Rev - The Keys to Escatology - Part 3
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Transcript
Handout
What we cover tonight
What we cover tonight
Review Words
Matt 24:29-51; Sign of Son of Man; Fig tree & the knowing the day & hour.
Mark 13, Luke 21
Q&A
Next Week: Rev Intro
Proceeding a bit more slowly?
Welcome
Welcome
(Opener for each class ) who am I: Ken Geer
Thanks for visiting our church. If your a member of another church, you remain a member of that church, and we bless your church, and thank you for joining us for this study. We look foreword to more unity in the body of Jesus.. each church of Jesus is a candle in the dark and we are praying that we may all grow brighter, in these end times. we must all work together.
Other churches may have slightly different perspectives on Revelation . That is just fine. I am comfortable with that . It is OK to have differences. I will give you my view, and why I hold my view. I will do my best to accurately represent other major views. we are looking to study the Bible, not confirm our bias. so we must be willing to study.
Our desire is to be like the good Bereans. they were challenged with a strange new teaching that Jesus was the messiah and had been crucified. they had to deal with a pretty unsettling set of thoughts. but they got through it.
If you do have a corrections for me. you may briefly state you concern in the class in the form of a question, but it would be best for others if we hold our discussion/or disagreements on these things till after class. - I am happy to learn and grow. I am not the final authority on revelation. For that I refer you to Jesus.
Pray
Pray
Invite the Holy spirit, ask him to give us a spirit of humility unity and love. Make us more like Jesus.
Video (skip)
Video (skip)
to catch attention, and pull people in - but then do intro.
Intro
Intro
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Bible Memory Verse for this week
Bible Memory Verse for this week
Previous Memory Verses
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
New Words
New Words
Today's word
Today's word
RAPTURE : Lat. rapio “seize, carry away”
RAPTURE : Lat. rapio “seize, carry away”
The rapture (from Lat. rapio “seize, carry away”) is to be the eschatological event in which Christians still living on the earth will be “caught up together with them [deceased Christians who have been resurrected] in the clouds to meet the Lord [Christ] in the air”
The rapture contains within it several aspects of eschatological expectation, including the hope for the gathering together of God’s people, who have been separated by death, geography, or circumstances, and their being united with their Lord
31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Previous words:
Previous words:
Apocalypse
Apocalypse
Word from last week: Apocalyptic: A Greek word meaning revelation, (applied to the book of Revelation). Does not mean “cataclysmic end of the world” like we tend to see.
Eschatology
Eschatology
eschatology comes from a combination of Greek words meaning “the study of last things.” It covers the study of the end times, including death, the intermediate state, the afterlife, judgment, the millennium, heaven, and hell. Also refers to the time of Jesus’ second coming.
Review - Asking Jesus when are you coming back?
Review - Asking Jesus when are you coming back?
What 3 questions do the Disciples ask Jesus?
What 3 questions do the Disciples ask Jesus?
Matt 24:1-3
When will these things be? v 3b
what will be the sign of your coming? v 3c
what will be the signs of the end of the age? v 3d
Jesus started with “The beginning Birth Pangs”
Jesus started with “The beginning Birth Pangs”
v14b “and then the end will come” - jesus start with a list of the signs leading up to the end (and his coming back) - obviously not the destruction of jerusalem for that has happened and the end and Jesus have not arrived within the 7 year time-frame of Daniel.
Beginning of Birth Pains include:
Religious deception (vv. 4–5)
Wars (v. 6).
Famines (v 7a)
Eathquakes (v 7a)
These things happen... but like birth pangs, we could expect that they will increase in frequency and intensity as the time gets close.
Then Jesus gave more specific signs that will come before the end (v 14b)
Then Jesus gave more specific signs that will come before the end (v 14b)
Jews/disciples will be be tested (tribulation, litereally tressed, squashed, pressed - like apple cider) (v 9a)
Jews/disciples will be will be put to death - Martyrs (v. 9b)
Jews/disciples will be will be hated by all nations. because of His name. Jesus? or YHWH? United Nations.
many Jews/Disciples will falling away from the faith -Apostasy (v 10a)
many Jews/Disciples will betray each other!
many Jews/Disciples will hate each other!
more (many) False Prophets and lead people stray (v 11)
Lawlessness will increase (v 12a)
love will grow cold (because of lawlessness (v 12b)
gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations (v14), (and then the end will come).
Are we at the END based on this? NO need to finish preaching the Gospel!
We are have all the signs checked off, but the last the whole world needs to know the Gospel!
Many more languages to translate the Bible (Not even half way done!) but it is going fast!
What are we to do through all of this? ENDURE (with Jesus, it is a good thing!)
What are we to do through all of this? ENDURE (with Jesus, it is a good thing!)
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Review - Daniel 9 70 weeks the Timeline of the End-times
Review - Daniel 9 70 weeks the Timeline of the End-times
What is the abomination of Desolation?
What is the abomination of Desolation?
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
This is were some think suddenly jesus has Gone back to describing the seige of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
But it is clear that this prophesy although was foreshadowed by the events of 70 AD with the destruction of the temple, it is still to come.
why? (you know the answer. we just covered it)
The Gospel has not been preached to the world yet! Basic right? Also,
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
The days were not cut short… it has been 2000 years, so us readers know, that 70 AD was not the time.
But now the temple was destroyed in 70 AD.
So how can an abomination that causes desolation stand in the “holy place”?
The Temple must be rebuilt before this can happen. We are still waiting for this event to occur.
Daniel 9 the center point of Prophesy
Daniel 9 the center point of Prophesy
Daniel can be trusted.
Daniel can be trusted.
Ultimate authentication: Jesus quotes Daniel “Daniel the Prophet.” Matthew 24:15(ESV) Mark 13:14(ESV)
In Dan 9 Daniel is finishing up his first career as wise guy for for the Babylonians and now he is serving King Darius.
Daniel has been reading the prophet Jeremiah. (Prophets read other prophets. Just like today).
He realized the time period for the Jewish exile is nearly over (70 years)
Instead of waiting around doing nothing, He does what we are going to learn. He Prayed with fasting and mourning.
His prayer is magnificent and a model for us today in intercession. Please read it!
He begins to Intercede for the nation of Israel. remember God has created nations at the Tower of Babel and is using nations for his purposes to bring as many people into his kingdom as possible.
He repent not of His personal sins only , but the sins of the entire nation (Intercession)
Daniel is literally praying God’s will into existence from Heaven in to the earth.
Just like as Jesus askd us to do … pray your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This is like what we saw with Abraham before Sodom and Gomorrah, and Moses before God on Mt Sinai. Intercession is a role for God’s priests. Jesus on the Cross. and for us:
Revelation calls us a “kingdom of priests” That is why this church has focused on intercession.
When Daniel is done praying something happens. PUSH. pray until something happens.
Daniel is visited by an angel. Because he is a friend of God. and he sought God earnestly.
So the angel tells him that he (Daniel is “greatly loved)
22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
God gives Daniel a prophetic timeline that is the key to understanding much of the end times.
70 weeks: the Timeline of the End-times!
70 weeks: the Timeline of the End-times!
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
It is important to note that the term “weeks” refers to a period of seven years.
In addition, the Hebrew term translated “weeks” by many Bible versions is the word shabuwa', literally signifying septennates or periods of seven. In view are not literal weeks of seven days, but periods of seven years. Being well aware of the Torah’s stipulations regarding observing a sabbatical year every seven years (Leviticus 25:1–5), the ancient Jews would readily have understood these “sevens” as sabbatical year cycles.
<<draw picture: 70 week years>>
what comes at the end of 70 week-years? (490 years)
The early church father Jerome indicates in his commentary on the book of Daniel that many individuals believed that Daniel 9:24-26a was a prophecy about the Messiah.
How can you tell it is about the Messiah?
Daniel 9:25a (ESV)
25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks.
when does the 70 weeks-years start? (decree to restore & rebuild Jerusalem)
3 decrees listed the Bible:
Be Resolute 3. Instruction: Discovering God’s Timetable (Dan. 9:20–27)
This is not the decree of Cyrus in 538 permitting the Jews to return to their land and rebuild their temple (Ezra 1; Isa. 44:28), because the emphasis of this decree is on the city of Jerusalem. While some students opt for the decree of Artaxerxes in 457, sending Ezra to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:12–26), that decree also emphasized the temple and its ministry. The decree of Daniel 9:25 is probably that of Artaxerxes in 445 authorizing Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and restore the gates (Neh. 2:5–8).
read on.
25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.
what happens after the 7 week -years plus 62 week years? 69 week years = 69 x 7 = 483 yrs
“until the anointed one (lit messiah) the prince comes.”
But when does the streets of Jerusalem get rebuilt with streets and a “trench/mode/wall”?
The wall must be rebuilt be between the 7 ”week” years (49 years) and the 62 week years, because we will see the temple must be there after the full 69 years for the next verse about the people of the prince destroy the city and the sanctuary being destroyed happens after the 62 weeks. so they must have been built before then.
The temple must be built in troubled times after the 7 “week”-years (7x7 = 49 yrs) because it says that after 62 weeks the anointed one (the prince) shall the
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
The prophecy in Daniel 9:24-26a refers to 70 weeks. After the 69th week the prince or Messiah would die.
Daniel 9:24–26 (NKJV) “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Additionally, Jerome states that there were Jews who agreed that the prophecy of 69 “weeks” seemed to point to the era of Jesus.[1] 69 x 7 = 483 yrs
This is absolutely stupendous… flabbergasting prophesy… this is why the Jews in the Gospel stories kept asking are you the Messiah, should we expect another?
The intro: 70 weeks.(of years)
about your people (jews)
and your holy city(Jerusalem) ,
To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, (the redemptive work of the Messiah perfectly describing what Jesus did)
To seal up vision and prophecy (culmination of many visions and prophesies) ,
And to anoint the Most Holy (the veil to the most holy place was torn, indicating that Jesus blood was anointing a new better most holy place - our hearts).
They no doubt did fully understand this prophesy but surely could see the HUGE significant of an event at the end of 70 weeks.
The measuring point
Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until… (I see many dates suggested for this the date that make this align to AD31 is 446)
Three such decrees… covered in scripture, 2 for building the temple, but only one was to authorize the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
I have seen people who study bible prophesy assign different dates to that one. (i think in an attempt to force a particular day of the week (Friday passover) end date.) pinpointing dates back that far can be challenging because of the different calendars and changes to those calendars. I am convinced that the accuracy of these prophesies will show us accuracy to the day. - but we can show beyond a any doubt down to a the decade!
the end point(s)
Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; (cannot refer to the High priest that is also an anointed one (lesser), because they are not a prince or ruler)
The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. (this applies form history it is clear to the rebuilding of the wall under Nehemiah 49 years)
This part is twisted a bit in some translations, NKJV has it done well. but their appear to be 2 endpoints
49 years from Artaxerxes’ decree to the arrival of Nehemiah and the covenant renewal celebration at Jerusalem - the Jerusalem with )
434 years—397 B.C. to A.D. 31 From the dedication of the second temple to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ)
Verse 27 goes on to talk about the remaining seven - 7 years is left remaining… unfulfilled and a strange gap exists between the end of the 69 and start of the final seven.
Another problem is the exact year of the crucifixion, and the belief that it must have happened on a Friday. when it probably occured on a Wednesday or a Thursday.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-One: The King’s Return—Part 1 (Matthew 24:1–44)
The prophecy involves seventy weeks, and the Hebrew word “week” means “a week of years,” or seven years. Seventy sevens would equal 490 years. But this period of 490 years is broken up into three parts:
(1) During seven weeks (49 years) the city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt and the worship reestablished.
(2) After 63 weeks (434 years) Messiah would come to Jerusalem and die for the sins of the world.
(3) The prince will make an agreement with the Jews for one week (seven years) to protect them from their enemies.
The decree to rebuild Jerusalem was given in 445 B.C. by Cyrus (2 Chron. 36:22–23; Ezra 1). The city was rebuilt in troubled times. Sir Robert Anderson in his classic book The Coming Prince (Kregel, 1975) has proved that there were exactly 482 prophetic years (of 360 days each) between the giving of the decree and the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the King.
I have listed to Chuck Misser redid the calculation and he also claims that this land on the actual Palm Sunday to the day.
I can’t do Dan 9:24-26 any better than Chuck, and I have tired, so here is his article
https://www.khouse.org/articles/2004/552/
I am not quite that good with the calendar and could not quite convince myself that we could prove it to the day. But… they are better men than I am , and I don't have much time to study these things. It seams odd to me that God would get so close with a prophesy and then miss it by a few days. IN any-case the accuracy is astounding even if you cant quite prove it to the day.
If you have been following along so far and were not convinced that the Bible is true, you have certainly got allot of thinking to do. I have given you allot to think about. the Bible is astounding. in fact it is impossible for the bible not to be a message from outside time (from God). the chance of a prophesy like this being written before it came true, with the accuracy and precision and detail of these 3 verses, is so improbable that it would be easier to believe in God, than to beleive Daniel got it right by chance.
We know Daniel was written 3 centuries before Jesus was born if for no other reason, because it was part of the Septuagint. (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) that we know was finished between 285-246 B.C.
There is one more week of years (7 yr) unaccounted for
There is one more week of years (7 yr) unaccounted for
So you will note that the 70 years in Daniel was broken up and we have only completed 69 weeks to get to the death of Jesus.
obviously the world did not end 7 years after Jesus death… the Book of acts was not even half over at that point. there appears to have been a long delay. A pause button.
Does that bother you? why? (it bothers me a little, i like things a bit more obvious)
was the pause predicted? YES
26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
The Coming World Leader--commonly known as the Antichrist - has 33 titles in the Old Testament and 13 in the New Testament. One of these, The Prince That Shall Come, comes from Daniel 9:26-27 in which the people of the Prince that shall come would destroy the city and the sanctuary. The fulfillment occurred in history when the Roman legions under Titus Vespasian destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple(the sanctuary) in 70 A.D.10
It’s end shall come with a flood (a “rush” or “overwhelming”) and to the end there shall be war.
“desolations decreed” - it takes time for desolation. how much time?
How long did israel have to be left desolate? From 70 AD to May 1948 when Israel became a nation? or 1968 when they got control of Jerusalem? that is nearly 2000 of desolations.
This a a hint that there is a pause for the desolation(s) multiple. “I’m not so sure Ken, ok just wait…
do we know how long the pause will be? When does, was a last 7 years occur?
lets check further…
But this Prince then does something more after these times of desolations.
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Now this Prince that shall come makes a strong covenant with many for one week(‘seven’). Remember Hebrew for week is ‘seven’, and depending on situation it can stand for 7 days, or 7 years.
What does the prince who is to come (the anti-christ) do?
we puts and end to offering in the middle of 7 weeks. 3.5 yrs.
At the temple he will setup and abomination that causes desolation.
Not sure what that is… but… wait
where did the temple come from. it was destroyed in v26!
He shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
it either got built in 3.5 years of being destroyed in 70 AD (and it did not!)
or there was a Pause in the years before the last week goes into effect!
I told you it would make sense! (did it make sense?)
there had to be a pause according to the very nature of the prophesy.
it is then going to be confirmed in Revelation.
What is that last thing that happens in this v27?
until the end that is decreed is poured out on the Prince who is to come (the Antichrist) we will read about that in Revelation too!
Today’s study: Be ready
Today’s study: Be ready
Read Matt 24:29-51
Read Matt 24:29-51
We can see that Jesus knew that the prophet Daniel’s “abomination of desolation” would occur in the future.
It was not fulfilled in totality during the rain of Antiochus (IV) “Epiphanes” “coming one” who tired to crush and wipe out Jews and killed a PIG on the altar in the temple and placing an idol to Zeus on the altar. this happened in 168 BC.
The temple was rededicated 3 years later. But allot of Jews recognized that this event by Antiochus sounded allot like the Daniel passage… but it was happening at the wrong time.
Jesus reference to it makes us realize it will still happen again. and since the temple was destroyed in 70 AD.. and has not been rebuilt since. we see that there is another sign that must happen before the return of JEsus in the last days.
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
This Great tribulation. Will be the worst the world has seen.
Have we seen it?
what is the worst devastation the world has ever seen. (from a Jewish perspective)?
The holocaust of World war 2. If that was not the great tribulation, then the great tribulation will be worse than the Jewish holocaust.
My friends jesus is saying something of a greater trial than the Holocaust will happen in the future. We will read about it in Revelation.
How difficult will it be?
22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
God is going to bring that trial to a close prematurely. He is going to intervene in a special way. He will do it for the sake of the Elect.
who are the elect?
Any of the elect, the saints, the believers in Christ.
it is greek word ἐκλεκτός eklektos chosen; elect; picked out; select
8 times in ESV it is translated “chosen”
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
That is us. - guess what ..this prophesy by Jesus certainly make it look like we are still here on planet earth when this happens. Half way through the Great Tribulation. - I know this will trouble some of you. Our assembly of God believes in a pre-tribulation rapture. and most of us have been brought up with that belief.
But this is a straightforward reading of the passage. “for the sake of the elect he will cut short those days”. clearly casts some doubt on that view.
when we see this in the Bible, were it is not confirming our expectations.
What should we do?
Matthew goes on to reinforce this idea making it clear that Jesus has not yet returned. he starts with “Then…” τότε tote then; at that time
23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
So this deception that Jesus has already come appears to be something that will happen, about at the midpoint of the seven Years.
Jesus has told us before it happens so we will not be deceived!
The sign of Christ
The sign of Christ
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
who is the Son of Man? Jesus
How do you know? It was jesus favorite title of himself in the gospels, he used it more than any other. Lots of people who are reading the new testament assume that this title is a reference to his Humanity.
That make some sense right? but we would be wrong. remember the bible it the best commentary on it’s self. IN daniel a few chapters earlier, there is a scene in heaven were someone that looks like a “son of man” (human), gos before GOD.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
This show that this “human” is not human but instead eternal, and would be given a Kingship, an eternal Kingdom, and all peoples and nations would serve him. That is a clear claim to deity. To the Messianic prophesy. And it is done with the innocent sounding title “Son of Man”
So this son of man is Jesus and he is flashing across the sky.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus is going to come like a flash seen across the sky. We will eventually study this sign in much more depth in a later study. The sign of Christ.
Vultures will gather?
Vultures will gather?
28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
who wants to interpret this vulture verse?
We can be thrown off by proverbs that use unexpected analogies. carrion and vultures are not the first thing you would pick when you talking about Jesus and the rapture, but consider…
Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament False Messiahs and More False Prophets (24:23–28)
24:28 This somewhat gruesome proverbial saying serves to bolster the claim of the previous verse. Just like vultures can spot at great distances a corpse and individually gather, so too the Son of Man’s coming will be unmistakable, and the gathering of his people will automatically follow.
If this interpretation is right and it is pretty basic analogy… then the rapture again cannot be before the midpoint of the 7 years. But for now lets just call this an interesting observation and allow more study to prove or disprove this initial indication.
We don't have time to do an exhaustive study… this time. So put a pin in it, and for now I am just pointing out that this passage is clearly suggesting this, and we will need to check to see if it fits with the rest of scripture.
this is exciting what happens next?
Note that we have not started studying revelation, but we are already through half of the Revelation using the Jesus “cliff notes” version that the disciples asked for. see how much fun this is?
The sign of the son of man
The sign of the son of man
Matt 24:29 starts with “immediately” connecting it to the previous 2 verses. the Lightning and the vultures gathering around the body.
εὐθέως eutheōs at once; immediately; directly
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Sun , Moon, stars, and powers of heaven shaken!
Sun , Moon, stars, and powers of heaven shaken!
This sound like something that is Revelation a couple times. (and a bunch of other places in the Bible! We are going to have to study this more closely in Revelation!
Isa. 13:10; 24:23; Ezek. 32:7; Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15; Acts 2:20; [Amos 5:20; 8:9; Zeph. 1:15; Rev. 6:12; 8:12]
Rev. 6:13; [Isa. 14:12; 34:4]
But we are definitely tracking with the Revelation imagery!
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
this is all part of that “immediately” section. see the “gathering of the elect”? that fits well with our guess at the vultures gathering might mean.
We see more elements that appear to correlate well to Revelation and Zechariah. Rev. 1:7; [Zech. 12:12], and even earlier in Matthew when Jesus talked about taking up his Cross and following him. Matt 16:27 it involved losing his life for the sake of Jesus. and getting a reward when Jesus comes back with his Angels.
what Revelation elements to you see?
Tribes of earth, clouds, angels, trumpet, elect, four winds, Son of man
The Fig Tree
The Fig Tree
So when is this return of Jesus? the disciples asked 3 questions and Jesus has been answering the last one first, the signs of the end times. and in answering it, he has got to the part were he returns. But at this point like us, they might be a bit lost. They want something a bit more concrete.
So jesus… when did you say you were coming back?
if you were locked in a jail cell and did not have a calendar or a watch then you would not know the day or the hour. Instead, you could see out your window a fig tree. how would you know when it was summer?
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
what is the lesson of the fig tree?
The lesson of the fig tree is this. Watch. watch for the signs. when you see the signs, it is a certainty the time is near. AT THE GATES. you don't know the day or the hour but you know, it is very soon.
What were the signs Jesus gave? do you remember?
what signs have been fulfilled?
Beginning pains include:
Religious deception (vv. 4–5)
Wars (v. 6).
Famines (v 7a)
Eathquakes (v 7a)
After that... (v 9 - 12)
Jews/disciples will be be tested in tribulation, (v 9a)
Jews/disciples will be will be put to death - Martyrs (v. 9b)
Jews/disciples will be will be hated by all nations. because of His name.
many Jews/Disciples will falling away from the faith -Apostasy (v 10a)
many Jews/Disciples will betray each other!
many Jews/Disciples will hate each other!
more (many) False Prophets and lead people stray (v 11)
Lawlessness will increase (v 12a)
love will grow cold (because of lawlessness (v 12b)
what remains to be fulfilled?
The Gospel preached to the whole earth (95% done?)
The temple rebuilt and sacrifices start again (all the parts ready)
The abomination that causes desolation standing in the holy place
lots of deception about false Christs.
The flash of lightning
Sun moon and stars darkened.
Then will appear the sign of Jesus in the clouds of heaven
SO we see most of the signs, but not all the signs. so this tells me we have only a little time left. not much.
Even so we we don't know the day or the hour. Can’t put it on a calendar.
“This” Generation
“This” Generation
Here we get to the most troubling part of this passage that has made this chapter one of the most debated in the Bible
34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
who is this generation?
If we have been interpreting correctly, even though he is speaking to his disciples, he cannot mean them. RIGHT?
Because he has described a period that requires centuries to spread the Gospel over the entire world. God knew that this would be more than just Jerusalem, Judah, and Samaria. He knew they would have to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. He knew bout north and south America. He knew about the deepest jungles of Africa. He knew about the Motilone Indians in Columbia and Venezuela. He knew about the Sentinelese people on an island in India.
so if This generation is not the Disciples, who is it?
the next most obvious interpretation I think is the preceeding verse! the Genreation that sees the fig tree signs. This “soon” or “near” or “at the Gate” is being defined by Jesus to be the space of a generation. That is helpful. cause I would have been tempted to think 20-30 minutes. Again Jesus is providing the answers.
For a long time I thought it was the ones that saw Israel become a nation.
I figured how long is a generation? 20 years, 40 years, 50 years. Then I read that the bible considered the 400 years that the Israelite spent in captivity as 4 generations i figured 100 year might be a generation and therefore the generation seeing Israel become a nation would pass away 100 year later or in 2048. but I was falling into the trap of setting days and times.... for if t were exactly 100 years I could put it on the calendar.
Jesus indicates that his words will not pass away. they are sure. they will come about they will not fall to the earth void. they will accomplish what they set out to do.
The Day and Hour
The Day and Hour
Jesus is going to give the disciples an important warning and if everyone would just read their bible we could avoid so many embarrassing teaching by bible teachers.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
The fig tree test using the signs, is consistent with this warning. we cannot put it on a calendar, but we can get close. There are other scriptures were Jesus shows he expects us to know the season.
3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
Jesus backs this up by explaining a few more signs, and the way in which it will be “sudden” and while normal activities are going on (even though there will be the preceeding cataclysmic signs we just read about!!)
Like Noah’s days
Like Noah’s days
37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
they were making fun of Noah, until the day it started raining and they were like… where did Noah go? Uh-oh. I got a bad feeling about this.
Disappearing People
Disappearing People
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
we again get to this reoccurring theme in this chapter of this day of CHrist’s return, somehow also coinciding with the gathering of his chosen people. This picture is more dramatic and was imagined in the left behind series with even more drama on a airplane.
I have been using the word rapture, and it was not used in this chapter.
Rapture is from Lat. rapio “seize, carry away” and is used to mean the eschatological event in which Christians still living on the earth will be “caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord. This teaching here is obviously a well know teaching to the Thessalonians, and Paul has to assure them that the dead in Christ are included in the event. We covered that a few months ago.
OK, So What should I do?
OK, So What should I do?
The disciples have got a huge amount of information to digest. and it all comes down to this. “What should I do?” Whenever you read the Bible it comes down to this question. Now that I know this, how should I act in light of this learning.
Jesus lays it out now.
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
stay awake
stay awake
STAY AWAKE. i write this at 3:17 am… and not sleepy yet.
stay alert. Be ready.
Elsewhere jesus says “watch and pray”
One thing this doe snot mean it sell everything give it to the church and wait on a Hill. If any of you do that I know I have utterly failed.
Jesus tells us in the next chapter more about this with the parable of the 10 virgins. He expects us to be about the Father’s business, What is that? Helping others. Sharing the Gospel. Making disciples. Fulling the identity and purpose he has given us.
Are you a faithful and wise servant of God
Are you a faithful and wise servant of God
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
You are blessed if you continue to work for the lord up till his return.
But if you don’t and you start living for yourself, before you know it you will be like this pore wicked fellow …
48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
The point here is that neither know the day our the hour of the Master returns. but one serves faithfully anyway when it appears the masters eye is not on him, and the other is foolish thinking that the master will not know what he is doing in secret. there are no secrets with God.
last verse of the chapter - what happens to the wicked servant?
51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is a horrible state of affairs and is the end state of these Hamas terrorists that have beat and tortured an mutilated innocent civilians. In This new War that Israel is in this week. The Hamas terrorist have been lied to saying they are guaranteed to go to heaven if they die in a Jihad, and will and have virgins.
What did we forget to do?
What did we forget to do?
Read the other two passages in the synoptic Gospels.
Mark records this also (synoptic Gospel)
Mark records this also (synoptic Gospel)
Mark is pretty good at summarizing things, but he provides some extra detail we did not get in Matthew. Can you spot it?
mark ends with Mark 13:37
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Mark 13 (ESV)
1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.
10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.
20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
A similar teaching in Luke
A similar teaching in Luke
Jesus covers it again, this time with slightly different details and emphasis.
Luke 21 (ESV)
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.
9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
Watch your selves
Watch your selves
we slightly new twist on this teaching in Luke is Luke 21:34-36
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Stay awake at all times.
Stay awake at all times.
praying you may have the strength to escape all the things that are going to take place.
preppers - prepping for the end of the world
That is a good thing, we should be prepared… I am an amateur prepper wannabe. but according to Jesus…
the first thing on your prepping should be this:
stay awake (vigilant - aware, alert, do not go to sleep, apathy is not on the prep list!)
Pray for strength
Pray to escape the things taking place (the plagues and such)
Next Week
Next Week
Q&A
Q&A