Study on Matthew 24

Signs and times at the end of the ages

“1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew 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. 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.”

Jesus last discourse with his disciples. Notice Jesus mentions the destruction of the building. This concerned his disciples. The disciples ask Jesus three things in the above verses.

When shall these things be?

What shall be the signs when you come?

And lastly, what are the signs of the end of the world?

Jesus goes in the rest of the chapter to answer these questions. These questions are asked as well in Luke 21:6 and Mark tells us the disciples that Jesus is talking to, Peter, James, John and Andrew in verse 3 and again we see the same questions in verse 4.

Now I was watching a certain pastor discussing the great deception that will happen after the rapture and how the falling away will come first so many will be able to be deceived. So, it is important that we not focus as much on Revelation instead focus on the signs that will lead up to tribulation because we who are saved will be caught up to meet him in the air prior to the tribulation. You may not agree with this view but after much research in the Bible and prayer, I whole heartedly believe in a pretribulation take on the rapture. That will be saved for another blog post.

To further our dive into Matthew 24 we will see Jesus answer these three questions.

Deception

“4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you”. As I mentioned above the great deception that will occur. “⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” also Luke 21:8 and Mark 13:6.

Both word this a little different but are all in agreement with the meaning.

Notice the saying I am Christ. We hear that all the time but with a different twist to it. They may preach Christ through other books readings that are not inspired by God. One of the signs they are a cult and not preaching Jesus the son of God, God incarnate. Jesus states that antichrists were among them in that day. But he is speaking of getting worse, where unbiblical truths will start to creep into the church.

Here we find a reference to the church style that will be when it is the last church period. Revelation “3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

The 7 churches existed in different time periods; however, the last days before the tribulation the churches will be like the Laodiceans preaching false teachings of Jesus, hence, anti-Christ’s. Which just means against Christ. These churches will allow unbiblical practices to be going on in the church. They will be preaching to people’s feelings, wants, and desires. They will be conforming and compromising the word of God.

The deception will be so great, many won’t know what is right and what is wrong.

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

If this sounds familiar to today’s times, then you know what I am writing about.

Next part of this verse is the great falling away that will occur prior to the tribulation. We find this verse in,

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 KJV “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God”

We see this occurring in today’s society many have left the church by droves. Our youth are growing up with Biblical knowledge but being deceived by many false beliefs allowing them to live a life that suites them or feels good. This will keep getting worse until we see.

Reading further down we see that something also must happen in,

2 Thessalonians 2:”7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

Other translations call this one who restrains. 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7. He is called “the one who restrains” in some translations (ESV, NASB).

The Geneva Bible of 1599 states, “⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already workonly he which nowwithholdeth, shall let till he be taken out of the way”.

I put all three versions in to try to show a clearer picture. When starting 2 Thessalonians Paul comforts the believers that they don’t need to worry for it is not for them. Just as he does when he mentions rapture earlier in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10. You should read those verses without the break for Jesus comforts them to let them know they are in the light, “saved believers” and will not have to take part in the tribulation. However, it is still another long blog I will try to cover another day.

Now that we have dissected those first few verses. Let’s get to the answers for the questions.

The answers to the questions are all through the chapter. However, let’s take the answer to the first question.

“When shall these things be?”  (When will this time be the sign it has started?)

Matt 24 Verse 32-33“Now learn the parable of the fig tree: when her bough is yet tender, and it putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. So likewise ye, when ye see all these things, know that the kingdom of God is near, even at the doors.”

We know through prophecy and the Bible that the fig tree is Isreal. This is referenced to Israel becoming a nation in one day. This is when it begins.

Isiah 66: “8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? shall the earth be brought forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

Here we see Jesus answered the first question. This prophecy was fulfilled in 1948 when Isreal became a nation.

The next question is answered in verse.

“What shall be the signs when you come?” This is the rapture question, and the answer is long, but one verse does allude to it. However, many argue over the meaning of this verse. It is found “34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” It literally follows the verse about when it will start to while some scholars say it does not apply when Jesus will come to take his saints to heaven. I believe it does. This is the answer. While many ask what a generation is, well only God knows, Psalms tells us a generation is 70 or 80 +/- 10 years. To this day that is the average life span.

Other places say that before the flood they lived hundreds of years, then the generation was 120.

 Psalms ^“10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

So basically, a period of time between 60-90 years. However, Matthew also notes a verse that many that claim Matthew 24 is only for tribulation actual quote this verse for the rapture. I wonder how they don’t see that the rapture time period is mentioned in Matthew 24. Here is the verse. “36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”  We know this to mean the rapture time because we will not know. It will come in the twinkle of an eye and suddenly when no one is expecting it.

Pondering and researching on the know man will know the day or hour and whether that refers to when Christ touches down and brings the saints he has raptured and have died or whether it means the raptures. I came to the conclusion it must be rapture. For we know when Jesus returns with the saints (raptured and departed) will be seven years after the start of tribulation and tribulation starts when the antichrist confirms the seven-year peace treaty with Isreal.

Daniel 9: “²⁷ And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week ( means7 years here): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

So, Jesus will come back we know seven years from the signing of the peace treaty, this time can be determined. So, when we read further, we can see this not knowing the day or time does not refer to the final but the coming in the clouds to receive his bride.

“What are the signs of his coming?”  Now we read chapters 5-8.

“5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must 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 pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Notice in the above verse 8 this is the beginning of the sorrows. This is right after Israel becomes a nation in a day. May 14, 1949. 

Continuing, verses 9- 14. 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.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.”

More insight into what will be happening is found when he returns to take his bride (the church) home with him is found in verses 36-51.

“36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah 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. 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; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 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, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Now the last question was answered in the middle of Matthew 24, what are the signs of the end of the world?

Here I believe is why scholars have disagreements about Matthew, because Jesus answers the question of the final before he answers when he is coming.  

Now to answer the last question. We go back to Matthew 15-31which speaks to Revelation 6-20.

“15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)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.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. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew 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. 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. 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 the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Yes this long and we did not go over as much as I need to in order to complete this study on the times in between the fig tree (Isreal becoming a nation in a day, 1948) and the start of tribulation.

The time we are living in now. It is so important to know this information so we can try to reach as many people as possible to bring them to salvation. For when we know how horrible that time period will be we won’t want anyone to have to live through it. I stated earlier I would not go into depth on the rapture at this time, but I am planning on doing a few blogs on the rapture. It will be a very long blog post then.

I am contemplating on doing a blog about the days of Noah. I believe one of the other chapters mentions the days of lot too. So, it would be interesting diving into those signs and correlating them to the signs of the times.

Thank you for reading my blog on an indepth look at Matt 24, hope you return to dive into some of the other longers verses not looked into in this blog.

My third book is my memoir full of miracles, healings, visions, and angel encounters among a very troubled life that when all things looked hopeless God always delivered me.

Referrence links

For Bible links: https://biblegateway.com/

To learn about the author: https://sherrystates.com/about-the-author/

My first book: https://sherrystates.com/take-everything-to-christ-in-prayer/

Third Book: https://sherrystates.com/never-forsaken/

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