Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 24 - Introduction

 

There are several different ways people interpret this passage.

The most common method today is that our present generation is the one to which Jesus was referring.

Whenever there is controversy we must be willing to examine the evidence to find the truth and see what God is telling us rather than try to prove what we already want to believe.

Matt.

24 has a message to us today, just as all scripture, but we must make sure we are properly understanding what it is.

(Through continued study, my position on this passage has changed from a premillenial view, to the view that it is about the destruction of Jerusalem plus Second Coming view, and now, to the view that it is all prophesying of the destruction of Jerusalem, but there are shadows of the Second Coming and the destruction of the world)

 

A simple point that is missed by many: Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, and the disciples asked when it would happen.

The chapter consists of Jesus’ answer.

Matthew 24:1-3

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things?

Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be?

And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Mark 13:1-4

Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?

Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be?

And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

Luke 21:5-7

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, “These things which you see - the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be?

And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

The most common modern interpretation is that in Matt.

24, Jesus is predicting the events that will take place just before His Second Coming.

This ignores the context of the original statements that led to this prophecy.

This view also either ignores or twists Matt.

24:34.

Matthew 24:34

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Much of the confusion has been caused by the KJV translation of “Aion” as “world” in Mat.

24:3.

“Aion” has different possible definition, (like English words).

It can mean world, but, more often, it has the meaning of time.

a.

In the KJV, with the meaning of time, it is translated:* “ever” *71 times;* “evermore”* 4 times; *“age”* 2 times; *“eternal”* 2 times  for a total of *79 times.

*

b.

It is translated *“world” 38 times *(less than half) and “age” would be a more accurate translation many times (including Matt.

24:3 as is in most newer translations.

\\ There would be no change in the meaning of the great majority of these verses if “aion” was translated “age” instead of “world” (as the newer translations do).

“What /will be/ the sign of Your coming, and of *the end of the age*?” /NKJV/

“Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the *close of the age*?” /RSV/

“What will be the sign of your coming and of *the end of the age*?

/NRSV/

“What /will be/ the sign of Your coming, and of *the end of the age*?” NASV

“What will be the sign that it is time for you to come again and for *this age to end*?” /NCV/

“What will be the sign of your coming and of *the end of the age*?” /NIV/

“What shall be the attesting miracle which will indicate your coming and *the consummation of the age*?” /Kenneth Wuest’s, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation/

Examples Of “Aion” In The KJV

Matthew 6:13

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory *forever*.

Amen.

Matthew 13:22

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this *world** *and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Matthew 21:19

And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you *ever** *again.”

Immediately the fig tree withered away.

John 6:51, 58

I am the living bread which came down from heaven.

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live *forever*; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world....

He who eats this bread will live *forever*.

Ephesians 2:6-7

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the *ages *to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Revelation 1:18

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for *evermore*, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

!

The First Century Was The End Of An Age That Had Continued Since Moses.

The end of this age was made manifest by the destruction of Jerusalem, along with all the Temple and all the genealogical records of the Jews.

Their system of animal sacrifice and priesthood was destroyed forever at that time.

God made it clear that it is the New, Heavenly Jerusalem, the Church, that now consists of His chosen people (Gal.

4:22-31, Heb.

12:18-22).

!

The End Of The Age

Matthew 24:3

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be?

And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of *the end of the age*?

(NKJV)

Acts 2:15-17

For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But* this is that *which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And* it shall come to pass in the last days, *saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh...

Hebrews 1:1-2    

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in* these last days *spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

Hebrews 9:26

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the *world (kosmos)*: but now once in the end of the *world (aion)* hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(KJV)

“Kosmos” is translated “world” 186 of the 187 times it is used in the N.T.

1 Peter 1:18-20

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest* in these last times* for you.

1 Peter 4:7    

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the* ends of the ages have come*.

“world” - KJV (aion)

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The Last Hour

1 John 2:18

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

“Hour” is from “hora” {ho’-rah}.

It is used 108 times in the N.T.

It is translated “hour” in NASV, NIV, ASV, NKJV, RSV.

It is translated “Time” the KJV.