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+--- Thread: NT Doctrine -- Matthew 24:29-51 (/thread-1131.html)
NT Doctrine -- Matthew 24:29-51 - Ed Hurst - 07-23-2022
Everything Jesus has said so far while sitting on the Olivet hillside is just the beginning, not the End. The End was a wholly different matter.
However, He did broach the topic of His Second Coming in verse 27, which was their second question. He was actually warning them not to expect His Return in connection with the destruction of the Temple. It would be natural for everyone to expect it, and there would be frauds based on that expectation, but the destruction of Jerusalem was not the end of the world, only the end of Judea as a political entity.
So in verse 29 He returns to the theme of His Return. He uses the expression "those days" as a plural of "That Day" -- the Day of God's Wrath and Judgment. What comes in the package with that? His description is a standard prophetic phrase meaning that everything humanity has ever known would come to an end.
Then He would appear in the sky and the inherent moral blindness of this fallen existence would be pulled away. Everyone will see Him and know Him for whom He is, and recognize their guilt as sinners. The angels will scatter to gather into His Kingdom all the elect of the earth. That Day will come without warning.
However, the destruction of the Temple and related events will have plenty of warning (verse 32). So He uses a parable about fig trees, telling them to be watching and be ready. There will be plenty of signs for that event. And indeed, those living as He spoke these words would mostly be still alive when the Temple would be destroyed (verse 34). Everything they knew could fail, but His promises would stand eternally.
But the Second Coming can have no warning (verse 36). Only the Father knows when He will do that. Even the Son didn't know. It would be more like the Day of the Flood. Noah was told what to do in preparation, but not the day when the earth was covered in water. Most refused to listen and did not repent. In verses 40-41 Jesus depicts the day when the guilty would be taken away to face their judgment. Suddenly the troops come riding up and snatch them away.
You never know when the Lord will come.
Jesus offers another parable to illustrate (verse 42). He talks about how the head of a household would have a much easier task if he could predict when a thief would show up to steal in the dark of night. He could stay awake that night and catch him. Instead, it's the kind of thing where you have to 24/7. The Second Coming is impossible to predict; there will be no signs, no warnings.
We are to be like the household steward, taking care of business just as if the Master were still home to watch. That way, when He does Return, He won't be disappointed, and neither will the steward. Those who do not prepare and look forward to the Second Coming will face unspeakable sorrow.
So, to answer their second question, there can be no sign of His Coming. The next chapter of Matthew addresses the third question.
RE: NT Doctrine -- Matthew 24:29-51 - jaybreak - 08-03-2022
The righteous will always be ready. No need for signs.