Day 304, October 31 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Mark 13:24-37; Matthew 24:29–25:46; Luke 21:25-38
Watch for the Signs (before Jesus comes)!
A change of seasons usually brings rain, severe weather, and sometimes high tides. We learn to look for signs of danger in the weather, but when our Lord tells his disciples to watch for the signs of the times, he means for them to discern the signs of prophetical fulfillment. Since the prophecies in today’s Bible reading are yet unfulfilled, we can watch for these signs as well.
A Pop-Up Sign
The disciples think Jesus will reign in Jerusalem soon, but the Lord answers it won’t come for a long time. As the future church grows, she would experience times of severe persecution ( even now that is true). The next event on God’s calendar is the sudden catching away (rapture) of church-age believers to meet Jesus in the clouds and take them to heaven (1Thessalonians 4:13-18). We will pop up to meet Jesus.Signs in the Heavens
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus describes the conditions that will occur on our planet just before his second coming to the earth. The Apostle John records these events in Revelation 6-19 and the prophet Jeremiah calls them as the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). What will happen?
First, there will be a terrifying event, comparable to a Halloween nightmare. Just before Jesus returns to the Mt. of Olives, there will be a shaking in the heavens. “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” (Mark 13:24, NIV).
The Apostle John comments further on this event, saying,
“The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night” (Revelation 8:12, NIV).
How will this happen? Will massive asteroids bombard the earth to change its orbit a little closer to the sun, causing it to spin faster and get hotter? We don’t really know, but it will happen because God predicts it. Jesus says, “this generation [meaning the generation of people living in the Tribulation Period] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32, NIV).
To the Jews living during this period, Jesus cautions, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36, NIV).
Jesus Suddenly Returns
Jesus said no man knows the day or hour of Christ’s return, not even he himself (Mark 13:32). He continues, “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:36-37, NIV). Are we watching for Jesus Christ to suddenly appear in the clouds of the sky?
A child waits earnestly for his father or mother to return. In the meantime, he is careful to obey his caregiver or teacher so that when his other parent returns, he will be proud of him. Is this how we are watching? This is the point of the parable of the ten virgins.
Five of the virgins are ready for the bridegroom to come. They have oil in their lamps and are prepared to depart. The others have no oil and are not ready.
Oil in the Bible usually symbolizes God’s Holy Spirit. Do we have his Spirit within us? If not, we don’t belong to him and are unprepared for his return (Romans 8:9-11). We must each believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ on our behalf to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He will then seal our salvation until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). We will be ready for Christ’s return.The parable of the talents urges Jews, who will be true Christian believers in the Tribulation Period, to use their resources for God’s glory. Others will be punished. How about us? If we are genuine Christ followers, we should use our money and talents for God’s glory. If we don’t, we are squandering what God has given us.
Christ will Reign
Third, when Jesus comes, he will rule and reign in great glory with more power and magnificence than any king of the earth.
At the beginning of his reign, God will judge all nations. The word “nations” means “Gentiles,” so Jews are not involved in this judgment. Jews will be saved earlier and taken out of the Great Tribulation (the last three and a half years are much more severe than the first three and a half). This judgment on the Gentiles is called the Sheep and Goat Judgment. Those who are righteous (sheep) will enter his kingdom. Those who are unrighteous (goats) will be cast into eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15).How do we know who is a sheep or a goat—who is righteous and who is not?
Genuine Love for Christ is an Obvious Sign of Christianity
Christ-followers show acts of love for his sake. Even unbelievers show kindness from time to time, but do they do it for Christ? No. They may do it because it makes them feel good, but they don’t do it for Christ. They have no relationship with him, so they can’t be part of his kingdom.
We church-age believers will not go through the Sheep and Goat Judgment because it is a judgment that occurs at the end of the Tribulation for those who are fortunate enough to survive. However, God will judge our works to determine whether they are useful or useless (1Corinthians 3:12-15; 2Corinthians 5:10).Jesus has left for a long time, but he will come back to rule and reign. When he comes, he will hold his servants accountable. What will he say of us? Let’s be faithful and always abounding in the work of the Lord.
Discussion
Besides watching for trick or treaters, what signs can we watch for before Jesus comes back?
Knowing that Jesus may be coming back soon, how should it affect our behavior today?
What signs are there in our lives that show we are Christians? How do we differ from the world?
Focus verse:
Matthew 24:42 (NIV) “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
in Latin, an early translation language of the Bible, the word for “caught up” is “rapturo,” from which we get the word rapture (The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the N.T., edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.704)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the N.T., p.95
The time of Jacob's trouble refers to Israel.
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Looking Ahead: What is our purpose in life—To Serve or Be Served? Learn more in our Next Lesson.
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