Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WHILE THE CHURCH IS HERE IN THE WORLD THE END CANNOT COME UNTIL THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S GRACE IS PREACHED WORLDWIDE.
Matthew 24:3 "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
THE LORD JESUS ANSWERS THE DISCIPLES THREE QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION, "When shall these things be?" - when one stone shall not be left upon another IS NOT ANSWERED IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW. WE FIND IT IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE AND SEGMENTS OF IT IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
MATTHEW DOES NOT INCLUDE IT AS HE PRESENTS THE LORD JESUS AS THE KING.
MATTHEW IS THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM.
THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN AD 70 HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DISTANT FUTURE WHEN THE KING IS COMING.
THEREFORE MATTHEW DOES NOT CARRY THAT PART OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE.
THIS IS THE WAY THE LORD JESUS ANSWERED THE QUESTION IN LUKE'S GOSPEL.
WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE?
Luke 21:20-24 "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
THE ROMANS DEMOLISHED THE CITY.
WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED JERUSALEM IN AD 70, THE FIRST PART OF THE OLIVET DISCOURSE WAS FULFILLED.
THE OTHER TWO QUESTIONS THE LORD JESUS ANSWERS IN CHRONOLOGICAL AND LOGICAL ORDER.
THE FIRST THING THAT THE LORD JESUS DEALS WITH IS
WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGN OF THY COMING AT THE END OF THE WORLD - THE END OF THE AGE?
Matthew 24:9-22 "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; AND THEN SHALL THE END COME.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything of his house; Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: FOR THERE SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, NOR EVER WILL BE. AND EXCEPT THOSE DAYS SHOULD BE SHORTENED, THERE SHOULD NO FLESH BE SAVED: BUT FOR THE ELECTS SAKE, THOSE DAYS SHALL BE SHORTENED."
THE WORLD WILL NEVER COME TO AN END.
THE OLD WORLD WILL PASS AWAY AND THE NEW WORLD WILL BE BROUGHT ON THE SCENE.
THE LORD IS GOING TO TRADE THE OLD WORLD IN FOR A NEW ONE.
BUT THE AGE WILL COME TO AN END AND THE DISCIPLES ASK HIM WHAT SIGN THERE WOULD BE.
THE LORD JESUS REFERS TO HIS RETURN TO THE EARTH TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM.
THE CHURCH IS NOT IN THE PICTURE AT ALL BECAUSE THE CHURCH HAS BEEN REMOVED AT THE RAPTURE.
THE LORD JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE NATION ISRAEL.
HE IS SPEAKING ABOUT THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD.
WHENEVER THE LORD JESUS SAYS "TAKE HEED" HE IS SPEAKING TO THE ENTIRE AGE.
HOWEVER, HERE HE GIVES A WORD OF CAUTION FOR THOSE LIVING ON THE EARTH, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MUCH DECEPTION DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN THE ANTICHRIST APPEARS (2 Peter 2:1).
ISRAEL IS TO BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS.
WE (in our time) ARE TO BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS (Prophets are not for our time).
WE ARE TO TEST ALL TEACHERS BY THE WORD OF GOD.
2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
ONLY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAN MAKE THE WORD OF GOD REAL TO YOUR HEART.
THERE IS TRANSFORMING POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD.
THE LORD JESUS SAYS, "Take heed that no man deceive you."
WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE WORLD TODAY IS JUST "THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS" (Matthew 24:7-8).
WE ARE LIVING IN THE CHURCH AGE OR THE AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT .
THE BIBLE DIVIDES THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD INTO THREE GROUPS.
1) THE JEWS.
2) THE GENTILES.
3) THE CHURCH OF GOD.
1 Corinthians 10:32 "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God."
TODAY GOD IS CALLING OUT A PEOPLE FROM BOTH JEW AND GENTILE TO FORM THE CHURCH.
THIS THIRD GROUP OF PEOPLE - THE CHURCH WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THIS WORLD AT THE RAPTURE AND THEN THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD WILL BEGIN.
THE NATION ISRAEL WILL BE DELIVERED UP TO BE AFFLICTED (anti-Semitism on a world wide scale).
AS LONG AS THE CHURCH IS IN THE WORLD THERE CANNOT BE ANTI-SEMITISM ON A WORLD SCALE BECAUSE THE CHURCH WOULD RESIST IT.
NO TRUE BELIEVER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COULD EVER HATE A JEW. IT IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY.
ANTI-SEMITISM WILL BREAK OUT UPON THIS EARTH AFTER THE CHURCH LEAVES THIS EARTH AT THE RAPTURE.
THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL ENDURE?
GOD IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL SEAL A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THOSE WHOM HE SEALS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO ENDURE.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD --- IN ALL AGES --- WILL BRING HIS OWN SHEEP THROUGH TO THE END.
WHEN THE LORD JESUS STARTS OUT WITH A HUNDRED SHEEP HE WILL COME THROUGH WITH A HUNDRED SHEEP. HE WILL NOT LOSE A SINGLE SHEEP.
The prodigal son of the Father will always return to the Father's house and the pig will always return to the pigpen. We are not able to tell who the true children of God are. It is confusing to find a son in the pigpen and a pig in the Fathers house. Peter tells us
2 Peter 2:22 " ---- and the sow that was washed (has returned) to her walling in the mire."
THE PIG HAS NO JOY IN THE FATHERS HOUSE.
AND THE TRUE CHILD OF GOD WILL NEVER BE HAPPY IN THE PIGPEN.
WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHO THE TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD REALLY ARE.
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS WHAT JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHED.
"REPENT YE, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND" (Matthew 3:1-2).
THE LORD JESUS ALSO BEGAN HIS MINISTRY WITH THAT MESSAGE.
BUT IN MATTHEW 11 WE SEE THAT OUR LORD'S MESSAGE CHANGED.
Matthew 11:28 "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM IS NOT FOR OUR DAY. WE ARE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S GRACE.
BUT DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WILL AGAIN BE PREACHED.
NOW,
IS THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM ANOTHER GOSPEL?
NO.
IT IS THE SAME GOSPEL WITH ANOTHER EMPHASIS.
WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND BECAUSE WE DONT KNOW THAT IT IS.
BUT WHEN THE GREAT TRIBULATION BEGINS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE EARTH WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE CLOSE TO THE END OF THE AGE ALTHOUGH THEY WILL NOT KNOW THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.
THEREFORE, THE MESSAGE WILL BE, "REPENT: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND."
Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nation; and then the end shall come."
GOD HAS NEVER HAD MORE THAN ONE BASIS ON WHICH HE SAVES MEN AND WOMEN.
IN THE VERY BEGINNING, ABEL BROUGHT A LITTLE LAMB TO GOD BECAUSE GOD TOLD HIM TO DO SO.
THE LAMB WAS POINTING TO THE ONE WHO WOULD COME LATER, THE SEED OF THE WOMAN.
THE ONE WHO WOULD TAKE OUR SINS AWAY.
ABEL BROUGHT THE SACRIFICE BY FAITH, RECOGNIZING THAT HE IS A SINNER AND THAT HE NEEDS A SUBSTITUTE. ABEL WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ONE WHO WAS COMING.
JOHN THE BAPTIST NOT ONLY SAID,
"REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND" ( Matthew 3:2).
HE ALSO SAID,
"BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD" (John 1:29).
JOHN THE BAPTIST IDENTIFIED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
BEFORE THE COMING OF CHRIST EVERYONE WHO HAD COME TO GOD ON HIS TERMS, WERE SAVED ON CREDIT.
THEY WERE FORGIVEN ON THE BASIS OF THE DEATH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
GOD NEVER SAVED ANYONE BY LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
AT THE HEART OF THE MOSAIC SYSTEM WAS THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM..
THEY BROUGHT A LAMB TO GOD BECAUSE THE LAW REVEALED THAT THEY WERE LAWBREAKERS.
THEY WERE NOT OBEYING GOD AND THEY NEEDED A SUBSTITUTE TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR THEIR SINS.
THE LAW WAS GIVEN
Romans 3:19 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
EVERY SINGLE PERSON, TOPSIDE OF THIS EARTH IS A LAWBREAKER AND EVERY PERSON NEEDS A SAVIOUR.
THE THING TO DO IS TO RECEIVE CHRIST JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOUR BEFORE HE COMES AS THE SOVEREIGN OF THIS UNIVERSE WHEN HE WILL BE YOUR JUDGE.
WHEN THE GREAT TRIBULATION GETS HERE THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO MATCH IT IN THE PAST OR IN THE FUTURE. ONE THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF THE EARTH WILL BE DESTROYED.
THEN ON ANOTHER OCCASION ONE FORTH OF THE POPULATION IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED.
THE RED HORSE OF WAR, THE BLACK HORSE OF FAMINE AND THE PALE HORSE OF DEATH WILL RIDE AT THAT TIME, AND THE POPULATION OF THE EARTH WILL BE DECIMATED.
TODAY MANY NATIONS HAVE NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES BUT
GOD WILL NEVER ALLOW MANKIND COMMIT SUICIDE.
THIS PERIOD IS GOING TO BE SHORTENED.
These are thoughts that I do trust will encourage you to study the Word of God. It is so exciting to fit the different verses into their time slot. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. HE IS THE ONLY TEACHER OF THE WORD OF GOD AND HE WILL TAKE THE THINGS OF CHRIST JESUS AND SHOW THEM UNTO YOU IF YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK TO KNOW GOD'S PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. JUST SPENDING THE TIME WITH THE LORD JESUS IS MORE WONDERFUL THAN TONGUE CAN TELL. THERE IS NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT CAN EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF SITTING AT JESUS' FEET AND LISTENING TO HIM IN HIS WORD. THE LORD JESUS SAID THAT MARY HAD CHOSEN THE BETTER THING AND IT SHALL NOT BE TAKEN FROM HER."
NOW WE COME TO WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGN OF HIS COMING?
Matthew 24:23-31 "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not: For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
For as the lightening cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For wheresoever the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming, in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
WE ARE TO BE CAREFUL IN OUR DAY OF MIRACLE WORKERS BECAUSE THE NEXT GREAT MIRACLE WORKER WILL BE ANTI-CHRIST AND HIS FALSE PROPHETS.
WHO ARE THE ELECT?
IN THE SCRIPTURES THERE ARE 2 ELECT GROUPS.
THE ELECT OF THE NATION ISRAEL AND THE ELECT OF THE CHURCH.
IT ISN'T POSSIBLE TO FOOL GOD'S CHILDREN ALL OF THE TIME, THEY WILL COME OUT OF A CULT EVENTUALLY.
WHEN THE LORD JESUS COMES TO THIS EARTH AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO ANNOUNCE HIM.
IT WILL BE AS PUBLIC AS LIGHTENING.
EVERYONE WILL KNOW HE IS COMING.
REMEMBER: WHEN HE COMES AGAIN TO THE EARTH, DOES NOT REFER TO THE RAPTURE.
Matthew 24:28 "For wheresoever the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together."
PERHAPS THIS IS REFERRING TO CHRIST'S COMING JUDGEMENT BECAUSE WE READ IN REVELATION 19 ABOUT THE INVITATION THAT WENT OUT TO THE BIRDS TO COME TOGETHER FOR A BANQUET.
THE BIRDS THAT FEED SEEM TO BE AGENTS OF DIVINE JUDGEMENT.
WHEN THE LORD COMES AGAIN HE WILL COME IN JUDGEMENT.
"THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON SHALL NOT GIVE HER LIGHT AND THE STARS WILL FALL FROM HEAVEN."
NOTICE THAT THIS IS TO BE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION.
"THEN SHALL THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN APPEAR IN HEAVEN."
WHEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COMES TO THIS EARTH THE SECOND TIME I BELIEVE THAT HIS SHEKINAH GLORY WILL HOVER OVER THE EARTH BEFORE HE BREAKS THROUGH AND THAT WILL BE "THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN."
THEY SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN THE CLOUDS WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.
THIS IS NOT SPEAKING OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE THE LORD JESUS WILL COME IN PERSON TO RECEIVE HIS OWN AND HIS VOICE WILL SOUND LIKE A TRUMPET. HE WILL NOT NEED ANY HELP TO GATHER HIS CHURCH TOGETHER.
THE ANGELS WILL GATHER ISRAEL.
MINISTERING ANGELS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONNECTED WITH ISRAEL.
THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE
Matthew 24:32-36 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."
THE FIG TREE REPRESENTS ISRAEL. OUR LORD IS USING THE FIG TREE AS A SYMBOL OF THAT LAND.
THIS I BELIEVE REFERS TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE JEWISH RACE (Jeremiah 24).
(Haman was not able to destroy them and neither was Pharaoh and nor did Hitler succeed in his attempts).
NO DICTATOR IN OUR DAY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO EXTERMINATE THE JEWISH RACE. GOD WILL SEE TO THAT.
GOD'S WORD WILL NEVER CHANGE IT WILL STAND THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.
NO MAN OR WOMAN WILL EVER KNOW THE TIME OF HIS RETURN.
CHRIST WILL COME IN A DAY WHICH WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH.
Matthew 24:37-39 "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
The days of Noah were characterized by immorality - every thought of man's imagination was evil continually (Genesis 6:5). These people were eating and drinking but they were not eating and drinking to the glory of God. They were living as if God did not exist. They were living as though the flood would never take place.
THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD JUDGE THEM.
THEY SCORNED THE WARNING THAT A FLOOD WAS IMMINENT.
THE FLOOD CAME AND TOOK THEM ALL AWAY.
AND SO SHALL THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE.
THEY WERE ALL REMOVED - They perished in the flood. This is not referring to the Rapture when the church will be taken out of the world. Rather, this pictures the removing from the earth by judgement those who are not going to enter the millennial kingdom.
Matthew 24:40-51 "Then shall two be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season: Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find him so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
THIS PARABLE REFLECTS THE ATTITUDE OF SOME FOLK IN THAT FUTURE DAY. THEY SHALL SAY, THE LORD DELAYS HIS COMING SO I WILL GO ON LIVING CARELESSLY.
THE LORD WILL JUDGE THAT PERSON.
THIS IS A GREAT PRINCIPLE IN ANY AGE.
AND WE TODAY OUGHT TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ONE DAY.
IF YOU ARE SAVED YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE WAY YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE TO SEE IF YOU WILL RECEIVE A REWARD. YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED FOR SIN.
IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE CHRIST JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOUR, YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOST FOR ALL TIME AND ETERNITY.
THE FOLLOWING PARABLES ENLARGE UPON THE ANSWER OF JESUS.
1) PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS (Matthew 25:1-12).
2) PARABLE OF THE TALENTS (Matthew 25:13-14).
3) JUDGEMENT OF THE NATIONS (Matthew 25:31).
MATTHEW 25 SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COMING OF CHRIST AS IT RELATES TO THESE GROUPS THAT SHALL BE IN THE WORLD.
THE LORD JESUS SPOKE ALL THESE THINGS TO HIS DISCIPLES WHILE HE WAS ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
PRAYERFULLY MEDITATE ON
Revelation 7:4 "And I heard the number of them that were sealed: and they were sealed an hundred and forty four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD THERE IS A GREAT COMPANY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE SAVED.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE SEALED.
THE SEAL GUARANTEES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE DELIVERED.
THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SEAL THEN THEY WOULD NOT MAKE IT.
I am only going to meet the Lord Jesus in the air because the Holy Spirit has sealed me. He is the guarantee that I will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air when He comes to take His own called out body of believers out of this world at the rapture of the church. Will you be at that meeting in the air? Have you been sealed by the Holy Spirit? If not then please ask the Lord Jesus right now to be your Saviour.
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