I don’t want to color anybody’s reading of the Word, especially on this topic! Let’s let the Word of God speak for itself.

There are a few interpretation “rules” we have to review.

Matthew 24-25 is the basis for all our understanding of the Last Times/End of the World. Everything else in the Bible should line up with this in-depth discourse of Jesus.

Go to Matthew 21 and Matthew 27 to determine when Matthew 24 takes place.

Holy Week

How does Jesus throw a wet blanket over the disciples’ obvious awe at the beauty of the Temple in the setting sun?

He tells them not one stone of this beautiful Temple will be left standing on another one.

What three questions do the disciples ask Jesus?

1. __When will the Temple be destroyed?

2. __What is the sign you are coming back?  How can we be sure you are really coming back for us?

3. __What is the sign of the end of the world, that the Last Day really is the Last Day?

“What will be the sign of your coming” means “how do we know you are really coming back?” Likewise the “what will be the sign of the end” means “how do we know this is really the end?”

Why would it be more important for the disciples to know Jesus was coming back rather than when he was coming back?

It will comfort and strengthen their faith knowing they will be going to heaven one day.

Does this line up with other Scripture? (cf. John 14.1-4)

Yes!  John 14.1-4 clearly says Jesus is going to come back to take his believers to be with him in heaven.

The rest of Matthew 24 answers these three questions.

Fill in the chart to determine which answer goes to which question. (Here are your choices)

Matthew 24.4-14

Matthew 24.15-25

Matthew 24. 26-35

Good! Now we’re on the right track, letting Jesus speak for himself.

Look at the closing verses of each section (14, 25, 35). What do they all have in common?

An emphasis on the Word of God.  It will be preached throughout the world, Jesus has told them ahead of time, his words will never pass away.

This is a pretty good indication that our division of Jesus’ words is correct—they all end with a refrain, a refrain of the proclamation of the Gospel. That should also encourage us to let Jesus speak for himself and not put words into his mouth!

Let’s take the answers in chronological order (I’ve left the next three pages loose leafed so nobody cheats!)--you will have to click the following hyperlinks to get them!

Ah! Welcome back. The disciples’ three questions have been answered. But like so many of Jesus’ discourses, someone else’s questions open up the topic for Jesus to talk at length about what really needed to be emphasized.

With this section coming on the heels of Jesus answering the disciples’ questions, what should this tell us about using Jesus’ preceding words as a timetable to determine when the Second Coming will be?

Who alone knows when the Last Day will be?

Only God the Father

What is the point of comparison between the Last Day and the day Noah entered the ark?

Unexpected and total destruction.

Look at verses 40-41. Is it a continuation of Jesus’ words about Noah or does it introduce a new topic?

Continuation.  There is no break in the text, nothing that would indicate we are talking about something new here.

If it is a continuation of Jesus’ words about the days of Noah, what is the point of comparison?

Unexpected destruction.

On what day will one be taken and the other left?

The Last Day

What is the point of Jesus’ words about the day and hour unknown?

We are always to be ready for it.

The question now becomes, which type of servant will you be? Fill in the chart.

What day does Jesus’ parable of the faithful and wicked servants end on?

The Last Day

What day does the parable of the faithful and unfaithful virgins talk about?

The Last Day

How do you know this?

"at that time"  Jesus is still referring to the Last Day which he was talking about in Matthew 24.26-35

How can you tell which virgins were wise and which were foolish?

The wise ones have enough oil, the foolish ones no longer have oil.

What were they waiting for?

The Las Day

When does the bridegroom come?

At midnight

How does that line up with Matthew 24.36, 39, 42, 44, 50?

It is unexpected.  No one in their right mind expects a wedding party to start at midnight.  In the same way, no one expects the Last Day or can predict when it will be.

Let’s start putting the characters of the parable together with reality.

What is the point of this parable of Jesus about the Last Times?

Keep watch!

How does Jesus link this parable with the preceding parable?

"Again, it will be like."  He uses words that connect ideas together.

What does that say about the moral of the parable?

It is the same moral as the foolish and the wise virgins--be ready!

Fill in the chart to prove that this is actually the same parable but with different characters!

Since this is the same parable, all that remains is to investigate some of the differences—what Jesus added.

Why does each servant get differing amounts of money?

According to his ability.

What did the master expect of each servant?

That they be faithful with whatever amount they had been given.

How could you tell the faithful servants had been faithful?

See what they did with their talent.  They invested it and gained more.

What was the reward of the faithful servants?

Heaven

How could you tell the unfaithful servant was unfaithful?

Judge him by his words which explain his actions.  He hates and fears the Master and this shows in his unwillingness to work for the Master.  He has done nothing with what he has been given.

What was the punishment of the unfaithful servant?

Hell

What does it mean to “keep watch” for the Last Day?

Live the Christian life.  Be active in our faith according to our abilities.

Which of the ten virgins got into heaven?

The faithful ones.

Which of the “talented” servants got into heaven?

The faithful ones.

Who gets into heaven?

The faithful, the believers.

When do they get into heaven?

On the Last Day

Did the treatment of the foolish virgins seem harsh to you? Why?

Yes, perhaps a bit.

Jesus himself shows the treatment of the unfaithful servant may seem harsh to people—in Luke’s retelling of the parable (Luke 19.25) the servants themselves object to the masters’ treatment of the unfaithful servant!

Jesus concludes his teachings on the Last Days by addressing this point—why do the unbelievers receive such treatment and why is it not unjustifiably harsh treatment?

Who is the Son of Man?

Jesus

When will he come?

Last Day

Who will accompany him?

Angels

Who will appear before him?

All people

What must have happened to all these people that they can appear before Jesus on the Last Day?

A general resurrection must have taken place for all people (believers and unbelievers) are alive again.

Who are the sheep? How can you tell?

They are the believers, the ones who are "blessed by God."

Who are the goats? How can you tell?

They are the unbelievers, those who are "cursed."

Prove that the sheep are saved by faith alone and not by works.

Jesus uses the words, "since the creation" and "inheritance."  You can't earn an inheritance--it depends on the will of the one drawing up the will.  And you can hardly earn something that was given you before you were even created!

Prove that the goats are damned by works alone and not by faith.

Jesus points out the things that their unbelief led them not to do.  Their lives were filled with evil deeds of lovelessness.

Why don’t we need a timeline after Judgment Day?

There is no time, for we are now in eternity.