Jesus said that He was coming back, but He didn’t give us a day or time. Instead, He gave us signs of His return. Beginning the How Do We Know If We Don’t Know series, this devotion begins to look at the signs pointing to His return.
Nuggets
- Jesus didn’t want us to focus on the specific day and time of His return.
- He would rather we focus on being prepared for His return.
- The first sign Jesus gave was that there would be impostors claiming to be Him.
- The second sign was wars would be fought and others would be rumored.
Devotions in the How Do We Know If We Don’t Know series
Matthew wrote about the disciples questioning Jesus about the end of the age. We’ve touched on part of that passage in previous devotions, mainly focusing on the end of Matthew’s record. We are starting a series that will look at the beginning of Jesus’ reply, recorded in Matthew 24.
There is a lot of information in this chapter, so it will be spread out over several devotions. Let me warn you, the first break isn’t where I would prefer it to be. Jesus talked about so many signs that we are going to have to break them up.
We Don’t Know the Exact Day and Time
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" (Mt. 24: 35 ESV)
Some have asked how we can seek Jesus if we don’t know when He is returning. He deftly sidestepped His disciples’ questions on the subject. By doing that, He de-emphasized the important of the exact timing.
We have been told Jesus is returning; we just don’t know exactly when. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mt. 24: 9 NLT).
We don’t need to know the exact time in order to gain salvation. We follow Jesus and believe in Him because He has let us know He is coming back.
I remember a day when Mom and Dad were coming up to visit me. Even though they hadn’t told me when they would arrive, I was expecting them around the regular time. They didn’t get there until an hour later. I was really worried. I kept looking out the window to see if they had made it yet.
That is what we are to do here. We know Jesus is coming back. We just have to keep looking out the window for Him.
Jesus told us to keep watch because He is coming as a thief in the night. “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Mt. 24: 43-44 NLT).
Jesus told us not to worry about exactly when He was coming again; He told us to worry about being ready.
The world is going to keep spinning on until Jesus comes. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Mt. 24: 37-39 NLT). Life will go on until He comes.
But life for some will go on after Jesus returns for His children. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Mt. 24: 40-42 NLT). We want to be considered His child and go in the first round.
But There Will Be Signs
Even though we don’t know day and time for Jesus’ return, He gave us signs to know His return is imminent. We are to keep watch by also looking for these.
“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many” (Mt. 24: 4-5 NLT).
Jesus gave several warnings to His followers to not be deceived by false Messiahs. “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Mt. 24: 23-24 NLT).
Verse 11 reminds us there will be false prophets: “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” (Mt. 24: 11 NLT). These are those people who are spreading the message of the false messiah. Strength in numbers, in this case, does not make the message true.
Paul also talks of deceivers pretending to be the messiah. “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction” (II Thess. 2: 3 NIV).
Some say this is the first seal in the Book of Revelation. “Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.” (Rev. 6: 1-2 ESV). While some say this is Jesus, others say it is a deceiver because he is carrying a bow, not a sword.
We really need to be careful because these deceivers will be convincing. Look back at Verse 24: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Mt. 24: 24 NLT). We don’t know what those signs and wonders will be, but they will be enough to lead some the wrong way.
Believers need to evaluate what is being said, reported, and even seen. We can’t say just because we are believers, we won’t be deceived. “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other” (Mt. 24: 10 NLT). We need to make sure we are following the One true Christ.
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars … but the end is still to come” (Mt. 24: 6 NLT).
When we put this into context of Jesus’ day, this statement may be a tad bit confusing. The Roman Empire had established peace. There weren’t a lot of wars going on at that time.
But when you look at it under the lens of what Jesus teaches is counterculture, it is understandable. There will be many disagreements, some resulting in war.
Believers just need to chill. God has this. Everything is happening as He allows on His timetable.
Yes, I know the closer to home those wars are, the harder it will be to knock trouble out of our hearts. But we know these wars are coming — “… but the end is still to come” (Mt. 24: 6 NLT) — and we know that ultimate outcome. We just need to remind ourselves we are in the palm of His hand (Jn. 10: 29).
Even though Jesus de-emphasized the exact timing of His return, He wants us to be watching for it. To that end, He has given us specific signs. We’ve only started discussing the signs. The next devotion will conclude discussing the signs He has given.
Father. We are humbled that You provided a plan of salvation to restore our relationship with You. To do that, You sent Your Son to die in our place. He has told us that He is coming again so that we can live with You forever. (Jn. 14: 3). Help us to recognize the signs that are occurring around us. Help us to always be ready for His return. Amen.
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