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CHAPTER 4 FROM NOW ON UNTIL JESUS REAPPEARS ON EARTH
Relationships after the resurrection
No marriage in the resurrection
The indication of Jesus’ return
Conditions at the time of Jesus’ return
The beginning of the intense and violent pain and struggle
An occasion to tell the Good News
By patient endurance, win your souls
Events before the end
Jerusalem encircled with armies
The manner of Jesus’ coming
Strange happenings in the skies
Jesus will come in a cloud with power and great glory
A parable from the fig tree that Jesus is near
Jesus’ words will never pass away
The people of the world will be unprepared
Be prepared for the Lord’s reappearance
Watch for Jesus’ return
Do your work faithfully
The parable of the ten bridesmaids warns us to be prepared
Using well what you are given
The Day of Judgment
RELATIONSHIPS AFTER THE RESURRECTION
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection after death, came to Jesus and asked, “Sir, Moses said that if a man died without children, his brother should marry the widow and their children would get all the dead man’s property. Well, we had among us a family of seven brothers. The first of these men married and then died, without children, so his widow became the second brother’s wife. This brother also died without children, and the wife was passed to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of each of them. And then she also died. So whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them!”
Matthew 22:23-28
Then the Sadducees stepped forward – a group of men who say there is no resurrection. Here was their question:
“Sir, Moses gave us a law that when a man dies without children, the man’s brother should marry his widow and have children in his brother’s name. Well, there were seven brothers and the oldest married and died, and left no children. So the second brother married the widow, but soon he died too, and left no children. Then the next brother married her, and died without children, and so on until all were dead, and still there were no children; and last of all, the woman died too.”
“What we want to know is this: in the resurrection, whose wife will she be, for she had been the wife of each of them?”
Mark 12:18-23
Then some Sadducees – men who believed that death is the end of existence, that there is no resurrection – came to Jesus with this:
“The laws of Moses state that if a man dies without children, the man’s brother shall marry the widow and their children will legally belong to the dead man, to carry on his name. We know of a family of seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without any children. His brother married the widow and he, too, died. Still no children. And so it went, one after the other, until each of the seven had married her and died, leaving no children. Finally the woman died also. Now here is our question: Whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all of them were married to her!”
Luke 20:27-33
NO MARRIAGE IN THE RESURRECTION
Jesus said, “Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power. For in the resurrection there is no marriage; everyone is as the angels in heaven. But now, as to whether there is a resurrection of the dead – don’t you ever read the Scriptures? Don’t you realize that God was speaking directly to you when he said, ‘ I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’? So God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
The crowds were profoundly impressed by his answers –
Matthew 22:29-33
Jesus replied, “The trouble is that you don’t know the Scriptures, nor know the power of God. For when these seven brothers and the woman rise from the dead, they won’t be married – they will be like the angels.”
“But now as to whether there will be a resurrection – have you never read in the book of Exodus about Moses and the burning bush? God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and I am the God of Isaac, and I am the God of Jacob.’ ”
“God was telling Moses that these men, though dead for hundreds of years, were still very much alive, for he would not have said, ‘I am the God’ of those who don’t exist! You have made a serious error.”
Mark 12:24-27
Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth, but when those who are counted worthy of being raised from the dead get to heaven, they do not marry. And they never die again. In these respects they are like angels, and are sons of God, for they are raised up in new life from the dead.”
“But as to your real question – whether or not there is a resurrection – why, even the writings of Moses himself prove this. For when he describes how God appeared to him in the burning bush, he speaks of God as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’. To say that the Lord is some person’s God means that person is alive, not dead! So from God’s point of view, all men (and women) are living.”
“Well said, sir!” remarked some experts in Jewish law who were standing there.
Luke 20:34-39
THE INDICATION OF JESUS’ RETURN
Later Jesus talked again about this with his disciples. “The time is coming when you will long for me to be with you even for a single day, but I won’t be here,” he said.
“Reports will reach you that I have returned and that I am in this place or that. Don’t believe it or go out to look for me. For when I return, you will know it beyond all doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the skies.”
Luke 17:22-24
CONDITIONS AT TIME OF JESUS’
RETURN
“But first I must suffer terribly and be rejected by this whole nation.”
“When I return the world will be as indifferent, inattentive, unconcerned, uninterested and apathetic to the things of God as the people were in Noah’s day. They ate and drank and married – everything just as usual right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
“And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot: people went about their daily business – eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building – until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘ business as usual’ right up to the hour of my return.”
“Those away from home that day must not return to pack; those in the fields must not return to town – remember what happened to Lot’s wife! Whoever clings to his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall save it. That night two men will be asleep in the same room, and one will be taken away, the other left. Two women will be working together at household tasks; one will be taken, the other left; and so it will be with men working side by side in the fields.”
“Lord, where will they be taken to?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Where the body is, the vultures gather!” (Note: Whenever the circumstances are realised, there the representatives of judgment come into view: the vultures, large birds of prey come swooping down from above upon any dead bodies lying on the ground.)
Luke 17:25-37
THE BEGINNING OF THE INTENSE AND
VIOLENT PAIN AND STRUGGLE
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone fool you. For many will come claiming to be the Messiah, and will lead many astray. When you hear of wars beginning, this does not signal my return; these must come, but the end is not yet. The nations and kingdoms of the earth will rise against each other and there will be famines and earthquakes in many places. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.”
Matthew 24:4-8
Jesus said, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come declaring themselves to be your Messiah, and will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but this is not the signal of the end-time.”
“For nations and kingdoms will declare war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many lands, and famines. These herald only the early stages of the anguish ahead.”
Mark 13:5-8
Jesus said, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come announcing themselves as the Messiah, and saying, ‘The time has come.’ But don’t believe them! And when you hear of wars and insurrections beginning, don’t panic. True, wars must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and famines in many lands, and epidemics, and terrifying things happening in the heavens.”
“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of special persecution, and you will be dragged into synagogues and prisons and before kings and governors for my name’s sake. But as a result, the Messiah will be widely known and honoured. Therefore, don’t be concerned about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such logic that none of your opponents will be able to reply.”
Luke 21:8-15
AN OCCASION TO TELL THE GOOD NEWS
Jesus said, “But when these things begin to happen, watch out! For you will be in great danger. You will be dragged before the courts, and beaten in the synagogues, and accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This is your opportunity to tell them the Good News. For the Good News must first be made known in every nation before the final days come. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry about what to say in your defence. Just say what God tells you to. You will not be speaking, but the Holy Spirit will.”
“Brothers will betray each other to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will betray their parents to be killed. And everyone will hate you because you are mine. But all who endure to the end without renouncing me shall be saved.”
Mark 13:9-13
BY PATIENT ENDURANCE, WIN YOUR SOULS
Jesus said, “Even those closest to you – your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends – will betray you and have you arrested; and some of you will be killed. And everyone will hate you because you are mine and are called by my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. For if you stand firm, you will win your souls.”
Luke 21:16-19
Jesus said, “Then you will be tortured and killed and hated all over the world because you are mine, and many of you will fall back into sin and betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and lead many astray. Sin, thoughts, speech and actions against God’s Laws will be rampant and unrestrained everywhere and will cool the love of many. But those enduring to the end shall be saved.”
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, finally, the end will come.”
“So, when you see the horrible thing (told by Daniel the prophet: See Daniel 9:27 and 12:11) standing in a holy place (Note to the reader: You know what is meant!) then those in Judea must flee into the Judean hills, those on their verandas must not even go inside to pack before they flee, those in the fields should not return to their homes for their clothes.”
Matthew 24:9-18
Jesus said, “When you see the ‘horrible thing’ standing in the Temple – reader, pay attention! – flee if you can, to the Judean hills. Hurry! If you are on your rooftop, don’t go back into the house. If you are out in the fields, don’t even return for your money or clothes.”
Mark 13:14-16
JERUSALEM ENCIRCLED WITH ARMIES
Jesus said, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. Then let the people of Judea flee to the hills. Let those in Jerusalem try to escape, and those outside the city must not attempt to return. For those will be days of God’s judgment, and the words of the ancient Scriptures written by the prophets will be abundantly fulfilled. Woe, distress, sorrow and suffering to expectant mothers in those days, and those with tiny babies. For there will be great distress upon this nation and wrath, extreme anger upon this people.”
Luke 21:20-23
Jesus said, “And woe, distress, sorrow and suffering to pregnant women and to those with babies in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter, or on the Sabbath. For there will be persecution such as the world has never before seen in all its history, and will never see again. In fact, unless those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But they will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen people.”
Matthew 24:19-22
Jesus said, “Woe, distress, sorrow and suffering to pregnant women in those days, and to mothers nursing their children. And pray that your flight will not be in winter. For those will be days of such horror as have never been since the beginning of God’s creation, nor will ever be again. And unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a soul in all the earth will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he will limit those days.”
Mark 13:17-20
Jesus said, “They will be brutally killed, or sent away as exiles and captives to all the nations of the world; and Jerusalem shall be conquered and trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of Gentile triumph ends in God’s good time.”
Luke 21:24
Jesus said, “Then if anyone tells you, ‘The Messiah has arrived at such and such a place, or has appeared here or there, or in the village yonder,’ don’t believe it. For false Christs will arise, and false prophets, and will do wonderful miracles, so that if it were possible, even God’s chosen ones would be deceived. See, I have warned you.”
“So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don’t bother to go out and look. Or, if someone tells you that he is hiding at a certain place, don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Son of all Mankind, return. And wherever the carcass, the dead body is, there the vultures will gather.” (Note: Whenever the circumstances are realised, there the representatives of judgment come into view: the vultures, large birds of prey, come swooping down from above upon any dead bodies lying on the ground.)
Matthew 24:23-28
Jesus said, “And then if anyone tells you, ‘This is the Messiah,’ or ‘That one is,’ don’t pay any attention. For there will be many false Messiahs and false prophets who will do wonderful miracles that would deceive, if possible, even God’s own children. Take care! I have warned you!”
Mark 13:21-23
STRANGE HAPPENINGS IN THE SKIES
Jesus said, “Then there will be strange events in the skies – warnings, evil omens and portents in the sun, moon and stars, signs that momentous or calamitous events are about to happen; and down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, for the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.”
Luke 21:25-26
Jesus said, “After the tribulation ends, then the sun will grow dim and the moon will not shine, and the stars will fall - and the heavens will convulse and make sudden, violent, irregular movements.”
Mark 13:24-25
JESUS WILL COME IN A CLOUD WITH
POWER AND GREAT GLORY
Jesus said, “Immediately after the persecution of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn black, and the stars will seem to fall from the heavens, and the powers overshadowing the earth will be convulsed.”
“And then at last the signal of my coming will appear in the heavens and there will be deep mourning all around the earth. And the nations of the world will see me arrive in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And I shall send forth my angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather my chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.”
Matthew 24:29-31
Jesus said, “Then all mankind will see me, the Son of Mankind, coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And I will send out the angels to gather together my chosen ones from all over the world – from the farthest bounds of earth and heaven.”
Mark 13:26-27
Jesus said, “Then the peoples of the earth shall see me, the Man from Heaven, coming in a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near.”
Luke 21:27-28
A PARABLE FROM THE FIG TREE THAT
JESUS IS NEAR
Jesus said, “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When her branch is tender and the leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is almost here. Just so, when you see all these things beginning to happen, you can know that my return is near, even at the doors. Then at last this age will come to its close.”
Matthew 24:32-34
Jesus said, “Now here is a lesson from a fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that spring has come. And when you see these things happening that I’ve described, you can be sure that my return is very near, that I am right at the door.”
“Yes, these are the events that will signal the end of the age, this generation.”
Mark 13:28-30
Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see the events taking place that I’ve described you can be just as sure that the Kingdom of God is near.”
“I solemnly declare to you that when these things happen, the end of this age has come.”
Luke 21:29-32
JESUS’ WORDS WILL NEVER PASS
AWAY
Jesus said, “And though all heaven and earth shall pass away, yet my words remain forever true.”
Luke 21:33
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall disappear, but my words stand sure for ever.”
“However, no one, not even the angels in heaven, nor I myself, knows the day or hour when these things will happen; only the Father knows.”
Mark 13:31-32
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words remain forever. But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be – not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.”
Matthew 24:35-36
THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WILL BE
UNPREPARED
Jesus said, “The world will be at ease – banquets and parties and weddings – just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the flood; people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be.”
“Two men will be working together in the fields, and one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be going about their household tasks; one will be taken, the other left.”
Matthew 24:37-41
Jesus said, “Watch out! Don’t let my sudden coming catch you unawares; don’t let me find you living in careless ease, carousing, drinking alcohol and enjoying oneself with others in a noisy, lively way and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world. Keep a constant watch, be ready, fully prepared.”
Luke 21:34-36
BE PREPARED FOR THE LORD’S
REAPPEARANCE
Jesus said, “So be prepared, for you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 24:42
Jesus said, “And since you do not know when it will happen, stay alert. Be on the watch for my return.”
Mark 13:33
Jesus said, “And pray that if possible you may arrive in my presence without having to experience these horrors.”
Luke 21:36
Jesus said, “My coming can be compared with that of a man who went on a trip to another country. He laid out his employee’s work for them to do while he was gone, and told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. Keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when I will come, at evening, at midnight, early dawn or late daybreak. Don’t let me find you sleeping. Watch for my return! This is my message to you and to everyone else.”
Mark 13:34-37
Jesus said, “Just as a man can prevent trouble from thieves by keeping watch for them, so you can avoid trouble by always being ready for my unannounced return.”
Matthew 24:43-44
Jesus said, “Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household to feed my children day by day? Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own.”
“But if you are evil and say to yourself, ‘My Lord won’t be coming for a while’, and begin ill-treating your fellow servants, living it up and getting drunk, your Lord will arrive unannounced and unexpected, and severely whip you and send you off to the judgment of the hypocrites, the pretenders; there will be weeping and gnashing, grinding of teeth and bitter disappointment.”
Matthew 24:45-51
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN BRIDESMAIDS
WARNS US TO BE PREPARED
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. But only five of them were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil, while the other five were foolish and forgot.”
“So, when the bridegroom was delayed, they lay down to rest until midnight, when they were roused by the shout, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!’ ”
“All the girls jumped up and trimmed their lamps. Then the five who hadn’t any oil begged the others to share with them, for their lamps were going out.”
“But the others replied, ‘We haven’t enough. Go instead to the shops and buy some for yourselves.’ ”
“But while they were gone, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.”
“Later, when the other five returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ ”
“But he called back, ‘Go away! It is too late!’ ”
“So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.”
Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus said, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going to another country, who called together his servants and loaned them money to invest for him while he was gone.”
“He gave 500 to one, 200 to another, and 100 to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities – and then left on his trip. The man who received the 500 began immediately to buy and sell with it and soon earned another 500. The man with 200 went right to work, too, and earned another 200.”
“But the man who received the 100 dug a hole in the ground and hid the money for safekeeping.”
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to him to account for his money. The man to whom he had entrusted the 500 brought him 1000.”
“His master praised him for good work. ‘You have been faithful in handling this small amount,’ he told him, ‘so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.’ ”
“Next came the man who had received the 200, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me 200 to use, and I have doubled it.’ ”
“ ‘Good work,’ his master said, ‘You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over this small amount, so now I will give you much more.’ ”
“Then the man with the 100 came and said, ‘Sir, I knew you were a hard man, and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned, so I hid your money in the earth and here it is!’ ”
“But his master replied, ‘You lazy rogue! Since you knew I would demand your profit, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this man and give it to the man with the 1000. For the man who uses well what he is given will be given more, and he will have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has will be taken from him. And throw the useless servant out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing, grinding of teeth and bitter disappointment.’ ”
Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus said, “But when I, the Son of Mankind, shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory. And all the nations shall be gathered before me. An I will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and place the sheep at my right hand, and the goats at my left.”
“Then I, the King, shall say to those on my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison and you visited me.’ ”
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ ”
“And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’ ”
“Then I will turn to those on my left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry and you wouldn’t feed me; thirsty, and you wouldn’t give me anything to drink; a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me,’ ”
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ ”
“And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me.’ ”
“And they will go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous will go into everlasting life.”
Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus will test, try and judge the nations, the peoples of the
world
Jesus does not fight or shout, does not raise his voice, does not crush
the weak
Or quench the smallest hope
Jesus will end all conflict, fighting, struggle and strife
With his final victory and defeat of the enemy
Jesus’ Name shall be the hope, desire and expectation
Of the entire world, of all the peoples of the world
Matthew 12:17-21