Preparing for Christ’s Return - Matthew 24:32-51

Read Matthew 24:4-14

List: There are at least ten conditions listed in these verses that will be evident in our world before Christ’s return.  What are they?

Discussion: Are these ten conditions prevalent in our world today?

Read the 3^rd through 6^th paragraphs of the “Doctrinal Discussion” on p. 75.

(These paragraphs discuss the three main views concerning Christ’s return: a-millenialism, post-millienialism, and pre-millenialism.  There is also reference concerning the three Rapture views - pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation.)

     How should we respond to such differences of opinion concerning prophecy?  Should we simply say those who disagree with us are unenlightened spiritually?  Should we fault their spirituality?

     Max Anders in What You Need to Know about Bible Prophecy in 12 Lessons writes that the Bible college he attended taught a literal view concerning the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

     However, shortly after Anders graduated, one of his professors left the seminary and began an inward journey that led him to adopt a more figurative view of the fulfillment of prophecy.

     Anders spent a lot of time talking with this professor and those conversations changed the way he considered differences of opinion on this subject.

     This professor had two doctor’s degrees, one from the seminary and one from an Ivy League school.  Anders could not fault him for a weak education or a lack of intelligence.  Furthermore, this professor was a deeply spiritual man.  Many students considered it a privilege simply to hear the prayers of this man offered before he began teaching class.  So Anders could not fault him for spiritual immaturity.  So… how could this man believe differently concerning Biblical prophecy?

     Anders suggests several reasons why people interpret prophecy differently.  First, there is the issue of whether a prophecy should be interpreted literally or symbolically - and of course, good people can disagree on which interpretation is best.

     Secondly, some Bible prophecies have both an immediate fulfillment and a future fulfillment.  So, this can lead to disagreement on interpretation.

     Furthermore, Anders suggests that one’s upbringing, education, and temperament can also influence one’s interpretation of prophecy.  Anders goes on to state that such differences should not cause us to neglect study of prophecy.

     Anders concludes:

Even the finest biblical scholar using the most reliable principles of interpretation will find many passages of prophecy that remain uncertain and unclear.  There are several reasons for this.

First, we bring our own assumptions and expectations to any given interpretation of Scripture and therefore we can skew the interpretation without realizing it.

Second, there is the great gap of time, culture, and language.  Some things in the Bible that were perfectly clear to those to whom it was written are unclear to us 2000 or 3000 years later.

Third, it is entirely possible that we will never understand some passages of Scripture because to us their language will remain obscure.

And finally, we must recognize that while there are advantages to written communication, there are also some disadvantages, that is, spoken language is usually accompanied by facial expressions, vocal expressions, and body language.  When we do not have these clues to interpret the meaning of hwat is spoken, we may not understand the written word.  The very nature of language is ambiguous.

It is not particularly frustrating to me when I read things in the Bible that I don’t understand, because I can remember that I have occasionally read things that I myself have written and now do not understand what I meant by them.  We must recognize that interpreting prophetic literature is not a technical and precise undertaking.  When trying to master prophetic literature as best we can, we must rely on an attitude of openness and obedience to what the Lord is saying.  We must also rely on sound principles of interpretation bolstered by a sense of peace, realizing that we will not understand all prophecies.  Through all of this, the Holy Spirit will make sure that we understand all of the Bible that we need to in order to be able to walk in God’s will.  Finally, we must respect those who hold to responsible opposing positions.

     Now, why have I gone off on this tangent?  First, I think it is important to realize that on the subject of prophecy there are responsible opposing positions held by good Christians.  Sometiems, I think we have the habit of de-Christianizing those who disagree with anything we believe.  We need to realize we don’t necessarily know everything about Bible prophecy.

     Secondly, I wanted this to be the lead in to the first point I would like establish in this lesson  Of all the uncertainties of Christ’s return, I want you to know that you can be certain of three things.

1. You can be certain of the uncertainty of the timing of Christ’s return, vv. 32-36.

Discussion: Since we will never know the day or hour of Christ’s return, what should our response be?

2. You can be certain of the probability of Christ’s return, vv. 37-41.

     In other words, you can know that Christ will return.  You will never know when He will return (until after He returns), but you can know that He will return.

Discussion: What are some things going on in our world today of which you are uncertain how they will end?  How does that uncertainty affect you?  (Or, how does that uncertainty affect others?)

Discussion: How should the certainty of Christ’s return affect our mindset?

3. You can be certain of the purpose of Christ’s return, vv. 42-51.

     Simply, Jesus is going to return to establish Himself as the rightful Lord of this world.  At some point, Jesus will then judge the world.  Sinners will be separated from saints.  All wicked people will be cast into eternal Hell.  Saints, on the other hand, will be rewarded for their righteous deeds.  Then, they will live eternally with Christ.

Discussion: Since we can be certain of the purpose of Christ’s return, what should our response be?

(Watch, v. 42; Prepare ourselves, v. 44.)

Discussion: Jesus illustrates the need to be prepared by telling a story of a servant in verses 45-51.  Talk to me about this servant.  Why was he unprepared?  Why did he become a wicked person?

     I think we tend to disassociate ourselves from this servant.  After all, we don’t like to think of ourselves as evil.  No, we are Christians!  Furthermore, most of us could not be said to have servants whom we could treat badly.

     But the principle of this parable does have a clear parallel for our lives.  Have you ever been watching a movie or reading a book and have realized that it does not have good wholesome Christian content, but decided that it didn’t matter?  You could ask forgiveness of God later?

     Have you ever been tempted to tell a little lie to get out of an awkward moment?  Of course, you can ask forgiveness later!  That is same attitude that this servant had toward his service for his master.

     This servant thought that the master wasn’t looking and wouldn’t ever find out what he was doing.  And when we commit sin because we think we will ask forgiveness later, we are, in effect, saying that we don’t think God really cares or knows about our duplicitous, hypocritical living.

     We are never going to know the exact timing of Christ’s return until after He returns, but we can know that He will return someday.  And we can know that He will judge us according to how we have lived when He returns.

     So let us watch for His return faithfully.  And most of us, let us prepare for His return, being careful to live at all times in a way pleasing to our Lord and Saviour.