Participants:
Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000001S
|
00:22 Today we are beginning a new study on Bible prophecy.
00:27 Now there are different ways that we can approach 00:30 the study of Bible prophecy, particular end time prophecy. 00:35 I want to share some of those ways with you. 00:37 First of all, we have the thematic approach. 00:41 How is that a way that we study Bible prophecy? 00:45 Well, if you look at the book Last Day Events, 00:48 which was written by Ellen White, 00:50 you'll notice that each chapter deals with the successive event 00:55 in end time Bible prophecy. 00:58 So basically what they do in the book is 01:01 take from the writings of Ellen White, 01:04 different aspects of Bible prophecy 01:06 and then they put them in chronological order. 01:09 You know, we can do the same thing with the Bible. 01:12 We can take different, play different texts 01:15 from different places in the Bible 01:18 and put them in chronological order, 01:20 how the events will take place at the very end. 01:24 Another way of studying Bible prophecy 01:26 is comparing Genesis with the Book of Revelation. 01:31 You know, I did a series called Cracking the Genesis Code. 01:35 And I showed there that the stories of Genesis 01:38 are not only stories, they are also prophecies. 01:42 For example, Jesus said, 01:43 As it was in the days of Noah, 01:45 so also will it be 01:47 at the coming of the Son of man." 01:48 He also said, 01:50 "As it was in the days of Lot, 01:51 so will it be at the coming of the Son of man." 01:54 Genesis 3:15 is developed throughout all of scripture, 01:59 culminating in Revelation Chapter 12. 02:02 And we also have the story of Cain and Abel. 02:05 This story shows in miniature the great final conflict 02:10 and the issues in the conflict, which are obedience to God 02:15 and worship the way that God has commanded. 02:19 Another way that we can study Bible prophecy 02:22 is through the books of Daniel and Revelation. 02:26 The problem is neither one of these books 02:28 is in chronological order, 02:30 which means that we must study these prophecies 02:35 and look at where in the course of history each event fits. 02:40 For example, Daniel Chapter 2 is repeated in Daniel 7, 02:44 and that is repeated in Daniel 8 and 9. 02:46 And then you have the final development 02:49 in Daniel Chapter 10 through 12. 02:51 So it's not like you start in Daniel 1:1 02:55 and go through Daniel 12:13, 02:58 and you have all events in chronological order. 03:01 The Book of Revelation is even more complex 03:04 because you have foretastes and you have flashbacks. 03:08 It goes back to history, 03:09 then forward to end time events. 03:11 And so one of the key factors in studying 03:14 the Book of Revelation 03:16 is decoding the literary structure of the book. 03:19 So you don't have all of the end time events 03:22 in chronological order, 03:23 beginning with Revelation 1:1, 03:26 and ending in Chapter 22. 03:29 Another approach to Bible prophecy is 03:32 through the parables of Jesus. 03:34 You know, a couple of years ago, 03:36 I did an anchor school of theology here in our studio, 03:40 and we studied the end time dimension 03:43 of the parables of Jesus. 03:45 As I prepared the manual or the study notes 03:48 for that class. 03:50 I was amazed at the number of parables of Jesus 03:54 that have to do directly with end time events. 03:57 Let me just mention some of them, the 10 virgins, 04:01 you have the closing of the door probation 04:03 in that story. 04:04 The talents and the reckoning of the end, when God looks at 04:09 what we did with the talents that He gave us. 04:12 We have the parable of the sheep and the goats, 04:15 which is a portrayal of the final judgment. 04:18 You have the man who sneaked into the wedding chamber 04:23 without a garment, 04:24 obviously that refers to the investigative judgment. 04:28 So, these are different approaches 04:30 to Bible prophecy. 04:31 You can take the thematic approach. 04:34 You can take the Book of Genesis 04:36 and look at how it relates to the Book of Revelation. 04:40 You can study Bible prophecy from the perspective of Daniel 04:43 and Revelation, although you have to take a look 04:46 at the structure of each, 04:48 and you can study end time events 04:49 from the perspective of the parables of Jesus. 04:52 But there's one particular way that we're going to look at 04:55 in this series that we're beginning today, 04:59 and that is studying end time Bible prophecy 05:03 from the perspective of Matthew Chapter 24. 05:08 Now Matthew Chapter 24 is especially significant 05:11 when we study Bible prophecy. 05:14 And that is because the chapter 05:16 is in strict chronological order. 05:20 In other words, all of the major end time events 05:23 are presented in the way in which they will transpire 05:26 one event after the other in strict chronological order. 05:31 So in our class today, we are going to study 05:34 seven great truths 05:37 about Matthew Chapter 24. 05:41 Point number one, 05:43 the study of Matthew Chapter 24 05:46 is extremely important. 05:50 I want to read a statement that we find in the book, 05:52 Gospel Workers, page 148. 05:57 This statement deals with the importance 06:01 of Matthew Chapter 24. 06:03 This is how it reads, 06:05 "The twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew 06:08 is presented to me again and again 06:13 as something that is to be brought 06:15 to the attention of all. 06:18 We are today living in the time 06:20 when the predictions of this chapter are fulfilling. 06:24 Let our ministers and teachers explain these prophecies 06:30 to those whom they instruct. 06:33 Let them leave out of their discourses 06:36 matters of minor importance and present the truths 06:40 that will decide the destiny of souls." 06:44 So what are the main points that we find 06:46 in this particular quotation? 06:49 First of all, Ellen White saw time and again, 06:53 that Matthew 24 should be carefully studied. 06:57 Then she also said that the events in Matthew 24 07:01 are in the process of being fulfilled. 07:04 She counsels our ministers and teachers 07:06 to explain these prophecies to those whom they instruct. 07:11 And she also instructed the teachers and the ministers 07:15 to set aside things of minor consequence 07:19 and to preach on subjects 07:21 that deal with the destiny of souls. 07:24 And, of course, she's dealing with Matthew 24. 07:27 This chapter has something to do 07:29 with the final destiny of souls. 07:32 That's point number one, 07:34 the study and teaching of Matthew 24 07:37 is of vital importance, a matter of life and death. 07:42 The second point that I want to share, 07:44 the second great truth from Matthew Chapter 24 07:48 is that this chapter was not written primarily 07:52 for secular people to show them that the signs of the times 07:58 indicate that the coming of Jesus is very near. 08:02 The purpose is not primarily to show unbelievers 08:06 that the events and the political, economic, 08:09 social and religious world indicate that the end is near 08:14 and that Jesus is about to come in the clouds of heaven. 08:18 Now don't get me wrong. 08:19 There's nothing wrong 08:21 with preaching evangelistic sermons 08:24 using Matthew Chapter 24, 08:27 but the central purpose of the chapter 08:29 is actually to keep God's own people 08:32 from being deceived at the end of time. 08:35 In other words, it is primarily a message for God's people, 08:39 for those who profess to follow the Lord, 08:41 rather than a message for the world at large. 08:45 You say, how do we know that? 08:48 Well, let's take a look at several verses 08:50 in Chapter 24 of Matthew, 08:53 that show that this is dealing with God's people specifically. 08:58 I'll repeat once again, before we read these verses 09:01 that Jesus told His followers that Satan was going to try 09:06 and deceive them, discourage them, persecute them 09:10 and kill them, so that they would lose their faith. 09:14 So the purpose of this chapter 09:16 is to encourage God's own people to hang in there 09:21 in the midst of trial and tribulation. 09:25 Now notice the verses that indicate 09:26 that this chapter has to do primarily 09:29 with those who profess to follow and serve the Lord. 09:33 Matthew 24:4, 09:36 this discourse is being given by Jesus 09:39 to His own disciples. 09:41 They are alone there on the Mount of Olives, 09:43 and we're told in Matthew 24:4, 09:46 "And Jesus answered and said to them, 09:49 'Take heed that no one deceives you.'" 09:54 He's speaking to His disciples, make sure no one deceives you. 09:59 Then the very next verse, Matthew 24:5 says, 10:04 "For many will come in My name." 10:06 So you'll notice that these must be Christians 10:09 because they're coming in the name of Jesus. 10:11 "So for many will come in my name saying, 10:15 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.'" 10:18 Jesus is saying, many are going to come in the name of Jesus, 10:22 and they're going to deceive many. 10:24 And He's saying to His disciples, 10:25 make sure that you are not deceived. 10:29 In Matthew 24:15-16. 10:32 I'm only taking a sampling of texts from Matthew 24 10:35 that shows that this chapter is given particularly 10:38 to those who profess to follow Jesus, 10:41 to keep them from being deceived, 10:43 to keep them hanging in there. 10:45 Matthew 24:15-16 10:47 speaks about the abomination of desolation. 10:49 It says, 10:50 "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation 10:53 spoken of by Daniel, the prophet, 10:56 standing in the holy place, whoever reads, 10:58 let him understand, then let those who are in Judea, 11:02 flee to the mountains. 11:04 Let him who is on the house top not go down 11:08 to take anything out of his house." 11:10 That's verse 17. 11:12 So those in the city, when they saw a certain sign, 11:16 they were to flee from the city. 11:18 Now unbelievers would not know what the sign was, 11:21 but believers would know what the sign was. 11:24 So once again, the sign is for those 11:28 who believe in Jesus so that they don't stay 11:31 in the city and they flee before the city is destroyed. 11:36 Then you have Matthew 24:23-25. 11:40 Once again, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. 11:44 We find in 24:23, 11:49 "Then if anyone says to you," that is to the disciples, 11:53 "look here is the Christ or there, do not believe it. 11:58 For false christs and false prophets will rise 12:02 and show great signs and wonders to deceive 12:05 if possible, even the elect." 12:10 So notice once again, here, Jesus says, 12:13 if anyone says to you, here is the Christ. 12:16 Then he says that Satan's attempt 12:18 is to deceive the very elect. 12:21 And then Jesus finally says, 12:23 I have told you My followers, My disciples beforehand. 12:28 Now the question is, who are the elect? 12:30 Well, the elect are those who have received Jesus Christ 12:34 as Savior and Lord. 12:35 Notice Romans 8:33-34. 12:40 Romans 8:33-34. 12:43 Here the Apostle Paul wrote, 12:45 "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? 12:48 It is God who justifies. 12:51 Who is he who condemns? 12:53 It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, 12:57 who is even at the right hand of God, 13:00 who also makes intercession for us." 13:05 So notice, the elect are those who have been justified, 13:10 and those for whom Jesus Christ intercedes. 13:14 Now I could show you in many other places 13:16 in Matthew Chapter 24, as well as Matthew Chapter 25, 13:20 that the focus of these chapters 13:22 is upon God's people. 13:24 God wants to tell His people through this sermon, 13:27 don't be deceived. 13:29 Don't give up when you're persecuted, 13:31 hang in there. 13:33 Now, the third point that I want to share with you 13:36 is that we must study all three gospel accounts 13:42 in order to get the full picture of end time events. 13:45 You see this sermon of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 24 13:50 is found also in Mark 13, 13:53 as well as in Luke Chapter 21. 13:56 which means that if we want the total picture, 13:58 we have to look not only in Matthew 24, 14:01 but also Mark 13, as well as Luke Chapter 21. 14:05 And you'll say, well, why do we have to compare 14:08 all three gospels if it's the same sermon? 14:11 The reason is because Luke presents details 14:16 that Mark doesn't have. 14:18 And Mark presents details that Matthew doesn't have. 14:22 In other words, as you look at all three gospels, 14:25 you get a full and complete picture 14:28 of what Jesus wanted to teach regarding end time events. 14:34 Let me give you some examples of the importance of taking 14:38 all three gospels together. 14:41 Matthew 24:7, reads like this, 14:45 "For nation will rise against nation, 14:48 and kingdom against kingdom. 14:50 And there will be famines, 14:53 pestilences and earthquakes in various places." 14:58 So this verse says that 15:00 there are going to be earthquakes. 15:03 Now, Luke 21:11 has an additional detail. 15:07 Here Luke recording the sermon 15:12 that Jesus spoke, wrote the following, 15:16 "And there will be great earthquakes 15:20 in various places and famines and pestilences, 15:23 and there will be fearful sights 15:26 and great signs from heaven." 15:29 So notice Matthew says earthquakes, 15:33 Luke says great earthquakes. 15:36 It might appear to be an incidental detail, 15:38 but it's important to get the full picture, 15:41 not only tremors, but great earthquakes. 15:46 Notice Mark 13:8. 15:48 It has a detail that Matthew doesn't have. 15:51 It says there in Mark 13:8, 15:54 "For nation will rise against nation, 15:57 and kingdom against kingdom. 15:59 And there will be earthquakes in various places 16:02 and there will be famines," 16:04 and this is from the King James and the New King James, 16:07 "and troubles." 16:10 That is not in the Gospel of Matthew 16:12 are in the Gospel of Luke. 16:14 There's going to be troubles. 16:16 Now, what does that word mean? 16:18 According to the lexicons, it means disturbances. 16:21 In other words, social upheaval, 16:24 such as we are seeing today. 16:27 It is used for example, in John 5:4 and 7, 16:32 for the troubling of the waters in the pool of Bethesda. 16:36 In other words, in society, 16:38 there was going to be disturbances. 16:40 There were going to be riots and things 16:44 such as we have been seeing in the world 16:46 in the last few years. 16:50 So Mark 13:8 adds a detail, which is very important 16:55 in the study of Matthew Chapter 24. 16:58 Now let's notice Matthew 24:9-10. 17:01 Matthew 24:9-10. 17:04 This verse says, 17:07 "Then they will deliver you," 17:09 once again, the followers of Jesus, 17:11 "up to tribulation and kill you, 17:14 and you will be hated by all nation 17:16 for My name's sake." 17:18 So those are being persecuted, 17:19 they're Christians because they have the name of Jesus. 17:23 And then verse 10 says, 17:25 "And then many will be offended, 17:28 will betray one another and will hate one another." 17:33 So, these two verses in Matthew 24:9-10 17:37 speaks about tribulation. 17:39 People are going to rise to kill the faithful. 17:42 The faithful will be hated by all nations 17:44 for Christ name's sake. 17:46 And then it says that many will be offended at that time 17:50 and will betray one another and hate one another. 17:54 Now, it doesn't say who is going to hate 17:57 who in Matthew 24:9-10. 18:01 This is why it is helpful for us to take a look 18:04 at the parallel passage in Mark 13:11-13. 18:10 Luke gives us much more details as does Mark. 18:15 So let's notice just the Gospel 18:16 of Mark 13:11-13. 18:22 "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, 18:26 do not worry beforehand, 18:28 or premeditate what you will speak. 18:32 But whatever is given to you in that hour, speak that, 18:36 for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." 18:41 So notice that God's people when they are delivered, 18:45 when they're arrested, 18:46 they are going to be taken before 18:49 political leaders, 18:50 before kings and rulers. 18:54 And they're going to have to speak what they believe. 18:58 They're going to have to give testimony. 19:00 And we're told, don't worry about what you're going to say 19:03 because the Holy Spirit is going to enlighten your mind 19:06 and tell you what to say. 19:08 And then notice verse 12 tells us who is going to hate who. 19:12 Matthew Chapter 24 simply said many will be offended, 19:16 betray one another and will hate one another. 19:19 Oh, but Mark adds some very interesting details. 19:23 Verse 12 of Chapter 13 of Mark says, 19:26 "Now brother will betray brother to death, 19:31 and a father his child, 19:33 and children will rise up against parents 19:37 and cause them to be put to death. 19:41 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 19:46 But he who endures to the end shall be saved." 19:49 Wow. This adds a lot of details. 19:52 God's people are not only going to be hated by outsiders. 19:55 It says here brother will betray brother to death, 19:59 father his child, children will rise up against parents 20:03 and cause them to be put to death. 20:06 So the Gospel of Mark tells us who is going to hate who. 20:10 Matthew simply tells us that some will be offended 20:14 and will betray one another and will hate one another. 20:19 Let me give you one more example 20:21 from Matthew Chapter 24, 20:24 where it's important to compare the other two gospels. 20:28 Notice Matthew 24:15. 20:32 This is referring to the abomination 20:36 of desolation. 20:37 It says there, Jesus is speaking, 20:41 "Therefore when you see 20:43 the 'abomination of desolation,' 20:46 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 20:49 standing in the holy place." 20:53 So notice the abomination of desolation, 20:55 standing in the holy place, 20:57 "Whoever reads, let him understand." 21:01 Now, Mark phrases, it a little different, 21:04 very similar, but just a detail, which is different. 21:08 Mark 13:14 says, 21:12 "So when you see 21:13 the 'abomination of desolation,' 21:15 spoken of by Daniel the prophet," 21:18 and instead of saying standing in the holy place, 21:21 it says, 21:22 "standing where it ought not." 21:25 So Matthew says standing in the holy place, 21:28 and Mark says standing where it ought not. 21:31 Let the reader understand. 21:33 Let them, let those who are in Judea flee 21:37 to the mountains. 21:39 Now Luke presents what Jesus said 21:43 in a totally different light. 21:45 It says in Luke 21:20, 21:48 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, 21:54 then know that its desolation is near." 21:57 So the abomination of desolation 21:59 is when armies surrounded the city of Jerusalem. 22:03 Amazing. 22:04 So when you compare all three gospels, 22:07 you'll find that the abomination of desolation 22:10 stands in the holy place where it should not. 22:13 And the abomination of desolation 22:15 is when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies. 22:21 Now we need to notice in Luke 21:20 several details. 22:26 First of all, 22:27 the holy place is an area outside the city walls. 22:31 You say, how do we know that? 22:33 Well, because it says, 22:34 when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies. 22:37 So the abomination of desolation 22:39 is outside the city walls. 22:41 Secondly, we noticed that the abomination 22:43 of desolation is the siege of Jerusalem, 22:47 not the destruction of Jerusalem. 22:49 That desolation is the destruction. 22:51 The abomination is something 22:53 that can be seen before the destruction. 22:57 Now let's notice point number four 23:00 in our initial study on Matthew Chapter 24. 23:05 Point number four is that Matthew 24 23:07 has a two-fold fulfillment. 23:11 In other words, it has a dual fulfillment, 23:14 one in the destruction of Jerusalem, 23:16 and the other in events that will take place 23:19 at the very end of time. 23:21 You say, how do we know this? 23:23 Well, we need to go to Matthew 24:1-3. 23:29 Let's begin at verse 1. 23:31 "Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple." 23:36 So Jesus for the last time departs the temple. 23:40 "And His disciples came up to show Him 23:43 the buildings of the temple." 23:46 Undoubtedly, very impressive. 23:48 Some of those stones weighed 50 to 60 tons. 23:54 They were huge. 23:56 And so the disciples want to impress Jesus. 23:59 They show Him the buildings of the temple, 24:02 as if Jesus had never seen the buildings of the temple. 24:05 Verse 2, 24:06 "And Jesus said to them, 24:08 'Do you not see all these things? 24:11 Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left 24:16 here upon another that shall not be thrown down." 24:22 And now the disciples are really surprised. 24:25 They're saying, not one stone of this massive temple 24:28 is going to remain upon the other. 24:30 What did Jesus mean? 24:33 So now they're going to ask Jesus two questions. 24:36 This is important. Two questions. 24:38 Let's go to verse 3. 24:40 "Now as He sat on the Mount of olives, 24:43 the disciples came to Him privately saying, 24:46 'Tell us, when will these things be?" 24:51 What were they referring to when they said, 24:52 when will these things be? 24:55 They were referring to the destruction 24:57 of the temple, but now they ask another question. 25:01 And the second question is also found in verse 3. 25:05 "And what will be the sign of Your coming 25:09 and of the end of the age or the end of the world?" 25:13 So they're saying, what is the sign 25:14 of the destruction of the temple 25:16 and what will be the sign of the end, 25:18 end of the age and of Your coming. 25:22 Now, the disciples understood that both of these events 25:24 would happen at the same time. 25:27 Jesus understood that they would not happen 25:29 at the same time. 25:30 So what Jesus did was He actually 25:34 used the destruction of Jerusalem as a symbol, 25:37 a type or an illustration of a greater destruction 25:42 to take place at the end of time. 25:46 Now I want to read several statements 25:49 and there are many of them, 25:50 and I want to read them to make a very important point. 25:53 You see, we've already noticed in Matthew 24:1-3, 25:57 there are two questions, two events, 26:00 destruction of Jerusalem, 26:02 and of the age, or end of the world. 26:04 Jesus is going to take the destruction 26:06 of Jerusalem as a type or a small scale model 26:10 of the events that will lead up 26:12 to the destruction of the world. 26:14 Ellen White makes this clear repeatedly in her writings. 26:17 I want to read several of these. 26:19 Last Day Events, page 18. 26:24 Christ forewarned His disciples of the destruction of Jerusalem 26:29 and the signs to take place prior to the coming 26:34 of the Son of man. 26:36 And then she states this very important detail. 26:40 "The whole of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew 26:46 is a prophecy concerning the events 26:48 to precede this event." 26:51 What event? 26:52 Well, she just said, the signs to take place 26:55 prior to the coming of the Son of man. 26:58 So she says the whole chapter of Matthew 24 27:02 is a prophecy concerning the events 27:04 to precede this event. 27:07 And the destruction of Jerusalem is used to typify 27:13 the last great destruction of the world by fire. 27:17 So she's saying that the destruction 27:19 of Jerusalem is a type of a greater destruction 27:23 at the end of time. 27:24 The events that led up to the destruction of Jerusalem 27:27 are types of events that will lead up 27:30 to the destruction of the world. 27:33 Great Controversy, page 25, 27:35 "The prophecy, which he uttered was twofold in its meaning, 27:42 while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, 27:46 it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day." 27:51 So notice it had a twofold meaning. 27:55 The destruction of Jerusalem prefigured 27:59 the terrors of the last great day. 28:01 Desire of Ages, page 743, 28:05 "From the fall of Jerusalem the thoughts of Jesus 28:09 passed to a wider judgment. 28:12 In the destruction of the impenitent city, 28:16 He saw a symbol of a final destruction 28:20 to come upon the world." 28:23 So notice she says that the destruction 28:26 of Jerusalem typifies the destruction of the world, 28:29 the prophecy has a twofold meaning, 28:31 the destruction of Jerusalem prefigured 28:34 the terrors of the last great day. 28:37 Chapter 24 points to a wider judgment. 28:40 He saw in the destruction of Jerusalem, 28:41 a symbol of the final destruction. 28:44 Here's another one, Desire of Ages, page 628. 28:48 "Jesus did not answer His disciples 28:51 by taking up separately, the destruction of Jerusalem 28:55 and the great day of His coming." 28:57 In other words, Jesus didn't say these are the signs 28:59 that lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem, 29:01 and these are the signs that lead up 29:02 to the destruction of the world. 29:04 No. She continues. 29:05 "He mingled the description of these two events. 29:11 Had he opened future events to His disciples 29:14 as He beheld them, 29:15 they would have been unable to endure the sight. 29:18 In mercy to them He blended." 29:21 Notice, she used the word mingled. 29:23 Now she says, 29:24 "In mercy to them He blended 29:27 the description of the two great crises, 29:29 leaving the disciples to study out the meaning for themselves. 29:34 When He referred 29:35 to the destruction of Jerusalem, 29:37 His prophetic words reached beyond that event 29:41 to the final conflagration in that day, 29:44 when the Lord shall rise out of His place 29:47 to punish the world for their inequity, 29:49 when the earth shall disclose her blood 29:52 and shall no more cover her slain." 29:55 And then comes this statement. 29:57 "The entire discourse, not part, 30:02 the entire discourse was given not for the disciples only, 30:07 but for those who should live in the last scenes 30:12 of this earth's history." 30:15 Here's another one. Great Controversy, page 22. 30:19 "Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world 30:24 hardened in unbelief and rebellion, 30:28 and hastening on to meet 30:30 the retributive judgments of God." 30:34 In Great Controversy, page 22, 30:35 she wrote, 30:37 "Jesus, looking down to the last generation saw," 30:42 listen carefully now, 30:44 "saw the world involved in a deception similar 30:48 to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem." 30:51 In other words, the sin of the world at the end 30:53 is similar to the sin that was committed by the Jewish nation. 30:56 You say, what is the similarity? 30:58 She continues, 30:59 "The great sin of the Jews 31:01 was the rejection of Christ. 31:04 The great sin of the Christian world 31:06 would be their rejection of the law of God, 31:09 the foundation of his government 31:11 in heaven and earth." 31:12 You say, well, those are two different sins, 31:15 rejecting Christ and rejecting His law are two different sins. 31:18 No, they're not. 31:19 You see the law is a reflection of Christ's character. 31:22 So how can you say I reject the reflection 31:25 of Christ's character and not say 31:27 that you're rejecting Christ at the same time? 31:31 The law is a written demonstration 31:35 of what the character of Christ is alike. 31:38 So how can you say I love Jesus, 31:40 but the law was nailed to the cross? 31:43 It just doesn't make sense. 31:44 It's basically the same idea to reject Jesus in person, 31:49 as it is to reject the reflection 31:51 of His character in His holy law. 31:55 Great Controversy, page 36, 31:57 "The Savior's prophecy 31:59 concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem 32:03 is to have another fulfillment 32:06 of which that terrible desolation was, 32:09 but a faint shadow." 32:10 Now, if you want to see how terrible Jerusalem was, 32:12 just read Josephus's works, Wars of the Jews, 32:18 or read the first chapter of the book, Great Controversy. 32:22 You say how can anything be worse 32:24 than what Ellen White describes in that chapter 32:26 on the destruction of Jerusalem? 32:28 And yet Ellen White is saying here 32:30 that what happened in Jerusalem 32:31 was, but a faint shadow of what's going to happen 32:35 at the end of time. 32:36 She continues, 32:38 "In the fate of the chosen city, 32:40 we may behold the doom of a world 32:43 that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law." 32:49 A couple of more statements. 32:50 This one is Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 32:53 pages I20 and 1 21. 32:56 "The ruin of Jerusalem was a symbol of the final ruin 33:00 that shall overwhelm the world. 33:02 The prophecies that received a partial fulfillment 33:07 in the overthrow of Jerusalem have a more direct application 33:12 to the last days. 33:14 We are now standing on the threshold 33:16 of great and solemn events. 33:18 A crisis is before for us, 33:20 such as the world has never witnessed." 33:23 And then I'll give you one final one on this point, 33:27 Testimonies to Ministers, page 232. 33:31 "The warnings of that Christ gave to Jerusalem 33:35 were not to end with them. 33:38 The judgments upon Jerusalem were a symbol 33:42 of the events of Christ coming to judgment in the last day, 33:47 when, before Him shall be gathered all nations. 33:51 He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, 33:54 and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds 33:59 from one end of heaven to the other." 34:03 So clearly the destruction of Jerusalem and the events 34:07 that led up to this particular event symbolizes 34:12 what is going to happen at the very end of time. 34:15 I review what Ellen White states, 34:17 she says the whole chapter has to do 34:20 with the Second Coming of Christ. 34:22 The destruction of Jerusalem typifies 34:24 what is going to take place. 34:25 The prophecy has a twofold meaning. 34:28 The destruction of Jerusalem prefigured 34:30 the terrors of the last day. 34:31 The destruction of Jerusalem pointed to a wider judgment. 34:35 The destruction of Jerusalem was a symbol 34:37 of the destruction of the world. 34:39 He mingled, He blended the destruction of Jerusalem 34:42 with what's going to happen at the end of time. 34:45 The entire discourse has to do with end time events and so on. 34:50 So clearly Matthew Chapter 24 34:54 has a dual fulfillment. 34:58 In other words, it pointed to the destruction of Jerusalem 35:01 in the year 70 and to the events 35:03 that led up to that particular event. 35:06 And it also on a larger scale 35:09 points to the final destruction of the world. 35:14 Now, point number five in our study, 35:16 and let's just review the points 35:18 that we've studied so far. 35:19 First of all, the prophecy of Matthew 24 35:22 is of vital importance. 35:24 We must study it and we must teach it. 35:26 Secondly, it's a message for God's own professed people. 35:31 The primary purpose is not for the world in general, 35:34 not for the secular, although we can use it 35:36 to show that the signs indicate that Jesus is coming soon. 35:39 The purpose of the chapter is to get God's people 35:42 to hang in there and to not be deceived, not to give up. 35:46 Point number three, 35:47 we must study all three gospels together. 35:50 Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke Chapter 21. 35:55 Point number four, Matthew 24 has a twofold fulfillment. 36:01 Now let's go to point number five. 36:03 And this one is particularly important. 36:07 The events of Matthew 24 36:10 are in strict chronological order. 36:13 So if you want to know what the order of end time events 36:17 is going to be, you have them in Matthew Chapter 24, 36:21 it's different than the parables of Jesus 36:23 that each parable deals with a different aspect 36:26 of end time events. 36:27 It's different than studying Genesis and Revelation 36:30 because the Genesis stories touch different elements 36:32 of end time events. 36:34 So you have to put all of the stories 36:36 in the chronological order in which the events will occur. 36:40 So, the unique way of studying Matthew Chapter 24 36:45 is the fact that the chapter is in chronological order. 36:49 And you say, well, Pastor Bohr, how do you know 36:51 that Matthew Chapter 24 is in chronological order? 36:55 Well, because of several temporal expressions 36:59 that are used in the chapter. 37:02 Let's notice several of these. 37:05 In fact, let's look at all of the temporal expressions 37:09 in this chapter. 37:11 Matthew 24:6, 37:14 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 37:18 See that you are not troubled, 37:20 for all these things must come to pass, 37:23 but the end is not yet." 37:25 Then notice verse 7, 37:27 "For nation will rise against nation, 37:29 and kingdom against kingdom. 37:31 And there will be famines, pestilences, 37:33 and earthquakes in various places." 37:35 Now comes a temporal expression. 37:37 "All these are the beginning of sorrows." 37:41 Then we have a very important little word 37:44 that is used throughout the chapter. 37:46 In fact, it's used nine times in Matthew Chapter 24, 37:49 Mark and Luke only used the word four times, 37:52 but in Matthew Chapter 24, 37:55 you have this little word used nine times. 37:58 It is a temporal expression. 37:59 What is it? 38:01 It's the word, then. 38:03 It translates the Greek word tote. 38:06 What does tote mean? 38:08 I'm going to read from the exegetical dictionary 38:11 of the New Testament. 38:12 This is the definition. 38:14 Tote means in the sense of thereafter 38:18 introduces that which follows temporarily. 38:22 In other words, this happens then this, 38:25 then this, and then this. 38:27 In other words, 38:28 events that occur in chronological order. 38:33 Let's notice verse 9, this word is used. 38:36 After saying that the wars and rumors of wars, 38:40 nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, 38:43 famines, pestilences and earthquakes 38:44 in various places and saying 38:46 that this is the beginning of sorrows, 38:49 verse 9 begins by saying then. 38:52 In other words, there's a relationship 38:53 between all these disasters in society 38:56 and what happens in verse 9. 38:58 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, 39:02 and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake." 39:06 And then in verse 10, you have the word again. 39:09 And then, that is when people are delivered 39:12 by their enemies to death. 39:14 It says, 39:15 "Then many will be offended, 39:17 will betray one another and will hate one another." 39:19 In other words, 39:21 many are going to forsake the face 39:22 as a result of persecution. 39:25 Then we notice in verse 11, 39:28 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." 39:32 In fact, many, we're going to notice in our study 39:34 that many of those who forsook the message 39:37 when persecution came, they then became false prophets 39:41 to accuse God's faithful people before tribunals, 39:45 before political leaders. 39:47 And then I want you to notice, we're also, 39:49 we're noticing where the word then is used. 39:51 Verse 14, 39:52 "And this gospel of the kingdom 39:54 will be preached in all the world 39:56 as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come." 40:01 So you notice you have the preaching of the gospel, 40:03 then you have the end. 40:06 Notice also verse 19, the word then is not used, 40:10 but you have a temporal expression. 40:13 Actually let's go to verse 15. 40:16 It says, 40:17 "Therefore when you see 40:18 the 'abomination of desolation,' 40:20 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 40:21 standing in the holy place, 40:23 whoever reads, let him understand." 40:25 So you, when you see the abomination of desolation, 40:27 it says, then let those who are in Judea flee 40:31 to the mountains. 40:33 So notice once again, the word then, the flight comes 40:36 when the sign is seen, once again, chronological order. 40:41 Then we go to verse 19. 40:44 It says, 40:45 "But woe to those who are pregnant 40:47 and those who are nursing babies 40:49 in those days that is in the days 40:52 of the great tribulation when God's people fled." 40:55 And then verse 21 uses the word then again, 40:58 "For then there will be great tribulation, 41:01 such as has not been since the beginning of the world 41:04 until this time no, nor ever shall be." 41:08 So notice, you have the sign, God's people flee. 41:13 And then you have not only the tribulation, 41:16 which was mentioned in verse 9, but the great tribulation. 41:22 And then I want you to notice verse 21 again. 41:26 "Then there will be great tribulation such has not been 41:30 since the beginning of the world 41:32 until this time, no, nor ever shall be." 41:36 And then in the midst of the tribulation, 41:38 after the tribulation begins, after God's people have fled, 41:42 it says in verse 20, verse 23, 41:48 it says, 41:49 "Then if anyone says to you, 41:51 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 41:54 For false christs and false prophets will rise 41:56 and show great signs and wonders to deceive 41:58 if possible, even the elect." 42:01 You know, Ellen White describes this 42:03 as the counterfeit Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 42:07 Satan is going to counterfeit the Second Coming of Jesus. 42:10 It's spoken of in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2. 42:14 So notice, you have the abomination of desolation, 42:17 which is the sign, God's people flee. 42:20 Then there is a great tribulation. 42:22 And in the midst of the tribulation, 42:24 then Satan is going to counterfeit 42:27 the Second Coming of Christ. 42:30 That's verses 23 through verse 27. 42:35 And then interestingly in verse 28, it says, 42:38 "For wherever the carcass is, 42:39 there the eagles will be gathered together." 42:41 We'll deal with that a little bit later. 42:44 Notice verse 29 42:46 immediately after the tribulation of those days. 42:49 Notice again, this is taking place as a chain of events 42:53 in chronological order. 42:54 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, 42:57 the sun will be darkened, 42:58 and the moon will not give its light, 43:00 the stars will fall from heaven, 43:02 and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." 43:05 Verse 30, here is once again the same word. 43:08 "Then the sign of the Son of Man 43:11 will appear in the heaven 43:12 and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn 43:16 and they will see the Son of Man 43:18 coming on the clouds of heaven." 43:20 Then it says in verse 31, 43:22 "And He will send His angels 43:24 with a great sound of a trumpet, 43:26 and they will gather together His elect from the four winds 43:29 from one end of heaven to the other." 43:33 Clearly Matthew 24 presents end time events 43:38 in chronological order. 43:41 So let's go now to point number six, 43:45 particularly important this point. 43:48 If you want the best commentary that has ever been written 43:52 on Matthew Chapter 24, you need to read the book, 43:56 the Great Controversy by Ellen White. 44:00 You'll see Matthew Chapter 24 begins with the destruction 44:03 of Jerusalem and it ends with the coming of Christ. 44:08 If you read the book, Great Controversy, 44:10 you'll find that the first chapter of Great Controversy 44:14 is the destruction of Jerusalem. 44:17 And the closing event is the Second Coming of Christ 44:21 and the millennium, but the great controversy 44:25 fills in many gaps with details between the great events 44:31 that are mentioned in Matthew Chapter 24. 44:35 The book Great Controversy is also in chronological order. 44:39 In other words, it begins with the destruction of Jerusalem. 44:43 Then it moves throughout the course of church history 44:45 and it comes to end time events, 44:47 the deceptions of Satan and the Second Coming of Jesus 44:51 and the taking of His people to heaven 44:53 and then after that, the millennium. 44:56 So if you want to fill in the gaps 45:01 of the great prophetic events, 45:03 the sequence of prophetic events 45:05 that we find in Matthew Chapter 24, 45:07 you need to read the book, the Great Controversy, 45:10 because that is a commentary 45:12 on Matthew Chapter 24. 45:18 By the way, if you want to get a copy of Great Controversy, 45:21 when you watch this presentation, 45:23 I would encourage you to get in touch with Secrets Unsealed. 45:27 We have plenty of Great Controversies on hand, 45:31 and you can get a copy from us. 45:35 The final point, point number seven 45:37 is that when Matthew 24 45:40 uses the word you, 45:43 it's not referring only to the original recipients 45:47 of the sermon of Jesus. 45:49 You see the you there applies to God's people 45:54 at all times in history till the very end of time. 45:58 You'll notice that in Matthew Chapter 24, 46:00 the word you is used very frequently. 46:03 Let's notice verse 4, 46:05 "Take heed that no one deceives you." 46:10 Then you have verse 6, 46:11 "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars." 46:15 Then you have in verse 9, 46:17 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation." 46:21 Then you have verse 15, 46:23 "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation." 46:27 Then you have verse 20. 46:29 It says, 46:31 "And pray that your flight 46:32 may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." 46:35 Verse 23, 46:36 "Then if anyone says to you, 46:39 here is the Christ or there, do not believe it." 46:42 Verse 25, 46:44 "See, I have told you beforehand, 46:47 verse 26, 46:48 therefore if they say to you, 46:50 look, he is in the desert." 46:52 Then you have verse 33. 46:55 It says, 46:57 "So you also, when you see all these things know 47:00 that is near, even at the doors." 47:02 Verse 42, 47:04 "Watch therefore, for you do not know 47:07 what hour the Lord is coming." 47:09 And verse 44, 47:10 "Therefore you also be ready 47:13 for the Son of man is coming at an hour 47:15 you do not expect. 47:18 So who does the you refer to here? 47:21 Does it refer only to the disciples 47:24 and the events that led up to the destruction of Jerusalem 47:27 or does it apply to all Christians at all times? 47:32 Folks, it applies to all Christians at all times. 47:36 The fact that Jesus spoke it directly to His disciples 47:39 doesn't mean that it does not apply 47:42 to all of God's people at the end of time. 47:45 Let me give you some examples 47:47 of where Jesus used the word you 47:49 and Christians have no problem in saying 47:51 that the you applies to all Christians of all time. 47:56 Matthew 28:18-20 48:00 has what is known as the baptismal formula. 48:04 There Jesus said, once again, verse 18, Matthew 28, 48:08 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying... 48:12 Who is He speaking to? 48:13 To the disciples, right? 48:16 "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 48:20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 48:24 baptizing them in the name of the Father 48:27 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 48:30 teaching them to observe all things 48:32 that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, 48:37 even to the end of the age." 48:39 Amen. 48:40 Did Jesus give the great commission 48:42 only to His 12 disciples? 48:45 Well, it says, He spoke to them and He says, 48:49 "I have commanded you." 48:51 So it must apply only to the disciples. 48:53 Of course not. 48:55 It applies to all Christians at all times. 48:59 Notice John 14:1-3. 49:03 Jesus in the previous chapter has just told His disciples 49:07 that He's going to leave. 49:09 And Peter says, 49:11 "Well, I want to go with you." 49:12 Jesus says, 49:13 "Well, Peter, you can't go with me now, 49:15 but you will follow Me later." 49:17 And Peter says, 49:18 "I don't want to follow You later. 49:20 I want to go with You now." 49:22 And so the disciples are very troubled 49:25 by the idea that Jesus is going to leave them 49:27 because they had spent three and a half years with Him. 49:30 They loved Him. 49:31 They couldn't conceive of even a minute 49:33 living without being in the presence of Christ. 49:36 So Jesus knew that they were troubled. 49:38 So we find this, 49:40 this famous passage in John 14:1-3, 49:44 let not, he's speaking to the disciples. 49:46 "Let not your heart be troubled, 49:49 you believe in God, 49:51 believe also in Me. 49:53 In my Father's house are many mansions, 49:55 if it were not so, I would have told you, 49:58 I go to prepare a place for you. 50:02 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 50:05 I will come again and receive you to Myself, 50:09 that where I am, there you may be also." 50:12 So only the disciples are going to be in the kingdom, right? 50:15 Of course not. 50:17 We take this promise as applying 50:19 to all Christians of all ages. 50:22 Jesus promises to take all of His people to heaven. 50:26 Not only those whom He addressed at first. 50:31 Let me give you another couple of examples, 50:34 John 16:1-2, 50:38 Jesus says to His disciples, 50:41 "These things I have spoken to you 50:45 that you should not be made to stumble. 50:50 They will put you out of the synagogues, yes, 50:54 the time is coming that whoever kills you will think 50:58 that he offers God service." 51:01 So here's my question. 51:03 Is this saying that only the faithful believers 51:07 who existed in the times of Christ 51:11 would be put out of the synagogues 51:13 or does this passage also tell us that at the end, 51:19 faithful believers will be cast out of churches 51:24 because we don't gather today in synagogues, 51:26 we got gather in churches. 51:29 Obviously these verses that describe 51:33 persecution apply to all Christians 51:38 of all ages. 51:39 You know, Jesus raised up a prayer to His Father 51:42 in the Garden of Gethsemane 51:44 It's actually on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane 51:47 And this prayer is found 51:51 in John Chapter 17, 51:54 it's His great intercessory prayer 51:56 for His disciples. 51:57 He said, I want them to be one, Father as you and I are one, 52:01 but He not only prayed these words for His disciples 52:05 because John 17:20-21 tells us 52:11 that Jesus prayed this prayer for all who would believe 52:16 as a result of the testimony of His disciples. 52:19 It says in John 17:20-21, 52:23 "I do not pray for these alone, 52:26 but also for those who will believe in Me 52:31 through their word, 52:32 that they all may be one as you, 52:36 Father, are in Me and I in you, that they also may be one in Us 52:41 that the world may believe that You sent Me." 52:46 So notice that Christ's intercessory prayer 52:49 applies not only to the original recipients, 52:53 to the disciples, 52:55 but also to all believers of all ages. 52:59 So these are the seven introductory points 53:03 to the study of Matthew Chapter 24. 53:06 We have many other things 53:08 that we're going to take a look at. 53:10 I mean, it's amazing 53:12 as you look at the sequence of events in this chapter. 53:16 It points out in detail the great events 53:21 that will take place one after another 53:24 at the end of time. 53:27 We're going to take a look at how it applied to events 53:30 that led up to the destruction of Jerusalem. 53:33 And then we're going to take up 53:35 the study of how these events foreshadowed 53:38 or typified greater global events at the end of time. 53:43 So let's review the seven points 53:46 that we have studied today. 53:49 Number one, the study of Matthew 24 53:53 is of vital importance. 53:56 Ellen White was shown this again and again, 53:59 the signs of Matthew 24 fulfilling according to her. 54:03 Ministers and teachers instruct people 54:06 using Matthew Chapter 24, 54:08 and preachers should leave off things of minor consequence 54:12 and preach on things that will determine the destiny of souls 54:16 in this case, Matthew 24. 54:19 Secondly, Matthew 24 is directed at those 54:24 who claim to believe in Jesus Christ. 54:28 The focus is not on the secular on the world. 54:30 Although we can use this chapter in evangelism 54:34 to show the world that the signs indicate 54:37 that the coming of Jesus is near. 54:39 But the main focus is that God's people 54:42 hang in there, they stay faithful 54:44 and they are not deceived by Satan at the end of time. 54:48 Then our third point is that we must take a look 54:53 at all three accounts. 54:55 We must look at Matthew Chapter 24, 54:58 Mark Chapter 13 and Luke Chapter 21, 55:02 because Mark and Luke add details 55:05 that we don't find in Matthew Chapter 24. 55:09 Then we noticed that Matthew Chapter 24 55:12 has a dual fulfillment. 55:14 In other words, it was fulfilled 55:17 in the destruction of Jerusalem 55:18 and the events that led up to that. 55:21 And it will have a greater global fulfillment 55:24 in the events that lead up 55:26 to the final destruction of the world. 55:30 We also noticed, and this is point number five, 55:33 that the events of Matthew Chapter 24 55:36 are in strict chronological order. 55:39 One event follows the previous event. 55:43 Then there's another event after that one 55:45 and another event after that one, 55:47 beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem 55:50 and ending with the destruction of the world, 55:53 the Second Coming of Jesus 55:55 and the gathering together of His elect. 55:59 That's why it's wonderful to study this chapter 56:01 because everything is in chronological order. 56:04 It's different than studying prophecy 56:06 from other perspectives 56:07 where you have to kind of take and collage 56:10 the different events in different passages, 56:12 and then put them in chronological order. 56:14 Point number six, is that the best commentary 56:18 on Matthew 24 is in the book the Great Controversy 56:22 written by Ellen White. 56:24 By the way, that book has 56:26 almost 700 pages 56:31 and it's commenting on one particular chapter. 56:34 Of course, it has many other Bible verses 56:36 corroborating the points, 56:37 but the chronology of Great Controversy 56:41 is the same sequence of the main events 56:44 that we find in Matthew Chapter 24. 56:47 So if you want to get the full picture 56:50 of all of the events that occur 56:52 between the great events that are in chronological order, 56:56 you need to get a copy of the book Great Controversy, 57:00 have Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 on one side, 57:04 have Great Controversy on the other side 57:06 and see where the book Great Controversy 57:08 fills in the gaps between the great events 57:12 that are described in Matthew Chapter 24. 57:16 The final point is that when Matthew 24 57:20 uses the word you, it is not referring only 57:24 to the original disciples, 57:26 to the 12, it's referring to all Christians. 57:30 In other words, all Christians are in danger 57:34 of giving up when persecution comes. 57:36 All Christians are in danger of being deceived by Satan. 57:41 All danger, all believers are tempted 57:45 to throw in the towel and to give up. 57:48 But the purpose of the chapter 57:49 is that God's people should remain faithful, watchful. 57:55 They should pray, and they should work 57:58 knowing that the coming of Jesus is near. 58:01 Thank you for being with us. 58:03 I look forward to a fuller study of this chapter. |
Revised 2021-08-20