Not In Secret Matthew 24:22-33

Not In SecretMatthew 24:22-33 Things can happen… Without us noticing We hear about it later We feel left out or hurt

Scripture tells us the second coming will be… Very painful Very public Very visible Very loud

The days leading up to the second coming of Christ will be difficult Matthew 24 22If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Not only are these days going to be painful and bitter for those who are alive… The advent of our Lord will be very public It will not be a secret It will not be a quiet thing that might go unnoticed.

23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect —if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.

Look here Look there Signs Miracles “See, I have told you” You have been forewarned

26“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

There in the desert In the inner rooms It will like lightning Like vultures at a carcass

Even nature will react to this great event Painful Public Very visible to all

29“Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

Christ’s return will be… More than a little noticeable All will see All will hear

30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The nations will discover they chose the wrong side The whole world will see Christ coming They will hear the trumpet call They will see God’s people being gathered

Don’t go looking for Christ in a particular location Don’t be surprised by miracle workers Don’t be deceived into thinking that Christ will come secretly and that you might miss it

Worldwide… Christians persecuted Betrayal of the faithful Schisms in the church False prophets deceive many Love for God grows cold Gospel heard In Israel… Terrible suffering Temple rebuilt “The abomination that causes desolation” The antichrist will be worshipped in the temple Painful days leading to second coming Public signs and miracles Loud trumpet announcement by the angels Visible coming of Christ It will not be a secret

Learn from a fig tree When it starts to come to life Summer is near When all these signs are coming to life… It is near, right at the door33

Not In Secret Matthew 24:22-33