Matthew’s Gospel: Return

It did not end with the resurrection as the ultimate enemy of mankind had to bow before the power of the life-giving Spirit of God.

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The Jesus Story is not finished.
It did not end with crucifixion, a tragic tale of a brilliant, misunderstood young man cut down before His work was done. It did not end with the resurrection as the ultimate enemy of mankind had to bow before the power of the life-giving Spirit of God. Neither did the story end on the Day of Pentecost when that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead filled every interior inch of the hearts of His followers. The story did not end at the last chapter of the Book of Acts for it contains no conclusion at all. More than 20 centuries later the Jesus Story is still being told in the lives of those who believe in Him and trust Him as Savior. He has promised to be with us to the end of the age.

The End of the Age
An interesting idea—the End of the Age! There will be a final chapter in the Jesus Story, just before a new story will be written set in a New Heaven and a New Earth. As an old song once said, “He came. He’ll come again, this Christ in all His glory!” Theologians call this the eschaton—the study of end-time events. This is a whole theological discipline far beyond the scope of a 500+ word devotion. Scriptures drawn from the Hebrew prophets, the words of Jesus, the letters of the Apostles, and the Revelation of John on the Isle of Patmos must all be considered and believed. They seem to describe two events,
1. one is a secret catching away of the saints of God and
2. the other a very public return of Christ with the armies of Heaven including the saints.
Some cannot deal with two events and chose to treat one or both as allegories. I will summarize the teachings of Jesus in this passage.

What Jesus Said
• The Return of Christ will be preceded by signs in the heavens and on earth.
• All will see Christ when He returns with the hosts of heaven.
• When these things begin to happen, they will all happen within a generation.
• That generation will be similar to the times of Noah—universal wickedness, an age of iniquity—lawlessness.
• The secret coming of Christ will separate friends and family and coworkers.
• Only the Father knows the time of this event. Our job is to live in a state of readiness, doing what God has called us to do.
• To live in denial of the approaching eschaton is to be an “evil servant” who says in his heart, “My Lord delays His coming.” Jesus will return in an unexpected hour for those who are not looking for Him.
• The wise servant living in expectation of the return of Christ will be rewarded on earth and in heaven.
• The foolish, wicked servant will suffer loss on earth and the agonies of hell forever.

Whatever one believes about the details of the eschaton, it is important for each of us to live with a keen eye on the signs of the times. We must remember His words, “Behold I come quickly.”

He Will Return.
To live in expectation of the return of Christ provides a context for our hope. The story is not over. Our lives are simply a chapter in that story and when our lives are through here, they will continue elsewhere. We will be there at the end and see the dawning of the new day of New Creation. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Scriptures:

Matthew 24:29-51
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Revelation 21:1-5
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus I know You are coming soon! I believe I will hear the trumpet and the voice of the archangel. I will see the graves burst open. I will meet my loved ones with You in the air! And so shall we ever be with the Lord! With this hope working alive in me, I will seek the sanctification of Your Spirit. Purify my heart O Lord, so that I may live in a state of constant readiness. I will be about the work You have given me to do so that when You come You will find me at work! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Song:
The Message of His Coming
Words and Music: R. E. Winsett

1. We’re looking for His coming, in the clouds of heaven,
Coming back to earth to catch away His own;
Then may we all be ready, when midnight cry is given,
To go and reign with Christ on His throne.

Refrain
Gladly may we herald the message of His blessèd appearing,
Soon He’s coming in glory, tell to one and all;
Then awake, ye saints of the Lord,
Why slumber when the end is nearing, But get ready for the final call.

2. We’re longing for the glory that awaits the faithful,
Who shall overcome, and ev’ry conflict win;
Press ever bravely onward, the prize is life eternal
To all who win the fight over sin.

Refrain

3. We’re praying for the advent of our blessèd Savior,
Who has promised life to all who trust His grace;
His coming now is pending, the message being given,
And soon we’ll see our Lord face to face.

Refrain
4. We see the signs appearing of His blessèd coming,
Lo, behold the fig leaves now becoming green;
The Gospel of His kingdom has gone to every nation;
That we are near the end can be seen.

Refrain

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About the Author

Full of passion for Jesus Christ, Stephen Phifer is a third-generation minister with more than three decades of experience as a pastoral artist, worship leader, and conductor.