End Time Parables: Stay Awake and Be Ready!
Matt. 24:32-36; Mark 13:28-32; Luke 21:29-33
When Jesus taught on the Mount of Olives He wasn’t trying to be vague or confusing, but clear and concise, therefore He gave illustrations making His point. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.” That was the lesson of the day (Luke 21:29). Observe the order of tree growth: branches produce leaves (spring), during summer the flowers appear, and by fall the fruit is ready for picking. A plain and simple order of life. That’s the lower story, apparently there’s an end times connection since it’s sandwiched within His end times teaching. Why is this lesson so important that He saved it for the end of His life?
Our Lord made the connection for us: “… in the same way when you see all these things you know that summer is near (Matt. 24:33).”
What things? Ahhhh, there’s the kicker. You have to go back to the beginning of His end times teaching to find the answer. Backing up in any of the three gospel accounts we find Jesus’ list of events to watch for whether they be in the near future, far future, or far, far future: it’s called the prophetic telescope.
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3b
Like birth pains, Jesus continued, various occurrences will happen slowly and increase in frequency and intensity; we should be awake and ready. The Temple will be torn down (about 40 years later by the Romans), that’s near future. Times of great tribulation is coming: famines, earthquakes, diseases, and terrorism. ‘These things’ must take place so we should be ready. Some of those things were personal to them and they experienced persecution, some will be for the Jewish nation (70AD until 1948), some will occur in the far future (like global terrorism), and finally, some things happen at His Second Coming.
Watch the sky for signs, He prophesied, even the roaring of the seas (tsunamis or hurricanes), the sun, moon, and stars will become dark until that final sign when the Son of Man will appear in the sky with great power and glory. The trumpet blast opens the heavens, the angels gather the chosen from around the globe (dead or alive), and as Paul said, “we meet Him in the air.” (1 Thes. 4:13-18). Oh, what a powerful and glorious day that will be.
Jesus went on to explain that we must stay awake by watching what’s happening globally, be ready with strong faith, and refuse to be weighed down by the cares of this life.
Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your Redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28
Your redemption is Jesus Christ, He’s returning for you, and the time of ‘these things’ is getting closer as if the fruit of the tree is ready for picking.
Encourage your family with these words.
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