"The Second Coming of Christ" 

The events described in Matthew 24:4-31 will take place during the seven years of tribulation following the rapture of the church. This is the 70th week of Daniel, described in Daniel 9:20-27. This same period of time is described in Revelation 6-19. It is the time when Israel will come back on the scene and God will pour out His wrath on a rebellious world.

1. CHRIST'S COMING AND ISRAEL -- 24:4-44

• The beginning of sorrow -- 24:4-8 These are the signs that tell the world that judgment is beginning. We see these signs in the world today, and they are getting MORE INTENSE, indicating that the end is near. However, we must admit that many of these signs have always been here; but as we see them getting more intense, we know the coming of the Lord is near.
• Events leading up to the end -- 24:9-14 The persecution of the Jew verse 9 as they carry the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world (verse 14) will grow very great. During the tribulation period, God will seal 144,000 Jews to be His missionaries (see Rev. 7), and through their efforts multitudes will be saved. Natural affection will all but disappear during this time, and many will give their lives for their faith. Do not apply verse 13-14 to the ministry of the church today. Verse 13 has nothing to do with salvation by grace and verse 14 does not mean that the church must get the Gospel into all the world before Christ can return. Both verses apply to Jews during the tribulation.
• The Great Tribulation -- 24:15-18 - The Antichrist will make a covenant with the Jewish nation for seven years ("one week", Daniel 9:27), and will break it after 31/2 years, or at the middle of the tribulation period. He will set up his own image in the Jewish temple (Dan. 11:31 and 12:11) and force the world to worship him. SEE Rev. 13 and 2 Thess 2:3- 4. Christ warns the Jews to flee (16-20), for the last half of this period will be GREAT tribulation. Empowered by Satan, the Antichrist will perform miracles (verse 24, read also Rev. 13:13-14 and 2 Thess 2:8-10). The nations, deceived by Satan, will gather at Armageddon to battle Christ (verse 28 with Rev. 19:17-18) and will be defeated.
• After the Tribulation -- 24:29-31 There will be disturbance in the heavens (Joel 3:11-21) and then the sign of His coming will appear. We are not told what this sign is. Christ will then return TO EARTH with His saints to establish His promised kingdom. There will be great mourning (Zech. 12:10 and Rev. 1:7). This is a public return, not a secret one; and He comes as King, not as Bridegroom. Israel will have been gathered together by the ministry of angels. It is at this time that Christ will b received by Israel, now purged in the tribulation, and the nation will be established and the kingdom set up. The judgment of the Gentiles (Matt. 25:31-46) will also take place.
• Three exhortations to Israel 24:32-44 The fig tree is a symbol of Israel. We see Israel "coming back to life" then we know His return is approaching. This is happening even in our day. Verse 34 teaches that the events described will cover a generation of time. ("This generation" means the generation alive at that time, not the generation alive when Christ was speaking. Some believe the word "generation" to mean the nation of Israel that would never be destroyed.) Just as Noah and his family survived the flood, so Israel will survive the tribulation. Enoch, who was raptured, pictures the church taken out of the world before the judgment comes. DO NOT MAKE THE WORD "TAKEN" IN 40-41 REFER TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH!!

Verse 39 says that the flood TOOK THEM in judgment. When God's judgment falls on the earth in the tribulation, one will be taken (in judgment), but another will be left on earth to enter the glorious kingdom. His final exhortation is for the believer to WATCH. We as Christians do not look for signs, but for Him to return. As we see world conditions today, we know that His return is close.

2. CHRIST'S COMING -- 24:45 25:30

The three parables here refer to Christendom when Christ returns for the church (1 Thess 4:13-18). It covers the same mixed group as Matthew 13, true and false Christians all professing to know Christ. This section pictures Christ as DELAYING His return (24:48, 25:5 and 19.), so it cannot fit into the seven year tribulation period in the previous section. There is no mention of signs; for if there were signs, the people would know about when He would return and would be ready. These parables describe the INWARD, spiritual attitudes of professing Christians, and exhort us to be ready for His coming. (1 John 2:28 indicates that some Christians will be ashamed when He returns.

The faithful and evil servants 24:45-51. The church is the household of faith, and the servant is the pastor who is to feed his spiritual family. When his heart grows cold, his life becomes careless. Worldly living always begins when we forget Christ is coming back (1 John 3:1-3). "Cut him asunder" in verse 51 should read "scourge him severely." This speaks of the discipline Christ will exercise on unfaithful servants when He returns to give rewards. The word "hypocrites" means "unfaithful," suggesting that unfaithful Christians will have weeping and remorse when they face the judgment seat of Christ. This parable exhorts us to serve Christ faithfully, looking for His return every day. What a wonderful motive for service -- to hear His "Well done!" If we serve to please men or to get gain, we will lose the reward. Keep looking up!!!!