Friday, July 27, 2018

Future Things: The Glorious 2nd Coming. Matthew 24:29-35





INTRO:  As you think about the future, what do you look forward to the most? note Titus 2:13



I) The Horrific Tribulation 
(Matthew 24:4-28)

After the Tribulation Period (note Matthew 24:29f) comes
II) The Glorious 2nd Advent of Christ                     
(Matthew 24:29f)
 

The “Horrific Tribulation” and the “Glorious Return of Christ” should impact our lives in a multiplicity of ways:

Jesus’ disciples must be:  1) Well Versed Students of Scripture (and of Biblical Prophecy)
(Matthew 24:32-35)

Notice the first two commands of Christ in verses 32-33: "LEARN and RECOGNIZE!"


Tribulation showers (vv. 3-28) bring what? _____  Millennial Kingdom flowers!


What is “the pain then glory” principle.  (Rom. 8:16-18; 2 Cor. 4:16-18)

Think about this principle in view of the life of Job, Joseph, the Lord Jesus, and Israel's national history from AD 70 up through the future tribulation period. 


For Further Reflection/Application:  We must be doers of the Word and not merely hearers

As you think about the future- what do you look forward to the most?  Be honest.

When life here below is really good- why are we tempted to lose sight of what really matters in relation to eternity future? 

Consider trials (James 1) and loving discipline from our heavenly Father (Heb. 12) in view of this struggle. How does this help us to have a more biblical perspective on such things?

Most Christians know that we should be more heavenly minded, but we often struggle to live each day in light of eternity.  What can we do to try and better flesh out the practical implications of passages of Scripture like Colossians 3:1-4, 1 John  3:1-3, and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18?  Share your thoughts and ideas with Christian family and church friends this week.

How does Matthew 24-25 and Revelation 4-22 demonstrate Christ’s sovereign control over the future?  “I know he holds my life, my future, in His hands!”

List some of the practical ways biblical prophecy and eschatology can help encourage a believer who is really struggling with fear, anxiety, and worry?

What signs/birth pangs will mark that the end of this present evil age is drawing neigh?
(note past two sermons Matthew 24:3-25).

Jesus is going to return one day!  What difference ought this “blessed hope” have on our daily walks?  Think in terms of holiness, evangelism, worship, priorities, prayer, stewardship, tithing, etc.

It’s been said that “some people are so heavenly minded they do no earthly good.”  I have yet to meet anyone with this problem.  I have met many believers who are so earthly minded that they make very little impact in terms of what matters most (and that which “echoes in eternity.”)  See Matthew 6:19-20 and Philippians 1:21.

The things of this world are passing away.  Then why do we live like the world sometimes striving after the same passing pleasures and/or temporal things?  How do passages like Matthew 24-25 and Rev. 19-22 helps us to battle against any expression of heart idolatry?


Related Praise Songs:  Theology fuels Doxology!  We dig deeply in order that we may go high!

Check out the LYRICS of these lesser known songs.

See He Comes- Sovereign Grace
Eternal Praise- Enfield
Let the Seventh Angel Sound- Isaac Watts
Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending! Charles Wesley
One Day When Heaven Is Filled With His Praises- Casting Crowns
The Revelation of Jesus Christ- Ghost Ship
The King is Coming- Gaither band
All Things New- Red Mountain Music

When We See Your Face- Sovereign Grace

Though the dark is overwhelming
And the brightest lights grow dim
Though the Word of God
Is trampled on by foolish men
Though the wicked never stumble
And abound in every place
We will all be humbled when we see Your face

And the demons we’ve been fighting
Those without and those within
Will be underneath our feet
To never rise again
All our sins will be behind us
Through the blood of Christ erased
And we’ll taste Your kindness when we see Your face

We will see, we will know
Like we’ve never known before
We’ll be found, we’ll be home
We’ll be Yours forevermore

All the waiting will be over
Every sorrow will be healed
All the dreams it seemed
Could never be will all be real
And You’ll gather us together
In Your arms of endless grace
As Your Bride forever when we see Your face


Related Biblical Texts:  Search the Scriptures to see if these things be so.


Daniel 9-12; Matt. 6:19-20; 24-25; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 1:21; 1 John 3:1-3; Rev. 1-20.


Related Biblical Terms /Theological Concepts Terms:  Every believer is a theologian.  1 Timothy 3:15, Jude 3.


Relative Chronology is placing events in the order they happened relative to one another. You don't have to know necessarily specific dates, but you should be able to use associations to figure out how to place eras and events in relative chronological order.” 

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTION- If “no man knows the exact hour of Jesus' return,” how can we harmonize this seeing that our theological camp teaches that the Tribulation period will last 7 years (per Daniel 9)...and that the midpoint takes place once “the Abomination of Desolation” happens (note Matt. 24:15)?  In other words, if the Great Tribulation lasts 3 1/2 years won't Tribulation believers be able to watch the calendar and thus know that in 3 1/2 years Jesus will return?

ANSWER- We have a relative chronology (see term above) but we still do not know the exact moment.  Furthermore, that is why in Matthew 24 people are to be expectant because they have relative chronology.  But they must be alert because they don't know precisely when these events will take place.