The Prophetic Time-Line of Matthew 24 & 25

Matthew 24 and 25

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The Prophetic Time-Line of Matthew 24 & 25

A problem I had for years in understanding Jesus' Olivet Discourse was that I attempted to find "the Rapture" ? as did many authors, books, and commentaries I studied ? in Jesus' answer to His Disciple, However, the Church Age is not in Matthew 24 because it is a message delivered to Israel following their rejection of Christ as their Messiah. Jesus was predicting the events of Israel's future ? even though much of it, of course, can apply to us today, simply because it reveals "end-time events" ? and the urgency of being prepared for the end!

Jesus gives this discourse because of the questions His disciples asked. Jesus had just predicted the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:2) ? this took place in A.D. 70. The disciples were familiar with Daniel's prophecy of the destruction of the Temple, that was associated with end-time events ? therefore, they knew Jesus was speaking of the end-times that Daniel predicted. When Jesus said what He did in verse 2, the disciples asked, "What will be the sign of Your coming?" and "What will be sign of the end of this age?"

Jesus' answer in chapter 24 and 25 is in response to His disciples' inquires as to "The sing of His return to earth ? in glory to set up His kingdom" ? and ? "the signs of the end of this age."

The "rapture" cannot be found in Matthew 24 and 25 ? as we will see!

RAPTURE

CHRIST'S GLORIOUS APPEARING Mt.24:26-31

Length unknown

Church Age

7 years in length

Tribulation

First half ? 3 ? ys.

Second half ? 3 ? ys. (24::21-25)

1000 years

Millennium

Destruction of

Tempe -7 A.D.

Mt.24:1-3

Tribulation

Begins

Signs

24:9-14

Wars, famines

Pestilence &

Earthquakes Mt.24:7-8

Generation "sees" these

things will not

pass till all is

fulfilled

24:32-36

Destruction of Temple and Persecution of Jews 24:15-20

Judgment of Nations Mt.25:31-46

From the study of Darrel Mitchell

Jesus' Olivet Discourse

There are certain passages of Scripture that are vastly important, messages of Christ that the believer needs to understand. Scriptural passages such as, the Sermon-on-the-Mount, or Jesus' upper room message ? called "The Holy of Holies" of Scriptures ? found in John 13 through 17, and Matthew 13, where Jesus gives His illustrious parables of "The kingdom of Heaven."

Matthew 24 and 25

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In the 24th and 25th chapters of Matthew Jesus gives His "Olivet Discourse," answering urgent questions asked by His disciples concerning His return to earth and the end of this age.

Matthew 24 Explained

Jesus' Olivet Prophecy

[Also in Mark 13 and Luke 21]

(I) Destruction of Jerusalem predicted

Verse 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.

Notice the setting, Jesus was leaving the Temple, walking away when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the beautiful Temple buildings. Why? Why would they draw His attention to the Temple? They had been in and out of it many, many times! The reason was because of what Jesus had just said. Let's take note of what Jesus says in Matthew 23:37-39, "O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you, say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Jesus' disciples were saying, in essence, "There is nothing that indicates desolation here." See the beauty of the Temple, its strength and sturdiness. The appearance of the Temple seemed to contradict what Jesus had just said.

The prophecy Jesus gives in Matthew 24 and 25 was uttered outside the Temple on the Mount of Olives (Mt. 24:3), while Luke 21was spoken in the temple before Jesus went out (Lk. 21:1, 27-28). Herod's Temple was about 500 cubits square, made of white marble was one of the wonders of the ancient times.

Verse 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.

Jesus gives a definite, positive prophecy then He and His disciples walk silently out of the city of Jerusalem and pass on to the Mount Olive.

This prophecy was fulfilled a generation later in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans; Dan. 9:26; Lk. 21:20-24). Josephus says that some stones were 94 feet long, 10 1/2 feet high, and 13 feet wide. There were 162 columns which held up the porches that were 52 feet high. Every stone was removed and a plow run over the place where it stood, fulfilling Mic. 3:12.

(II) Three great questions

[Also Mk 13:3 & Lk.21:7]

Verse 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?

The most commanding view of the temple was obtained from the mount of Olives. Here Jesus speaks "privately" ? In Luke 21 Jesus speaks "publicly."

The disciples ask: 1. "Tell us when these things will be?" 2. "What shall be the sign of Your coming?" 3. "What will be the signs of the end of the age?"

Matthew 24 and 25

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First, the disciples were asking about the destruction of the Temple, however, they then asked about the "presence" of Jesus, Himself.

We must not take this text out of its setting, or interpret these questions just to make them fit our belief about prophecy. It is true that Jesus' answer leads to a much larger area of prophecy then their questions, however it is important to remember that Jesus' answer began with these questions. It was these three questions of Jesus' disciple that prompted and initiated Jesus' response in this Olivet Discourse.

You will note that Jesus spoke of wars, plagues, famines, natural disasters, religious apostasy and intense persecution of the people of God, - these are miserable conditions that will exist on the Earth just prior to the return of Jesus Christ according to the Bible.

This is not a pleasant scenario, but it is the truth. I didn't make this up! These are the words of Jesus Himself. He said in verse 8 that these things would be the "beginning of sorrows," or literally the "birth pangs," the world would experience in the Last Days.

As we study , keep in mind that, Matthew 24 begins with Jesus talking to His disciples. He had just told the multitude of people in Matthew 23 of the woes and judgments that were to come upon Jerusalem and He had berated the Jewish religious leaders for their self-righteous hypocrisy. In fact, He called them "hypocrites" seven times in that passage. He also said they were blind fools, children of hell, and snakes who could not escape damnation ? these were pretty strong words.

Jesus prophesied that the Temple itself, the center of Jewish religious life, would be destroyed so completely that not one stone would be left on top of another (Matthew 24:2).

Jesus' disciples were amazed at His radical predictions, and they wanted to know three things: when would all these destruction occur, and what would be the sign of the end of the world, when Jesus would return?

Three questions asked: 1. When will Jerusalem be destroyed? Answered in verses 1-3 and Luke 21:12-24. 2. What will be the sign of Your coming? Answered in verses 4-26, 37-39. 3. What will happen when You come? Answered in verses 24:27-31, 40-51; Mt. 25:1-46.

Twenty-four signs of the second coming:

1. Deceptions (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24)

16. New Jewish nation in Judea

2. False Christs (Mt. 24:5, 23-26)

(Mt. 24:9, 15-26; Ezek. 37; Dan. 9:27)

3. Wars and rumors of wars (Mt. 24:6-7)

17. New Jewish temple

4. Famines (Mt. 24:7; Rev. 6:5-6)

(Mt. 24:15, 26; Rev. 11:1-2; Dan. 8:9-13;

5. Pestilences (Mt. 24:7; Rev. 6:8)

Dan. 9:27; Dan. 11:45; 2Th. 2:4)

6. Earthquakes (Mt. 24:7; Rev. 6:12-17)

18. Great tribulation of 3 1/2 years

7. Anti-semitism (Mt. 24:9; Mk. 13:9, 13)

(Mt. 24:21; Dan. 12:1; Rev. 12:1 -- Rev. 19:21)

8. Offenses (Mt. 24:10; cp. Mt. 18:1-10)

19. Martyrdoms (Mt. 24:9, 22; Dan. 8:24; Rev. 7:9-17;

9. Betrayals (Mt. 24:9; Mk. 13:12)

Rev. 11:7; Rev. 15:2-4; Rev. 20:4-6)

10. Hatred (Mt. 24:10; 2Tim. 3:1-9)

20. Flight of Jews from Judea

11. False prophets (Mt. 24:11, 24; Rev. 13)

(Mt. 24:16-21; Rev. 12:6, 14; Isa. 16:1-5; Ps. 60:4-8;

12. Lawlessness abounding (Mt. 24:12)

Dan. 11:40-45; Ezek. 20:33-38; Hos. 2:14-16)

13. Love decreasing (Mt. 24:12-13; 2Tim. 3)

21. Increased satanic powers (Mt. 24:24; 2Th. 2:8-12;

14. Increased missionary work (Mt. 24:14)

Rev. 13; Rev. 16:14; Rev. 19:20)

15. Abomination of desolation

22. Surfeiting (Mt. 24:38; Lk. 17:28; Lk. 21:34)

(Mt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27; 2Th. 2:4; Rev. 13)

23. Sex crimes (Mt. 24:38; Lk. 17:27)

Matthew 24 and 25

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24. Procrastination and lethargy (Mt. 24:39)

(III) Signs of the Second Coming of Christ (A) 8 signs beginning Jewish sorrows

[Also Mk 13:8; Lk.21:8 and Rev ? chapters 6-9]

Verses 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 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.

The disciples did not understand the concept of Jesus' "Advent" ? His return to earth. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, they did not see this present Church Age in God's prediction for the future. This concept was revealed to them later [Read Ephesians 2:13-14 and 3:1-6]. They realized that Jesus would pass from their midst and somehow escape from the hostility of the Roman rulers, however, they did not understand the concept of His leaving earth and returning again sometime in the future. They were asking, "Since this Temple is to be destroyed, when will it be? Since You are coming in judgment, how, and when, will it take place?"

Without an understand of this present Church Age, the disciples asked about the prophecy Jesus gave concerning the destruction of the Temple ? and of the end of "the age." They asked, "When will these things be? When will You return? When will be the consummation of this present age?"

Jesus spends the next verses answering these specific questions the disciples had asked about, and, even though the signs Jesus predicts concerns His coming in revelation of power and great glory ? what Jesus said is still pertinent to us today.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

These verses (4 through 7) are a real eye-opener, Jesus said, "Many will make use of My name, but don't be deceived by them and don't be troubled, the end is not yet!" Note that Jesus reveals the answer to their question about the destruction of Jerusalem, but, He tells them, "the end is not yet."

Mt. 24:4-26 are unfulfilled ? Mt. 24:27-51; Mt. 25:1-46 will be fulfilled at the second coming and in eternity. There are many warnings against being deceived

(Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24; Lk. 21:8; 1Cor. 6:9; 1Cor. 15:33; Gal. 6:7; Eph. 5:6; 2Th. 2:3).

Jesus gives general information about what things would be like in the Last Days before the end of the world - or literally, in the Greek, at the "end of the age." That phrase, "the end of the age," has the connotation of the end of a distinct period of time, rather than the ultimate end of everything that exists. So what Jesus is talking about here is the end of the current "age," or the period of human history in which we now live, that will "end," with the Tribulation period.

Verse 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows

The first eight signs of Mt. 24:4-7 are the beginning, not the end of sorrows. The word translated, "sorrows" is from the Greek, "odin," meaning, birth pangs (Gal. 4:19, 27; 1Th. 5:3; Rev. 12:2). This refers to the troubles of Israel in the tribulation (Mt. 24:15-21; Isa. 66:7-8; Jer. 30:4-7; Dan. 7:21; Dan. 8:9-14, 24; Dan. 9:27; Rev. 12).

Matthew 24 and 25

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There are eight sings Jesus mentions that will talk place at the beginning of "Jewish sorrow." There are:

1. "Many will make use of My name" ? verse 5 2. "They will deceive many" ? verse 5 3. "There will be rumors of war" ? verse 6 4. "Nation will go to war with nation" ? verse 7 5. "Kingdom will fight against kingdom" ? verse7 6. "There will be famines" ? verse 7 7. "There will be pestilences ? verse 7 8. "There will be earthquakes indifferent parts of the world" ? verse 7

(B) 8 signs during the sorrows of Israel

[Also Mk 13:9]

Verses 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.

Then -- during birth pangs of Israel ? Jews will be hated by the Gentiles.

Verse 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The word translated, "end," from the Greek word "telos" means, "the actual end of anything" (Mt. 24:6, 14). The Greek word, "sunteleia," meaning, "the joining of two ages" is not the Greek word that is used here in Mt.24:13 ? as it is in Mt. 13:39, 40, 49; Mt. 24:3; Mt. 28:20 and Heb. 9:26. Here "telos" means the end of life or the age as it may be.

The Greek word that is translated, "saved" is, "sozo" ? It is used 110 times in the New Testament" ? to be saved from of sin (Mt. 1:21; Heb. 7:25), danger (Mt. 14:30; Mt. 27:42), spiritual conflict (Jn. 12:27; 1Tim. 4:16), sickness (Jas. 5:15), hell (Jn. 3:16-18; Mk. 16:16), and slavery (Jude 1:5).

Verse 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.

Note that Jesus refers to "the Gospel of the kingdom" ? not the message of Church ? "salvation." Then - the "end" ? not the rapture ? but the end of this age ? will come!

In verses 9-14 Jesus gives signs that will take place during the time of "Israel's sorrow," the Tribulation period. Jesus states, "THEN" these things will happen . . . "

1. "They will be delivered to be afflicted" ? verse 9 2. "They will be killed" ? verse 9 3. "They will be hated of all nations for Christ's sake" ? verse 9 4. "Many will be offended" ? [stumble, fall away ? lose heart] ? verse 10 5. "Many will betray one another" ? verse 10 6. "Many will hate one another" ? verse 10 7. "There will be many false prophets" ? verse 11 8. "Iniquity will abound" ? verse 12

"He who endures to the end will be saved" ? verse 13

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