Matthew chapter 24 and 25

MATTHEW CHAPTER 24 AND 25

The following study will provide much light on the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, correct many errors concerning the rapture, and help in a better understanding of the end of the age and the fulfillment of Rev. 6 – 19 during the Seventieth Week. These chapters picture a series of events that are in consecutive order as given. The occasion of this discourse was when the disciples showed Christ the beauties of the temple. Jesus then said, “There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.” This brought forth three questions as follows:

“Tell us when shall these things be?”

This question refers to the above statement of Jesus concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled in 70 A.D. by the Romans, (Ref. Dan. 9:26; Luke 21:20-24. This question fully answered in these scriptures.

“What shall be the sign of thy coming?”

This question does not concern the rapture, but the second coming of Christ to the earth with the saints. The disciples new nothing of the rapture for that was reserved for Paul to reveal (Ref. 1Cor. 15:51-58). The disciples had often heard of the Second Advent, (Ref. Mt. 18:1; 19:28). This is further proven by Luke (Ref. Lk. 21:29-33). This question is fully answered in Matthew chapter 24 versus 4-26, 37-39; Mk. 13:5-23; Luke 21:8-19. These passages give the signs of Christ’s second coming that have to do with the answer to this question.

Signs of the Second Coming of Christ

False messiahs before the middle of the Week, or the setting up of the abomination of desolation, (Ref. Mt. 24:4-5, 15; Mk. 13:5-6; Luke 21:8; Dan. 9:27).

Wars and rumors of wars, (Ref. Mt. 24:6; Mk.13:7; Luke 21:9).

Nations against nations, (Ref. Mt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Luke 21:10).

Famines, pestilences and earthquakes, (Ref. Mt. 24:7; Mk. 13:8; Luke 21:11).

Persecution of the Jews by all nations, (Ref. Mt. 24:9; Mk. 13:9-11; Luke 21:12).

Many offenses and betrayals, (Ref. Mt. 24:10; Mk. 13:12-13; Luke 21:16).

False prophets before the middle of the Week, (Ref. Mt. 24:11, 15; Dan. 9:27).

Iniquity abounding and love waxing cold, (Ref. Mt. 24:12).

The gospel of the kingdom to be preached again as a witness to all nations, (Ref. Mt. 24:13-14).

The abomination of desolation set up, (Ref. Mt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27; 12:7-11; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 20:4-6).

Flight of Israel into the wilderness, (Ref. Mt. 24:16-20; Mk. 13:14-18; Isa. 16:1-5; Ezk. 20:33-35; Hos. 2:14-16; Psa. 60:8-10).

The great tribulation days, (Ref. Mt. 24:21-22; Mk. 13:19-20).

False messiahs after the middle of the Week, (Ref. Mt. 24:23-26; Mk. 13:21-22).

False prophets after the middle of the Week, (Ref. Mt. 24:23-26; Mk. 13:22).

Conditions of the days of Noah repeated, (Ref. 24:37-39).

Fearful sights and distress on the earth, (Ref. Luke 21:11).

Great signs in the Heavens, (Ref. Luke 21:11; Acts 2:16-21).


All these signs, as well as many others, must take place before the second coming of Christ which the disciples had in mind. This proves that the coming asked about by the disciples was not the rapture, but the Second Advent at the end of the tribulation period.

The first nine signs will be fulfilled down to the middle of the week when the abomination of desolation will be set up, as stated in Mt. 24:15. The first four signs were given and then Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” The word “sorrows” means “birth pangs” and refers to the agonies of Israel under the ten kings and the whore (Babylon) in the first three and one-half years of the Week. The “birth pangs” must continue until Israel comes to birth at the end of the Week. This means that, from the first sign to the last, there is to be an increase of these sorrows. They are to last throughout the whole Week. Perhaps they will begin sometime before the Week, for Israel seems to be persecuted when Antichrist makes the covenant with her to protect her for seven years, [Ref. Dan. 9:27].

There are three questions that naturally rise at this juncture, in view of this method of exposition:

QUESTIONS
How do we know that Israel is the one primarily dealt with in these chapters instead of The Church or Christians?



THE REASONS ARE


Jesus is speaking to the Jews and is answering a question which is purely Jewish, for it concerns their Messiah and His coming to deliver them.
The deceptions by false messiahs primarily concern Israel.

The fifth sign above can be harmonizing only with what is prophesied of Israel and their times of sorrows.

The sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth signs are also connected to these days of “birth pangs,” and times of sorrows and the end of the Week.
The time of the fulfillment of all these things is during one generation at the end of that age, for those who suffer these things are blessed only upon condition that they endure to the end of the age.

“The gospel of the kingdom” is Jewish and is the good news that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, because of the nearness of the King of the Jews. This gospel will be preached during the tribulation as “a witness to all nations,” and then shall come the end.

The abomination of desolation proves a Jewish connection, [Ref. Mt. 24:15; Dan. 9:24-27.]

The fleeing of the Jews in Judea proves a Jewish connection, [Ref. Mt. 24:16-20; Isa. 16:1-5; Ezk. 20:23; Hos. 2:14; Psa. 60:8-10; Rev. 12:6-17; Dan. 11:41-45].

The “Sabbath day” which would limit the flight of Jews from the Antichrist to a mile proves a Jewish connection, [Ref. Mt. 24:20-22; Jer. 30:1-7; Dan. 12:1].

The great tribulation primarily concerns Israel.

The “elect” in Mt. 24:21-26 are Jews, as proven in Mt. 24:31: Isa. 11:11.
The coming of Christ, referred to in the question, is to deliver Israel and fulfill all the prophecies of their restoration, [Joel 3: Zech. 14:1-21; Rom. 11:24-29].

The judgment of the nations is based upon how they have treated the Jews or “brethren”, [Mt. 25:31-46.

In none of these passages could we insert the Church or Christians, for they are raptured before “all these things,” [Ref. Luke 21:34-36].

QUESTION 2

Are these things fulfilled in one particular generation? That they are fulfilled in one and the last generation of that age is clear from the following:

“The days of Noah” refer to one generation only, (Ref. Mt. 24:37-39; Gen. 7:1).

That one generation only is referred to in these chapters is stated in Mt. 24:34, and clearly taught in the parable of the fig tree.

Jesus plainly promised that some would escape “all these things” and such could not be true if they were being fulfilled throughout the ages.

Some will “endure to the end” and such could not be unless those who endure were not living at the end of that age.

The abomination of desolation will be set up in the middle of the Week shows that the first nine signs immediately preceding this can easily be fulfilled in the same generation (Ref. Mt. 24:15).



QUESTION 3

If these things are to be fulfilled during the last generation of that age, what signs are being fulfilled today to show us that we are near the Second Advent and can look for the rapture at any time? The above signs are concerning a definite period just before the end of that age and after the rapture of the Church, as has been proven. If the Church is to escape “all these things” above then all of them must be fulfilled after the rapture of the Church.



3. “And the End of the Age?”


This end of the age is the same “end” mentioned in Mt. 24:13-14. It was a familiar subject of the disciples, as was also His coming, for He had often spoken to them of both.
(Ref. Mt 13:37-42; 49-50; 22:13; 24:3; 25:31-46). This third question is fully answered in Mt. 24:27-25:46; Mk. 13:24-37; Luke 21:24-33.


In the last division of the book of Revelation we have scenes in heaven and events on earth during the final seven years of that age – Daniel’s Seventieth Week – happenings between the rapture of the Church and the second coming of Jesus Christ back to the earth with the “Bride” (Church) to reign for ever (Ref. Rev. 6:1-22:5).

Not one detail of Rev. 4:1-19:21 that concern any event on earth have been fulfilled as yet, but will all be fulfilled after the rapture and at the second coming of Christ. Revelation 20 reveals a thousand year reign of Christ on the earth to put all enemies under His feet and bring an end to rebellion (Ref. Rev. 20:1-10; Eph. 1:10; 1Cor. 15:24-28). Revelation 21:1–22:5 reveals the eternal reign of God, Christ, and the saints on earth after all rebellion has been put down.

If one will take all these events as being literal and in consecutive order as to fulfillment, there will be no mystery about the Book of Revelation, and it will not be hard to understand. We must remember, however, that if we do not keep in mind that every detail of Rev. 4-22 is to be fulfilled after the churches – after the rapture of the Church – we will immediately become confused regarding the fulfillment of “these things which must be hereafter” the churches.