From the Gospel of Matthew (24:1-51): “Jesus is Coming”

From the Gospel of Matthew (24:1-51): “Jesus is Coming” 

Message Summary:

If you've been a follower of Jesus Christ for any period time, you've been exposed to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ to planet Earth. We learn that He is going to prepare a place for us; and He will return to take us to be where He is -- at the right hand of the Father. This belief in Jesus’ return is what the season of Advent is about. We say it every week when we say the Nicene Creed: “I believe that he will come again to judge the living and the dead.”.

Christmas music is now playing on the radio; however, it is not Christmas. It is Advent. Advent is the time that the Church is celebrating the return of Jesus. Advent is a season of anticipation -- anticipating the Second Coming of Jesus Christ while, also, anticipating the Christmas celebration of Jesus’ birth. Also, Advent is a season of warning – a warning of the coming judgment. We are warned to be ready and to prepare for the coming of the King of Kings. In Genesis 6:5-6, God is so disturbed with the sins of humans that He wishes that He had never created mankind: “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.". To this end, God destroyed the earn with floods. Only Noah and his family survived.

In Matthew 24:1-2, Jesus tells His disciples of God’s displeasure, again, with mankind’s sinful ways: “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’”. Jesus’ Disciples, not understanding His pronouncements, asked Jesus the meaning of his prophecy in Matthew 24:3-6: “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.’”.

In the days before the flood, in Genesis 6:5-6, the people were eating, drinking and, and giving in marriage up to the very day Noah entered the ark. The people knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This uncertainty of Jesus’ return is how it will be at the second coming of the Son of Man. Jesus compares his return to the days of Noah -- unbelievers will be oblivious to what's going on; Jesus says they'll know nothing. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:3: “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.". In the remainder of 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11, Paul is telling us that the un-Godly will be taken away to their judgment and the righteous will be left to enter the Kingdom.

The primary message of Advent is to keep serving and watching. We must keep doing what the Lord has given us to do while we are serving Him, watching, and keeping ready.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 24:1-51; Genesis 6:5-6; Revelation 9:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:3-1.

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WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Have Eternal Life, Even Before their Earthly Death, Because Whoever “believes him {God} who sent me {Jesus}””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

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