Matthew 24, Continued
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
|
Lyrics, Chords Tabs Rated
Children's NT Studies
