Matthew 24 (11) - Clear and Precise

Jesus' message in Matthew 24 is a wonderful example of a clear precise prophecy.

Jesus was very clear about what would happen. The walls of the temple would be smashed and destroyed. This prophecy was fulfilled.

Jesus explained clearly why these events would happen. They would be the consequence of the stuff described in the previous chapter.

When asked when these things would happen, he gave a very precise answer. They would not happen immediately, but they would come in the lifetime of most of the people listening.

Jesus gave good advice about what people should do when the troubles started. They should flee to the mountains. Those who heeded this warning were kept safe (Acts 4:36-37).

Jesus also gave a couple of signs that would show them when the time to action was close (Jerusalem surrounded by an army). This prophecy was fulfilled, too.

Jesus also warned them not to be deceived by wars, famines, earthquakes and false religions. These types of event are ubiquitous in every age, so they are not a sign of anything, except that a people have lost the blessing of God.

When asked about the second coming, Jesus said two things. First he did not know when it would happen. Second, there would be no signs of the second coming. It would occur when life was going on as normal on earth, so most people including Christians will not be expecting it.

Jesus also explained that this lack of signs does not matter. He told several parables, which explain what we should do. “Get on with doing the job you are called to do, so you will be ready when Jesus returns”.

This is all very clear and precise, and gave Jesus listeners everything that they needed to know. Nothing is missing. No unanswered questions. But many Christians cannot accept Jesus’ clear precise message and turn it into something confusing, with multiple fulfilments, so that they can get what they want.

They ignore Jesus’ statement that there will be no signs for the second coming and try to find signs.

They ignore Jesus’ statement that he does not know the day and the hour, and claim that they can know the month and the year and the season.

They ignore Jesus’ explanation that famines, earthquakes and wars are common in every unrighteous age, and turn them into the true signs of the second coming.

No wonder many Christians are confused.

Matthew 24 (6) - Gospel to the Nations

There is a very common belief that the gospel must be preached to all nations before Jesus returns. This view has been a strong motivator for missionary activity. The fact that modern communications are making the preaching of the gospel to all nations possible is seen as a sign that Jesus is coming soon. Many Christians believe that the gospel will soon have been preached to all nations and that Jesus coming will follow soon after. This event is referred to as the great end-time harvest.

This belief is based on Matthew 24:14:

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to the nations and then the end will come.

The first problem with this belief is based on an incorrect understanding of the purpose of Mathew 24:1-39. These verses are relate to the destruction of Jerusalem and not the second coming of Jesus (see link). Jesus specifically said that there would be no sign before the second coming.

Jesus was saying that the preaching of the gospel throughout the world was a sign of that the destruction of Jerusalem was near. God's purpose in giving the sign was that all the nations would understand the significance of the fall of Jerusalem (cf Exodus 32:12, Deut 2:25).

There is some confusion about the word "end" in this verse. The Greek word translated as end is "telos", which means end , last part, close or conclusion. It is not the same as the world "sunteleia" which is used in the expression "end of the age" in Matthew 24:3. That word, although often translated as "end", really means consummation. The disciples were asking about the end of the age so it was the appropriate word. In verse 14, Jesus is not speaking about the end of the age, the consummation, so he just uses the word telos. He was warning of the end of the Jewish nation in its current form, so this word was appropriate.

Jesus gave two signs of the destruction of Jerusalem. The first was the preaching of the gospel to the nations. The second immediate sign was Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. The people of Jerusalem should escape to the mountains (Matt 24:15,16, Luke 22:20,21). Both these signs were fulfilled before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Jesus warning saved the lives of many believers. Although a million Jews lost their livens in the siege of Jerusalem, none of them were Christians. They heeded Jesus' warnings escaped with their lives.

Some people may find it hard to believe that gospel had been preached to the whole world by A.D.70 when Jerusalem was destroyed. Yet this is exactly what the Bible teaches. On the day of Pentecost there were devout men in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5). They would have taken the gospel back to their own lands. In Romans 1:8, Paul gives thanks the Christian faith is spoken of "all over the world". Colossians 1:6 says that "all over the world the gospel is producing fruit. The most specific fulfilment is given in Colossians 1:23.

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every nation under heaven...

This sign of the preaching the gospel must not be confused with the Great Commission, which required disciples to be made of all nations. That task is still not complete, but Jesus prophetic sign only required the gospel to be proclaimed as a "testimony" and a witness before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. An examination of the Bible shows that Jesus words were fulfilled.

It follows from these points, that Jesus was not saying that the preaching to all the nations is a sign of his second coming. Those who use this verse to support this view are interpreting it incorrectly. There is no scripture that states that the second coming will be proceed by a great end-time harvest.

God has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations and establish his kingdom on earth. Christians in all centuries have a responsibility to work on that calling, which is far from complete. Even if the kingdom of God is established in our lifetimes, there is no reason why the second coming should come straight away.

We are seeing a great advance of the gospel in our time. A great harvest is taking place. We should rejoice in this, but it is a mistake to see it as a sign of the second coming. I believe that we are getting close to a great victory for the kingdom of God. We will see an even greater harvest in the days ahead, before God's purpose is complete. God's purpose is not just to harvest the earth. The harvest is not an end in itself. They farmer completes the harvest, for what comes afterwards. God's purpose is that the whole earth will filled with his glory, as his people establish his kingdom throughout the earth.

Matthew 24 (5) - Coming on Clouds

In Matthew 24:30, Jesus warned the people of Jerusalem that,

They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

This is often misinterpreted as a description of the second coming. The expression "coming on the clouds" is not a description of the second coming of the Lord. It is a phrase used by the prophets to describe the judgement of a nation. In Isaiah 19:1, the Lord is described as coming on a swift cloud to Egypt. The context makes it clear that this is a description of the collapse of Egypt, and not the second coming. The expression is used in a similar way throughout the Old Testament (Is 13:6; Micah 1:3-5; Ps 97:2,3).

There is a good reason for the similarity of these descriptions to the second coming. Individuals are judged at the second coming, but nations are judged within history. When God has a case against a nation or system, he will bring judgement against it through the events of history. Although the timing is different, both are judged on the same standard, so similar language is used to describe them.

When Jesus speaks of "coming on the clouds" in Matthew 24, he is saying that he will come in judgement against Israel. The Jewish system has been tried and found wanting, so it will be destroyed. There is a confirmation of this interpretation in Matthew 26, where Jesus uses the same expression. He said to the priests, who were trying him,

I say to you all; in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matt 26:64).

The priests did not live to see the second coming of Jesus, but they did see the destruction of Jerusalem and the collapse of the Jewish system. They also saw Jesus being vindicated by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the growth of the church. Obviously Jesus was describing these events when he spoke of "coming on the clouds".

Jesus is also referring back to Daniel 7:13,14, where one who comes on the clouds (into the presence of God) is given authority and sovereign power over all nations. His kingdom is everlasting and will never be destroyed. In the interpretation, Daniel is told that this sovereignty will be given to the saints (Dan 7:27).

By quoting Daniel, Jesus was claiming that he would be given sovereignty over the nations. He will rule them from heaven, through his people on earth. The nations will mourn, because they must submit to his power, and acknowledge his glory. They know that if they refuse, they will be destroyed by his judgements. The destruction of Jerusalem was a warning that any nation or system that opposes Christ will eventually be destroyed.

Matthew 24 (4) - Sun and Moon Fall

Jesus used very strong and vivid language to describe the passing of the Jewish nation (Matt 24:29-31). Many people expect these passages to be fulfilled literally. This leads to an incorrect assumption that Jesus is speaking about the end of the world. Jesus’ words were based on the apocalyptic language of the Old Testament. Failure to understand this has led many people to see them as a description of the second coming. Jesus is actually describing the consequences of the fall of Jerusalem.

Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Matt 24:29).

The time frame of these verses is made very clear: "immediately after the tribulation of those days". They apply to that part of the great tribulation which takes place in "those days" when Jerusalem will fall. The word immediately shows that there will be no gap or delay. These verses describe the consequences of the fall of Jerusalem.

Jesus speaks of the sun and moon being darkened, and the stars falling from the sky. These things are not to be understood literally. Jesus is using symbolic language to describe the fall of the Jewish nation. The Old Testament prophets often described the collapse of a great nation in the same language. One example is found in Ezekiel 32:7,

When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.

Ezekiel is speaking about the defeat of Egypt by Babylon. The words give a graphic description of the collapse of Egypt before a greater power. They were not fulfilled literally, but in a prophetic sense they were fulfilled. Other prophets used the same kind of language to describe the collapse of a nation. The heavenly bodies were used as symbols of human governments, so the fall of a human government was described sun and moon falling from the sky. In Revelation 12:1, Israel was described as the sun, moon and stars.

Jesus is prophesying the end of the nation of Israel. The disciples, who were familiar with the Old Testament, would have understood his words. The destruction of Jerusalem would not just be a temporary setback for Israel. It would actually cease to exist as a nation. After AD 70 the Jews existed as a people, but they ceased to be a nation with their own government and their own land. They lost their political independence.

For many Jews, this idea would be impossible to accept. They traced their political independence right back to Moses. They believed that a time would come when a king of Israel would rule all the nations of the earth.

This was a false hope, so Jesus used dramatic language to bring home the seriousness of his message. He wanted them to know that the nation of Israel was coming to an end. The nation would not just be defeated, it would be destroyed. This was a shocking message, so dramatic that it need reinforcing.

Jesus final warning was equally strong.

Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather (Matt 24:28).

The vultures were the Roman army. The carcass was Jerusalem. This shocked his listeners, but his warning proved to be correct.

Matthew 24 (1) - Background

One of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible is Matthew 24, sometimes known as the Olivet discourse (there are parallel accounts in Mark 13 and Luke 21). This passage is often misunderstood, so it needs careful consideration. Most people assume that this passage gives a number of signs of the second coming of Jesus. This is not true. Verses 1-35 are actually a warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus was giving a strong warning to the Jews of what would happen to them, if they rejected him. Only at the end of the passage is the second coming described, and here no signs are given.

Before looking at Matthew 24 in detail, we must get an understanding of the context in which Jesus was speaking. Matthew records a long confrontation between Jesus and the leaders of the Jewish nation. It began in the time of John the Baptist. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came out to him, he told them to flee from the coming wrath and produce fruit worthy of repentance. He warned them that the axe was already at the root of the trees, and every tree that did not produce good fruit would be cut down and thrown on the fire (Matt 3:7-12). This was the first ominous warning to the Jewish nation. History shows that they did not repent, and Matthew 24 describes how the axe would fall.

Early in his ministry, Jesus gave a similar warning. After seeing the faith of the Gentile Centurion he said that many of the Gentiles would take a place in the kingdom of heaven, but many of the Jews, to whom the kingdom really belonged, would be thrown our into the place of darkness, and weeping, and gnashing of teeth (Matt 8:11,12).

Matthew 12 records how the Jews accused Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons. From that time on Jesus spoke in parables, so that they would not be able to understand what he was saying (Matt 13:13). The Jewish nation seemed to be set on a collision course with the purposes of God. This confrontation came to a head after the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matt 21). The Jewish leaders again questioned Jesus’ authority. Jesus responded with the parables of the Wicked Tenants and the Wedding Banquet, which warn that those who refuse to acknowledge him will find themselves shut out of the Kingdom.

This debate reached a climax in Matthew 22. The Jewish leaders had already begun to plot ways in which to kill Jesus (Matt 12:14). Now they tried to trap him with trick questions about paying taxes to Caesar, the resurrection, and the commandments. Jesus’ answers were so confounding, that no one dared to ask any more questions.

Jesus responded by denouncing the Pharisees and Teachers of the law publicly. Matthew 23 records this terrible accusation: of pride, false teaching, lack of mercy and faith, false judgment, dishonesty, greed and self indulgence. They are denounced in a series of seven woes. Jesus then announces:

Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers. Matt 23:32

This sentence gives a picture of a cup which is nearly full, and is being filled up to overflowing by the present generation of Jews. The nation has been rebelling against God, and grieving him for many centuries. Now with the rejection of the Son of God, they would fill up the cup of God’s wrath, bringing judgment on their nation. The law had warned that a nation that refused to be corrected would be punished for its sins, seven times over (Lev 26:23,24). This is exactly what would happen.

Jesus pronounced a terrible sentence against the Jewish nation.

Upon you will come all the righteous blood, that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berakiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all these things will come upon this generation. Matt 23:35

Upon this generation will come judgment, for all the prophets that have been killed. They will pay the price with their blood. Jesus then wept for Jerusalem and said.

Look, your house is left to you desolate. Matt 23:38

Jesus had longed to draw the people of Jerusalem to himself. Now he knew that they would reject him. He declared that God’s immediate purposes for the Jews were finished. Their house would be left desolate. The temple, which had been the dwelling place of God, had become a place of desolation. It was now deserted by God, so its destruction was inevitable. After pronouncing this terrible sentence, Jesus left the temple, never to return.

The disciples expected the Messiah to rule from the temple, and that it would be a centre of worship for all people on the earth (Acts 1:6). They were shocked by Jesus’ words. They could not accept the idea that God would desert the temple, so they pointed out the wonder of its buildings. But Jesus made his meaning clear when he said,

Do you see all these things…I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down. Matt 24:2

The temple would be totally destroyed. This is the context in which Jesus made his prophetic statement on the Mount of Olives. The leaders of the nation had repeatedly questioned and rejected his authority. Jesus declared that the consequence of this rebellion, would be the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. All these things would come upon the present generation.

Matthew 24

One of the most misunderstood passages is Jesus Big Prophecy in Matthew 24, sometimes known as the Olivet discourse (there are parallel accounts in Mark 13 and Luke 21). Most people assume that this passage gives a number of signs of the second coming of Jesus. This is not true. Verses 1-35 are actually a warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus was giving a strong warning to the Jews of what would happen to them, if they rejected him. Only at the end of the passage is the second coming described, and here no signs are given.

The message of Matthew 24 was prompted by Jesus warning that the grandeur of Jerusalem would be destroyed (Matt 24:2). Later the disciples came to Jesus with two questions:

1. When will these things be (the destruction of Jerusalem)?
2. What will be the sign of your coming (parousia), and the end of the age?

The disciples thought this was just one question, because they had assumed that these events would come at the same time. They believed that the destruction of Jerusalem would come at the second coming of Jesus. He had already taught them about the day of judgment which would follow his coming at the end of the age. When they heard him speak of judgment against Jerusalem, they assumed that it would come at the end of the age. They could not imagine a world without the Temple of Jerusalem, and assumed that the destruction of the Temple, must mean the end of the world. They wanted to know both the sign and the time of these events.

Whatever the confusion of the disciples, Jesus makes it clear that the destruction of Jerusalem is different from the second coming and the end of the age. He treats their question in two parts. Firstly, he gives the sign and the time of the destruction of Jerusalem (question 1). Then he speaks of the sign and the time of the second coming (question 2). Matthew 24 has two parts. Verses 4-35 deal with the destruction of Jerusalem. Verses 36-51 deal with the second coming and the end of the age.

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