What Should We Watch for?

In order to help the disciples to better understand what he meant, Jesus frequently used parables or stories about everyday things. The following parables were meant help them understand his earlier prophecies in Matthew 24.  He starts with a parable showing what he meant in Matthew  24:15-18.  “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” 

In late winter and early spring. The days start getting longer, and the weather gradually gets warmer, although there may still be serious winter storms and late frosts.  You know summers is coming, but it’s not here yet.  It is like the period Jesus prophesied about in Matthew 24:3-14.  You know Christ is coming again, but you don’t know just when.  When you see the trees start putting out leaves, you know that summer is starting.  In Matthew 24:32-35 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.”

Some have said the fig tree represents Israel and this passage refers to the founding of modern Israel in 19:48.  Luke 21:29-31 records the same statement.  “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”  Clearly, Jesus’ emphasis was not on the fig tree, but on what is happening to the trees.  He told us what to watch for in Matthew 24:15.  “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place...”  Just as the leaves indicates the start of summer, when we see the Antichrist ban the worship of God in the Temple, will indicate the Tribulation period has begun.  Many people who are alive when that happens will live to see Christ’s return.  We know from Daniel 9 that the tribulation will only last seven years, and Daniel 11 tells us the Antichrist will not ban the sacrifices until the middle of the tribulation.  

Based on what Jesus said, I suspect people will not even be aware of the start of the Tribulation.  Matthew 24:36-39 tells us, “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.”  People will be going on about their lives, with no thought of what is happening right up until God takes out his people, as Matthew 24:40-41 states.  “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.”

Christians know what God expects.  They need to focus on doing the job he has given them, because they do not know when Christ will return.  Those who are doing what he commanded will be rewarded when he returns, while those who are not will be punished for their sin, as Matthew 24:42-51 describes.  “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  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.

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.”

Jesus warned that even before the Tribulation started many people would be led away by false prophets or get caught up in the sins of the world and turn away, in Matthew 24:11-12.  “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”  Once the Antichrist comes to power, this will become even more of a problem, as Matthew 24:24 tells us.  “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”  It would be easy to go along with the world, but we need to make the effort to stay true to Christ if we are to receive all the blessings he has for us.   Seeing these things happen should energize us to continue following Christ, because we know they mean his return is very close and they have to happen first.