Matt 24:15-28, 32-35
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· 6 viewsJesus cares for his disciples, and continues with pastoral help for the days to come.
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Last week, we saw the urgency of Jesus message to the disciples concerning the end of time
Jesus said Jerusalem was gonna be destroyed, the disciples say tell us the end is coming, Jesus says be ready
The time is now, be ready- who knows when Jesus is coming but the most important thing is be ready
Today we will walk through a few more verses as we continue onward in what is called the Olivet discourse
Read Matt 24:15-28
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
This verse is a very interesting verse because of the abomination of desolation reference
the abomination of desolation is spoke n of Daniel and many viewed that prophecy to be fulfilled in 167BC when Antiochus Epiphanies, Seleucid King, sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Temple
This lead to the Maccabean Revolt with Joseph Maccabeus, the Iron Hammer, leads the Jews in revolt and reconsecrates the temple
The Jews created a festival to remember it and it is still kept- Festival of Lights- Hannukah
So when Jesus speaks of the prophecy in Daniel, the disciples would have known about this and would have been the majority understanding that this has already occured
But with prophecy there can be more than one fulfillment of that prophecy or it can have a fuller meaning than the original context
Take another Daniel prophecy in Daniel 7 where he sees a vision of a lion, bear, leopard and one with iron teeth
This represented the 4 kingdoms that would rise up- 1st being babylon, medes and Persians, Greeks, and Roman
Daniel was living during the first part of that vision but yet more was to come
But also we see these same beast appear in the book of Revelation
Sometimes with prophecy, there is present or current fulfillment and still a future fulfilment
So when Jesus says, let the reader understand- he is meaning the reader of Daniel- that this is really the abomination of desolation
The fulfillment is now- the Disciples understood the tragedy that occured when A.E. desecrated the Temple
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
So Jesus says when you this happening, head to the hills- dont run to the city
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Lukes parallel account helps clear up any issues concerning what he was speaking about
Jesus cared and gave clear warnings of what to do to stay alive
Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
When Jerusalem falls, there will be no time to gather stuff- its time to flee
and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
Leave it behind, if you go get the cloak, you will not make it out the city.
And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
Difficulty will be exponential for those who are pregnant or nursing
Hard to move quickly and hard on the body
Jesus says pray this doesnt happen in the winter or a Sabbath- Makes it hard to take off when the weather is much harsher
Also make it hard to get away when large groups are gathered to worship in the temple or synagogue
The destruction of Jerusalem is going to be bad
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Jerusalems fall was the most devastating conquering of the Jews
they will be scattered for nearly 2k years - no national identity again until 1949
Israel has been taken captive before but this was something of which never happened before in their history or will happen again
Had the attack not been cut short and many Christians flee to the mountians, no one would have made it out alive
But this prophecy is one that has greater fulfilment later on
When? Day of the Lord- Never will there be a time of judgement like this and had God not spared His elect from the destruction, no one would survive His wrath
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
But when this occurs, destroying of Jerusalem, many people will say Christ is coming or false teacher will come trying to persuade with evil trickery
They will be so persuasive, that even the elect of God would fall away if that was a possibility- Its not but shows the persuasive power they have
Jesus tells them this before any of this occurs as means to help them prepare for this difficult time
So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Jesus further reminds them, if someone says they have seen Christ come back here or there do not believe it
The Coming of the Son of the man will be nothing like what they will experience during the Ad 70 destruction
When Jesus comes the second time, there will be no doubt it is he that has come
Just like lightning lights up the sky, so definite will be his second coming
Jesus then goes in depth into what the Day of the Lord looks like in verse 29-31
If you have been studying with us in Revelation, you would have seen the similarities here
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
We know that he has to have two different days in minds in this discussion because of vs 29
“Immediately after”- doesnt mean its the next second or minute but that sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Day of the Lord will immediately follow
So the early church and ourselves sit in the church age- awaiting the coming of the Lord
But make no doubt, no tribulation the world has ever seen or currently is seeing compares to that day
The heavens virtually fall out of place- the natural order of which God set the world in motion comes unglued
Judgement is coming
You think Jerusalems destruction was something, its nothing compared to whats coming for the unbelieving world
Rev 6- the unbelievers cry out for the mountains to crush them so they can have relief, but there is none
How interesting, the disciples are urged to run to the mountains to be saved but the unbelievers run to mountains in hope they get crushed but yet you cant escape the wrath of God
Need to hear people whispering he has come, All the earth will know
Angels declared his humble birth during his first advent and here they are sent out to get his people through out the world
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Jesus use a parable to reinforce his prophecy
When you see the fig tree putting out green leaves, you know its summer
When you see the city fall, when you see the birth pains, be ready, the time is near
Some of this will be fulfilled during this generation- the destruction of the temple is coming
Historical records prove Jesus’s prophecy to be true
Jesus words are true- heaven and earth will not last but Jesus’ words will
That grand temple wont last, but Jesus’ words will
As we wrap up this chapter, I think a crucial practical application for believers today is for us to believe Jesus words
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Jesus didnt give the disciple day or the hour for his return, just the directive to be ready because he could come at any moment
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Troubles have come, are coming and will come- but what is certain is for those who persevere, they have a firm foundation in Christ
Unbeliever, do you want security? Hope? joy?
Words the world is searching for but will not look to Jesus
The world is a mess but its not outside of Gods control
Maybe, just maybe, God knows what He is allowing to occur to bring even you to this very moment
A relationship with God isnt possible without a heart change
Sin has left every person dead in sin and seperated from God
But God sent Jesus to die in the place of sinners- he took our place so we dont have to
He rose again 3 days later and lives in heaven as he awaits his return
Its God who maybe speaking to your heart now, calling it from death to life
His words are true, the end is certain- will you trust or will you be desolate and awaiting judgement?