THE ANSWER TO WHEN,  WHO and WHAT – part 9a:

Matthew 24:45. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Verse 46. Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Verse 47. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Verse 48. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ Verse 49. And begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, Verse 50. the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour, he does not know

Verse 51. and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What Jesus says in verses 45 through 51 is almost unimaginable to the untrained or unwilling mind. The charge given by Jesus to everyone who calls themselves “Christian” and who has anyone under their charge or under their care, is an urgent and unforgiving command.

Jesus, our master, has set certain people over households with the expectation they will care for that household by feeding and nurturing them physically, mentally, emotionally and most importantly, spiritually, preparing them for Christ’s return. Failure to do so is compared to a slovenly servant who eats and drinks with drunkards and does not expect his master’s return. This failure, will cost the impudent servant his life. He is to be cut into pieces and put away with the hypocrites, and a place will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This could accurately be called a litmus test for the Christian. Failure to serve Christ by failing to serve those in your care reveals your true relationship and your eternal standing under God.

These words create a fear and trembling within me as I search my soul, working out my salvation. However, you and I find complete solace in my eternal security by way of my faith in Christ by the great mercies and grace of God our Father; I delight in serving my Master by serving my household, giving them their food at the proper time.

“It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck, and he is thrown into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to sin.” – Jesus, Luke 17:2

 So where do we go from here? Jesus is clear that we are to follow Him as disciples and do the works that he has done and greater works yet, because He has gone to be with the Father. May we be considered to be that faithful and wise servant.

PREVIOUS: ANSWER TO WHEN – Part 9: AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

UPCOMING SERIES:

How Can I Be Prepared?

How Should I Respond?

THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 9:

Matthew 24:36, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Verse 37. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Verse 38. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, Verse 39, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Verse 40. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Verse 41. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Verse 42. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Verse 43. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Verse 44. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  

With all of this said, no one knows the exact hour or the day of His return; the angels of heaven don’t know, neither does the Son. Only the Father knows.

We will be busy with our daily lives, just like in the days of Noah. We will have grown accustomed to the chaos and the turmoil the wars and rumors of wars the diseases, the famines and the droughts, the earthquakes and the trouble that surrounds us. Then suddenly, like a flash of lightning, He will appear.

And in the blink of an eye,

• the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heaven, and
• all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
• they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
• And He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call,
• and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

…in the blink of an eye.

The sixth tribulation seal is broken, the Trumpet is sounded, the sign of Jesus is in the heavens, He is on the clouds, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The Rapture has occurred!

NEXT:  THE ANSWER TO WHEN, WHO & WHAT – part 9a:  FAITHFUL & WISE SERVANT.

PREVIOUS:  THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 8:  HE IS AT THE GATE.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 8:

Matthew 24:32, “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. Verse 33. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Verse 34. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Verse 35. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Jesus uses a simile to compare the unmistakable changes of earth’s seasons to the changes of the eschatological seasons, and tells us that when we see these changes, we will know that he is near, in fact He is at our very gates.

AN IMPORTANT CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:  Jesus emphasizes this point, telling us that this generation, the generation that follows the unmistakable signs of his return, will not pass away until all the things to come, take place. This is the urgent message that we will now have entered the final seven years of the Great Tribulation, the great and terrible day of the Lord, Daniel’s 70th week which began with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal. We can get a better understanding of the meaning of these verses by reading Daniel chapter 12.

Daniel 12:1, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise.

• And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time;
• and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
• Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
• Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

Verse 5. “Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream.

• Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”
• Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever
  • • that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, (i.e., three and one-half years); and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
• Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.

Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12. Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Both of these prophecies deal with specific time periods associated with the seven-year tribulation. The tribulation begins with the signing of a peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel, intended to be for one “seven,” that is, a set of seven years.

But the “seven” is divided into halves: midway through the seven years, the Antichrist breaks the treaty and sets up in the temple a sacrilegious object (the “abomination that causes desolation”).

The phrase “in the middle” indicates that the first half of the tribulation lasts for 3½ years (1,260 days, using a “prophetic year” of 360 days). Likewise, the second half of the tribulation lasts another 1,260 days (another 3½ years), for a total of seven years.

The 1,260 days of the second half of the tribulation begins as the Antichrist breaks the treaty, occupies the third Jewish temple, and sets up a profane and sacrilegious object of worship. This 1,260-day period ends when the Antichrist is defeated at the battle of Armageddon upon Jesus’ return to earth. At that time, the tribulation will be at an end.)

Revelation 11:3 specifically mentions 1,260 days, which corresponds exactly with Daniel’s prophecy of the abomination of desolation.

In Revelation, we have an added detail: two divinely appointed witnesses will preach and perform miracles for the first half of the tribulation, according to the chronology of Revelation.

These two witnesses are killed at the midpoint of the tribulation; their bodies will lie in the streets for three and a half days as the world celebrates their demise; then they will be resurrected and taken up to heaven (Revelation 11:7–13).

The 1,260 days of the second half of the tribulation begins as the Antichrist breaks the treaty, occupies the third Jewish temple, and sets up a profane and sacrilegious object of worship.

 This 1,260-day period ends when the Antichrist is defeated at the battle of Armageddon upon Jesus’ return to earth. At that time, the tribulation will be at an end.

In Summary:  Here is the Timeline

Sometime after the rapture of the church, which occurs at the 6th Seal, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. This begins the seven-year tribulation.

At the midpoint of the tribulation (1, 260 days later), at the Seventh Tribulation Trumpet, the Antichrist breaks the treaty, desecrates the temple, and begins to persecute the Jews.

At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ defeats the forces of the Antichrist.

During the next 30 days (leading up to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel is rebuilt and the earth is restored.

During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the temple), the Gentile nations are judged for their treatment of Israel.

NEXT:  THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 9:  AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH.

PREVIOUS:  THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 7:  THE 6TH TRIBULATION SEAL.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 7:

Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those. days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days  It is important to take careful note of the wording, “immediately after”, and “the tribulation of those days” which is referring to something that came previously and that there is something to follow. We have already read and established that the “tribulation of those days“ is referring specifically to the time period known as ‘the days of distress’, the breaking of the first five tribulation seals, from around A.D. 1 to this current day, (footnote 1), (footnote 2).

Now, We will discover what follows the breaking of the first five tribulation seals,

IMPORTANT:  Matthew 24:21, says, ”For then, there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be (again).

Specifically,

• • • Matthew 24:29. The sun will be darkened, and
    • The moon will not give its light, and
    • The stars will fall from heaven, and
    • The powers of the heavens will be shaken.
    • Verse 30. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
    • They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
    • Verse 31. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and
    • They will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jesus reiterates the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal in Revelation 6:12-17, this way, “And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.  Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;  and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;  for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

IMPORTANT:  Then, in quick succession,the wind currents of the earth stop moving, 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel are seal by God; then suddenly, from out of the tribulation, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  The long anticipated Rapture of all the saints of God has occurred.

Each of these events should be carefully considered individually and then corporately. Each event is a summary of what is to come and gives great insight of EACH event, which is described in greater detail in the book of the Revelation. It is important to note that these events happen quickly and either concurrently or in rapid succession. (Some bible teachers erroneously say that Jesus will come back another time to finish these events and to rapture the church, which is patently false. There is only one second coming and only one appearing.)

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 8:  HE IS AT THE GATES.

PREVIOUS: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 6:  THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

Great Tribulation

THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 6:

Matthew 24:16, “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17, Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19, And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22, And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23, Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24, For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25, See, I have told you beforehand. 26, So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27, For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28, Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

These verses are reminiscent of the horrors surrounding the destruction of the first temple in 587 B.C. and are a warning of a coming devastation similar in many ways to the destruction of the first temple, which occurred in A.D. 70 and proved to be as Jesus said.

However, neither the destruction of the first temple nor the of destruction of the second temple fulfilled the prophetic words of Jesus. As it is with many prophecies, the fulfillment may come about over a period of a day or of many days, months, years or even over millennia. This prophecy is unique in that it is unfolding in stages. This is not a partial fulfillment of prophecy but is a foreshadowing and a progressive revelation just as the Bible states, and as time and circumstances within history conform to God’s timing.

The coming Great and Terrible Day of The Lord was foreshadowed in 587 B.C. with the destruction of the first temple and a foreshadowed again with the destruction of the second temple in A.D. 70. Jesus words clearly tell us that the fulfillment of this prophecy is a future event.

We can find evidence throughout prophetic scriptures and in the New Testament that this event will find its fulfillment in the future.

​​Isaiah 2, 9, 11, 13        Matthew 24,         Zechariah 8       2 Peter 3:3.

Micah 4                       Hebrews 1:2,         Ezekiel 30          Revelation 6:1 – 16:21

Jeremiah 30, 33, 50  Hebrews 9:26,      Amos 5

Hosea 3                       Acts 2:14-17,          1 Peter 1:20,

Joel 2, 3,                      2 Timothy 3:1,       1 Peter 4:7,

Here is what I hope can be a helpful example from natural events to understand a ‘Foreshadowing and a Progressive Revelation of Prophecy’ as seen by the human perspective and contrasted to God’s, or a heavenly perspective.

When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S., it was a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally, as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

IMPORTANT:  And so, it is with events and the significant symbolism of the destruction of the first and second temples as these events are the harbinger to the final event the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord also known as the Great Tribulation as seen beginning with the breaking of the ‘Sixth Tribulation Seal’ (Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12). Although, the breaking of each Seal may seem like different events, if viewed “from above” it is ONE CONTINUOUS EVENT (eschatological STORM), progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

NEXT:  THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 7: THE 6TH TRIBULATION SEAL.

PREVIOUS: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 5: THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 5:

Matthew 24:15, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

These few words of Jesus in Matthew 24:15 are rich both in their complexity and in their prophetic mystery. They reach back into Israel’s past, (Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11), they are instructive of Israel’s current circumstances between A.D. 1 through A.D. 29, and they are deeply prophetic for Israel’s immediate future, (A.D. 69-70), as well as being prophetic not only for Israel but serve as a warning for the entire world about the horrific Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (1), (2), (3), which is yet to come.

 THE PRESENT – IMMEDIATE FUTURE  – FUTURE

Jesus, speaking directly to His own disciples in the present tense, says, “So when you see the “abomination of desolation“, which suggests that either those who are present or those who may presently hear these words may have the opportunity to actually see the abomination of desolation with their own eyes. However, other verses surrounding verse 15 demonstrate that Jesus is also speaking of a distant future event.

Considering the historical circumstances of the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 there are a few reasons why Titus and his army may have been especially eager to make this unholy sacrifice.  According to Professor Watts, professor of New Testament at Regent College, “No Roman tomb was legally protected without a pig being sacrificed.”²  Obviously, the Temple in Jerusalem was littered with the bodies of dead Roman soldiers in A.D. 70.  Also citing K.M.T. Atkinson, Brain Incigneri points out “that the Romans would sacrifice a pig before the standards  [ensigns] at the taking of a military oath, sacramentum militare, shown in coins of the first century BCE.”³  The sacramentum militare was the oath taken by soldiers to pledge their loyalty to the emperor.⁴  Recall that during these sacrifices to the ensigns, Titus was declared imperator by his army:

And now the Romans, upon the flight of the seditious into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns to the temple and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator. [Emphasis mine.] (Wars 6.6.1.)

Suetonius suggests that there were rumors that Titus’ soldiers may have even wanted to make him emperor.⁵  If Titus’ soldiers wished to crown Titus emperor during these chants, perhaps these soldiers would have taken the sacramentum militare additionally motivating them to sacrifice a pig to the ensigns at that time? (Revelation.org)

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 6:  THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

PREVIOUS: THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 4:  AND THE END WILL COME.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 4:

Verse 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

We can tell when the gospel has finally been proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations because then the end will come; as told in Matthew 13:40, “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. Verse 41, The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Verse 42, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.

And, in Matthew 13:49, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, Verse 50, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Revelation 20:15, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

IMPORTANT: This event is specifically found in Revelation 20:11 through Revelation 21:8, which is The End of this Age.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 5:  THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.

PREVIOUS:  THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 3:  THE APOSTASY.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

 THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 3:

Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. Verse 10, And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Verse 12, And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

The events Jesus describes in verses nine through 12 had already begun in His day and His disciples suffered this ‘tribulation’ (internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is “no way of escape”) of persecution, alienation because of Jesus’ name, the rise of false prophets, lawlessness and death.

Jesus goes into greater detail in the sixth chapter of the book of Revelation, verses nine through 12, regarding this time of tribulation, death, hatred and the falling away of Christians from one another and from faith in God. This is a description of the breaking of the fifth seal of the tribulation scroll, which is the great apostasy, the great falling away from the faith and the great persecution of the Church.

Judged by the conditions around the world today, it seems that this fifth scroll seal has now been broken, and we are moving and inexorably toward the great tribulation also known as the great and terrible day of the Lord with a breaking of the sixth tribulation seal.

A CAUTION AND A WARNING:  When you see a great persecution of Christians, many falling away from faith in Jesus, hating and betraying one another; in conjunction with wars and rumors of wars, an increase in earthquakes, famines, disease, a   dangerous and dramatic increase in lawlessness; a rise of many false prophets and many being led astray from the Gospel of Christ,  you will know the fifth seal of the tribulation has been broken, and we are nearing the end.

Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 4:  AND THEN THE END WILL COME.

PREVIOUS:  THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 2:  WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

 THE ANSWER TO WHEN – part 2:

Verse 6. “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Verse 8. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER:

Jesus’ disciples heard of wars and rumors of wars in their day, and His disciples, since that day, have been hearing of wars and rumors of wars. These conflicts have increased in frequency and intensity, but Jesus is clear that wars and rumors of wars are not yet the end. He also said nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and we have had a myriad of global conflicts including two world wars, but once again he is clear that this is not yet the end for these things must first take place.

Jesus goes on to tell his disciples, both then and now, that we will experience famines and earthquakes, and we have seen an increase in the frequency and the severity of famines and earthquakes over the ensuing decades, in various places. Again, Jesus says these are just the beginning of birth pangs, which is an apt metaphor to describe the coming birth of something new and terrible.

IMPORTANT:  Jesus’ words, as recorded in Matthew 24:6-8, regarding ‘wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes’ are a summary of His remarks recorded in the book of The Revelation, chapter 6, which goes into greater detail about the breaking of the first 4 seals of the scroll of the tribulation, also known as ‘birth pangs’ or the ‘days of distress’ which had begun sometime around A.D. 1 to A.D. 25.

NEXT:  THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – Part 3:  THE GREAT FALLING AWAY.

PREVIOUS:: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – PART 1. THE SIGNS, THE COMING, THE END.

THE INTRODUCTION:  THE END OF THE AGE?

MATTHEW 24

“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:1 “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

In order to fully understand the mood and temperament of Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, you should first read Matthew chapter 23, wherein Jesus issues eight woes against the scribes and the Pharisees and completes his remarks with the prophetic proclamation, “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

All four of the gospels record a similar version of Jesus words to his disciples regarding the temple. What seems to be an innocent question about the temple buildings and their beauty is met with a prophetic rebuke from Jesus, perhaps provoked because of Jesus recent encounter with the scribes and Pharisees.

We see, in Matthew 24:3, Jesus departs for the Mount of Olives which a place Jesus goes to pray, meditate and teach. Jesus’s disciples then come to him privately, apparently having understood His earlier remarks, asking for clarification.

THE QUESTION:  “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – part 1:

Matthew 24:4, “And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

It is important, when trying to understand Jesus’ explanation, to first realize that He is speaking directly to His disciples, at that very moment, about  current circumstances. The year is around A.D. 25.

Jesus is saying “I SAY TO YOU, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, “see that no one leads you men astray.”

This is instruction for them in that day and is meant for us in our day, as well.

IMPORTANT: Jesus is saying that the beginning of the End of the Age had begun. It is also important to know that prophecy often times takes time, decades or centuries to reach fulfillment.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – PART 2:  WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS.

PREVIOUS: THE END OF THE AGE.

(Really?)

A Google search of the exact phrase, “when is the end of the age”, (when put in quotations so those exact words, in that order will be found), produced 5,390,000 results! This question has invoked intense interest since the time of Christ.

There have been scores of books written on this subject ranging from science-fiction to serious eschatological studies; and there have been, undoubtedly, millions of sermons offered by mostly well-intentioned preachers on this subject, most of which are so convoluted by denominational strictures they are hardly intelligible.

I may fare no better than others, but it is my intention to clear away the denominational clutter by taking the Bible at its face value, and when required, recognizing the appropriate parts of speech, the metaphors, similes and parables, then to read and study, allowing the Bible to interpret itself keeping all scriptures in context of the entire Bible.

A final note before we answer the question, “What will be the sign of Jesus’ coming and of the end of the age?”

Daniels 70 weeks

If you ever find yourself asking “can these matters, found in the Bible about ‘The End of All Things’ really be true”, then consider the incredible accuracy and timing of the unfolding events of the prophecies contained in ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’.

Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

 Verse 25. So, you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.

Verse 26. Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

 Verse 27. And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

 QUESTION & ANSWERS ABOUT “DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK”

1. When did Daniel have his vision about the End of Days?                  

660 BC

2. What is Daniel’s Seventy Weeks?                     

The prophecy contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these prophetic events to pass. Daniel 9:24 tells us this purpose is,

(1) “to finish transgression,”

(2) “to put an end to sin,”

(3) “to atone for wickedness,”

(4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,”

(5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and,

(6) “to anoint the most holy.”

Notice that these results concern the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness. The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before the End of the Age, and when Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.  (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)

3. When did the 70 Weeks (490 years) begin?

Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree, 445 BC, to the time of the Messiah (30 AD) would be 483 years.

(a). We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).

(b). The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (see Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

(c). Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.

(d). Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem.  (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)

4. When does the final week, the 70th Week of Daniel, begin?

Read again, in Daniel 9:26, the prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”

This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem and the 2^nd Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, with uncanny accuracy. This entire prophecy was fulfilled in exactly 483 years, just as foretold.

Since that date we have been in a period of time of an undetermined length known variously as The Age of Grace, The Dispensation Gap Theory or The Eschatological Gap, wherein God, by His mercy, is allowing time for many to come to Christ in faith and to be saved from the destruction that is to follow.

This issue of ‘The End of The Age’ has been hotly debated for centuries.  Scriptures have been clear, and a simple face-value reading of scriptures leads to the conclusion that the final 7 Weeks, the ‘times of distress’ also known as a period of tribulation (not to be confused with the Great Tribulation Period or the “Wrath of the Lamb”), will begin with the breaking of the breaking of the 6th Seal of Tribulation.

Now, let’s move on to Matthew chapter 24 and hear what Jesus says about when these things will occur, what the sign of His coming will be, and what He says will be the end of the age.

NEXT: THE ANSWER TO “WHEN” – PART 1:  MATTHEW 24 – “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”