SNBS - The Book of Matthew part 23

Matthew 24 and the Temple’s Destruction

Matthew 24, let's read the word. Oh Watch this. You can see my screen when Jesus left the temple as he was going away and You he was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.

But he answered them y 'all see all these do you not? Truly I say to you they'll not be left here one stone upon another them not be thrown down being Herod. Herod the Great Started building the temple in 20 BC as 20 years before Jesus was born though.

It's a little misleading because Jesus was actually born in 5 or 6 BC. If you want I can go through that another day, but at any rate he started building it in 20 BC now. I know there's a lot of Herod's in the Bible.

Let me just give you a brief synopsis. Herod the Great is the granddad. He was the Jewish puppet king of Rome, but he was the Jewish king of of all of.

Let's call it all of.

Israel Judea.

And.

When you see in the Bible I carried the Tetrarch Tetrarch like one-fourth that means he was ruler of a fourth like maybe he had a Fourth here and a fourth here and a fourth here because again here the greats kingdom got broken up in four parts.

Brother Philip, and you know his son and grandson. Oh, I forgot. The light was on a timer. Watch this don't.

Are you kidding me?

But you know what that's commitment. What other pastor would do that others would have just quit shut it off and erased it. Saving themselves embarrassment. I however have already embarrassed myself a million times before so I don't really care.

Jake says. Could you please change your text to a white background for those with older eyes. Sure Jake absolutely I could do that. Sure, you want me to do that now? You know what. Let's see if I can Take.

You know what. Man, I don't mind doing that, but if I try now, I know I'm gonna fail. Like I just know I am yeah, I'm even nervous to try dude. I'm so afraid. So afraid Jake you're killing me here. I Don't know what any of this means.

I'm probably right there Jake. Yes, I can next time. There's there's my answer. Yes, I can next time.

Alright.

The Beginning of Birth Pains

So look I'm probably have to get up and do the lights thing again, and that's okay. I'm not worried about it, so look Jesus left the temple. He's going away here. The great was building this in 20 BC and You know and John chapter 2 the Jews make a comment Herod's been building this for 46 years taking him 46 years to build this because it was an on your own clock project.

Because even though it was built there was some beautification things. Gardens and things like that.

Courtyards.

So That is an excellent Timestamp now y 'all listen to me on this especially those of you who just read through the Bible don't pay attention what you're reading. That means John chapter 2 happens in approximately 26 AD.

Approximately there's no zero so you got to count that into it 25 26 27 because if Herod started building in 20, and then it's been 46 years. Approximately 25 to 26 AD is When John chapter 2 happened which fits with the timeline of Jesus dying in 29 AD which is?

Where I think it falls at any rate. At any rate. I'm just waiting for the light to go off. At any rate he then verse 3 he's sitting down on the Mount of Olives. Oh. And another thing note when it says truly.

Look over here. I'll turn on the thing for you when it when it says truly Greek word amen. Amen guys when you say amen English or truly or verily. All you're saying is that's true. I agree that that is true.

You say amen. That's not the end of a prayer. That just means I agree. That is true. That's what you're saying when you say Amen. No problem Michelle I Did my best Michelle I really honestly did. Someone even told me last week that the background is wrong.

I'll fix it. It helps me see it better believe it or not, but I can fix them. All right, so look. That has his death being 29 or 30 AD which fits the timeline, so they've really asked Jesus three questions.

In verse 3 they say tell us when these things will be. What will be the sign of your coming and the sign of the end of the age so that's in three things. When will these things be what sign you're coming?

What's the end of the age? Jesus answered see that no one leads you astray for many will come in my name saying I'm the Christ and they will lead many Astray and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

You see that you are not alarmed for this might place take place. But the end is not yet. So what we're about to read in Verses 4 through 14 are the beginnings of birth pains not the end the beginnings.

Wars and rumors or wars nation will rise against nation kingdom against kingdom. There'll be famines and earthquakes in various places and all these are but the beginnings of the birthplains. Then they'll deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death.

You'll be hated by all nations for my name's sake and then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another and Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray and because lawlessness will be increased the love of many will grow cold but the one who endures the end will be saved and the gospel the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a Testimony to all nations and then the end will come.

So that's section 4 through 14 are the beginnings of the birth pains. When a woman's pregnant she knows the ends in sight, but we're still the beginnings of the birth pains. Let me read that list of Signs of the beginnings of birth pains.

False Christ wars and rumors of wars. Jesus says don't be alarmed. Be wary, but don't be alarmed. Nation will rise against nation famines earthquakes worldwide persecution of Christians apostasy betrayal hate false prophets.

Please note atheism is not the ultimate enemy. False religion false prophets lawlessness increases the love of many grows cold. The Gospels proclaimed throughout the whole world. Then after those birth pains Jesus says what will happen next is That we will enter into the great tribulation.

The Great Tribulation and the Abomination of Desolation

So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel standing in the holy place. Let the reader understand. I love that little line. It gives me I guess confidence that even Matthew puts in this note let the reader understand confidence of that.

Those who are in this time when they read this will understand what's happening. Now you can go back and read about the abomination of desolation in Daniel referring to A blasphemous sacrilege in the holy place.

When this happens, let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. I'm gonna I'm gonna stop here and I'm gonna read you what I'm. Of course, we're not referring to. Well. Let me keep going. Let me keep.

But the one who's on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house. So the one who's in the field not turn back and take his cloak. But alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days.

Pray that your flight may not be in winter on the Sabbath for then there will be a Sorry, there will be great tribulation such as not has been from the beginning of the world until now. No, and never will be we're coming back to verse 21.

And if those days have not been cut short No human being would be saved but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says do you look here's the Christ where there is don't believe it for false Christ and false prophets will arise and form great signs and wonders.

As so as to lead astray if possibly in the elect see I've told you beforehand. So if they say look, he's in the wilderness. Don't go out there to say look. He's in the inner rooms. Don't believe him for as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the West so will be the coming of Son of Man.

Wherever the corpse is there will be vultures of vultures will gather. So.

I'm gonna read whatever and all.

Boom right there. This great tribulation is not to be confused with tribulation in general. Jesus promised that tribulation will come to those who choose to follow Christ on 1633. But the great tribulation refers to I believe a three and a half year period before Christ returned.

So all Christians should expect and be prepared for tribulation even into death. But the great tribulation refers to a specific period of time now. We've gone over this before. And I'm sorry for those of you who haven't been with us when we've gone over it before.

But to respect those who have I'm Not gonna really go over everything. Remember a preterist or preterist if you have to. But a preterist is someone who sees many of the prophetic passages in the New Testament Matthew 24 much of Revelation parts of Thessalonians, etc.

As.

Things that occurred within the first century. Specifically the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD. Yeah, so a preterist is someone who believes most of that New Testament Prophetic Passages were fulfilled in in 70 AD and in the first century not all but most.

For example, they wouldn't say the return of Christ Obviously has happened. Yet a futurist is someone who understands those same passages to be referring to something still in our future. Obviously as believers, those are two pretty big differences now.

While we should see those the big differences and see that they do matter if we stand united on The core of the gospel we stand united on the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture. If we stand united in these things we can still be united and Be okay with our differences in eschatology doesn't mean they don't matter.

It just means they're not of primary utmost importance so long as your eschatology includes The judgment of the living and the dead and the return of Jesus. So yeah, I think my opinion. Verse 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the Sun will be dark and the moon will not get its light stars will fall from heaven.

And the powers of heavens will be shaken. This is part of it.

From the red diverse that said the Sun will be darkened and that kind of cool that happened. I thought that was pretty cool.

Yeah, sorry guys. We're just not that kind of church. Fancy and all. I'll figure out a way to fix that but until then this is what we're gonna have to deal with at any rate. At any rate. Did you know.

Verse 29 says immediately after the tribulation. These weapon then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. I find verse 29 to be a strong argument for futurists.

It says immediately after the tribulation. Well, you know immediately after the tribulation.

If.

We are to understand the first half of Matthew 24 to be a first century event or series of events.

Then.

Happening immediately after that would obviously not fit in though. They would probably translate this word as suddenly which you know, I even got it on the top right is an appropriate translation. Sometimes suddenly as opposed to immediately as an appropriate translation.

That's a Debate for another time. I think verse 21 is the strongest argument for futurists and look again I don't make this a You're in the kingdom or out of kingdom for being a futurist or a preterist or I'm not that at all.

But let's just read 21 again for there will be great tribulation.

Such as has been from the beginning of the world until now. No, and never will be. Let's get this off me and on the scriptures for there will be great tribulation. Such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now and never will be.

No, if I'm to understand Matthew 24 3 through 20 to be first century events, and I don't mean to Belittle what happened in the first century with General Titus and Nero and the persecution and all that.

Mmm, but that was kind of Just around Rome and.

Jerusalem and.

Mediterranean. Far in my view worse events have happened in history since then. Ionic plague. And if you say no, this is a judgment for the Jewish people. How about the Holocaust? When it says there will be great tribulation such has not been from the beginning of the world until now and never will be.

I Read that as I Read that as something that has not happened yet, but take it or leave it. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am All right. Verse 30 is a summary of Christ's return detailed in Revelation 19 When they will appear in heaven the sign of a son of man and then all the tribes of earth will mourn and they will See the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and great glory.

He will send out his angels with loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds. From one end of heaven to the other it says they will look on him who they have pierced. I Do not think Verse 31 is actually a reference to the rapture.

But instead in assembling of all the elect in heaven and on earth in preparation for the rain during the millennial reign. So I believe the raptures already happened at this point he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds because If I understand the rapture, right?

It's not in use with angels. Will be caught up together with him in the clouds at any rate at any rate I admit and we're dealing with in times things and it's not an easy harmonization. That doesn't mean God's words not clear anything like that, but it's not an easy harmonization.

You know.

If you've been reading in Thessalonians a lot lately or you've been reading in Psalms a lot lately or you've been reading a revelation a lot Lately if you're unbalanced in what section you've been reading you might lean one way or another at any rate I'm gonna show you what I think is a great argument for preterism now again I'm a futurist, but I'm gonna show you what I think is a great argument for preterism.

Let's keep reading from the fig tree. Learn its lesson as soon as its branches become tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also when you see these things, you know that he is near at the very gates.

Truly I said to you this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. For a long time for a long time I didn't understand this and it troubled me. I Think it's a good argument for preterism, but then I finally understood I'll read.

In 2434 in chapter 24 34 Jesus is not speaking about the generation in front of him His disciples but the generation of people in the scene. He just said in other words this generation of people in the Great Tribulation Who lived through the abomination of desolation of false Christ that generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

So when the things at the beginning of chapter 4 start happening the beginnings of birth pains. Know that within a generation. Jesus will be returning. That was my humble understanding of things so I Don't want to give too much away because this is a question for Wednesday night Bible study in two weeks that I'm writing up a response to I think when we read that as This generation is in the generation.

Jesus is living in will not pass. Well, of course, that's a great preterist argument, but if you read it as The people he's talking about in the story He's telling a future event this generation that I'm talking about will not pass away until all these things come to pass.

That's how I read it. It makes perfect sense to me. We have people living in the beginning of birth pains and people and people being scattered and Wars and rumors and warns of people falling away in false province and not being seen in the gospel.

They came to me and proclaim the whole world and the abomination and desolation people fleeing to the housetop and women who are pregnant and so on and so forth. That generation will not pass away until all these things have come to pass.

All that will happen within one generation which if there actually is a Beginnings of birth pains period a.

Rapture a.

Three and a half years of peace and three and a half years of great tribulation. It's within one generation again. We're not doing all eschatology today, we're sticking with Matthew, but I'm just giving you a few tidbits.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

So that's my humble understanding. Let's skip down the verse. Oh, but concerning that day verse 36 Turns out that day or hour No one knows. Not even the angels have a nor of a son, but the father only of course.

We know that Jesus was bailed and some of his understanding in his human form. For as it was in the day of Noah, so will be in the coming of a son of man. I'm waiting for that light to go off again. We're in those days as before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in the marriage until the day would know.

I Entered the ark when they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away. So will be the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field. Won't be taken one. We left. Two women will be grinding at the mill.

Won't be taken. Won't be left. Now I might be wrong, but I don't actually see you. Verse 40 through 42. Because it says verse 42 stay awake for you don't know what day your Lord is coming.

I.

Could be wrong, but I do believe in a true pre-tribulation rapture. But I think the comparison Noah's flood and the warning of the teaching and 42 through 51 make it clear that this warning is not To wait till it's too late because those who are taken Seem to be swept away in judgment not taken up in glory.

And make sure I'm being clear why I do believe in a rapture, and I actually do believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. I don't think verse 40 through 43 was talking about that two men in the field once taken away.

Two women grinding at the mill once taken ones left. I think that's a judgment passage. Because the comparison as as it was in the days of Noah, and they were swept away by the flood.

Well.

So we'll be in the coming of Son of Man, I think it's talking about Jesus's return. It will be a violent return if you have a problem with that. I'm sorry. That's how Jesus presents it. But know this that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thieves coming He would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.

Therefore you must always be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour. You don't expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master set up in the household to give him the food at the proper time.

Blessed is the servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly I tell you he will set him over all his possessions. But the wicked servant says to himself my master is delayed and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards.

The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him in an hour he does not know and he will cut him to pieces and.

Put him in the hypocrite with the hypocrites in that place. They'll be weeping. So look.

That's my last time doing that as well. Almost done. We've gone over this before weeping and gnashing of teeth. So look just just to go over this again, I know this is just but a brief synopsis of Matthew 24.

Barely deserves to be called a synopsis, but just to briefly go over it again. We have The disciples asking Jesus about the great temple and he says hey man one day. Not even one stone will be left on top of another.

He talks about before his return Earth pains the beginnings of birth pains, but the end is not yet. Then he talks about great tribulation. Then he talks about his return. Preterist has a very large gap.

Obviously between verse Make sure I'm being fair 28 and 29 very large gap. But that doesn't immediately make them wrong because in Old Testament prophetic passages we have within the same verse partial fulfillment in One millennia and future fulfillment another for example.

And You'll have some of the Psalms some of the fulfillment will be in David's lifetime and some of the fulfillment will be in the life of the Messiah and some of the fulfillment will be in the Messianic Kingdom.

Same with Joel chapter 2. Same with Joel chapter 2. You'll have fulfillment at Pentecost and you have more fulfillment at the end times so We'll have Prophecy about David's son ruling the kingdom and within the same breath saying his kingdom will be established forever.

Which is a reference to the Messiah? So we can't say the preterist is wrong simply because there's a big time gap there, but again I Am on the future side of things but at any rate there's Matthew 24.

I Think it is really intriguing.

And.

Something that we need to be aware of verse 6 and you will hear of wars and rumors of wars see that you're not alarmed for this must take place. The end is not yet. Do not be alarmed for this must take place guys.

Sometimes we get crazy about eschatology and in times discussions Jesus says in the beginnings of birth things when there's wars and rumors of wars see that you are not alarmed. But this must take place.

We serve a sovereign God. Things will happen in his time not ours. The podcast Brandon and Anna were talking about that the other day. We don't want things in his time. We want it in our time. That's how God operates.

He's not interested in our time. We have a sovereign God and sovereign King who does things in his time. Exactly at his time. No one knows the day or the hour now. We do know the season. You know when the fig tree is getting ready right, you know.

When its branches become tender and it puts out its leaves, you know summer's near so we know the season. We don't know the day or the hour, but you know the season. We're aware of those signs, but it will happen in God's time not ours.

You.