The Time In Between – A Time for Watchfulness

The Time In Between – A Time for Watchfulness is the first in our series on the end of the world.

See The Big Picture

See the big picture – Jesus is trying to get a number of things across to you in Matthew 24 and 25.  Let me try and give you a little perspective.  As Matthew 24 starts Jesus and his disciples are walking past the temple in Jerusalem.  The disciples didn’t go there every day, so it was probably an impressive sight.  I saw the Lincoln memorial for the first more than a decade ago; it’s huge.  The same look of wonder is in the disciples eyes as they walk past – Jesus says, ² “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

That is a loaded question, isn’t it?  Titus was the Roman General who leveled Jerusalem in a Jewish Revolt.  The sign of your coming and the end of the age are a far different question, but that is why some of the talk of the end of the world that will happen thousands of years into the future gets put in with what’s going to happen in less than a century.

Straight Talk

To answer their question Jesus tells them what we have recorded in Matthew 24 and 25.  In some instances Jesus uses a parable to get a point across; in other instances Jesus simply says straight up what’s going to happen.

Each parable focuses on one aspect of the last day – our text for today is no different.  Today as we are reminded that the end of the world is rapidly approaching, God wants us on the edge of our seat.  He wants us eager with anticipation because Jesus is coming to take us to heaven.  Keep watch!

Want to hear more?  Watch this week’s message taken from Matthew 25 The Time In Between – A Time for Watchfulness.