Spend time in prayer and silence with God, asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
– Matthew 24:22-31
Devotion
Jesus continues His discourse on His second coming. He warns that many false Christs will present themselves until He returns. He makes it clear that His second coming will be unmistakable. His second coming will be unlike anything ever witnessed by man. His second coming will be seen by all the inhabitants of the earth. The heavens and the earth will be impacted by His return. The Apostle Paul wrote, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Jesus’ second coming will impact all of creation!
The Big Question
This is described as a time of “great distress”, or “great tribulation.” How severe will this time period be? What kinds of deceivers will appear leading up to this time period? Why would false Christs appear especially during this time period? How will His second coming occur, in contrast to the false Christs? What comfort do you take in verse 31?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.