“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37).

Human actions in the days of the great flood grieved God enough for Him to intervene with global judgment against sin and deception. The people of Noah’s time refused to acknowledge God and thus were not prepared for His judgment. Consider this: we live in an age of apostasy, widespread abuse, and horrifying violence. Rather than humble ourselves before our righteous and loving Creator, we aspire to the greed and idolatry of the rich and famous. So, in terms of anticipating the return of Jesus Christ, how many of us are preparing with confident knowledge of what His return entails?

Just Like the Days of Noah, by author and Bible teacher Jan Darnell, brings us a new, deep, and essential understanding of the revelation and second-coming prophecy in Matthew 24. Christ’s message from Mt. Olivet is a beacon of light in these confused and unstable times. His timeline of events cuts straight through even the most complex schemes and debatable theories of our day.

Throughout this encouraging and challenging seven-week Bible study, Darnell expertly guides a careful exploration of the text and shows how we can personally respond to Jesus’s message and prepare our lives for His return.

Week Two/Day One
 
The Abomination of Desolation initiates a period of tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen! And mankind has witnessed some horribly nasty, heart wrenching episodes of terror. Do you remember how the attack on Jerusalem and the Temple was described by Josephus in Week One? The Abomination of Desolation will be far worse than that, much more heinous and brutal. Can we even begin to imagine the distress! The petty inconveniences that we complain about today will dissipate in the wake and horror of this great tribulation. Last week, in Matthew 24:7, Christ described the beginning of this period to be characterized by wars, famine and earthquakes.
 
1- What did Jesus say in Matthew 24:5 and 11 that we would see in addition to wars and famine?
 
 
 
2- What warning are we given for our protection in Matthew 24:23, Mark 13:21 and Luke 21:8?
 
 
 
 
 
Note: This tribulation period will be a confusing time for the world, as well as the Church, unless we are prepared. The deceivers and false teachers will be prolific, rising up as saviors with solutions to our suffering. And the temptation will be to listen and follow them, seeking relief. All three of the synoptic gospels record this warning… Do not believe them when they say, “Here is the Christ!”  Do not fall into these traps! Vultures gather around corpses. You are not a vulture. You are from the flock of God whose Shepherd and King will return for you visibly in the clouds! [Rev. 1:7]
 
3- What comparison does Jesus use to describe His return? (Matthew 24:27)
 
 
 
 
 
 
The disciples saw Jesus “taken up” and received into heaven 40 days after His resurrection. Look at what Peter said in Acts 1:11 about how He returns.
 
4- How will Jesus return?
 
 
 
 
Application
If anyone declares that the Messiah has come to your local amphitheater, performing signs and wonders that you must go see…will you? Don't let temptation and curiosity get the best of you. What if your friends follow the crowd to some nearby field where the Christ has supposedly appeared? Will you think of it as inconsequential to go? Jesus is warning that if we go anywhere to meet or greet messiahs during this great tribulation period, we will be putting ourselves in danger. As you will see in the next 2 weeks, Satan is permitted to bring forth a flood of wrath against the elect of God. Therefore, do not walk into his trap and put yourself at risk anymore than you already are. When Jesus Christ returns, He will descend exactly as He ascended…in the clouds. You will not have to depend on anyone else to tell you that Jesus has come. Everyone will see Christ descend from heaven. So be advised! Heed the warning for your own protection. Behold I have told you in advance (Matthew 24:25).
 
5- What does Revelation 1:7 say?
 
 
 
 
How is it possible for every eye to see the return of Jesus? With God all things are possible. [Luke 18:27] Don't even try to figure it out. Just believe it and respond by faith in obedience to the Word of God. The announcing of the Son of God by the Father will be quite an event, a full contrast to His first humble entrance into our world. And no one in heaven or earth will be able to miss it!
 
6- For whose sake does Jesus cut the tribulation short? (Matthew 24:22)
 
 
 
When God makes a promise, He stands by it. You can count on the Word of God to be faithful and true. Hundreds of prophecies in the Scriptures have already been fulfilled, which proves His Word to be both credible and trustworthy. Since Jesus is cutting the tribulation short for the sake of His elect, you can be sure that He won't allow the elect to miss His coming!  In fact, the return of Jesus is an unprecedented event of redemption and restoration heralded in the Old Testament as the dramatic climax to current history. It is also referenced by Peter in Acts 3, so let's look at that.

Jan Darnell has been a student and teacher of Precept Ministries biblical studies for over thirty-five years. She brings her passionate pursuit of God’s truth to every Bible study and devotional she writes. Jan is the wife of Barry Darnell and a mother of seven. She lives in North Carolina.