I The Delayed Coming

The parable of the “Two Servants” in Mt 24:45 addresses the Rapture of the Church!

The parable of the “10 Virgins” in our text today addresses the 2nd Coming of Christ!

The proper interpretation of parables:

1. Allegorical: Everything in the parable has a mystical, deeper meaning
2. Historical: The parable has a plain meaning and one primary truth

Background on the three stages of Jewish weddings:

1. The engagement: a formal agreement made by the fathers.
2. The betrothal: the ceremony where mutual promises are made in the presence of family and friends.
3. The marriage (gamos= wedding celebration and feast): following a year of preparation, the bridegroom would come at an unexpected time and make his way to the home of his bride to retrieve her and take her to place the had prepared for her! The bridesmaids, along with others, would then make their way to the home of bridegroom (often at night with lighted torches), where there would be a week of feasting and celebration!

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Introduction

The focus of Matthew:

1. The King: Jesus Christ the Messiah
2. The kingdom of God: The rule and reign of the Messiah
3. The citizenry of that kingdom: Believers and followers of Jesus Christ

The message: “Repent for the kingdom is at hand!”

The response: Rejection of the Messiah by Israel’s religious leaders

The sentence: Desolation, wrath and judgment upon the nation of Israel!

Consequently, the disciples ask Jesus two questions:

1. What will be the sign of the end of the age? The Abomination of Desolation!
   1. There will be an ever-increasing succession of judgments that will come upon the earth during the first 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation!
   2. At the halfway point of the Great Tribulation, the peace treaty between the anti-Christ and Israel will be broken and the next pivotal sign will occur: the “Abomination of Desolation” as prophesied in Dan12:11-12.
   3. Following the Abomination of Desolation, the world will suffer the second half of the Great Tribulation followed by the 2nd Coming of Christ!

1. What will be the sign of your coming? The worldwide, visible, unmistakable return of Christ in His unveiled Shekinah Glory!

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1. What will be the sign of your coming?
2. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Having answered the disciples’ second question in verses 4-14, Jesus now turns His attention in verses 15-31 to answer the first – the sign of His coming.

Prophetic sequence of Pretribulation events (Arnold Fruchtenbaum):

1. World Wars I and II - Mt 24:1-8
2. The Re-Establishment of Israel in 1948 - Ezek 20:33-38; 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2
3. The temple will be reconstructed (AKA; 3rd Temple or Tribulation Temple) and be under Jewish control - Dan 9:27; Mt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev 11:1-2
4. The Rapture will precede the Tribulation - 1 Thess 4:16-17
5. The Russian invasion of Israel (with Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia) - Ezekiel 38:1-39:16
6. The One-World government - Dan 7:23
7. The ten kingdoms - Dan 7:24a
8. The rise of the Antichrist - Dan 7:24b; 2 Thess 2:1-3
9. The period of peace and false security - 1 Thess 5:1-3
10. The seven year covenant - Dan 7:27; Is 28:14-22

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

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Introduction

Background: The disciples asked two questions in Matt 24:3

1. What will be the sign of your coming?
2. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Having answered the disciples’ second question in verses 4-14, Jesus now turns His attention in verses 15-31 to answer the first – the sign of His coming.

Prophetic sequence of Pretribulation events (Arnold Fruchtenbaum):

1. World Wars I and II - Mt 24:1-8
2. The Re-Establishment of Israel in 1948 - Ezek 20:33-38; 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2
3. The temple will be reconstructed (AKA; 3rd Temple or Tribulation Temple) and be under Jewish control - Dan 9:27; Mt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev 11:1-2
4. The Rapture will precede the Tribulation - 1 Thess 4:16-17
5. The Russian invasion of Israel (with Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia) - Ezekiel 38:1-39:16
6. The One-World government - Dan 7:23
7. The ten kingdoms - Dan 7:24a
8. The rise of the Antichrist - Dan 7:24b; 2 Thess 2:1-3
9. The period of peace and false security - 1 Thess 5:1-3
10. The seven year covenant - Dan 7:27; Is 28:14-22

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Background: The disciples asked two questions in Matt 24:3

1. What will be the sign of your coming?
2. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Having answered the disciples’ second question in verses 4-14, Jesus now turns His attention in verses 15-31 to answer the first – the sign of His coming.

Prophetic sequence of Pretribulation events (Arnold Fruchtenbaum):

1. World Wars I and II - Mt 24:1-8
2. The Re-Establishment of Israel in 1948 - Ezek 20:33-38; 22:17-22; Zeph 2:1-2
3. The temple will be reconstructed (AKA; 3rd Temple or Tribulation Temple) and be under Jewish control - Dan 9:27; Mt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev 11:1-2
4. The Rapture will precede the Tribulation - 1 Thess 4:16-17
5. The Russian invasion of Israel (with Iran, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany and Armenia) - Ezekiel 38:1-39:16
6. The One-World government - Dan 7:23
7. The ten kingdoms - Dan 7:24a
8. The rise of the Antichrist - Dan 7:24b; 2 Thess 2:1-3
9. The period of peace and false security - 1 Thess 5:1-3
10. The seven year covenant - Dan 7:27; Is 28:14-22

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Most people are curious about the future -- the Jews of Jesus’ day were no different!

Background:

1. This is the last public speech Jesus ever gave to the people of Israel.
2. In chapter 21-23, He pronounced judgment on the nation Israel, judgment on the false leaders and judgment on the people who followed their deceptions – culminating in two profound statements:

--One of judgment: “Your house is left unto you desolate”, which would be fulfilled in 70 AD in the destruction of the temple.

--One of prophetic hope: “For I say unto you, you shall not see Me henceforth till you shall say, ‘Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord’”, which will be fulfilled when all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26).

3. The Jewish understanding of eschatology was limited: There would be a time of great tribulation (Roman rule); The coming of a herald who would announce the Messiah. (John the Baptist); The Messiah would come (and He did) ; The Messiah would gather the dispersed Jews and establish His kingdom.

1. They had no concept of a 1st Coming of the Messiah as a Suffering Servant followed by a 2nd Coming as a reigning and ruling King! As a result, they were filled with a heightened sense of eschatological anticipation!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Introduction

Most people are curious about the future -- the Jews of Jesus’ day were no different!

Background:

1. This is the last public speech Jesus ever gave to the people of Israel.
2. In chapter 21-23, He pronounced judgment on the nation Israel, judgment on the false leaders and judgment on the people who followed their deceptions – culminating in two profound statements:

--One of judgment: “Your house is left unto you desolate”, which would be fulfilled in 70 AD in the destruction of the temple.

--One of prophetic hope: “For I say unto you, you shall not see Me henceforth till you shall say, ‘Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord’”, which will be fulfilled when all Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26).

3. The Jewish understanding of eschatology was limited: There would be a time of great tribulation (Roman rule); The coming of a herald who would announce the Messiah. (John the Baptist); The Messiah would come (and He did) ; The Messiah would gather the dispersed Jews and establish His kingdom.

1. They had no concept of a 1st Coming of the Messiah as a Suffering Servant followed by a 2nd Coming as a reigning and ruling King! As a result, they were filled with a heightened sense of eschatological anticipation!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

There have always been (and will be) leaders like this in the church:

1. In the OT, God repeatedly confronted Israel’s corrupt leadership - Ezekiel 34
2. In the NT, Jesus warned of “false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” - Matt 7:15
3. Paul warned the elders that “from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves - Acts 20:30

Theme of this passage:

1. The scribes and Pharisees are identified as religious bullies!
2. Jesus stands up to them as the Deliverer and Champion of the church!

(2014)

May God bless you through this message!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com