The Day Jesus Returns
A. The End
1) Signs for the end times (14-25)
"When you see `the abomination that causes desolation' [14] standing where it [14] does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now--and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ [21] !' or, `Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. "But in those days, following that distress, "`the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'(14-25)
2) Jesus' return (26, 27)
"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. (26,27)
B. How do we understand these things so that they would be life-giving?
1) The Bible's perspective on history
2) Our attitude
Summary
The Bible says that this world has a beginning and an end. The first-generation Christians believed that the end would come in their lifetime. But that has not happened, even after two thousand years had passed. Many events in history have resembled things that may happen in the end times, but the end hasn't come yet. Whenever people experienced a great war, natural disaster, or an economic depression, false prophets have appeared to declare that the end was near or that they, in fact, were the returning Christ. The fact that the world did not end even then suggests that the true signs for the end times are going to be even more severe. It also means that the false prophets will appear in even cleverer and more attractive disguise in those times. What's important is not to speculate on when the end will come but to live in such a way that we would not have regrets when the end does come or even if our life ends before that.
For Discussion
1) Why did Jesus talk about these things?
2) How should we live if we don't know when the end will come?