Matthew 24, Continued by West End Church of Christ

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Matthew 24, Continued Jesus said to His disciples, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall 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 on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:29-30). Last Sunday, on this very program, we discussed the verses preceding this passage. Today we will conclude this study and explain very clearly what Jesus meant by this intriguing language. Please stay tuned. But first, the West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen minute sermons each Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge, but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the most important issue of this life and of eternity. We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study begins at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. We have classes for all ages in which the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today. At 10 each Sunday morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's Supper. Sunday evening we assemble for worship at 6 p.m. and mid-week Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. With little question, these verses have been subjected to the strangest kind of applications. Taken in context, and in keeping with the nature of the language itself, there is nothing that should baffle or mislead us. The context, as shown clearly is Jesus reply to questions asked of Him by His own disciples. The first part of the chapter tells us that as Jesus showed them the city and the magnificent temple, He also prophesied that the city would be destroyed, the temple utterly pulverized. This is clear from the companion passages. Luke's account has Jesus saying, "But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. Then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe unto them that are with child and to those that nurse children in those days! For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem (notice now friends) shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Luke 22:20-24). There can be no doubt, by those who claim to believe the Bible, that the Lord described and prophesied the fall of Jerusalem. The slaughter of the Jews in Jerusalem was horrendous. The Jewish historian Josephus claimed that one million one hundred thousand people were slain during the siege of Jerusalem. That siege lasted two years and then the Roman army under the command of Titus marched through the city and crushed it with great bloodshed. It was indeed a tragedy. But we must remember that Jesus point was to forewarn His disciples so that they could escape this horrible doom. But this all focuses on verse 34. Whatever one may say about Matthew 24, Jesus emphatically affirmed, "This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished." These things embrace all those signs He had said they were to look for. Let's go back for a moment to some of those signs in particular. 1. Jesus mentioned the "Sign of the Son of Man" which they would see in the sky. The companion passages in Mark and Luke omit the word sign. They say simply that the Son of Man would be seen in the sky "coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Are we to understand this as the second coming of Christ? It is impossible, for verse 34 (remember?) affirms that all this was to occur during the life time of that generation of people. You see, the expression "coming on the clouds" is indicative of Christ's ascension to the Father. It does not necessarily mean His return from heaven. Listen to these Old Testament words from the prophecy of Daniel. "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one which shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14). There is no need for us to conclude that since Jesus spoke of His coming on the clouds, that He meant coming back from Heaven. What Daniel prophesied was yet in the future to the time Jesus spoke. So, when Jesus ascended back to the right hand of God, the disciples witnessed His "coming on the clouds" back to God's own right hand. Luke reported, "And when He had said these things, as they were looking, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9). Peter then affirmed, "This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we are all witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He hath poured forth this which ye see and hear" (Acts 2:33). So, Jesus said that one sign to look for was His coronation 2. Jesus also said that "the sun shall 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" (verse 29). It is much more sensible to take this as a figurative expression than to apply it literally to the center of our universe coming all apart. There is a type of biblical language called apocalyptic language. It is the kind that uses images of catastrophe and cataclysmic measure to describe catastrophic and cataclysmic events. Take the statement of the prophet Isaiah as he spoke God's denunciation of Babylon. He described Babylon's fall as, "For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth and the moon will not cause to shine" (Isaiah 13:10). Very clearly, friends, there is no way this could be a literal statement. The late Foy E. Wallace, Jr., wrote, "The signs in the heavens, the darkening sun and falling stars, refer to the falling of Jewish dignitaries, casting down of authorities and powers, long established, and signified the darkness that settled upon the Jewish state, as in the case of Babylon." God's Prophetic Word, page 212. 3. Then the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the sky cannot mean His second coming. Since the tribulation means that horrible experience of slaughter in Jerusalem by the Roman army, the sign of the coming events served to warn the disciples. Notice verse 33, "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near." What is near? Why the impending destruction of the Temple, the city, and the people in Jerusalem. Just on the face of it, this cannot mean the end of time. Jesus said that those signs would mean that the calamity was near. Those in the city were warned to flee and to pray that their flight be not on the Sabbath day or in winter. The reason for that was simple. Sabbaths back then meant clogged streets and roads. Winter meant difficulty in travel, especially with families. He said that the difficulties of fleeing for safety would be compounded for those with babies. So, clearly the whole passage, up to verse 34 identifies the fall of Jerusalem and not the end of time. When the end of the world comes, there will be no forewarning sign or indication. Listen very carefully to Jesus. "But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only" (Verse 36). Some modern day prophets claim to know more than either angel of Christ know. We are only told to be ready always for the end of this world, at all times, at all seasons. One of the most common ways inspired writers speak of the end of time is that it will come "as a thief in the night." There will be no warning. Listen again, "But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:34-36). Let me urge you to simply ignore modern day speculators and prophets who conjure up all sorts of theories about the end of time and spend your days and nights preparing to meet the Lord, and be found in Him, not having spot or blemish, but to be saved on His terms. To that end, I urge you to hear His word now, believe in Him as your Lord, repent of your past life of sin, confess His unspeakably lovely name and be baptized for the remission of your sins. That is the only thing that will get you into Him where you may be found when He comes again. If you have any question at all about this topic, or if you would like extra study materials on it, contact us. You can write us at West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Dr., Bowling Green, KY. 42101. Until the next time we have this opportunity to be with you by radio, may God richly bless you and yours. Good bye. Radio Sermon, No. 55