Part IV Major prophecies Matthew 24-25.

Now we will conclude our previous section with just a few comments.

Matthew 24:13 This is referring to the Jews who will continue to hang on during the tribulation and have not taken the mark of the beast, but have remained faithful to the Messiah.  (Romans 11:26) This is not referring to spiritual salvation.

Matthew 24:14. This begins with the 144,000 of Revelation 7:4-8.  Hal Lindsay calls them 144,000 Jewish Billy Graham’s.  (In studying, you will notice that much of Matthew 24 and 25 parallel Revelation 6-19)

Matthew 24:15-26 Last 3 ½ Years of the Tribulation Period.

Matthew 24:15-26 The abomination of desolation desecrates the Temple and causes havoc for the Jews.  This was spoken by Daniel the Prophet.  (Daniel 9:27)

Matthew 24:22 Explains that God will shorten these days because they will be so terrible and difficult for survival.

Matthew 23-26 False Christ’s seeking to deceive the Jews and turn them away from the true Messiah.

Matthew 24:27-31 The Second Coming of Christ Jesus.  Notice the differences between the Rapture and the 2^nd coming.

1. When Christ comes at the Rapture to take the church out of this world, He only comes in the air… and does not come to the earth. It is a private gathering for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior during the Church Age.

Whereas at the 2^nd Coming He comes to the earth, splits the Mount of Olives in two and everyone will see Him which is very public.

2. When He comes at the Rapture, when only believers see Him as they are caught up to meet Him in the clouds and the sun and moon are not spoken of as being dark…

Whereas at His 2^nd Coming, every eye shall see Him, the nations will mourn when they finally realize He, Jesus, is the Messiah.   It is preceded by the sun being darkened and the moon not giving light, stars falling, and the powers of heaven are shaken.

3. When Christ comes at the Rapture those who have received Him by faith are promised no condemnation (Romans 8:1) and are caught up to be with Him forever.

Whereas at the 2^nd Coming, the “elect” which speaks of His chosen people, the Jews who have endured to the end of the Tribulation without receiving the mark of the beast and believed on Christ Jesus will be gathered up to be with Him.  There will also be others who have believed in Christ during this period of Tribulation, but remember, the Tribulation is a period of judgment for the nation of Israel who are called His elect in Scripture, and thus the emphasis is on them in particular.  However, only those Jews, a small remnant of them, who have believed on Christ during the Tribulation, and endured until the end will enter into the Millennial Kingdom.

So, you can see that there is a great difference between these two events when you contrast them together.  We could list more, but for the purpose of being brief, we will forgo it at this time.

Matthew 24:32-35.  The parable of the fig tree.

As we enter the next few passages, we must be careful to remain in the context of what Christ has been saying.  He is dealing with the Tribulation Period.  We must not jump around and try to work in a narrative of the Rapture or of Israel’s returning to their homeland.  We must be true to the context.

So, what is He talking about.  It should be obvious.  When you see certain signs, you will know that the end of the Tribulation is near.  When you see the budding of the fig tree, you know that summer is near, likewise, relating to the tribulation, certain things will indicate that it is almost over.

Keep in mind that the Jews always look for a sign.  Throughout the Scripture, from Moses to the Apostles, God used signs to relate to the Jews.  Thus, it is so here.  Keep in mind that the context is from a Jewish standpoint.

 Matthew 24:36-51 The time of Christ’s Return at the 2^nd Coming.

Matthew 24:36 No one knows when Christ is going to return at the end of the Tribulation.  Only the Father knows.  This is not speaking of the Rapture.  Remember the context and exegete correctly.

Matthew 24:37-39 As in the days of Noah.  People will not be expecting Christ’s return but it will be similar to Noah’s day.  The people did not pay heed to the warnings of a flood coming but kept on living as they pleased.  The flood caught  people  unprepared and thus when Christ come at the 2^nd Coming, they will be unprepared to meet Him.

Matthew 24:40-44 The emphasis here continues the theme “be ready.”  Thus one person in the field working with another will be taken but the other one left behind.  Two women grinding at the mill.  One is prepared and one is not so she is left behind.

Watch and be ready for you do not know when Christ is coming.

Matthew 24:45-51 The illustration of the unfaithful servant is another warning to “be ready.”  Christ will come when you least expect Him to.  If you are not ready, you will be sent to a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth which is a reference to spending eternity in the Lake of Fire apart from Christ.

End of Chapter 24