Matthew part 41
The End of This Age
The Abomination of Desolation | Matthew 24:15-28
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 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. 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. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. 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. 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. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Matthew 24:15-28
Who or what is this “abomination of desolation”? It is a question that has pervaded Christian history, and as I stated last week, many times prophecy can find its fulfillment in patterns of history. Daniel uses this phrase in Daniel 9:27. The angel who has been revealing Israel’s future to Daniel states at the end of a period of 70 7s (“Seventy Weeks” which has been understood to be about 490 years, see the sermons on Daniel), the “people of the prince who is to come” will desecrate the sanctuary and establish this “abomination”.
Now, the first fulfillment of this prophecy occurred with Antiochus IV prior to the arrival of Jesus. However, it was not completely fulfilled, we know, because the temple still stood until 70 AD. After the temple falls in 70 AD, the Jewish state is scattered. Six decades later, the Romans establish the city as Amelia Capitolina and build a temple to Jupiter on the temple mount. This desecration incites the Third Jewish revolt led by Simon Bar Kokhba. The revolt is put down, and the Jewish people are exiled from Jerusalem. “Israel” becomes “Syria Palestine” until the end of Roman occupation.
This history lesson is to explain how later Christians, such as Jerome in the 5th century, can interpret the “abomination that causes desolation” in this way:
This man of iniquity can be interpreted either simply as the antichrist, or as the image of Caesar which Pilate put in the temple, or as the statue of Hadrian the equestrian which still today stands in the Holy of Holies. Because the Old Testament normally calls the abomination an idol, the word desolation is added here to indicate that the idol shall be placed there resulting in the temple’s abandonment and destruction.
Jerome’s Commentary on Mathew 4.24.15
Today, as we consider this prophecy (and the rest in this chapter), we have a bit of a conundrum. It would appear this prophecy has been fulfilled. Jerome notes a few options that all fulfill it. And yet, though the temple does not exist anymore, there is a push in Israel to re-establish one. If the mosque on the Temple Mount does ever transfer to Jewish possession, Jewish leaders are ready (and already have it planned out) to build a new Temple. And for those who are skeptical of such prophecies, remember, if you asked someone only 100 years ago if Israel would be a nation of its own again, they would have laughed at you. Perhaps we will one day see another “abomination that causes desolation” enter the Temple and establish a short-lived treaty that ushers in a great tribulation, “such as has not been form the beginning of the world until now.”
While the events from 70-140 AD fulfill much of this prophetic passage, recent events in the last 100 years pave the way for another fulfillment.
Notice there is hope amid the tribulation. Jesus says “for the sake of the elect” these days will be cut short. The period of tribulation described here is so horrendous, even the faithful in Christ would fall away, except that Jesus will not leave them to suffer. As we ponder the future that awaits this world, keep in mind we are never to worry, but remain faithful. And we can remain faithful because Jesus says He will not let us suffer beyond his ability to sustain us. Even if we are the generation that finds ourselves in the great tribulation, Jesus promises we will not suffer it long.
And until that day, remember, this world may bend you, but it cannot break you if you are in Christ Jesus.
Not even the literal end of the world can break those who are in Christ Jesus.
We are also reminded here to be careful which teachers we listen to. Many will come giving false teachings and claiming to be Christ. Jesus says “Don’t believe any of these people!” When Jesus does return it will be like “lightning com[ing] from the east and shines as far as the west.” Everyone will see it. Any claim of a secret or subtle appearance of Christ will always be false. There will be no mistake when Jesus comes. We will definitely see it.
Last, Jesus uses a saying to reinforce the point. “Where the corpse is, the vultures will gather.” It sounds a bit morbid, but the point is the same as the English turn of phrase, “Moths to a flame.” When Jesus comes again, His people will be drawn to Him. His coming will be visible, and we will flock to him.
It will not be possible to miss Jesus’ Return, but it will be possible to miss being ready for His Return.
Before we continue reading, let’s consider the immediacy of the picture Jesus has painted. In the section we read last week, Jesus said the gospel will be proclaimed throughout the world. He also said lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold, and many will fall away. In the time leading to the Second Coming, faithful Christianity will become difficult at best. But the “end” does not come until the abomination appears in the temple. And then there is a very quick timeline.
When destruction does come, there will be no time for repentance, no time for preparation, and no time to gather your belongings. But even if we are not the generation that will see the End, consider the lesson for us as Christians who desire to be faithful. Part of living in light of the End is understanding that at any moment our earthly possessions can disappear. We must be ready to lose them if we desire faithful endurance in the End Times.
The Coming of the Son of Man | Matthew 24:29-34
“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. 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. 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.
“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. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Matthew 24:29-34
Now we get to the verse that had so many people stirred up on April 8. But look again at verse 29—“immediately after the tribulation.” Have we faced a tribulation greater than any history has shown us? Is there a person on the Temple Mount or in the Temple that profanes the Name of God and performs miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible? No, I don’t believe there is.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
The reason we study the Bible is so that we are not led astray. Though many of us are careful to not follow false Messiahs, I believe we may still be drawn away by false teaching, usually of the theatrical nature. Be careful of what teachers and preachers you watch for the same reason you should be careful watching the news—sensationalism does not make the claims true.
Do not let false teachers mislead you on understanding the signs of the End Times.
But after the tribulation, immediately, there will be a great disturbance in the heavens. Now, these descriptions are certainly symbolic imagery which are also found in Isaiah 13:10, 34:4 and Haggai 2:6. The heavens acting chaotically is also found in extra-biblical apocalyptic literature. In the ancient world, the lights in the heavens were also associated with (and in many cases thought to be) deities. As the arrival of Jesus becomes even more imminent, the heavens will shake because all creatures, those on the earth below and those in heaven above, will yield to the power of the Most High God.
The Lord will exert his authority on heavenly bodies leading up to his arrival on earth.
The nations will see the sign of the Son of Man, and then they will all mourn as they also see then see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. Christ will call his angels to gather up the elect from the all over the world. And then, this age will end, and the new age will come. The age that is described in Revelation in which “every tear is wiped away from their eyes” and “all is made new”.
And I already know the next question. It’s the same question the disciples ask at the beginning of this chapter. When is this going to happen?
No One Knows That Day and Hour | Matthew 24:36-51
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 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, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
“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? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:36-51
The short answer is “no one knows”. What is most concerning isn’t the tribulation that will unfold in the days leading to Christ’s coming, but it is the fact that this world will be like the days of Noah. Life continued while Noah built the ark. People married, ate, drank, and had wonderful days…and then the flood came. Prior to the heavens shaking, people will marry, eat, drink, and have wonderful days, and then the End will come.
Look again at the images Jesus gives. Two men in the field, two women grinding at the mill, and then one each disappears. There is a suddenness to Jesus’ return that we tend to not think about in our “end times discussions”. For many people, the attitude seems to be “Let’s see how far in advance we can see Jesus coming.” That’s why every little astronomical occurrence or every little national skirmish becomes “the sign” that Jesus is coming.
But, that’s not really how Jesus describes the coming day. People will be working, talking, dealing with the mundane daily occurrences of life when everything gets disrupted by a sudden disappearance of people. In fact, Jesus tells us that even some of the Christians will believe the Master is delayed and isn’t coming. They will work against the faithful Christians and become like the hypocrites of Jesus’ day.
Jesus’ description of his return tells us His return will be sudden while people continue life as normal.
Last, take a look at those last verses. This passage is ultimately not about us figuring out when Jesus will return. We’ve already established that’s a fruitless endeavor. This passage culminates with the charge for Christians to continue the work of God on earth. Even though there will be signs that lead us to understand the “end is nigh,” we are to continue doing the Master’s work. In fact, those church folk who say, “the end is coming, I need to just stay in my house while chaos is in the streets” are called “wicked servants” and risk being thrown into hell. Read verse 50 and 51 again. At no point does God tell Christians to cease the work He has given them. In fact, even when we have to flee the city, or face tribulation, Jesus tells us to continue the work of the Kingdom of God.
Until our last day or last breath, we are to continue the work of Christ proclaiming the Gospel and bringing people to Christ.
There is a day coming when our faith will be vindicated and the reality of Christ will descend on this earth like a sudden hurricane transforming everything. But until that day comes, we have work to do. There are family members that need to surrender to Christ. There are neighbors who need to know they are loved by our God and King who wants them to have eternal life. There are whole populations of people groups in this world that have no one telling them about Jesus that need missionaries to go tell them.
Christians, you have a Master that is on his way. What will he find you doing when he gets here? Are you redeeming the time that you have to ensure all people in all nations have a chance to hear the gospel of Christ?