Matthew 24 AND 25

[BanjoPicker]

The following of Matt. 24-25 will throw much light upon the course of the age of Grace, the second advent of Christ correct many errors concerning the rapture of the church and help furnish a better understanding of the end of the age and the fulfillment of Rev. 6-19 during the Seventieth Week of Daniel. These chapters are among the most, simple to understand, and yet they are two of the most misunderstood passages of any in the Bible. They picture a series of events that are consecutive in order as they are given. The occasion of this discourse was when the disciples showed Christ the beautiful stones of the temple of Herod. Jesus then said, "There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down." This brought forth three questions from the disciples as follows:

I. "Tell us when shall these things be"?

This question Matt. 24:3 refers to the above statement of Jesus concerning the destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled 70 A. D. by the Romans Dan. 9:26; Lk. 21:20-24. The Jews had a right to be proud of the temple which was made of snowy marble and gold glittering in the sunlight against the half-encircling green background of Mount Olivet. In all his wanderings the Jews had not seen a city like his own Jerusalem. Neither Antioch in Asia nor even Rome herself excelled it in architectural splendor. Nor has there been either in ancient or modern times a sacred building equal to the temple, whether for situation or magnificence. It occupied area of about nineteen acres. It was one of the wonders of the world. Josephus says that there were stones in the temple about 25 cubits (about 52 ft.) in length, 8 cubits (about 16ft.) in height, and about 12 cubits (about 25ft.) in breadth.
The disciples called Christ's attention to the nine gates overlaid with gold and silver, and the one gate of solid Corinthian brass the towering porches and alternate blocks of red and white marble, and vast clusters of golden grapes, each cluster being as large as a man and which hung over the golden doors.
Jesus said that not one stone upon another would be left in the future destruction. At the time of this prophecy no event was more improbable. The world was at peace. The Jewish nation was subject to the Romans and under its protection. Yet within forty years the prophecy was fulfilled to the letter. After a three year's siege by Vespasian and his son Titus, Jerusalem was taken and the temple destroyed in August, 70 A. D.

 

[BanjoPicker]

II. "What shall be the sign of thy coming"?

This question (Matt. 24:3) does not concern the rapture of the church to meet Christ in the air (1 Thess. 4:13-17). but the second coming of Christ to the Earth with the saints after the rapture to set up a kingdom in the world. The disciples knew nothing of the rapture of the church at that time, but they had often heard of the literal advent of Christ to the Earth (Matt. 18:1; 19:29.

 

[BanjoPicker]

THE SIGNS OF THE SECOND ADVENT ARE

(A). False messiahs before the middle of the Seventieth Week of Daniel or setting up of the abomination of desolation Matt. 24:4, 15; Mk. 13:5, 6; Lk. 21:8.
(B). Wars and rumors of wars Matt. 24:6; Mk. 13:7; Lk. 21:9.
(C). Nations against nations Matt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Lk. 21:10; Rev. 6:1-4.
(D). Famines Matt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Lk. 21:11; Rev. 6:5, 6.
(E). Pestilences Matt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Lk. 21:11; Rev. 6:7, 8.
(F). Earthquakes Matt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Lk. 21:11; Rev. 6:12-17; 11:13; 16:17-21.
(G). Persecution of the Jews by all nations Matt. 24:9; Mk. 13:9-11; Lk. 21:12; Joel 3; Zech. 14; Rev. 12:13-17.
(H). Many offences and betrayals Matt. 24:10; Mk. 13:12, 13; Lk. 12:16; 2 Tim. 3.
(I). False prophets before the middle of the Seventieth Week Matt. 24:11, 15; 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4.
(J). Iniquity abounding Matt. 24:12; 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4; Rev. 9:20, 21; 13:1-8; 16:2, 9, 11; 18:2.
(K). Love waxing cold Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3; Rev. 6:9-11; 7:14.
(L). The gospel of the kingdom preached into all the world as a witness unto all nations, not to each person of all nations Matt. 24:13, 14.
(M). The abomination of desolation set up (Mt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27; 12:7-11; Rev. 13:14-18; 2 Thess. 2:1, 4).
(N). Flight of Israel into the wilderness (Mt. 24:16-20; Mk. 13:14-18; Isa. 16:1-5; 26:20, 21; 63:1-5; Ezek. 20:33-44; Dan. 11:35-45; Hosea 2:14-23; Ps. 60:6-12; Rev. 12:6-17).
(O). The great tribulation days (Mt. 24:21, 22, 29-31; Mk. 13:19, 20; Dan. 12:1; Rev. 12:13-17; 13:1-18; 16:1-19:21).
(P). False messiahs after the middle of the Seventieth Week. (Mt. 24:23-26; Mk. 13:21, 22; 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4; 2 Thess. 2; Rev. 13:1-10).
(Q). False prophets after the middle of the Seventieth Week (Mt. 24:23-26; Mk. 13:22; 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4; Rev. 13:11-18).
(R). Conditions as in the days of Noah and Lot repeated (Mt. 24:37-39; Lk. 17:22-37; 2 Tim. 3; 2 Pet. 3; Rev. 9:20, 21).
(S). Fearful sights and distress on Earth (Mt. 24:4-31; Lk. 12:11, 25-28; Acts 2:16-21; 2 Tim. 3; Rev. 6:1-19:21).
(T). Great signs in the heavens and on earth (Mt. 24:4-31; Lk. 12:11, 25-28; Acts 2:16-21; Rev. 6:12-17; 8:7-9:21; 11:1-13; 12:13-17; 13:1-18; 14:1-11; 16:1-21; 18:1-24).

 

[BanjoPicker]

All these signs as well as many others must take place before the second coming of Christ to the Earth which the disciples had in mind. This proves the coming that the disciples asked about was not the rapture of the church but the second advent. Therefore, one must understand Matt. 24-25 in view of the literal coming of Christ to the Earth and not in connection with the rapture of the church.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The first twelve signs will be fulfilled down to the middle of the Seventieth Week when the abomination of desolation is set up as in Mt. 24:15. The first six signs were given and then Jesus said, "All these (signs) are the beginning of sorrows," The word "sorrows" means "birth pangs" (Greek, hodin), as used in 1 Thess. 5:3; Gal. 4:19, 27; Rev. 12:2, and refers to the agonies of Israel under the future ten kings of Revised Rome and under the Wh-ore in the first three and one-half years of the Seventieth Week. These " birth pangs" will continue throughout the rest of the Week until the whole nation is delivered by Christ as His coming Zech. 12:10; 14:1-21; Mt. 23:37-39; 24:29-31; Rev. 19:11-21. Israel's travail will begin before the Seventieth Week, for Antichrist will make a covenant with her to protect her for seven years, or the whole of the Seventieth Week Dan. 9:27.

 

[BanjoPicker]

THREE IMPOTANT QUESTIONS ANSWERED

(1). How do we know that Israel is the one primarily dealt with in Matt. 24-25 instead of the church?

(1). Jesus is speaking to the Jews and is answering a Jewish question, for it concerns their Messiah and His coming to deliver them from the oppression of the Gentiles (Mt. 24:34; Lk. 12:32; 22:29; Acts 1:6; Joel 3; Zech. 14).

(2). The deceptions by false messiahs primarily concern Israel (Mt. 24:5, 23-26; 1 Jn. 2:18).

(3). The seventh sign above concerning the persecution of the Jews by the Gentiles prove Mt. 24-25 concerns Israel. This sign is connected to the time of the "birth pangs" of Israel by the connecting word "then" thus showing the time of its fulfillment to be the same as the time of sorrows.

(4). The seventh to the twelfth above are connected to the "birth pangs" by connecting words, thus showing that all the first twelve signs will be fulfilled between the times of these sorrows and the end of the Week. The first six signs make the beginning of sorrows so the whole twelve concern Israel in her travail-time at the end of the age during the Week.

 

[BanjoPicker]

(5). The time of the fulfillment of all these signs is during the last generation at the end of the age, for those who undergo these sufferings are blessed only upon condition that they endure unto the end of the age (Mt. 24:13, 14). How could some endure to the end of the age if they were not living at that time? Who besides the Jews will undergo any such sufferings at the end of the age? The tribulation saints could not be referred to , for they are not in Judea to flee as are these people who are afflicted with these sufferings (Mt. 24:15, 16).

(6). "The gospel of the kingdom" is purely Jewish and is the good news that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and that David's kingdom will soon be re-established because the return of the King of the Jews is near. This fact will be preached in a special way during the tribulation "as a witness unto all nations," and then shall the end come (Mt. 24:13, 14).

 

[BanjoPicker]

(7). The abomination of desolation concerns only Israel (Mt. 24:15; Dan. 9:24-27; 12:7-13; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4; Rev. 11:1, 2).

(8). The fleeing of the Jews from Judea at the time of the setting up of the abomination of desolation in the middle of the Week proves that Israel is being dealt with in (Mt. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:13-17).

(9). The "sabbath day" which would limit the flight of orthodox Jews from the Antichrist to the distance of a mile, proves a Jewish connection (Mt. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:13-17).

(10). The great tribulation, from the setting up of the abomination primarily concerns Israel (Mt. 24:15-22; Dan. 9:27; Jer. 30; Rev. 12:6, 14; 13:1-18).

(11). The "elect" in Mt. 24:21-26 whom Christ will fully regather when He comes after the tribulation are Jews as proved in (Mt. 24:31; Isa. 11:10-15; Ezek. 37.

 

[BanjoPicker]

(12). The coming of Christ, referred to in this question of Matt. 24:3, is to deliver Israel and fulfill all the prophecies of her restoration (Mt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; Joel 3; Zech. 14).

(13). The judgment of the nations at Christ's coming to Earth is based upon the treatment of Israel or His "brethren" by the nations at the end of the age (Mt. 25:31-46).

(14). All the parables of Mt. 24-25 illustrate the end of the age in connection with Christ's literal advent to the Earth, which proves that they refer primarily to Israel at this time.

(15). In none of these passages in Mt. 24-25 could we insert the church for it is raptured "before all these things" (Lk. 21:34-36). This passage in Lk. 21:34 was given as a promise of Jesus to believers after He had fully answered the questions asked by the disciples and therefore it has nothing to do with the answer to the questions. It shows that some will escape "all these things" mentioned in the answers to the questions asked by the disciples. Even if one believes that the church is raptured in the middle of the Week, One could not insert the church in the fulfillment of Mt. 24:15-25:46, for the middle of the Week is mentioned in Mt. 24:15, and everything after this verse concerns things which will happen after the middle of The Week. This is proved by connecting words in all the verses after Mt. 24:15, such as "then" and "for then" (Mt. 24:16, 21, 23, 29-31; 40, 45; 25:1; etc).

If the church or Gentile Christians were the ones dealt with in Mt. 24-25, why shouldn't there be at least some plain reference to them as is the case with Israel in the above fifteen points?

 

[BanjoPicker]

All the signs of Matt. 24-25 are to be fulfilled in one particular generation, at the end of this age is clear:

This has been already proved in the fifteen points above.
The parable of the fig tree.
It is definitely stated that "all these things" happen in particular generation. "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Mt. 24:34). The phrase "this generation" is used sixteen times in the New Testament and in every case it refers to a particular generation and not to a race of people (Mt. 11:16; 12:41, 42; 23:36; 24:34; Mk. 8:12; 13:30; Lk. 7:31; 11:30, 31, 32, 50, 51; 17:25; 21:32. Compare "evil" and "adulterous" generation (Mt. 12:39, 45; 16:4; Mk. 8:38; Lk. 11:29), "faithless and perverse" generation (Mt. 17:17; Mk. 9:19; Lk. 9:41), and "untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). The word "generation" could not refer to a race of people passing away, that all people are eternal and will continue in the New Earth forever.

"They days of Noah" refer to one generation only (Mt. 24:37-39; Gen. 7:1).

Jesus plainly promised that some will escape "all these things" and such could not be true if they were fulfilled throughout this age (Lk. 21:34-36).

Some will "endure to the end" of the age such could not be true unless those who endure are living at the end of the age (Mt. 24:13).

The abomination of desolation will be set up in the middle of the Week (Mt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27). Everything after Matt. 24:15 will be fulfilled after this. All the signs mentioned in Matt. 24 before verse 15 could easily be fulfilled in the same generation.

 

[BanjoPicker]

If these signs are to be fulfilled during the last generation of this age, what signs are being fulfilled today that show us that we are near the second advent and can look for the rapture of the church before His literal coming to Earth?

There are many signs in other Scriptures that are coming to pass today. Many prophecies are being fulfilled which prove that we are in the last days and near the second coming of Christ, but we are much nearer the rapture of the church, which will itself be a sign of the second advent. The above-mentioned signs in Mt. 24-25 refer to a definite period just before the end of the age and after the rapture of the church, namely, the Seventieth Week of Daniel.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The answer to the question of the signs of Christ's coming to Earth as in Matt. 24-25 may be summed up thus in Matt. 24:4-14 we have signs that will take place before the abomination is set up in Matt. 24:15. These and the signs of Matt. 24:15-26 that take place from the abomination on, to the second coming of Christ will continue to the end of the age when Christ will come as pictured in Matt. 24:27-31. Refer to a definite period just before the end of the age and after the rapture of the church namely, the Seventieth Week of Daniel.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The answer to the question of the signs of Christ's coming to Earth as in Matt. 24-25 may be summed up thus: Matt. 24:4-14 we have signs that will take place before the abomination is set up in Mt. 24:15. These and the signs of Mt. 24:15-26 that take place from the abomination on to the second coming of Christ will continue to the end of the age when Christ will come as pictured in Matt. 24:27-31.

THE FOLLOWING SIGNS ARE THOSE OUTSIDE OF MATT. 24-25 WHICH WILL PROVE THE NEARNESS OF THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST AND THE END OF THIS AGE:

 

[BanjoPicker]

1. TRAVEL AND INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE (Dan. 12:3). under this heading there could be listed any number of inventions which prove even now that we are living near the return of Jesus Christ. It is true that not one of these inventions is mentioned in particular in Scripture, but all of them can be referred to under the fulfillment of the above Scripture concerning and increase of knowledge.

2. THE CRY OF PEACE AND SAFETY (1 Thess. 5:1-9). This will be the unbelieving world that will be deceived by the Antichrist into thinking that when he conquers Jerusalem the whole world will have peace and safety, but instead, sudden destruction from Heaven will come upon men by the return of Christ Zech. 14; Joel 3; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Jude 14; Rev. 19:11-21.

3. GREAT DECEPTONS AND DELUSIONS 2 Thess. 2:1-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-8; Rev. 13.

4. AN ABUNDANCE OF FALSE DOCTRINES OF DEMONS 1 Tim. 4:1-8; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4.

 

[BanjoPicker]

Many other signs are listed in scripture such as:
general lying, men having scared consciences, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats 1 Tim. 4:1-8, perilous or hard times, for men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (unrestraining in their passions and appetites, especially the sexual appetite, lewd), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof, lustful, creeping into houses and leading captive silly women laden with sins and led away with divers lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, corrupt in mind, reprobate concerning the truth, destitute of the faith, rejecting sound doctrine, heaping to themselves teachers that have itching ears, and turning away from the truth to fables (2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4).

 

[BanjoPicker]

Increased labor troubles James 5:1-8.

Scoffers mocking the doctrine of the coming of the Lord 2 Pet. 3:1-4. Anyone living today can see by all these signs and many others.

 

[BanjoPicker]

The second gathering of Israel.

The first regathering of Israel was after the Babylonian captivity, as recorded in the books of Ezar and Nehemiah. The nation was again scattered 70A. D. Lk. 21:20-24. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the regathering "the second time" Isa. 11:11, 12; 14:1; 27:12; 43:5; 60:9; 66:20; and many other prophets predicted that Israel would be regather again Jer. 30:10; 31:8; 32:37; 33:7; 46:27; 50:4; Ezek. 16:53; 20:33-40; 34:11; 36:24; 37:11-19; 39:25; Hos. 2:14; 3:5; Amos 9:13; Mic. 4:6; 5:7; 7:11; Zeph. 2:6; 3:18; 10:6-9; Mal. 3:18; Matt. 24:31. This second regathering has been taking place since 1948 when Israel became a nation again. It will continue in fulfillment only in part until the second advent of Christ; and then all Israel will be gathered from all lands to make an eternal nation under their Messiah. Angels will bring about the final regathering of Israel Mt. 24:31.

This is really the first actually the greatest sign of the soon coming of Jesus that could definitely be clear. There are many general signs of course. However, there are those who could argue that we have had wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, persecutions, offenses, betrayals, false prophets, false Christs, iniquity abounding, love waxing cold, and others of the above listed signs, as experiences in all past generations. Therefore, these alone might be questioned by some as being definite signs of a soon return of Christ. then on the other hand, the regathering of Israel cannot be disputed as a sign of His soon return to reign on the earth.

 

[OwlRNothing]

Soon being relative, since to God a day is like 1000 years and a 1000 years a day. Could be today. Could be tomorrow. Could be 4000 years from now.


2 Peter 3:8 "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

 

[BanjoPicker]

Here the question arises how could vegetation live so long without the sun? Further, vegetation was here about 2,000 years before animal life was on Earth; so the Earth must have been a dense forest for 2,000 years; fish and fowls were here 1000 years before man and other land animals, so they were the rulers of the Earth all these years. Then too, we would have to conclude that it took God 1,000 years to create fish and fowls and another 1,000 years to create land animals and man. according to Gen. 2:7-25 man was created before the animals, and the animals were all created before the woman, or Adam was created in the beginning and the woman at the end of the sixth day. If this day was 1,000 years long, man was a 1,000 years old before a wife was made for him. God rested another 1, 000 years between the making of Eve and fall of man; so there were about 2,000 years before Adam's creation at the beginning of the sixth 1,000 years and the fall of man after the seveneth 1,000 years, and yet Adam was only 130 years old when Seth was born Gen. 5:1-3. How foolish are these theories of men when examined in the light of common sense and the Scriptures! one can see therefore, that the six days of Genesis were literal, twenty-four hour-days as plainly evident by the facts themselves.

That the six days of Gen .1 were literal twenty-four-days as we have known days ever since, is very clear in Scripture. This is the reason why they were literal days.

The word evening is from the Hebrew ehred, meaning dusk, evening or night. It is translated evening forty-nine times, but it is not once used in figurative sense. The word morning is from the Hebrew boker, meaning dawn, break of day, morning or early light. It is translated morning 187 times, but not once in a figurative sense. This shows that the words day and night, or light and darkness are literal days and nights, and are regular periods of light and darkness regulated by the sun, moon, nd stars, as mentioned elsewhere in Scripture Gen. 8:22; Ps. 19:2; Job 38:12; Jer. 31:25-37; 33:19-26. There is no hint in Scripture anywhere that day and night ever did or ever will come from a different source than from the sun, moon, and stars that were created before the Earth, as one can see, or that we are to understand day and night in symmbolic sense.

It is true that the word day, which is used 2,182 times as a literal day, may refer to a prolonged period when it is qualified a "the day of the Lord" or "the day of God" However, when it is used with qualifying words beginning or ending the day, loke evening and morning, it can only be understood in the literal sense. It is further proved to be literal by numbering each day as first second third. As one naturally would number literal days, when speaking of any seven days which he wishes to mention. No symbolic period is ever numbered in Scripture.

The 1,000 year-day theory is ridiculous in the light of facts. If this theory be true, then it took God a long time to do the work of these six days, and it took a much longer time originally to create all things. Also, if this theory is true then the waters remained on the Earth at least 1,000 years before they were divided; the Earth was still desolate another 1,000 years before vegetation was planted; and vegetation was on Earth 1,000 years before the sun, moon, and stars were created (If as supposed, they were created on the fourth day).

 

[BanjoPicker]

"AND OF THE END OF THE AGE

This end of the age is the same "end" mentioned in Matt. 13:37-42, 49, 50; 22:13; 24:3; 25:31-46. Both the end of the age and the literal advent of Christ to the Earth were familiar to the disciples, but they knew nothing of the rapture of the church at that time. Therefore, they could not have asked about signs of the rapture of the church, nor would Christ have given them the answer to a different question from the one they had asked about. This third question as to what would take place at the end of the age is fully answered in Mt. 24:27-25:46; Mk. 13:24-37; Lk. 21:25-33.

After answering the second question concerning the signs of His coming to the Earth (Mt. 24:4-26), Christ then explains the manner of His coming (Mt. 24:27) and what will take place when He comes (Mt. 24:28-46). The events that will take place at His literal coming to the Earth are.

The eagles will be gathered to the carcasses of men slain at the battle of Armageddon Mt. 24:28; Lk. 17:34-37; Rev. 19:17, 21; Ezek. 39:17-21; Compare Job 39:27-30).

The sun shall be darkened Mt. 24:29.
The moon shall not give her light Mt. 24:29.
The stars shall fall from Heaven Mt. 24:29. This refers to a great meteoric shower, and not the fall of planets.
The powers of the Heaven shall be shaken Mt. 24:29.
Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven Mt. 24:30.
Then shall all the tribes of the Earth mourn Mt. 24:30.
Then they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Mt. 24:30; 2 Thess. 1:7; Jude 14.
Then He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather His elect from the four quarters of the Earth Mt. 24:31; Isa. 11:10-15.
The ungodly will be destroy Mt. 24:32-42; 2 Thess. 1:7; Jude 14.
Unfaithful servants will be judged and punished in eternal He11 Mt. 24:43-51; 25:14-30; 13:30, 40-43.
The nations will be judged Mt. 25:31-46.
Thus, one can see that the Lord fully answered in Mt. 24:27-25:46 the third question which concerns what will happen at the end of the age. Many other events will take place at the end of this age.