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SERVANTS' MINISTRY
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Matthew Chapter
24
ARE WE LIVING
in the TIME of the 24th CHAPTER OF MATTHEW?
Since the horrendous terrorist attack on the United States (rather
the world), on September 11, 2001, I have had many people ask this
same question. I will attempt to explain the 24th Chapter of Matthew
with the Lord’s help. I know there are many much better qualified,
much better educated Bible teachers than I, and they may disagree
with what I say, and maybe you will too. I teach only what God places
on my heart.
Jesus' Words are in bold, yellow italics.
Characteristics
of this age.
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount
of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us,
when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
and of the end of the world? [KJV] Jesus was sitting
on the Mount of Olives, the exact place where the prophet Zecharaiah
had predicted that the Messiah would stand when He came to establish
His kingdom (Zech. 14:4). The disciples asked Jesus when He would
come in power and what they could expect. Jesus’ reply emphasized
what events that would take place before the end of the world. He
pointed out that His disciples should not be concerned with knowing
the exact date but concerned with being prepared . . . living God’s
way continually so that no matter when Jesus came in glory, they
would be ready.
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (KJV) The Lord cautions the disciples (then and
now), because He knew there would be much deception. We are to beware
of false teachers, checking every sermon, tract, any literature
or tape with the Bible (Acts 17:11). We
must focus on Christ and His Words. Don’t look for special
signs, or to other people who claim they know everything. Look to
Christ. Jesus tended to promote caution rather than to satisfy their
curiosity, and ours. He wanted to prepare them and us for the events
that will happen.
Matthew 24:5 For
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive
many. [KJV] . . . I believe that in verses 5-8, Jesus
is speaking about the present age of the church; things that will
happen before the Rapture takes place. As we near the end of this
age, there will be increasingly more false Christs, such as what
happened at Waco, Texas a few years ago. Koresh
and many like him were NOT the Christ, and they certainly did deceive
many! This is happening today, and what we
can expect more in days to come!
Matthew 24:6 And
ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled:
for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
[KJV] Jesus foretells of wars and great commotions
among all the nations. Was He right? Certainly!!! When the Jews
rejected Christ, and He left their house desolate, turmoil
and war has never left them. Those who will not listen to the messengers
of peace, will always hear the messengers of war. But, those whose heart is firm, and trust in God, are kept in peace, and are not afraid, no matter what happens, for we know that God is in control of every circumstance. If your heart is troubled, you are NOT with Christ, and if you are NOT with Him (for Him), you are against Him.
The
League of Nations will never be able to solve the problem of war.
There will be NO peace until the Prince of Peace comes. Wars and
rumors of wars is happening today!
Matthew 24:7-8 For
nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers
places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.
[KJV] These things: famines, disease and earthquakes
in many places . . . have always have been in the world, but they
seem to be increasing all the more. When we think of what the Bible
says about the eternity of misery (Hell) that is before all the stubborn unbelievers of Christ and His Gospel,
we can truly say that these things are just the “beginning
of sorrows.” All the things listed in verses 5-8 will
intensify as we close in on the end of this age. What we are seeing
now, is only the “beginning of sorrows.”
Tribulation’s
beginning with its signs.
Today we are living today in the ‘age of the church’
or the ‘age of the Holy Spirit.’ God’s
Word divides the people of the world into 3 distinct groups of people:
1. the Jews, 2. the Gentiles, and 3. the church of God.
1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither
to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
[KJV] . . . At this time in which we now live, God is calling
out people from both the Jews and the Gentiles to compose the 3rd
group . . . the church. It will be this 3rd group, and it alone,
who will be taken out (removed, raptured), before the Great Tribulation
begins (1 Thes. 4:14-18). Once the church is raptured, the Tribulation
will begin.
Matthew 24:9 Then
shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and
ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
[KJV] . . . Who is the “you”? It is not the church, for they are gone
home to Heaven! Jesus is speaking to the Jews, the nation of Israel. The affliction
of which Jesus is speaking is anti-Semitism on a world wide scale.
It seems that Israel has always been hated by the world; but it
is getting worse and worse by the day. But as long as the church
is still here, there will NOT be world-wide anti-Semitism because
a TRUE believer in Jesus could NEVER hate the Jews. It
is impossible! I think
there are many liberals exhibiting a false front and in the end,
they will turn against the Jews. Anti-Semitism will be world-wide
when the church is raptured (Zech. 12:2-3; 14:2). One day ALL nations
will rise up against tiny Israel!!!
Matthew 24:10-11 And
then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall
hate one another. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
deceive many. [KJV] . . . As we saw in verses
4-5, Jesus warned the church to beware of false teachers; now He
warns Israel to beware of false prophets. Many false prophets will
rise up and deceive Israel. There were false prophets in Jesus’
day, we have them today and they will be with us till the end. They
are the popular
leaders who tell people what they want to hear: “God wants
you to be rich,” “Do whatever you want,” “Everyone
will go to Heaven,” or “There is no such thing as sin
or Hell.” Jesus said false teachers would come. He was right, He is always right! He warned
His disciples, He warns us today, and He warns Israel here not to
listen to their dangerous words.
Matthew 24:12 And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
[KJV] . . . False teaching and loose morals produce a destructive
disease: the loss of true love for God and others. Repeated sin
freezes your conscience and hardens your heart, and love for God
and others is gone, because all you think of is me, me, me! You
can never truly love God or other people if all you think of is
yourself. True love is rare today; it consists of care, concern
and compassion for others.
Matthew 24:13 But
he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
[KJV] . . . Jesus knew that His followers would be severely persecuted
by those who hated what He stood for. In the midst of all the terrible
persecutions of the Tribulation, those who hold out to the end shall
be saved. There will be millions killed for their faith in the Tribulation
period because they stood fast for the Lord. If only they would
turn to Jesus today, they would not have to experience the “great
and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5).
Matthew 24:14 And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
[KJV] . . . What is the “Gospel of the Kingdom”? It’s the same Message that John the Baptist preached (Matthew 3:2). It’s the same Message that Jesus preached (Matthew 4:17). It’s the same Message that the disciples preached (Matthew 10). “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus said that before He returns, this Gospel (the message of salvation) would be preached throughout the world. This was John the Baptist’s mission, the disciples’ mission, and it is ours today. There are not many ways to be saved. There is ONE Way, and that is Jesus! We must repent and accept what He did for us on the cross. The end of the world will not come until the Gospel has reached the utter most parts of the world. Do you think that this prophecy is almost fulfilled, right now???
JESUS WILL
COME AGAIN!
Matthew 24:23-25 Then
if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe
it not. [24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,
and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [25] Behold, I have
told you before. [KJV] . . . BEWARE of miracles
and so-called signs; miracles should be looked upon with great suspicion
in our day; because the next miracle worker will NOT be Christ,
but the Antichrist, with a multitude of false prophets behind him.
Who are the “elect” mentioned here? The Bible
tells us there are two ‘elect’ groups: the
elect of the nation Israel and the elect of the church. WHO has Jesus been talking to in these veres? ISRAEL!!! So, he is still speaking to the Jews here too, NOT the church. Jesus warns
about false teachers time after time. MANY are the nice-sounding
messages today, but they do NOT agree with God’s Message
in the Bible. Only a solid foundation in God’s Word can equip
us to discern and see the errors and distortions in false
teaching (Acts 17:11).
Matthew 24:26-27 Wherefore
if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not
forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. [27]
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto
the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[KJV] When Jesus comes back, John the Baptist won’t
have to announce Him. The world will KNOW it! He will come like
lightening! No one will be able to miss Him. No one will need to
announce Him! Everybody will know it! Today we have many who say
they are Christ. If we study the Bible, we know that those who claim
to be Christ, are not Him! Jesus’ return will be unmistakable
(Mark 13:26); no one will doubt that it is He. If someone has to
tell you that the Messiah has come, then He hasn’t! Christ’s
second coming will be obvious to everyone. The second coming of
Christ is NOT the Rapture.
Israel is
to be a sign of the Rapture!
Matthew 24:32-33 Now
learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender,
and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: [33] So likewise
ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even
at the doors. [KJV] . . . The fig tree is a symbol for Israel (Jer. 24:1; Hos. 9:10). God will never do anything without His first revealing His secret plans to His servants (Amos 3:7). Every great event in history was always previously revealed, before God took action: the Flood, Israel’s captivity, Christ’s first coming, the destruction of Jerusalem, etc. So too it will be with the end of this age. There are signs we can look for, and here, Jesus states that the main one is Israel! We need to keep our eyes on Israel. She is the ‘key’ that will turn God’s plan into action.
The Rapture must take place before the Great Tribulation. The Rapture is the next event on God's calendar! Immediately after the church is removed from this Earth, the Antichrist will sign a peace treaty with Israel. Do you see what is happening with Israel today? She is in constant unrest, always in conflict with her neighbors. She grasps for peace, but it eludes her. When Antichrist offers her peace, she will jump at the chance. Just as an expectant mother knows the approximate time of her child’s birth, we too can know the approximate time of Christ’s return for the church at the Rapture (1 Thes. 5:1-6).
Matthew 24:34 Verily
I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things
be fulfilled. [KJV] . . . “Listen to Me,”
Jesus says. Generation means time, age or age group, but it can
also mean nation. In the Bible it generally means a period of about
40 years (Num. 14:33; Heb. 3:9-10). Jesus could be talking about
the nation Israel, for she will never pass away; or He could mean
that the generation that sees the budding of the fig tree will also
see the second coming of Christ. Maybe Israel started budding on
May 15, 1948 when she became a nation.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
[KJV] . . . Heaven and Earth shall indeed pass away (2 Peter 3:10-13;
Rev. 21:1), but the Word of the Lord is here to stay!
Matthew 24:36 But
of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven,
but my Father only. [KJV] . . . How can so many brilliant people predict exactly when the end will come, when the only One who knows is God the Father? NO one knows for sure exactly when the Rapture will take place! We can have a general idea, because He has given us many signs, but NO one knows for sure!
Matthew 24:37 But
as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. [KJV] . . . Christ
will come very unexpectedly at the Rapture, that's why we must be
watching, be ready!!!
Matthew 24:38-39 For
as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered
into the ark, [39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them
all away; so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be. [KJV]. . . Just what was going on in the days of Noah?
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness
of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [KJV] . . . Evil
and wickedness! That’s what! What about our world today? The
United States has turned its back on God! We are no longer a God
fearing nation. 2 Timothy 3:2-5
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
[KJV]
People love themselves, NOT God or their fellow man.
They lust after what their neighbor has. They boast of all they
have or have accomplished. Pride won’t let them humble themselves
before God. They blespheme God with nearly every breath, including
TV programs and movies. You would have to search far and wide before
you could find an obedient child. People rarely ever say “thank
you” any more. They are disrespectful and profane. Natural
affection has flown out the window long ago; with women aborting their unborn children, and doctors with no feelings,
that perform the surgery. People will quickly betray you instead
of standing by you in friendship. And on and on! People have no
qualms about living
together outside of marriage, and the homosexual
life is common place today. Homosexuals teach our children in
schools. Is any one objecting? Very few! Our pastor recently said
in his sermon that if God doesn’t punish the U.S., He will
have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Are we living in the last times? What do you think? People are living just as they were before the Flood, as though God didn’t even exist!
Matthew 24:40-41 Then shall two be in the
field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [41] Two women
shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other
left. [KJV] . . . These words strongly describe the suddenness of our Saviour’s coming! Men and women will be at their jobs, and suddenly Jesus will appear in the clouds. Are you prepared to meet Him if He came today? Can I stand before him? Could you? Christ’s coming at the Rapture will be swift and sudden. The choice we have already made will determine whether we go with Him or not.
Matthew 24:42 Watch
therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
[KJV] . . . To watch for Christ is to be in such a spirit of mind
that we wouldn’t be sad if the Lord came today. Our Lord’s
coming will be a joyous time to those that are ready, but dreadful
to those that are not.
Matthew 24:43-45 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what
watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not
have suffered his house to be broken up. [44] Therefore be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
[45] Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath
made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
[KJV] . . . Jesus uses two parables (a simple story with a some
what hidden meaning) in the following verses. These parables illustrate
the attitudes of people, and what will happen when He does come.
Here, if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would
come, he would have stayed awake and not let the thief break into
his house. So, too we must also be ready at all times. For Jesus
will come when least expected. We must be faithful and wise servants.
Matthew 24:46-51 Blessed
is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
[47] Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all
his goods. [48] But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart,
My lord delayeth his coming; [49] And shall begin to smite his fellowservants,
and to eat and drink with the drunken; [50] The lord of that servant
shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour
that he is not aware of, [51] And shall cut him asunder, and appoint
him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. [KJV] . . . We cannot
live carelessly even though Christ has not yet come. There is an
exact moment prepared for Christ to come. Remember, a day is
as a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years as one day
(2 Peter 3:9). We ought to live our lives in the light of the fact
that we will one day stand in His awesome Presence. Are we ready?
Will we be ashamed?
All those who choose to be Satan’s children, will
have Hell for eternity. When He comes,
may our Lord Jesus declare us blessed and present us to the Father;
washed in His Blood, purified by His Spirit, and fit to share in
the inheritance God has promised.
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