There are many things about Jesus’ sermon to his followers on the Mount of Olives that I don’t understand. I’m thankful that my friend Rudy Ross has studied the end time message extensively and has some important insights. You can listen to Rudy on my YouTube channel.
That being said, there are some things we can all understand.
First of all, we need to know that there are signs that indicate we are nearing the end. Second, we’re always to be ready. Let’s look at those two points today.
In today’s video Rudy uses his understanding of Jewish numerology to help us understand Jesus’s first point.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
“So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24.32-35).
The establishment of Israel as a nation in 1947 is a possible understanding of the “fig tree.” If this is correct, then we can realize that we are living at the end of the age.
Rudy points to the construction of the ark that we will find in the next Bible passage and reminds us that it took a hundred years to build the ark. We may be in the end, but that doesn’t mean the end will be next week.
What we do know is Jesus gives us ample opportunities to stay awake and ready for what is next on his agenda.
Keep Awake
When we think about it, we can relate to the people of Noah’s day. Even though Noah, the crazy man on the outside of town, and his family were building a boat despite never having seen rain, life went on as usual.
Most of us keep our heads to the ground, take care of our family, go to work, and enjoy life. We don’t think about cataclysmic things like a giant flood or the return of Christ.
Jesus wants to shake us out of our everyday lives. He says:
“Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
“But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24.42-44).
If you were having coffee with one of your friends, and they asked you, “How can I stay awake to be ready for the Lord’s return?” what would you say to them? Here’s what I would say.
First, I would talk about having a daily connection with the Lord. I do so by reading the Bible and by spending time talking to Him about what I’ve read.
Throughout the day, I think about the things that I’ve read, and I flash quick prayers in my mind to the Lord.
As we continue reading Jesus’ instructions to his disciples about being ready, we find that they also involve other people.
I try to be open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting when someone around me needs my help. It may be a kind word, a listening ear, or some form of material support that is a way of being ready for the Lord’s next event.
There is a vertical and a horizontal relationship to staying awake, vertical is our relationship with the Lord. Horizontal is love and active service for other people. They are both important components to being ready for the Lord’s coming.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 