10-07-2025 PART 1: Surprise, Separation, and the Savior’s Promise

Section 1

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24:36–39 anchors the message: no one knows the day or hour—“not even the angels… nor the Son… only the Father.” The passage warns against date-setting and reminds believers that God alone holds the timetable. The teaching also carries a pastoral thread: while turmoil and division intensify in the world, God promises His presence and protection for His people—Emmanuel at the beginning of Matthew and “I am with you always” at the end. Those walking through financial, relational, health, or family trials are urged to call on the Lord, who hears and saves. The core takeaway: history isn’t spinning in a vacuum; the Father is sovereign over every nuance.

Section 2

Jesus likens His return to “the days of Noah”: people carried on with ordinary life—banquets, weddings, work—until judgment arrived and “swept them all away.” For the world, His coming will be sudden and shocking; for believers, it should be anticipated readiness. The recent false prediction about a precise return date only underscores Jesus’ warning: speculation fails; vigilance matters. The emphasis isn’t on decoding a calendar but on living watchfully and faithfully, recognizing that when God moves, He does so decisively. The ark scene illustrates the point: once Noah entered the place of safety, events turned swiftly—so too will final events unfold at God’s appointed moment.

Section 3

Jesus’ images of two people side by side—one taken, one left—highlight the unavoidable outcome: a final separation between good and evil. Christians may debate the mechanics (rapture versus removal of the wicked), but the primary message stands: eternal distinction is coming, and alignment with Christ is the only safe harbor. Hell is depicted as unending and dreadful; protest doesn’t rewrite reality. The call, then, is simple and urgent: be ready, be steadfast, and be on the Lord’s side when that great separation occurs. In a world trying to “bandage” what Scripture says will be replaced, hope rests not in patching the old, but in the God who brings a new heavens and new earth—and keeps His people to the end.