|
THE GREAT TRIBULATION AS FORETOLD IN MATTHEW 24 The reader may find the following charts useful while reviewing this commentary. The language of Matthew 24 easily fits into the Protestant view of prophecy.
Not One Stone Left Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show 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. Matthew 24 tells the story of Jesus and his disciples leaving God's Temple in Jerusalem. The disciples were admiring the buildings when Jesus Prophesied the unimaginable. His words were so shocking they continue to reverberate throughout the earth today! Jesus declared this magnificent place of worship would be destroyed! God's House would become an empty desolation. In 70 AD the Roman Army came and destroyed everything! Some of the stones in the walls of the temple complex were as large as modern mobile homes. These stones were torn down and as a rule cut apart for common building. Many of the original stones from the outer fortress are now visible because of extensive modern excavations. These remnants are awesome in size and are in magnificent condition. The words of Jesus were fulfilled to the letter! Today the exact sight of the former Temple is empty and as opened as a football field. A Muslim structure is set to the side of the former Temple. Hearing about this horrid event spawned great questions in the disciples. They unwittingly ask about happenings in two different periods of time. The first event occurred rather soon and the second event must yet take place in the future. Two Events at Different Times 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? (or age) Two Questions: 1. Tell us, when shall these things be? Jesus did not place a date upon the destruction of the Temple. He rather related the many horrors that would accompany that event and would continue to occur as the Temple lay in desolation. The Temple's destruction took place in 70 AD when the Romans crushed Jerusalem. Historians recount that many Christians were delivered from death by fleeing into the wilderness as Jesus instructed. 
2. What Shall be the Sign a. Of Thy Coming, b. And of the End of the World 
_____________________
Some have concluded when Jesus returns the physical earth would cease to be. This is only true in the sense that things will not be as we know them now. Only after the 1000 year reign of Christ does the scripture indicate, there will be a new Heaven and earth. In this text the word "world" may also properly be translated as "end of the age." The Greek word for WORLD is translated from Strong's Greek word and number 165, AION (ahee-ohn). In the King James Bible this single Greek word is translated into the English in several ways. These other words are: age, eternal, course, forever, evermore, course, eternal, world without end, ever and world. A study of this word clearly indicates a broader definition than the single word WORLD. Therefore, when Jesus returns the world will not end, rather a new age shall begin! --------------------------------------------- The disciples certainly thought God's earthly Kingdom would appear at the same time that the Temple was destroyed. They therefore, asked about the two separated events in one question. Christ's followers did not yet understand the establishment of inner conversion, centuries before a physical kingdom. Jesus answer to his disciples was not what they expected. The disciples were told the sign of Christ's coming, would be the worldwide spread of the Gospel. This became the ultimate indicator for identifying the soon arrival of Jesus and his kingdom. The disciples also learned of a great and long tribulation before Christ's return. In retrospect this period of trouble has continued nearly 2000 years! Human nature often hopes for the best and denies reality. The disciples who failed to understand Jesus' death, also failed to consider their own martyrdom and the suffering of many future generations. Jesus was opening their eyes to new thoughts. The Long Trials of the Church 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. Deception has continued to be Satan's tool of choice against the Christian. Many deceivers have appeared using the name of Christian. The true Christians who emerged from the dark ages discovered the most horrible deception anyone might imagine. This deception was embodied in their contemporary visible Church. Many who remained in idolatry and man worship still burn today. Sorrowfully, they followed one called, The Most Holy, God on earth and The Pope!. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14 From AD 70 to the Present:
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.Here Begins the Christians Tribulation and the 70 AD War The Temple's destruction is easily understood to fulfill these words. This horrible destruction arrived by the end of the apostles generation. However, the end would not arrive for some time. The end can only come after the great deception and the list of events that follow! We are presently still looking for the end and are suffering these listed trials. We also have the joy of seeing the arrival of the final sign. This pinnacle of prophetic indicators is the freeing of the Gospel to all nations. Jesus is coming soon! 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilence's, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
--The End-- End Christian Tribulation, Start the Wrath of the Second Coming Today, we are in a time of evangelism that exceeds all generations before. Millions around the world are coming to Christ. Wickedness is also ripening to the full. This is certainly the final sign of the coming of Jesus. =================== More Details -- The Same Story Retold Begin Christian Tribulation and the 70 AD War Next, Jesus returns to the beginning of his story. He tells more about the coming destruction of God's Temple in 70 AD. Jesus warns his followers to by ready to flee when armies appear. 15 When ye therefore (referring to the above story) shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Matthew 24:15 is equivalent to Luke 21:20. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto." Luke reveals both the initial military assault and the effect of God's judgment upon Jerusalem. Matthew does not mention Luke's sign of "an encompassing army" but clearly predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Thus, both texts tell of the same incident but Luke tells more than Matthew. Luke and Matthew both instruct believers to flee from Jerusalem when these events occur. Scripture Fulfilled This prophecy happened in 70 AD when the Roman army came against Jerusalem. Josephus recounts how the Romans flaunted their idolatrous ensigns in view of the Temple. The Romans attacked Jerusalem but temporarily withdrew without any known reason. Jesus predicted these happenings and instructed Christians to immediately leave Jerusalem when an army appeared. The final phase of that war proved to be full destruction or DESOLATION of God's Temple and the substitution of an ABOMINATION of idolatry in its place. Both the Greek and Hebrew words for Abomination mean: to stink, to be disgusted, abhor, detest, while speaking of idolatry. So, God's house was destroyed by Rome and replaced with a temple of idols, which was the prophesied ABOMINATION DESOLATION! Jesus' unthinkable prophecy was fulfilled and all the world still sees its truth. The displaced stones of that great temple cry out in testimony against those who refused their Messiah. These stones are a physical testimony of Jesus' foreknowledge. Could a race having the determination to continue 4000 years not summons the power to reconstruct their fallen Temple? Jesus said, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matthew 23:38) Don't be surprised if the Jewish Temple is not rebuilt before Jesus returns. The pre-millennial construction of a Jewish temple on Moriah is non-essential in God's plan. Will God allow an unrepentant people to restore that which rebellion has removed? The early church fathers believed that the continuing desolation of the Temple proved Jesus' foreknowledge and was an ongoing witness of his divinity. ____________________
--------------------------------------------------------
A restored Temple in Jerusalem has nothing to do with the appearance of Jesus or the antichrist. Antichrist seated in God's temple is fully realized in the enslaved masses of humanity and the apostate Christian Church . (1 John 2:18) Remember, the Tabernacle and Temple were only types of the Real. (Hebrews 9:24) All symbolic offerings were canceled in Christ, likewise, the symbolic Temple has been destroyed to make way for the real heart temple of God! If Jews build a new Temple, this will not effect their restoration, because, that can only occur through their true Messiah Jesus. A new Temple would only be an exercise of rebellion toward God.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. 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: 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. Many have said this tribulation is a future event. Notice, future events do at last arrive. When prophesied events come, we must not to deny their fulfillment. Remember the faithless Scribes of Jesus' day. They could not accept fulfilled prophecy. Jesus warned his followers to: get out of Jerusalem, don't return, take no detours. Go quickly! The disciples that fled Jerusalem in 70 AD. were saved. Jews remaining in the city were enslaved or destroyed. Josephus says a million Jews were killed in that battle. Great Tribulation Like None Other: A First Part I am concluding that this War of AD 70, is the "kick off" for the great, long extended tribulation that continues until Jesus comes. There will be nothing like this in all of Eternity! When were so many righteous people tried for so long? This tribulation started with the destruction of God's Temple and perhaps before and has continued through the centuries that follow. The rise of Islam, the Apostasy of the visible Church, massive killings of true Christians, and world wars, are among events that are certainly a part of this extended great tribulation. This long-running tribulation is: great in length, ( 2000 years?) great in numbers of martyrs, (An unnumbered multitude) great in scope, (world wide) and great in accomplishment. (The perfecting through suffering of the multi-generational bride of Christ. Christians of all ages have participated.) This long tribulation is spawned by the spirit of antichrist that tries to destroy all of humanity. Antichrist's continuing spirit is very active today.A Second Part At the conclusion of the long believer's tribulation, the saints will be caught away. God will then judge the wicked nations and give a final blow to the kingdom of Satan. The fruits of this "second part" of Great Tribulation is: "great" to think about, great in judgment, great in destruction, great in cleansing, great in victory, and greatly longed for by the Elect. This post-rapture judgment is normally called Great Tribulation. However, Scripture applies the term great to both the early and late periods. God apparently counts these as a single unfolding chain of events. God is not a Dispensationalist. I have made the division for ease of understanding and discussion. The Appearance of Antichrist Some might accuse the author of denying a future antichrist. They are wrong in this conclusion. Satan has plenty of tricks up his sleeve for the days to come. He will be present and on the job. However, please do not buy the lie about a scanty seven years of antichrist. A seven year tribulation and time bound antichrist is little and puny compared to the one I am unmasking. Satan can do nothing in seven years, to compete with his past 2000 years. The coming Great Tribulation will not be Satan's day to roar. That will be the time for the Lion of Judah to set things aright and pour great wrath upon antichrist's kingdoms. Jesus will not make a disappointing showing in that future tribulation! Therefore, don't fall in love with the thought of an exclusively future antichrist. Antichrist and his bad deeds have long been present. He is eating our nation alive right now. With millions passing into Hell nothing could be worse. Don't allow your vision to focus only on our current generation. God has big eyes and bigger plans. We are part of an eternal kingdom and the devil is an eternal monster. This war is a multi-generational struggle. Reward will be eternal for God's over-comers. The day of victory may be at hand! For The Elect's Sake 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 disciples that listened to Jesus and fled Jerusalem were spared a horrible fate. They ran to Petra in the desert and survived the prophesied slaughter. For these elect Christians, the punishment of Jerusalem was cut short and their lives were spared to share the Gospel. The Jews that stayed in Jerusalem all died or were enslaved. Running from Jerusalem in 70 AD, should not be confused with the coming Rapture. Matthew 24:16-22 tells us of fleeing Jerusalem in 70 AD. Luke 17:22-34 tells us of the coming Rapture. When the Rapture occurs, it would be a fatal mistake to retain any love for this world. Therefore, reject all worldliness and when you hear the trumpet sound don't even grab your toothbrush. Good buy world, good buy! The Rapture Luke 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. . .34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be..." Notice: The next verses in Matthew do not pick up after the Rapture of the Church. If they did people would not be looking for Jesus and the Elect would not be in danger of deception. These verses continue to reflect the long period of time between, the flight from Jerusalem in AD 70 and the future return of Jesus. The Passage of Time 23 THEN if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For THERE SHALL ARISE false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, THEY SHALL DECEIVE the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 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. These CAPITALIZED words indicate happenings within the passing of time. After Christians fled Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed, years slowly moved forward. False Christ's appeared, deception came and people longed for the Second Coming. Jesus had long before gone to the Father. Finally, the great apostasy of II Thessalonians appeared in the idol worshiping counterfeit Church. True believers looking for a physical Jesus could not find him on the earth or in the physical Church. Through the false Church, unnumbered millions were fed to the mouth of Hell. Think of it! Millions upon millions lost forever without God and all in a day when Salvation was freely available! If there were no hope of redemption man could resign to his bitter fate. However, missing pre-purchased Salvation is the greatest tragedy in all of eternity. A false Gospel had been substituted for the true. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1:6) I challenge anyone to tell an uglier story than this. One soul in Hell, will suffer more than all of mortal humanity in the many ages of this earth. That one soul will have much longer to accomplish its anguish. A short seven years of physical suffering in tribulation, is a laugh compared to the reality of one Hell bent sinner. Satan now sits on the throne of every sin bound heart on earth. Nothing is more horrible than this monstrosity. We hold the Gospel key of deliverance. God's Word can set them free! The Coming of Jesus, The Bird Feast 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. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. This is a picture of Christ's coming, and of happenings at that event. Consider this same event in Revelation. When Jesus appears in the sky, millions of rebellious people will die in the conflict. Therefore, the birds will be called to clean the earth. "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." (Revelation 19:17-18) The Coming of Jesus, When? 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: 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. Immediately After the Tribulation of Those Days Here Ends the Christian Tribulation, Jesus foretold long testing and tribulation from the first century until his return. When today's tribulation has ended, unique visible omens shall appear. The elements of nature will groan as the Christ of Creation suddenly steps out on the clouds and catches away his elect. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." (1 Thessalonians 5:4) After the elect are raptured, God's judgment will fall upon all the earth. Creation will explode with destructive phenomena. Millions will die and become bird fodder as they resist the person of Christ. Antichrist will be bound with the false prophet and the Kingdom of God will physically appear! I will not speculate on how long that final wrath will continue. I am sure that it will not be 7 years or 3 1/2 years because the prophecies containing those numbers do not relate to this event. The Sign When the Church has finished her work of Evangelism, her day of testing will end. The Rapture of the Church will be the sign of the Son of man in heaven. The open preaching of the Gospel is certainly the unique sign of the approaching end. Jesus will come for us and we will go to meet Jesus. Reader, prepare ye the way of the Lord! Tell a lost soul about Christ and his Salvation!
Today's Holy Ghost outpouring is the key to world evangelism, which is the final sign of Christ's Coming. Gathered Together 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. Healing the Breaches,
Reading only in Matthew, one receives an abbreviated account of Jesus' appearing. For an expanded description of this event, read Revelation 14 and 19, II Cor. 15, and I Thes. 4:13-18. The appearance of the 144,000 of Israel is a symbolic number for the body of Christ. Following the trying times of Revelation 6, 12 and 13, (which are past and present history) we shall be caught up. All the world will observe that event and all will see the wrath God, as it begins falling upon the wicked.Fig Leaves and Summer Days 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: Most scholars see the rise of modern Israel as the leafing of the fig tree. If this interpretation is correct, Jesus' earlier words must certainly also apply; "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever." (Matt. 21:19) Modern Israel is a fruitless leafing in contrast to God's living Israel, ( The Church) which is now producing more fruit than ever. The Gospel is going every place! This preaching of the Gospel is the final leaf before the "coming of summer" which is the Lord's return. The only true restoration of Israel will take place in Christ. Only the Gospel brings life!All these Things 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. There are two possible interpretations for this text: 1. Jesus indicated that all his predictions must happen soon except for world evangelism and his return. All of the signs that were fulfilled in the first century can still be seen today.
The Second Coming was not included in the above list. Jesus said, only the Father knows when that will happen! 2. The Second interpretation is that the apostle's generation was a righteous family of faith that shall continue until Jesus returns. This generation started with the apostles and will remain faithful until the Second Coming.Remember Israel seldom held to faith for long. A people continuing for God would be a unique treasure! "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people..." (1 Peter 2:9) "A seed (Gal. 3:29) shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation." (Psalms 22:30)My Father Only Knows 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Jesus said, "my Father only" knows the hour of my return. Will a voice from heaven say "come up hither" before our voices have witnessed to all Nations? No. The Manner of His Coming: 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. When Jesus returns the world will be unprepared. God's people will be ready. 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. 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. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 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. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 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, The final sign of Jesus' return is not the appearance of antichrist but the world wide Preaching of the Gospel ! Our witness is the final KEY to the return of Jesus. Get busy!
|
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.