Series: Matthew 24 – part 3
Text: Matthew 24:6-32
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his is part 3 of a series of posts (part 1, part 2, part 3) that are looking at the Second Coming of Jesus. To help narrow the conversation for better reflection, this series of posts will be based on Jesus’ conversation in Matthew 24.
“False labour contractions are unpredictable. They come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. Although true labour contractions may be irregular at first, over time they start coming at regular and shorter intervals, and become increasingly more intense, and last longer.”
In Matthew 24:8, Jesus says, “All these [signs] are the beginning of birth pains.” As one read Matthew 24, there is a feeling of the building of contractions getting greater and the intervals closer. Jesus starts with a short list of the beginning signs of his return in verses 6-7.
- We will hear of wars and rumours of wars.
- Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.
- famines
- earthquakes
The challenge of this list is that realistically we have always had such things. How do we know if what we see today is part of a regular cycle or the first stage of birth pains? We do know that there are physical changes taking place in our world, which one could argue are leading to stronger storms. What is important to remember is the storms are not signs that the end is here, but it is coming. I would suggest that they are signs of our need for Jesus. The talk of rumours of war, and nations against nations, is hard because war is a part of our world. There is always one group going up against another.
Jesus continues with more signs
- v. 9 – You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death
It should be noted that Jesus is talking about believers. In the build up to his Second Coming persecution will be part of the journey for followers of Jesus. It will continue as the birth pain increase, and it does not end till near the end (see v. 31). We also have the tension here that persecution is an experience of many believers today.
- v. 10-11 – There is a rise of falling away and many false prophets appearing.
Each generation will have its falling away and false prophets. But there seems to be an increase above the norm. The challenge is,“What is the norm?” and so becomes very hard to measure. The church needs to be careful in saying one generation is more evil than another. We need to be reminded that as long as we follow Jesus, there will be temptations, and a battle to pull us away.
- v. 14 -The gospel will be preached in the whole world.
What this will look like we simply do not know. Many have shared this means a church or at least missionary in every people group of the world. Tracking that may be hard, but we have the promise of the message going out even in the midst of challenging circumstance.
It is at this point we see an intensity of the birth pains taking place and perhaps closer together. In verse 15-22 there is talk about a third temple that has been built. It should be noted that as of 2014 this has not happened. There is more that can be said about this section that space does not allow for. You will have to look for future posts. These verses contain some big events. During this time there is a great desolation that takes place. Not much is shared what that will look like, but I expect one should pray they are not around during that time.
Like birth pains coming on quicker, this moment will not last as long. There is a quick transition into the 3rd stage of signs. This next phase of the birth pains comes in verse 28-31. This is the final stage as the birth takes place. During this final phase we see events take place in space, among the sun and moon with stars going out. Then the crowning of the head begins in the birthing. The sign of Jesus will appear in the sky.
We do not know what this sign is, but I expect we will know it when it comes. Then we will see Jesus.
Then in Verse 31, God will gather his followers.
There are two important thoughts Jesus wants us to take away from this conversation. These two things are related to the signs, but the signs are not the main point. The first point is that:
1. God is sovereign
God is a God involved in history. In the midst of the choices of people and the power of sin in our world, God is at work to bring about his will. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will never pass away”
The second thing we need to take away is:
2. Be not alarmed.
In the midst of all these signs Jesus has shared, this is not even what he wants us to understand. Like the anxious husband, waiting for his wife to go into labour, wondering if it is time, so we too run the risk of doing the very same thing in our life. Jesus on the other hand, shares in verse 8 and 13 what he is concerned about.
Be not alarmed.
This does not mean we have to understand the time line of everything. It does mean that we do not have to fear the circumstance and events taking place around us.
Stand firm in God and do not be alarmed.
