Matthew - Week 75

False Messiahs 

READ 

Matthew 24:23-25 

23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.” 

Jesus warns what it will be like in the future. False messiahs and false prophets will do signs and wonders. These will seem supernatural and will deceive even true believers. Jesus wanted the nation to be aware of this ahead of time.  

REFLECT 

Do you realize that not everything that seems supernatural is of God? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about distinguishing the spirits. See Deuteronomy 13:1-3 to see one should go by the message, not the appearance of something. See also 1 Timothy 4:1-2 about testing the spirits. 

Second Advent 

READ 

Matthew 24:26-28 

26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.” 

Jesus tells what it will be like before He returns to the earth. This will be His Second Advent. The first was when He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. At the catching up of believers in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Jesus does not come to the earth. Although a specific time of His return to earth is not mentioned in this passage in Matthew 24, the signs of His return being close are given. His return to earth will be at the end of the seven years of Tribulation. 

REFLECT 

Although signs are given for Jesus’ return to earth, there are no signs given for the catching up of believers before that time. This could occur at any time.  

RESPOND 

Talk with another believer about how thankful you can be because you will not have to experience the awful Tribulation period. Talk also about the need to live as if Jesus could return for you at any time and take you to heaven to be with Himself. 

Shaken 

READ 

Matthew 24:29 

29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, 

the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” 

This is what it will be like when Jesus returns to the earth. Joel 2:30-32 also tells of this time. In Acts 2, Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost referred to Joel’s prophecy, but this part of Joel’s prophecy will not be fulfilled until Jesus returns to earth. These changes in the heavenly bodies are beyond comprehension now.  

REFLECT 

Looking at the sky now makes one wonder what it will be like when this passage of Scripture is fulfilled. You may want explanations, but as the late Warren Wiersbe said, “Christians do not live by explanations but by promises.” 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the questions you have. Resolve together to search the Scriptures for what answers you can find, and what promises you can rest on. 

Coming on the Clouds 

READ 

Matthew 24:30-31 

30 “And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.” 

When believers are caught up to heaven before the Tribulation it is not mentioned whether all eyes will see Jesus. At His Second Advent to earth, however, every eye will see Him. That will be a time of mourning for unbelievers when they see Jesus return to earth. The believers living at that time—the ones who have endured to the end of the Tribulation—will be gathered from all over the world. 

REFLECT 

Think of how differently believers and unbelievers respond to seeing Jesus return as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

RESPOND 

Some think the blast of the trumpet in Matthew 24:31 is the same as the trumpet of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Reading the surrounding verses reveals a difference. When believers are caught up to heaven to be with Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 4, Jesus does not come to the earth. In Matthew 24, He does come to earth as is also seen in Revelation 19:11-16. 

Never Disappear 

READ 

Matthew 24:32-35 

32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” 

Jesus tells how the fig tree can indicate summer is near. By paying attention to the signs He has mentioned will alert people that His coming to earth is near. There is a difference of opinion about what “this generation” refers to. Some think it has to do with physical ages of a generation at a time. Others know the word translated “generation” also has the meaning of “nation.” Jesus was talking to Jewish people and they may have thought these events would destroy their nation. It was as if Jesus reminded them of the Old Testament covenants promising the nation would not pass away. 

REFLECT 

Consider how confident believers can be in the promises of Jesus. His “words will never disappear.” 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the Old Testament promises to the descendants of Abraham. See Genesis 17:6-8; 18-20 and notice how long that promise will last.