A Sudden and Dangerous Turn of Events
Course Content
Jesus said that events leading up to His return would take most people by surprise. They will be like people in Noah's day who continued their daily routines thinking life would go on as usual.
If this time of unparalleled troubles were allowed to continue, what would be the result?
"It will be a time of great distress, such as there has never been before since the beginning of the world, and will never be again. If that time of troubles were not cut short, no living thing could survive . . ." (Matthew 24:21-22, Revised English Bible).
Nothing will compare to that time! This unprecedented era will prove to be so dangerous that, unless God were to intervene, all living things would die. Carefully read and study Matthew 24 to better understand these conditions and events.
Will God allow humans to utterly destroy themselves?
". . . But for the sake of God's chosen [that time] will be cut short" (Matthew 24:22, Revised English Bible).
"And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1).
Although humanity will be brought to the brink, God will intervene to stop its extinction. God will "cut short" this time so that some will be spared. This is the good news that will emerge from the bad.
Can people predict exactly when these events will come to pass?
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36).
"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44).
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).
Will these events come suddenly?
"For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
Will many people be surprised by these sudden events?
"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37-39).
Jesus said that events leading up to His return would take most people by surprise. They will be like people in Noah's day who continued their daily routines thinking life would go on as usual. But those in Noah's day were dead wrong. They ignored Noah's warnings about the increasingly depraved and degenerate world around them—until it began to rain.
