24:15-26
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
abomination of desolation- 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14–15, Dan 9:27. Antichrist prototype 167 BC Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) And when the king had built an idol altar upon God’s altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, nor the Jewish religious worship in that country. He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and to adore those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples, and raise idol altars in every city and village, and offer swine upon them every day. He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, and threatened to punish any that should be found to have transgressed his injunction. He also appointed overseers, who should compel them to do what he commanded. And indeed many Jews there were who complied with the king’s commands, either voluntarily, or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced. (Antiquity of the Jews)
Then-The tribulation will be so great that you want to be a doomsday prepper! The Day of the Lord
but for the elect’s sake- The time is so bad that if kept going everyone will die, but for the kingdom saints sake the end is not long in coming.
See, I have told you beforehand-tribulations saints should not be fooled with fake Christ’s, (think of David Koresh)
so also will- The Second coming will be grand and spectacular, something that no one can miss or misunderstand.
For- The idea here is that people will be taking advantage of the situation
24:28-31
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Sign- This is unknown, but all will know what it means
appear in heaven- Everyone on earth will see it
mourn- because they know the judgment day has truly come.
gather together- like the rapture, this will separate the believers from the unbelievers entering in to the 1000 year reign of Christ.
1 Thess 4:13 is during the church age, this is during the tribulation, after the church age, note the differences, they church age saints meet him in the air, the trib saints do not, this is key.
32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
fig tree- This is a sure thing, no mistaking what is about to happen
all these things- Everything mentioned above, Rev 6. Throughout history we have seen some of these things happening, but never all of them at the same time.
Generation- This is not talking about his audience, he is talking to the generation experiencing the tribulation. Matt 21:43 explains that the kingdom (1000 year reign of Christ) will be taken away for the current generation.
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
but My Father only- the second coming is only known by God. We can only look at aspects of future time lines but the time of the rapture unknown, the time of the signing of the peace treaty with the world and Israel unknown, but once that treaty is signed we have a clicking countdown clock, but even then we do not know the exact hour.
days of Noah – Total normalcy of life, no idea disaster is right at the door
40-41- the one taken, lets break this down
Who is taken- the unbelievers
Who is left – the believers
Where are they taken to – judgment Luke 17:37 Rev 19:17-21
Why are they left- to enter the kingdom of God
THIS IS NOT THE RAPTURE BUT THE KINGDOME AGE BEGINNING
Therefore you also be ready- two fold application
- To the tribulation believers- be spiritual ready, don’t be caught off guard
- To the church- we do not know when the rapture will happen so we too need to be ready
45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
First Baptist Church Delmar 