Bible Study - Return (2) - Know What's Coming - Matthew 24:15-22 - May 1, 2022
Bible
Study – Return (2) – Know What’s Coming – May 1, 2022
This
is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “CHRIST’S Return: Living with the End
in Mind.”
Our
focus scripture is Matthew 24:15-22.
Even
in the darkest times, GOD has not abandoned HIS people.
Let’s
begin with Matthew 24:14 from our last study, “14 This
good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world (inhabited) as a testimony to all nations, and then
the end will come.”
GOD’S
redemptive plan is not hidden from all who seek HIM. Even nature longs to be
redeemed from death and decay. Why does GOD go to such detail to reach every
person upon earth? It is because HE loves them with an everlasting love and
JESUS willingly came to earth as the vital part of GOD’S redemptive plan to
redeem all who place their faith in JESUS.
Let’s
explore!
Let’s
read Matthew 24:15-16:
The
Great Tribulation
15 “So
when you see the abomination of desolation,[c] spoken
of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader
understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to
the mountains.
What is “the abomination of desolation?” It
was spoken by the Prophet Daniel in the Old Testament. It refers to a
desecration (defilement) of the temple or altar in Jerusalem with pagan worship
as predicted by the Prophet Daniel.
Here is where the Old Testament and the New
Testament come together to help us to understand future events. The Old
Testament writings foresaw an intertestamental historical event as they should be
since GOD is the author of both the Old and New Testaments.
16 “then
those in Judea must flee to the mountains.” Judea refers to Jews.
Of all the people groups, the Jews, are looking for and anticipating the coming
of the promised Messiah. When they witness these things taking place, they are to
take action because the end is at hand. There will be 144, 000 Jewish
evangelists preaching salvation through faith in JESUS. 12,000 X 12 Tribes =
144,000 = Great Revival!!!
[The
“abomination of desolation” refers to a physical location. As an example, such
a defilement occurred in 167 BC when the Seleucid king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes
(215 BC-164 BC) ruled Palestine. In an effort to humiliate the Jews in Judea
and Samaria, Antiochus erected an altar of Zeus in the Jerusalem temple. He
also sacrificed pigs on the altar in Jerusalem (the worse kind of desecration).
He even made practicing Judaism a capital offense. In 164 BC, the Jews, led by
Judas (“the Hammer”) Maccabeus (ca 190 BC – 160 BC), liberated the city,
destroyed the pagan idols, and reconsecrated the temple. (Copied from Page 109, Bible Studies for Life,
One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN and much in this study is gleaned from that
printed material.)]
Bible scholars differ on when the reference
in Matthew occurred. Some, believe it happened when the temple was destroyed in
70 A.D. by the Romans. It is not certain this is the event prophesy was
referring. That is how GOD wants it to be. GOD desires for Christians to stay
on high alert and to be about HIS business. Christians are lights in a world of
darkness. People are going into eternity every day because of physical death.
A few years after the 167 BC event and persecution
of the Jews, the Jews were able to rededicate the temple and dedicate a new
altar. This commemorated Hanukkah or the “Festival of Lights.”
Many believe there is yet to be a desecration
when the anti-Christ attempts to declare himself God. That means the temple has
to be rebuilt in Jerusalem for the anti-Christ to defile it. This is another
sign to watch for.
What is the Good News of faith in JESUS? As a
Spirit-born person, the Holy Spirit dwells within every person.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18:
15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We
who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those
who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself
will descend from heaven with a shout,[e] with the archangel’s voice,
and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we
who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the
Lord. 18 Therefore encourage[f] one another with these words.
The Apostle Paul anticipated JESUS coming to
earth, with those Spirit-born believers who are in Heaven coming with HIM and joining
with the Spirit-born believers alive upon earth. All will receive their
Glorified bodies and all be taken to Heaven in their Glorified bodies. Those
not Spirit-born will be left behind. This gives rise to another issue, the
millennium.
The Bible records that there will be a
millennium or the thousand-year rule of CHRIST upon earth. When is it going to
take place? Keep in mind that JESUS and all the redeemed are in Heaven in their
Glorified bodies, if the rapture theory is correct. Here we have to consider
Revelation.
Let’s read Revelation 20:1-15:
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven
holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He
seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan,[a] and bound him
for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into
the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer
deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After
that, he must be released for a short time.
Here is an “I think.” Consider Satan being
bound for 1,000 years. He is not free to roam around earth seeking who he can
devour.
In 1 Peter 5:8: 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your
adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for
anyone he can devour.
GOD binds Satan/devil for 1,000 years. How do the people of
the world function without the interference of Satan? I think it is to condemn
Satan as the purveyor of evil in the world. It is the proof that sentences
Satan and his operatives to an eternal Hell. Keep in mind that Hell was made
for Satan, his angels and the unredeemed through faith in JESUS. The shed blood
of JESUS is the only redemptive power to cleanse a person from his or her sin
and receive the miracle of Spiritual birth into GOD’S Family for eternity. It
is free but requires each person to make a decision to either accept or reject
JESUS as his or her Savior.
During this period there are the left-behind people who will
sin because of their fallen nature. This highlights a person’s need for a
Savior, JESUS. There is a level of functionality in the world without Satan but
there is a need for JESUS to complete the Spirituality of the unredeemed
mankind, who are living with those redeemed in their Glorified bodies who are functioning
according to GOD’S plan.
The
Saints Reign with Christ
4 Then I saw thrones, and people
seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about
Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his
image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their
hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand
years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come
to life until the thousand years were completed.
This
is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and
holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The
second death has no power[b] over them, but they will be
priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand
years.
The
resurrection of the Christian dead and the rapture of Spirit-born Christians who
are alive will happen in an instant at JESUS’ return. These are not subject to
the second death but they will serve as priests of GOD and CHRIST for 1,000
years.
Satanic
Rebellion Crushed
7 When the thousand years are
completed, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and
will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather
them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 They
came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the
saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven[c] and consumed them. 10 The
devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the
beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night
forever and ever.
The
Great White Throne Judgment
11 Then I saw a great white throne
and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was
found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the
great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another
book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead
were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then
the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the
dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death
and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the
lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found
written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Folks, this is why our loving Savior, JESUS,
GOD and those who know the truth desire for all people to know JESUS as their
Savior. While we have life in us, there is redemptive hope through faith in
JESUS.
Choose wisely my friends, choose wisely
because your decision is eternal – Heaven or Hell. To choose Heaven, ask JESUS
to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life believing that
HE gave HIS sinless life by shedding HIS blood for you. When you ask JESUS into
your life the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place quicker than the twinkle
of the eye and you are conceived Spiritually and become GOD’S Son or Daughter
for eternity.
I believe the name of every person born is
written in the Lambs Book of Life. Upon their death, if they have not accepted
JESUS as their Savior, the person will see their name blotted out of the Lambs
Book of Life.
Where do I get such an idea? Ephesians 1:4 - 4 For he chose us
in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love
before him.[c]
There is much debate in the Christians
circles how all of this will take place. Case and point, there are at least
four diverse millennial views held by the evangelical Christian community:
There are the Premillennialists
or belief that JESUS will return just before the literal millennium when
CHRIST’S rule begins followed by the judgment. There are some who believe that
JESUS will suddenly return, the dead in CHRIST will be raised, and then the
millennium will begin followed by the final judgment.
Dispensational
Premillennialists
They believe in a two-stage coming of JESUS.
First there will be a “rapture.” Christians will be suddenly taken from earth
to Heaven. Rapture carries the idea of sudden, “caught up” or “snatched up.”
In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18:
15 For we say this to you by a
word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will
certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For
the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[e] with the archangel’s voice,
and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we
who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the
Lord. 18 Therefore encourage[f] one another with these words.
Some believe that there will be a seven-year
period for those left upon earth to wonder what happened? Supposedly, there
will be a seven-year period of peace. This will be Satan’s lie to make those
remaining upon earth believe that the bad people are gone and now everything is
just fine. But dispensationalists believe there will be a split during this
seven-year period e.g., three- and one-half years of peace and fellowship and
the last three- and one-half years of great tribulation. It will be a violet
period. The LORD JESUS returns to earth with those who departed/raptured when
HE came to earth. This will begin the thousand-year rule of JESUS followed by
the judgment.
There is the Postmillennial view
which contends that JESUS will not return until after the millennium. This is an
idea that after the rapture things will get better. There will be a period of
peace and harmony and growth in Christianity. It is after that time; JESUS will
return and institute final judgment.
There is Amillennialism or the
belief that “no literal one-thousand-year period” will happen before JESUS
returns. They view an earthly kingdom before the judgement in a spiritual or
symbolic manner. They interpret the various numbers, animals, and visions
written in the Book of Revelation as having symbolic meanings.
Another view,
I call the Pan-theory. This came from Dr. Alistair Walker a former
pastor. – It is all going to pan out in the end. This is the view I like
best.
What is important? Death is imminent. Ask
JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart. Settle
that now. As Christians we are to stay alert, watch and wait. No one knows when
the bridegroom comes. Keep your lamps full of oil and ready to burn brightly
before GOD shuts the door. The oil is the Holy Spirit.
Some Bible scholars think our next scripture
focuses on the time when the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, 70 AD.
Let’s read Matthew 24:17-19:
17 A man
on the housetop[d] must
not come down to get things out of his house, 18 and
a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe
to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
What is the message? It is a sense of urgency
when a person sees the signs of the end times being fulfilled not to hesitate
but flee to shelter – prayer, GOD’S Word, make certain you are Spiritually
complete. Do you recall the event of Lot and his wife fleeing Sodom? When the
end comes, do not look back but look into the face of JESUS your strength and
protector.
Let’s read Matthew 24:20-22:
20 Pray
that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For
at that time there will be great distress,[e] the
kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and
never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut
short, no one would[f] be
saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
The key is to stay alert, watch and pray. No
one knows the instant when CHRIST will return. JESUS gave information in
accordance with the customs of that period of time. Just know that there will
be great distress, like never before seen or experienced. This distress will be
like nothing earthlings have ever experienced.
Stay ready! Stay focused! The wakeup call
will come for all who have received the Good News of JESUS. IT WILL BE THE
MIDNIGHT CRY. WOW! AND ROBERT SINGS IT WITH GUSTO. As you flee, call upon the
LORD. Rejoice for JESUS has risen and so have all who are Spirit-born. Share
the Gospel message as you flee and are led to the safe arms of JESUS.
In fact, if those days were not cut short all
would be wiped out.
GOD will prevent total devastation because of
the “elect.”
Who are the “elect”? They are all, who know
and serve JESUS as their Savior. They have special protection from GOD. The
144,000 Jews?
Christians, you are vital to GOD, JESUS and
the earth. We read in 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Blessings!!!