It is amazing how Scripture parallels itself. We know the Bible does not contradict itself because it is the Word of God. There are parallel passages all throughout Scripture, that with a little digging, it becomes clear they are just another perspective on the same truth. I love what the Psalmist said in 119:160, “The sum of Your word is truth.”
CHRIST'S TEACHING ON THE END OF THE AGE
Following Jesus resurrection and before He ascended into heaven to the Father, Jesus left final instructions for His disciples. In Matthew 28:18 He said that all authority had been given to Him. Then He told them to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He commanded them. He was commissioning them to take the gospel out, to the ends of the earth, and in so doing His church would be built. Then He said, "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
What occurs at the end of the age? What events lead up to the end of the age? Are there any other places in Scripture where Christ gives us truth and instruction regarding the end of the age?
There are two, Matthew 13 and Matthew 24.
In Matthew 13:24-30, we find the account of Jesus telling the parable of the wheat and the tares. He said the kingdom of heaven could be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While the men who tended this man's field slept, this man's enemy came in and sowed tares among the wheat which the man had planted, then the enemy went away. The tare seeds took root and sprouted, and bore grain. Once the plants bore grain, it was evident that there were tares among the crop of wheat. The slaves of the man go to him and ask him, "Didn't you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have tares?" The man responded by saying that an enemy had planted tares amongst the wheat. The slaves ask the man if he wanted them to go and gather up the tares. The man tells them no. The reason is that while they are gathering the tares, they could uproot the wheat with the tares. It wasn't harvest time yet. He said he was going to wait until harvest time and then he'd send out the reapers who will gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to be burned and the wheat would be gathered by the reapers and put into the barn.
Later on, after Jesus told the parable to the crowds, His disciples go to Him and ask Him to explain the meaning of the parable of the tares. Jesus told them that the man who sowed the good seed was the Son of Man. He said the field was the world. The good seed are the sons of the kingdom and the tares are the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sowed the tares is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels. Just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will be thrown into the lake of fire - Matthew 13:37-42.
What was one of the truths that Jesus was teaching? He was teaching that the church was going to have true believers and look-a-like believers. Not everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus will be genuine.
I will come back to this parable again because Jesus was teaching other truths as well, but let's go to Matthew 24, the third instance in which Jesus is giving instruction and He mentions the end of the age.
Part Two, next time...
CHRIST'S TEACHING ON THE END OF THE AGE
Following Jesus resurrection and before He ascended into heaven to the Father, Jesus left final instructions for His disciples. In Matthew 28:18 He said that all authority had been given to Him. Then He told them to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He commanded them. He was commissioning them to take the gospel out, to the ends of the earth, and in so doing His church would be built. Then He said, "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
What occurs at the end of the age? What events lead up to the end of the age? Are there any other places in Scripture where Christ gives us truth and instruction regarding the end of the age?
There are two, Matthew 13 and Matthew 24.
In Matthew 13:24-30, we find the account of Jesus telling the parable of the wheat and the tares. He said the kingdom of heaven could be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While the men who tended this man's field slept, this man's enemy came in and sowed tares among the wheat which the man had planted, then the enemy went away. The tare seeds took root and sprouted, and bore grain. Once the plants bore grain, it was evident that there were tares among the crop of wheat. The slaves of the man go to him and ask him, "Didn't you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have tares?" The man responded by saying that an enemy had planted tares amongst the wheat. The slaves ask the man if he wanted them to go and gather up the tares. The man tells them no. The reason is that while they are gathering the tares, they could uproot the wheat with the tares. It wasn't harvest time yet. He said he was going to wait until harvest time and then he'd send out the reapers who will gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to be burned and the wheat would be gathered by the reapers and put into the barn.
Later on, after Jesus told the parable to the crowds, His disciples go to Him and ask Him to explain the meaning of the parable of the tares. Jesus told them that the man who sowed the good seed was the Son of Man. He said the field was the world. The good seed are the sons of the kingdom and the tares are the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sowed the tares is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels. Just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will be thrown into the lake of fire - Matthew 13:37-42.
What was one of the truths that Jesus was teaching? He was teaching that the church was going to have true believers and look-a-like believers. Not everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus will be genuine.
I will come back to this parable again because Jesus was teaching other truths as well, but let's go to Matthew 24, the third instance in which Jesus is giving instruction and He mentions the end of the age.
Part Two, next time...
7 comments:
One of the most important prophecies about end time events is given in Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." This verse shows us what will happen, but also reminds God's Church of its responsibility to preach the true gospel in all the world as a witness. That has been done on a small scale, but there is still much to be done.
I agree, penman. Part two tomorrow...
Hey Kathy, thank you for th phone call. I would like to make one more appeal to you for the idea that the church does not go thru the tribulation. If you would like the biblical justification for the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, John MacArthur lays it out quite clearly in part 1 of a series. Here's something quite interesting at the end of the sermon which emphasises our "blessed hope". Come Lord Jesus!
Matthew 24:48, in the Olivet discourse, Jesus is giving the discussion here and using parables. And He says this, "But and if that evil servant shall say in is heart, My Lord delayeth His coming." What kind of servant says that? Evil servant.
You say John, you mean it's an evil thing to say that Jesus is going to delay His coming and we're going to go through all kinds of judgment? Yes, I think it is. You say, why do you believe it's an evil servant? Because beloved I believe that if you remove the eminent return of Jesus Christ, you remove perhaps the greatest motivation for service to Christ that a believer has.
The Bible says in 1 John 3, in verse 2 these things. "Beloved it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is and every man that hath this hope in himself does," what, "purifies himself." And you take away the blessed hope, you take away the greatest impedes to purity and the life of the believer.
Oops forgot the link to the sermon
Matthew 24:48,
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/1324_Will-the-Church-Go-Through-the-Tribulation-Part-1?q=end+of+the+age
Marsha, I'm glad we didn't scare you away!
I do have a question...are you reading what I am posting? I carefully take you through different texts. That is what we need to focus on... Did you read each part on my Christ's Teaching on the End of the Age? The very first post that is now up would be a good one too...it deals with specific texts. I would love for you to look at those. I know Let's Get Biblical is a long post but if you haven't read the whole thing I just want to encourage you to do so.
I have found just the opposite has happened. Knowing what lies ahead drives me even more to abide in and love and serve Him.
Much Love,
Kathy
ps...in my Let's Get Biblical post I show why the great tribulation is not God's judgment. Please read and let me know what you think...
pps...and, the Blessed Hope only becomes more precious when one is in the midst of affliction...
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