Shema Living During End Times #17
Watch & Pray #17
So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:26-28)
A common exclamation today regarding whether it is national, regional, or local news is the belief that what we have read on social media or heard on the news is, “Fake news!” The conclusion: the person or group of people do not believe that the news they received is true and honest.
If there is anything we have gained from Jesus’ end times prophecy is that there will be a lot of occurrences from a lot of people who will be announcing “fake news.” The declarations they make and the announcements they give will not be accurate but clearly, and without shame or remorse, a straight-forward and deceitful message. In verse 25, Jesus’ states a pointed, brief parenthetical-like statement of the absolute necessity to remember His prophetic end times declarations as they were told to us in advance. He now returns to the primary topic at hand…the future realities of suffering, betrayal, persecutions, false Christs, as well as the furtherance of the gospel to all nations with a return discussion point…false Christs and their messages of trickery.
If people heeded Jesus’ words and ran to the hills and mountains in order to save their lives, the lure to come out of hiding will be to hear the message that Christ has returned and is the ‘wilderness’ or ‘inner rooms.’ Between not having any access of what is going on and being in such a difficult situation of hiding out, the news of the Christ’s arrival may be welcomed news to some and to abandon their hidden protection to go see. However, Jesus sternly warns, “…do not believe him.” (Matthew 24:26). Stay put…do not move!
The announcement of the Christ being in the ‘wilderness’ hearkens back to the calling and days of Moses, the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1), and the earthly life of our Lord when He was tempted by Satan as well as primary work in His early public ministry days was in the out of the way location of northern Israel in Galilee. This tie of the Messiah and his initial coming of being in the wilderness is also rooted in Jewish tradition. Furthermore, the announcement of false Messiahs being in isolated locations denotes how they will work to avoid public attention.
As Jesus fulfilled the Scripture as well as Jewish tradition when He was with us the first time in being more of a wilderness-type of unknown origin and out-of-place public ministry this will not be the case concerning His second advent. For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. (Matthew 24:27 )Jesus’ next arrival will not need any announcement! Like lightening flashing across the sky, Jesus’ return will get everyone’s attention. Though Jesus’ quiet arrival in Bethlehem was inconspicuous, the next time it will be very conspicuous and sudden…like lightening and like a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:2)…and not limited to a specific village town like Bethlehem, but will be made known to whole world. Thus, the Jewish Christians who are hiding in the hills if they hear any announcement can quickly discern that the claim is false and not of the true Christ. Though in hiding, they will know just as much and as quickly as those in the urban societies. Jesus’ second coming will be universal, immediate, open, public, and unmistakable.
As Jesus concludes this topic and before announcing His final prophecy and answer to the disciples’ question, He notes what seems to be a Jewish proverb. At first, it is difficult to see how it resonates with Jesus’ immediate context and topic but the idea of undeniable understanding of the end time event having occurred is the interpretation of the saying, “ Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Matthew 24:28) Some Bible translations use the word “eagles” instead of “vultures” as the same Old Testament and Greek original words denote either bird, but vultures gathering around a dead carcass definitely connects to the context. (see Job 39:27-30) The verse-proverb is an “Amen!” of what Jesus declared of His second advent being clearly known. Just as everyone identifies what is taking place, when vultures circle in the sky or gather around the corpse of a dead animal on the side of the road, in turn, illustrates the same kind of clear and undeniable visible connection to Jesus’ final return.
Our Father, one day the mystery and anticipation of Your second coming will shatter the sky and all will be over. When all is over, there will no question on anyone’s mind of what has taken place. You fulfilled promise! You have come to rapture Your people and judge sin and evil. May the words of this truth be deeply engrained on our minds and hearts. Especially, we ask, that Your wisdom be upon those who will be Your followers in that generation of catastrophic chaos, unyielding deceit, and satanic persecution. Empower Your servants to not turn to the left or to the right in the temptation through the strong attraction and enticing allurement that will seek to enrapture many through the well-crafted message of deceit and the effective wonders through evil’s power. Protect and deliver us from evil. In Jesus’ name, amen.
