CHAPTER 24
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. Matthew 24:1
Jesus was leaving the temple and would likely never return to it again. He came to his own people and they would not receive him (Jn. 1:11). Now the sure judgment of God was about to fall on the nation and on its house of worship.
As Jesus was leaving, his disciples seemed overwhelmed by the massive stones and the magnificence of the structure. From what we know today the temple was indeed both massive and magnificent. Beginning in 19 BC, King Herod the Great had instituted renovation on the Temple of Zerubbabel (Ezr. 6:15), or the Second Temple as it is now called. Much of the temple was completed after ten years of hard labor, but the finishing work lasted much longer, making a total of over eighty years, and being concluded only in AD 63. It took the work of 10,000 skilled laborers for the overall complex and 1000 especially trained priests to do construction on the holy sanctuary itself. 1
Herod the Great, who was not Jewish but Idumean (Edomite), was in many ways a terrible person but he was a great builder. It is thought that he was trying to gain favor with the Jewish people by rebuilding their temple. He greatly increased and leveled the old temple complex by the use of a massive retaining wall some 1576 feet (480 m.) x 985 feet (300 m.) on the average.2 On top of the platform he reconstructed the temple and made it utterly magnificent. The temple was a sight to behold. The first century historian Josephus describes it:
Now the outward face of the temple in its front wanted nothing that was likely to surprise either men’s minds or the eyes: for it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun’s own rays. But this temple appeared to strangers, when they were at a distance, like a mountain covered with snow; for, as to those parts of it that were not gilt, they were exceeding white.3
Keener says, “The Jerusalem temple was one of the most splendid structures of all antiquity and seemed strong and invincible.” 4 Not only the disciples, but almost everyone else in Israel felt it unthinkable that the temple could ever be torn down. Unfortunately, it had become an idol to many Jews.
“‘Do you see all these things?’ he asked. ‘Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down’” (24:2). It is utterly amazing how this prophecy of Jesus was so completely and accurately fulfilled. Today on the Temple Mount there is no trace of the glorious building complex of Herod. It is not even possible to discern exactly where the holy temple once stood. Truly, there is not a single ancient stone left on top of another because it was swept clean by the Romans in AD 70. At the southwestern corner of the platform in the Old City it is still possible to see a pile of large ancient stones that were thrown from the top of the retaining wall and came crashing down on the pavement below, destroying it in some places.
The only stones remaining intact are those of the massive retaining wall itself. The most famous spot on this retainer is what was once called the Wailing Wall and today is referred to as the Kotel. This has become a sacred spot for the Jews since it is normally the closest they may come to where the temple once stood.
The Western Wall (Kotel) or retaining wall is a wonder to behold. The very large stones are decorated with the typical Herodian indented borders and they are so perfectly fitted together that it is almost impossible to slip even a sheet of paper between them. This is utterly amazing when we consider that some have been estimated to weigh between 400-600 tons each.5 The first seven visible layers today are original Herodian-type stones. The height of the exposed section of the retaining wall is approximately 62 feet (19 m.). Below ground there are 17 more layers of massive stones going down to bedrock.6
It is reported that Titus desired to spare the temple but it was nevertheless set aflame. Guzik says: “Ornate gold detail work in the roof melted down in the cracks between the stone walls of the temple, and to retrieve the gold, the Roman commander ordered that the temple be dismantled stone by stone. The destruction was so complete that today there is true difficulty learning exactly where the temple was.” 7
Josephus notes how one of the priests who came into league with Caesar delivered to the Romans many precious garments, precious stones, golden lamps, tables and other items before the temple was destroyed.8 After the terrible destruction, the Romans brought their ensigns to the temple and set them near the eastern gate. There they offered sacrifices to them.9.
After the temple was destroyed the order was given to destroy the city, leaving only the towers of Phasael, Hppicus, and Mariamne and the area enclosed by the wall on the west side of the city. This was to become a camp for the Roman garrison that would be established there.10
THE OLIVET DISCOURSE OR SYNOPTIC APOCALYPSE
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3
Jesus had taken his seat on the Mount of Olives somewhere opposite the temple (Mk. 13:3). Once again, Jesus sat as he began to teach. We do not know exactly where Jesus and his disciples were sitting. Actually, it would not make much difference, because almost the whole western face of the mountain provides an excellent view of the Temple Mount. We should note that the Mount of Olives is higher than the temple area by several hundred feet. Its elevation is 2683 ft. (818 m.), compared with 2428 ft. (740 m.) for the Temple Mount. Today, most tourists to Israel are treated with a grand photo op from a spot near the top of the Mount of Olives.
We note in Mark and Luke that the disciples asked Jesus two questions, “When would these things happen?” and “What would be the sign that they were about to happen?” (cf. Lk. 21:7). Mark informs that these disciples were Peter, James, John and Andrew (Mk. 13:3). Jesus proceeded to answer, however, in his answer he somehow bound together the events of Jerusalem’s destruction with the events characterizing the end of the world. In many places these are bound so closely together that scholars have had great difficulty distinguishing them.
I have mentioned before in my commentaries that when one drives across the Great Plains of the US traveling west, that one will eventually see the Rocky Mountains appearing in the distance. These great mountains appear initially as a very long chain of snow-capped peaks (many towering over 14, 000 ft. or 4267 m.). However, as one draws closer, it becomes apparent that there are many peaks and valleys that make up this mountain range. Prophecy is a little like that. Jesus is not just seeing the one event of Jerusalem and her temple (like Pikes Peak, that stands out all by itself), but he is seeing the remainder of human history as a background.
So, much of what Jesus sees concerns the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple. All other history is somehow linked to this watershed event of Jerusalem’s destruction. In fact, we will see in Daniel that all human history is indeed connected to Jerusalem. No doubt, it is for this reason that the Bible exhorts us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in Psalm 122:6, and to give God no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes it the praise of the earth in Isaiah 62:6-7.
THE WATCHWORD IS “WATCH”
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4
It appears that one of the most dangerous problems related to the end of the age is that of deception. We must remember that Jesus is warning his own dear disciples here.
We would be remiss if we did not cover the different views on the end times that cause deep separation between Christians today. First, let us look at the idea of Premillennialism, which was the most popular idea of the end time in the earliest centuries of the church. Premillennialism held that Christ would come again prior to the millennial period of some one-thousand years. He would then set up his government on earth from Jerusalem.11 The millennial period would be a time when evil would be mostly purged from the earth, a time of great peace.
Second, let us look at the idea of Postmillennialism. Postmillennialism holds that the millennial period will not necessarily be a thousand years in duration, but in that period Christ will reign over the earth. There will be a gradual Christianization of the earth through the spread of the gospel. After that time, Christ will return to usher the church into its eternal state. Obviously, Christ comes after the millennial period in this view.12
Third, we will look at Amillennialism (literally “no” millennium). It is quite similar to Postmillennialism in some respects. Amillennialism teaches that Satan is already bound and can no longer deceive the nations. Thus, the gospel can be freely spread over the earth. Christ’s reign during the Millennium is spiritual in nature, beginning with the Resurrection remaining until the present. The Millennium is not just confined to a time period. At the end of the church age the Lord will return in judgment.13
Now let us make a quick critique of these views, particularly the last two. Both Postmillennialism and Amillennialism could do with some serious reality checks. While these views might have made sense in earlier years of Christianity they make little sense today. They both miss the biblical fact that the world will get worse and worse despite the gospel (2 Tim. 3:1-5). This truth is also vividly borne out in the Book of Revelation. They both really miss the Millennium and they miss the fact that there will be a time when all the promises ever made to Israel will come to pass in this world. They miss the idea of the saints ruling with Christ on this earth as it is being renewed (Rev. 5:10).
Premillennialism, or rather the brand of Dispensational Premillennialism, teaches that the church will be taken out of the earth prior to the Tribulation in a so-called Rapture. This Rapture doctrine is scarcely two hundred years old, but has essentially taken over eschatological prominence at least in the West. This view has many faults. Most seriously, it undoes the biblical teaching that the church and Israel will come together in the last days and experience a wonderful unity (Eph. 2:14-22; 3:6). This doctrine focuses upon Christians being removed from the earth prior to the Tribulation. We need to remember that God’s people throughout history have always been in the midst of trouble. The Bible is plain that it is the wicked that will be plucked out of the earth and not the righteous (Psa. 37:9, 29-31; Prov. 10:25, 29-30; Matt. 13:36-43). This doctrine will likely cause many Christians to miss the glory of the last days. They may miss being victorious against antichrist and miss reigning on this earth with the Lord as we have noted in Revelation 5:10.
It is easy to confuse “premillennial” with “pretribulation.” Pretribulation has to do with the supposed rapture of the church prior to the tribulation, or after the first three years of the tribulation (this is the mid-trib rapture idea). Of course, “premillennial” has to do with Christ’s coming prior to the Millennium.
“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. (24:5). Jesus is clear that many false prophets will arise and deceive many. There were false prophets and deceivers in early Christian times (e.g. 8:9-11; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 Jn. 2:18-19; 4:1-3). Some prominent ones were Theudas (Acts 5:36), and the Egyptian (Acts 21:38). The Jews in later times had a number of false prophets. After AD 130, a Jewish leader by the name of Bar Kochba arose and was proclaimed as messiah by the esteemed Rabbi Akiva.14 Bar Kochba led Israel into the second Jewish revolt against Rome that was mercilessly put down. From that point, Jerusalem was declared a pagan city, with Jews forbidden to enter it. The Jewish people were once again scattered among the nations.
Even as a dispersed people, the Jews had several “messiahs” appear over the centuries. Also, the Christians have had their share of false prophets and false messiahs. We have only to mention William Miller, who predicted that Christ would return on October 22, 1844. Since Christ did not return, this date became known as the Millerites’ Great Disappointment.
We can expect the false prophets and false messiahs to increase as the end days near. Of course, the greatest false prophet will be antichrist and his prophet who are yet to come.
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (24:6). The period after Christ witnessed many wars and rumors of wars as the Pax Romana (the Roman peace) began to unravel at the seams. There was great pressure from the Parthians in the east and from the many uncivilized tribes to the north. In addition, Rome had great internal trouble. Just before the time of Jerusalem’s destruction there was a succession of several claimants for the job of emperor. In one year alone there were four emperors. The fourth was Vespasian, who left the siege of Jerusalem to his son Titus and took over the reins of Roman government. Clearly, false prophets and wars were all signs of the approaching end. Jerusalem’s destruction was certainly such a sign. In every age since Christ they are reminders and pictures telling us that the age is ending and that we are living in the last days.
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (24:7). As long as this present evil age endures there will be struggles with one nation against another and one kingdom against another. The prince of this age will see to that. All these things tell us that the end is approaching.
Clarke mentions the civil war in Italy, while several contenders vied for the throne.15 There were many outbreaks of violence against the Jews themselves. The Jews were expelled from Caesarea with 20,000 slain. At Scythopolis close to 13,000 were murdered and at Ashkelon another 2,500. It is thought that some 50,000 Jews were slain at the outbreak of violence in Alexandria, with another 10,000 killed in Damascus.16
There was an earthquake marking the resurrection of Jesus (Matt. 28:2). There was an earthquake later in Laodicea and a terrible one that shook the whole of Phrygia in AD 61. There was the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius on the Italian peninsula in AD 79. That great eruption completely buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Corinth and the isle of Cyprus also suffered earthquakes in the 70s.17
There will also be famines because of the evil and selfishness of humankind. In Acts 11:27-30, we read about a terrible famine that struck in the days of Claudius. As Nero’s reign drew to an end there were great unrests and food shortages.18 The famines have certainly gotten worse over the centuries as Jesus indicated. Many of the famines today are state-sponsored. We think of the famine in the Communist Ukraine killing from 2.4 to 7.5 million peasants in 1932. As a result of the “Great Leap Forward” in 1958, between 16.5 to 46 million people perished in China.19 This was one of history’s most deadly famines. Of course, some countries like North Korea seem to be in state of almost perpetual famine. Famine is another “birth pain” of the coming age. In Revelation 6:5-6, we are told that a black horse will run throughout the earth indicating that there will be great famine. In Revelation 6:8, we see that initially a fourth of the earth will be suffering under war, plagues and famine. In Luke’s parallel (Lk. 21:11) he adds pestilences, terrors along with great signs from heaven.
“All these are the beginning of birth pains” (24:8). The pains and travail of the coming age are often noted as birth pains in scripture (Isa. 13:6-11; 26:17; Hos. 13:9-13; Mic. 4:9-10). Most of us may not understand birth pains but the mothers in our midst certainly do. Birth pains usually begin lightly but grow more and more painful as things progress. This is exactly what will happen as the end of the age draws near. Some people have referred to this as a time of Messianic woes. For sure and certain we will all get to share in the Messiah’s suffering and be identified with him as this evil age draws to a close (Phil. 3:10-11). For certain, the birth of the kingdom of God will be painful. Morris says, “Among the Jews there was a widespread expectation that before the Messiah came to set up the kingdom of God in a form that would last forever there would be trouble on the largest possible scale.” 20
END TIME PERSECUTION
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:9
Persecution was very much a part of life for the earliest Christians. In fact, some three-quarters of the earth’s population today live in areas that deny religious freedom to some degree.21 We should be under no illusions in the west that persecution is coming our way. In 1988, Johnny Cash introduced his gospel song, “Matthew 24 Is Knocking At The Door.” We would have to agree that Matthew 24 is knocking at our door in many ways today.
Barclay says, “This passage shows the uncompromising honesty of Jesus. He never promised his disciples an easy way; he promised them persecution, suffering and death. There is a sense in which a real church will always be a persecuted church, so long as it exists in a world which is not a Christian world.” 22
Obviously, there was much fulfillment of this verse in the first century. Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:1-22. Peter and some of the other apostles were put in jail by the high priest and his associates, but the Lord delivered them in the night (Acts 5:17-42; cf. 12:11-19). Stephen the deacon was stoned to death for his witness (Acts 7:54-60). Paul was stoned for preaching at Iconium but miraculously survived (Acts 14:19-20). Paul and Silas were imprisoned by the magistrates in Philippi but were miraculously delivered (Acts 16:20-40).
During his ministry Paul was beaten with rods by the Romans three times (2 Cor. 11:25). He was beaten by the Jews three times with 39 stripes each. Paul was arrested in the temple area at Jerusalem (Acts 21:27ff.) and was later sent to Rome as a prisoner. During his imprisonment he bore witness before Annas the high priest (Acts 24:1ff.), and before Felix the procurator of Judea (Acts 24:2ff.). Finally Paul bore witness before Festus, the Roman governor who succeeded Felix (Acts 25:1-12) and before King Agrippa (Acts 25:23 ff.).
We read in 2 Timothy 3:12, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” Our desire should be to know Christ and become identified with him in his suffering as we have mentioned (Phil. 3:10). We note in this section that Christians will be put to death. We see the same thing in Revelation 6:9-11, as the fifth seal is opened.23 Thus we have to conclude that there will be many Christian martyrs in the last days. It is important that we distinguish Christian martyrdom from the false Islamic “martyrdom.” In Christianity we give our lives for the sake of Christ, the kingdom of God and others. In Islam, people who supposedly give their lives for Allah try to kill as many other people as possible in the process.
Christians will become universally hated as they stand for Christ, for truth and for righteousness. The world despises all these things and that hatred will increase exponentially as time goes on. Osborne says, “The justice system you believed would protect you will decide to oppress you, then threaten you, and then exterminate you.” 24
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” (24:10-11). Guthrie comments that these things “…are peculiar to Matthew and list most of the spiritual disasters which can come on the Christian community – apostasy, treachery, internal hatred, heresy, lovelessness.” 25 When the end time pressures mount, even the close-knit church and its families will feel the stresses and some will come apart. Always in these situations the threat of betrayal becomes a real thing to be feared. In the time of the Maccabees, which in many ways pictures the time of the end, there was much betrayal. Many went to their deaths because other believers turned them in. We can assume that in the end days of the antichrist the same thing will happen again, except on a larger and worldwide scale. The pressures of the end days will reveal who the real Christians are.
To compound the problem of apostasy and betrayal, many false prophets will appear in the last days. During the fall of Jerusalem, the evil leaders suborned many false prophets who kept the people from deserting with their made-up stories and false hopes.26 We can assume that a similar thing will happen in the last days. In fact, the present-day church has already been greatly injured by false prophecy concerning the Rapture. Many of these prophets will be like wolves in sheep’s clothing (7:15-23).
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (24:12-13). The Bible tells us that wickedness will increase as the last days draw closer. Again, we can discount the Postmillennial and Amillennial viewpoints here. They tell us that the world will get better and better until Jesus finally just comes and receives the church to himself. This is pure mythology. We only have to look around us to see that the world is getting worse by the day. Paul tells us that terrible times will come in the last days (1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). The Bible seems to assume that Christians will be right in the midst of this awful struggle.
The key to last day success is in the biblical doctrine of perseverance. The Greek word used here for “stand firm” is hupomone. Barclay defines it as “spiritual staying power…It is the spirit which can bear things, not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope…” 27 It is that steadfast endurance that keeps us going to the very end. The politician Newt Gingrich defines it at least in the political realm as, “the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”
Simply, we have to keep on keeping on if we are to be saved (Rom. 12:12; Gal. 6:9; Jam. 1:12; Rev 3:10). This “keeping on” is not done in our own strength but through the help of Christ. In Hebrews 7:25 it is written, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” In Jude 1:24 Jesus is said to be the one “…who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…”
This does not mean that we cannot die as a martyr. While we may lose our physical lives for Christ, we have his assurance that he will preserve our spiritual lives. Utley says that the doctrine of perseverance, “…must be held in a dialectical tension with the doctrine of the security of the believer. Both are true!” 28 It is a serious warning that because of the great increase of wickedness in the last days the love of many or most Christians will grow cold.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (24:14). We should note here that the gospel will preached to all the earth as a testimony. The Bible does not say that all the earth will believe the gospel. However, many have come to believe
Of course, millions worldwide have come to believe in Christ. Today, there are various means of evangelism that were previously not available. This would include TV an all the electronic media. For instance The Jesus Film alone now has been shown to 5.1 billion people worldwide in 800 languages.29 Philip Jenkins says, “Already today, the largest Christian communities on the planet are to be found in Africa and Latin America.” 30 Jenkins says, “Just since 1965, the Christian population of Africa has risen from around a quarter of the continental total to about 46 percent.31
There are other areas of the world where Christianity has experienced amazing growth in modern times. Jenkins says, “The number of Christians in the whole of Korea was only 300,000 or so in 1920, but this has now risen to 10 million or 12 million, about a quarter of the national population.” 32 Dinesh D’Souza says, “Despite the limitations imposed by the Chinese government, it is estimated that there are now 100 million Christians in China who worship in underground evangelical and Catholic churches…David Aikman observes…China will in a few decades become the largest Christian country in the
world.” 33
Of course, soon after Jesus’ death the gospel was preached to much of the known world (Col. 1:6, 23). There is one thing we need to realize about end day timing. Blomberg sums it up saying, “…everything necessary for Christ’s return was accomplished within the first generation of Christianity, so that every subsequent generation has been able to believe that Jesus could come back in their times.” 34
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
So when you see standing in the holy place “the abomination that causes desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel— let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Matthew 24:15-16
Here we have the introduction of a great mystery that is both alarming and frightening. Jesus tells us that something awful and unspeakable will happen in the last days and that we have a great need to understand it. In order for us to begin to understand this awful and unspeakable mystery we must go back in the history of God’s people to the time of the prophet Daniel. Today a lot of scholars sneer at Daniel and claim that his prophecies were written after the events took place. Therefore, some scholars maintain that Daniel is a very late book and thus it is essentially a false and connived account. We need to make clear that Jesus really believed in the Book of Daniel. He based much of his prophecy regarding the end-time on the book. We had better believe it too.
In the Book of Daniel we have a mysterious outline of holy history beginning with the second decree of the Persian King Artaxerxes in 445 BC and running to the end of time. This great and fascinating outline is encapsulated in a mere four verses of Daniel—from 9:24 through 9:27. Only God could do such an astounding thing as to summarize all the future history of the world in four verses! That history, like all history, is closely connected to Jerusalem.
From the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the end of the world would be “seventy sevens” or seventy weeks of seven years. This would make up a total of 490 years. Daniel tells us that after 69 of these weeks of years had passed, the Messiah of Israel would come, be cut off, and then the holy temple and the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. It is interesting that 69 sevens or 483 years (adjusted for the Jewish lunar calendar) brings us up to the area of around AD 30 or to the general time of Jesus’ ministry and death. Shortly after that, both the temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans.
Obviously, Daniel tells us that there is a mysterious “seven” or a period of seven years still unfulfilled. Since all future time is built around Jerusalem we can only conclude that the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70 somehow stopped the divine clock. There is still a week of seven years left. After almost two thousand years the clock is still stopped with “seven minutes till midnight,” so to speak, still showing on its face. We are thus very near a new day. This is exactly why early Christians felt they were living in the last day or last hour of history (cf. 1 Jn. 2:18). We are still in that last hour.
Many Bible scholars believe that the restoration of Israel and especially the future rebuilding of the temple by the Jews, will inaugurate these last seven years of history. It will be an exceedingly turbulent time in which the Beast or antichrist will arise. During the last three and one-half years the antichrist will proclaim himself as God and will take his seat in the new temple of God. This is the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Dan. 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). It will bring a time of horrible suffering for all people, even for God’s people (cf. Dan. 12:1 ff.).
Now, holy history is a strange thing in that often there are partial fulfillments of prophecy before the final one. This is especially true in regard to Jerusalem and the temple. What Daniel prophesied had a rather exact fulfillment in the days of the Greek/Syrian or Seleucid king named Antiochus IV (Epiphanes). This account is recorded for us in the non-canonical history books of I and II Maccabees. It is also related by the Jewish historian, Josephus.
During this period the Syrian king invaded Jerusalem (175 BC), killed and enslaved many of its inhabitants, sacked the temple, and carried off most of its treasures. He then offered a pig on its altar, set up a statue of Olympian Zeus in its sacred courts and ordered the Jewish people to worship it.35 At this, the devout and zealous Jewish family of the Maccabees began a revolt against Antiochus. Although they were a small band, with the help of God they gained some outstanding victories over very large armies. In time, they cleansed the temple and rededicated it. This event is still celebrated in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Although it was not a biblical festival, Jesus must have thought it very important for we see that he went up Jerusalem in the winter to celebrate it (Jn. 10:22-23). Had the valiant Maccabees not arisen there probably would not have been a temple court for Jesus have entered, or even a nation of Israel left for him to have visited.
When Matthew wrote his gospel the stage was fully set for another and even more serious fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. In less than a decade of his writing, the Romans would come and totally destroy the temple and the city of Jerusalem. They would kill over a million of the Jews and take another hundred thousand captive.36 The long age of the Gentiles would be fully instituted and would last till the present hour, with the holy temple area being trampled down by a long succession of Gentile people (Lk. 21:24). According to the prophetic pattern, Titus also entered the temple as it was being destroyed.37
It is significant, that as Roman armies were surrounding Jerusalem, the early Christians were watching and were alert. They must have taken Jesus’ warnings seriously because the whole Christian community fled Jerusalem and settled at Pella, a city of the Decapolis across the Jordan and in the foothills of Peraea (today’s country of Jordan).38 Thus, the Christians were spared the awful destruction of Jerusalem. Many other Jews did the opposite and crowded into Jerusalem. They soon faced suffering and death that is almost too difficult and horrendous to describe.39
So, prophecy can have more than one fulfillment as we have said. Daniel’s prophecy of the abomination was fulfilled in part during the time of the Maccabees, when Antiochus set up a statue to the Olympian Zeus and offered swine’s flesh on it.40 Then according to Daniel’s prophecy it was further fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The Roman soldiers, as we have mentioned, brought their standards into the temple area and worshipped their gods. At last, it will be finally fulfilled in the end of days as the antichrist will take over the new temple of the Jewish people and declares himself to be god.
Jesus continues: “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (24:16). Jesus had advised the people of Judea to flee Jerusalem when the Roman armies came near. Instead, many people fled to Jerusalem and sealed their doom. As we have mentioned, the Christians, being warned of God, fled the city and saved themselves.41
“Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak” (24:17-18). At the sight of the Roman army, life in Jerusalem became extremely urgent and perilous. In those days the flat tops of houses were used for prayer, for social events and for drying food.42 If a person was on a housetop it was urgent that the person flee down the outside steps and run for his or her life. The person had to leave even without the money inside the house or without the necessary warm clothing on the inside. The same was true for the field worker. That person did not dare return to the house for immediate flight was necessary. Once the city was surrounded there was no getting out.
TOUGH TIMES
How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. or then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now— and never to be equaled again. Matthew 24:19-21
The days of Antiochus IV were dreadful times for God’s people. There was much suffering and many horrors. The days of Jerusalem’s fall in AD 70 were even more dreadful. People were starved to death by the thousands and robbed by their own leaders. Piles of dead bodies were everywhere in the city with no one left or even strong enough to bury the dead.43 We cannot even imagine how terrible will be the last days of human history when the armies of antichrist and of the world surround Jerusalem for one last time (cf. Dan. 12:1).
We see the great pity and love of our Master as he here expresses concern for pregnant and nursing women. We see his loving concern for the weak. He therefore instructs his people to pray that these events will not happen in the winter. Many folks think that Israel is a land of deserts and camels. However, Jerusalem ranges to elevations of around 2600 feet (792 m.). In the winter months there can be cold driving rain for days and sometimes there can be snow. When the rains come, the normally dry rivers and wadis can become dangerous raging torrents and difficult to cross.44 Apparently the early Christians prayed and the siege of Jerusalem happened in the warm dry summer months.
As bad as it was in the previous times of tribulation for Jerusalem, the time to come will be much worse. It will be a time that will never be equaled again (v. 21). It will not be an antichrist type that will lord it over Jerusalem, but it will be the real antichrist. Paul warns us about this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” This verse makes it especially clear that Christ will not come until after the Tribulation and after the antichrist is revealed.
Clearly, Jesus connected his own crucifixion with the coming fall of Jerusalem. He said to the women as he was being led to Calvary: “…Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’” (Lk. 23:28-29). Josephus tells of one well-to-do woman who in her hunger killed her baby, roasted it, and ate half of it before she was discovered.45 How much worse it will be for the women of Jerusalem on the day that antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God and declares himself to be God!
Since Matthew was writing mostly to Jewish people, he alone mentions that people were to pray that the dreadful event would not happen on the Sabbath. Of course, Jewish travel was limited on the Sabbath (Exo. 16:29). Horses, mules and other forms of transportation were also forbidden on that holy day.46
There was a time of unequaled distress at Jerusalem’s siege. Josephus mentions many crucifixions. He says, “So the soldiers out of the wrath and hatred they bore the Jews, nailed those they caught, one after one way and another after another, to the crosses, by way of jest; when their multitude was so great, that room was wanting for the crosses, and crosses wanting for the bodies.” 47 The people at Christ’s crucifixion had said, “His blood is on us and on our children!” (27:25). Josephus notes how the whole city ran with blood insomuch that the blood even extinguished the flames on occasions.48
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (24:22). Bible scholars have long concluded that the final terrible time of history will last only about three and one-half years, or 1260 days (cf. Dan.7:25; 12:7; 8:14; 12:11-12; Rev. 12:6 & 13:5).
Things will be so bad that the human race could not survive a longer time. God in his mercy has decreed that this time shall be short. We must take note that it is for the sake of the elect that the time will be shortened. We surely cannot miss the fact that the elect will still be here in the midst of this final great battle. As we have mentioned, in the last two hundred years it has been quite popular for scholars to say that the elect will escape the last tribulation. The early Christians certainly were not aware of this as we see in several of the earliest church fathers. They tell us that believers will still be on the earth and right in the midst of it all.49
God’s people have always been in the middle of every disaster (the Flood; Egyptian plagues; even the Roman war), so why would it be different in the end times? Blomberg says: “‘The elect’ (Gk. ekklektoi) are the same group as the ‘chosen’ of 22:14, and therefore must refer to Christians of any race, rather than literal Israel.” 50 Those who believe in the Rapture say that the elect here only refers to the Jews who get converted in the Tribulation. We probably need to get rid of the term Rapture since the word does not occur in the Bible and since it comes to us with tons of religious baggage. Instead, we should rather speak of our being “caught up” to meet the Lord as he comes (1 Thess. 4:17).
The most sensible thing we can do about the end time mysteries is to read and meditate long on the word of God. Everything God has promised Israel will come to pass, probably in the Millennium. We must weigh all the Old Testament prophecies against the New Testament prophecies. In time, the Lord will show us how they fit together. We must resist the temptation to place a template or paradigm (like the Rapture doctrine) over the Bible and force things to fit into it.
“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it” (24:23). The scripture is plain. There will be no secret appearance of Jesus. Utley says, “The true Messiah’s coming will not be secret or hidden. It will not be to a select group but visible to all (24:27). Biblically there is no ‘secret rapture.’” 51 We have had our own secret messiahs in America. In the twentieth century the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ supposedly experienced the secret and invisible return of Christ in 1914. It was a classic example of what the Lord warns us to avoid.52
The scripture is clear that the Second Coming of the Lord will be public, open, unmistakable, and cosmic in scope. Osborne says, “If believers have to be told that the Messiah has come, then he hasn’t.” 53 In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, we are told that a great trumpet call will announce the Lord’s return. Edwards laments, “The mischief caused by the misuse of eschatology— not least in contemporary America— has resulted in a virtual eclipse of eschatology in the life of the church.” 54
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time” (24:24-25). People are prone to run after miracles. Utley reminds us that the miraculous cannot always be identified with God (cf. Exod. 7:11-12, 22; Deut. 13:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 16:14).55 We need to remember that the evil Second Beast of Revelation 13:13, will be able to perform great signs and wonders, even making fire fall down from heaven.
“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it” (24:26). It seems that false messiahs often came from the wilderness, no doubt to imitate Moses.56 This passage warns against the appearing of false messiahs in the last days. Obviously, there would be no need for such a warning if the Christians were all raptured out of the world. Over the ages, many false messiahs have appeared. In Israel, some years back, there was a great movement proclaiming Lubavitch Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson as the messiah. Around Jerusalem there were numerous bumper stickers saying “We want messiah now!” I was thinking about putting such a sticker on my bumper until I realized that they were referring to Rabbi Schneerson. Unfortunately, the good rabbi died in 1994 and was not resurrected. We Gentiles cannot be too hard on the Jews though, because we have had plenty of false messiahs ourselves, such as David Koresh and Jim Jones. When the Lord does come he will be visible to people all over the world.57
“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (24:27). When a bolt of lightning illumines the skies there is absolutely no doubt that it happened. When Jesus comes, the Bible says that every eye on earth will see him (Rev. 1:7). A lot of people will not want to see him, but they will. Some even will call for the rocks and mountains to hide them from his face (Rev. 6:16; cf. Isa. 2:19-21).
“Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather” (24:28). This is a mysterious saying and perhaps it was a maxim or proverb of those days that is repeated here. 58 The Greek word is aetos and it is translated in most modern versions as vultures. This presents a very grim picture of judgment. Keener says, “Being eaten instead of buried was considered a horrible fate (Deut. 28:26; 1 Sam. 17:44; Psa. 79:2).” 59 When we see vultures circling in the air we can be pretty certain that they have found a rotting carcass. It appears that the vultures of the last days will not be disappointed, as there will be many bloated bodies of the wicked decomposing in the hot Mediterranean sun.
THE LORD’S COMING
Immediately after the distress of those days “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” Matthew 24:29
So far in this chapter we have seen that the end days will be marked by an awful time of tribulation. It is a time when wickedness will be judged and when literally billions of people will be taken out of the earth and destroyed in various ways. It is the long-awaited harvest of the wicked mentioned by Jesus in his parables. We have only to look at the Book of Revelation to see these disasters play out all over the world (cf. Rev. chs. 8 & 9).
Now Jesus gives us a very important key in interpreting the end-times. It is a key that millions of Christians have overlooked. What we have here is the official Day of the Lord spoken of by all the prophets. We note that this day comes immediately after the tribulation. Luke’s version tells us that there will be great distress of nations and much perplexity among peoples, that even the sea will roar mysteriously (Lk. 21:25-28).
This is a most serious time for believers. We need to endure to the end to be saved (10:22). We need to look up and see our salvation coming (Lk. 21:28). Jesus in speaking of this end time made a strange statement in Luke 18:8, “… when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” The Great St. Augustine in speaking of this day said: “Even the most faithful will be shaken in the tribulation.” 60
We need to point out that the cosmic cataclysm of the last day will not completely destroy the earth or the heavens (Psa. 78:69; 93:1; 148:6). The Bible looks at it more like a recycling of the earth and heavens as both earth and heavens are cleansed and made new. In 2 Peter 3:13 the disciple says: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The Bible is clear that the earth will continue. It likely will be made new in much the sense that we are made new when we come to Christ. We are still the same person but we are radically changed within and under new management. Interestingly, the same Greek word (kainos or “new”) is used both for our renewal and the renewal of the cosmos (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17 and 2 Pet. 3:13).
No doubt we have a great deal of apocalyptic imagery that speaks of earth-shaking developments but at the same time we have the overthrow of demonic powers associated with heavenly bodies.61 It will be a difficult time for the wicked in that billions of rebellious people will die and be swept from the earth. This section is rich with prophetic language as is seen in Isaiah 13:10 and 34:4. We must remember that God destroyed the ancient world with Noah and his family still in it. He virtually destroyed Egypt with the children of Israel still there. In both cases the righteous were protected. We should look for the same pattern in the end days.
Guthrie says: “There will be cosmic disorder, the appearance of the Son of man (cf. Dan. 7:13-14), the mourning of despair by those who were taking their side with the crucifiers of the Messiah (Zech. 12:10-14) and the gathering of the elect from all over (Deut. 30:4).” 62 Morris says, “The Son of man is coming back to this earth to bring an end to the current system and to inaugurate the reign of God over all the earth.” 63
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory” (24:30). His coming will not be a celebration for most of earth’s residents. We see here that the nations will mourn (cf. Rev. 1:7). We cannot imagine how great will be the mourning of the godless on that day. They will suddenly realize their totally lost condition; the utter bankruptcy of all their many philosophies and religions. Revelation 6:15-16 tells us that all the earth’s great ones, her kings, generals, rich and mighty and all the other godless will cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of the coming Lord. I have often said that the most expensive real estate in the last day will be a hole in the ground where wicked people can try to hide from the face of Jesus.
There has been considerable discussion about the sign mentioned here and what it means but there has been no conclusion. Barker and Kohlenberger say that it refers to an ensign or standard.64 Long ago, Chrysostom thought it was the sign of the cross.65 Whatever it is, it will leave no doubt in the minds of earthlings that the end of time has come.
“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (24:31). We see in this verse that the angels will begin gathering the elect from the four winds, from earth and heaven. Angels will figure prominently in the coming of the Lord (Zech. 14:5; Jude 1:14-15). Here the angels will be sent out with a loud trumpet call to gather God’s elect (cf. 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7). So, we will not simply rise to meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17) but we will be ushered into his presence by ministering angels.
THE FIG TREE
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Matthew 24:32-33
It seems that the fig tree was one of Jesus’ favorite teaching tools. Now he returns to it again. The fig is an interesting tree. However, it is not an early bloomer. In Israel the very first tree to bloom is the almond. Normally in Jerusalem it blooms in late January. I have even witnessed the almond blooming in a snowstorm. However, the fig is a late blooming tree and puts out its leaves in March or April, around the time of Passover. When the fig puts on its leaves we know that summer is near. After Passover each year the warm weather begins to move in, even in the high country of Jerusalem. So it will be with the end of the age. When we begin to see the signs of the Lord’s coming we can know that the time is near, even knocking at the door.
“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (24:34-35). Before the generation that heard Jesus passed from the scene, everything was fulfilled for the Lord’s coming. Many in that generation lived to see the judgment upon Israel and Jerusalem in AD 70. As Blomberg says, “…nothing more in God’s plan of redemption must occur before the end can come.” 66 “In other words, the Parousia [the Lord’s coming] is the next major step in God’s redemptive purposes.” 67 We note here that the words of Jesus are no different than the words of God. As Isaiah says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isa. 40:8).
THE DAY AND THE HOUR
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36
We can know the signs of the Lord’s coming but we cannot know the hour. We see that even Jesus and the angels did not know the hour. This has been a troublesome passage for some, but there is really no problem here. When Jesus came to the earth and took on human flesh he also took on its limitations. Paul speaks of this in Philippians 2:7, saying of Jesus that he “… made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Jesus as a human being did not know the hour of his coming but Jesus as the risen and exalted Son of God certainly knows. We see in Revelation 5:2-5, that the exalted Jesus is now worthy to open the book of the future and break all its seals.68
This verse should discourage Christians from trying to set dates for the Lord’s coming. Some things have to be kept secret so that the devil will not know about the Lord’s timing (Deut. 29:29). Also, it is important that we humans should be kept in suspense, lest we become careless and lazy about the Lord’s things.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (24:37-39). As we have said before, Noah is a type and picture of the coming of the Son of Man. Everyone on earth, except Noah and his family, was involved in the cares of the earth, in eating, drinking, and marrying. However, Noah (and no doubt his family) was involved in getting ready for the Day of the Lord. Everyone else was clueless until water began falling out of the sky. So, we can expect it will be “business as usual” in the world until the judgment of God suddenly falls.
It is interesting that the day took all the wicked out of the earth. Those taken away were not taken to meet the Lord in heaven but were taken to meet his judgment in hell.69 This is the pattern of the end days and we dare not miss it with our false doctrine.
God has promised by the covenant of the rainbow that he will never again purge the world by water (Gen. 9:15). However, as people once again become godless and rebellious in the last days, God will purge the world with fire (2 Pet. 3:7). According to the figures in Revelation 9:18, a third of the earth’s population will be killed. At today’s population figures this would amount to two and a half billion people. Such a number is almost unthinkable! The Greek word for “flood” in verse 38 is the Greek kataklusmos. We will have to agree that the last judgment will certainly be cataclysmic in its scope and results.
“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (24:40-41). From the previous section we will have to agree that the fortunate ones are the ones left on the earth and not the ones taken. After all, this is our Father’s world and he has never given up on it. We will remain to rule for him on this earth as he restores it (Rev. 5:10), but the wicked will not remain on the earth (Prov. 2:21-22; 10:25; Mal. 4:1-3). As Pfeiffer and Harrison say, “… one man (masculine numeral) snatched away to judgment, and one man left to enjoy blessing.” 70
The same principle is at work regarding the women. Many of the flour mills in those days had handles on both sides so that two women could turn them in the grinding. Keener mentions that the wives of Pharisees were allowed to work with women who were not religious. Perhaps this would help us understand how one could be taken away and the other left. He too feels that those “taken” were rushed off to judgment.71
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (24:42-44). Once more we see the watchword, “Watch!” In our modern and postmodern churches there seems no longer to be a great emphasis upon watching and waiting for the Lord’s return. Barclay says, “To live without watchfulness invites disaster…The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.” 72 We should note that in these five parables starting with verse 42 and running through 25:46, each one deals with some aspect of watchfulness.73
The thief would come in vain if the householder was watching. In those days thieves often dug through the clay bricks of the houses in order to gain entrance. Such an attack could not come for the alert owner. There is this little story: “The crowded cafeteria sported a large sign reading: ‘Watch Your Hat and Overcoat.’ Bobby was determined to keep an eye on his coat, and he kept turning every minute, almost choking on his food. His pal, Bubba, kept on eating, without thought of his own coat on the hook. Finally Bubba said, ‘Calm down. You can stop watching our overcoats.’ ‘I’m only watching mine,’ replied Bobby. ‘Yours has been gone for more than half an hour.’” 74
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (24:44). This verse should put a quick end for all those who try to figure out the time of the Lord’s coming. We are given a great promise that the Lord will come when we are not expecting him.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions” (24:45-47). It was a common practice in those days for the master of the house to put one of his servants in charge of all his household business.75 That servant would then be in charge of the other servants while the master was absent. He was even assigned to give the servants food.
Years ago I managed a food distribution center for our Christian organization in Jerusalem. We gave out at least a ton of food each day to the needy, and especially to the new immigrants. In the facility we often had 10-15 Christian volunteers handling, packaging and distributing the food. One day the Lord reminded me that we should not muzzle the oxen that tread out the grain (Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor. 9:9-12). Immediately our organization allowed all our volunteers to receive lavish food allowances each week.
Without realizing it we were working poor volunteers each week without allowing them to share in the food they were preparing. I was failing the Lord since I was in charge of his special servants in Israel. There is no doubt that I would have been charged with negligence had I not corrected the situation. We have a similar condition in the spiritual realm today. There are people whom we are to care for and we need to be diligent in our distribution. In the parables we realize that faithful service receives advancement and an increase in responsibility in the Lord’s work. Wiersbe says, “Whenever God’s servants cannot work together, it is often because somebody has forgotten that the Lord will return.” 76
“But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards” (24:48-49). This parable makes it clear that there would be a long delay in the return of Jesus (cf. 25:5; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; 2 Pet. 3:4).77 With fallen human nature, a delay can lead to disinterest, carelessness and even abuse. Once again, I mention the work in Israel. It was shocking how some Christian organizations in the land abused their volunteers. One Christian organization held the passports of their workers and treated them almost as slaves. Unfortunately, that organization ended up becoming a sort of cult. Perhaps we all forget how precious each person is in the eyes of the Lord (Psa. 16:3).
“The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (24:50-51). The Lord will come as a swift judge for all who abuse others in the last days. The Lord here speaks of the ancient and severe punishment of cutting another asunder (cf. 1 Sam. 15:33; Heb. 11:37).78 Such a one was to be assigned to Gehenna where there would be eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13).