LESSON 17 – THE SECRET PRESENCE

THE SECRET PRESENCE

Today’s Scripture is from Matthew 24:23-38:

The first question asked in the New Testament was asked by Wise Men from the East to Jerusalem saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” So, the New Testament opens with a search for Christ, “Where is he?”

Jesus indicates to his disciples on the Mount of Olives that during “the close of the age,” men will still be asking the same question. “Where is the Christ?” Then Jesus says be careful. He says:

“If anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’  do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect [the disciples]. Behold, I have told it to you beforehand. So if they say to you. ‘He is in the desert,’ do not go there; if they say, ‘He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Matthew 24:23-28)

This clearly refers to the time of the Great Tribulation where Jesus described with the words, “if these days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved.” During this terrible time of persecution, Jesus will support and sustain his own by appearing to them often in many different places. Jesus will make appearances to the 144,000 in the worldwide ministry and most likely to that “great multitude” of Gentiles who will come out of the Great Tribulation.

Rumors that Jesus is somewhere around spread like wildfire, and Jesus predicted that this would occur during the forty-day period after the resurrection:

“The Jews were looking for him at the feast and saying. “Where is he?” The Pharisees heard the crowd thus muttering about him, and the chief priest and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Jesus then said, ‘I shall be with you a little longer, and then I go to him who sent me; you will seek me and you will not find me; where I am you cannot come.’ The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, “you will seek me and you will not find me,” and. “where I am you cannot come”?’”

To these Jews, Jesus was a rebel-rousing troublemaker, and they intended to put him to death. Jesus knew this, but he confused them by telling them after they had done their worst, that they would not be able to find him. That could only be true during his forty-day post resurrection ministry.

When the soldiers came from Jesus’ grave and reported that he had risen from the dead, they were bribed to state that his disciples came and stole his body to quiet the rumor. But soon the rumors were causing pandemonium. Mysterious appearings of Jesus to his disciples were reported, but as Jesus predicted, they searched for him, but they could not find him. They could never understand the reason, but it was exactly as he said, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”

It is most likely that the church Christians will join Jesus and his disciples in this ministry behind the scenes during the tribulation. Jesus will come for his church and take the members into a new relationship with him, and he, with them, will remain throughout the “end of the age” period, and will only appear to those whose hearts are ready to believe in him. Once again, the authorities will search for him and not be able to find him. The rumors, however, will be broadly spread, and false prophets will claim they know where he is.

The Lord Jesus provides us with further warnings to prevent us from being fooled by false Christ’s and false prophets when the birth pains of the latter days begin. These fake religious characters will apparently abound in the end times, preaching salvation and working wonders and signs to deceive us. Times of great trouble are also times of great temptations as well, so it is necessary to be on guard, to “keep your eyes open” so they will not be duped. The Lord does everything in the light, yet these things will occur prior to his return. Satan always seeks to deceive and give us the imitation of truth, and he does here with miracles seeking to evoke and attitude of awe from those observing them. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thess 2:2-10)

Jesus also says, “Men [will be] fainting from fear and with anxiety of what is coming in the world.” They will come with a display of wonders, and will mislead many, pushing them ultimately into the hands of the Lawless One.

While the church is yet on earth, it acts as salt, and there are men of true faith found among the prophets of the world everywhere today, but in that day, there will no longer be salt, no longer be room for the gospel of the supernatural. Millions will be convinced that the lie of the Antichrist is the only reasonable basis for life. This is nothing new today. The average man is so impressed today by the wonders of science, that he is ready to believe that anything is possible.

In contrast to the false propaganda of the last days, Jesus unveils the true method of locating him in the day of his presence. In Matthew 24:27-28, He uses a parable from nature and a proverb from life: “For as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man. Wherever the body is, there the vultures will gather.”

 Note carefully what Jesus says. Lightning flashes in the east, but the effect of it is seen all over the sky. When he uses the symbol of lightning, he describes the universal effect of his presence behind the scenes. Like lightning flashes, he will be seen by his own in different places, all at different times, but the effect of those appearances will be felt throughout the earth. In addition, lightning is sovereign, unpredictable and uncontrollable. So will be his presence. He will appear and disappear at will, and he will be there whenever he is needed.

Truth seeks no corners, nothing is hidden, but all is disclosed. Everything is made clear. Christ preached the gospel openly, not secretly, and it couldn’t be stopped then or now. There is freedom in truth. Jesus came and embodied truth, and he is the Great Liberator who sets believers free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus tells us in John:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth of life. No one comes to the Father except though me.” (John 14:6). In Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

One of the best quotes I have read is, “The best protection against Satan’s lies is to know the truth.” Anonymous.

So, men will ask then and now, “Where is Jesus Christ? Where is he?” Even in those terrible days of violence, cruelty and death, he will be busy with his everlasting ministry. To find where he is working, look for the sign of transformed lives.

False faiths forever say, ‘We have a corner on Christ,” but the true faith says he is universally available. He is instantly available to any heart which in humility and contriteness is ready to join with him. It is wonderful to know that we find Jesus Christ, not by searching up and down the earth, but simply by facing of our own need and a response to his invitation to us. How Great Thou Art!

Until next time, may peace, love and joy be with you always.