"The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When the fig tree's branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is near. It is the same with these things that I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come. I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living! The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed, but the words I have said will never be destroyed!"
—Matthew 24:32-35
Key Thought
As Jesus addresses the disciples' two questions, he returns now to the question about when the Temple will be destroyed. Unlike the days of the Son of Man's surprising return in glory to be seen by all people, there will be clues of Jerusalem's destruction. A believer paying attention to the ordinary, everyday signs of the seasons will be able to see this destruction coming. Jerusalem's enemies will march against her. They will seek to destroy her, her influence and her power. This will happen in the very generation of people Jesus is talking with at the moment.
Incredibly, this was true. Christians saw the mounting crisis between Rome and Jerusalem. When they saw Jerusalem was going to be surrounded by armies, they left and their lives were preserved. Jerusalem was devastated and the Temple was destroyed.
But Jesus' key point here is not the destruction of Jerusalem. Anything man made is also man destroyed, time eroded, and destined for decay. But Jesus' words, God's words, are eternal. They are firm and sure and a foundation on which to build our lives.
Today's Prayer
Almighty and Eternal God, I offer myself to you because I believe that you alone have what is lasting, good, true, and dependable. Forgive me for taking your Word so much for granted. Thank you for everyone who has given his or her life to make sure I can have a copy of the Bible in words easy for me to understand. I know that nothing around me will last as long as your Word. Please convict my heart so I will cherish it second only to you and your salvation. May my life be found true to that eternal Word. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"Daniel the prophet spoke about 'the terrible thing that causes destruction.' You will see this terrible thing standing in the holy place (the temple)." (You that read this should understand what it means.) "At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. People should run away without wasting the time to stop for anything. If a person is on the roof of his house, he must not go down to get things out of his house. If a person is in the field, he must not go back to get his coat. At that time, it will be bad for women that are pregnant or have small babies! Pray that it will not be winter or a Sabbath day when these things happen and you have to run away. Why? Because at that time there will be much trouble. There will be more trouble than has ever happened since the beginning of the world. And nothing as bad as that will ever happen again. But God has decided to make that terrible time short. If that time were not made short, then no person would continue living. But God will make that time short to help the people he has chosen. At that time, some person might say to you, 'Look, there is the Christ! ' Or another person might say, 'There he is!' But don't believe them. False Christs and false prophets will come and do great things and miracles. They will do these things to the people God has chosen. They will do these things to try to fool his people, if that is possible. Now I have warned you about this before it happens. "Some person might tell you, 'The Christ is there in the desert!' But don't go into the desert to look for the Christ. Another person might say, 'There is the Christ in that room!' But don't believe that. When the Son of Man comes, he will be seen by all people. It will be like lightning flashing in the sky that can be seen everywhere. {My coming will be clear, the same as} any time you see vultures gathering, you know there is a dead body. "Soon after the trouble of those days, this will happen: 'The sun will become dark, andthe moon will not give light. The stars will fall from the sky, and everything in the sky will be changed.' "At that time, there will be something in the sky that shows the Son of Man coming. All the people of the world will cry. All the people will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky. The Son of Man will come with power and great glory. The Son of Man will use a loud trumpet to send his angels all around the earth. The angels will gather his chosen people from every part of the earth. "The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When the fig tree's branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is near. It is the same with these things that I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come. I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living! The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed, but the words I have said will never be destroyed!Matthew 24:15-35
Related Scripture Readings
— Isa. 40:6-8
— Matt. 7:21-27
— 1 Pet. 1:23-25
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 24:32-35
Key Thought
As Jesus addresses the disciples' two questions, he returns now to the question about when the Temple will be destroyed. Unlike the days of the Son of Man's surprising return in glory to be seen by all people, there will be clues of Jerusalem's destruction. A believer paying attention to the ordinary, everyday signs of the seasons will be able to see this destruction coming. Jerusalem's enemies will march against her. They will seek to destroy her, her influence and her power. This will happen in the very generation of people Jesus is talking with at the moment.
Incredibly, this was true. Christians saw the mounting crisis between Rome and Jerusalem. When they saw Jerusalem was going to be surrounded by armies, they left and their lives were preserved. Jerusalem was devastated and the Temple was destroyed.
But Jesus' key point here is not the destruction of Jerusalem. Anything man made is also man destroyed, time eroded, and destined for decay. But Jesus' words, God's words, are eternal. They are firm and sure and a foundation on which to build our lives.
Today's Prayer
Almighty and Eternal God, I offer myself to you because I believe that you alone have what is lasting, good, true, and dependable. Forgive me for taking your Word so much for granted. Thank you for everyone who has given his or her life to make sure I can have a copy of the Bible in words easy for me to understand. I know that nothing around me will last as long as your Word. Please convict my heart so I will cherish it second only to you and your salvation. May my life be found true to that eternal Word. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"Daniel the prophet spoke about 'the terrible thing that causes destruction.' You will see this terrible thing standing in the holy place (the temple)." (You that read this should understand what it means.) "At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. People should run away without wasting the time to stop for anything. If a person is on the roof of his house, he must not go down to get things out of his house. If a person is in the field, he must not go back to get his coat. At that time, it will be bad for women that are pregnant or have small babies! Pray that it will not be winter or a Sabbath day when these things happen and you have to run away. Why? Because at that time there will be much trouble. There will be more trouble than has ever happened since the beginning of the world. And nothing as bad as that will ever happen again. But God has decided to make that terrible time short. If that time were not made short, then no person would continue living. But God will make that time short to help the people he has chosen. At that time, some person might say to you, 'Look, there is the Christ! ' Or another person might say, 'There he is!' But don't believe them. False Christs and false prophets will come and do great things and miracles. They will do these things to the people God has chosen. They will do these things to try to fool his people, if that is possible. Now I have warned you about this before it happens. "Some person might tell you, 'The Christ is there in the desert!' But don't go into the desert to look for the Christ. Another person might say, 'There is the Christ in that room!' But don't believe that. When the Son of Man comes, he will be seen by all people. It will be like lightning flashing in the sky that can be seen everywhere. {My coming will be clear, the same as} any time you see vultures gathering, you know there is a dead body. "Soon after the trouble of those days, this will happen: 'The sun will become dark, andthe moon will not give light. The stars will fall from the sky, and everything in the sky will be changed.' "At that time, there will be something in the sky that shows the Son of Man coming. All the people of the world will cry. All the people will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky. The Son of Man will come with power and great glory. The Son of Man will use a loud trumpet to send his angels all around the earth. The angels will gather his chosen people from every part of the earth. "The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When the fig tree's branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is near. It is the same with these things that I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to come. I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living! The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed, but the words I have said will never be destroyed!Matthew 24:15-35
Related Scripture Readings
— Isa. 40:6-8
— Matt. 7:21-27
— 1 Pet. 1:23-25
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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