His Word Today

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.” (Matthew 25:1–5 (ESV)

God the Father alone knows exactly when He has decreed God the Son, Jesus Christ, to return to earth in power, might and glory (Matt. 24:29-31, 36), With this in mind, believers in Christ are live in anticipation of the Son’s return. The Lord Jesus could return any day. Therefore, using illustrations and parables, the Lord explained how to prepare for His coming (24:37–25:30). Today, we begin to examine the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Jesus introduced the parable with the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven will be like.” The kingdom of heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ’s rule and reign over His servants; believers in Christ. Matthew 8 contains several kingdom parables. Today’s text indirectly compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins and a wedding. Jesus used this analogy to prepare His disciples for a long delay for His return to earth in power, might and glory. He cautioned all followers to be ready.

The parable begins with ten virgins taking their lamps and meeting a bridegroom. Obviously, a wedding is about to take place. Presumably, it is a Jewish wedding. It is also taking place at night, which explains the need for lamps. The word lamps (λαμπάς; lampas) literally means torch. It most often refers an oil saturated wick contained is a bowl like vessel. However, lamps may also refers to Roman torches.

“Weddings were held toward evening and torches were used as part of the celebration, which focused on a procession leading the bride to the groom’s house,” explains commentator Craig Keener.

“It is unlikely that “lamps” refers to the small Herodian oil lamps, which could be carried in the hand; all the evidence points instead to torches, which were also used in Greek and Roman wedding ceremonies. These torches may have been sticks wrapped with oil-soaked rags. In many traditional Palestinian villages in more recent times, the wedding feast occurs at night after a day of dancing; the bridesmaids leave the bride, with whom they have been staying, and go out to meet the bridegroom with torches. They then escort him back to his bride, whom they all in turn escort to the groom’s home.”

Jesus made a distinction between the ten unmarried bridesmaids. He said five of these women were foolish and five of them were wise. In other words, there was a lack of understanding among half of the women which the other half possessed.

This wisdom, or lack thereof, directly related to the supply of oil required to keep the respective lamps lit and burning. The foolish women did not take extra oil with them. The wise women did. This was all the more necessary because the bridegroom was delayed in his arrival. Whereupon, all ten virgins became drowsy and slept.

“As is clear from a comparison of 25:13 with 24:42, 44, there is a close connection between this parable and the immediately preceding one. Both emphasize the need of being prepared at all times for the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ,” comments Dr. William Hendriksen.

“The ten are alike in ever so many respects. All intend to meet the bridegroom and to escort him to the place where the festivities are to be held. All have lamps. All are expecting the bridegroom to come before another day has arrived, but none of them knows at what hour he is coming. All are looking forward to taking part in the marriage feast. When the bridegroom lingers, all these ten girls fall asleep, a sleep from which all are suddenly aroused (verses 5 and 6).”

The significance of this sudden awakening, and the lack of knowledge of the bridegroom’s arrival, will concern us as we continue our study tomorrow. Are you prepared to meet the Lord?

Soli deo Gloria!  

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know ⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:45–51 (ESV)

God the Father alone knows exactly when He has decreed God the Son, Jesus Christ, to return to earth in power, might and glory (Matt. 24:29-31, 36), With this in mind, believers in Christ are to still live in rapt anticipation of the Son’s return. The Lord Jesus could return any day. Therefore, using illustrations and parables, the Lord began explaining how to be prepared for His coming (24:37–25:30).

Recently, we examined two distinct phrases Jesus used commanding His disciples to a have particular perspective regarding His return. They were to stay awake and to be ready. In today’s text, Jesus also illustrated His soon return with a parable of two servants. One is wise and the other is wicked. Yesterday, we examined the wise servant. Today’s focus is on the wicked servant.

⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know ⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The word wicked (κακός; kakos) refers to what God deems as evil, wrong, incorrect and harmful. It is behavior that is in opposition to God and His Word. To be wicked is to live a life of hateful rebellion against the Lord and His disciples. The wicked do not believe in the soon return of Christ. They may not even believe in the return of Christ at all; soon or otherwise.

Consequently, their behavior reflects this unbelief. They treat other individuals harshly, indulge in drunkenness with little of no concern of God. They live a life, according to one commentator, of “carelessness, cruelty and carousing.” They fail to understand they are ultimately facing the Lord’s righteous judgment.

“The lesson of the parable, therefore, is this “Be and remain actively loyal to the Master, sensibly and joyfully carrying out the task assigned by him, in the interest of those who are precious to him,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.

Bishop Hilary of Poiters, an early church father, says, “Our ignorance of the day of Christ’s return should provoke us to be careful as we eagerly await his coming.”

“Knowing that Jesus could come at any minute should motivate us to pursue holiness, loving God and neighbor. We certainly do not want the Lord to catch us off-guard. Instead, we want to be found working diligently so that He will have no cause to be ashamed of His people,” concludes Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know ⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:45–51 (ESV)

God the Father alone knows exactly when He has decreed God the Son, Jesus Christ, to return to earth in power, might and glory (Matt. 24:29-31, 36), With this in mind, believers in Christ are to still live in anticipation of the Son’s return. The Lord Jesus could return any day. Therefore, using illustrations and parables, the Lord began explaining how to be prepared for His coming (24:37–25:30).

Yesterday, we examined two distinct phrases Jesus used commanding His disciples to have a particular perspective regarding His return. They were to stay awake and to be ready.  In today’s text, Jesus also illustrated His soon return with a parable of two servants. One is wise and the other is wicked. Today, we examine the wise servant.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.”

Jesus called this first servant faithful and wise. To be faithful (πιστός; pistis) means to be trustworthy, dependable and reliable. To be wise (φρόνιμος; phronimos) means to be understanding and prudent. In light of the Lord’s soon return, the faithful and wise servant is the disciple, or church leader, who remains dutiful to their tasks in spite of the Lord’s delay in returning (2 Peter 3:1-10). The Lord pronounced an oracle of blessing on such servants.  

“The duty of faithfulness applies not only to leaders but also to followers. Doing the will of the Master and caring for those in need, whether this need be material, spiritual, or both, is certainly the task assigned to all,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.

“Now upon the faithful and sensible (cf. 25:2, 4, 8, 9) servant a special beatitude is pronounced: Such “blessedness” means that the servant upon whom the words of approval, congratulation, and cheer are pronounced is the object of his master’s special favor, is a delight to him. Moreover, the clause “whom his master shall find so doing” shows that the proper attitude on the part of the one who awaits the master’s return is active service in the interest of those whom the master has entrusted to him. When the figure is interpreted, this means that the proper spirit in which believers should eagerly await as Savior the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20) is not the feverish nervousness of certain Thessalonians (2 Thess. 2:1, 2; 3:6–12), nor the nauseating lukewarmness of the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:14–22), but the active faithfulness of the Smyrniots (Rev. 2:8–11).”

“Therefore, we must be ready for Jesus’ return. Readiness, however, is not passive; rather, we are to serve our king actively, knowing that He could come at any minute. May we be wise, faithful servants who work for the kingdom, not those who lie down on the job and are fit only for destruction (vv. 45–51),” concludes Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁴⁰ “Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. ⁴² Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:40–44 (ESV)

God the Father alone knows exactly when He has decreed God the Son, Jesus Christ, to return to earth in power, might and glory (Matt. 24:29-31, 36), With this in mind, believers in Christ are to still live in anticipation of the Son’s return. The Lord Jesus could return any day. Therefore, using illustrations and parables, the Lord began explaining how to be prepared for His coming (24:37–25:30).

Even in the first century there were those who scoffed at the Lord’s delay in coming again. They doubted God’s truthfulness and trustworthiness much like those who lived during Noah’s day (2 Peter 3:1-7). 

Stay awake! Two words. Important words. Inspired words by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16017; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Jesus’ words to His disciples; then and now. To stay awake (γρηγορέω; gregoreo) is a present, active imperative verb. It is a command. It means to be on the alert and to be watchful. Believers in Christ are to be on the alert and watchful for the Lord’s return.

Be ready! Two words. Important words. Inspired words by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16017; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Jesus’ words to His disciples; then and now. To be ready (γίνομαι ἕτοιμος; ginomai hetoimas) is a present, middle imperative verb. It is a personal command. It means to be prepared and to be in a state of readiness.

Jesus used both phrases commanding His disciples to be on the alert and to be prepared for His second coming. Why was this truth so important for Jesus to emphatically communicate? It is because once He returns, salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone will be complete. All those who God the Father has elected unto salvation He will have saved (2 Peter 3:8-10).   

“It is clear that once this final day arrives, every opportunity still to be saved is gone forever. The door is shut. See on 25:10. The Lord arrives. Of two men engaged in the same kind of work, probably even toiling next to each other in the field, one is taken. By the angels he is gathered to be forever with the Lord. The other is left behind, assigned to everlasting perdition. The same thing happens in the case of two women who at that very moment are grinding with a hand-mill (cf. Exod. 11:5), made of two round, flat stones, with a handle near the edge of the upper stone. This mill must not be confused with the much larger one worked by donkey-power (see on 18:6). The lesson is the same: one of the two is taken, the other left behind. The One who takes is the Son of man himself through the agency of angels,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.

“Verses 40–44 stress the suddenness of Christ’s return. The taking of men and women from their tasks (vv. 40–42) is not a picture of a pretribulational rapture. Instead, Jesus is saying that the separation of the wicked and the righteous will be immediate. It is as if we will look up from our labor one seemingly ordinary day and find ourselves at the consummation of all things,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Just as a thief might suddenly break in without warning, so too will our Lord return at a moment when we are not expecting Him (vv. 43–44). These illustrations encourage us not only to be ready for the Savior’s final advent, but also to be prepared to meet Him at any point should we die before He comes.”

Puritan Matthew Henry comments, “We cannot know that we have a long time to live; nor can we know how little a time we have to live, for it may prove less than we expect.” Putting off repentance and faith can lead to eternal damnation.”

Be awake and be ready. Jesus’ return may be today.

Soli deo Gloria!

³⁷ “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37–39 (ESV)

God the Father alone knows exactly when He has decreed God the Son, Jesus Christ, to return to earth in power, might and glory (Matt. 24:29-31, 36), With this in mind, believers in Christ are to still live in rapt anticipation of the Son’s return. The Lord Jesus could return any day. Therefore, using illustrations and parables, the Lord began explaining how to be prepared for His coming (24:37–25:30).

Even in the first century there were those who scoffed at the Lord’s delay in coming again. They doubted God’s truthfulness and trustworthiness much like those who lived during Noah’s day (2 Peter 3:1-7).  

These were people, who perhaps for close to 120 years during the ark’s construction (Gen. 6:1-3), ate, drank, married, and committed great wickedness until the day when Noah entered the ark (Gen. 6:5-22). They did not concern themselves with the things of God until it was too late.

The question might be asked, “What is wrong with these activities, or with ‘buying and selling, planting and building,’ as in the similar days of Lot (Luke 17:28–30)?” The answer is, “Nothing at all.” In fact, by means of them men are able to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). But when the soul becomes entirely wrapped up in them, so that matters such as these become ends in themselves, and spiritual tasks are neglected, they are no longer a blessing but have become a curse. They have become evidences of gross materialism, false security, and often cold selfishness,” states Dr. William Henriksen.

What is to be the perspective of the church today regarding the Lord’s return? Are we to live in skepticism because it has been close to 2,000 years since these promised were given? The Apostle Peter, directed by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21), states otherwise.   

⁸ “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:1–10 ESV)

Peter continued to encourage believers to live holy and godly lives while waiting for the new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:11-12), to be diligent for Christ and to be without spot or blemish (2 Peter 3:14), and to not believe heresy and error (2 Peter 3:17). Rather, believers in Christ are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and to glorify Him in everything (2 Peter 3:18; I Cor. 10:31).

Soli deo Gloria!

³⁶ “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36 (ESV)

A significant shift occurs in today’s text. Matthew 24:1-35 primarily focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Now the emphasis is upon the “day” of the Lord’s return. Day (ἡμέρα; hemera) normally refers to the daylight in a 24 hour period of time (Genesis 1:1-31). However, it may also refer to a specific moment, or event, in time. This is its meaning in this context.

Although Jesus gave several signs by which they would know when Jerusalem’s destruction would occur, the specific day and hour of His second coming would remain a mystery. Jesus’s return could not, and cannot, be determined with any accuracy by human prophets and prophecies. It is futile to try, and yet many individuals attempt to do so. They are false teachers.                                                                                                                                                                          

The Lord’s return will be like a thief in the night (I Thess. 5:1-3; Rev. 3:1-3). Only God the Father knows the day and the hour of Jesus’ return. The angels of heaven do not know. Even Jesus, in His humanity, does not know.

Jesus Christ is fully God. How then could He not know the day and hour of His return? Jesus Christ is also fully human. In His humanity, Jesus was finite and changeable (Luke 2:52). It is within the context of Jesus’ humanity that He was ignorant of the exact moment of His return.

“The Savior’s ignorance regarding the timing of the end in 24:36 perplexes many believers. How could He who is fully God (John 1:1) not have known when the final day will be? Yet Jesus is also fully man (v. 14). Without surrendering His divine attributes, the second person of the Trinity took on a human nature and became the God-man,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Jesus Christ, at times allowing His “divine nature [to be] in a state of repose” and not to “exert itself” (John Calvin). Apparently, the incarnate Son of God chose not to lean on His omniscience when He referred to the timing of His final advent in the Olivet Discourse. Instead, Jesus leaned on His humanity and kept this knowledge from the Twelve.”

“The series of events that shall precede Christ’s return has been described. The precise moment of that great event has however not been indicated. Neither could it have been, for that moment is known to the Father alone, and it has not pleased him to reveal it. The angels, though standing in a very close relationship to God (Isa. 6:1–3; Matt. 18:10), and though intimately associated with the events pertaining to the second coming (13:41; 24:31; Rev. 14:19), do not know the day nor the hour. Nor, in fact, does the Son himself, viewed from the aspect of his human nature. See also on 21:19,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.

“The Father, he alone, knows. This proves the futility and sinfulness of every attempt on man’s part to predict the date when Jesus will return, whether that imagined date be 1843, 1844, more precisely Oct. 22, 1844, the autumn of 1914, or any later one. See Deut. 29:29. Curiosity is wonderful. For nosiness, intrusiveness, impertinence there is no excuse.”

Be careful when pastors, preachers, authors and self-appointed prophetical experts seek to predict the exact date of the Lord Jesus Christ’s return. Their attempts to do so reveal their ignorance of Matthew 24:36. Have a blessed, and discerning, day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

³² “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁴ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32–35 ESV)

Today’s text reminds us of Jesus’ cursing of a fig tree (Matt. 21:18-19). The object lesson then regarded Israel’s spiritual fruitlessness and carnality, evidence by the perverse businesses conducted in the temple courts, in contrast to the magnificence of the temple’s appearance. The cursing of the fig tree foreshadowed the temple’s destruction.

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus again used a fig tree as an object lesson concerning His soon return. The appearance of buds, leaves and the blossoms which follow indicate the summer growing season is imminent. The leaves and the blossoms will develop into nourishing fruit. Therefore, Jesus’ return would follow the fulfillment of His predictions. This is the first of seven future-kingdom parables Jesus taught His disciples.

“Unlike most Palestinian trees, fig trees lose their leaves in winter; they would have been in leaf by this time of year, however, predicting the fruit that should appear on them in the summer. Jesus had earlier used this tree as a parable for the temple’s destruction (see Mark 11:12–25). But the meaning is ultimately decided by the context: when the signs he had listed (including the temple’s destruction) were fulfilled, his coming would be imminent,” explains commentator Craig Keener.

Jesus taught the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple therein would occur during the disciples’ lifetime. However, the phrase “this generation” may refer to a kind of people or race. In the context, this would be the Jews. In other words, Jesus meant that Israel, then and now, would not become extinct prior to both the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the events throughout church history culminating with His glorious return. This is the most accurate interpretation of vs. 34.

“The temple was destroyed roughly forty years after Jesus spoke these words (which refer to the temple’s demise rather than to the Second Coming—see comment on 24:3). The Dead Sea Scrolls anticipated a final, forty-year generation of tribulation before the end; Jesus leaves the period between the final earthly sign (the temple’s demise) and his return indeterminate,” states Keener.

“There can be no question about that. Jesus now states that when “all this” (literally “all these things”) is seen, “it” is near, at the very gates. “All this” must refer to the fulfilment of the various predictions in so far as this fulfilment could be witnessed by the disciples; note “when you see all this.” It was with reference to Christ’s prediction that not one stone of the temple was going to be left upon another that the men had asked, “Tell us, when shall this happen?” (Matt. 24:3), explains Dr. William Hendriksen.  

“With reference to the rise of false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes, etc., events which did indeed begin to happen already before and in connection with the fall of Jerusalem, Jesus had said, “But all these things are (only) the beginning of birth pains” (verse 8). It is natural, therefore, to interpret 33 as meaning that when the disciples see “all this,” for some of them including even the fulfilment of the prediction regarding the “desolating sacrilege” (verse 15) as far as that prediction was fulfilled in their own day, then “it,” namely, the fall of Jerusalem and its temple, must be considered as being near; in fact, at the very gates.”

Jesus affirmed all He said as absolute truth. He confirmed to His disciples’ of all generations that His words would come to pass. All of the events of this discourse occurred in some degree before every member of the twelve disciples died. What has not occurred is the second coming of Christ. This remains future.

“We still wait for Jesus to return and usher in the new heaven and the new earth. Still, we should not underestimate the significance of His judgment of Jerusalem through Rome in AD 70. No longer is there one place in only one country where we may gather for worship, and this confirms God’s intent to save people from all over the world. Let us be grateful that we may worship Him wherever we are and strive to make the praise of our Creator a part of our daily lives,” concludes Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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 out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29–31 (ESV)

There has been much discussion and speculation regarding the specific context and meaning of today’s text. The passage naturally points to the second coming of Jesus Christ in power, might and glory. The descriptions of what occurs at His return are all connected to Old Testament prophecies concerning events following the abomination of desolation (Matt. 24:15-28). Note the following biblical texts

• The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light (Isa. 13:10; Ezek. 32:7; Joel 2:10b; 2:31; Rev. 6:12).
• And the stars shall fall from the sky (Isa. 34:4b; Rev. 6:13).
• And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken (Isa. 34:4b; Joel 2:10a; Hag. 2:6, 21; Luke 21:25, 26; Rev. 6:13).
• And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn (Zech. 12:10, 12; Rev. 1:7).
• And they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory (Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 16:27; 26:64).
• And he shall send forth his angels with a loud trumpet blast (Isa. 27:13; Matt. 13:41; 16:27; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7).
• And they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from the one end of heaven to the other (Deut. 30:4; Zech. 2:6).

“Such phenomena are a common feature of day of the Lord prophecy (see Isa. 13:9–10; Ezek. 32:7–8; Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15; Amos 8:9). The ultimate fulfillment of these prophecies takes place during the time of the beast’s reign (Rev. 6:12–13; 8:12),” states Dr. John MacArthur.

“The events described here precisely parallel the description in Dan. 7:13 and Rev. 19:11–21. All the tribes of the earth will mourn. I.e., over their own rebellion. Israel in particular will mourn over their rejection of the Messiah (cf. Zech. 12:10–12).”

“The picture is very vivid. While the earth is drenched with the blood of the saints in the most terrible tribulation of all time, all at once the sun becomes darkened. Naturally the moon now also ceases to give her light. The stars deviate from their orbits and race to their doom; they “fall from heaven.” The powers of the heaven are shaken. Terrifying sounds are heard. There is “the roaring of the sea and the billows,” causing perplexity among men. People faint with fear and with foreboding of what is beginning to happen to the world (Luke 21:25, 26),” explains Dr. William Hendricksen.

The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was terrible. The times immediately prior to the return of Jesus Christ will be even more devastating. However, there is hope in the midst of this universal hopelessness. Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, will gather His people from all over the world.

“All the “elect” from heaven and earth are gathered and assembled before Christ. This is the culmination of world history, ushering in the millennial reign of Christ (cf. Rev. 20:4),” states Dr. MacArthur.

“If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22 ESV)

Soli deo Gloria!