to Mount Olivet (or the Mount of Olives) where He ascended into a cloud and vanished out of their sight.  “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:8-12).

 

Jesus’ return was prophesied by Zechariah when he said, “And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:4). 

 

In this 24^th chapter of Matthew, Jesus has foretold many signs that will precede His coming.  There will be many things that could distract us if we are not walking closely with the Lord.  Tribulation will work patience in us if we let it.  The trial of our faith is a precious thing.  It will purify our soul and help to forge the character of Jesus in us.  When He appears, we want to be ready to meet Him.  We want our lamps filled and our wicks trimmed.  The foolish virgins were not ready – they had no oil – and they were shut out of the marriage feast.

 

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32-35).

 

Like the fig tree, there are clear signs of its blossoming and approaching fruition.  Likewise, when we see these things that Jesus warns about beginning to take place, we know the time is near.  The generation that sees those signs beginning to be fulfilled is the same generation that will see Christ’s return.

 

A SOLEMN WARNING

 

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:36-42).

 

We do not know when the Lord will come.  For that reason, we must be vigilant always.  In Noah’s day, the people were oblivious of the impending disaster that was about to befall them.  Even though Noah preached righteousness to them and warned them of the coming flood, they treated his words as fairy tales and went on about their lives as if nothing could ever touch them.  Faith will be what dictates who is taken and who is left. 

 

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:43-51).

 

“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).