Matthew 24
-As Christ’s disciples and He were coming out of the Temple,
the disciples remarked about the beautiful building and its adornment. Jesus
prophesied that there would come a time when it would be destroyed with not one
stone left upon another (this was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman army
destroyed the Temple and brick by brick deconstructed it in search of its
gold). The disciples privately asked Him on the Mount of Olives three important
questions: 1. When will these things (destruction of the Temple) be? 2. What
will be the sign of Your coming? 3. What will be the sign/signs of the end of
the age?
-The Lord goes into a lengthy discourse to prepare them and
the rest of the world, as it is put into Scripture, for the signs of His coming
and the end of the age. Important things to note from His teaching are: See
that no one misleads you, false Christs and false prophets will come and
deceive many, wars and rumors of wars will occur along with famines,
earthquakes, tumult on the seas (this is not yet the end though, just the
beginning of birth pangs), a great persecution will arise against the elect
delivering them to authorities and some will be killed, there will be a falling
away (apostasy) and people’s love will grow cold because lawlessness will
increase. Endurance to the end is reiterated over and over with a watchful,
awake eye on the things that are transpiring. Alertness and readiness are the
key components in Jesus’ preparation lecture. The ones who endure will be saved
(Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:19). The gospel of the Kingdom of God will
be preached and proclaimed throughout the whole earth as a testimony to the
nations and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10).
-The end of the age is set in earnest by the act of the
abomination of desolation (spoken of by Daniel, Daniel 12:11) standing in the
Holy Place, the Temple. This is the middle of the tribulation period of Jacob’s
trouble if we compare Scripture with Scripture in careful analysis, which this
devotion does not have time for right now. Jesus tells them that when this
happens, the people in the area of Jerusalem are best to head to the Judean
wilderness to the east where they can hide and receive the miracles of God for
survival (Revelation 12:6). This sparks the great tribulation period of 3 ½
years, which had to be cut short or else no human being would be saved (Matthew
24:22). At the end of this period and in an hour unknown even to the angels and
the Son, the Father will send the Son to appear in the heavens coming in great
power and great glory and with a trumpet call He will gather His elect (the
faithful believers) from the four winds. *Application*
The primary focus for us should be on the exhortation to be alert and be ready
as we see these things take place with greater frequency and force. We must
remain faithful and true to the Word, which will never pass away, and endure to
the end no matter how difficult things become. O believer do not lose heart and
let your love grow cold. Christ will return and all will be set straight. Our
redemption and salvation is for those who overcome in faith by the blood of the
Lamb (Romans 12:21, 1 John 4:4; 5:4, Revelation 7:14; 12:11; 17:14)!
Verses to Memorize:
Matthew 24:30, 42
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