1. The Wisdom to Discern the Times and the Calling of a Faithful Servant
Matthew 24 is often referred to as the "Little Apocalypse," as it concisely contains Jesus' teachings about the end times. In particular, the final part of Matthew 24 (Matt. 24:44-51) and the subsequent Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 together present an important insight regarding the concept of "time." Throughout church history, these passages have been interpreted as teachings that encompass both historical and personal endings, a perspective also emphasized within the Reformed tradition. By highlighting the meaning and application of "time" as central to these passages, Pastor David Jang underscores that Christians today must correctly understand their own era and circumstances. Furthermore, he proposes that this recognition of "time" should not be limited to awaiting the end of history but should prompt concrete decisions and actions in each person's daily life and ministry, as well as in worldwide events.
All of Matthew 24 contains layered meanings about the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the world, and Christ's Second Coming. Jesus tells His disciples about the day when the Jerusalem temple will be demolished, about signs of the last days, and the chaos and tribulations that will occur in the end times. The disciples ask, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3). Jesus then speaks of various signs, and through the Parable of the Fig Tree (Matt. 24:32), He tells them that upon seeing certain signs, they should know that the "time" is near. This principle applies not only to a single historical event in the past but repeatedly throughout human history. Humanity always needs to analyze and understand its times and make appropriate choices within them.
Pastor David Jang places special emphasis on the "wisdom to discern the times" implied by the Parable of the Fig Tree. He particularly stresses that the church and believers today must not only keep an eye on the grand sweep of history but also develop the discernment to grasp personal seasons and situations. For example, the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 is an event corresponding to a kind of "date" in history. Although it was difficult to predict when it would begin or end, it undoubtedly became a pivotal turning point in human history. Believers should pay attention at such junctures, asking what God may be saying through these events and how they are being prompted to prepare for the future.
Matthew 24:44 states, "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect," awakening a sense of urgency regarding Christ's return. This does not merely refer to the ultimate end of all humanity. Each individual also faces unexpected moments-a "personal end" that can come through illness or accident. Thus, as Romans 13:11 exhorts, "the hour has come for you to wake from sleep," underscoring the necessity of vigilance and preparedness.
The Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant, which begins in Matthew 24:45, calls for a specific attitude in life. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?" (Matt. 24:45) teaches that even in uncertain times, every person must faithfully fulfill the mission entrusted to them. Pastor David Jang explains that the phrase "to give them their food at the proper time" encapsulates the core calling of Christians. Rather than fearing or dreading the end times, the church and believers are to be the ones who provide "food that endures to eternal life" at any given moment. In John 6, Jesus commands people not to work for food that perishes but for food that endures to eternal life (John 6:27). This does not mean ignoring our daily provisions or livelihood; rather, it instructs us to be prepared to impart the ultimate, eternal Word of life.
Within the Reformed tradition, the sovereignty of God over all "times and seasons" is prominently proclaimed. God is the Alpha and Omega of history (Rev. 1:8), sovereign over every era. Scripture repeatedly highlights how God initiates and governs history from creation in Genesis to the apocalyptic visions in Revelation. In the midst of numerous interpretations and debates about the end times, Pastor David Jang, firmly rooted in the Reformed tradition, emphasizes "discernment." He says, "It is natural to wonder where the ship of history is headed, and Scripture provides the answer. Yet rather than getting caught up in human speculation or fear, we need to remain faithful and wise servants."
Throughout Israel's history and the history of the church, the admonition to "know the times and seasons" has been repeated. God always uses particular "times" to warn and also to save. The Great Flood in Noah's day, the miracles heralding the Exodus in Moses' time, and the Babylonian exile during Jeremiah's era-all of these events caused people to ask why such things were happening. Those who remained spiritually alert found "God's will" and acquired the wisdom to prepare amid these events.
Likewise, today's pandemic, economic and political turmoil, and various challenges and changes within the church press the same question upon us: "Do you understand this time? Can you discern its spiritual and historical significance?" Pastor David Jang emphasizes that this is precisely the moment when the church should be most awake. Just as people know summer is near when the fig tree's branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, we should see the events and signs occurring in our world and realize what point in time we are in and what we must prepare for.
The Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant illustrates how we should translate such understanding into action-namely, by providing "food" to those entrusted to us at the proper time. That food has two dimensions. First, the church must offer practical help, such as acts of service and love in the world. Providing bread and water to the poor and marginalized, and caring for those in distress, is the clear command of Jesus. (In the parables that follow in Matthew 25, this is underscored by the statement, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.") The second dimension is the spiritual food of the Word, which leads to eternal life. People in every age yearn for ultimate meaning and eternal life. By sharing the truth of the gospel entrusted to us, the church must feed these souls.
Pastor David Jang presents the instruction "become a servant who gives food at the proper time" as a very practical challenge in faith. He stresses that the church's activity must not be confined to doctrinal teaching or personal spiritual growth alone but must be manifested in tangible influence and service in the world. Each believer, in their own job or position, or in whatever way they can, must help bring about the Kingdom of God. The lesson of the Parable of the Fig Tree does not aim to frighten people with sensational end-time theories, nor does it encourage a complacent acceptance of reality without any preparation. On the contrary, it calls for keen awareness and discernment, prompting us to devote ourselves to demonstrating the values of the gospel in our lives.
In this sense, Pastor David Jang interprets the "Little Apocalypse" of Matthew 24 as declaring "this world's history is ultimately under God's sovereignty, its end is certain, and believers must be prepared and stay awake during the process." He teaches that such vigilance should manifest not in end-time terror but in a sense of responsibility. Jesus gives a stern warning to the unprepared servant: "the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 24:50-51). This passage reveals God's holy righteousness in judging religious hypocrisy and laziness. Thus, believers should not simply wait around doing nothing because the end will come eventually; rather, we must always examine whether we are faithfully and wisely fulfilling our assigned tasks whenever the Master may appear.
Moreover, this passage does not speak merely to individual lives. The entire church community must unite to consider what role it will fulfill in its particular region and era. As Pastor David Jang insists, "Like fish swimming upstream against Niagara Falls, pushing one another forward, the church must come together as one body, serving and encouraging each other to overcome the pivotal moments of history." While the strength of an individual is small, united effort and cooperation can enable us to overcome even a waterfall-like challenge.
For the church to be salt and light in the world, it cannot remain focused solely on individual congregational achievements or growth. Rather, it must combine its resources to communicate love and the gospel more widely and effectively.
Ultimately, Matthew 24 does not simply stir up vague end-time fears; rather, it is full of Jesus' exhortations to "know the time" and "be prepared." The crucial point is "our awakened posture in this era, fulfilling our assigned responsibilities with an eye on eternal life." By repeatedly emphasizing this point, Pastor David Jang insists that, no matter what changes and crises the church faces in the contemporary world, it must provide the right path and never cease to act in love as a community. This is expressed through becoming the "faithful and wise servant" who "gives food at the proper time."
2. The Reformed Church Tradition
Insight into the flow of history and its ultimate end has been a significant theme throughout church history and has been systematically discussed within the Reformed church tradition after the Reformation. Central to Reformed faith is the conviction that God created the world and guides it to its consummation under His sovereign will. Although "times and seasons" belong to God alone and cannot be arbitrarily determined by humans, Scripture does enable us to recognize certain signs and discern them to some extent. This emphasis seeks a biblical, balanced eschatology, avoiding both human speculation and fear-driven sensationalism.
Standing within the Reformed tradition, Pastor David Jang teaches that "God has undoubtedly ordained specific times and seasons, and on the appointed day, God's judgment and salvation will arrive together." For him, eschatology is by no means a fearful, pessimistic outlook or an escape from reality; rather, it is "the advent of a new heaven and a new earth-namely, the complete fulfillment of God's reign." Undoubtedly, for those who do evil, that day will be a day of judgment, but for those who pursue holiness and purity and walk in the Lord's path, it will be a day of complete salvation and joy.
Emphasizing that "the end of history" is not solely about destruction but about "completion," he lays out an extensive role for the church in the world today. Spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth and revealing God's justice and love throughout society demonstrate that the end times are not merely about "resolving" or "demolishing" the world but about "fulfilling" God's ultimate plan.
He particularly notes that in crucial historical periods, "decisive events" occur, and behind each event are the obedience of spiritually awake believers and leaders of that era. For instance, during the persecution of the early church, it seemed that Christianity might be wiped out entirely. Yet through the prayers, faith, and martyrdom of believers, the church became even more firmly rooted and spread widely. The era of the Reformation followed a similar pattern. When the corruption and distortion within the medieval church had reached a peak, epitomized by the sale of indulgences, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and other leaders resurrected the core of salvation doctrine and returned the church to "by faith alone, by grace alone, by Scripture alone."
Within this context, the Reformed church both trusts in God's sovereign work throughout history and also emphasizes human responsibility. "God ordains every time," but how people respond and obey when that time comes is crucial. Pastor David Jang believes this response takes shape in "giving food at the proper time." At significant historical and social crossroads, believers must feed people's spiritual and physical needs through the gospel.
In 2013, while engaging with WEA (World Evangelical Alliance) and various international Christian leaders, he underscored this point: the global evangelical church must unite in addressing "How shall we once again purely proclaim the gospel that is veiled to those who are perishing?" Pastor David Jang maintains that the core motto of the Reformation-Sola Fide (by faith alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), and Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone)-remains vital. No matter how complex modern society's problems become, we must not compromise the purity of the gospel's doctrine of salvation. Moreover, for this pure gospel to be preached worldwide and effectively transform people's lives, the church must come together in unity.
This spirit of unity and service is concretely practiced in the international network of communities led by Pastor David Jang. For instance, in Turkey, Germany, Russia, Japan, and other nations where mission centers have been established, evangelism and discipleship training are priorities, while charitable service is carried out in ways suited to local needs. "Wherever we are, we should arrive there with an awareness of that land's needs and supply people's spiritual and physical needs. That is the attitude of a servant who gives food at the proper time," he teaches.
"How can the global church unite as one body of Christ to serve the world?" This question has long been at the heart of the ecumenical movement, even though various perspectives exist within it. Pastor David Jang's position is that "genuinely evangelical churches continue the spirit of the Reformation, but there is still much we can collaborate on within the Christian realm."
He testifies repeatedly about how critical it is to respond correctly to "God's appointed times." He points to large-scale mission fields, centers, and even properties spanning 3,300 acres, all of which, at the pivotal moment, God provided-something he attributes not to human strength or calculation but to "God's timing." What remains vital, however, is "How will we use this land and these resources now?" Through prayer and night vigils, believers must commit, "Lord, we will use all of this solely according to Your will. We will dedicate this place to the work of the gospel, education, charity, and missions."
Pastor David Jang interprets this as the fulfillment of the blessing promised in Matthew 24:47: "Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions." When churches and believers are faithful and wise even in small matters, God entrusts them with greater ones-which also demand greater responsibility and sacrifice. However, one or two individuals cannot handle these tasks alone. The whole church must unite, encouraging and helping each other, and churches on the international stage must likewise band together to practice the gospel and serve in unity.
Another point Pastor David Jang stresses is the "apocalyptic perspective" of final events. Matthew 24, Revelation, and the Thessalonian letters all mention the disasters, tribulations, and activities of the antichrist in the end times. In Reformed exegesis, instead of constructing a detailed timetable that dictates "when and how" every event will occur, we affirm by faith that "although sin and evil continue to abound in this world, God will ultimately bring about a complete salvation." Similarly, Pastor David Jang urges believers to avoid excessive conspiracy theories or mystical fervor about the end times. Rather, he calls them to "diligently study the Bible, exercise discernment within the faith community, and make real preparations."
The Reformed confessions also include the doctrine of predestination, affirming that all events, times, and seasons unfold under God's sovereign plan rather than by chance. At the same time, we are taught that humans must act responsibly within the circumstances given to them. These two concepts might appear contradictory, yet in reality, the conviction that "God works sovereignly throughout history" and the mandate that "humans must obey in the place they are called" complement each other in Reformed theology.
On this foundation, Pastor David Jang cautions against misunderstanding the Presbyterian confession of faith and the Reformed tradition's teaching on predestination as leading to doctrinal pride or passivity. Predestination removes any basis for human arrogance; no matter how much effort we make, we cannot achieve salvation and the completion of history by our own abilities. At the same time, the fact that God takes full responsibility does not mean people can remain idle. Scripture repeatedly commands us to "pray fervently, stay awake, preach the gospel, and encourage one another to love and good works."
Discernment of the times and obedience to God's will go hand in hand. Pastor David Jang often cites the Flood narrative in Noah's day as an example. The people mocked Noah's ark-building and did not believe in the impending flood. Yet the olive leaf the dove brought back showed Noah how much the waters had receded and when they could leave the ark (Genesis 8). Both entering and exiting the ark at the right time hinged on discerning God's word and signs. At the same time, active obedience and effort were required, as building the ark demanded immense labor and endurance.
In the New Testament, Jesus shared end-time teachings with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, prayed there in Gethsemane, and also ascended from that place (Acts 1:12). The Mount of Olives (Olivet) is where Jesus proclaimed His final teachings and where key events transpired. Thus, when the church continually recalls the "Olivet Discourse," it does so to maintain eschatological vigilance and repentance, while also not forgetting its mission on earth.
Pastor David Jang hopes that the church community he serves will fully embrace the significance of the Olivet Discourse. Accordingly, he encourages believers to pursue both personal spiritual discipline and evangelistic efforts in their respective spheres, as well as to work together in addressing social difficulties-practicing a "faith in action." He warns that the church must not "isolate itself in a private spiritual world." Like the incarnate Christ, it should enter into the world's joys and sorrows, serving in love while never losing eschatological hope.
Throughout this process, Pastor David Jang reiterates the importance of having "the wisdom to know the times." There are times when ministry doors open in certain regions and other times when we must pause and wait. What matters most is praying, discerning, and then boldly responding when the door is open, while patiently enduring and awaiting God's timing when it is closed.
Matthew 24's most significant instruction for today's church is not only "Be prepared for the end times" but also "Be faithful and wise in your ministry here and now." Pastor David Jang uses these two pillars to develop his pastoral and missionary work. One is preserving the purity of salvation doctrine and guiding individual believers on the path of sanctification, while the other is encouraging the church to serve the local community and the world with the power of the gospel, caring for those who are poor and marginalized.
He defines "faithfulness" not as labor for personal satisfaction but as "understanding the Master's heart and joyfully carrying out the mission the Master has entrusted." Likewise, "wisdom" is not crafty worldly intelligence but "the ability to make correct decisions based on God's Word in discerning the times." When these two qualities harmonize, the church and believers remain unshaken in the face of tribulations and continue on the path God has set before them.
Pastor David Jang often remarks, "We cannot know exactly when the end will come, but we do know for certain that it will come one day." This, he emphasizes, is the essential truth behind faith in Jesus' Second Coming and an unchanging conviction of the church. Until that day arrives, our task is to "provide food at the proper time," that is, to share the gospel and love according to each era and situation. Just as fish swim against the powerful currents of Niagara Falls, the church must unite to overcome the barriers and challenges of the world. Throughout this journey, we desperately need the Holy Spirit's help and God's guidance, which we seek through united prayer and dedication.
In order for such determination and action to belong not only to a few dedicated leaders but to the whole church, Pastor David Jang strongly urges believers to unite and participate. This is why the church exists, and it is the way to prepare for the end times. From the Reformed tradition of being an "ekklesia reformata" (a reformed community), the church must continually examine itself, renew itself, and discover God's mission for its time. As testified throughout the history of Reformed churches, when God's people submit to the Lord of history, standing firmly upon "Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone," the church experiences marvelous revival and restoration.
Matthew 24 is an apocalyptic message that looks simultaneously at the end of history and the end of individual lives. In it, Jesus repeatedly urges us to "know the time" and "be prepared." Within the Reformed tradition, Pastor David Jang interprets and applies these teachings not by inciting fear about the end times but by laying stress on practical admonitions-"Be faithful and wise now, in anticipation of that day." And this calling is not accomplished alone but with the collective effort of the church community and the global church. Amid the sweeping waves of a pandemic, economic upheavals, and cultural transformations, just as when branches of the fig tree become tender and its leaves sprout to signal summer's nearness, the church must recognize the signs of these times, stay vigilant in prayer, and share tangible love and the gospel of salvation.
Pastor David Jang's ministry is founded on this theological confession, extending across domestic and international missions and aiming for an evangelical unity. He trusts in the promise of Matthew 24 that "if we become faithful and wise servants, whom the Master has set over His household to give them their food at the proper time, He will entrust us with even greater responsibilities and possessions." He testifies that this promise continues to be fulfilled in the life of the church and throughout history. This reminds us that the church is not a community driven by eschatological fear; rather, it is a community of eschatological hope that serves the world.
Our mission is simple and clear: "Whatever time the Master may come, we must stand before Him without shame, asking the Holy Spirit's help and diligently laboring while loving one another." This is the overarching message Pastor David Jang has stressed in his preaching and ministry. Whether at this point of emerging from a pandemic or when another crisis arises, the church need never drift; it can discern the course of history. Believing in the times and seasons set by God and faithfully fulfilling our assigned tasks until that day comes-this is what it means to be the "faithful and wise servant." And such churches and believers will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," when the Master appears, and enter into everlasting joy.
