Notes: Matthew 24:34 To Matthew 25:10

*Matthew 24:34 / *Mt. 24:34 -

(Re: *Fig tree / *Generation)

Matthew 24:34 refers to the fulfillment of "all these things", all the events of the future Tribulation, and Jesus Christ's Second Coming and the gathering together (rapture) of the Church "immediately after" the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 19:2 to 20:6), which events Jesus had just finished describing in Matthew 24:2-31, and which He would later show in great detail in Revelation chapters 6 to 19. Matthew 24:34 did not mean that the Tribulation, Second Coming, and rapture would be fulfilled during the temporal generation alive at the time of Jesus' first coming in the first century AD. For none of those things was fulfilled during that temporal generation.

Instead, Matthew 24:34 can mean that the temporal generation which would see the 1948 AD reestablishment of Israel, which could be symbolized by the rebudding of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32-34; cf. Matthew 21:19,43, Hosea 9:10, Joel 1:6-7, Luke 13:6-9), will not pass, that is, will not die off completely, until the future Tribulation and Second Coming of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 19 are fulfilled. A temporal generation may not pass until 80 years (Psalms 90:10), or 120 years (Genesis 6:3).

This does not require that Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming will occur right before, like one year before, that generation will pass: that is, 79, or 119 years after 1948: in 2027, or 2067. And if the Tribulation which will immediately precede the Second Coming and rapture (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6) will last seven years (Daniel 9:27), the Tribulation's first year will not have to be in 2021, or 2061, but could be in a future year (e.g. 2020) earlier than 2021.

Matthew 24:34 could also include the meaning that the figurative, all-times generation of the elect (Matthew 24:22, Luke 16:8b; 1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4) will not pass away from the earth during the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18, but that some elect people will survive (Matthew 24:22) until Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-53), which will occur immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).

~

The rebudding of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32) can refer to the 1948 reestablishment of Israel, just as Jesus Christ's cursing of the literal, fruitless fig tree (Matthew 21:19) foreshadowed His curse on the part of Old Covenant Israel which rejected Him (Matthew 21:43). For a fig tree can represent Israel (Hosea 9:10, Joel 1:6-7, Luke 13:6-9). And the Israel which was reestablished in 1948 is the same Old Covenant Israel which Jesus cursed at His first coming, insofar as it still mistakenly rejects Jesus and still mistakenly considers itself to be under the Old Covenant. This Israel merely "putting forth leaves" again (Matthew 24:32) in 1948 was only a restoration to what the fig tree in Matthew 21:19,43 had been before it was cursed by Jesus and then destroyed in 70 AD: a tree with leaves, but without any fruit. And the non-Christian nation-state of Old Covenant Israel which was reestablished by humans in 1948 may never bear fruit. For it could be destroyed before Jesus' Second Coming, during a future war, by a Baathist army, just as it had been destroyed in 70 AD by a Roman-empire army.

But Jesus Christ's Kingdom is still called "Israel"... (See paragraphs 4-5 of Acts 1:6 below)

(Also, see the "War" section of Revelation 13:5 below. And see Ezekiel 21:27 above)

~

(Re: Is there any other instance where "this generation" does not mean the temporal one alive at Jesus' first coming?)

The parallel verses of Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30, and Luke 21:32 can be the only instance where "this generation" does not mean the temporal generation which was alive at Jesus Christ's first coming. For...

(See "your argument is like" under Daniel 11:37 above...)

Similarly, Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30, and Luke 21:32 can be the only instance where "this generation" is used to refer to a future generation, which would see "all these things", including Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming.

~

(Re: A vehement, anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian person) / (*Random person)

Why should anyone become hyper-concerned about the Israelis' dispossession of such a small sliver of the Arabs' total land, which stretches all the way from Oman to Morocco? Why not also become hyper-concerned about, for example, the U.S.'s and Canada's dispossession of almost all of the American Indians' land, stretching across North America? Or Australia's and New Zealand's dispossession of almost all of the aborigines' land? Also, why would someone completely reject the Jews' ancestral/historical/Biblical claim to the land of Canaan? Is it possible that anti-Semitism is involved in some way? Why cannot the Jews have even such a small piece of land for themselves, especially after what happened to them in the Holocaust?

Also, the Palestinians are simply Arabs. They are not their own nationality which needs their own nation-state. They can live on any Arab land within the truly gigantic Arab territory stretching from Oman to Morocco.

So the world needs to give the Jews a break, for God's sake.

--

*Matthew 24:35 / *Mt. 24:35 -

This refers to the eternal nature of Jesus Christ's Word in the Holy Bible (cf. 1 Peter 1:24-25), not to the timing of the subsequent verses. For Matthew 24:36 refers to the timing of Jesus' future, Second Coming in Matthew 24:37-51, as in Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:27, and Matthew 24:3, and as in Matthew 25:10, Matthew 25:13, Matthew 25:19, and Matthew 25:31. This is the same future, Second Coming as shown in Revelation 19:7 to 20:3, which will occur over 1,000 years before heaven and earth will pass away and be replaced by a New Heaven (a new first heaven, sky/atmosphere for the earth) and a New Earth (a new surface for the earth) in Revelation 21:1-5. For between the time of the Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:3) and the time of the New Heaven and New Earth will occur the future Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), then the Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10, Ezekiel chapters 38-39), and then at least seven years (Ezekiel 39:9b).

(See also Matthew 5:18 above)

--

*Matthew 24:36,42,44 / *Mt. 24:36 -

(Re: *Knowing the time)

This refers to Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Matthew 24:37,42,44), which He had just finished saying will not happen until "immediately after the tribulation" (Matthew 24:29-31). So in Matthew 24:42,44, Jesus can mean that only if Christians do not watch (stay awake, spiritually) during the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 6 to 18, then the Second Coming will happen at an hour which they do not know/think not (compare the if principle of Revelation 3:3b). In the context of Matthew 24:36,42,44, Jesus suggests that it is possible for Christians to know when the Second Coming will occur and to watch for it (Matthew 24:43-44a; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). Also, the rapture (the gathering together) of the Church will occur at the Second Coming (Matthew 24:30-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).

Also, Jesus Christ says: "of that day and hour knoweth no man" (Matthew 24:36); He does not say: "of that day and hour no man will know". So it is possible that at a certain point in our future, some Christians will come to know the date (as in the year, month, and day) of Jesus' Second Coming before it happens. Also, if we mistakenly think that Jesus can come back today or tomorrow (as is sometimes claimed by the pre-tribulation-rapture and partial preterist views), then how can we also claim that He will come back when nobody thinks that He will (Matthew 24:44)?

Also, compare the following: "of that day and hour knoweth no man" (Matthew 24:36), "the things of God knoweth no man" (1 Corinthians 2:11). If we claim that the first verse means that no man will ever know the date of Jesus Christ's Second Coming until it happens, then to be consistent we would have to also claim that the second verse means that no man, not even Christians, can know the things of God until the Second Coming. But who would say that? For God's Holy Spirit can currently reveal to Christians the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). He can currently guide them into all truth and show them what will happen in the future (John 16:13), including the date of Jesus' Second Coming. For, again, Jesus suggests that it is possible for Christians to know when the Second Coming will occur and to watch for it (Matthew 24:43-44a; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). Also, what Amos 3:7 says would include the Second Coming: that is, surely God the Father will not send Jesus Christ back to the earth without having first revealed to some Christians the secret of the date of the Second Coming.

Jesus Christ could return on the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the future Antichrist) is set up in a future, third Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15, Daniel 11:31,36, Matthew 24:15).

(See Daniel 12:11 above)

~

(Re: A *freezer analogy)

Coming to know at a certain point in our future the date of Jesus Christ's Second Coming will help Christians to endure patiently during the worst time of the future Tribulation for Christians. As an analogy, imagine that during a persecution of Christians, you are thrown naked into a walk-in freezer. The door is locked and the lights are turned off, and you are just left in there to slowly suffer the freezing cold. You could freak out at this if you have no idea how long you are going to have to be in there. But what if right after they turn the lights off, you see a little light in the corner and you walk over and see a note on the wall: "You will be let out and set free in 13.35 minutes" (compare the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-12). This would greatly help you to remain calm and hang in there patiently for the whole time, even though you might suffer terribly from the freezing cold. In the same way, knowing exactly when Jesus Christ's Second Coming will occur (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15) will help Christians, during the worst time of the future Tribulation for Christians, to endure patiently to the end (Matthew 24:13, Revelation 13:10b).

~

(Re: Is it particularly noble of us to keep our faith in Jesus Christ when we know our suffering is only for a fixed time?)

Note that everything but eternal things is only temporary (2 Corinthians 4:18). But God can still tell Christians how long they are going to have to suffer in a tribulation (e.g. Revelation 2:10).

~

(Re: *Watching)

In the Bible, when Christians are told to "watch" for Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Mark 13:35-37), the original Greek word (gregoreuo: G1127) translated as "watch" does not mean to stare with one's eyes hoping to see someone appear at any moment. Instead, it means "to keep awake" (Strong's Greek Dictionary), like in Matthew 26:40, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, and Mark 13:36-37.

Christians are to keep spiritually awake as they wait for Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming. For if they fall spiritually asleep, that is, fall into backsliding, there is no assurance that they will recover their right relationship with Jesus before His Second Coming (Matthew 24:48-51), just as if they fall physically asleep waiting for something to happen, there is no assurance that they will wake back up in time to see it happen.

During the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18, Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Christians will have to "watch" (stay awake, spiritually) for Jesus Christ's Second Coming (Matthew 24:42-43, Matthew 25:13, Luke 21:36), which Jesus has just finished saying will not occur until "immediately after" the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6). For if a Christian is not "watching" (staying awake, spiritually) for the Second Coming, it will take that Christian by surprise (compare the if principle of Revelation 3:3b). And that Christian will lose his or her salvation at that time because of such things as unrepentant sin (Luke 12:45-46, Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27), or unrepentant laziness (Matthew 25:26,30, John 15:2a, Romans 2:6-8), or apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b).

Also, even when Christians know the truth that Jesus Christ's Second Coming will not occur until immediately after the future Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31), they still need to live each day knowing that any of them could die at any time (Luke 12:20, James 4:14).

(See also the "Looking for" section of Titus 2:13 below)

~

(Re: Is there a contrast between "that day" of the future, Second Coming, and "these things" of the 70 AD tribulation?)

No, for the days of the future Tribulation of Matthew 24 are referred to as "those" days (Matthew 24:19,22,29), just as the day of the immediately-subsequent Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:29-30) is referred to as "that" day (Matthew 24:36-37). Also, "these things" in Matthew 24:34 include not only the events of the future Tribulation, but also the Second Coming, which had just been referred to in Matthew 24:30-31.

~

(Re: Does Matthew 24:36 mean that Jesus is not God?)

See Mark 13:32 below.

--

*Matthew 24:37-41 / *Mt. 24:37 -

(Re: A *Manassas analogy)

Note that Matthew 24:37-41 refers to "the coming of the Son of man" (Matthew 24:37,39), which Jesus Christ had just finished saying will not occur until immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-30).

Matthew 24:37-41 means that non-Christians will have no idea that most of them are going to be killed (by Jesus Christ Himself: Revelation 19:15-21, Isaiah 63:3) at His future, Second Coming, until it actually happens. For they could think that the Second Coming had already occurred with the coming into power of the future Antichrist's miracle-working False Prophet (of Revelation 13:13-14, Revelation 19:20), who could claim to be Jesus returned (via "reincarnation"). And just as the people of the world shortly before Noah's Flood, even though they could see or hear about Noah building his huge ark, no doubt rejected the idea that YHWH God had the power to actually cause a global flood which would kill them, so non-Christians at the end of the future Tribulation could reject the idea that YHWH has the power to actually defeat and kill them.

For during the future Tribulation's second half, the world will see the power of Lucifer (Satan, the dragon) and his fallen angels (Revelation 12:9); and the power which Lucifer will give to the Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") to take over the entire earth (Revelation 13:4-8), and to utterly revile YHWH year after year without being destroyed (Revelation 13:5-6, Daniel 11:36); and to physically overcome and kill people in the Church (not in hiding) in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13). And the world will see the amazing miraculous powers which Lucifer will give to the Antichrist's False Prophet, by which he will be able to even call fire down from heaven in the sight of everyone (Revelation 13:13, cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9).

And near the end of the future Tribulation, the world will see the Antichrist's defeat of YHWH's amazingly-powerful Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-9), after which defeat the world will rejoice and make merry and send gifts to each other because the Two Witnesses had been sending plagues on the world (Revelation 11:10,6). And even though those plagues will be shortly followed by even more plagues from YHWH, poured out directly from heaven (Revelation 16, the Tribulation's final stage), the people of the world will not lose their confidence that YHWH can still be defeated. For after almost all of the plagues from heaven are over, the world will see the amazing miraculous powers of some unclean spirits, convincing the world's armies to gather together for a battle against YHWH (Revelation 16:13-14, Revelation 19:19). And so the world could come to that battle at the very end of the Tribulation with the same careless attitude as some people at the start of the American Civil War who held picnics at the expected first battleground of Bull Run/Manassas to watch the battle and what they expected to be a quick and easy victory.

~

(Re: How could any sane person actually believe that YHWH God could be defeated by Satan?)

See section 4 of Revelation 12:7 below...

Also, just as throughout history, so still today, there are actually some people who have sold their souls to the devil in exchange for worldly power (cf. Matthew 4:9). They cannot think beyond their immediate thirst for power, but will do anything to obtain it and maintain it.

You can tell them by the deadness of their eyes (the "window" to the soul). Their eyes have no life in them because their very souls are dead, because they have been given wholly over to the devil. You can see such people even in some very high positions in the government today (in every branch). They are a fulfillment of the principle of Mark 8:36.

(See also the "Cabal" section of Revelation 13:5 below)

--

*Matthew 24:44 / *Mt. 24:44 -

(Re: Does not the need to be *ready mean that not everyone in the Church will be raptured?) / (*Partial rapture)

Do you mean that there will be only a partial rapture of the Church, sometime before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, of only those in the Church who are ready for the rapture by simply believing that it is pre-tribulation, and/or by living holy lives? If so, note that nothing in the Bible says or requires that anyone in the Church will be left behind at the rapture, that the entire Church will not be raptured (gathered together) at the time of Matthew 24:31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which will be the time of Jesus' Second Coming, immediately after the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). For the need for those in the Church to be ready for the Second Coming (Matthew 24:44, Matthew 25:10) does not have to do with whether or not they will be raptured at that time, but with whether or not they will lose their salvation at that time (Luke 12:45-46, Matthew 25:26,30, Mark 8:35-38).

(See Matthew 24:48 and Luke 17:26 below. Also, see Matthew 24:31 above)

--

*Matthew 24:48-51 / *Mt. 24:48 -

(Re: *Judgment)

Some Christians, at the judgment of the Church by Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 2:6-8, Luke 12:45-48, Matthew 25:19-30), at His future, Second Coming (Psalms 50:3-5, cf. Mark 13:27), will lose their salvation because of such things as unrepentant sin (Luke 12:45-46, Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27), unrepentant laziness (Matthew 25:26,30, John 15:2a, Romans 2:6-8), or apostasy (Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 6:4-8; 2 Timothy 2:12b). That is why Christians know the "terror" of the coming judgment of the Church by Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:10-11), why they must remain in fear of being cut off the same as non-Christians if they do not continue in God's goodness (Romans 11:20-22, Luke 12:45-46), why they must be careful to work out their own ultimate salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12b; 1 Peter 1:17, Romans 2:6-8).

~

(Re: You make it sound like we are judged by the works of the law)

Do you mean by the works of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law? If so, no. For at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, while He will judge everyone in the Church (Psalms 50:3-5, cf. Mark 13:27) by their works (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 2:6-8, Luke 12:45-48, Matthew 25:19-30), this means only by their good works of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3, Galatians 5:6b, Titus 3:8) and their bad, sinful works (2 Corinthians 5:10b), not by any works of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law.

(See the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 below)

~

(Re: *Delay)

In Matthew 24:48-51 the evil servant did evil and was surprised by the Lord's return because when the Lord did not return sometime before or during the Tribulation, the servant thought that the Lord was indefinitely "delaying" His return (Matthew 24:48). But in fact the Lord's return will not be delayed at all, but will occur "immediately after" the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31). Also, even when Christians know this truth, they still need to live each day knowing that any of them could die at any time (Luke 12:20, James 4:14).

--

*Matthew 25:1-13 / *Mt. 25:1 -

(*Marriage)

The ten virgins parable (Matthew 25:1-13) shows that the marriage of the Church to Jesus Christ will not occur until His Second Coming (Matthew 25:10), which Jesus had just finished saying will not occur until immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31), just as Revelation 19:7 shows that the marriage will not occur until after the future Tribulation, shown in Revelation chapters 6 to 18. The parable's extra oil (Matthew 25:4,9b) could represent the continued good works of Christians, by which they will be able to pass the judgment of the Church by Jesus (Matthew 25:19-30, Romans 2:6-8) and enter the marriage of the Church to Jesus at His Second Coming (Matthew 25:10, Revelation 19:7-21).

(See the "Supper" section of Revelation 19:9 below...)

(Re: *Midnight / *Mt. 25:6)

Also, regarding the ten virgins parable, in Matthew 25:6 "midnight" could represent mid-tribulation, when the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the future Antichrist) could be set up in the holy place (the inner sanctum) of a future, third Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:31). So when it says: "at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh" (Matthew 25:6), this could mean that at the mid-tribulation point when the abomination of desolation is set up, the Church will be given the knowledge of the date (as in the year, month, and day) of Jesus Christ's Second Coming. This date could be the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation is set up (Daniel 12:11-12, cf. Revelation 16:15).

(See Daniel 12:11 above)

--

*Matthew 25:7 / *Mt. 25:7 -

The original Greek word (kosmeo: G2885) translated as "trimmed" can mean to put in proper order (Strong's Greek Dictionary), such as by trimming off the burned parts of the wicks of the lamps so that they would burn brighter. This could be symbolic of trimming off dead (that is, sinful) works from one's life (Hebrews 6:1b; 2 Timothy 2:21; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

(Compare Exodus 37:23 above)

--

*Matthew 25:10 / *Mt. 25:10 -

Here the bridal chamber will be in the clouds of the sky at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:17), immediately after the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31).

-

Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Dec 3, 2018

Blog entry information

Author
Bible2+
Read time
16 min read
Views
548
Last update

More entries in General

More entries from Bible2+

Share this entry