Transcript:
Throughout my lifetime there has been a sense that the world is so corrupt that the rapture and end time have to be imminent. People point to abortion, the corruption of marriage, the breakdown of the family, addictions, and the celebration of sin as evidence that our time here on earth is short. It is believed that God cannot tolerate this rebellion much longer.
Under that climate, there have been preachers who have predicted the exact date of the rapture. Many people have believed them. Some people sold possessions and made other irreversible decisions because they believed they were about to depart earth. Those who predict actual dates have repetitively been wrong, but that doesn’t stop others from also making predictions.
The fact that some people believe the preachers who predict actual dates shows that some people simply do not know the Bible. The Bible makes it clear that only the Father knows when the end time will come. Therefore, no human can possibly know the actual date.
Furthermore, Jesus made a statement that casts doubt on the idea that since the world is so corrupt, the rapture has to be soon. Jesus said the Son of Man will come when you do not think He will. Perhaps the fact that many Christians think the rapture is imminent means it actually is not imminent.
When Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples asked Him when the end would come and what signs to look for. The first thing Jesus said was, “See to it that no one deceives you.” (Matt 24:4)
Then Jesus described things that would happen before the end times, during the church age. He mentioned wars, rumors of war, famines, earthquakes, persecution, hatred, betrayal, false prophets, and lawlessness. He promised that the good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world.
Next, Jesus said, “When you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.” (Matt 24:15-16) They must flee because that is the end time. There will be a great tribulation such as never happened before. Jesus went on to describe the tribulation and gave advice to those who have to endure it.
Matt. 24:23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.
Matt. 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
During the tribulation there will be false christs, false prophets, and false signs. Amidst those who have to endure the tribulation, there will be some who are elect. Elect means chosen.
Matt. 24:25 Behold, I have told you in advance.
Matt. 24:26 Therefore, if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.
Matt. 24:27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and appears even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matt. 24:28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Matt. 24:29 ¶ “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the POWERS OF THE HEAVENS will be shaken.
Matt. 24:30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.
The Son of Man will appear at the end of the tribulation.
Matt. 24:31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
The elect will be separated from those who are not elect.
In the following verses Jesus made some statements that apply to everything that falls under the category of the end times. The advice applies to everyone, including you and me.
Matt. 24:32 ¶ “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;
Matt. 24:33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
Years ago I frequently heard people say the blossoming of the fig tree is the establishment of the nation of Israel; therefore, the founding of modern Israel means the end time is soon. There is no basis for that belief. Jesus used fig trees as an illustration. When we see the fig tree blossom, we know summer is near. Likewise, when people see the events Jesus mentioned in this discourse, then they will know where they are in the progression of the end times. Jesus was not referring to the nation of Israel when He talked about fig trees.
Matt. 24:34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
The generation that sees the abomination of desolation will not pass away until the things in this passage take place.
Matt. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Matt. 24:36 ¶ “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
It is natural for humans to want to know when the rapture, tribulation, and second coming will take place. Part of the motivation for wanting to know is the misery of life on earth. Christians are ready to escape the lies and persecution of the world.
Many look at the state of the world and conclude the rapture has to be imminent. There are preachers who have predicted exact dates when the rapture would happen.
Jesus made it clear no one knows when the end time will come except the Father. Any preacher or so-called prophet who claims to know when the rapture or end time will happen is a false prophet. If only the Father knows, then perhaps the sinful state of the world is not a very good indicator either.
Matt. 24:37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.
Matt. 24:38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
Matt. 24:39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matt. 24:40 Then there will be two in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.
Matt. 24:41 Two women will be grinding grain at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Matt. 24:42 ¶ “Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
This is a clear statement that we do not know the day.
Matt. 24:43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Matt. 24:44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Jesus’ message was to always be ready because we do not know when it will happen. Furthermore, He will come when we do not think He will. In other words if life is such that everyone thinks the end time is imminent, then that means it is not imminent because it will happen when people are not expecting it.
Throughout my lifetime there has been a sense that the world is so corrupt that the rapture and end time have to be imminent. Some people are selling possessions and making other irreversible decisions because they believe they are about to depart earth.
The statements of Jesus in this passage cast doubt on the idea that since the world is so corrupt, the rapture has to be soon. Jesus said the Son of Man will come when you do not think He will. This indicates Jesus will not come when Christian thinks the world is a mess. Instead, perhaps He will come when the consensus of Christians is that the world is safe and mostly moral.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”
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