Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Matthew 23-25, and I’m calling the episode “Do I Hear Thunder?” 

Comments on Matthew 24 and 25

As long as I’ve been a believer, one of the topics within the church that never fails to inspire conversations is the return of Jesus. When will it happen? How do current events line up with end-times prophecy? Is the antichrist alive now? Who is it? What is the mark of the beast? 

In verse 3 of chapter 24, we see that wanting to know when Jesus is coming back is not a new phenomenon. Here, the disciples asked Jesus what they should be looking for that will signal His coming and the end of the age. Jesus spent a lot of time in chapters 24 and 25 talking about the end times and His return.

Today, I want to focus quickly on the first thing that He said in response to the disciples’ question.  In verse 4 He told them,“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” 

And then dropping down to verses 23 through 27 He says, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.

“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. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Almost immediately after Jesus was taken up to Heaven, when He left the disciples with the Great Commission, imposters declared that they were the returned Christ. It happened then, and it happens today. Most have been quickly set aside as wackos, but some have managed to gather followers, and a few have even gathered millions.  

The vast majority of the people who have been led astray by these false teachers obviously never studied the words of Jesus. His first warning was, “Don’t be fooled.” Further down he said, “Don’t believe those who say, ‘He’s here!’”

So how will we know? Look at verse 27 again, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

When there’s a thunderstorm in your area and lightning flashes and the thunder roars, it’s obvious isn’t it? You know instantly, don’t you? That is how it will be when Jesus returns. Everyone on earth will know the second Jesus makes His appearance. It will be nothing like His first appearance in Bethlehem. There will be a great sound like a trumpet blast, and BAM!…you’ll know.

In the mean time, while we wait, our job is to be busy doing the work He’s called us to. Don’t worry about when He’s coming. Just know that He is, be ready, and do all you can to share the Good News with as many people as you can, so that they’ll be ready, too.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 23-25 NKJV

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