Athey Creek | Audio Podcast

Jesus tells us to be ready for His return in Matthew 24:44, and one of the main things we can do to prepare is to understand what is prophetically outlined in the Bible. As we study the End Times, we break down various views, define key concepts and events, examine timetables, and prepare to meet Him at any moment.

As Jesus begins His discourse on the End Times in Matthew 24:1-14, He lists a number of signs to look for that indicate the time is drawing near. So are we seeing these signs today, and if so, how should we respond?

As we prepare to embark on a study of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, it is essential to understand the context of this monologue and the concepts surrounding Bible Prophecy, The Second Coming, and the End Times. We begin in Matthew 24:1-3 by examining the disciples' question to Jesus and investigating key terms, ideas, and events that factor into what Jesus will tell us about the End Times.

Jesus has some harsh, and even shocking, words for the religious leaders in Matthew 23 that seem to be a striking departure from His regular gracious and kind speech. However, through these stern words of truth, He was actually showing great love and His desire to keep them — and us — away from sinful behaviors that ultimately lead to destruction.

While it may initially seem peculiar, Jesus comparing Himself to a mother hen protecting her young paints a beautiful picture of the type of relationship He wishes to have with us. As we learn what it means to be under His wings in Matthew 23:37-38, may we willingly choose to come under this covering and accept His protection, love, and salvation.

After racking their brains for the ultimate trap question, the religious leaders hold one final Q&A with Jesus in Matthew 22. But it does not go how they had planned and they are instead silenced by Jesus’ responses. Meanwhile, through His answers, we gain valuable insight into how God wants us to live, who Jesus really is, and how we can accept His invitation to receive eternal life.

One of the Pharisees thinks he has finally come up with the ultimate question to trap Jesus when he asks which commandment is the most important. As Jesus answers this question in Matthew 22:34-40, we see the importance of love and why choosing to love God is the biggest and best decision we will ever make.

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem in Matthew 20:20-21:46 proves to be quite eventful as He navigates naïve requests from his disciples, performs miracles, fulfills prophecy, overturns temple tables, and even teaches a few object lessons and parables along the way. As we unpack everything that happened on this eventful day, we see how it is all leading up to His death on the cross, resurrection, and, ultimately, our salvation.

While Jesus and His disciples journey to Jerusalem in Matthew 20:17-19, He clearly tells them what will happen to Him in the future. As we listen to Jesus perfectly predict His death and resurrection, we learn why this is so radically important to our faith, undeniably accurate, and how it opens the door to salvation.

Our thoughts and feelings about certain things often differ significantly from what Jesus illustrates. As we watch Him interact with children, a rich young ruler, and share a parable about laborers in Matthew 19:13-20:16, we see how His ways are not our ways, learn His plan for salvation, and explore the paradox that the last shall be first.

A rich young ruler comes to Jesus in Matthew 19:16-23 asking how he may obtain eternal life. As Jesus tells the young man what he must do, we learn who can be saved, what we must do to receive salvation, and how to ensure the condition of our hearts isn’t keeping us away from Jesus.