Notes (Matthew 24:1-30)
*Matthew 24 (Generally) -- (Not fulfilled)
Just as the highly detailed tribulation events of Revelation chapters 6-18 have never been fulfilled, so the tribulation events of Matthew 24 have never been fulfilled. For example, Matthew 24:15 is referring back to Daniel 11:31, which has never been antitypically fulfilled (See Daniel 11:31 above). Also, the second coming of Jesus and the gathering together (rapture) of the church in Matthew 24:30-31 (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8) has never been fulfilled, but must occur immediately after the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18/Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 19:7-20:6).
Also, while Jesus was speaking with the apostles in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21), in Jesus' mind all believers of all times are one (John 17:20-21, Ephesians 4:4-5). The events foretold by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse didn't happen in the lifetime of the apostles, or any time since then. They will happen in the future. For example, Luke 21:24 refers to the same future treading down of Jerusalem by the Gentiles as Revelation 11:2b. Also, see Matthew 24:2 below.
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(Re: Was the tribulation *World War II, which lasted 3.5 years?) / (*WW II) / (*WWII)
World War II lasted longer than 3.5 years (1939-1945), and the highly detailed tribulation events of Revelation chapters 6-18 didn't happen during World War II. Also, Jesus didn't return immediately after World War II, but he will return immediately after the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18/Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:7-20:3). Also, the never-fulfilled 3.5 years in Revelation, which are shown in detail from four different angles in Revelation chapters 11-14 (Revelation 11:2b-3, Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:5,7, Revelation 14:9-13), will be during only the latter half of the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18.
It's sometimes claimed that World War II didn't become a world war until December 7, 1941, when the U.S. entered the war. But World War II was a world war even prior to December 7, 1941, because, for example, the U.S. had already been materially supporting Britain in its war effort. Also, it's sometimes claimed that from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the end of the war was 3.5 years. But from the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 until the end of the war on September 2, 1945 was longer than 3.5 years. Also, even if someone were to mistakenly claim that World War II ended with the formal surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, then from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the formal surrender of Germany was less than 3.5 years.
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(Mt. 24 involves the church) / (*Trib saints)
Matthew 24 refers to the future tribulation, by which time the church will have existed for some 2,000 years. The saints who will be in the tribulation will be the church, for they will be believers in Jesus (Matthew 24:9-13, Revelation 7:9,14, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4), and now there are no believers outside of the church (Ephesians 4:4-6). They could include most of the believers alive today, for there will be no pre-tribulation rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 24:29-31). Also, Matthew 24 was addressed privately to only believers (Matthew 24:3-4,9), and in Jesus' mind all believers of all times are now one (John 17:20-21, Ephesians 4:4-6). The entire book of Revelation was likewise addressed to only believers (Revelation 1:1-4, Revelation 22:16). Just as the pre-trib view admits that, for example, John 14 and Matthew 24's parallel chapter of Luke 21 can apply to those in the church today (e.g. Luke 21:36, John 14:3), so the pre-trib view should admit that Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6-19 can apply to those in the church today.
See also Mt. 24:9, 24:16, and 24:20 below
(Re: Doesn't Mt. 24 concern only Jewish things, like the temple, and when their King would return, and bring in the kingdom?)
The church went to the temple (Luke 24:53, Acts 22:17). And Jesus is the King of all Christians (1 Timothy 6:15), not just Jewish Christians. And Matthew 24:30-31 is referring to the same second coming of Jesus and gathering together (rapture) of the church as 2 Thessalonians 2:1, which is referring to the same second coming of Jesus and catching up together (rapture) of the church as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Also, the just-physically-resurrected church will rule on the earth with the just-returned Jesus during the coming millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 2:26-29), because the church is Israel (Revelation 21:9b,12b).
See also Mt. 24:9, 24:16, and 24:20 below
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*Mt. 24:2 -- (*Wailing)
The end of Herod's temple building (aka the 2nd temple building) didn't fulfill Mt. 24:2, for the stones of the 2nd temple complex's Western Wall (aka the Wailing Wall) still stand today 1 on top of the other, just as they did when Jesus spoke that prophecy. Mt. 24:2 included the Wailing Wall, for Mt. 24:2 wasn't referring to only the single 2nd temple building in the center of the Temple Mount, but to "all these things", all the plural "buildings"/structures/oikodome (G3619) of the entire 2nd temple complex (Mt. 24:1). Indeed, Mt. 24:2 could even have been spoken right next to the Wailing Wall, for it was spoken just after Jesus had departed from the temple complex (Mt. 24:1), and 1 of the main temple complex exits (called Wilson's Arch & bridge by archaeologists) was just to the north of the Wailing Wall (see the temple complex map insert in the Dec. 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine). Also, the "here" in Mt. 24:2 included not just the entire 2nd temple complex, but every structure throughout Jerusalem, for the similar statement by Jesus in Lk. 19:44 applied to the whole city (Lk. 19:41-44). Mt. 24:2 & Lk. 19:44 could be fulfilled at the very end of the future trib, right before &/or at Jesus' 2nd coming (Zech. 14:2-21).
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*Matthew 24:3's original Greek word (aion, G0165) translated as "world", can be translated as "age" (Ephesians 2:7, Colossians 1:26).
(Re: Does the end of the *age mean the end of the *Old Covenant/*OC age in 70 AD?) / (*Covenant)
(Re: Was there a *transition period, 30-70 AD, between the OC and NC?)
From God's point of view, there was no transition period, no overlap at all (Hebrews 10:9b, Hebrews 7:12), between the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law and the time of the New Covenant. Instead, the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law ended at the moment Jesus died on the Cross (Matthew 27:50-51a) and abolished the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14-17, Hebrews 7:18-19, 2 Corinthians 3:6-18), which was the same moment that he brought the New Covenant into effect (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17, Hebrews 10:19-20, Matthew 27:51a).
(Re: Will the end of the age be at the 2nd coming?)
While the apostles asked Jesus about the end of the age (Matthew 24:3), he didn't tell them that the end of the age would occur immediately at his second coming, or when it would occur, just as he didn't tell them many other things during his ministry (John 16:12). It wouldn't be until much later that he would show the apostle John, through the vision in the book of Revelation, that the end of the age, when all the unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire (Matthew 13:40, Revelation 20:15), won't occur until over 1,000 years after his second coming (Revelation 19:7-20:15).
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*Matthew 24:7-8 --
(Re: Does it mean the trib of Rev. chs. 6-18 has begun?)
Matthew 24:7-8 would include the war (Revelation 6:4), famine (Revelation 6:6,8), epidemics (Revelation 6:8, where beasts could include disease-causing creatures such as bacteria), and earthquake (Revelation 6:12), of only the first stage (Revelation 6) of the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18. But still, the tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18 (as opposed to Matthew 24:7-8, which could also include other wars, famines, epidemics, and earthquakes preceding Revelation 6:4-8) hasn't started yet. For it will start with the horrible war (and its aftermath of famines and epidemics) of the second through fourth seals (Revelation 6:4-8), which will end up killing a fourth of the world (Revelation 6:8). The "great sword" of this war (Revelation 6:4) could be Israel's nuclear weapons.
(Re: Is Mt. 24:7-8 happening now on a grander scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What wars are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than World War II, or World War I? What famines are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Great Chinese Famine, or the Bengal Famine? What epidemics are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Spanish Flu Epidemic, or the Black Death Epidemic? What earthquakes are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Shaanxi Earthquake, or the Tangshan Earthquake?
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*Matthew 24:9-13 refers to the coming killing of Christians, those who will be hated and killed for the name of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:9) in every nation during the future, literal 3.5-year (Revelation 13:5) worldwide reign of the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of the beast) (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4). Matthew 24:9-13 shows that not all Christians will continue to love Jesus during that time, but some Christians' love for him will grow cold because of their unrepentant sin (Matthew 24:12, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:3-4) and their becoming offended (Matthew 24:10a) that he would let them suffer so terribly in the tribulation (Matthew 13:21, Isaiah 8:21-22, 1 Peter 4:12-13). Only those Christians who continue to love Jesus unto the end will be ultimately saved (Matthew 24:13).
(Re: Is Mt. 24:9 happening now on a grander scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What killings of Biblical Christians are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Diocletianic Persecution, or the Decian Persecution?
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*Matthew 24:11 --
(Re: Is Mt. 24:11 happening now on a grander scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What false prophets are alive and operating publicly now and are getting worse every day, who are grander than the false prophet Muhammad, or the false prophet Nathan of Gaza?
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*Matthew 24:15 is referring back to Daniel 11:31. (See that verse above)
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*Matthew 24:16 --
(Re: *Judaea) / (*Fleeing)
Regarding Matthew 24:16, there are many churches in Judaea (southern Israel) today, and they contain mostly Gentile believers, not just Jewish believers. The church began and has always been in Judaea: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea" (Acts 9:31); "the churches of Judaea" (Galatians 1:22); "the churches... in Judaea" (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Matthew 24:16 is referring to those in the church, both Jewish believers and Gentile believers, who will still be living in Judaea at the future point in time when the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the Antichrist) is set up in the holy place of a third Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31).
The Antichrist's persecution of believers could begin in Jerusalem and Judaea right after the abomination of desolation is set up and the Antichrist himself sits in the temple and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:36). So to avoid this persecution (Matthew 10:23a), those in the church living in Judaea should flee immediately after they see the abomination of desolation set up (Matthew 24:15-16), which event could occur mid-tribulation and mark the start of the Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 13:5b,7b). Eventually, the Antichrist's persecution of believers will reach every nation around the world (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 24:9-13), so the basic principle of Matthew 24:16 of fleeing (the Antichrist's persecution) would be applicable to believers around the world.
Just as the woman in Revelation 12:6 represents many different people in the church all around the world, so the protected wilderness place she flees to represents many different protected wilderness places all around the world. When those in the church living in Judaea see the abomination of desolation set up, they should flee into places in the wilderness east of Judaea, the mountains (Matthew 24:16) of Jordan. And those in the church who will be living in places in the world other than Judaea should flee into other wilderness places, mountainous places (Ezekiel 7:16), in the regions of the world where they live.
And they should have prepared beforehand hideouts in these wilderness/mountain places, hideouts already fully stocked with all the emergency supplies of food, water, warm clothing, etc., that they and their families and fellow Christians will need to survive (1 Timothy 5:8, Matthew 24:45-46, cf. Genesis 41:48,36, Genesis 45:7) until Jesus returns, possibly on the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation is set up (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15). For they shouldn't carry any supplies with them when they flee (Matthew 24:17-18). They should flee as unhindered and quickly as possible, knowing that when the abomination of desolation is set up, that could signal the beginning of the Antichrist's literal 3.5-year Luciferian (Satanic) worldwide reign of terror (Revelation 13:4-18), when he will be given power to make war against all those in the church that he can get his hands on, and to overcome them and kill them in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 24:9-13).
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*Matthew 24:20 doesn't refer to the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law sabbath being still in effect by the time Matthew 24:20 is fulfilled. And Matthew 24:20's parallel verse in Mark 13:18 doesn't mention the sabbath, because some Christians choose to keep the sabbath, while others choose not to keep it (Romans 14:5). The letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law sabbath hasn't been in effect since the Cross, when, for both Jews and Gentiles... (See "Law" section under Eph. 2:15 below)
Just as the highly detailed tribulation events of Revelation chapters 6-18 have never been fulfilled, so the tribulation events of Matthew 24 have never been fulfilled. For example, Matthew 24:15 is referring back to Daniel 11:31, which has never been antitypically fulfilled (See Daniel 11:31 above). Also, the second coming of Jesus and the gathering together (rapture) of the church in Matthew 24:30-31 (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8) has never been fulfilled, but must occur immediately after the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18/Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 19:7-20:6).
Also, while Jesus was speaking with the apostles in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21), in Jesus' mind all believers of all times are one (John 17:20-21, Ephesians 4:4-5). The events foretold by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse didn't happen in the lifetime of the apostles, or any time since then. They will happen in the future. For example, Luke 21:24 refers to the same future treading down of Jerusalem by the Gentiles as Revelation 11:2b. Also, see Matthew 24:2 below.
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(Re: Was the tribulation *World War II, which lasted 3.5 years?) / (*WW II) / (*WWII)
World War II lasted longer than 3.5 years (1939-1945), and the highly detailed tribulation events of Revelation chapters 6-18 didn't happen during World War II. Also, Jesus didn't return immediately after World War II, but he will return immediately after the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18/Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:7-20:3). Also, the never-fulfilled 3.5 years in Revelation, which are shown in detail from four different angles in Revelation chapters 11-14 (Revelation 11:2b-3, Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:5,7, Revelation 14:9-13), will be during only the latter half of the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18.
It's sometimes claimed that World War II didn't become a world war until December 7, 1941, when the U.S. entered the war. But World War II was a world war even prior to December 7, 1941, because, for example, the U.S. had already been materially supporting Britain in its war effort. Also, it's sometimes claimed that from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the end of the war was 3.5 years. But from the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 until the end of the war on September 2, 1945 was longer than 3.5 years. Also, even if someone were to mistakenly claim that World War II ended with the formal surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, then from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the formal surrender of Germany was less than 3.5 years.
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(Mt. 24 involves the church) / (*Trib saints)
Matthew 24 refers to the future tribulation, by which time the church will have existed for some 2,000 years. The saints who will be in the tribulation will be the church, for they will be believers in Jesus (Matthew 24:9-13, Revelation 7:9,14, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4), and now there are no believers outside of the church (Ephesians 4:4-6). They could include most of the believers alive today, for there will be no pre-tribulation rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 24:29-31). Also, Matthew 24 was addressed privately to only believers (Matthew 24:3-4,9), and in Jesus' mind all believers of all times are now one (John 17:20-21, Ephesians 4:4-6). The entire book of Revelation was likewise addressed to only believers (Revelation 1:1-4, Revelation 22:16). Just as the pre-trib view admits that, for example, John 14 and Matthew 24's parallel chapter of Luke 21 can apply to those in the church today (e.g. Luke 21:36, John 14:3), so the pre-trib view should admit that Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6-19 can apply to those in the church today.
See also Mt. 24:9, 24:16, and 24:20 below
(Re: Doesn't Mt. 24 concern only Jewish things, like the temple, and when their King would return, and bring in the kingdom?)
The church went to the temple (Luke 24:53, Acts 22:17). And Jesus is the King of all Christians (1 Timothy 6:15), not just Jewish Christians. And Matthew 24:30-31 is referring to the same second coming of Jesus and gathering together (rapture) of the church as 2 Thessalonians 2:1, which is referring to the same second coming of Jesus and catching up together (rapture) of the church as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Also, the just-physically-resurrected church will rule on the earth with the just-returned Jesus during the coming millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 2:26-29), because the church is Israel (Revelation 21:9b,12b).
See also Mt. 24:9, 24:16, and 24:20 below
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*Mt. 24:2 -- (*Wailing)
The end of Herod's temple building (aka the 2nd temple building) didn't fulfill Mt. 24:2, for the stones of the 2nd temple complex's Western Wall (aka the Wailing Wall) still stand today 1 on top of the other, just as they did when Jesus spoke that prophecy. Mt. 24:2 included the Wailing Wall, for Mt. 24:2 wasn't referring to only the single 2nd temple building in the center of the Temple Mount, but to "all these things", all the plural "buildings"/structures/oikodome (G3619) of the entire 2nd temple complex (Mt. 24:1). Indeed, Mt. 24:2 could even have been spoken right next to the Wailing Wall, for it was spoken just after Jesus had departed from the temple complex (Mt. 24:1), and 1 of the main temple complex exits (called Wilson's Arch & bridge by archaeologists) was just to the north of the Wailing Wall (see the temple complex map insert in the Dec. 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine). Also, the "here" in Mt. 24:2 included not just the entire 2nd temple complex, but every structure throughout Jerusalem, for the similar statement by Jesus in Lk. 19:44 applied to the whole city (Lk. 19:41-44). Mt. 24:2 & Lk. 19:44 could be fulfilled at the very end of the future trib, right before &/or at Jesus' 2nd coming (Zech. 14:2-21).
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*Matthew 24:3's original Greek word (aion, G0165) translated as "world", can be translated as "age" (Ephesians 2:7, Colossians 1:26).
(Re: Does the end of the *age mean the end of the *Old Covenant/*OC age in 70 AD?) / (*Covenant)
(Re: Was there a *transition period, 30-70 AD, between the OC and NC?)
From God's point of view, there was no transition period, no overlap at all (Hebrews 10:9b, Hebrews 7:12), between the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law and the time of the New Covenant. Instead, the time of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law ended at the moment Jesus died on the Cross (Matthew 27:50-51a) and abolished the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14-17, Hebrews 7:18-19, 2 Corinthians 3:6-18), which was the same moment that he brought the New Covenant into effect (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17, Hebrews 10:19-20, Matthew 27:51a).
(Re: Will the end of the age be at the 2nd coming?)
While the apostles asked Jesus about the end of the age (Matthew 24:3), he didn't tell them that the end of the age would occur immediately at his second coming, or when it would occur, just as he didn't tell them many other things during his ministry (John 16:12). It wouldn't be until much later that he would show the apostle John, through the vision in the book of Revelation, that the end of the age, when all the unsaved will be cast into the lake of fire (Matthew 13:40, Revelation 20:15), won't occur until over 1,000 years after his second coming (Revelation 19:7-20:15).
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*Matthew 24:7-8 --
(Re: Does it mean the trib of Rev. chs. 6-18 has begun?)
Matthew 24:7-8 would include the war (Revelation 6:4), famine (Revelation 6:6,8), epidemics (Revelation 6:8, where beasts could include disease-causing creatures such as bacteria), and earthquake (Revelation 6:12), of only the first stage (Revelation 6) of the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18. But still, the tribulation of Revelation chapters 6-18 (as opposed to Matthew 24:7-8, which could also include other wars, famines, epidemics, and earthquakes preceding Revelation 6:4-8) hasn't started yet. For it will start with the horrible war (and its aftermath of famines and epidemics) of the second through fourth seals (Revelation 6:4-8), which will end up killing a fourth of the world (Revelation 6:8). The "great sword" of this war (Revelation 6:4) could be Israel's nuclear weapons.
(Re: Is Mt. 24:7-8 happening now on a grander scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What wars are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than World War II, or World War I? What famines are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Great Chinese Famine, or the Bengal Famine? What epidemics are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Spanish Flu Epidemic, or the Black Death Epidemic? What earthquakes are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Shaanxi Earthquake, or the Tangshan Earthquake?
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*Matthew 24:9-13 refers to the coming killing of Christians, those who will be hated and killed for the name of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:9) in every nation during the future, literal 3.5-year (Revelation 13:5) worldwide reign of the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of the beast) (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4). Matthew 24:9-13 shows that not all Christians will continue to love Jesus during that time, but some Christians' love for him will grow cold because of their unrepentant sin (Matthew 24:12, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:3-4) and their becoming offended (Matthew 24:10a) that he would let them suffer so terribly in the tribulation (Matthew 13:21, Isaiah 8:21-22, 1 Peter 4:12-13). Only those Christians who continue to love Jesus unto the end will be ultimately saved (Matthew 24:13).
(Re: Is Mt. 24:9 happening now on a grander scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What killings of Biblical Christians are happening now and are getting worse every day, which are grander than the Diocletianic Persecution, or the Decian Persecution?
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*Matthew 24:11 --
(Re: Is Mt. 24:11 happening now on a grander scale than ever in history, and getting worse every day?)
What false prophets are alive and operating publicly now and are getting worse every day, who are grander than the false prophet Muhammad, or the false prophet Nathan of Gaza?
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*Matthew 24:15 is referring back to Daniel 11:31. (See that verse above)
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*Matthew 24:16 --
(Re: *Judaea) / (*Fleeing)
Regarding Matthew 24:16, there are many churches in Judaea (southern Israel) today, and they contain mostly Gentile believers, not just Jewish believers. The church began and has always been in Judaea: "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea" (Acts 9:31); "the churches of Judaea" (Galatians 1:22); "the churches... in Judaea" (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Matthew 24:16 is referring to those in the church, both Jewish believers and Gentile believers, who will still be living in Judaea at the future point in time when the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the Antichrist) is set up in the holy place of a third Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31).
The Antichrist's persecution of believers could begin in Jerusalem and Judaea right after the abomination of desolation is set up and the Antichrist himself sits in the temple and proclaims himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Daniel 11:36). So to avoid this persecution (Matthew 10:23a), those in the church living in Judaea should flee immediately after they see the abomination of desolation set up (Matthew 24:15-16), which event could occur mid-tribulation and mark the start of the Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 13:5b,7b). Eventually, the Antichrist's persecution of believers will reach every nation around the world (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 24:9-13), so the basic principle of Matthew 24:16 of fleeing (the Antichrist's persecution) would be applicable to believers around the world.
Just as the woman in Revelation 12:6 represents many different people in the church all around the world, so the protected wilderness place she flees to represents many different protected wilderness places all around the world. When those in the church living in Judaea see the abomination of desolation set up, they should flee into places in the wilderness east of Judaea, the mountains (Matthew 24:16) of Jordan. And those in the church who will be living in places in the world other than Judaea should flee into other wilderness places, mountainous places (Ezekiel 7:16), in the regions of the world where they live.
And they should have prepared beforehand hideouts in these wilderness/mountain places, hideouts already fully stocked with all the emergency supplies of food, water, warm clothing, etc., that they and their families and fellow Christians will need to survive (1 Timothy 5:8, Matthew 24:45-46, cf. Genesis 41:48,36, Genesis 45:7) until Jesus returns, possibly on the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation is set up (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15). For they shouldn't carry any supplies with them when they flee (Matthew 24:17-18). They should flee as unhindered and quickly as possible, knowing that when the abomination of desolation is set up, that could signal the beginning of the Antichrist's literal 3.5-year Luciferian (Satanic) worldwide reign of terror (Revelation 13:4-18), when he will be given power to make war against all those in the church that he can get his hands on, and to overcome them and kill them in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 24:9-13).
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*Matthew 24:20 doesn't refer to the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law sabbath being still in effect by the time Matthew 24:20 is fulfilled. And Matthew 24:20's parallel verse in Mark 13:18 doesn't mention the sabbath, because some Christians choose to keep the sabbath, while others choose not to keep it (Romans 14:5). The letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law sabbath hasn't been in effect since the Cross, when, for both Jews and Gentiles... (See "Law" section under Eph. 2:15 below)
Total Comments 2
Comments
 | *Matthew 24:21 is referring to a future, worldwide tribulation like has never affected the whole world before. Matthew 24:21 doesn't require that the future tribulation will be worse for every individual than Job's personal tribulation, or the tribulation of the Jews in the Holocaust, or the tribulation of the early church (e.g. Revelation 2:10). For some Christians will be protected on the earth during the future tribulation (Revelation 12:6). Also, Matthew 24:21 is referring to the latter half (Revelation chapters 11-18) of the future tribulation, the first half (Revelation chapters 6-10) being Matthew 24:7-8. --- *Matthew 24:22 -- See Mk. 13:20 below --- *Matthew 24:24b -- (*Deceived) In Matthew 24:24b, Jesus doesn't say "if it were possible", in the sense of it not being possible. Instead, in the original Greek all Jesus says is "if possible", meaning that false Christs and false prophets will perform great miracles by the power of Satan (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9) as part of Satan's intention of deceiving as many of the elect as possible. Jesus nowhere says that it's not possible for any elect person to be deceived. Instead, Jesus had started out in Matthew 24 by specifically warning the elect to "Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4), meaning that it's possible for the elect to be deceived, if they don't take heed to Jesus' warning regarding great-miracle-working false Christs and false prophets who will appear in the future (Matthew 24:4-5,23-25, Revelation 13:13-18, Revelation 19:20). The elect can also be deceived in other ways, either before their salvation (Titus 3:3, Romans 7:11) or after their salvation (1 John 3:7, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Galatians 6:7, Ephesians 5:6, 2 Thessalonians 2:3). Paul warns the elect that "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1). The time will come when some "shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:4). For it's possible for a saved person to commit apostasy, to the ultimate loss of his salvation (Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6, 2 Timothy 2:12b). The fact that true Christians can be deceived into committing apostasy doesn't mean that Satan is stronger than God, or that God would abandon a true Christian, but means that the principle of the "deceivableness of unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:10) is applicable to true Christians. That is, one way that a true Christian could be deceived into committing apostasy would be if... (See 2nd paragraph under Heb. 6:4 below) So true Christians need to be living righteously now, they need to be... (See Mt. 7:24 above) -- *Mt. 24:27 - At his 2nd coming, Jesus will be seen literally in literal clouds by everyone (Rev. 1:7, Mt. 24:30), just as lightning is seen literally in literal clouds (Mt. 24:27). His 2nd coming won't be secret (Mt. 24:26-31). -- *Matthew 24:28 isn't referring to the rapture, but to a dead body being eaten by eagles (Job 39:30b, Revelation 19:21). The original Greek word (ptoma, G4430) translated as "carcase" in Matthew 24:28 is used to refer to only a dead body (e.g. Matthew 14:12, Mark 6:29, Mark 15:45, Revelation 11:8-9). -- *Mt. 24:29a can refer to literal clouds blocking the literal light from the literal sun & moon, & refer to what we still today call "falling stars", i.e. meteors, but ones which will also be meteorites, i.e. ones which will pass through the clouds & will be seen before they land on the earth. (Same as 6th seal?) See under Rev. 6:12 below -- *Matthew 24:30 refers to only the unsaved left on the earth mourning at Jesus' second coming, not the saved who will be raptured (gathered together) at that time from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven (Mark 13:27). Also, Matthew 24:30 isn't referring to only unsaved Jews mourning, but all unsaved people of all tribes (or kindreds) of the earth, for Matthew 24:30 means that everyone on the earth will see Jesus' second coming (Revelation 1:7). The same Greek word translated as "tribes" in Matthew 24:30 is translated as "kindreds" in Revelation 1:7. The "sign of the Son of man" (Matthew 24:30) (if it isn't the sign of the Cross) could be the appearance of Jesus himself (Luke 11:29-30) in the sky at his second coming (Matthew 24:30). Before he lands on the earth (Zechariah 14:4, Acts 1:11-12), he could circle the globe in the sky so that everyone will be able to see him with their own eyes, as Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:27,30 require. This is also the whole point of Matthew 24:23-31: If Jesus' second coming isn't immediately obvious to everyone at the same time, then it's not really Jesus. Another test is that the church's physical resurrection, and then its gathering together (rapture) to meet the returned Jesus in the sky, have to occur at the second coming of the real Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Matthew 24:30-31, 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-53, Revelation 19:7-20:6). (Re: Why wasn't Jesus obvious the first time he came?) Jesus came the first time to die on the Cross for our sins, and to rise from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). If he'd come the first time like he will return (in glory, Matthew 24:30), no one would have crucified him (1 Corinthians 2:8). |
  Updated 13th May 2012 at 05:52 AM by Bible2 |
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| Updated 28th March 2012 at 01:11 AM by Bible2 |
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