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Week 17 — Day 1
1 And Jesus came out 1from the 2temple and was going away, and His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the 2temple.
2 But He answered and said to them, Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, There shall by no means be left here a stone upon a stone, which shall not be 1thrown down.
3 And as He sat on the 1Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, 2When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your 3coming and of the consummation of the age?
4 And Jesus 1answered and said to them, 2See that no one leads you astray.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray.
11 The Lord came out from the temple, indicating that He had left the temple. This was to fulfill His word in 23:38, concerning His leaving the temple to the rejecting Jews as their house of desolation. This was equivalent to God’s glory leaving the temple in the ancient time (Ezek. 10:18).
12 The entire precincts of the temple.
21 This was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Titus and the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem.
31 To receive the vision of the Lord’s prophecy concerning this age, we need to climb the high mountain to enter into His presence.
32 The disciples’ question concerned three matters: (1) the time when “these things” would take place, including not only the destruction of the temple (v. 2) but also the things mentioned in 23:32-39; (2) the sign of Christ’s coming; and (3) the sign of the consummation of the age. The Lord’s word from 24:4—25:46 answered the disciples’ question concerning these three matters.
33 Gk. parousia, which means presence. Christ’s coming will be His presence with His people. This presence (parousia) will begin with the rapture of the man-child (Rev. 12:5) and the rapture of the firstfruits (Rev. 14:1-4) and will end with His appearing on the earth with the saints. During the period of His parousia there will be the great tribulation (v. 21; Rev. 9:1-21; 11:14; 16:1-21), which will begin with supernatural calamities (Rev. 6:12-17; 8:7-12); Christ’s descending to the air (Rev. 14:14); the rapture of the majority of the believers to the air (1 Thes. 4:15-17); the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10); and the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). (See the chart “The Seventy Weeks and the Coming of Christ, with the Rapture of the Saints” at the end of the New Testament.)
41 The Lord’s answer has three sections: the first section (vv. 4-31) concerns the Jews, who are the chosen; the second (v. 32—25:30) concerns the church; and the third (25:31-46) concerns the Gentiles (the nations). The first section, concerning the Jews, should be interpreted literally, whereas the second section, concerning the church, should be interpreted spiritually, because it is spoken in parables for the reason given in 13:11-13. For instance, the winter in v. 20 is the actual winter, but the summer in v. 32 is a symbol signifying the time of restoration. The third section, concerning the Gentiles, also should be interpreted literally.
42 Some aspects of the prophecy in vv. 4-14 have been fulfilled, and some are in the process of being fulfilled. At the time of the great tribulation, which will be the consummation, the end, of this age, the prophecy will be fully fulfilled.
Prophecy in the Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle. We need to find the various pieces that are scattered throughout the Bible and see how they fit together.…What I am presenting in these messages is the result of [more than fifty years] of study. (Life-study of Matthew, p. 710)
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 709-714; Hymns: #960
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 17 — Day 2
6 And you will be hearing of 1wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for it must happen; but the 2end is not yet.
7 For 1nation will rise up against nation, and 1kingdom against kingdom; and there will be 2famines and 3earthquakes in various places.
8 All these things are the beginning of 1birth pangs.
9 Then they will deliver 1you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of My name.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
61 Wars here denotes all the wars from the first century to the present. They are signified by the red horse of the second seal in Rev. 6:3-4.
62 The end denotes the consummation of this age (v. 3; Dan. 12:4, 6-7, 9), which will be the three and a half years of the great tribulation. Although vv. 6-9 and 14 are in the section concerning Israel, the tribulations and the preaching of the gospel mentioned in these verses take place generally, in the whole world, from the time of Christ’s ascension to the end of this age. Verse 15, immediately following v. 14, speaks concerning the beginning of the great tribulation (v. 21), which is the time when Antichrist will set up his image in the temple of God, which image will thereby become the abomination of desolation.
71 Nation denotes the people, the Gentiles; kingdom denotes an empire.
72 Famines issue mainly from war. According to history, war has often brought famine, signified by the black horse of the third seal in Rev. 6:5-6.
73 Since Christ’s ascension, earthquakes have been occurring throughout all the centuries and will be intensified at the end of this age (Rev. 6:12; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18).
81 Birth pangs are for the bringing forth of a child. In His New Testament economy, God’s desire and purpose are to bring forth many sons (Gal. 3:26; Heb. 2:10) as His expression. Hence, birth pangs here refers to all the tribulations in the New Testament age, including wars, famines, earthquakes, afflictions, and persecutions, as mentioned in vv. 6-9 and 21. The birth pangs here are suffered only by the New Testament believers for the Lord’s sake, whereas the travailing in birth in Rev. 12:2 refers to all the travailings suffered throughout the generations by God’s people in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. These tribulations, along with the preaching of the gospel (v. 14), are used by God to produce His many sons so that He can constitute the church in this age, accomplish the kingdom in the coming age, and produce the New Jerusalem in eternity as the ultimate consummation of the church and the kingdom that He may have an eternal expression in eternity future. Galatians 4:19 and Rev. 12:2 and 5 confirm this viewpoint.
91 Referring to the Jewish disciples, who were the prophets and wise men sent to the Jews (23:34).
The gospel of the kingdom, which includes the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24), brings people not only into God’s salvation but also into the kingdom of the heavens (Rev. 1:9). The gospel of grace emphasizes forgiveness of sin, God’s redemption, and eternal life, whereas the gospel of the kingdom emphasizes the heavenly ruling of God and the authority of the Lord. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole earth for a testimony to all the nations before the end of this age. Hence, that preaching, signified by the white horse of the first seal in Revelation 6:1-2, will be a sign of the consummation of this age. The gospel of the kingdom is a testimony to all the nations (Gentiles). This testimony must spread to the whole earth before the end of this age, the time of the great tribulation. (Life-study of Matthew, p. 718)
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 714-719; Hymns: #1043
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 17 — Day 3
15 1Therefore when you see the 2abomination of 3desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the 4holy place (let him who reads understand),
16 Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.
20 And pray that your flight may not be in 1winter, nor on a 2Sabbath,
21 For at that time there will be 1great tribulation, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world until now, nor shall by any means ever occur.
22 And unless those days had been cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the 1chosen, those days will be cut short.
23 At that time if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the 1Christ! or, Here! do not believe it.
24 For 1false Christs and 2false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen.
151 No one knows the length of time spanning the events mentioned in vv. 4-14. But the prophecy in vv. 15-31, concerning the remnant of the Jews, definitely will be fulfilled in the last three and a half years of this age, the time of the great tribulation, the second half of the last week prophesied in Dan. 9:27, which will begin with the setting up of Antichrist’s image (the idol) in the temple (v. 15) and will end with Christ’s open coming (v. 30).
152 Abomination denotes an idol (Deut. 29:17). Here it refers to Antichrist’s image, which will be set up as an idol in the temple of God (Rev. 13:14-15; 2 Thes. 2:4) at the beginning of the great tribulation (v. 21). Hence, this idol will be another sign of the consummation of this age.
153 Lit., causing desolation, desolating. The abomination, the image of Antichrist, will cause desolation. Antichrist is called “the destroyer” (Apollyon — Rev. 9:11); he will do much destroying (Dan. 8:13, 23-25; 9:27).
154 Holy place here refers to the sanctuaries in God’s temple (Psa. 68:35; Ezek. 7:24; 21:2).
201 Winter is a time when escape is difficult.
202 On the Sabbath one was allowed to walk only a short distance (Acts 1:12), a distance not adequate for escaping. The mentioning of the Sabbath here indicates that the Jews would still keep the Sabbath after the restoration of the nation of Israel. The disciples, the audience for the Lord’s word here, had a twofold status, one as representatives of the remnant of the Jews and the other as the New Testament believers, who constitute the church. In the section of the Lord’s word that concerns the Jews (vv. 4-31), the disciples represent the remnant of the Jews, whereas in the section that concerns the church (24:32—25:30), they represent the New Testament believers. In the four Gospels, in matters regarding outward circumstances, the Lord treated His disciples as Jews, but in matters concerning spirit and life, He considered them New Testament believers.
211 The great tribulation will occur in the last three and a half years of this age. See note 24 in Rev. 11. The great tribulation spoken of here will have Jerusalem as its center and Judea as its circumference, whereas the trial mentioned in Rev. 3:10 will have Rome as its center and the whole inhabited earth as its circumference.
221 The chosen here refers to the Jews, God’s chosen people (Rom. 11:28). So in the succeeding verses.
231 The Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah and are expecting a Messiah who is yet to come. They need to be warned that Messiah, the Christ, will not arise here or there on earth but will descend from heaven on the cloud.
241 Antichrist will be the last of the false Christs and will work signs and lying wonders with the power of Satan in order to deceive the perishing (2 Thes. 2:3, 9-10).
242 Another beast in Rev. 13:11 denotes the last of the false prophets (Rev. 19:20), who will do great signs to deceive those who dwell on earth (Rev. 13:13-14).
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 721-727; Hymns: #887
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 17 — Day 4
27 For just as the 1lightning comes forth from the east and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28 Wherever the 1corpse is, there will the 1vultures be gathered together.
29 And immediately 1after the tribulation of those days, the 2sun 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.
30 And at that time the 1sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the 2tribes of the 2land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming 3on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will 1gather His chosen together from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other end.
271 The second coming of Christ has two aspects: one is the secret aspect, related to His watchful believers; the other is the open aspect, related to the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. The lightning here signifies the open aspect, which will take place after the great tribulation (vv. 29-30), whereas the thief’s coming in v. 43 signifies the secret aspect, which will occur before the great tribulation. Lightning may be considered as being concealed in a cloud, waiting for an opportunity to flash forth. In a similar way, Christ will be clothed with a cloud (Rev. 10:1) in the air for a time and then will suddenly appear, like a flash of lightning striking the earth. Hence, the Lord’s coming like a flash of lightning will be a sign of the end of the Lord’s parousia (see note 33). This implies also that the Lord is like electricity.
281 Taken in context, vv. 15 and 21 imply that at the end of this age Antichrist will be the cause of the great tribulation. It is he who will need to be judged and destroyed. All people in Adam are dead (1 Cor. 15:22); thus, the evil Antichrist, who with his evil armies will war against the Lord at Armageddon (Rev. 19:17-21), is in the eyes of the Lord a stinking corpse, good for the vultures’ appetite. Furthermore, in the Scriptures both the Lord and those who trust in Him are likened to an eagle (Exo. 19:4; Deut. 32:11; Isa. 40:31), and the swift, destroying armies are likened to flying eagles (Deut. 28:49; Hosea 8:1). Hence, the vultures here, being predatory birds of the eagle kind, refer undoubtedly to Christ and His overcomers, who will come as a swift, flying army to war against Antichrist and his armies and destroy them at Armageddon, thus executing God’s judgment upon them.…
291 This is strong proof that the open coming of Christ will take place after the great tribulation (v. 21).
292 This supernatural calamity will occur in heaven after the great tribulation, at the close of the end of this age (see note 122 in Rev. 6). This differs from the calamities of the sixth seal and the fourth trumpet (Rev. 6:12-13; 8:12), which will occur at the beginning of the great tribulation.
301 We have no way of knowing what this sign is. However, it must be supernatural and clearly visible (perhaps like the lightning in v. 27), appearing in heaven.
302 The tribes here are the tribes of the nation of Israel, and the land is the Holy Land. At the Lord’s appearing, all the tribes of Israel will repent and mourn (Zech. 12:10-14; Rev. 1:7).
303 By this time the Lord will no longer be in the cloud but on the cloud, appearing to the people on earth. This is the open aspect of His second coming. See note 12 in Rev. 10 and note 141 in Rev. 14.
311 After the great tribulation, at His coming back to earth, the Lord will gather together to the Holy Land the scattered Jews from all parts of the earth. This will be the fulfillment not only of the Lord’s word in 23:37 but also of God’s promise in the Old Testament (see reference 31a).
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 727-731; Hymns: #124, #888
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 17 — Day 5
37 For just as the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day in which Noah entered into the ark,
39 And they did not know that judgment was coming until the flood came and took all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 At that time two men will be 1in the field; one is taken and one is left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes.
43 But know this, that if the householder had known in which watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Matthew 24:32—25:30 is concerned with the church. In this portion of the Word, everything spoken by the Lord is related to two matters: watchfulness and readiness, and faithfulness and prudence.…Watchfulness is for the early rapture, and faithfulness is for reward.
Many Christians have misunderstood…verse [37]. The Lord’s coming (parousia) will be like the days of Noah. This indicates that…the situation before the Lord’s coming will be like that in the days of Noah.
For [at the beginning of verse 38] indicates that this verse is the explanation of why and how the Lord’s parousia will be like the days of Noah. In the days of Noah the following conditions existed: (1) people were befuddled by eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, and (2) they did not know that judgment was coming, until the flood came and took them away. When the Lord’s parousia is about to come, people will likewise be befuddled by the necessities of this life and will not know that God’s judgment (signified by the flood) will come upon them by the Lord’s appearing. The believers, however, should be de-drugged and should soberly know that Christ is coming to execute God’s judgment upon this corrupted world.
In the beginning, eating, drinking, and marriage were ordained by God for man’s existence. But because of man’s lust Satan utilizes these necessities of human life to occupy man and keep him from God’s interest. At the end of this age, near the coming of the Lord’s parousia, this kind of situation will be intensified.
At that time [in verse 40] indicates that while the worldly people are befuddled by the material things and have no sense of the coming judgment, some of the sober and watchful believers will be taken. To the befuddled and senseless people, this should be a sign of Christ’s coming.
The two men in verse 40 must be brothers in Christ, and the two women in verse 41 must be sisters in the Lord.… Both watch therefore and your Lord [v. 42] prove that the two men and two women in vv. 40 and 41 are saved believers. The Lord would not charge unsaved people to watch, nor is He the Lord of the unsaved.
To be taken [vv. 40-41] means to be raptured before the great tribulation. This rapture is a sign of the Lord’s coming (parousia) and a sign to the Jews.
[In verse 43] householder refers to the believer, and house to the conduct and work that a believer has built up in his Christian life. A thief comes at an unknown time to steal precious things. The Lord will come secretly, as a thief, to those who love Him and will take them away as His treasures. Hence, we should watch (v. 42). (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 733, 735-741)
401 Both in the field and grinding signify working for a living. Although the believers should not be befuddled by the necessities of this life, they need to work for a living. Any thought of giving up proper work by which one earns a living is another extreme of Satan’s tactics.
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 733-741; Hymns: #956
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 17 — Day 6
45 Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?
46 Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47 Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.
48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, My master delays,
49 And begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with the drunken,
50 The master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,
51 And will 1cut him asunder and appoint his 2portion with the 3hypocrites. In that place there will be the 4weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Verses 45 through 51 are concerned with faithfulness and prudence.…Faithfulness is shown toward the Lord, whereas prudence is exercised toward the believers. Watchfulness is for being raptured into the Lord’s presence (v. 42); faithfulness is for reigning in the kingdom (v. 47).
The household spoken of in verse 45 refers to the believers (Eph. 2:19), who constitute the church (1 Tim. 3:15). To give them food is to minister the word of God and Christ as the life supply to the believers in the church. We all must learn how to minister the life supply to the household of the Lord at the appointed time.
[Matthew 24:46-47 says], “Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.” Here to be blessed is to be rewarded with the authority to rule in the manifestation of the kingdom. In the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens, the Lord will set the faithful slave over all His possessions. This will be a reward to him.
The evil slave [in verse 48] is a saved believer, as seen in the fact that (1) he was appointed by the Lord (v. 45), (2) he called the Lord “my Master,” and (3) he believed that the Lord was coming. Verse 49 says that the evil slave beats his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with the drunken. To beat the fellow slaves is to mistreat the fellow believers, and to eat and drink with the drunken is to keep company with worldly people, who are drunk with worldly things.
Verses 50 and 51 say, “The master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him asunder and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” The problem with the evil slave is not that he does not know that the Lord is coming, but that he does not expect Him. He does not like to live the kind of life that is prepared for the Lord’s coming. Therefore, when the Lord comes back, He will cut him asunder and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. (Life-study of Matthew, pp. 741-743)
511 Referring to being cut off from the glorious Christ, from the glory of His kingdom, and from His glorious presence in His kingdom, unable to participate in Christ and the glory of His kingdom in the manifestation of the kingdom, which the faithful slaves will enjoy (v. 45; 25:21, 23). This corresponds with cast out…into the outer darkness in the conclusion of the parable of the talents (25:14-30), which completes this section, vv. 45-51.
512 This is not to perish eternally but to be chastened dispensationally. See note 281 in Heb. 12.
513 A stage actor, an impersonator. It was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to wear large masks with mechanical devices that increased the force of their voice. Hence, a dissembler...
514 Weeping indicates regret, and gnashing of teeth indicates self blame.
Suggested daily reading: Life-study of Matthew, pp. 741-743; Hymns: #1143, #857
Enlightenment and inspiration:
Week 17 — Prophecy
IV. The King’s being rejected (12:1—27:66)
E. The prophecy of the kingdom (24:1—25:46)
1. Concerning Israel (24:1-31)
а. From Christ’s ascension to the consummation of the age (vv. 1-14)
b. At the consummation of the age (vv. 15-31)
(1) The transpiring of the great tribulation (vv. 15-26)
(2) Christ’s coming to the earth (vv. 27-30)
(3) The gathering of Israel (v. 31)
2. Concerning the church (24:32—25:30)
а. Watching and being ready (24:32-44)
b. Being faithful and prudent (24:45-51)
The prophecy of the kingdom given on the Mount of Olives is a continuation of the Lord’s declaration regarding His forsaking of Israel. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to the Lord privately, saying, “When will these things be?” The disciples’ question concerned three matters: (1) the time when “these things” (Matt. 24:3) would take place, including not only the destruction of the temple (v. 2) but also the things mentioned in 23:32-39; (2) the sign of Christ’s coming; and (3) the sign of the consummation of the age. The Lord’s word from 24:4—25:46 answered the disciples’ question concerning these three matters.
The Lord’s answer has three sections: the first section (vv. 4-31) concerns the Jews, who are the chosen; the second (v. 32—25:30) concerns the church; and the third (25:31-46) concerns the Gentiles (the nations). The first section, concerning the Jews, should be interpreted literally, whereas the second section, concerning the church, should be interpreted spiritually, because it is spoken in parables for the reason given in 13:11-13. The third section, concerning the Gentiles, also should be interpreted literally.
In Matthew 24:4-14 we see the actual history concerning the Jews from Christ’s ascension until the end of this age, the three and a half years of the great tribulation. Before the great tribulation comes, everything in these verses will transpire. The last item will be the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. The gospel of the kingdom, which includes the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24), brings people not only into God’s salvation but also into the kingdom of the heavens (Rev. 1:9). This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole earth for a testimony to all the nations before the end of this age.
The prophecy in Matthew 24:15-31, concerning the remnant of the Jews, definitely will be fulfilled in the last three and a half years of this age, the time of the great tribulation, the second half of the last week prophesied in Daniel 9:27, which will begin with the setting up of Antichrist’s image (the idol) in the temple (Matt. 24:15) and will end with Christ’s open coming (v. 30).
The second coming of Christ has two aspects: one is the secret aspect, related to His watchful believers; the other is the open aspect, related to the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. The lightning (v. 27) signifies the open aspect, which will take place after the great tribulation (vv. 29-30), whereas the thief’s coming in verse 43 signifies the secret aspect, which will occur before the great tribulation.
Matthew 24:32—25:30 is concerned with the church. In chapter twenty-four watchfulness and readiness are covered in verses 32 through 44, and faithfulness and prudence in verses 45 through 51. All of this is related to us. We need to watch and be ready for the Lord’s coming back so that we may be raptured early. We also need to be faithful and prudent in serving the Lord so that we may receive the reward. Thus, watchfulness is for the early rapture, and faithfulness is for reward.
Composition for prophecy with main point and sub-points:
