SERIES: Matthew MESSAGE: Matthew 24:31-Matthew 25:46 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:31-Matthew 25:46

Transcription

1 SERIES: Matthew MESSAGE: Matthew 24:31-Matthew 25:46 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:31-Matthew 25:46 MESSAGE SUMMARY In this section of the Olivet Discourse, we consider Jesus' Warning Parables. As we examine the text, let's remember that while the church escapes judgment, many are left to suffer the Great Tribulation. We must be righteous, be ready, and be responsible. DETAILED NOTES I. Introduction A. Shofar 1. Rams horn; ancient trumpet 2. King's appointed 3. Gather people together; often for war 4. Announce Great festivals B. Olivet Discourse 1. Jesus' teaching about His second coming 2. Mount of Olives 3. Matthew C. Context 1. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31) 2. End of the tribulation period 3. Who are the elect? a. Christians b. Sometimes Jews c. Sometimes all believers d. All believers of all times e. Ushering in the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ 4. Tribulation: Bad now; worse time then unparalleled time of tribulation Page 1

2 D. Three series of Judgments 1. Seven Seals (Revelation 6) a. Unparalleled war b. Human slaughter c. Worldwide famine d. Worldwide inflation e. People will want mountains to fall on them 2. Seven Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8) a. Hail and fire from sky b. Rivers and springs polluted and poisoned c. Grass of the earth burned up d. Bottomless Pit opened (Revelation 9) e. Hoards of demons cover the earth (Revelation 12) 3. Seven Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16) a. Malignant sores b. Water sources again poisoned c. Sun Scorches people d. Hail from heaven (125 lb. stones) E. Armageddon 1. International conflict 2. Coalition gathers to fight against God F. Millennial Kingdom set up II. Parable of the Fig Tree A. Heaven and earth will pass away B. Identity of the fig tree 1. Israel a. Modern nation established in 1948 b. Too obscure for the disciples 2. Race of Jews a. γενεὰ; genea - generation b. Jewish people until the end times 3. Straightforward a. You can tell what's coming by what you see now b. "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees." (Luke 21:29) c. List of indicators d. After the Winter of Tribulation will be a Springtime of Blessing C. That Day 1. Day of the Lord a. Not a 24-hour period b. Unfolding events of the ultimate, final judgment Page 2

3 c. God intervenes in human history 2. Daniels 70 th week a. Seven-year period b. Begins with the rapture of the church c. No one knows when i. In 1988, Edgar Whisenant (NASA engineer, prophecy buff), author of 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988 ii. Only the Father knows D. Days of Noah (see Genesis 6) 1. Increase in population (see Genesis 6:1) a. World population now seven billion b. By 2050: billion c. ½ - ¾ of all population in history are alive now 2. Increase in wickedness (see Genesis 6:2) 3. Increase in violence (see Genesis 6:5) 4. Unheeded preaching a. Noah preached 120 years b. Floods came c. Built ark in inland Iraq; like building in Gallup, NM E. One taken, one left 1. Taken in judgment 2. When judgment comes it's too late 3. Could be rapture in light of v. 33 (Noah lifted up from earth during flood) 4. When God judges, He knows the different between the righteous and the wicked (see 2 Peter 2:4-9) F. Timeline 1. Rapture 2. Day of the Lord 3. Mid Tribulation: Abomination of Desolation 4. Armageddon G. Bible's revelation about the world's consummation should inspire godly motivation. 1. We know this is coming 2. The world doubts and dismisses 3. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) 4. We see what they don't: like an Eagle a. Eight times as many visual cells per cubic cm than humans b. From 600 ft. can spot a dime-sized object through 6" of grass c. From five miles, can see a 3" fish jumping Page 3

4 5. We should be ready, involved, passionate III. Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant A. Get Saved 1. Trust in the finished work of Jesus a. He shed His blood for our sin b. Receive by faith as Lord and Saviro 2. Compel others to come to Christ 3. Never know when your time is up! 4. Eternity is real B. Get Busy 1. "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18) 2. Don't be content with where you are a. What else can I learn? b. How else can the Lord work in me? 3. Make disciples a. Not only converts b. Disciple them C. Get Active 1. Involve yourself with others in ministry 2. Don't be self-absorbed serve others IV. Parable of the Ten Virgins A. Setting 1. Engagement a. Young children b. Fathers made the agreement c. Children had not contact d. Love is a commitment not a feeling 2. Betrothal a. One year before marriage b. Vows spoken c. No physical contact d. Couldn't separate without legal divorce e. If man died, she was considered a widow who is a virgin f. Man demonstrated he could provide for the wife 3. Wedding Feast a. Involved the whole community b. Lasted one week c. Groom and his party went to the brides home d. She should be ready Page 4

5 e. Parade through longest route to the groom's home f. Receive best wishes: מזל ;טוב Mazal tov; good luck g. At grooms home i. Weeklong feast ii. No consummation iii. Celebration h. End of week: Groomsman took grooms and brides hands and brought them together i. Marriage consummated B. Torches lit 1. Long stick with wire mesh 2. Olive oil soaked cloth stuffed inside 3. Flasks of oil to renew the flame C. Μωρός; móros - stupid, foolish (moron) D. Φρόνιμος; phronimos - intelligent, mentally attentive E. Midnight 1. Most asleep 2. Jesus wasn't coming right away as the disciples expected 3. Coming at an unlikely hour F. Lesson 1. Be righteous 2. Be ready 3. Be responsible G. Ten Important in Judaism men to start a synagogue a. Why Lydia and ladies meeting my the river: no synagogue b. Living water people to have Passover in the wedding H. Foolish 1. Knew something was coming: unprepared 2. Had garment and torch: looked ready 3. No oil: unprepared 4. Like those who profess Christ, but don't live like it 5. Just because you go to church, doesn't mean you are saved 6. In parable, half are saved, half are not 7. A significant number profess to follow but in truth do not I. Comparison of Syriac and Latin Vulgate 1. "Came with his bride" 2. Follows prophetic model Page 5

6 a. Rapture b. Church in heaven c. Marriage Supper of the Lamb d. Jesus comes back with the church at the Second coming J. Lessons 1. Some things can't wait for the last minute a. Don't wait b. Foolish to wait for the test to be passed before preparing 2. Certain things can't be borrowed a. Oil b. Can't borrow another's relationship with the Lord V. Parable of the Talents A. Talent: measure of weight 1. Gold or silver 2. Could be worth up to 20 year's wages B. Foolish servant's assessment was incongruent with his behavior (more incentive not to be lazy and slothful C. Talents: Opportunity to invest time, talent and treasure for the sake of God's Kingdom 1. Are you using what God entrusted to you to expand His Kingdom? 2. God rewards according to faithfulness D. Get Saved, Get Busy, Get Active 1. Uniquely gifted by God 2. Everyone must be faithful 3. Every part plays a unique role E. Unprofitable: poser believer who proves he has no saving faith VI. Parable of the Sheep and Goats A. Lifted out of context 1. Falsely demonstrate salvation comes by works 2. Falsely demonstrate maintain salvation through works 3. Keith Green believed and promoted; legalism B. Most commentators agree the text about the Second Coming, but disagree on the nature of the judgment C. Not the Great White Throne Judgment 1. After Millennium 2. Only unbelievers 3. Lake of Fire: Second Death D. Amillennialists and Post-Millennialists agree end time judgment for all people 1. No mention of resurrection 2. Subjects seem to be those alive at the Second Coming E. Judgment of nations at the end of the Tribulation Page 6

7 1. Judged on their treatment of "the brethren" 2. Jewish people 3. Paul: "my brethren" 4. Ethnically Jewish people 5. During the tribulation may Jews come to Christ and are sealed 6. Wave of anti-semitism (See Revelation 12) 7. Many Gentile nations persecute Israel 8. Some bless Israel F. God never prepared hell for people 1. Most will go there: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." (Matthew 7:13) 2. Made to be a place of torment for Satan and demons 3. God gives us volition 4. One who refuses to follow Christ and refuses God's will for life 5. If they choose to follow the devil, God allows them to follow the devil to his final destination: hell G. Near death experiences 1. We don't hear the whole story 2. Beyond Death's Door, by Dr. Maurice Rawlings: "I m thoroughly convinced that there is life after death and that there are at least as many going to hell as to heaven the turning point in my own concepts occurred when a patient experienced cardiac arrest and dropped dead right in my office. Of course, that alone didn't change my thinking, but the fact that this 48 year old was screaming, 'I'm in hell! Keep me out of hell!' each time he responded to resuscitation efforts did cause me some concern About 50% of the revived persons told of having gone to a place of great darkness, filled w/ grotesque moaning and writhing bodies crying out to be rescued from this place w/ overwhelming feeling of eerie and nightmarish terror," Why these not reported? " cuz are people too embarrassed to admit them and doctors are too embarrassed to make inquiries into such matters. But nobody can afford ignore these reports I'm convinced there s a hell and that we must conduct selves in such way as to avoid being sent there at all costs" 3. Get Saved, Get Busy, Get Active Page 7

8 Hebrew terms: מזל ;טוב Mazal tov Greek terms: γενεὰ; genea - generation; Μωρός; móros - stupid, foolish; Φρόνιμος; phronimos - intelligent, mentally attentive Publications referenced: 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988, by Edgar Whisenant; Beyond Death's Door, by Dr. Maurice Rawlings Cross references: Genesis 6; Matthew 7:13; Luke 21:29; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Peter 2:4-9; 2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 6; Revelation 8; Revelation 9; Revelation 12; Revelation 1 Topic: Second Coming Keywords: Olivet discourse, second coming, rapture, judgment, end times, warning parables Page 8