The return of Jesus is a sure and promised hope for all believers, not a vague wish but a certain future that shapes how we live today. The knowledge that Christ will come again to end this present evil age and establish His eternal kingdom should fill us with anticipation and joy, even as we face the brokenness of the world. This hope is not meant to make us passive, but to encourage us to live with purpose, courage, and expectation, knowing that God’s promises will be fulfilled and that we will dwell with Him forever. [01:03:35]
Matthew 24:1-3 (ESV)
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Reflection: How does the certainty of Jesus’s return change the way you approach your daily struggles and longings? What would it look like to live today with your hope anchored in His coming?
All of Scripture, including prophecy, is given by God to teach, correct, and equip us for every good work, so we should not neglect any part of it—even the challenging or debated passages. God wants His people to be informed, encouraged, and ready for what is to come, and He has graciously revealed much about the future for our benefit. Studying the whole counsel of God, including the end times, is not just for scholars but for every believer who desires to be complete and equipped for life and service. [41:36]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Reflection: Is there a part of God’s Word you tend to avoid or overlook? What step can you take this week to engage with a challenging passage, trusting that God intends it for your growth?
Understanding God’s promises for the future gives us a sure hope that sustains us through trials and helps us see beyond the troubles of this world. The Bible’s vision of a new heaven and new earth, where God wipes away every tear and death is no more, is meant to encourage us and remind us that our present sufferings are not the end of the story. This hope is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness and the victory of Christ. [44:40]
Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Reflection: When you face discouragement or pain, how can you remind yourself of the hope of God’s promised future? Who in your life needs to hear this hope from you today?
The knowledge of Christ’s return and the coming judgment should motivate us to live upright, self-controlled, and godly lives, renouncing worldly passions and focusing on pleasing God. Our anticipation of Jesus’s appearing is not just for comfort, but also for transformation—training us to live differently in the present age and to make our lives count for eternity. This perspective also fuels our desire to share the gospel and disciple others, knowing that what we do now matters forever. [49:43]
Titus 2:11-13 (ESV)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God calling you to greater holiness in light of Christ’s return? What practical change can you make this week to pursue that?
While the details of the end times are debated among faithful Christians, we are called to major on the clear truths of Christ’s return, judgment, and the eternal state, and to show humility and grace toward those who see the details differently. Recognizing that some doctrines require diligent study and that we all “see through a glass dimly,” we should hold our convictions with humility, avoid unnecessary division, and rejoice together in the hope we share. [01:04:47]
Romans 14:1, 4 (ESV)
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. … Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Reflection: Is there someone you disagree with about secondary matters of faith? How can you show them humility and grace this week, focusing on your shared hope in Christ?
Today’s focus is on the sure hope we have in Christ’s return and the importance of understanding what God has revealed about the future. The journey through Matthew’s Gospel resumes with the beginning of chapter 24, where Jesus’ longest recorded teaching on the end times unfolds. The disciples, having just heard Jesus’ pronouncement of judgment on Jerusalem and the temple, are left with burning questions about the timing and signs of His coming and the end of the age. Their questions reflect not only their longing for the fulfillment of God’s promises but also their limited understanding of how those promises would unfold.
The context of this passage is crucial. The disciples, like most Jews of their day, expected the Messiah to bring immediate political deliverance and establish a kingdom of peace and prosperity. They did not foresee the two comings of Christ—first as the suffering servant and later as the reigning King. Jesus’ prediction of the temple’s destruction was shocking, and it prompted the disciples to seek clarity about the future. Jesus responds not with ambiguity but with a detailed and compassionate explanation, meant to bring clarity and encouragement rather than confusion or fear.
Understanding prophecy is not a matter of idle speculation or controversy but is meant for our good. God has given us these revelations to equip us for faithful living, to anchor our hope, and to guard us against deception. The study of prophecy reminds us that history is moving toward a divinely appointed goal: the return of Christ, the end of evil, and the renewal of all things. This hope is not wishful thinking but a sure promise that shapes how we live, endure trials, and pursue holiness.
It is also important to approach these passages with humility and grace. While there are different interpretations regarding the details of the end times, the central truths are clear: Christ will return, judgment will come, and God’s people will dwell with Him forever. These truths unite us and call us to live with joyful expectation, to encourage one another, and to remain steadfast in faith and mission. As we begin this study, let us do so with open hearts, eager to know the Lord more deeply and to live in light of His coming.
Matthew 24:1-3 (ESV) — > Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
> As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) — > For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV) — > Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
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