Pastor starts today’s class by taking a look at Matthew 24:37-39a “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.”
This text is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount of Olives and He is talking about His second coming. Jesus compares what it will be like at the end of time, to what happened at the time of Noah’s flood. Noah and his sons built the boat over a long period of time and people could see he was building a huge boat, but they continued doing their regular life things and the flood took them all away. They had not listened to Noah’s preaching and warnings. It will be like that at the end when Jesus returns.
In 2 Peter 3:3-10 Peter shares another comparison of what the Second Coming of Christ will be like. There will be a time when God keeps His word once again. There’s been a warning that there will be an end – the Second Coming of Christ and it will take place. We are called to be alert, listen and respond and not to ignore that He is returning. We are to be ready and waiting.
Matthew 24 continues with verses 39b-42 “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 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.'”
Pastor zeroes in on the words “one will be taken the other left.” The question is taken to where?
Believer opinions are:
⁃ Taken for judgement
⁃ Taken to be with Christ
Pastor refers back to a recent teaching entitled “What Happens When I Die?” That teaching can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/live/5L41Ufkiq2w?si=xxcv4CNj2FC-y7XD
Part of that teaching is on 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 5:6. These verses are Paul’s description of the Second Coming of Christ. Paul makes it clear that when Jesus returns the dead believers will be raised first and those still alive will be caught up with them.
Pastor takes a deeper look at the original Greek text of the word Jesus uses for our translated word “taken.” For the “taken” Jesus uses here, the word is paralambanō which means to be taken to one’s side, to receive to one’s self. It is a positive and affectionate word. It’s the picture of the Bridegroom taking His bride (His people) to Himself.
In our day it is like Noah’s day and Jesus’ day where people are just going on like normal and ignoring God or not paying attention to Him or His Word. But Jesus speaks a word of warning to those not listening and a word of encouragement to believers. In verse 42 He says, “Therefore keep watch!” The greek text for “keep watch” is the word grēgoreō and it means to keep awake! And to be ready for Christ’s return!
In closing, Pastor shares a saying he once heard: “Live as though Christ died yesterday, arose this morning and is coming again tomorrow!”
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