MARANATHA (Series) THE QUESTION WHEN? Matthew 24

THE QUESTION: “‘TELL US’, THEY SAID, ‘WHEN WILL THESE THINGS HAPPEN?’” Matthew 24:3 When will Jesus come back? When will the world end? When will the rapture take place? When will Israel believe?

Matthew 24:33-39

Matthew 24:42-44

SUNDAY:TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM MONDAY:CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE (2 ND TIME) TUESDAY:ANNOUNCES DEATH, JUDAS CONTRACTS TO BETRAY JESUS WEDNESDAY:MOUNT OF OLIVES (MATHEW 24,25) THURSDAY:LAST SUPPER (JOHN 13,14) ON THE WAY TO THE GARDEN (JOHN 15-17) ARRESTED/TRIALS BEGIN FRIDAY:CRUCIFIED AND BURIED SUNDAY:RESURRECTION!

DIFFERENT KINDS OF SIGNS TO LOOK FOR! DIFFERENT KINDS OF ROAD SIGNS: SPEED SIGNS DANGER SIGNS DIRECTIONAL SIGNS DIFFERENT KINDS OF “END TIMES SIGNS” CULTURAL/SOCIAL SIGNS GLOBAL SIGNS SIGNS OF NATURE SIGNS REGARDING ISRAEL

THE SIGN OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION “Jesus said, ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4,5 “For false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible.” Matthew 24:24

THE SIGN OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matthew 24:6,7

THE SIGN OF NATURAL DISASTERS “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. These are all the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:8

THE SIGN OF GREAT PERSECUTION “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” Matthew 24:9

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will deceive many people.” Matthew 24:10,11 THE SIGN OF WIDESPREAD APOSTASY

THE SIGN OF WORLD-WIDE EVANGELISM “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 “…God is not slow concerning His promise (to return) but is patient toward you not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief (unexpected)….” II Peter 3:9,10

EVANGELISM OF THE WORLD WORLD MILLION CHRISTIANS 2000TWO BILLION CHRISTIANS LATIN AMERICA ,000 CHRISTIANS MILLION CHRISTIANS AFRICA MILLION CHRISTIANS MILLION CHRISTIANS CHINA 1947CULTURAL REVOLUTION 750,000 CHRISTIANS TODAY – ESTIMATE BETWEEN MILLION

THE SIGN OF JEWISH PERSECUTION “So, when you see standing in the holy place (Jewish Temple) the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel, let the reader understand…” Matthew 24:15

THE SIGN OF GLOBAL TURMOIL “For then, there will be great distress in the world, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now.” Matthew 24:21,22

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” Matthew 24:27

THE SIGN OF FALSE SECURITY “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they know nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away.” Matthew 24:37-39

SUMMARY

2.GOD HAS TOLD US TO BE READY AT ANY TIME FOR WE DON’T KNOW THE EXACT TIME OF HIS COMING! “Therefore, keep watch…” (Matthew 24:4) SUMMARY

GOD HAS TOLD US HOW TO WAIT FOR HIS COMING AGAIN: WE ARE TO WAIT WITH FAITHFULNESS AND WISDOM! “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom the master has put in charge…. It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (Matthew 24:45,46)

SUMMARY GOD HAS PRESENTED FOR US A BIBLICAL PATTERN THERE IS GREAT SIMILARITY BETWEEN OUR WORLD AND THE BIBLICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE LAST DAYS IT ALL ADDS UP: IT CAN’T BE LONG “When you see these things begin to take place, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” Luke 21:28