Matthew 24: Signs of His Coming (4)
Pray Psalm 91.1-3.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
Sing Psalm 91.1-3.
Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
All who dwell within God’s shelter in His shadow will reside.
He our Tow’r, our Fortress ever, in Him we our trust confide.
From the trapper’s snares He saves us; safe from sickness we abide.
Read Matthew 24.1-35; meditate on verses 29-35.
He will come “with power and great glory.” Meditate on that.
Prepare.
1. What was Jesus describing in these verses?
2. What happens after the sound of the trumpet?
Meditate.
Peter wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3.10). This seems to be what Jesus foretold in verse 29, the “passing away” of the creation as we know it.
In verse 30, Jesus foretold what John reveals in greater detail in Revelation 19, the appearing of the Son of Man from heaven, visible to all the world (v. 27), and the mournful reaction of the unsaved peoples of the earth (cf. Rev. 6.12-17). Then, Jesus will gather all His elect to Himself, the dead in Christ rising first, and all who are alive and remain until His coming joining them to be with the Lord, as He comes in judgment (cf. Matt. 13.31; 1 Thess. 4.16, 17; Rev. 19.11-16).
Then, somewhat surprisingly, Jesus seems to have connected these events with the lifetimes of those hearing Him (vv. 32-35). But “this generation” does not necessarily mean only those alive during Jesus’ day. It can also refer to “an indefinite period of time, but in close relationship to human existence and in some contexts, a period of time about the length of a generation—age, epoch” (Louw and Nida). Jesus may have been deliberately vague here, thus heightening the attention of His contemporaries, but leaving open the possibility of a longer period of time.
The end of time as we know it holds thrilling promise for all who believe in Jesus and hold fast to Him. But those who resist to the end will experience the full and terrible consequences of their choice: eternal separation in misery from the bliss and glory of Christ and the new creation.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Time was given at the creation: “God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day…let there be signs and seasons, and for days and years…” (Gen. 1.5, 14).
God does not live in time. We do.
So, for Jesus to explain to mankind: when He will return, how it will come about, and what will be the signs of its imminent happening, took great skill in translating God’s untime into man’s timeframe.
As Peter duly noted, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing,
that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet. 3.8).
We must trust fully; and understand faithfully.
“Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
for all are Your servants” (Ps. 119.89-91).
“Thus says the LORD:
‘Keep justice, and do righteousness,
for My salvation is about to come,
and My righteousness to be revealed’” (Is. 56.1).
“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You will endure;
yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
like a cloak You will change them,
and they will be changed.
But You are the same,
and Your years will have no end” (Ps. 102.25-27; Heb. 13.8).
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24.35).
What will happen is this:
1. The sun will be darkened.
2. The moon will not give its light.
3. The stars will fall from heaven.
4. The powers of the heavens will be shaken.
5. Then Jesus will appear with power and great glory.
6. His angels will be sent out, with great fanfare, to gather His elect.
“When you see all these things, know that He is near—at the doors!” (Matt. 24.33).
“Jesus said… ‘because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (Jn. 20.29).
The Son of Man, The Messiah, Immanuel, The Lamb of God, The Son of God will be here soon.
Either this year—or a thousand years from now. It matters not when. Only, that He will return.
“Therefore comfort one another with these words” (2 Thess. 4.18).
And live accordingly.
Reflect.
1. Why should we be eager for Jesus to return?
2. God will create a new heaven and a new earth. How do you envision this?
3. Why should you often meditate on questions 1 and 2?
Men will be at their respective businesses, and suddenly the Lord of glory will appear. Women will be in their house employments, but in that moment every other work will be laid aside, and every heart will turn inward and say, It is the Lord! Am I prepared to meet Him? Can I stand before Him? Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 24.29-41
Pray Psalm 91.4-16.
Prepare for this day in prayer, and live like Jesus is coming at any moment.
Sing Psalm 91.4-16.
Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
He will shade us with His pinions, ’neath His wings we safety find,
from night’s terror, from day’s arrow, from the fears that stalk our mind.
When destruction falls at noon time, safe in Him shall we abide.
Thousands at our sides may falter—it will not to us come near!
We instead shall see the end of all who at God’s mercy sneer.
Evil shall no more befall us for we hold the LORD most dear.
He shall give His angels charge to bear us up, lest we should fall;
they will guard and carry all who on the Savior’s mercy call.
Cobra, mighty lion, serpent: We shall tread upon them all!
Save us, LORD! We love You only; set us up secure on high!
You we know, on You we call in trouble: Hear us when we cry!
Show us Your salvation, let long life forever satisfy!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings about St. Patrick from the book, Patrick: A Devotional History. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVisioncolumn continues our new study of “Everyday Christianity”. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
