“Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world.” (Matthew 24:3b)
In this article, I will build on the introductory part of the topic, One Taken One Left. I will discuss what Jesus told His disciples about the end time.
The disciples of Jesus Christ asked Him so many questions on subjects they hardly understood. They seized every opportunity to know more about God and His kingdom. This is what is lacking in the life of some followers of Jesus Christ today thereby making them to live without revelation.
Having revelation of the end time can help one to live ready. Many have failed to study God’s word and engage in prayer of enquiry to access revelations concerning their lives and things happening around them resulting in ignorance of God’s purpose for their lives and His end time agenda.
The opening verse above from Matthew 24, was one of the striking questions the followers of Jesus asked that provoked a narrative of what the world has experienced and still experiencing concerning events of the end time.
Let’s carefully look at the questions Jesus responded to. One key question the disciples asked was, “…what shall be the sign of your coming? In response, Jesus briefly narrated when and what will happen before the fall of Jerusalem as Daniel prophesied; and the events that will happen as sign(s) of His first phase of second coming. He also gave instructions on what the people of that generation should do. (Matthew 24:15-20).
Some Bible scholars have explained that the abomination (covenant violation especially idolatry) of desolation Daniel spoke about (Matthew 24:15) did happen in Roman form in AD70 – Luke 21:10-24, and the Christians during that generation did flee, sparing their lives when they saw the Roman armies coming.
Be it as it may, the events Jesus narrated from verse 3 down to verse 35 took place during the disciples’ generation and I believe they are still happening till date. It is glaring that nations are still rising against nations in wars, terrorism and conflicts; famine and pestilence; and tribulations in the form of all manner of pandemic and epidemic are common. Many are being deceived everyday by false Christs and false prophets. The people of Jerusalem may have flown to the mountain from the Roman armies for their lives to be spared, it is high time we flew to Jesus Christ in the midst of whatever is happening.
Like I noted in the introductory part, the events Jesus narrated about the end time are manifesting already and the world will definitely end because it is settled in Heaven (Psalms 119:8).
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Concerning when He will come, Jesus said in verse 36 of Matthew 24, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Only God knows when He will send Jesus Christ to gather His people home (Matthew 25:31-33). This is the first phase of Jesus’ second coming when He will descend from Heaven with the shout and voice of an archangel (1 Thes 4:16); with the glory of His Father (Matt. 16:27); and the saints will be caught up to meet with Him in the air (1 Thes. 4:17).
Going back to the sign of Jesus’ coming, He said, “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt 24:37-39, ESV)
Jesus’ response flows into the last part of the question about the sign of the end of the world. To expound on what Jesus said about the days of Noah, the Bible in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says,
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self—control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”(ESV)
By these, it is evident that we are in the end time because most of these signs are manifesting. We need to watch out for Jesus’ first phase of His second coming.
There is someone reading this article now, note that Jesus loves you and He wants you to discontinue serving satan and come to the family of the Most High God. He will surely separate those who serve Him from those who serve satan when He comes.
If you are yet to surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer of salvation.
Sunday Omori
HEM Int'l 