Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
CLASS TWENTY-FIVE: Signs of the End Times
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. READ / LISTEN to MATTHEW 24:1–51
a. What are your initial impressions or questions? Notable translation differences?
III. The End Times Intrigue
a. Key Bible Passages
i. What Jesus Taught (Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21)
ii. What Paul Taught (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4)
b. Four Views of the End Times
i. Dispensational Premillennialism
ii. Historical Premillennialism (see Premillennial Views chart)
iii. Amillennialism
iv. Postmillennialism
IV. Temple Destruction Predicted (vv. 1-2)
a. This begins Discourse Five (Eschatology): The Olivet Discourse (24:1 – 25:46)
b. The Roman General Titus (later Emperor from 79-81 A.D.) led the siege of Jerusalem and torched the Temple on August 28, A.D. 70. He gained complete control of Jerusalem by late September.
V. Signs of the End of the Age (vv. 3-8)
a. What do the separate questions the disciples ask Jesus reveal about the nature of the events?
b. What is the timeframe for the events Jesus describes as “beginning birth pains.”
VI. Future Persecutions (vv. 9-14)
a. (vs. 9) Who is Jesus referring to here?
b. (vv. 10-14) What is the timeframe for these events?
VII. The Great Tribulation (vv. 15-28)
a. What is The Abomination that causes Desolation that Jesus says is standing in the Holy place? (Daniel 9:27)
b. Whose words are in parenthesis and for what purpose?
c. (vv. 16-20) Why the extreme warnings in these verses?
d. When do you believe this tribulation will occur?
e. (vs. 22) Who are the elect that Jesus speaks about?
f. (vv. 23-26) Who is Jesus describing in these verses?
g. (vs. 27) Who will see the second coming of Christ?
h. What is verse 28 referring to? See also Ezekiel 39:17-20 and Revelation 19:17-21.
VIII. The Coming of the Son of Man (vv. 29-31)
a. What occurs after the tribulation? See also Revelation 6:12-13
b. The Son of Man coming and the people mourning alludes to Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10.
c. What do you think verse 31 is a reference to and when does it occur?
d. What is the timeframe and order of events suggested in these verses?
IX. Parable of the Fig Tree (vv. 32-35)
a. (vs. 33) What does “all these things” refer to? What does it mean that “He is near?”
b. (vs. 34) What generation is Jesus referring to?
c. (vs. 35) What is Jesus’ meaning here?
X. No One Knows the Day or Hour (vv. 36-44)
a. (vs. 36) What “day and hour” is Jesus referring to?
b. (vv. 37-39) In the example of Noah, who was swept away?
c. (vv. 40-41) In the same way, in Jesus’ example of the field and mill workers, who is taken and who is left? (I consider this the point of no return.)
d. (vv. 42-44) What is the warning being given here?
XI. Faithful Service to the Messiah (vv. 45-51)
a. Who is the “sensible slave” and what is their reward?
b. Who is the “wicked slave” and what is their recompense?
XII. Application
a. Regardless of what view we have of the end-times, these things are certain:
(1) Jesus will return at a day and time that only the Father knows. (2) The faithful will suffer tribulation and persecution as a result of their faith in Jesus. (3) Jesus will prevail over evil and the righteous will be rewarded and the unrighteous will be condemned. (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:6-8)
b. There will always be false prophets and anti-christs who seek to deceive even the faithful and turn people away from Christ. (1st John 2:18)
c. This earth and heavens will disappear but our salvation thru Christ is forever. (Isaiah 51:6; Revelation 21:1-5)
Final Comments and/or Questions. Close in Prayer
Next Week: Parables Concerning Jesus’ Return - Read Matthew 25:1-46 to prepare.
