Sunday School Lesson

1. Matthew 24:36-51
What About The Future?
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign
of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:3
April 23, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

2. April Memory Verse:
Matthew 22:37-38
37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first
commandment."
Announcements:
We Love Jackson Projects – Today
• Painting rooms and a cookout at Mustard Seed
• Painting 2:00 – 4:30 PM
• Cookout 4:30 – 6:30 PM
• Coordinators: Lynn and Hamp Jones
References:
• The ESV Study Bible, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishing, 2011).
• Unless otherwise stated, scriptures are quoted from the ESV.
• Kendall, R. T., The Complete Guide to the Parables, (Grand Rapids: Chosen
Books, 2004).
Matthew 24 Introduction:
• This encounter probably occurred on the Tuesday of Passion Week.
• Often referred to as “The Olivet Discourse” because of location where
event occurred – The Mount of Olives.
• Jesus is answering questions with parables.
• Jesus had just challenged the Jewish leaders and pronounced the “Woes
to the Scribes and Pharisees”.
The Olivet Discourse:
• Matthew 24-25
• Mark 13
• Luke 21
• Mark 13:3 records that Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus the
questions privately.
Introduction:
Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple.
Matthew 24:1-2
1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point
out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, "You see all
these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon
another that will not be thrown down."

3. The Temple in Jerusalem:
Jesus is asked two questions.
Matthew 24:3
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying,
"Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and
of the end of the age?"
• It’s unclear if they were thinking that “these things” (the destruction of the
Temple), the 2nd coming and the end were all one event.
View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives:
The view today from the Mount of Olives:

4. Are we talking about the Rapture or the Return of Jesus (Second Coming) in
Matthew 24?
• Jesus gives a combination of answers in Matthew 24.
• Matthew 24:15-30 Second Coming Events.
• Matthew 24:40-44 Could describe the Rapture and the Second Coming.
Rapture Second Coming
• Believers meet Jesus in the air -
1 Thess. 4:13-18.
• Occurs before the Tribulation –
1 Thess. 5:9; Rev.3:10.
• An act of deliverance for
believers - 1 Thess. 5:9.
• Secret and Instant – 1 Cor.
15:50-54.
• Imminent (could be at any
moment) - Titus 2:13; 1 Thess.
4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-54.
• Believers return with Jesus to the
earth - Rev. 19:14.
• Occurs after the Tribulation –
Rev. 6-19.
• An act of judgment for non-
believers - Matt. 24:40-41.
• Visible to all – Rev. 1:7; Matt.
24:29-30.
• Will not occur until certain end-
times events take place - Matt.
24:15-30.
The Doctrine of Imminence:
• Imminent – next expectation.
• Believers are taught to expect the Savior from heaven at any moment.
• Living with this expectancy should lead to a godly life.
Jesus issues a warning before answering the questions.
Matthew 24:4-5
4 And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will
come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.

5. These are not the signs.
Matthew 24:6-8
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for
this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in
various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
• Birth pains – reminders that the end will come and to get ready; a new
birth (glorified body).
Summary of Matthew 24:9-28:
• Descriptions that do fit the horrific conditions during the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 AD and also life on earth during the Great Tribulation.
• The “abomination of desolation” of Daniel 9:27.
• Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BC.
• The Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.
• The image of the Antichrist being set up in the last days in 2 Thess.
2:4 and Rev. 13:14.
Summary of Matthew 24:29-35:
• Describes the 2nd coming of the “Son of Man” on the clouds of heaven
with the loud trumpet call.
• Jesus gives the parable of the lesson of the fig tree.
• Many interpretations of these verses, especially v. 34 about “this
generation will not pass away until these things take place.”
Beginning scripture for today’s lesson:
Matthew 24:36
36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
• How could Jesus not know?
Fully God 100% and Fully Human 100%:
• This is confusing!
• The math does not work for human minds.
• Not 50/50 or alternating personalities.
• There have been church discussions about this for almost 2,000 years!
• Council of Chalcedon statement, 451 AD:
• Recognized as two natures in perfect unity, without measure,
separation, confusion or division.

6. Relationship of God and Jesus While on Earth:
• Jesus was subordinate.
• Not an inferior relationship.
• Under the authority and leadership.
• Jesus was equal is essence, but different in role and function.
• John 14:28c
28c for the Father is greater than I.
• Matthew 24:36
36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Lesson scripture continues:
Matthew 24:37-39
37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as
in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were
unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of
the Son of Man.
The days of Noah:
Genesis 6:1-3
1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born
to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And
they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not
abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years."
• Earth’s population at time of flood = 7 billion.
• Earth’s population in 2017 = 7 billion.
Genesis 6:4
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the
sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them.
These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
Dr. Chuck Missler on the strange events and people in Genesis 6:
• The “sons of God” – Fallen angels (males) who were able to take on
human form and were able to reproduce with women.
• These angels were created by God and this unnatural relationship was a
way for Satan to increase his numbers.
• Matthew 22:30 says angels in heaven do not marry and are not given in
marriage but does not address reproduction.

7. Dr. Chuck Missler on the strange events and people in Genesis 6:
• The “daughters of men” had two human parents.
• The verse implies that these women had no choice about becoming a
wife to these fallen angels.
• The children from this unnatural union were called the Nephilim (translated
to “giants”).
• They were evil and destroyed in the flood but show up again in Canaan
when Israelites return after Egyptian captivity (Goliath).
Wickedness on earth before the flood:
Genesis 6:5-6
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord
regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
• These verses describe “the days of Noah”, and also our world today!
What was life like in the days of Noah?
• Great wickedness in man.
• Continual evil in thoughts and actions.
• Rejection of God and things of God.
• People lived for their own pleasure.
• “Lived like there was no tomorrow”.
• The irony is that tomorrow did not come for all.
• Tomorrow only came for 8 people when God flooded the earth.
End-times behavior:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For
people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable,
slanderous, without self- control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the
appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
Stay Awake:
Matthew 24:40-42
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women
will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay
awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
• This appears to be describing the Rapture.

8. Be Ready:
Matthew 24:43-44
43 But know this, that if the master 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. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of
Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Parable of Faithful & Wise Servant:
Matthew 24:45-47
45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his
household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant
whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will
set him over all his possessions.
What is the meaning of this parable?
• Jesus used this illustration again in Matthew 25:20-23.
• Jesus will reward you for faithfulness.
• Faithful stewardship in this life will result in being given greater
responsibility and stewardship in the life to come.
Parable of the wicked servant:
Matthew 24:48-51
48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' 49 and begins
to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of
that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he
does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In
that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Behavior of the wicked servant:
• Self-deceit = says to himself, ‘my master is delayed,’.
• Galatians 6:7
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows,
that will he also reap.
• beat his fellow servants = mistreatment of fellow man.
• eats and drinks with drunkards, = immoral living.
The fate of the wicked servant:
• cut him in pieces = reference to condition where healing cannot occur
and state of death.
• put him with the hypocrites.
• A pretend believer; actions do not match words.
• Someone who looks down on others knowing he is also flawed.
• In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. = anguish, pain,
remorse and misery forever.

9. What are the “take aways” from today’s lesson?
1. Jesus left us with a job to do.
Acts 1:6-9
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to
know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the end of the earth." 9 And when he had said these things, as they were
looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
• Our job – “You will be my witnesses”.
2. We are to pray for Jesus’ return.
1 Corinthians 16:21-22
21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for
the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
Revelation 22:20
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!
• Maranatha = Aramaic for “Our Lord, come”.
3. We are to be “always ready” to meet Jesus at the Rapture or in death.
Matthew 24:42
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is
coming.
Matthew 24:44
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect.
Next Sunday
Matthew 26:17-30
How Do We Remember?
“The Lord’s Supper”
April 30, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

10. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Romans 6:23b
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
Romans 10:9-10
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

11. Romans 10:13
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/