00:00 Worship
17:37 Announcement
23:10 Sermon
“The End of the Age – Regarding the Church”
Matthew 24:45-25:30
“But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.” – Matthew 25:5
This verse comes in the second part of the Olivet Discourse. Part 1 [24:1-44] pertains to the Jewish nation during the seven-year Tribulation, which we covered last week. Part 2 [24:45-25:30] pertains to the Church prior to the Rapture, which we will cover this morning. Part 3 [25:31-46] pertains to the Gentile nations after Jesus Returns, which we will cover next Sunday.
It is important to identify these three parts of the Olivet Discourse, and how they address the threefold division of mankind underscored by Paul in 1 Cor 10:32-33. This will help to understand how the final chapter unfolds.
“The atmosphere of the first section of the Olivet Discourse was definitely Jewish. A careful reading of this section indicates that the “atmosphere” has changed. Jesus had been describing the sign-events of the Tribulation period, and had named one judgment after another, culminating in His return to earth. But in this section the emphasis is on the Lord delaying His return (Matt. 24:48; 25:5, 19).
It seems reasonable to assign Matthew 24:45-25:30 to our present age of the church, during which time it appears that the Lord is delaying His return (2 Peter 3). The closing section (Matt. 25:31-46) describes the judgment the Lord will execute when He returns to earth. In general, the teachings in the Olivet Discourse relate to the Jews (Matt.24:4-44), the professing church (Matt. 24:45-25:30), and the Gentile nations (Matt. 25:31-46).” [Wiersbe]
Regarding the Church are three parables that underscore the Rapture described in 1 Thes 4:16-18 and 1 Cor 15:50-55. “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” [1 Thes 4:16-17]
All three parables that we will cover this morning reference a long delay before the Rapture [ref. 24:45, 24:48, 25:5, 25:19], and highlights the importance of readiness, “for you know neither the day nor the hour.” [25:13]
This should encourage all of us to live expectantly [i.e., The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins].
It also teaches us that there will be rewards according to our faithfulness in this life as revealed in The Parable of the Talents.
