Tuesday of Passion week; part 2

Tuesday was a full day in Passion week.  The second half of the day takes in Jesus entire discourse about His second coming.

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Well, as we pick up with the second half of Tuesday in Passion Week, I begin to understand the wisdom in that old saying. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. But I feel like we've already had a huge meal, and there's so much more that happens today. So if you're feeling a little stuffed, don't feel bad if you choose to listen to this half a little later on on Tuesday or part way on Wednesday, because Wednesday's podcast is going to be shorter. Now this podcast covers all of the Olivet Discourse and the parables about Jesus. Second, coming once again, I could preach on this section for weeks, but I'm just trying to give you a feel for what? That final week of Jesus earthly life looked and felt like. So don't be disappointed if we skipped the rock across the surface of this pond again. This is Tuesday, 12th of Nice on a D 30. As Tuesday draws to a close, Jesus and his disciples are leaving Jerusalem again to go back to the place where they slept that night. They would again go out of the eastern gate of the city and walk toward the Mount of Olives. But before they leave the temple complex, one of his disciples makes a comment. Mark 13 verse one. And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Master, see what manner, stones and what buildings air here He's referring to the temple itself. The temple was, Ah, majestic building. It was constructed by haired the great years earlier. And really, I can't do justice to it by trying to describe it. If you go online, you could look up a number of reconstructions and even videos that will give you a virtual tour of what that temple looked like. It had columns and, uh, bronze carvings and pools and huge stones. And needless to say, for men who grew up as fishermen living in small stone and earth dwellings, it would have been quite impressive. So as they left Jerusalem, one of them must have been particularly enthralled by the impressive nous of that edifice. And so they say to Jesus, Look, look at this. This is remarkable. But while they saw a majestic building that symbolized their distinction as God's people, Jesus looked at that building, and its beauty only reminded him of the not too distant future. It says in Verse two and Jesus, answering said to him, Do you see these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. Well, that statement immediately struck his disciples silent. They knew Jesus well enough to know that this wasn't some allegory or parable, and he was serious. The majestic building that they called God's house was going to be tourney down brick by brick. It had happened before, when Babylon invaded Israel and enslaved thousands of Jewish people. So they knew that if it happened, it would happen at the hand of Rome. Rome always struggled to maintain the balance in Israel between Israel's religious identity and their obstinate defiance against Roman authority. So as they leave the temple complex and the city, the disciples remain silent until they're far out of town and away from curious ears. It tells us in Verse three that as they sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled. In other words, when is this coming? And how are we gonna know it is about to occur? Well, Luke 21 vs eight through 19 continues that dialogue, and Jesus starts off by discussing the immediate events surrounding Jerusalem and its destruction in 70 a. D. But he also jumps from that discussion about the destruction of Herod's temple to the time at the end of the world when a second temple will be destroyed or desecrated. Now the disciples didn't know this, but we have the perspective of history toe overlay on top of Jesus words, it says. Jesus answered them and began to say, Take heed that you are not deceived for many will come in my name saying I am Christ on the time draws near go. Not therefore after them. Jesus warns that from the start there will be people claiming to be Christ and that we're not to follow them. Based on that claim, 1st 9 continues by saying, But when you hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified for these things must first come to pass. But the end is not by, and by then, he said to them, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and great earthquakes will take place in divers, places and famines and pestilence is and fearful sights and great signs will there be in heaven? So he says that there's going to be earthquakes, famines and diseases and signs in heaven. Well, up to this point, we know that those things have been happening throughout history. They happened after Jesus ascended up into heaven. They happened as time progress toward that moment when the first temple of hair it was destroyed. But, he says in Verse eight in Matthew, these are the beginning of sorrows, he said. Well, if that's the beginning of sorrows, what sorrowful thing would happen after that? Well, Luke progresses by saying, But before all of these, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues. Two councils. You'll be beaten and thrown into prisons being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake, Matthew ads and this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. And then shall the income now this would have been new to the disciples. I imagine that they could hardly envision taking the gospel toe only the Jews, let alone carrying it to the world. And now Jesus says that not only will they take that gospel out into the world, but they will be hauled into court to testify about Christ as a frightening thing. But Jesus promises in verse 14 settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate before you shall answer. But whatsoever shall be given to you in that hour that speaky for it is not you that speak but the Holy Spirit. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain, say or resist. You will be betrayed by parents and brethren and kins, folk and friends and some of you they will cause to be put to death. You will be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he that endures unto the end. The same shall be saved. So the birth pains that he begins with our awful things in the earth like earthquakes and famines and pestilence. But then he proceeds by saying not only that. But you're going to be in prison. You're going to be tried. You're gonna be beaten and even put to death in your patience. Possess ye your souls and many false prophets will rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will wax cold. But he that will endure into the end. The same shall be saved. So up to this point, everything, he said, seems to imply that the condition of the world is going to be much like what we live in now falls teaching increasing sin, persecution, earthquakes, sickness, famine. But then the Gospel of Matthew jumps to a specific word related to the holy city and the temple. The Gospel of Luke takes up the same theme, Luke says. And when you shall see Jerusalem compass with armies, then know that the desolation there of his nine Matthew says in verse 15 when you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place who so reedit let him understand. Now these verses are what we would call a dual fulfillment verse in 70 a. D. Jerusalem was surrounded by armies and in short order, the city and the temple were destroyed, leaving no stones left on each other. And at that time, you could say that the abomination of desolation also took place in that the Roman army came into Jerusalem, and part of that army entered into the holy of holies of the temple and defiled it. But it also tells us a scripture that there's gonna be another time when God's holy of holies is defiled. When the anti Christ comes. In the end times, it says he will set up an image of himself and require that all the world worship him. Some people believe that he may set up that image in the newly constructed temple. I personally think these verses in Matthew apply to both the destruction of the temple in 70 a. D. And to the end times, you might say, Well, we don't have a temple. Now how will anyone defile it? But prophecy implies that the Jewish sacrifices will resume again during the end times. So many believe myself among them that the Jewish temple will be rebuilt, Matthew continues. Then let them, which be in Judaea, flee to the mountains, let him who is on the housetop, not come down to take anything. Averages house. Neither let him, which is in the field, Returned back to take his clothes, he's saying. Is that those who are believers those who have read these warnings should take note in 70 a. D. They would take note that the armies had surrounded Jerusalem, and so it was necessary at that point for them to flee when the desecration takes place. In the end times when Christian people here that an image has been set up of the anti Christ, then it's time to run. It's time to flee, Luke says. For these, be the days of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Continue with Matthew, he says, and woe to them that are with child into them. That gives suck in those days, but pray that your flight be not in winter. Neither on the Sabbath day, for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. So. The sign that Herod's temple would be tourney down was that in 70 a. D. The city of Jerusalem would be compass with armies. In the end times, the sign is going to be that an image of the anti Christ will be set up. 1st 24 goes on to say and they will fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. But for the Elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. So he continues to warn his disciples. He continues to warn his followers. If any man says to you Lo here is Christ or there, believe it not. He's saying, there's gonna come a time in that end time when Christians are gonna be anxious, you're gonna look at the signs taking place around them, and they're going to begin to look for the return of Jesus Christ. He's saying, Be careful. There will be individuals that say Yes, Christ has come back and he's over here in this meeting place. Crisis come back and he's over here in the wilderness. Come with us and see him when Jesus warns, Don't listen to him. Don't believe them because there is going to arise False Christ and false profits. They're going to show great signs and wonders in so much that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. I think he includes that phrase if it were possible, because it's not possible that the elect will be deceived. Behold, I've told you before. Wherefore if they shall say to you behold these in the desert, go not forth. Behold is in the secret chambers, believe it not for as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so shall the coming of the son of man be here, he says. If you want to know how to know that it's actually the Christ returning, you're going to see it in the sky. It's going to be so apparent and so visible that there is going to be no way that you could mistake it. He says that the second coming of Christ is going to be as visible as lightning crackling across the sky and in verse 28 wherever the carcasses there will the eagles be gathered together in other words. You know when there's a dead animal out in the wilderness because you see eagles flying around up in the sky above it and in the same way you know, the return of Christ. Because it would be a very visible signs in this guy's. So until now, Jesus has described conditions leading to and through the last days of the earth called the tribulation. Now I want you to notice something. Throughout this entire description. Jesus never mentions one event that many Christians believe will happen before the tribulation. What event is that? That is the rapture of the church, the catching away of the church. Paul wrote that at the last trump Christians who have died will come out of their graves and living Christians will be caught up together in the air to meet the Lord. But Jesus doesn't mention that catching away before his description of the tribulation or his description of the anti Christ. Well, some teach that this chapter is Onley written to Jews who will be converted after the invisible return of Christ before the tribulation. They say that after Jesus comes invisibly to take his church, he will catch away all living believers there. In that rapture, he takes away his church, leaving the Jews to be converted and to experience what is described in Matthew 24 1 through 28. What we have read up to this point Well, I want you to know that I don't agree with that. I believe that the reason that the catching away or the rapture isn't mentioned in versus one through 28 is because it doesn't happen until verse 31. Read it with me. Matthew 24. Starting with verse 29 immediately after the tribulation of those days. Repeat that word immediately after the tribulation of those days. Shall the son be darkened? The moon will not give her light. The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then look at what Verse 30 says and then will appear the sign of the son of man in heaven. When does he say that the sign of the son of man or the return of Christ is going to take place? He immediately after the tribulation. What is this? This is the second coming of Christ and it happens after the tribulation but read on, he says. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn? They will see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. In other words, this is a visible return of Christ. Everybody's going to see him, even those that don't believe in him. But look at what it says in Verse 31 and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet. What's that? Well, Jesus said. Paul reiterated that at the last trump that then the Lord would call those who are in the graves they would rise and that those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with him in the air. That's what's happening here in this part of the passage of Scripture. He sends forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they gathered together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other looks. Look at that order again. Verse 29. After the tribulation verse 30 the son of man will appear in heaven. There's 31 and gather together his elect from the four winds. What is this? This is the rapture of the church. I believe that the church is not caught away or raptured until after the tribulation verse 28 of Luke. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up. Lift up your heads for your redemption. Draws nigh. Jesus describes the catching away of the church now. I could go into a great more detail about that. But as I said previously, that's not the purpose behind this particular podcast. Jesus is sharing with his disciples what's going to happen in the future. Going back to Matthew Chapter 24 Verse 32 Jesus tells a parable. He says Learn a parable of the fig tree when his branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves. You know that summer is near so likewise e. When you will see these things, know that it is near, even if the doors, in other words, watch for the signs of the times. Verily, I say to you, this wicked generation will not pass till all these things be fulfilled. Having an earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day, an hour knows no man. No, not the angels of Heaven, but my father. Only now, the principal truth that Jesus is trying to impart to his disciples here and to us who inherit the Scripture is that we're to be watchful to make sure we're keeping account of what's happening in the world. 1st 37 He gives an example of that. The time of Noah says. But as the days of Noah, where so shall also the coming of the son of man be for, as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the Ark and new not until the flood came and took them all away. So shall also the coming of the son of man be two will be in the field, the one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and the other left. What he's saying is, you need to be watchful. The end times judgment is going to be like Noah's Day. What is implied here is that the people in Noah's Day were going about their normal lives. They were eating and drinking. They were marrying and giving in marriage. Then one day they saw Noah and his family enter into the Ark and the door was shut. And then, in a few short days, judgment came and took away the unrighteous. The flood came and washed away and drowned the unrighteous. Now why do we have this chapter about the end times in the middle of Passion Week? I believe it's because, just like jesuscrucifixion, just like the time of the destruction of the temple in 70 a. D. Nobody saw it coming when Jesus came the first time, most of the Jews who had God's word had mis read it or misunderstood it. They were convoluted in there, thinking about what the coming of the Messiah would look like. And I believe it's going to be the same at the second, coming by then, very fewer, even going toe have faith. It's as in Scripture that Jesus said, whenever I return, will I find faith on the earth and the few that do have faith will not be expecting prophecies to be fulfilled in the way that they're happening. They, too, will likely have a misunderstanding of what is supposed to transpire. That's why the remainder of Tuesday's words from the Lord are about being watchful, making sure that you are considering the signs of the times. Well, let's read them Chapter 24 in Mark and then in the passage in Luke, it says, And take heed to yourselves, Les, at any time your hearts be overcharged with sir fitting and drunkenness and cares of this life. And so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare, shall it? Come on, All those that dwell on the face of the whole earth Watch ye therefore and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the son of man going back to Matthew in verse 42 of Chapter 24 he says, Watch and pray therefore for you know not what our your lord comes. But know this that if the Goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be also ready for in such an hour as you think not the son of man comes who, then is a faithful and wise servant who Miss Lord has made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, will find so doing. Verily, I say unto you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. He's saying, Keep your eyes open, keep your ears attuned to the word of God. Keep your heart open to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. And so it says. But And if that evil servant will say in his heart, my lord, delays is coming and will begin to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken. The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him and in an hour that he's not aware off, and we'll cut them asunder and appoint him his portion. With the hypocrites, there shall be weeping and gnashing and teeth. It's all about watchfulness being aware, considering the signs of the times, and we do that even as we watch the news at night and consider what governments come and go and where the geopolitical situation fits in terms of biblical prophecy. Chapter 25 Jesus gives his disciples of parable about watchfulness, he says. Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto 10 virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bride? Groom is the parable about a common situation in first century Israel. When someone got married, the woman would the bride would have her bridesmaids accompany her, and in those circumstances they never knew exactly when the wedding was going to take place. It was kind of a game for the bride groom to catch the bride. Unaware of his coming, he would go home to his father's house and prepare the room, the addition to his father's house, where they were going to go live. And then when all the preparations were made, he would go sometimes in the middle of the night and have an announcement made that the bride groom comes and the bride and her bridesmaids were supposed to be ready for the wedding, even at a moments notice. So here we have the story of 10 virgins, 10 bridesmaids and they have their lamps. They have something that in case the call comes in the middle of the night they're able to see. And so it says of them, five of whom were wise and five of them were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, but they didn't have any oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Well, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made Behold the bridegroom cometh, go you out to meet him than all the virgins arose and trim their lamps. They got their lamps out and started getting ready to be able to go out into the night and meet the bride, groom and the fool, he said to the wise, Give us of your oil for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered saying not So lest there be not enough for us and you, but go rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves Well, While they went to buy oil for their lamps, the bride groom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other Virgin saying, Lord Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not now. I could spend a great deal of time going into all the details regarding this parable and and saying to you what each aspect of it means. But here's the crux of the parable. When they arrived at the door where the wedding was taking place, they knocked and they said, open to us and the Lord said to them, I don't know who you are. You see these five virgins who didn't have the oil. We're unprepared. They had not been watching. And the fact that they didn't have enough oil indicates that they were not believers. The fact that they arrived at the wedding and the master didn't know them the bride room didn't know them indicates that they were not believers. You see, a real Christian is one that comes to faith in Jesus Christ. And when he does, when he comes to Jesus and repentance, the Lord gives him of his holy spirit as a down payment on heaven and so they can live out their life with an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. it says in the scripture that Jesus said to his disciples, I no longer call you servants. I call you friends. That's what being a Christian is. It is a friendship with Jesus Christ. It is service, but it is a friendship. But here we have individuals who never came to Jesus on the basis of repentance for their sins. Maybe they were associated with the church. Maybe they attended church regularly. Maybe they did good works. Maybe they even call themselves Christians. Maybe they were baptized, did all those things. But they never went and got the oil. That is they never came to faith in Jesus Christ and therefore let him give him of his holy spirit the power that gives a Christian new life and the guarantee for their eternity with God in Heaven. And so the point behind this parable is that they were not watchful. They there weren't considering the time. It says in verse 13 watch therefore for you know, neither the day nor the hour we're in the son of man comes Mark. Add to that by saying watch ye therefore for you know not when the master of the house comes at even or at midnight or at the cock crowing or in the morning, less coming. Suddenly he find you sleeping And what I say to you, I say unto all watch well. Matthew continues by giving another parable, he says, For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man traveling into a far country who called his own servants and delivered to them his goods and the one he gave five talents to another two and to another one to every man according to his several ability and straight way took his journey. So this is a parallel to really history. Jesus left this world. He ascended up into heaven and he left responsibilities with those that were his followers. To some, he gave Mawr ability into some. He gave less so it says that one had received five talents and he went and traded with same and made other five talents. Likewise, he who had received two also gained other too. But he who had received one, went and digged in the earth and hit his lord's money. And after a long time, the Lord of those servants came and reckoned with them, so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I've gained five more. In other words, I took what you gave me. I lived by your spirit and I produce spiritual works. So Jesus says to him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Well, he would receive the two talents I said to him, You delivered to me two talents and I have gained two other talents. The Lord replies and says him well done. Good and faithful servant. You took what was invested in you, that spirit of God that was implanted in you. And though you only had a couple of abilities, you only had some minor privileges compared to the first guy. You took what you had and you went out and in the spirit of God, produced two talents. You've been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Well, then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not Straw. And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo here is what is yours. And he simply handed back to him. The one talent that he had been given was Lord answered and said to him thou wicked and slothful servant You knew that I reap where I don't sow and gather where I haven't straw. Now in reality, when this servant stood and will stand before Jesus Christ, Jesus might have readily have said You don't really know me at all. This is just a parable. It's not indicating that God in heaven takes what is not. Hiss goes out and confiscates things that don't belong to him. That was this. Servants perception that God is harsh. God is a cruel taskmaster, so this servant doesn't know him. So he said, I'm not gonna try to please God, I'm just going to take this a little bit that I've been given this little bit of insight, this little bit of wisdom, the sermons that have been preached to me, the advantages of being able to go and be a part of a church. All the things that are afforded me in life, I'm just gonna hold on to them until Judgment Day and say here, God, take back what's yours. And so the master says them You're a wicked and slothful servant. So he said to his other servants, Take the talent from him and give it to him, which has 10 talents for to everyone that have shall be given and from him, that has not will be taken away, even that which he hath and cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth again, these parables about watching and to be aware of the signs of the times. And there are people in the church who are not of the church. They may be associated with Christianity, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are Christian. Well, Matthew continues in chapter 25 Verse 31 my telling us a story that hits a little bit close to home. 1st 31 says when the son of man will come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him. Then will he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him will be gathered all nations. And he will separate them one from another. As a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then will the king say to them on his right hand Come, ye blessed of my father, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me meat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then with righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we the hungry and fed the or thirsty and give you drink. When did we see you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison? And come to you and the King will say in answer to them. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you've done it unto me. What is the point behind these verses? That there's an end coming? Jesus is returning, and after that judgement will follow and those that are judged you're going to be judged on the basis of their works. You say, Oh my goodness, preacher, What do you mean by that? Doesn't say in Scripture that you are saved by grace through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. Yes, it does. But it also says in the book of James, that faith without works is dead. In other words, you'll know a person's faith by the works that they do. It's not that the things that you do save you, but it is that if you are really saved, there will be works that are done. And so it says in this passage of Scripture that the king will answer and say to those on his left hand, Depart from me. You who are cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no meat. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger and you didn't take me in naked and you clothed me not sick and in prison. And you visited me? Not then shall they also answer him saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison? And did not minister to the then shall he answered them saying, Verily I say unto you and as much as you have done it not to the least of one of these You did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, but the righteous under life eternal again. The point behind all of these scriptures in the last half of Tuesday is that we're to be watchful. Those that are not believers need to keep their eyes open around them because they don't know when the Lord is going to come. They don't know if they're promised tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation. We're not promised any other day. For those who are believers. We're to be watchful to not become lazy. And consider that life is just about entertaining myself and fulfilling the desires that I have. But that we have an agenda. We have a purpose. We have a mission or to be watchful, and consider that the Lord might return at any time. Well, that concludes the Scripture passages that we're considering for Tuesday. It's been a full day with a lot to think about now. Wednesday is kind of a lull before the storm. Thursday brings us to the Last Supper, and Friday is the crucifixion. So let's pray. Heavenly Father. As we sit here on the other side of the cross, it's easy to become complacent about our faith. We know all the right answers and the right questions, and we could have that same ease in regard to your second coming. We have all our charts and timetables figured out. Some have got it all figured out that you're going to come before all of the bad stuff hits. Others, have it all figured out that you're going to come at the end of all the bad stuff. Some of them say you're going to come in the middle of it all. We know exactly what's gonna happen. The Lord. I pray that you'll impress on our minds the lesson of your parables. About the end. The point of each of them was that we're to be watchful in diligent were to continue watching our world and the word so we can understand the signs of the times and not be caught off guard when judgment comes. And we're to be diligent in our work for the kingdom. So we're not caught in sin at your return. Ever teach us? Lord, we pray this in Jesus name, Amen.