INVERSE FOCUS ADVENTIST RADIO
Matthew 24
1-8 When Jesus left the temple, the disciples came to Him to get Jesus’ attention to the structure of the building and the stones. Jesus reply by saying the building is not going to exist and be completely destroyed. He went to the Mount of Olives and the disciples were pondering and continue to ask Jesus about this destruction of the temple, but they asked Him privately. Because the temple is the center piece of Jerusalem, the disciples asked what are the signs that will lead to this destruction and they associated it with the end of the world and the coming of Jesus. So there is a two fold application in this chapter. Jesus mingled the description of two events, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Coming.
Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God. GC88 22.1
Jesus continues by saying don’t let anyone deceive you. Jesus tells us how the deception will come. The deception will come by people saying "I am Christ" and deceiving many people. After Christ’s ascension to heaven, many false messiahs did appear and claiming to be Christ, working miracles and deceiving the people (Acts 5:36; 8:9; 12:21-24; Eph 5:6) until the destruction of Jerusalem.
This also applies to the last days in our time. Many people in our time claim to also be the messiah and their were numerous. I want to mention one that people may not be aware of, a man name Wayne Bent aka Michael Travesser, a former Seventh-Day Adventist who claims God told him in 2000 that he is the messiah and formed a group called "Lord Our Righteousness Church" aka Strong City in New Mexico. There has been many others (Luke 21:8; 2 Cor 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
Along with deceptions are the hearing of wars and rumors of wars. Before the destruction of Jerusalem, there were plotting and murders for the highest place or position. Jerusalem had become separated from within and against each other while a destruction was coming upon them all. Jesus says "all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (the end of the Jewish nation as nation)" These things are the deceptions and the hearing of wars because nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Is there a difference between nation and kingdom? they are used interchangeable, the nation here is "Gentiles" (2 Chronicles 15:6; Isaiah 19:2) and kingdom is the shaking out of those from the kingdom of God Matthew 21:43; Luke 13:20, 28-29 and referring to the Jews who thought the kingdom of God coming to this earth Luke 19:11. There were confusion regarding the kingdom of God when the Jews were actually in the kingdom of Satan (Matthew 12:24-28) which led to their destruction instead of deliverance. Kingdom against kingdom also refers to the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this earth (John 18:33-37; Matthew 4:8; Hebrews 11:32-33; Revelation 11:15) it can also apply within, meaning are you earthly or carnal (Roman 8:6, 7; Phil 3:19;) minded or heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:48; Romans 8:5, 9, 14; Colossians 3:2-3) minded.
There were also a great famine after Christ (Acts 11:28; Deut 28:53-57; Lam 2:20; 4:9-10; Jer 19:9; Ezek 5:10) and during the siege of Jerusalem.
These events will have an impact upon various aspects of the world. It will come upon the political, economical, social, and the religious world. Satan will try different angles to discourage God’s people to lose hope, faith, and love in God.
Jesus said "They will declare that these signs are the token of the advent of the Messiah. Be not deceived; they are the beginning of His judgements. The people have looked to themselves. They have not repented and been converted that I should heal them. The signs that they represent as tokens of their release from bondage are signs of their destruction." DA 628.3 Jesus says, these are the beginning of sorrows.
There was a severe famine in Jerusalem. A woman named Mary or Mary of Bethezuba. Mary said this baby embodies all the suffering of the Jews in this war by suffering murder, dismemberment, and consumption at the hands of his own mother. Josephus states (6.208):
And with these words she slew her son, and then having roasted the body, she devoured half of it, while the rest she covered and was safeguarding.
The rebels now appear, and Mary invites them to eat part of her ‘‘sacrifice’’ (6.211):
‘‘This is my own child, and this is my deed. Eat, for I, too, have eaten. Don’t be weaker
https://www.worldhistory.biz/ancient-history/58492-2-the-cannibalism-of-mary.html
There were pestilences and earthquakes in various places before the destruction of Jerusalem. Even a earthquake at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:50-51). Jesus said these are the beginning of sorrows. The rulers will look at these signs as God’s judgments upon the nations because Israel is in bondage.
Just like we see the signs today. Nations are going against nations:
Russia and Ukraine
Israel and Palestine - Hamas
Afghanistan and US - Taliban
We also had our own pestilences - Covid-19, Salmonella, Listeria, E-coli, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
Earthquakes in the past 30 days, there were 31,926 quakes of magnitudes up to 7.0 as of 9/12/24. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes.html
There will be troubles (inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch) or civil unrest. Jerusalem was in trouble or in disturbance, turmoil or civil unrest. We are currently right now facing civil unrest in the US. Shootings, labor unions, scams, political strife, hate crimes, and addictions etc. These are just some of the troubles that we are currently facing.
9-14 God’s people will be delivered to be afflicted and be killed and be hated of all nations for Jesus name sake. When persecution come decisions will be made to see if they are for Christ or against Him. Christ is the one that will cause the shaking. We will need the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, courage, and love in responding to those who will persecute God’s people. There will be a lot of people offended and will betray one another and hate one another (Psalm 119:53 this is terrible is what the psalm is saying, 136, 158; Jer 13:17) During the days of Paul, Demas a friend of Paul left him and no one was present with Paul during his imprisonment 2 Timothy 4:10, 16. Christians will forsake their faith 1 John 2:19; 1 Timothy 4:1.
This is the time we will need to be the most unflinching and to have our zeal the warmest. We will need courage from their cowardice, loyalty from their treason and warmth from the coldness of others. A law will be instituted to force the conscience to keep a law that goes against God 5T 136. In Mark 13:9, it says it will be a testimony against them.
Self is the foe by God’s grace we have to conquer. Because we like to be in safety, but our only safety is in God. Because of safety people will betray one another and bear false witness. So we can’t be surprise of the unnatural and cruel affection of others.
There will be more false prophets (Acts 13:6; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1) arising continue to deceive many. The love of many shall wax cold because iniquity shall abound. But he that endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Which means we can’t give up the faith or make shipwreck of faith. Those who endure persecution 9-10, deception 11, and love of many waxing cold 12 the same shall be saved. The Bible says in Luke 21:19, in your patience possess ye your souls.
Jesus says, the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come. The gospel was preached in that generation before the destruction of the Jerusalem, Paul says in Colossians 1:23 …was preached to every creature which is under the heaven… In our generation the gospel must also be preached as a witness for the end to come. This gospel is the everlasting gospel in Revelation 14:6-12.
15-28 Jesus gives a sign by saying when ye shall see the abomination of desolation and He referenced Daniel as a book we need to study in order to understand. In Luke 21:20, it says when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, know the desolation is nigh. In other words, when Jerusalem shall be in abomination or apostasy, they will end up being desolate or a waste land/destroyed because they have apostatize against God. National apostasy leads to national ruin. When the nation or leaders are apostatizing and enforcing laws to control the conscience then the limit is reached for the nation to be ruined. Notice that Jesus said "ye therefore shall see the abomination" The disciples were able to see the apostasy in Jerusalem which is the Roman armies. The Romans have placed their idolatrous standards on the outside walls of Jerusalem (GC88 26.1; GC25.4). This was the warning sign to escape Jerusalem Those in Judea should flee to the mountains, and those who are in the housetop come down not to take anything out of his house but leave it. If someone is in the field don’t go to take any clothes, just leave. This is why Jesus said "Remember Lot’s wife" in Luke 17:28-32 because she turned back. It will also be rough for those with kids and with babies. But pray that when it’s time to go it won’t be on the Sabbath day or in the winter.
Nearly forty years later (66 A.D.) when the people saw the sign when Cestius had surrounded the city with his army and unexpectedly withdraw his army, the sign was given that the desolation was nigh. They have placed their idols which are a abomination unto God (Ezekiel 18:12; 2 Kings 23:13; 21:11) Cestius withdrew his army and left for no reason. God was making the provision for the His people to leave. The Jews were assembled at Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and all Christians were able to make an escape with no interference. Then Titus and Vespasian came back in 70 A.D. and the city was destroyed, even though Titus tried to preserve the temple, but Jesus said "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" Over 1 million Jews died in the destruction of Jerusalem.
Just like when Cestius placed a sign on the wall and surrounded the city and withdrew, so it will be in the end. The Roman sign was an eagle. The bible says in Matthew 24:28 where the carcase (Jerusalem) is, there will the eagles (Romans) be gathers together.
"Then came the ensigns encompassing the eagle, which is at the head of every Roman legion, the king, and the strongest of all birds, which seems to them asignal of dominion, and an omen that they shall conquer all against whom theymarch." Flavius Josephus, Wars of the Jews 3:6:2
When the sign of a Sunday law approaches so it will be the sign that desolation is coming upon the cities of America. The Sabbath will be the controversy point of interest throughout Christendom GC615 and the enforcement of Sunday will be pushed to be observed. This will lead to a national apostasy or abomination which will end up in national ruin or desolation Luke 19:41-44 .
Religious leaders will meet and decide that the people who reject the law should be killed. Just like they did back then to Jesus John 11:48-51
The tribulation came and persecution came to Christians' starting under Nero and the martyrdom of Paul which was probably around 67 A.D. These persecutions were fierce upon God’s people and lasted for 1260 years between 528-1798. Jesus doesn’t mention this to the disciples, but said that there shall be great tribulation. If those days were not shortened no flesh will be saved, but for the elect sake those days shall be shortened. There will also be tribulation in last days, there will be civil unrest and increase in crime and fear, then the a law to enforce worship on Sunday which will trigger the closing scenes of this earth’s history until Jesus' coming the second time. This law will be sign that the United States of America has reached it’s limit to fully cut off God from the nation.
Their was a great tribulation from 528-1798 and those days was shortened for the elect sake and more false Christ shall arise and show great signs and wonders, if it were possible to even deceive the very elect. Who are the elect? Isaiah 45:4; 65:9, 22; Mark 13:27; Luke 18:7; Colossians 3:12 which also means "chosen" Jesus said I told you before hand, if the false Christ and false prophets say he is in the desert go not forth, he is in the secret chambers believe it not. For we shall be able to see Christ come as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west. In other words, this will be a grand event that the whole world we see Revelation 6:14; 2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thess 4:16-17; 2 Thess 1:7-10. The coming of Jesus will be a very significant event, whether alive or dead in Christ it will be a marvelous event for the righteous, but a fearful and destructive event for the wicked. Then Jesus says, where there are carcases there will be eagles there also. Eagles are a symbol of Rome and Jerusalem (carcase) was spiritual dead and end up being destroyed.
29-35 After the tribulation which is the dark ages and that ended in 1798, and Jesus does says that those days shall be shortened for the elect sake. 25 years earlier (1773) persecution had almost entirely ceased. Jesus says the sun shall be darkened which occurred on 19th of May 1780. Before the sun was darkened, their was a major earthquake in 1755 known as the Lisbon earthquake. One of the worst earthquake ever recorded. 25 years later we come to the point of 1780 which was the sun being darkened and the moon turning having the appearance of blood. This day was called the dark day. Then the stars fell from heaven which happened in 12th of November 1833 and these are the powers of heaven being shaken, the sun, moon, and stars.
Then the sign of the Son of Man in heaven shall appear. This sign is the appearance of a cloud (Rev 14:14-16; 1 Kings 18:44) which is the coming of Jesus. It looks like a cloud, but as it gets closer to the earth it will appear as a glorious light, getting brighter and brighter and see a retinue to angels and Jesus Himself (EW 35). Then it says all the tribes shall mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The tribes are mentioned in Revelation 7:4-8, the tribes get sealed and verses 1-4 of the same chapter mentions this. So these tribes are those that are sealed with the seal of God then the verse says in Matthew 24:30 they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, which is the Second Coming of Christ. So this is a period before the Second Coming of Christ. It could also mean that those that pierced him (Jesus) which was once part of the tribes, will be eyewitnesses of his coming which is a special resurrection. Jesus told Caiaphas that he will see Him coming in the clouds of heaven 26:64, this interpretation is probably more concise.
Angels with a great sound of a trumpet shall be sent to gather together all the elect from the four winds of heaven. In other words, from all over the world angels will be by the graves of those who love Christ and we will meet for the first time our guardian angels.
Jesus teaches us from nature. When we see leaves, we know that summer is nigh. In the spring time after the winter, leaves start to show in the trees. Jesus uses a fig tree specifically to illustrate His point. Then he compares and says when ye shall see all these things, now that it is near, even at the doors. So what are all these things? then He says this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Once again, what are all these things? When the Second Coming occurs it will be too late to recognize these things. We need to know beforehand.
Increase in false Christ and prophet - 31 A.D. > until the end
Increase in signs and wonders - 31 A.D. > until the end
Sun darkened - May 19, 1780
Moon has no light - May 19, 1780
Stars fall from heaven - November 13, 1833
These signs have appeared, which means Christ is coming for sure without a doubt and it is at hand (DA 632.2). Jesus says that all these things must be fulfilled in that generation before it passes. A generation is around 40 years give or take. He adds that heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. In other words, heaven and earth will pass away before God’s words does (Luke 16:17; Psalms 89:34; 1 Peter 1:25; Isaiah 51:6.)
36-42 No one knows the day and hour of the end of the world and the Second Coming. Jesus also says, not even the angels of heaven know, but only the Father. Jesus then makes some comparison to the days of Noah and Himself. He says as it was in the days of Noah so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Which means we must look at the days of Noah and we can see similarities to our day.
Those days they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until Noah entered into the ark. When Noah entered the ark (Gen 7:16) God shut him in and no one was able to enter into the ark and the people who did not enter knew not that their visitation was coming. Jesus said, the flood came and took them all away and so shall the coming of the Son of man be. Jesus is giving us insight when He mentions Noah and his time leading to the flood which was a "type" and the events leading up to the Second Coming is the "antitype" which means we need to look at the story of Noah to get a understanding of the closing events in earth history.
Noah was building an ark because God told him that a flood is coming to destroy the earth. The wickedness of men was greatly increased in the earth (Gen 6:5-6, 13) and God’s spirit will not always strive with man and God put a limit of 120 years (6:3). This is called the "shut door" theory or doctrine. The Holy Spirit was striving or pleading with the inhabitants of the world to enter the ark. Noah preached a message of righteousness to the world (2 Peter 2:5) which brought in the flood which swept them all away.
So we are to be preaching and building our ark to prepare for a crisis that is coming up on the world. The angels of Revelation 14 is God’s final warning to the world before the great time of trouble enters the world. There will be a close of probation in our time, just like a close of probation in Noah’s time. God has a shut door or a limit on His mercy, but it’s not until the wickedness of men reach a limit and every nation, tongue, and people has to be aware or hear the truth of these angel’s.
When Noah entered the ark, the door of the ark was closed by God and that door no one can open or close except for God. This shut Noah in and it shut the people out. This was the close of probation back then.
"Mercy had ceased its pleadings for the guilty race. The beasts of the field and the birds of the air had entered the place of refuge. Noah and his household were within the ark, "and the Lord shut him in." ... The massive door, which it was impossible for those within to close, was slowly swung to its place by unseen hands. Noah was shut in, and the rejecters of God's mercy were shut out. The seal of Heaven was on that door; God had shut it, and God alone could open it. So when Christ shall cease His intercession for guilty men, before His coming in the clouds of heaven, the door of mercy will be shut. Then divine grace will no longer restrain the wicked, and Satan will have full control of those who have rejected mercy. They will endeavor to destroy God's people; but as Noah was shut into the ark, so the righteous will be shielded by divine power. PP 98.2"
Before the flood came, the antediluvians were living life as if nothing will happen to them because their hearts were set on doing evil. Everything was normal, food was in abundance, drinking, getting married and giving in marriage, (Job 21:7-13; Isaiah 21:12-14; 1 Thess 5:1-3) living life according to their way and not knowing the truth as it is in Jesus. God waited patiently for them (1 Peter 3:20) to repent as the ark was being built. The wicked was prospering and increasing in goods (Psalm 73:3-9, 11-17; Ecc 8:11-13)
In Luke 17:26-30, Jesus also compares the last days to Lot and add more details about how wicked people were living their lives. He adds they were buying, selling, planting and building. (Luke 12:16-21) laying up treasure for thyself and forget God (Deut 6:10-12; 8:12-14).
Those in the last days will continue to live as they please, even when hearing the truth and the warning and probation will close and they won’t even know it. The world will be warned based on 24:14, this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.
The world knew about a flood coming because everyone came to see the ark being built. He never rained before on the earth and Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5; Heb 11:7) which ushered in the flood. So the preaching of the three angel’s messages will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming (2 Thess 1:7-9; 2:8).
Then Jesus says, two will be in the field, the one taken and the other left. There will be two grinding at the mill, the one taken and the other left. In other words, people will be living their normal lives whether it’s working, going school, making money, traveling, or even working for God as a missionary, one will be taken and the other left.
What does this mean one taken and the other left? vs 39 says "the flood came, and took them all away" which means Noah and his family were left. How do we compare this to the Second Coming? When Jesus comes the wicked will be destroyed or "taken" and the righteous will be left.
So two in the field, one taken is the one that perish and the one left is the one that receives life. The one that is left is the one that remains (1 Thess 4:17). While we need to make sure we stay connected to God through His word, prayer, and being a witness, we must be in a constant state of watchfulness, because we know not the hour when our time on earth will close.
43-51 To illustrate the point of watchfulness, Jesus give a parable about a wise and a evil servant. The book of Luke also have details about this parable (Luke 12:35-48) and since Jesus has been talking with His disciples, Peter ask a question, speakest thou this parable unto us or even to all? the answer is in verse 42 of Luke, those that are in rulership/leadership positions. The Pharisees and priest were in leadership positions. Jesus says, in verse 48 "for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and of who men have committed much , of him they will ask the more."
If we know the time of when the thief will come and rob us, we will be watching at that time and not allow our house to be broken into. So we need to be watching and praying because we don’t know when the hour of when the Son of man will come. Which also means we don’t know when we can die.
A wise and faithful servant is a leader who the Lord made a ruler over his household. What household is this? Gen 18:19; Gal 6:10; Eph 2:19, this is your own house along with the church. The church is composed of household or families. The Lord has given the men the role of priest of their household and of the church to give them meat in due season. What meat is this and in what season? 2 Tim 4:2; Isa 50:4; Matt 20:1-7, 11 it is the word of God and the gospel truth for the time. For out time it is the first, second, and third angel messages. Giving this message will be a blessing, because it says when the lord of that servant comes and find him giving the meat (message of the time) in due season, that servant is blessed. That lord will make him ruler over all his goods. This servant is in constant watch and praying (Luke 21:36; Rom 13:11-12; 1 Peter 4:7; Rev 16:15)
There is an evil servant and this servant believes in the coming of the lord but says my lord delays and has not yet come and lives foolishly and treat others unkindly and eat and drink as he pleases and be drunk. The lord of that servant will come in a day when the evil servant is not looking for him and found him wanting. The evil servant will be cut off and his portion of punishment will be with the hypocrites. Because he neglect to watch and pray and got caught up with the world and still thinking he his serving his lord. This servant has neglected fully watchfulness and prayer (Isaiah 56:10-12; Luke 21:34)