SNBS - The Book of Matthew part 23

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 1 4th that means he was ruler of a 4th like maybe he had a 4th here and a 4th here and a 4th 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 save 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 All right, 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 in 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 -going

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 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 barely 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 be in 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 won't 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 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars you see that you are not alarmed for this my 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 birth flames

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 section 4 through 14 are the beginnings of the birth pains

When a woman's pregnant she knows the ends in sight. 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.

No 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

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 let 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 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 wrote. 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 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 rise 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'll be vultures of vultures will gather so I Want to read whatever and all?

Let's see. This is 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 going to 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 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 want to say the return of Christ Obviously has happened yet a

Futurist is someone who understands those same passages to 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 that some would be dark and the moon will not give its light stars will fall from Heaven and the powers of heavens will be shaken.

This is part of it Read the verse 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 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 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 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'll 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 the Son of Man and then all the tribes 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 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 We'll 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 So I don't want to give too much away because this is a question for Wednesday night

Bible study in two weeks then 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 prophets and not being seen in the gospel

They came to me and proclaim the whole world in the abomination of 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 Of course that fits 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

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 veiled 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 when

Noah Entered the ark and 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 one will be taken one will be left two women will be grinding at the mill one will be

Taken one will 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 will know as flood and the warning of the teaching in 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 42 is talking about that two men in the field one's taken away Two women grinding at the mill one's taken one's left.

I think that's a judgment passage Because the comparison as as it was a midday as a no and they were swept away by the flood well

So we'll be in the coming of the 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 and his master said over 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 true I'll 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 that sort of 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 is wrong was 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 Rhetorist 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 preface was 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

Six 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 end times discussions

Jesus says in the beginnings of birth things when there's wars and rumors of wars see that you are not alarmed

For 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 this 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 is near so we know the season