The Gospel According to Matthew
Copyright© 2006, Darroll Evans

 

Chapter 24

 

Matthew 24:1-2

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

Chapter 24 requires a separate book.  Many have devoted much of their lives to its study.

 

Following His discussion with the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus and His followers left the Temple area.  As they left, Jesus turned and told them to look at the Temple and its adjoining buildings.

 

Jesus said, “Do you see these? Truthfully, I tell you, “There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

 

In 70 AD many of those buildings were torn down.  In 135 AD, following the Shimon Bar Kochba revolt, the rest of the entire city was completely demolished, redesigned along Roman lines, rebuilt, and renamed “Aelia Capitolina.”

 

There is another point that cannot be overemphasized. Matthew 24:1-2 does not belong in chapter 24.  They should have been placed in chapter 23.  The chapter/verse numbering system was not part of the original text.

 

The Mount Olivet discourse takes place at another time, and in another place!

 

The encounter at the Temple ends with Christ telling the Disciples, “Do you see all these things? Truthfully I tell you, not one of these stones shall not be left standing.  All of them shall be thrown down.”  Then, Jesus and the Disciples walked a mile or so (depending on the route they took through the city streets) to the Mount of Olives where the real Mt Olivet discourse takes place.  Considering the time it took to stroll that distance, there may have been an hour’s break in this section of Scripture.

 

Most theologians ignore the break and assume that the discourse is continuous. It is not!  Chapter 24 should have started with what is now verse 3

 

Jesus’ discourse on the Mount of Olives is a precious insight into the end of one age and the beginning of another.  In our studies, we often look at the proximity of the red-letter words and lose the context of those words.  Proximity of words does not indicate context.

 

Let me focus on an often overlooked transition.

 

Matthew 23:29-36 took place within the Temple complex.

 

Jesus may have spoken Matthew 23:37-39 at the edge of the Temple complex.

 

Matthew 24:1-2 was spoken outside the Temple complex.

 

Matthew 24:3 through the completion of the discourse was offered later that day on the Mt of Olives.

 

Matthew 23:29-24:8

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

 

Matthew Chapter 24
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

(At this point Jesus and His Apostles walked about a mile to the Mount of Olives. Please remember that the actual streets upon which Jesus walked no longer exist!  The city was torn down and redesigned by the Roman army in 135 AD.)

 

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

In addition to the picture presented in Matthew, Charles Rollers’ “Seemless Bible” places the story of the widow’s small offering found in Mark 12:41-44, and Luke 21:1-4 into the context of the overall scene of Jesus and the Apostles at the Temple and separated from the following discourse on the Mount of Olives.

 

Considering the fact that the widow’s offering was money and not a tithe, which would have been food, the offering pot or, “treasury,” may have been placed at a point which was easily reached by most Jews as a reminder that the Temple Priests were collecting freewill offerings from those who could afford them and from those who paid no tithe due to their socio-economic standing.  Perhaps, the pot was located at the doorway of the Temple.  Most certainly it was guarded by the Temple guards.

 

The Seemless Bible puts the entire New Testament into a chronological order.  It places Jesus’ comments of John 12: 20-50 within the context of Jesus and the Disciples leaving the Temple.

 

Jesus’ widow’s offering comments could have taken place at the Door of the Temple.  But, Jesus’ other comments could just have well been spoken as they walked from the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives.

 

The Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives are not simply across the street from one another.  They are not immediately adjacent to one another. 

 

To accurately understand the events, we must consider the distance walked to get from point “A” to point “B.”  And we must also consider the street configuration used by Jesus and the Disciples.  It was not a “straight shot” or short walk from the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives. 

 

In case you are wondering, I have been on the Temple Mount and on the Mount of Olives.  I do not consider the distance to be short.

 

Let’s put the text into context.

 

Matthew 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

 

That observation  and comments concerning the widow’s offering.

 

CHAPTER 24
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

***That is the end of the time spent at the Temple Mount. Matthew does not Account for the travel time between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. 

 

At this point we have;

 

Jesus’ comments of John 12: 20-50

 

Their journey to the Mount of Olives.

 

Matthew 24 should begin at verse 3 when the group reached the Mount of Olives.

 

*** What follows took place later at a different location, the Mount of Olives.

 

3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

 

***As you can easily see the time frame was not immediate!  Considering the fact that folks just do not normally walk at an Olympic pace, the elapsed time may have been an hour between when Jesus and the Disciples left the Temple and their arrival at the Mount of Olives.

 

The problem is that the person who added the Chapters and verses to our current Bible in the mid 1500’s had no concept of the distances or topography involved, and consequently did not take that into account when numbering the chapters and verses. Verses 1 and 2 of the current Bible should have been placed in chapter 23 instead of 24.  That would have pointed to the time element, which is ignored in the current placement.

 

That brings us to another misunderstanding.  Preterists believe that the Jesus’ comments during the Mount of Olives discourse are directly connected to and dependent upon the timing of destruction of the Temple. Consequently, they focus on the word “Immediately” (Matthew 24:29) as a reference to the destruction of the Temple being the tribulation Jesus is speaking about.  In that, they teach that the tribulation has taken place, and Jesus’ return has already taken place, because it must immediately happen after a first century tribulation.

 

They teach that all shall “see” Him is not an event in which all “see.”  To be honest, I have great problems with that teaching.

 

The destruction of the Temple was accompanied by a tribulation, but not a tribulation in the magnitude of that described by Jesus in the Olivet discourse.

 

Two verses from Matthew 24 completely disqualifies the 70 AD Temple tribulation as the great tribulation of Matthew 24.

 

Matt 24:21-22

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

 

Those verses are the disqualifier!

 

No tribulation from that point to the present qualifies as being so devastating that it would result in world-wide annihilation.  From that single point, we know that the Mega-tribulation (Gr. thlpsis megalee-qlyiV megalh) of Matthew 24:21 has not occurred.

 

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

 

As Christ Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him asking, “Tell us, when shall these things happen? And, what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age (Gr. aioonos-aiwnoV)?”

 

We are still asking those questions.

 

They were not asking about the end of the physical world as some might have you believe.  They were asking about the end of that age.

 

They knew that a messianic age was coming, and they wanted to know when it would get here. They lived at the end of what we call the age of the Law.  We are now in what we call the Church age. At that time, the twelve had no knowledge concerning the Church age.

 

Matthew 24:4-5

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 

Jesus warned them, “Take heed! Do not be deceived. Many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 

For centuries many have come proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, and they have deceived many into following them, not Christ.

 

It seems to be some sort of depraved satanic sport to trap people into declaring their respect for Christ Jesus, but denying what He said. One of the major groups that does just that is Islam.  Another is the Roman Catholic church.  Muslims deny the resurrection.  Catholics deny the words of Christ about being the only Way.  They have proclaimed Mary to be a co-redeemer and co-mediator.  Such theology is hypocritical, just as hypocritical as the scribes and Pharisees were in our study of chapter 23.

 

Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

 

Jesus said, “You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled by those rumors.  All those terrible things must happen, but the end is not yet.”

 

We have had wars and rumors of wars since civilization began.  But, the end has not come.

 

God’s plan is God’s plan.  It must come to pass.

 

Matthew 24:7 For nation (Gr. ethnos-eqnoV) shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

 

This verse has been little understood, because of the translation. Read this carefully. Notice, I placed the Greek word into the text.

 

Jesus continued, “For ethnic group shall rise against ethnic group, and kingdom against kingdom.  There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.” That is the standard translation.

 

However, according to Gray Stearman of Prophecy in the News “divers places” (Gr. kata topuoV) indicates clusters of earthquakes.

 

My further studies indicate that the catastrophes happen frequently in specific places.  They are not random.

 

Have you looked around lately?

 

From America to Africa, ethnic groups are at war.  Nations are in conflict with other nations. There are famines caused by insects.  There are earthquakes, and tsunamis.  From earth’s tectonic plates to nations, businesses, and individuals, we are surrounded by conflicts.  And yet, we are still here, because they are only the “beginning of sorrows!

 

Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

Then Christ said something that was astounding. He said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows (Gr.oodinoon-wdinwn).”

 

“All these are just the beginning of birth pains.”

 

Ask a mother about the birth of her first child.  Ask her about the pain.  Normally, we in the western world use pain killers at the time of birth.  That is not done in much of the world.  The pain of child birth is unforgettable.

 

As the birth of a child approaches, the pains become more frequent and more intense.  So the last of the last days, prophetic events shall become more frequent and much more intense.

 

Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations (Gr. ethnoon-eqnwn) for my name's sake.

 

Jesus warned, “Then, they shall take you to be tortured, and they shall kill you.  For my name's sake, you shall be the most hated ethnic group.

 

Again, I added the Greek word to the Bible text.  It speaks of ethnic groups.

 

Here is something that many Christians do not understand.  Christians are a separate ethnic group.  By birth, I am an American (Welsh/Cherokee). But, by rebirth, I am a Christian!

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

Those that walk by sight and not by faith will not understand that.

 

Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

 

Jesus told His Apostles that many (pretenders) shall be offended (Gr. skanalistheesintai-skanalisqhsintai), or tempted to sin.  The false Christians, pretenders, shall betray one another, and shall hate (Gr. miseesousin-mishsousin), detest one another.

 

Christians are called to love all people but especially fellow Christians.

 

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

Many Christians focus on love for humanity, and that is wonderful, but love for other disciples is the standard.

 

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

 

Christ further said that many false prophets shall rise (Gr. egertheesontai-egerqhsontai), or rise from obscurity, and shall deceive (Gr. planeesousin-planhsousin) many, or cause them to wander from godly virtue.

 

But, as we shall see, those who are in Christ are safe.

 

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 

He continued, “Because iniquity (Gr. anomian-anomian), an ignorance or twisting of the law, shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

 

Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, the Apostle of grace understood the place of the Law!

 

Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

 

The Law is not evil, but our abuse of it is! Christians are not a lawless people!  We establish the Law!

 

Unfortunately many who are legends in their own minds have twisted the Law of God within the Church just as the Jews of old did in ancient days.

 

Many teach a Lawless Christianity.

 

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

 

Anti-Christ is the lawless one!

 

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked (Gr. anomos-anomoV/lawless one) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 

Most Christians do not understand the role of the Law within Christianity.

 

Exodus 20:2-3

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 

That is the first commandment. 

 

Has it been dissolved?

 

Absolutely not! In fact, all Ten are still in force!

 

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

 

The Christ said, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

 

Endurance is not a struggle.  It is the rest that results from faith!

 

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

 

Christ ends this section by telling us, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world as a witness to all nations (Gr. ethnesin-eqnesin), all Gentiles, all unbelievers and then shall the end come.”

 

“The nations” represents a Hebrew colloquialism that indicates the non-Jewish population, Gentiles.

 

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all gentiles; and then shall the end come.

 

The end of the age could not come until the gospel had been preached to all Gentiles.

 

That presents a theological problem.  If the gospel had to be preached to all Gentiles before the end of the age, what age was Jesus speaking about?

 

Jesus did not come to preach to Gentiles.

 

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

At that time, He did not allow his Apostles to preach to non-Jews.

 

Matthew 10:5-6

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

If that is true, Jesus must have been speaking prophetically about an age to come in Matthew 24:14, and not the age in which He lived on earth. 

 

Christ lived at the end of the Old Testament age. 

 

Although the four gospels were written during the New Testament age, they are about the end of the Old Testament age. He must have been speaking prophetically about an age to come, the age in which we now live.

 

Matthew 24:15-18
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

 

Now, Jesus goes into a deeper discourse. 

 

He said, “When you see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place, which was spoken of by Daniel, Those in Judea should flee into the mountains.

 

Many teachers ignore the words of Christ and insert their own words into verse 15.

 

Verse 15 says, “When you therefore shall see…”

 

That simple phrase tells us that the abomination of desolation had not happened when Christ spoke those words.

 

If it had not happened, it must be a future event and could not be the time when Antiochus IV Epiphanes offered a pig on the holy Alter in the Temple at Jerusalem.

 

Since that action was past tense at the time Jesus warned the Apostles of the abomination, it could not be the abomination!

 

The abomination of desolation has not taken place to this day and is still a future event!

 

When it happens, haste will be the wise action! 

 

“One on a housetop should not come down to take anything out of his house.

 

“Neither should anyone out in a field go back home to get his clothes.”

 

That prophecy was partially (but not totally) fulfilled in 66 AD when the Roman army surrounded Jerusalem. Jewish Christians left and Orthodox Jews stayed and died.  The city was taken in 70 AD, the temple was demolished, and the priests and many other Levites were put to death.

 

Jesus’ message was obvious to all Messianic Jews of that day.  The Preterist view is that that portion of the prophecy will not come to fruition again.  The Futurist view is that it will.

 

How would the abomination of desolation take place again?

 

Many suppose that a third Temple will be built in Jerusalem.  Unbeknownst to most, a third Temple is now being built!

 

Millions of Christians are looking forward with great anticipation to the building of the third Temple in Jerusalem. 

 

Will their anticipation come to fruition?

 

Or, it is based in a faulty reading of the Bible?

 

The first Temple was built by Solomon after the death of King David.

 

The second temple was built by Herod the great to impress the Romans.

 

The Bible is explicit.  Christ shall return, but not to a rebuilt Temple.

 

Millions of Christians have been duped into looking to a time when Jews will once again slaughter sheep and cattle as sacrifices to God.

 

Is that biblical?

 

Not quite!

 

Our only valid sacrifice is/was Christ Jesus!

 

Some of those who claim to be Christians are now being inducted into pagan Judaism.

 

Speaking of Christ Jesus, the writer of Hebrews told us that He was offered as a final sacrifice, “once for all” (Heb. 10:10).

 

Once for ALL (Gr. ephapax-efapax).

 

Once for all sin!

 

Once for all people!

 

Once for all time!

 

And yet, millions of church members look forward to a restoration of sacrificial worship at a temple in Jerusalem.

 

If Jerusalem still existed that may be possible, but the fact is that in 135 AD the entire city was completely torn down (except for the one retaining wall), and in its place a Rome designed city (Elia Capitolina) was constructed. For 200 years no orthodox Jews were allowed within that city!

 

No Temple may be rebuilt in the ancient city of Jerusalem, because the ancient city no longer exists. As Christians, we are called to look forward to the New Jerusalem.

 

We are also called to look for the Tabernacle of David, not the Temple of Solomon.

 

Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

 

Why the Tabernacle of David?

 

If you study the Bible, you will find that the Tabernacle of David was a place of praise, total and absolute praise.

 

Judah represented the praisers among the Israelites.  The area given to Judah as their inheritance in the Promised Land was large that two tribes actually lived there. 

 

Josh 19:9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

 

Now, let me get to the point.  The third Temple is now in the process of being built!  The foundation as been laid and the walls are going up.

 

1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

Christians are the building blocks of the new Temple of God!

 

Eph 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

If you are a Christian, and you have been told to look for the third Temple, simply look in the mirror.  You are part of the third and final Temple of God.

 

1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

 

1 Cor 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

Some of you may be thinking that I am relying on too much symbolism, but consider it.  We are told that we must be “born again” (John 3:7). 

 

Is that any more or less unbelievable than being a building block in the temple of God?

 

So, how would the abomination of desolation take place again?

 

When a lawless one comes on the scene claiming to be the Messiah and leader of the Church and many Pretenders within the churches shall accept his leadership in their hearts…that will be a desolation of abomination. 

 

But, has that happened?

 

To an extent that has already happened.  The Pope falsely claims to be God’s representative on earth.  The Roman Church claims to have replaced the true Sabbath with Sunday.  It denies Christ by placing Mary as a co-redeemer.  It denies Christ’s words by calling its priests “father.”  It denies Christ’s call by claiming that the head of their “church” is Peter, the Apostle to the uncircumcision. The history of the Roman Catholic church is replete with the barbaric murder of these who trusted Christ.  That is abomination!

 

Matthew 24:19-20

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

 

Christ continued, “Woe to them that are pregnant, and to those that nursing children in those days! But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day.”

 

In 66 AD the Messianic Jews left Jerusalem.  They had heard the words of Christ.

 

The remaining Jews that did not leave Jerusalem were staved during the years between 66 and 70 AD.  Cannibalism took hold of the city. 

 

When the Romans took the city, they demolished the temple and the surrounding buildings.  That is fact!

 

Another fact is that in 135 AD following the Shimon Bar Kochba revolt, and after Rabbi Akiva was skinned alive in public, the Romans completely and utterly demolished the entire city.  The city was redesigned to appear as a Roman city and renamed Aelia Capitolina in honor Emperor Hadrian’s family.

 

All Orthodox Jews, except for Messianic Jews were expelled for the city of Aelia Capitolina.  Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians were allowed to live on Mt Zion, but no other Jews could entire the city for 200 years. Orthodox Jews could not live within a space of approximately 10 miles around the city.

 

On one day a year, Orthodox Jews were allowed to go to the Mount of Olives and look upon the site where the temple once stood mourn.  Later, they were allowed to entire the city on the 9th of Av and mourn at a Temple Mount retaining wall. The Wailing Wall is the only part of the Original temple Mount still existing.  That part of history has been deleted from Christian teaching.

 

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

Most teachers refer to the “great tribulation.”  However the Greek text speaks of a “mega-tribulation (Gr. thlipsis megalee-qliyiV megalh).” 

 

Since creation, no time of distress has ever been like the “mega-tribulation.”  Noah’s flood may be the only period comparable to the “mega-tribulation.”

 

This brings us to a subject that is difficult at best.  The subject is the rapture and tribulation.

 

Tribulation speaks of super-great pressure.

 

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

 

Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

 

Some say that the Jacob’s trouble, the tribulation period has begun.  Others say it is yet for another future time. 

 

When the frog is sitting in hot water, it does not realize what is happening.  If he did, he would attempt to jump out of the pot.

 

1Thess 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.

 

The tribulation is explicit. The gathering of the saints is explicit.  However, the timing of that gathering is NOT explicit.  Therefore, we have a multitude of theories concerning the gathering (the rapture).

 

Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

 

Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

 

It is obvious that there will be two resurrections.  But those of the Amillennial-Postmillennial persuasion may not see that.  They live in a state of denial.

 

It is from that group, the Amillennial-Postmillennial that we find “Reconstructionists.”  Reconstructionists teach that Christ may come back, BUT He will not return today and it’s entirely your fault.  They deny the definition of the word “saint.”

 

Saint (Gr. hagios-agioV) indicates a person who is pure, holy, and blameless before God!  It does not take into account their personal emotions.  It is based entirely of God’s provision in Christ Jesus!

 

Reconstructionists do not recognize the fact of sainthood for all true believers…except their personal sainthood.  They are spiritual (lower case s) elitists.  The old “my four and no more” view.  They may use it jokingly, but in reality they are very serious. 

 

Reconstructionists also do not accept the fact of two resurrections.  Many years ago I did a Bible study with a Reconstructionist.  He could not adequately or biblically explain his false teaching, but he was adamant.

 

Premillennialism is the only teaching in that area that makes biblical sense!

 

There is a debate as to whether it is pre-mid-or post tribulation, and they are all logical points of view, and while there are many hints, there is no definitive and final biblical statement to support any of them.

 

The one thing that concerns me is:

 

II Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

Could it be that the “falling away” will come as a result of a premillennial belief that does not manifest and the Church goes through tribulation?  Many Premillennialists may not be prepared mentally if they are required to go through the tribulation.

 

I am not saying that Christ will forsake them, but I am saying that their faith and understanding may be tested to the limits of their endurance.

 

In chapter 7 of Revelation, we see a great multitude.  Their description is awesome.   They are described as having come “out of (through) great tribulation” (Gr. ek tees thlipseoos tees megalees- ek thV qleyeshoV thV megalhV).  They have their “robes” washed white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 2:14).

 

However, in this next verse in Matthew we find that the days are “shortened.”  That hints of a mid-trib. gathering.  The pre-trib gathering is one that has the least biblical evidence.

 

Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

 

The “mega-tribulation” is so great that if it were not shortened no living thing will be left alive.  Again, think about that!

 

However, for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened, cut short, or curtailed. 

 

Entire books could be, and have been written about the great tribulation. Since we have been given very few details about this period, most of those books should be part of the fiction section of your local book stores.  There are some who believe the great tribulation to be physical, and others who believe it to be symbolic.

 

Matthew 24:23-24

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

 

Christ continued, “If anybody tells you, the Christ is here or there, don’t believe. False Messiahs and false Prophets shall appear.  They shall show (Gr. doosousi-dwsousi) false signs and wonders.  Those signs and wonders will be so great that if possible (Gr. ei dunaton-ei dunaton), if they had the power, they shall deceive the very elect.”

 

Jesus point was that when He returns, the entire world will know it!

 

This part of Matthew points to a time of great deception. From the first, Satan has been a great deceiver.

 

Secondly, it tells us that there will be a time of lies, false signs and false wonders on earth as part of the mega-tribulation.  We have that today.

 

Our safety is involved in the phrase, “if possible.”  It will be impossible to deceive the elect!

 

Matthew 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

 

In effect, Jesus told the Apostles, “You have been forewarned!”

 

Matthew 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

 

Jesus reiterates, “If they tell you, ‘He (the Messiah) is in the desert’…don’t go, or ‘He is in a secret place’…don’t believe it.”

 

Rumors shall abound!

 

Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

Here, Jesus told His followers that his coming would be very public.  It will be a spectacular event.

 

Revelation 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.

 

Some refer to:

 

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

 

That verse may seem to contradict Matthew 24:27, but actually it is speaking of another event. 

 

The coming of the Kingdom to us is done on an individual basis when the Holy Spirit comes to reside within us.  That does not cause any outward or physical change in our physical being. The return of Christ is another matter.

 

Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 

The very public coming of Christ will result in the “redemption of the Purchased possession.”

 

Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

 

Here, Jesus tells us some things that are overlooked by many and ignored by most. He said, “For where ever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”

 

What in the world does that mean?

 

Eagles are part of the vulture family.  However, they look for living prey.

 

Most humans are dead in trespasses and sins. Satan’s demons, the spiritual vultures, shall gather to claim those not part of the living, those who have life in Christ Jesus.

 

V. 28 is an aside.

 

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

 

Jesus then warned that immediately (Gr. eutheoos-euqewV) following the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give light, the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

 

That happens “immediately” after the tribulation.

 

What tribulation?

 

The mega-tribulation of Matthew 24:21.

 

The mega-tribulation may be as much spiritual as it is physical. 

 

Most shall be deceived; however the Saints cannot be deceived into following the false messiahs of the time.

 

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

 

That phrase, “if it were possible” indicates that it is not possible! It is not possible, because the Holy Spirit leads all true followers, sheep of Christ, sons of God (Romans 8:14)!

 

Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

Those who “came out of great tribulation” are not tribulation Saints that were saved during a time when the Holy Spirit is supposedly absent from the earth.

 

To come “out of” something, we first must have been “in” something!

 

None may be saved except by the leading of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). 

 

They are Saints that have gone through mega-tribulation for the sake of Christ according to the plan of God.

 

Many have read one verse with a false understanding.

 

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from (Gr. ek-ek) the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

 

Many pre-tribulation rapture teachers point out that the Greek word “ek” means “out of,” and it does.  It denotes a point of origin, and is also translated “from” indicating that while the earth may be experiencing mega-tribulation, the Saints will be safe “from” it. 

 

Noah and his family are classic biblical examples of people who lived at a time of great tribulation, but did not suffer the same fate as others, and they were not taken off the earth.  Floating in a boat is floating in a boat. It is not a “rapture,” and only the spiritually ignorant teach that it is! Noah and his family went THROUGH the flood in a boat, an ark of safety!

 

Christ prayed against escapism!

 

John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

 

Paul thought escapism was foolish.

 

1 Cor 5:9-10
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

 

Christianity is not escapism.

 

Matthew 24:30-31

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

And then, after all that, the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven!  And, all the tribes of the earth mourn. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The Messiah shall send His angels forth with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from around the earth and from one end of heaven to the other.

 

The sign of the Son of Man shall appear!  And all the earth shall mourn.  All shall mourn, because all shall see.

 

Why should Christians mourn at the appearing of that sign?

 

It is my opinion that at that point we shall realize that no matter what we did to bring the gospel to the world, we could have done more.

 

All shall not only see His sign, all shall see Him!  All the earth shall see Christ!

 

Stop trying to make it possible through modern technology.  God is God!  He did not create the earth using modern technology, and He does not need it now!

 

In reference to the elect, God’s elect are not those that choose to be elect.  They are those that have been chosen, called, and anointed to be elect.

 

Matthew 24:32-33

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

 

Jesus now seems to change the subject, but He just elaborates on the outcome of His victory over sin, death, and the grace.

 

He said, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When His branch is yet tender, and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So, likewise, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door.”

 

The fig tree is a symbol of Israel, and the rest of God’s people.  We, Gentiles, were grafted into the vine or tree.  A fig tree is actually a vine-like plant.

 

That is not replacement theology.  It is biblical truth.  Christians have not replaced anybody. We have been added to God’s people.

 

Know {v. 33} (Gr ginooskete-ginwskete) is imperative!  It is imperative that Christians understand the seasons of God.

 

Christ was made unto us “wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:30), not ignorance.

 

Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

 

This verse is very difficult, because it seems to be a limiting sign.

 

Christ said, “Truthfully, I say, this generation shall not pass, till all these things are fulfilled.”

 

There has been much debate about what constitutes “this generation.”

 

Does it indicate the group around Jesus at the time He was speaking?  Or, does it point toward a generation that would see the fruition of Jesus’ prophecy?

 

The generation that Jesus spoke to included those in the 20-30 age group.  Most of those listening to Christ did die prior to 70 AD.  John was the only Apostle known to have lived past 68 AD.  So, he must have meant a later generation.

 

Some say that He meant that only Jews would be subject to the mega-tribulation and see all things fulfilled.  The Temple tribulation of 70 AD did not physically affect all Jews.  It had no physical affect on many Jews who resided outside of Judea at that time.

 

Considering the details of the subject it cannot be speaking of two separate generations.

 

We are told to learn a parable and then Jesus mentions “this generation.”  That “generation” is, in context, associated with the parable of the fig tree.

 

The generation that sees the leaves of the fig tree come forth will not pass until the parable is complete.

 

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  The words of Christ cannot be broken or annulled.

 

Matthew 24:36-39

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

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

Books have been written concerning the timing of the return of Christ, and none as been proven correct. Only the Father knows the time of Jesus’ return.

 

Jesus told His Disciples, “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah and his family entered the ark.  They did not understand what was happening until the flood came, and took them all away. The coming of the Son of man be like that.

 

Jesus was speaking about those that do not know Him.  They shall not be aware of what is happening.  But that will not happen to us.

 

1Thessalonians 5:1-4
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

 

Re-read 1 Thessalonians 5:4 and take comfort in those words.

 

Matthew 24:40-41

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 

Much has been made of the language here.  In Bible days, and people worked in the fields, and many worked to grind food.  That is no longer true for the American/European public.

 

Many who now work in the field preaching what they suppose to be the gospel are not preaching THE gospel.  They are preaching A false gospel.

 

Many who grind out the food for “Sunday School” classes are not presenting the true gospel of grace, but instead are presenting a gospel of works.

 

This represents a separation within what is assumed to be the Church.

 

Notice that both are working. At the time of the gathering to Christ, many pretenders will be left and the true followers will be taken (Gr. paralambanetai-paralambanetai), or received near to Christ.

 

Matthew 24:42-43

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

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.

 

We are to watch, be ever vigilant. Because, we do not know when the Lord shall appear.

 

Jesus explained,  If the ‘goodman of the house’ (Gr. oikodespotees-oikodestothV) had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.”

 

“The good man of the house” refers to the head of the household.  It is the business of the fathers to make sure that their families are prepared for the coming of the Lord.

 

II Th 3:7-10
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

 

That is not a physical admonishment.  It is spiritual!

  

Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

Be a “Boy Scout!”  Be prepared!

 

Matthew 24:45-47

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?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

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

 

Then Jesus asked a question, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?”

 

That is not rhetorical.

 

Christ explained, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Truthfully, I tell you, that He shall make him ruler over all his goods.”

 

God gives power to those He chooses to give power.

 

Matthew 24:48-51

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

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,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

However---if that disobedient servant thinks that his Lord (Gr. Kurios-KurioV/owner) and Master is delayed in His coming and thinks that he shall take advantage of his fellow servants, the Lord shall come at a time when the disobedient servant is not prepared.

 

The Lord shall extremely punish the disobedient servant, even to the point of treating him as a spiritual hypocrite. 

 

Notice that these are “servants” of the Master, but they are disobedient!  Where do you stand? Are you obedient or disobedient?  Both servants work, but the obedient works for the Master, and the disobedient works for personal gain.

 

Spiritual motive is everything!

 

Chapter 25
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