Learning Jesus | Week 32
Learning Jesus Week 32
Israel’s Return <> Messiah’s Return part 2
Key Word – watch >> Central Passage – See Reflection Questions.
Last week we started Jesus’ famous Olivet Discourse when He answers this overarching question: What will be the circumstances that lead to Israel’s repentance and call for the return of Her King? To answer this question Jesus provided a timeline to help His disciples understand His return in light of His rejection. Last we studied the following: 1. The apostles will be persecuted, but souls will be saved. 2. The Temple will be leveled, Jerusalem destroyed, and unbelieving Jews scattered, but believing Jews will escape to Pella. 3. Local wars, false messiahs and rumors will arise. 4. World war, along with famines and earthquakes, will signal the end is near 5. The first half of the Tribulation will include persecution, false prophets, and rampant sin, but the gospel will be proclaimed.
Day 1 – the second half of the Tribulation
Background Information – The abomination of desolation refers to an event in 167 B.C. when Antiochus Ephiphanes set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem. Daniel prophesied of this event in chapter 8, but then he goes on to predict of a greater abomination of desolation, and he dates it as occurring exactly in the middle of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27b). The apostles would know that Daniel’s first prophecy was fulfilled in 167 B.C., so they could conclude that the greater would be fulfilled as well. The book of Revelation provides additional details; it states that the false prophet will make an image of the Antichrist and place it in the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple (13:11-15). This action will separate the first half of the Tribulation from the second half because this abomination will break the covenant that Israel made with the Antichrist at the start of the Tribulation. The signing of this covenant is what actually starts the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27).
Read Matthew 24:15-22.
1. Jesus’ generation rejected Him as the Christ, but this end times generation will sign a covenant with the Antichrist. How does allowing a second abomination of desolation serve God’s purposes for Israel’s repentance?
2. Jesus uses the words “great tribulation,” so the second half is greater than the first half of the Tribulation and greater than the tribulation of Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70. (See Jeremiah 30:6-7; Daniel 12:1). What details and description does Jesus provide to warn that this is THE great tribulation prophesied in the Old Testament?
Background Information – So far we have learned that the abomination of desolation will be the sign for the Jews to flee because Satan will seek to destroy them during this second half of the Tribulation. The elect in this context, which references Jerusalem and Judea. refers to the Jews, and Jesus is giving this prophecy to His apostles, who would know that two-thirds of the Jews would die during the Tribulation (Zechariah 13:8-9).
3. Despite all, what does Jesus promise that would sustain the apostles’ confidence in the Living God of Israel? Consider this -- And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Day 2 Jesus’ Second Coming
Read Matthew 24:23-28.
Background Information – Jesus shifts to warn of persons who will deceive. He already had warned of false prophets arising during the first half of the Tribulation, but those of the second half will perform signs and wonders through the power of Satan. One false christ or messiah will be the Antichrist himself; from the Temple, he will proclaim himself as God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Some will spread rumors that the second coming has already taken place to draw the Jews from their hiding places, so Jesus shares this to warn them to remain hidden: His coming will be visible to all, and they will not miss Him. As we already learned in Luke 17, the vultures refer to the Gentile armies who will gather at Bozrah (Micah 2:12-13), and this is where Jesus will return.
1. How would you describe Satan’s strategy, as revealed in this text, to destroy the Jews?
Background Information – In our last week’s lesson Jesus prophesied that the Temple would be destroyed. This led the disciples to ask Jesus three questions: 1. When will the Temple be destroyed? 2. What will be the sign that your coming is about to happen? 3. What will be the sign that the world is ending and the Messianic Kingdom will be established? As we have seen, Jesus did not answer the questions in the same order in which they were asked. In our text today, He is going to finish answering question 2: What will be the sign that your coming is about to happen? All He has shared up to this point sets up what will immediately precede His Second Coming.
Read Matthew 24:29-30 & Luke 21:25-27.
2. Imagine these events by listening to first Matthew and then Luke. Record your thoughts.
Background Information – The earth will be covered in total darkness and the oceans will rage. Then the Son of Man will appear in a cloud with glory. This glory is the Shechinah glory whose light will disperse the darkness. The tribes of the earth refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, the Jews who will repent from rejecting Jesus.
3. Why is it appropriate that the Shechinah glory will scatter the darkness covering the earth and heavens? Enjoy a time of worship after you answer.
Day 3 – the Regathering of Israel
Background Information – Jesus has given His current and future disciples this timeline so far: 1. The apostles will be persecuted, but souls will be saved. 2. The Temple will be leveled, Jerusalem destroyed, and unbelieving Jews scattered, but believing Jews will escape to Pella. 3. Local wars, false messiahs and rumors will arise. 4. World war, along with famines and earthquakes, will signal the end is near 5. The first half of the Tribulation will include persecution, false prophets, and rampant sin, but the gospel will be proclaimed. 6. The second half of the Tribulation will start when the Antichrist sets himself up as an idol in the Temple. This is the sign for believers to flee to Bozrah, where Jesus will return in visible glory.
Jesus will now discuss the regathering of Israel, which is a recurring prophecy in the Old Testament. Now that He had already prophesied of the Jews scattering when Jerusalem was destroyed, He helps the apostles understand how this familiar prophecy of the gathering of Israel fits in the timeline. It occurs after all these events He just summarized, the last one being His glorious return.
Read Matthew 24:31 & Mark 13:27.
1. What details does Jesus include that are so appropriate for a returning King who is setting up His Kingdom?
Background Information – Notice that both gospels reference a gathering from all the earth and from all of heaven. Believing Jews, the one-third who survive the Tribulation, will be gathered from the four corners of the earth and Old Testament believers who have already died will be gathered from the four corners of heaven. Together, the Jews who are alive in their earthly bodies and those who died and now have their glorified bodies will enter into the Kingdom with King Jesus.
2. Imagine this Kingdom with believing Jewish Tribulation survivors and with Old Testament saints. What do these believers have in common? What might they say to commend one another when they meet? Note: The Church saints, both Jewish and Gentile saints, will be there too; that includes you!
Background Information – Jesus concludes with these words: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Notice Jesus says when these thing BEGIN to take place. He is referring to the very concrete sign of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. This is the first sign to believing Jews that their city is going to be destroyed, and they should flee. Why does Jesus close with this? Because this warning comes with a promise “your redemption draws near.” This is the promise of the Rapture, an event that Jesus will add to His timeline. His idea is this: Once Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, then my coming to fetch the Church, my Bride is imminent. I could return for my Bride at any time after that.
3. Review Jesus’ words of comfort in Luke 21:28.
o Why does He offer these specific comforts?
o How are you comforted as well?
Day 4 – the Parable of the Fig Tree
Read Mark 13:28-32.
Background Information – Again, the Abomination of Desolation, the worship of the Antichrist, signals the second half of the Tribulation, and the need for believers to flee to Petra. Knowing his days are numbered to exactly 1,260, Satan will attempt to rid the world of Jews so that they cannot petition the Messiah to return (and repent from their sin of rejecting Him!)
This Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 21:29-33 illustrates that the same generation that sees the abomination of desolation shall see the Second Coming. This parable should comfort that generation to persevere: victory is only 1,260 days away
1. God Comfort
o What is Jesus literally saying about trees as summer approaches? (v28). How does He connect the dot to the Second Coming (v29).
o Jesus gets a little repetitive in verses 30-31, but His repetition is purposeful. What is He saying?
o Who alone knows when knows to the hour when these things shall happen?
2. Review your points above. How will each of these be a comfort to those who follow Christ, and especially to the generation that sees the abomination of desolation in the Temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation?
3. What are you understanding about God’s plan for Satan from studying end time events?
Day 5 – the Rapture of the Church
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Review of the three questions with signs briefly summarized:
· The sign of the destruction of the Jewish Temple/Jerusalem is that armies shall surround Jerusalem. Fulfilled A.D. 66
· The sign that the end of the age has begun is world war. Fulfilled A.D. 1914-1945.
· The sign of His Second Coming is the Shechinah Glory shining through a world-wide blackout.
Review of the Additional Information Jesus Provided
• Israel’s Regathering -- Those who survived the Tribulation shall be gathered and the resurrected Old Testament saints shall be gathered.
• Jesus’ Exhortation -- But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads because your redemption draws nigh. “These things” refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. That is the last prophecy before the Rapture – This means the Rapture is imminent and will come at any time
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Background Information – Now that Jesus has answered the disciples’ questions about signs, He warns them about an imminent event with no sign. This event is the Rapture of the Church. When Jesus comes to fetch His Bride, the Church, the dead in Christ shall rise first and join believers who live on the earth. Together, they shall be raptured to meet Christ in the clouds, and He will take them to heaven. He introduces the topic of the Rapture with a “peri de” construction. In English that is often translated as “but” as it is in our passage below. However, in Greek, it reads as “now concerning” and is used to indicate that the speaker is introducing a NEW topic. So Jesus is not speaking about the SAME topic He had been teaching, meaning His Second Coming, but of the Rapture of the Church.
Matthew 24:36-42 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 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. 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.
Luke 21:34-36 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
1. The scaffolding questions below are meant to lead you little by little to understanding that believers will escape the Tribulation because the Church shall be raptured before this judgement occurs.
o Remember the second coming will occur seven years after Israel signs a covenant with the Antichrist, and 1,260 days after the abomination of desolation. So the day is known. In contrast, what is true of the Rapture? (v36)
To know neither the “day and hour” is a Jewish idiom for “not at all,” meaning no one knows the
day or hour. So this affirms the day is unknowable to us.
o We just learned about the events of the Tribulation. Will people be living in this chaotic time or living life as normal? (vs37-41)
o We learned that believers will move into hiding after the abomination of desolation. So is it likely that during the Tribulation, believers and unbelievers will be working side by side? (vs40-41)
o Other passages in the New Testament describe the Rapture as a time when believers are separated from unbelievers (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). So it is logical that Jesus cautions unbelievers. What is His advice to them? (Matthew 24:42 and Luke 21:36)
o To watch is to be ready to escape judgement. The watchful are those who are saved. What shall the watchful escape?
o Once they escape, where shall the watchful be..? They shall stand before the Son of Man!
2. Those who are in Christ will be raptured, so they will escape the Tribulation. How do you hope Jesus finds the Church when He comes for her?
3. What details regarding the Rapture help you understand the need to also be “awake at all times,” in other words to be ready to meet Jesus who has already saved you from judgement?
Optional Memory Verses – But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36
REFLECTION Questions
Your group will move from Day 1 to Day 5 together. There are no reflection questions so that you can have all the time to solidify the timeline and the implications of end times events. Knowing these in itself is an application. Consider as you read and discuss, why the key word for this lesson is “watch.”
If you do not finish the lesson, you can continue next week. Please allow time for closing prayer.
COMMUNITY GROUP TIME
• This week your group will complete Days 1-5. There are no reflection questions.
• Is anyone able to recite all or part of Luke 21:36?
• Close in prayer.
God’s joy and strength to you,