Purkey's Bible Study Outlines

(Signs Of Jesus Second Coming) 

KEY VERSE: And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2).

INTRODUCTION: In these verses, Jesus is answering the questions put to Him by His disciples in Matthew 24:1-3: “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

They asked, “When shall these things (the destruction of the temple, verse 2) take place?” Jesus told them (see Luke 21:20-24), but Matthew does not record the answer. The answer is, it took place in A.D. 70 when Titus conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the city and the Temple. “What will be the sign of Your coming?” is answered in Matthew 24:29-44; and “What shall be the sign of the end of the (Jewish) age?” is answered in Matthew 24:4-46.

The events described in Matthew 24:4-3 will take place during the seven years of tribulation following the rapture of the church. This is the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy, described in Daniel 9:20-27. This same period of time is described in Revelation chapters 6-19. It is the time when God will pour out His wrath on a rebellious world.

A. The Beginning Of Sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8).

(Matthew 24:4-8) 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

These are the signs that tell the world that judgment is beginning. Note how they parallel the events described in Revelation 6. We see these signs in the world today, indicating that the end is near. However, we must admit that many of these signs have always been here, but as we see them getting more intense, we know the coming of the Lord is near.

B. Events Leading Up To The End (Matthew 24:9-14).

(Matthew 24:9-14)  9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The persecution of His servants (verse 9) will increase. During the Tribulation, God will seal 144,000 Jews (Revelation 7) who will probably be missionaries to the lost world (verse 14), and through their efforts multitudes will be saved. However, many will give their lives for their faith. Note: Do not apply verses 13-14 to the ministry of the church today. Verse 13 has nothing to do with salvation by grace and verse 14 does not mean that the church must get the Gospel into all the world before Jesus Christ can return. Both verses apply to the tribulation period.

C. The Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-21).

(Matthew 24:15-21) 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

INSIGHT:The Tribulation is called “Jacob’s Trouble” in the Old Testament: (Jeremiah 30:7} “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

At the time of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will make a covenant with the Jewish nation (still in unbelief) for seven years (“one week,” Dan. 9:27), and will break it after 3 1/2 years, or at the middle of the tribulation period. He will set up his own image in the Jewish temple (Dan. 11:31 and 12:11) and force the world to worship him (see Rev. 13; 2 Thess. 2:3-4). Notice Matthew’s little parenthesis: “whoever reads, let him understand” (Matthew 24:15). Jews living during this tribulation period will read Matthew 24, and understand what to do. In fact, many statements in Daniel, Matthew 24-25, and Rev. that are puzzling to us will be understood then by believers. Christ warned the Jews to flee Jerusalem (verses 16-20), for the last half of this period will be great tribulation and will end with the armies of the nations assembled against Jerusalem. “The elect” in verse 22 are the saved of Israel, not believers in the church. Empowered by Satan, the Antichrist will perform miracles (verse 24, see Rev. 13:13-14; 2 Thess. 2:8-10). The nations, deceived by Satan, will gather at Armageddon to battle Jesus Christ (verse 28, see Rev. 19:17-18) and will be defeated.

D. After The Tribulation (Read Matthew 24:29-31).

There will be disturbances in the heavens (Joel 3:11-21) and then the sign of His coming will appear. We are not told what this sign is. Some believe it is the Shekinah glory that once abode in the tabernacle and temple. Christ will then return to earth with His saints to establish His promised kingdom. There will be great mourning (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7). This is a public return, not a secret one. And He comes as King, not as Bridegroom. Israel will have been gathered together by the ministry of angels. (For Israel’s regathering, see Isa. 11:11-12; 27:12-13; Deut. 30:1-5.) At this time, Christ will be received by Israel, now purged of sin and unbelief, and the nation will be the center of the kingdom. The judgment of the Gentiles (Matt. 25:31-46) also takes place.

E. Some Exhortations To Israel (Read Matthew 24:32-44).

The fig tree is a symbol of Israel (Luke 13:6-10; Joel 1:6-7; Hosea 9:10). When we see Israel “coming back to life,” then we know His return is approaching. This may be happening in our day. Verse 34 teaches that the events described will cover a generation of time. (“This generation” means the generation alive at that time, not the generation alive when Christ was speaking. Some take the word “generation” to mean the nation of Israel that would never be destroyed.) Just as Noah and his family survived the flood, so Israel will survive the Tribulation. Do not make the word “taken” in verses  40-41 mean “taken to heaven,” for Jesus was not describing the rapture of the church. In Noah’s day, the flood took people in judgment and left Noah and his family to dwell on the cleansed earth. When God’s judgment falls in the Tribulation, one will be taken (in judgment), but another will be left on earth to enter the glorious kingdom. His final exhortation is for the believer to watch. 

We as Christians do not look for signs, but for Jesus Christ—a Person—to return (Phil. 3:20). However, as we see world conditions shaping up, we know that His return is near.

  It covers the same mixed group as Matt. 13—true and false Christians, all professing to know Christ. (This section pictures Christ as delaying His return (Matthew 24:48; 25:5, 19), so it cannot fit into the seven-year tribulation period in the previous section.) There is no mention of signs; for if there were signs, the people would know about when He would return and would be ready! These parables describe the attitudes of professing Christians and exhort us all to be ready for His coming. Some Christians will be ashamed when He returns.

B. There Are Faithful And Evil Servants (Read Matthew 24:45-51).

The church is the household of faith (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19), and the servants are those who must feed the spiritual family. When the heart grows cold, the life becomes careless. Worldly living begins when we forget Christ is coming back (1 John 3:1-3). “Cut him asunder” in verse 51 should read “scourge him severely.” This speaks of the discipline Christ will exercise on unfaithful servants when He returns to give rewards. The word “hypocrites” means “unfaithful,” suggesting that unfaithful Christians will have sorrow at the Judgment Seat of Christ (see 1 Cor. 3:11-18; 2 Cor. 5:9-11). No true believer will ever go to hell (John 5:24). This language suggests that loss of reward will be a difficult experience.

This parable exhorts us to serve Christ faithfully, looking for His return every day. What a wonderful motive for service—to hear His “Well done!” (Matthew 25:23) If we serve to please people or to get gain, we will lose the reward. Keep looking up!

By Charles Stanley

(Read: Matthew 25:31-46)

The Scriptures speak clearly of existence after death -- people will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. Yet many individuals consider this truth inconsistent with other facts about the Lord. While their objections are understandable, the Bible provides the answers: 

How can the Lord be good if He lets some people spend eternity in hell? God is love (1 John 4:8), and He doesn’t want anyone to live without Him (1 Timothy 2:4). According to His plan, every person can turn from sin and receive the Savior, enjoying His presence both now and throughout eternity. Some, however, reject Jesus Christ and live apart from Him all their days. Unless they change that tragic decision, their separation from divine love will continue eternally. 

Why would God create certain individuals, knowing they would never turn to Him? To some, this seems unloving. Yet God so values our free will that He won’t force anyone to go to heaven against his or her will. Doing so would amount to creating robots who are unable to truly respond, love, and worship. 

An endless penalty seems unfair, especially if a non-Christian never heard the gospel. As long as unbelievers are alive, the heavenly Father goes to great lengths to keep them from eternal punishment -- except He won’t violate their free will. He gives enough time and evidence so that nobody has a valid excuse for rejecting the one path to salvation (Romans 1:20). 

Jesus wants you to spend eternity with Him. So do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? 

-- Adapted from a Charles Stanley devotion, In Touch Ministries, September.19.

CONCLUSION: What have we learned from our Bible study today?

We learned that when you listen to the news and see the tensions and troubles in today’s world, keep in mind the warnings that the Lord gave.

First, Do not be deceived (Matthew 24:4, 11). People will make grandiose claims and promises and will deceive many. You have the Bible (the Word of God) to enlighten you (Isa. 8:20) and the Holy Spirit to teach you (John 16:13–15), so you should not go astray (1 John 2:18–29).

Second, Do not be discouraged (Matthew 24:6). Political and natural disturbances have always been a part of world history, so do not allow them to discourage you. They are “the beginning of sorrows” (verse 8). The word translated “sorrows” means “birth-pangs.” The world’s troubles are pregnant with possibilities! God is still on the throne!

Third, Do not be defeated (Matthew 24:13). This has to do with faithfulness under testing until the Lord returns. Do not let the lawlessness around you rob you of your enthusiasm (verse 12). A lost world around you needs to hear the gospel (verse 14), so get busy!

Fourth, Do not be doubtful (Matthew 24:34–35). Religious leaders will come and go, stand and fall; but the Word will not change. Believe it, obey it, and hold to it—no matter what others may say or do. Your Bible is God’s light in this dark world (2 Pet. 1:19–21).

Fifth, Do not be distracted (Matthew 24:42). We “watch” when we stay alert and remind ourselves that our Lord may come at any time. When in your heart you delay His coming (verse 48), you start to lose your effectiveness and witness. Keep watching and working!

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”