Audio Download

Matthew 24:36–51 The Coming of the Son of Man

[Study Aired November 10, 2025]

Our study today focuses on the coming of the Lord. In the previous studies on Matthew 24, our focus was on the spiritual application or the inward application of the Lord’s coming. In other words, how the coming of the Lord applies to our lives today.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

In today’s study, we shall look at the outward application of the Lord’s discourse with His disciples about His coming. As we apply the Lord’s words inwardly in our lives, we also have to be watchful of the outward manifestation of His word especially that which pertains to His physical appearing in the fulness of time when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. It is this coming of the Lord that He will reward us, His elect.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

It is important to note that the Lord’s coming coincides with the first resurrection and as indicated, that is the beginning of the reward the Lord has promised us.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Lord’s elect in every age have been looking forward to His physical appearing or coming. It is in this spirit that John admonished us as follows:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

This is what Paul also has to say about this:

Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 

In verse 36, the Lord says He does not know when He will return with His reward, which He referred to as the “summer” in verse 32 in the previous study. If our Lord does not know, then it means that no human being knows the day and hour. This is because whatever the Lord has received from the Father, He makes it known to us.

Joh 17:8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

The days of Noah before the flood was characterized by the unsuspecting nature of the people living in those days of the coming of the flood. This is what is highlighted by verses 37-39. This implies that the coming of the Lord will also surprise the people living here on earth when He comes. However, to the Lord’s elect, the Lord’s coming should not take us unaware because the Lord has painstakingly given us all the clues that we need that will herald His coming, although we will not know the day or the hour.

In verse 38, we are told that before the flood, the people of the earth were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. The activities mentioned here are the mundane activities that we perform on daily basis. This implies that everything will be normal as we go about our daily routines when the Lord comes. When the Lord came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness, we were going about our business as usual and did not expect Him to come to us. In a similar vein, the Lord’s coming will be a surprise to the people of this world. Here in these verses, the Lord is warning His elect, not to be caught off-guard.

Luk 12:39  And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Luk 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.     

In order for us to be watchful, we need to pay close attention to what the Lord has said in His words regarding the days before the flood. This is what happened during the days before the flood:

Gen 6:1  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Gen 6:2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Gen 6:4  There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Gen 6:7  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Gen 6:11  The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Gen 6:12  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Gen 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

From these verses above, we can see that the period before the flood was characterized by the sons of God marrying the daughters of men and producing mighty men or men of renown.  The sons of men were the Lord’s elect and the daughters of men signify the church system of this world or Babylon. In Genesis 6:2, we see that the sons of men were attracted to the daughters of men by their fairness or beauty. Her deception is her attraction or beauty as shown in the following verse:

Pro 31:30  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Pro 7:21  With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

The false doctrines of Babylon are attractive to the flesh but are of no value to a man of the spirit. It is worth noting that this marriage union of the sons of God and daughters of men produces men of renown. In other words, becoming well-known men or women of God is one of the main attractions of Babylon.  As we can see, there are many of the Lord’s elect who have been seduced by the harlot. That is what the Lord told us in Matthew 24:29 that the stars shall fall from heaven. When we see these things, then we must be aware that the Lord’s coming is near.

2Ti 4:3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2Ti 4:4  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

We are also told in Genesis 6:5 that the wickedness of man will be great and that every imagination of the thoughts of people’s heart will be evil. Throughout the history of man, the imagination of people’s heart have been evil. However, it is the visibility of this evil imaginations of people’s heart everywhere which characterized the time of Noah. We do not have to go far to see the wickedness of men being displayed in every country both in governance and by the people in the world today. All of these are pointing to  the time of the Lord’s physical coming where the kingdom’s of this world becomes the kingdom’s of our Lord and of His Christ.

Again, in Genesis 6:11, we are told that the world was filled with violence just before the flood. This is what Paul has to say about this period before the Lord’s coming:

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Mat 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

The two people in the field in verse 40 represent the Lord’s elect and our brothers and sisters belonging to the church system of this world or Babylon. The one who is taken refers to our brothers and sisters in Babylon. The other that is left represents the Lord’s elect who is transformed at the Lord’s coming.

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We know that a woman in the Bible signifies the church. The two women grinding the mill symbolizes the two types of churches – the church system of this world and the church of the Lord’s elect. The church system of this world is the same as Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children and the church of the Lord’s elect signifies Jerusalem which is above and is free.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

The fact that both were grinding at the mill implies that these two types of churches are trying to break down the word of the Lord to feed their children. However, the church system of this world or Babylon who are the many, is not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. It is rather the church of the Lord’s elect, who is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

It is therefore the people of the church system of this world who will be taken away, while the Lord’s elect will be with the Lord as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The Need to Watch for the Lord’s Coming

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 

Every watchman knows what he is watching out for. The Lord’s admonition that we must be watchful of His coming is because He has revealed to us the signs that precedes His coming in glory and therefore, we must not be taken unaware of His coming, although we are not given to know the day and the very hour of His coming. It is significant to note that the Lord describes His coming as a thief in the night. This implies that we may not know the hour that He comes but we must be on guard, watching out for His coming. The verses below describes our role as watchmen as follows:

Eze 33:1  Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 33:2  Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
Eze 33:3  If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Eze 33:4  Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 
Eze 33:5  He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 
Eze 33:6  But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Eze 33:7  So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Eze 33:8  When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Mat 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 

As we can see in these verses, the faithful and wise servants of the Lord are those who will be working in the Lord’s vineyard at the Lord’s coming. It is not about how we begin or what we do half-way, but it is about how we endure to the very end. The very end is the coming of the Lord or the time of our death.  This endurance calls for our steadfastness as we navigates life’s difficulties, while at the same time, keeping our hearts set on the promise of salvation. In other words, spiritual resilience is required to attain the reward at Christ’s coming.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

If we are to endure to the very end, then we must pay heed to the following words of the Lord:

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

These verses in Hebrew 10:24-25 show us that one of the things we have to do to ensure that we endure to the very end is that we do not neglect the assembling of the Lord’s elect. It is through our gathering together that we provoke one another to love and good works. In addition to our gathering together, we must do the following:

Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

From these verses above, we are required to endure great fight of afflictions, if we are to make it to the very end. The Lord’s elect in every generation have endured great afflictions and we must continue to the very end. He who has called us, will strengthen us to endure to the very end.

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 

In Hebrews 10:35, we are also admonished not to let go of our confidence. We must have the confidence that He who has started this good work in us will see to its completion.

Another requirement for us to make it to the very end is to able to exercise patience, as shown in Hebrews 10:36.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If we are to be recipients of the Lord’s reward, then like Paul, we must also forget those things which are behind and strive for the price of the higher calling of God. We need to forget our failures, and even our successes, if we are to be found doing at the Lord’s coming.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Finally, we must pay attention to the reward ahead of us. In Jesus’ life here on earth, His focus was on the reward and therefore He was able to receive it. Moses, a symbol of the Lord’s elect, also paid attention to the reward, just like Jesus did.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 

As stated here in verse 47, we shall be made rulers when the Lord comes to find us still laboring in His vineyard. This rulership will begin when the kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

As indicated in verse 48 and 49, when we lose our patience in this journey of the Lord, we shall surely go back to our vomit, as we become worse off. In this case, the day of the Lord will come at a time we are not suspecting, just like the people of the world when the flood came in Noah’s time.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

May the Lord continue to lead us in this path of righteousness for His name’s sake, until we receive the reward that He has in store for us. Amen!!