I want you all to go back in time with me for a moment when you were a child. E didn’t have xbox, or playstation, or video games. We actually went outside and played face to face with our friends. If you were like me, you'd gather with your friends in the neighborhood and would be out most of the day. I'd be gone for hours. But there was something about Mom's voice. When it was time for dinner, you could hear all of the neighborhood mothers out on their porches calling for their kids. But no matter how far away I was, I could always hear Mom's distinctive voice call my name. There was no mistaking her voice or her call to me.
One day Jesus is coming back, and the signs of His return will be clear and unmistakable. It will be obvious. Even though we don't know for sure when it will be, Jesus’ return will be a powerful, can't-miss-it event. I didn't always want to come in when Mom called, but when Jesus returns, I'll gladly welcome that moment to go home and be with Him. How about you? We continue today in Matthew 24 where Jesus told us what that day will be like.
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For the past couple of weeks, we have been talking about what to expect as we approach the end times when Jesus returns. In Matthew's writing today, he teaches us that the true Messiah’s coming will not be secret or hidden. His coming is not going to just be seen by a select group. It will be something that is visible to everyone. Jesus taught us to be aware of all the false claims about His identity and His return, no matter how compelling or convincing they may sound.
Matthew 24:23-25 – “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance.”
If any of us ever saw someone that was in danger, we would surely extend a warning to them, but we would especially warn those we love and care about. Jesus cares so deeply for His followers. We saw last week that Jesus cares so deeply for His children that He will shorten the period of tribulation for their sake. Now we read that Christ's care for His people is so deep that He warned them of the danger of being deceived by false religious peddlers.
Notice that Jesus warned of both false Messiahs and false prophets. What's the difference in these two groups? False Messiahs are those who claim to be the Christ - the anointed one from God. False prophets are those who claim to have the truth revealed to them by God, possibly in a hoax that supports one of the false messiahs.
These false Messiahs and Prophets are quite deceptive. They can be very convincing because they supposedly back up their claims by performing great signs and wonders to lead us astray. Unfortunately, miracles are a part of their deception. But it’s all smoke and mirrors. God's word warns us that Satan and demons can seemingly do such marvels in an attempt to deceive people.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 – “The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.”
Because of this, Christians should be prepared to identify false teachings that don’t align with God's word. Once again here is an encouragement for us to read God's word and know what it says.
Jesus gives us some encouragement in His description of the end times. The false Messiahs and false prophets won't be able to pull off deceiving the true Christ- followers. They will attempt to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Satan has never been able to deceive true believers about the identity of their Lord. This is how Jesus said it:
John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
You might remember that Jesus said earlier in Matthew 24:13, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” And now we see that, while believers are not immune to the attacks of these false Messiahs, God will protect them from renouncing their belief in Him. God's elect can be tempted and persuaded. That’s you and me as God's children. They may even be put to death, but they won’t fall for the deadly bait of the deceivers. Peter said this:
1 Peter 1:5 – “You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
So you see, we as Christ-followers, will be able to identify these false teachings and false teachers as well as any false messiahs.
Matthew 24:26 – “So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it.”
What Jesus is telling us is that when the time comes, the Messiah won't be found in the place’s false teachers and cult leaders suggest. We don't have to go somewhere. Instead, He will be coming to us. Jesus will be coming to us.
And if you are confused the least little bit, remember that God's word is our reliable source of information about Jesus's return. Jesus continued to warn against any false teaching about the messiah's whereabouts. He was in essence saying, “Pay attention only to what I am teaching you now, not to anything else you will hear or see. Don't listen, no matter how fascinating the message and signs may seem to be. Don't chase after any of these rumors.”
Oh, it will be tempting, it will be believable, but as true Christ-followers, we can assess the truthfulness of what we hear by how well it aligns with God's Word. While Scripture doesn't give us details about when Jesus will return, it tells us what we can expect. It is our most trustworthy source.
That is why I love the Bible so much. In this case, I like to think of the Bible as God's own polygraph. It will help you to detect the liars.
So many tragedies would never have happened if people had taken seriously the truth of this verse. There would have been no Jonestown Massacre, no Branch Davidians, or no Heaven's Gate. These people died because they listened to Jim Jones, David Koresh, or Marshall Applegate give their version of, “See, he's in the wilderness.” Or, “See, he's in the store rooms.” If anyone tells you he or she knows the secret path to the kingdom or has a fresh new revelation from God, always refuse to listen to that person. Why? Because Jesus said so.
Matthew 24:27-29 – “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.”
*************29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
You ask, “How will we know if it is really the true Messiah's return?” Nature will call out the coming of Christ. The return of Christ will be accompanied by supernatural things happening in the sky - or at least manipulations of their appearance.
These signs in the sky will be such that all people of Earth can see them and realize the end is at hand and Christ is returning. If only one of these signs were given, someone might try to explain it away as an eclipse or a meteor shower. But all of them occurring together can only be caused by the hand of God.
When you hear thunder or see lightning in the sky, you don't usually wonder what it is. It's obvious. That's the idea Jesus wanted to make clear. We won't wonder what is happening when He returns. There will be no mistaking it! Jesus's return will be sudden and visible.
But then Jesus throws in a statement that seems out of place in verse 28. “Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.” Many of us have driven past roadkill, and we've seen the buzzards waiting for us to pass so they could resume devouring the carcass. It's not clear exactly what Jesus meant by this illustration, but maybe it's simply that people will be drawn to see the return of Christ, just like vultures are drawn to a carcass. Jesus' return will be something to behold. Just look again at what we can expect to see. (Read 27-29 again)
Matthew 24:30 – “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
The return of Jesus will be quite obvious. Previously, Jesus had mentioned several lesser signs that would precede His coming, but His own personal return will be the ultimate sign for humanity to behold. Jesus will return in glory and splendor, and His greatness will be overwhelming to all. His righteous character will be so piercing that all the people on the earth will mourn. They will mourn because Jesus’ coming points to the fact that their judgment is coming.
So, if you have ever wondered if you will truly recognize it when Jesus returns, just know that His glory will be evident when He returns. You will know! Jesus said that everyone on Earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.
Clouds were used in the Old Testament as a picture of God's movement. Whether these clouds are natural or supernatural, Jesus will utilize them to display his Divine Majesty.
Verse 30 tells us that Jesus’ second coming will be marked with power and great glory. This highlights the contrast between His first coming and second coming. The first time, Christ came as a little baby in Bethlehem. At that time, only a few were aware of the significance of His birth to an unknown couple in an obscure village. But when Jesus comes the second time, He will appear with all the power and Glory that are rightfully His. God's power will be necessary in His return, because His coming at that time will involve the defeat and conquering of all His enemies. In His power, Christ will redeem His people and establish His perfect rule on earth. With that power comes His glory. So, you will definitely know when He comes the second time.
Matthew 24:31 – “He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
We don't know when exactly the trumpet will sound announcing the return of Christ, but when it comes, we will know it. Everyone will know it. And for those who know Christ, that trumpet blast will be a welcome sound. Christ has come and we are going. Praise God for the promise that we can claim!
Christians will be gathered to join Christ. He tells us that He will mobilize a group of angels who will do the work of gathering believers to join Him in heaven. Christ calls these Messengers His angels, another fact that shows us that Christ is God. God's angels are Jesus's angels. You might remember that back in verse 14 we were told that “the good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations.” Jesus will use the angels as harvesters of the faithful.
Trumpets were commonly used to herald the coming of the king with great pomp and circumstance, and the return of Jesus - the King of kings- will be announced with a loud trumpet. More than likely this trumpet will be a shofar. The shofar was a trumpet made from a Ram's horn, which was used to signal Jewish Sabbaths and feasts. It was also used to gather the Lord's people together, as when Yahweh made His fearful appearance on Mount Sinai.
Exodus 19:19-20 – “19 As the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai at the top of the mountain. Then the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up.”
The trumpet also sounded when the worshipers gathered on the mountain in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 27:13 – “On that day a great ram’s horn will be blown, and those lost in the land of Assyria will come, as well as those dispersed in the land of Egypt; and they will worship the Lord at Jerusalem on the holy mountain.”
Paul also referred to the blast of a trumpet to gather God's people at the return of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:52 – “52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Has any of this happened yet? No! Will these events happen? You can be assured that they will. It was Billy Graham that said, “The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness.”
The question for each of us today is are we ready? Are we prepared? If you know Christ as your personal Savior then you are prepared. If not, we are giving you that opportunity right now to assure that you are ready when Christ comes again. If God is touching your heart to come and accept His Son as your personal Savior, please come and tell me.
If you are here today and you feel that this church is where God wants you to worship and serve Him, then come and tell me. We are a body of baptized believers. If you already know Christ and have accepted Him, and been baptized, then come and by your statement of faith you can become a part of this church family.
If you would simply like to rededicate your life and start anew in your walk with God, then come. Now is the time. Come so that you, too, can wait expectantly with us for Jesus’ return.
