INTRODUCTION

Sometimes it seems that when Christians run out of anything else to fuss about, or maybe when they just get tired of fussing about everything else, they can always argue over doubtful interpretations of prophecy.

Especially with regard to eschatology, or the study of last things, Bible believers of unquestioned sincerity differ widely and often spitefully. So we are exposed to various shades of premillennialism; postmillennialism, and amillinnialism; and within the ranks of premillinnialism sometimes bitter divisions over the question of pretribulation, midtribulation, or posttribulation rapture.

One advantage in arguing about the order of future events is the probability that you will be dead and gone before you can be proved wrong. Nevertheless it seems reasonable to suppose that a diligent study and simple faith in the plain statements of the Bible should be more profitable to us and more pleasing to God than a heavy involvement in doubtful disputations over human schemes of interpretation.

Jesus is coming again. This blessed hope the believer may cherish without getting hung up on anybody's prophetic chart. Our lesson is from Jesus' own words to His disciples on the Mount of Olives during the last week of His earthly ministry. It may be outlined as follows:

1. Retention, verse 36. 
2. Resemblance, verses 37-39 
3. Removal, verses 40-42. 
4. Readiness, verses 43-44. 
5. Recompense, verses 45-47. 
6. Retribution, verses 48-51 

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

RETENTION, Matthew 24:36.

In Mark 13:32 Jesus tells us that at that point even He Himself did not know the day and hour of His return. The time was definitely set, but was known only to God the Father, Who retained the secret for reasons best known to Him. Jesus was content to let the matter rest there, but multitudes of professing Christians are not so patient or resigned to the Father's will.

RESEMBLANCE, Matthew 24:37-39.

By means of a number of illustrations Jesus emphasized the fact that His second coming will be sudden and, to most people, unexpected. So before the flood the people refused to believe the preaching of Noah and continued their ordinary activities "until the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the ark."

Of course there is no suggestion here that eating, drink- ing, and marriage are evil practices in themselves. The whole point is simply that the people kept living their own life and gave no heed to the warnings of God's Word "until the flood came, and took them all away." Exactly so, the return of the Son of man will bring sudden destruction to an unready world.

REMOVAL, Matthew 24:40-42.

Verse 31 tells of a gathering together of the elect "from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other," as stated in Mark 13:27, "from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." This gathering of the elect to their returning Lord will involve their separation from lost sinners with whom they may be associated in this world, so that "one shall be taken, and the other left."

Now the vital point is that only the genuinely saved will be qualified for removal from this sinful world at the Lord's return. "Watch therefore:" since we do not know the hour, we need to be prepared now.

READINESS, Matthew 24:43-44.

Another illustration further emphasizes the same point. The whole and only point of comparison is the unexpectedness of Christ's return: "in such an hour as ye think not."

Quit putting off, O sinner, quit putting off, O doubtful soul uncertain of your salvation, this matter of preparing to meet God! Jesus is coming again! Accept Him as Savior, or, unprepared, you must face Him as Judge.

RECOMPENSE, Matthew 24:45-47.

For the faithful and wise servant there will be approp- riate recompense. If we really believe the Word of our Lord, we will prove our faith by our works, and be found doing our duty at all times. If we are faithful, the exact time of our Lord's return is not important; the important fact is that He is coming, and above all else we desire His approval when He comes. Faithfulness in our minor desires in this world will be rewarded by higher position in the world to come.

RETRIBUTION, Matthew 24:48-51.

But there are unfaithful servants, not true servants at all except by profession, who demonstrate their true charac- ter in their conduct. They do not believe the Word of the Lord, though they falsely call Him their Lord. They conduct themselves like the lost sinners they are in the midst of God's people, and He will deal with them in due time -- a time unexpected to them.

Note that such an "evil servant" will have "his portion with the hypocrites." He may have deceived himself and others, but God knows what he is and where he belongs, and will put him in his proper place, a place with "weeping and gnashing of teeth."

CONCLUSION [Acts 1:7

Though these words of Jesus are no hindrance to the attitude of upstart and cocksure "teachers" or "prophets," it should provide some restraint for humble and sincere believers of God's Word. Ignoring Deuteronomy 29, they have been setting dates and drawing prophetic charts for centuries, and are still at it. Let them go. It will become evident in due time. But the Word of God is true, and Jesus is still coming again.
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[From Ashland Avenue Baptist paper, March 26, 1976, pp. 2-3. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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