Matthew 24
1. And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
2. But he answered and 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.
3. And as he sat on 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?
Jesus was asked when the temple would be destroyed. What would be the sign of His return and of the end of the world.
4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.
Since the physical body of the believer (1 Cor 6:19) is God’s spiritual temple the attempt to mislead the believer could be understood to be an attempt to destroy the temple.
5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.
6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.
7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.
8. But all these things are the beginning of travail.
Jesus says that False Christ’s; wars, famines and earthquakes do not indicate the “end” but the initial pains of a birth.
This answer sets the parameters of Jesus answer as not being literal. The things indicating a birth in Matt 24 are not characteristic of a natural human birth.
Since Jesus is responding to a question, however hard to understand, His answer must still be applied to the question asked in verse 3. Paul commented on a birth process in Gal 4:19.
The attempted destruction of God’s temple by false Christ’s etc. indicates an attempt to disrupt the birth of a new creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
These events indicate destruction, and destruction is the indicator of the Day of the Lord, Isaiah 13:6 and Joel 1:15. The Day of the Lord is the appearance of Jesus for that destruction. As it applies to Christians the destruction/judgment is discipline due to sinful behavior, 1 Cor 11:32.
The appearance of a false Christ would ultimately bring about the appearance of the Lord in what is referred to as a Day of the Lord.
The abomination which brings about desolation (verse 15) refers to sin. Willful sin brings about an evaluation from God and the attempted reconciliation of the believer.
As the faithful disciples observe the abomination the awareness of sin should tell the disciples to flee away from the destruction and towards the Mountains.
Jesus warned the disciples of something (take heed) and then He describes the appearance of the subject of the warning (false Christ’s) as a birth pain. This would be done to keep the false Christ’s from disrupting the birth/growth of Jesus disciples.
God disciplines every Christian because of their sinful behavior, Heb 12:2. There is a difference between a sin committed in ignorance or by mistake, and a willful sin.
The appearance of false Christ’s suggests extreme willful sin by individuals and this would have the effect of causing the disciples to distinguish between the real and the false Christ.
The result of which would be their spiritual birth or salvation. The subsequent maturation of the disciples does not necessarily require their direction, just their endurance.
God forms the disciples into the image of Christ as Paul mentioned in Gal 4:19.
The development cannot be directed by the disciple himself. How could a newborn disciple know how to form the nature of Christ.
This development requires only the faithful endurance of the disciple himself to reach the “end”. The end of their faith being the salvation of their souls, 1 Peter 1:9.
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (KJV)
Each of the other events mentioned – Wars, famines and earthquakes would then also be developmental events, the endurance of which would result in a disciple’s salvation.
Salvation being defined as – being saved from the wrath of God which is be directed towards the offense/sin of unbelief in God’s true messiah – Jesus Christ, Matthew 3:7 and Luke 3:7.
These spiritualized references indicate the convulsions, which a Christian experiences as Christ is formed within them. These spiritual events are not indicative of the “end” of the process of spiritual development. They indicate the beginning of travail.
The appearance of false Christ’s etc. marks the beginning birth pains or travail. The spiritual ability necessary to determine if a Christ is real or false is being born or developed within the believer.
Travail or birth pains are experienced during the beginning and endurance to the end results in salvation, Matt 24 verse 13.
This birth then would then be the birth of a mature disciple of Christ or a person who has been saved (from God’s wrath). This saved person is 180 degrees removed from a person who is not saved from God’s wrath, but has to experience it.
9. Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake.
10. And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
In verse 10 some of the believers have stumbled or become sinful. By definition these sinful people would not in this instance be saved from God’s wrath but must experience it, Heb 10:26-27. This sin would then be the abomination, which brings about the destruction or desolation (the Day of the Lord) of the stones that make up the temple of God.
11. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.
12. And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.
The believers who have stumbled have left their first love.
13. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
In verse 13 the “end” or goal is said to be the individual’s salvation, from the desolation/destruction or wrath of God.
14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
15. When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
The love of many Christian’s will grow cold and they will stumble. When the faithful disciples see the abomination that brings desolation in the Holy place (this abomination is sinful behavior among God’s people) they should run to the mountains because the discipline or desolation resulting from sin is inevitable.
This then is a representation of sin (the abomination) being in the body of the believer (temple). The temple is the overall subject of this chapter and its destruction. The disassembling of the stones of the temple then would represent the discipline of the believer due to sinful behavior. The continued practice of sin would also be sign that Jesus will come as a thief to judge and refine His followers. This is referred to as the Day of the Lord. The “end” or goal of the world can be understood through verse 13 to be the salvation of Jesus people.
The abomination or sin that is found in the believer’s life causes the temple to be disassembled. Verse 10 speaks of Christian’s stumbling or sinning.
This is the abomination that is found in the temple (or believer’s body). The abomination of sin within the believer causes the jealousy of God to bring the desolation.
When the faithful disciples notice this abomination of sin within the believer (Holy place) they should flee. This suggests the phrase “come out from among them” found in Revelation 18:4.
Re 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (KJV)
The reason that the faithful disciples are encouraged to flee to the mountain (stronghold or God), is so that they do not experience the plagues or discipline that is a natural consequence of the willful sin which some of the believers have stumbled into.
16. then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:
Judea is the representation of the faithful people of God, just as the people on the rooftop and in the field are.
17. let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house:
18. and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
19. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
20. And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath:
21. for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
The reason for the “woe” in these verses is given in verse 21. There will be great tribulation resulting from the discipline of the sinful brethren and if a believer has trouble fleeing from the presence of sinful brethren they may be caught up in the discipline of their sinful brethren. This is the same thing seen in Revelation 18:4.
22. And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Verse 22 is similar to 1 Corinthians 10:13:
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (KJV)
God will not allow the elect to be tempted beyond their ability to endure the temptation. For the sake of the elect a means of escaping the temptation will be provided. When this avenue is taken the days of the Lord’s judgement will be shortened.
23. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not.
24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
25. Behold, I have told you beforehand.
26. If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe it not.
27. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
The coming of the Lord will be a quick destructive force. Indicative of the Day of the Lord and the judgement of that time.
28. Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Wherever the spiritually dead body is – (wherever the abomination of sin is found in the Holy place) the scavengers/devourers or demons will gather to bring about desolation. The Lord appears through their agency as a thief in the Day of the Lord. In effect Jesus uses evil beings to mature His people when they wander from faithfulness.
29. But immediately after (or amid/during, Strong’s #3326) the tribulation of those days the sun shall 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:
The word translated as “after” can also carry the meaning of “during”.
During (amid) and following those days of desolation or tribulation the believer’s will no longer be the light of the world.
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 on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
All the tribes mourn in such a case not because they are comfortable but because of the great tribulation brought about by willful sin.
31. And he shall send forth his angels (messengers) 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.
Jesus will come to His desolate temple and revive it by causing the wicked angels or messengers to in effect gather the Christian’s back to Christ after/during the judgement. Their sin in this manner has brought the necessary correction, 1 Cor 11:32.
Both good and evil messengers of God are useful to God as He gathers Christians to Christ. This can be interpreted as the destruction of the Day of the Lord being carried out by demonic (evil) messengers in the case of sinful behavior.
It can also be seen to indicate that the kind messengers of God (good Angels) will comfort the Christian who has successfully overcome temptation.
This is exemplified for us through the example of Jesus being comforted by angels after temptation, Matt 4:11, Lk 22:43 and Matt 25:23.
32. Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;
33. even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors.
When the Christian begins to show signs of growth it becomes apparent that it is summertime. Similarly, when the abomination is in the Holy place the judgment will follow.
34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.
Verse 34 is a strong affirmation showing us that the Day of the Lord is not a single instance, but a point when God evaluates the believers progress towards obedience to Christ. This evaluation/judgment happens in each believer’s life at different times as God the Father determines.
35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36. But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.
37. And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
38. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
39. and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
40. Then shall two man be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:
41. two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.
42. Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.
43. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
This shows that Jesus comes (His will is brought forth) through the agency of the thieves or demonic entities.
44. Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Watching in verse 43 is the same watching that is encouraged in 1 Thessalonians 5:6. It is “being alert” so that a Christian does not fall into sin.
1Th 5:6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. KJV
45. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
46. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
The coming mentioned in verse 46 is not the Second Coming. The Second Coming occurs at conversion, Acts 3:19-21. This coming is a time of judgement or evaluation. After this judgment process angels are sent to gather Jesus followers back to Him.
This shows that the Second Coming (bringing forth salvation) seen in Hebrews 9:28 is a lifelong process of change and is similar to the “end” spoken of in Matthew 24:13. The endurance of this process of change results in salvation. When the Lord comes, and finds His servant “so doing” he is rewarded with further progress into the kingdom of God. This concept is found in Matt 25:21 and 23.
What this means is that although we use the term “saved” as a descriptive term for Christians (those who follow Christ) the term cannot be accurately applied until the person has endured to the “end”.
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
47. Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.
The Christian’s who are found to be faithful on the Day of the Lord (time of judgement) will be rewarded by the Lord.
48. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth;
49. and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken;
50. the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,
51. and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
If a Christian is not alert or falls asleep they will be hypocrites and will be disciplined as the hypocrites are disciplined.