28 ¶ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her
branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these
things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation
shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my
words shall not pass away. 32 But of
that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven,
neither the Son, but the Father.33 Take
ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far
journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every
man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the
master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or
in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly
he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say
unto you I say unto all, Watch.
The
church will be translated before the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). The Jews
will once again be restored in God’s eyes after Jesus Christ is revealed to
them in that Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). That is where these events take place.
Jesus
is talking to Jews. Jews will see these signs that He has laid out for them in
previous passages; wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, famines, astronomical
disasters, and spiritual warfare like has never been seen on earth. Like a fig tree
bearing leaves in the Spring they are signs and warnings. These things will happen
very quickly and the generation that sees them will be there at the end.
No
one knows when the time will come. No one can predict it. Only God the Father,
the very soul, the seat of self-identity and will in the Godhead, knows the hour
and the day. He tells them to be on the lookout for Him to return and they will
have no idea when that will be except for the signposts, the warnings given.
Christians
are told to be looking for Christ’s return to take them out, to move the church
from earth to heaven. This is what we are to look for;
Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works.
1Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope. 14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him. 15 For this we say unto
you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming
of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of
God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. 18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Keep
looking up.
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