Christ’s Coming Will Be Unexpected

Matthew 24:29-51

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)

Once the treaty with Israel is broken, there will be a massive effort to destroy the Jews, headed by groups like several of the Islamic groups who say they will not be satisfied until the last Jew is killed.   At that point God will step in to protect Israel like he has done throughout history, using natural events mankind cannot control.  The sunlight will be darkened and the moon will hardly be visible.  There will be meteor showers and asteroids falling to earth, and even the planets and stars will be affected.  It is at this point that Jesus will return and take out his people, wherever they may be on earth.  The entire world will be able to see his coming.  I realize this contradicts what many have been taught but this is what Jesus said.

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32-35)

Luke and Mark both quote him as mentioning the fig tree and all the trees.  When you see leaves appearing on the trees you know summer is getting close.  In the same way, when we see the Antichrist offer the abomination of desolation on the altar and a majority of the nations turning to attack Israel, we know that Christ’s return is close. 

Daniel 12:1 states, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”  God will protect every believer during that period and none will be killed, despite the Antichrist’s efforts to kill them all.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:36-39)

Jesus said no one, not even the angels in heaven know the time, because god has kept it to himself.  In Acts 1:7 Jesus said, “… It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”  Man will not know in advance.  People will be going about their business just as they always have done.  Like the people in Noah’s day they will be caught unprepared.  That is exactly how he says Christ’s return will be.   Those who claim to know when it will be are either fools or charlatans.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40-42)

Even those who are Christians will have no advance warning.  Like the unsaved, they will be going about their business until they are taken to heaven.  As Christians, it is their responsibility to be ready when he comes because they don’t know when it will happen.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43-44)

If homeowners always knew when the burglars were coming, their homes would never be burglarized because they would have the police waiting.  Because they don’t know, they install burglar alarms and locks, and hire house sitters when they are going to be gone.  In the same way, Christians are to be prepared whenever it happens.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:45-51)

For people who are faithfully doing what God has commanded, his coming unexpectedly will not be a problem because their job is being done anyway.   For those who are not doing their job, advance notice is crucial because if they are caught unprepared they will be punished for not doing what was needed.  God will deliberately come at a time when nobody is expecting him.