Today we are beginning a
new study on Bible prophecy.
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Now there are different
ways that we can approach
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the study of Bible prophecy,
particular end time prophecy.
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I want to share some
of those ways with you.
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First of all, we have
the thematic approach.
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How is that a way that
we study Bible prophecy?
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Well, if you look at
the book Last Day Events,
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which was
written by Ellen White,
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you'll notice that each chapter
deals with the successive event
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in end time Bible prophecy.
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So basically what
they do in the book is
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take from the
writings of Ellen White,
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different
aspects of Bible prophecy
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and then they put them
in chronological order.
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You know, we can do the
same thing with the Bible.
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We can take
different, play different texts
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from different
places in the Bible
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and put them in
chronological order,
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how the events will
take place at the very end.
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Another way of
studying Bible prophecy
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is comparing Genesis
with the Book of Revelation.
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You know, I did a series called
Cracking the Genesis Code.
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And I showed there
that the stories of Genesis
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are not only stories,
they are also prophecies.
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For example, Jesus said,
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As it was in the days of Noah,
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so also will it be
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at the coming
of the Son of man."
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He also said,
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"As it was in the days of Lot,
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so will it be at the
coming of the Son of man."
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Genesis 3:15 is developed
throughout all of scripture,
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culminating in
Revelation Chapter 12.
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And we also have the
story of Cain and Abel.
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This story shows in miniature
the great final conflict
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and the issues in the conflict,
which are obedience to God
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and worship the way
that God has commanded.
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Another way that we
can study Bible prophecy
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is through the books
of Daniel and Revelation.
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The problem is
neither one of these books
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is in chronological order,
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which means that we
must study these prophecies
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and look at where in the course
of history each event fits.
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For example, Daniel Chapter
2 is repeated in Daniel 7,
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and that is
repeated in Daniel 8 and 9.
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And then you have
the final development
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in Daniel Chapter 10 through 12.
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So it's not like
you start in Daniel 1:1
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and go through Daniel 12:13,
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and you have all
events in chronological order.
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The Book of
Revelation is even more complex
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because you have foretastes
and you have flashbacks.
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It goes back to history,
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then forward to end time events.
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And so one of the
key factors in studying
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the Book of Revelation
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is decoding the
literary structure of the book.
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So you don't have all
of the end time events
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in chronological order,
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beginning with Revelation 1:1,
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and ending in Chapter 22.
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Another approach
to Bible prophecy is
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through the parables of Jesus.
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You know, a couple of years ago,
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I did an anchor school of
theology here in our studio,
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and we studied
the end time dimension
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of the parables of Jesus.
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As I prepared the
manual or the study notes
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for that class.
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I was amazed at the
number of parables of Jesus
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that have to do
directly with end time events.
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Let me just mention
some of them, the 10 virgins,
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you have the closing
of the door probation
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in that story.
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The talents and the reckoning
of the end, when God looks at
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what we did with the
talents that He gave us.
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We have the parable of
the sheep and the goats,
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which is a portrayal
of the final judgment.
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You have the man who
sneaked into the wedding chamber
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without a garment,
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obviously that refers to
the investigative judgment.
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So, these are
different approaches
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to Bible prophecy.
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You can take the
thematic approach.
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You can take the Book of Genesis
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and look at how it relates
to the Book of Revelation.
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You can study Bible prophecy
from the perspective of Daniel
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and Revelation,
although you have to take a look
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at the structure of each,
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and you can
study end time events
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from the perspective
of the parables of Jesus.
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But there's one particular
way that we're going to look at
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in this series that
we're beginning today,
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and that is studying
end time Bible prophecy
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from the perspective
of Matthew Chapter 24.
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Now Matthew Chapter 24
is especially significant
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when we study Bible prophecy.
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And that is because the chapter
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is in strict
chronological order.
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In other words, all of
the major end time events
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are presented in the way
in which they will transpire
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one event after the other
in strict chronological order.
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So in our class
today, we are going to study
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seven great truths
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about Matthew Chapter 24.
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Point number one,
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the study of Matthew Chapter 24
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is extremely important.
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I want to read a statement
that we find in the book,
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Gospel Workers, page 148.
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This statement
deals with the importance
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of Matthew Chapter 24.
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This is how it reads,
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"The
twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew
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is presented to
me again and again
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as something
that is to be brought
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to the attention of all.
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We are today living in the time
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when the predictions of
this chapter are fulfilling.
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Let our ministers and teachers
explain these prophecies
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to those whom they instruct.
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Let them leave out
of their discourses
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matters of minor importance
and present the truths
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that will decide
the destiny of souls."
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So what are the
main points that we find
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in this particular quotation?
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First of all, Ellen
White saw time and again,
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that Matthew 24
should be carefully studied.
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Then she also said that
the events in Matthew 24
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are in the process
of being fulfilled.
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She counsels our
ministers and teachers
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to explain these prophecies
to those whom they instruct.
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And she also instructed
the teachers and the ministers
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to set aside things
of minor consequence
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and to preach on subjects
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that deal with
the destiny of souls.
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And, of course, she's
dealing with Matthew 24.
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This chapter has something to do
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with the final destiny of souls.
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That's point number one,
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the study and
teaching of Matthew 24
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is of vital importance,
a matter of life and death.
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The second point
that I want to share,
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the second great truth
from Matthew Chapter 24
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is that this chapter
was not written primarily
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for secular people to show
them that the signs of the times
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indicate that the
coming of Jesus is very near.
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The purpose is not
primarily to show unbelievers
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that the events and
the political, economic,
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social and religious world
indicate that the end is near
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and that Jesus is about to
come in the clouds of heaven.
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Now don't get me wrong.
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There's nothing wrong
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with preaching
evangelistic sermons
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using Matthew Chapter 24,
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but the central
purpose of the chapter
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is actually to
keep God's own people
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from being
deceived at the end of time.
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In other words, it is primarily
a message for God's people,
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for those who
profess to follow the Lord,
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rather than a message
for the world at large.
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You say, how do we know that?
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Well, let's take a
look at several verses
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in Chapter 24 of Matthew,
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that show that this is dealing
with God's people specifically.
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I'll repeat once again,
before we read these verses
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that Jesus told His followers
that Satan was going to try
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and deceive them,
discourage them, persecute them
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and kill them, so that
they would lose their faith.
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So the purpose of this chapter
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is to encourage God's
own people to hang in there
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in the midst of
trial and tribulation.
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Now notice the
verses that indicate
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that this chapter
has to do primarily
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with those who profess to
follow and serve the Lord.
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Matthew 24:4,
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this discourse is
being given by Jesus
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to His own disciples.
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They are alone there
on the Mount of Olives,
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and we're told in Matthew 24:4,
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"And Jesus
answered and said to them,
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'Take heed that no
one deceives you.'"
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He's speaking to His disciples,
make sure no one deceives you.
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Then the very next
verse, Matthew 24:5 says,
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"For many will come in My name."
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So you'll notice that
these must be Christians
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because they're
coming in the name of Jesus.
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"So for many will
come in my name saying,
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'I am the Christ,'
and will deceive many.'"
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Jesus is saying, many are going
to come in the name of Jesus,
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and they're
going to deceive many.
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And He's saying
to His disciples,
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make sure that
you are not deceived.
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In Matthew 24:15-16.
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I'm only taking a sampling
of texts from Matthew 24
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that shows that this
chapter is given particularly
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to those who
profess to follow Jesus,
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to keep them
from being deceived,
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to keep them hanging in there.
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Matthew 24:15-16
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speaks about the
abomination of desolation.
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It says,
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"Therefore, when you see
the abomination of desolation
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spoken of by
Daniel, the prophet,
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standing in the holy
place, whoever reads,
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let him understand, then
let those who are in Judea,
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flee to the mountains.
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Let him who is on
the house top not go down
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to take anything
out of his house."
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That's verse 17.
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So those in the city,
when they saw a certain sign,
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they were to flee from the city.
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Now unbelievers would
not know what the sign was,
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but believers would
know what the sign was.
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So once again,
the sign is for those
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who believe in Jesus
so that they don't stay
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in the city and they flee
before the city is destroyed.
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Then you have Matthew 24:23-25.
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Once again, Jesus is
speaking to His disciples.
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We find in 24:23,
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"Then if anyone says to
you," that is to the disciples,
00:11:49.44\00:11:53.41
"look here is the Christ
or there, do not believe it.
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For false christs and
false prophets will rise
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and show great signs
and wonders to deceive
00:12:02.42\00:12:05.85
if possible, even the elect."
00:12:05.89\00:12:10.33
So notice once
again, here, Jesus says,
00:12:10.36\00:12:13.33
if anyone says to
you, here is the Christ.
00:12:13.36\00:12:16.33
Then he says
that Satan's attempt
00:12:16.36\00:12:18.77
is to deceive the very elect.
00:12:18.80\00:12:21.04
And then Jesus finally says,
00:12:21.07\00:12:23.20
I have told you My followers,
My disciples beforehand.
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Now the question
is, who are the elect?
00:12:28.38\00:12:30.78
Well, the elect are those
who have received Jesus Christ
00:12:30.81\00:12:34.12
as Savior and Lord.
00:12:34.15\00:12:35.62
Notice Romans 8:33-34.
00:12:35.65\00:12:40.22
Romans 8:33-34.
00:12:40.26\00:12:43.59
Here the Apostle Paul wrote,
00:12:43.63\00:12:45.33
"Who shall bring a
charge against God's elect?
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It is God who justifies.
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Who is he who condemns?
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It is Christ who died,
and furthermore is also risen,
00:12:53.17\00:12:57.61
who is even at
the right hand of God,
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who also makes
intercession for us."
00:13:00.61\00:13:05.91
So notice, the elect are
those who have been justified,
00:13:05.95\00:13:10.12
and those for whom
Jesus Christ intercedes.
00:13:10.15\00:13:14.26
Now I could show
you in many other places
00:13:14.29\00:13:16.29
in Matthew Chapter 24, as
well as Matthew Chapter 25,
00:13:16.32\00:13:20.20
that the focus of these chapters
00:13:20.23\00:13:22.46
is upon God's people.
00:13:22.50\00:13:24.37
God wants to tell His
people through this sermon,
00:13:24.40\00:13:27.47
don't be deceived.
00:13:27.50\00:13:29.40
Don't give up
when you're persecuted,
00:13:29.44\00:13:31.84
hang in there.
00:13:31.87\00:13:33.94
Now, the third point
that I want to share with you
00:13:33.98\00:13:36.71
is that we must study
all three gospel accounts
00:13:36.75\00:13:42.08
in order to get the full
picture of end time events.
00:13:42.12\00:13:45.85
You see this sermon of
Jesus in Matthew Chapter 24
00:13:45.89\00:13:50.06
is found also in Mark 13,
00:13:50.09\00:13:53.29
as well as in Luke Chapter 21.
00:13:53.33\00:13:56.46
which means that if we
want the total picture,
00:13:56.50\00:13:58.77
we have to look
not only in Matthew 24,
00:13:58.80\00:14:01.60
but also Mark 13, as
well as Luke Chapter 21.
00:14:01.64\00:14:05.81
And you'll say, well,
why do we have to compare
00:14:05.84\00:14:08.24
all three gospels if
it's the same sermon?
00:14:08.28\00:14:11.88
The reason is
because Luke presents details
00:14:11.91\00:14:16.55
that Mark doesn't have.
00:14:16.58\00:14:18.19
And Mark presents details
that Matthew doesn't have.
00:14:18.22\00:14:22.62
In other words, as you
look at all three gospels,
00:14:22.66\00:14:25.93
you get a full
and complete picture
00:14:25.96\00:14:28.90
of what Jesus wanted to
teach regarding end time events.
00:14:28.93\00:14:33.97
Let me give you some examples
of the importance of taking
00:14:34.00\00:14:38.84
all three gospels together.
00:14:38.87\00:14:41.18
Matthew 24:7, reads like this,
00:14:41.21\00:14:45.48
"For nation will
rise against nation,
00:14:45.51\00:14:48.22
and kingdom against kingdom.
00:14:48.25\00:14:50.95
And there will be famines,
00:14:50.99\00:14:53.09
pestilences and
earthquakes in various places."
00:14:53.12\00:14:58.49
So this verse says that
00:14:58.53\00:15:00.10
there are going
to be earthquakes.
00:15:00.13\00:15:03.37
Now, Luke 21:11 has
an additional detail.
00:15:03.40\00:15:07.74
Here Luke recording the sermon
00:15:07.77\00:15:12.17
that Jesus spoke,
wrote the following,
00:15:12.21\00:15:15.98
"And there will
be great earthquakes
00:15:16.01\00:15:20.12
in various places and
famines and pestilences,
00:15:20.15\00:15:23.92
and there will be fearful sights
00:15:23.95\00:15:26.86
and great signs from heaven."
00:15:26.89\00:15:29.79
So notice
Matthew says earthquakes,
00:15:29.82\00:15:33.09
Luke says great earthquakes.
00:15:33.13\00:15:36.53
It might appear to
be an incidental detail,
00:15:36.56\00:15:38.93
but it's important
to get the full picture,
00:15:38.97\00:15:41.74
not only tremors,
but great earthquakes.
00:15:41.77\00:15:46.71
Notice Mark 13:8.
00:15:46.74\00:15:48.78
It has a detail that
Matthew doesn't have.
00:15:48.81\00:15:51.51
It says there in Mark 13:8,
00:15:51.55\00:15:54.65
"For nation will
rise against nation,
00:15:54.68\00:15:57.15
and kingdom against kingdom.
00:15:57.19\00:15:59.52
And there will be
earthquakes in various places
00:15:59.55\00:16:02.46
and there will be famines,"
00:16:02.49\00:16:04.56
and this is from the King
James and the New King James,
00:16:04.59\00:16:07.90
"and troubles."
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.63
That is not in
the Gospel of Matthew
00:16:10.67\00:16:12.87
are in the Gospel of Luke.
00:16:12.90\00:16:14.70
There's going to be troubles.
00:16:14.74\00:16:16.07
Now, what does that word mean?
00:16:16.10\00:16:18.07
According to the
lexicons, it means disturbances.
00:16:18.11\00:16:21.94
In other words, social upheaval,
00:16:21.98\00:16:24.48
such as we are seeing today.
00:16:24.51\00:16:27.18
It is used for
example, in John 5:4 and 7,
00:16:27.22\00:16:32.39
for the troubling of the
waters in the pool of Bethesda.
00:16:32.42\00:16:36.52
In other words, in society,
00:16:36.56\00:16:38.63
there was going
to be disturbances.
00:16:38.66\00:16:40.90
There were going
to be riots and things
00:16:40.93\00:16:44.33
such as we have
been seeing in the world
00:16:44.37\00:16:46.80
in the last few years.
00:16:46.84\00:16:50.11
So Mark 13:8 adds a
detail, which is very important
00:16:50.14\00:16:55.01
in the study of
Matthew Chapter 24.
00:16:55.04\00:16:58.25
Now let's
notice Matthew 24:9-10.
00:16:58.28\00:17:01.85
Matthew 24:9-10.
00:17:01.88\00:17:04.95
This verse says,
00:17:04.99\00:17:07.49
"Then they will deliver you,"
00:17:07.52\00:17:09.32
once again, the
followers of Jesus,
00:17:09.36\00:17:11.53
"up to tribulation and kill you,
00:17:11.56\00:17:14.46
and you will be
hated by all nation
00:17:14.50\00:17:16.80
for My name's sake."
00:17:16.83\00:17:18.23
So those are being persecuted,
00:17:18.27\00:17:19.77
they're Christians because
they have the name of Jesus.
00:17:19.80\00:17:23.41
And then verse 10 says,
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.07
"And then many will be offended,
00:17:25.11\00:17:28.11
will betray one another
and will hate one another."
00:17:28.14\00:17:33.01
So, these two
verses in Matthew 24:9-10
00:17:33.05\00:17:37.32
speaks about tribulation.
00:17:37.35\00:17:39.25
People are going to
rise to kill the faithful.
00:17:39.29\00:17:42.46
The faithful will
be hated by all nations
00:17:42.49\00:17:44.79
for Christ name's sake.
00:17:44.83\00:17:46.90
And then it says that many
will be offended at that time
00:17:46.93\00:17:50.67
and will betray one
another and hate one another.
00:17:50.70\00:17:53.97
Now, it doesn't say
who is going to hate
00:17:54.00\00:17:57.17
who in Matthew 24:9-10.
00:17:57.21\00:18:01.04
This is why it is
helpful for us to take a look
00:18:01.08\00:18:04.41
at the parallel
passage in Mark 13:11-13.
00:18:04.45\00:18:10.29
Luke gives us much
more details as does Mark.
00:18:10.32\00:18:15.09
So let's notice just the Gospel
00:18:15.12\00:18:16.76
of Mark 13:11-13.
00:18:16.79\00:18:22.36
"But when they arrest
you and deliver you up,
00:18:22.40\00:18:26.33
do not worry beforehand,
00:18:26.37\00:18:28.54
or premeditate
what you will speak.
00:18:28.57\00:18:32.17
But whatever is given to
you in that hour, speak that,
00:18:32.21\00:18:36.78
for it is not you who
speak, but the Holy Spirit."
00:18:36.81\00:18:41.32
So notice that God's
people when they are delivered,
00:18:41.35\00:18:44.99
when they're arrested,
00:18:45.02\00:18:46.65
they are going
to be taken before
00:18:46.69\00:18:49.52
political leaders,
00:18:49.56\00:18:50.96
before kings and rulers.
00:18:50.99\00:18:54.00
And they're going to have
to speak what they believe.
00:18:54.03\00:18:58.37
They're going to
have to give testimony.
00:18:58.40\00:19:00.70
And we're told, don't worry
about what you're going to say
00:19:00.74\00:19:03.94
because the Holy Spirit is
going to enlighten your mind
00:19:03.97\00:19:06.61
and tell you what to say.
00:19:06.64\00:19:08.71
And then notice verse 12 tells
us who is going to hate who.
00:19:08.74\00:19:12.81
Matthew Chapter 24 simply
said many will be offended,
00:19:12.85\00:19:16.79
betray one another
and will hate one another.
00:19:16.82\00:19:19.55
Oh, but Mark adds some
very interesting details.
00:19:19.59\00:19:23.26
Verse 12 of
Chapter 13 of Mark says,
00:19:23.29\00:19:26.53
"Now brother will
betray brother to death,
00:19:26.56\00:19:30.97
and a father his child,
00:19:31.00\00:19:33.64
and children will
rise up against parents
00:19:33.67\00:19:37.61
and cause them
to be put to death.
00:19:37.64\00:19:41.48
And you will be hated
by all for my name's sake.
00:19:41.51\00:19:46.45
But he who endures to
the end shall be saved."
00:19:46.48\00:19:49.65
Wow. This adds a lot of details.
00:19:49.68\00:19:52.39
God's people are not only
going to be hated by outsiders.
00:19:52.42\00:19:55.82
It says here brother
will betray brother to death,
00:19:55.86\00:19:59.23
father his child, children
will rise up against parents
00:19:59.26\00:20:03.26
and cause them
to be put to death.
00:20:03.30\00:20:06.10
So the Gospel of Mark tells
us who is going to hate who.
00:20:06.13\00:20:10.37
Matthew simply tells us
that some will be offended
00:20:10.41\00:20:14.18
and will betray one another
and will hate one another.
00:20:14.21\00:20:19.61
Let me give you one more example
00:20:19.65\00:20:21.85
from Matthew Chapter 24,
00:20:21.88\00:20:24.35
where it's important to
compare the other two gospels.
00:20:24.39\00:20:28.42
Notice Matthew 24:15.
00:20:28.46\00:20:32.83
This is referring
to the abomination
00:20:32.86\00:20:36.36
of desolation.
00:20:36.40\00:20:37.93
It says there,
Jesus is speaking,
00:20:37.97\00:20:41.17
"Therefore when you see
00:20:41.20\00:20:43.47
the 'abomination of desolation,'
00:20:43.51\00:20:46.41
spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
00:20:46.44\00:20:49.51
standing in the holy place."
00:20:49.54\00:20:53.25
So notice the
abomination of desolation,
00:20:53.28\00:20:55.62
standing in the holy place,
00:20:55.65\00:20:57.82
"Whoever reads,
let him understand."
00:20:57.85\00:21:01.36
Now, Mark phrases,
it a little different,
00:21:01.39\00:21:04.29
very similar, but just a
detail, which is different.
00:21:04.33\00:21:08.26
Mark 13:14 says,
00:21:08.30\00:21:11.97
"So when you see
00:21:12.00\00:21:13.34
the 'abomination of desolation,'
00:21:13.37\00:21:15.37
spoken of by
Daniel the prophet,"
00:21:15.40\00:21:18.01
and instead of saying
standing in the holy place,
00:21:18.04\00:21:21.24
it says,
00:21:21.28\00:21:22.61
"standing where it ought not."
00:21:22.64\00:21:25.65
So Matthew says
standing in the holy place,
00:21:25.68\00:21:28.45
and Mark says
standing where it ought not.
00:21:28.48\00:21:31.79
Let the reader understand.
00:21:31.82\00:21:33.62
Let them, let those
who are in Judea flee
00:21:33.66\00:21:37.69
to the mountains.
00:21:37.73\00:21:39.36
Now Luke
presents what Jesus said
00:21:39.39\00:21:43.26
in a totally different light.
00:21:43.30\00:21:45.27
It says in Luke 21:20,
00:21:45.30\00:21:48.70
"But when you see
Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
00:21:48.74\00:21:54.01
then know that its
desolation is near."
00:21:54.04\00:21:57.28
So the abomination of desolation
00:21:57.31\00:21:59.68
is when armies surrounded
the city of Jerusalem.
00:21:59.71\00:22:03.18
Amazing.
00:22:03.22\00:22:04.62
So when you
compare all three gospels,
00:22:04.65\00:22:07.72
you'll find that the
abomination of desolation
00:22:07.76\00:22:10.36
stands in the holy
place where it should not.
00:22:10.39\00:22:13.63
And the
abomination of desolation
00:22:13.66\00:22:15.76
is when Jerusalem
was surrounded by armies.
00:22:15.80\00:22:21.07
Now we need to notice in
Luke 21:20 several details.
00:22:21.10\00:22:26.17
First of all,
00:22:26.21\00:22:27.54
the holy place is an
area outside the city walls.
00:22:27.58\00:22:31.71
You say, how do we know that?
00:22:31.75\00:22:33.31
Well, because it says,
00:22:33.35\00:22:34.68
when you see
Jerusalem surrounded by armies.
00:22:34.72\00:22:37.52
So the abomination of desolation
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.19
is outside the city walls.
00:22:39.22\00:22:41.69
Secondly, we
noticed that the abomination
00:22:41.72\00:22:43.89
of desolation is
the siege of Jerusalem,
00:22:43.93\00:22:47.73
not the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:22:47.76\00:22:49.46
That desolation
is the destruction.
00:22:49.50\00:22:51.73
The abomination is something
00:22:51.77\00:22:53.70
that can be seen
before the destruction.
00:22:53.74\00:22:57.91
Now let's notice
point number four
00:22:57.94\00:23:00.68
in our initial study
on Matthew Chapter 24.
00:23:00.71\00:23:05.28
Point number four
is that Matthew 24
00:23:05.31\00:23:07.62
has a two-fold fulfillment.
00:23:07.65\00:23:11.22
In other words, it
has a dual fulfillment,
00:23:11.25\00:23:14.22
one in the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:23:14.26\00:23:16.83
and the other in
events that will take place
00:23:16.86\00:23:19.89
at the very end of time.
00:23:19.93\00:23:21.70
You say, how do we know this?
00:23:21.73\00:23:23.77
Well, we need to
go to Matthew 24:1-3.
00:23:23.80\00:23:29.44
Let's begin at verse 1.
00:23:29.47\00:23:31.87
"Then Jesus went out and
departed from the temple."
00:23:31.91\00:23:36.04
So Jesus for the last
time departs the temple.
00:23:36.08\00:23:40.32
"And His disciples
came up to show Him
00:23:40.35\00:23:43.85
the buildings of the temple."
00:23:43.89\00:23:46.29
Undoubtedly, very impressive.
00:23:46.32\00:23:48.69
Some of those stones
weighed 50 to 60 tons.
00:23:48.72\00:23:54.70
They were huge.
00:23:54.73\00:23:56.33
And so the disciples
want to impress Jesus.
00:23:56.36\00:23:59.33
They show Him the
buildings of the temple,
00:23:59.37\00:24:02.20
as if Jesus had never seen
the buildings of the temple.
00:24:02.24\00:24:05.17
Verse 2,
00:24:05.21\00:24:06.54
"And Jesus said to them,
00:24:06.57\00:24:08.34
'Do you not see
all these things?
00:24:08.38\00:24:11.41
Assuredly, I say to you,
not one stone shall be left
00:24:11.45\00:24:16.85
here upon another that
shall not be thrown down."
00:24:16.89\00:24:22.22
And now the
disciples are really surprised.
00:24:22.26\00:24:25.06
They're saying, not one
stone of this massive temple
00:24:25.09\00:24:28.66
is going to
remain upon the other.
00:24:28.70\00:24:30.87
What did Jesus mean?
00:24:30.90\00:24:33.03
So now they're going to
ask Jesus two questions.
00:24:33.07\00:24:36.10
This is
important. Two questions.
00:24:36.14\00:24:38.51
Let's go to verse 3.
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.48
"Now as He sat on
the Mount of olives,
00:24:40.51\00:24:43.14
the disciples came
to Him privately saying,
00:24:43.18\00:24:46.51
'Tell us, when
will these things be?"
00:24:46.55\00:24:51.05
What were they
referring to when they said,
00:24:51.09\00:24:52.75
when will these things be?
00:24:52.79\00:24:54.99
They were
referring to the destruction
00:24:55.02\00:24:57.53
of the temple, but now
they ask another question.
00:24:57.56\00:25:01.93
And the second question
is also found in verse 3.
00:25:01.96\00:25:05.50
"And what will be
the sign of Your coming
00:25:05.53\00:25:09.24
and of the end of the
age or the end of the world?"
00:25:09.27\00:25:13.38
So they're
saying, what is the sign
00:25:13.41\00:25:14.88
of the destruction of the temple
00:25:14.91\00:25:16.71
and what will be
the sign of the end,
00:25:16.75\00:25:18.61
end of the age
and of Your coming.
00:25:18.65\00:25:22.32
Now, the disciples understood
that both of these events
00:25:22.35\00:25:24.95
would happen at the same time.
00:25:24.99\00:25:27.06
Jesus understood
that they would not happen
00:25:27.09\00:25:29.16
at the same time.
00:25:29.19\00:25:30.53
So what Jesus
did was He actually
00:25:30.56\00:25:34.33
used the destruction
of Jerusalem as a symbol,
00:25:34.36\00:25:37.93
a type or an illustration
of a greater destruction
00:25:37.97\00:25:42.84
to take place
at the end of time.
00:25:42.87\00:25:46.21
Now I want to
read several statements
00:25:46.24\00:25:49.04
and there are many of them,
00:25:49.08\00:25:50.61
and I want to read them to
make a very important point.
00:25:50.65\00:25:53.52
You see, we've already
noticed in Matthew 24:1-3,
00:25:53.55\00:25:57.79
there are two
questions, two events,
00:25:57.82\00:26:00.82
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:26:00.86\00:26:02.42
and of the age,
or end of the world.
00:26:02.46\00:26:04.76
Jesus is going to
take the destruction
00:26:04.79\00:26:06.83
of Jerusalem as a
type or a small scale model
00:26:06.86\00:26:10.50
of the events that will lead up
00:26:10.53\00:26:12.10
to the destruction of the world.
00:26:12.13\00:26:14.10
Ellen White makes this clear
repeatedly in her writings.
00:26:14.14\00:26:17.37
I want to read several of these.
00:26:17.41\00:26:19.87
Last Day Events, page 18.
00:26:19.91\00:26:24.15
Christ forewarned His disciples
of the destruction of Jerusalem
00:26:24.18\00:26:29.68
and the signs to take
place prior to the coming
00:26:29.72\00:26:34.36
of the Son of man.
00:26:34.39\00:26:36.93
And then she states
this very important detail.
00:26:36.96\00:26:40.60
"The whole of the
twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew
00:26:40.63\00:26:46.10
is a prophecy
concerning the events
00:26:46.13\00:26:48.54
to precede this event."
00:26:48.57\00:26:51.07
What event?
00:26:51.11\00:26:52.44
Well, she just said,
the signs to take place
00:26:52.47\00:26:55.51
prior to the
coming of the Son of man.
00:26:55.54\00:26:58.35
So she says the
whole chapter of Matthew 24
00:26:58.38\00:27:02.15
is a prophecy
concerning the events
00:27:02.18\00:27:04.52
to precede this event.
00:27:04.55\00:27:07.66
And the destruction of
Jerusalem is used to typify
00:27:07.69\00:27:13.13
the last great destruction
of the world by fire.
00:27:13.16\00:27:17.87
So she's saying
that the destruction
00:27:17.90\00:27:19.27
of Jerusalem is a type
of a greater destruction
00:27:19.30\00:27:22.97
at the end of time.
00:27:23.00\00:27:24.34
The events that led up to
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:27:24.37\00:27:27.14
are types of
events that will lead up
00:27:27.18\00:27:30.05
to the destruction of the world.
00:27:30.08\00:27:32.98
Great Controversy, page 25,
00:27:33.01\00:27:35.72
"The prophecy, which he uttered
was twofold in its meaning,
00:27:35.75\00:27:42.32
while foreshadowing the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:27:42.36\00:27:46.03
it prefigured also the
terrors of the last great day."
00:27:46.06\00:27:51.30
So notice it had
a twofold meaning.
00:27:51.33\00:27:55.37
The destruction of
Jerusalem prefigured
00:27:55.40\00:27:59.11
the terrors of
the last great day.
00:27:59.14\00:28:01.94
Desire of Ages, page 743,
00:28:01.98\00:28:05.71
"From the fall of
Jerusalem the thoughts of Jesus
00:28:05.75\00:28:09.28
passed to a wider judgment.
00:28:09.32\00:28:12.65
In the destruction
of the impenitent city,
00:28:12.69\00:28:16.26
He saw a symbol of
a final destruction
00:28:16.29\00:28:20.46
to come upon the world."
00:28:20.50\00:28:23.37
So notice she says
that the destruction
00:28:23.40\00:28:26.20
of Jerusalem typifies
the destruction of the world,
00:28:26.23\00:28:29.40
the prophecy has
a twofold meaning,
00:28:29.44\00:28:31.54
the destruction of
Jerusalem prefigured
00:28:31.57\00:28:33.98
the terrors of
the last great day.
00:28:34.01\00:28:37.15
Chapter 24 points
to a wider judgment.
00:28:37.18\00:28:40.08
He saw in the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:28:40.12\00:28:41.58
a symbol of the
final destruction.
00:28:41.62\00:28:44.55
Here's another one,
Desire of Ages, page 628.
00:28:44.59\00:28:48.92
"Jesus did not
answer His disciples
00:28:48.96\00:28:51.29
by taking up separately,
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:28:51.33\00:28:55.60
and the great
day of His coming."
00:28:55.63\00:28:57.20
In other words, Jesus
didn't say these are the signs
00:28:57.23\00:28:59.13
that lead up to the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:28:59.17\00:29:01.40
and these are the
signs that lead up
00:29:01.44\00:29:02.84
to the destruction of the world.
00:29:02.87\00:29:04.21
No. She continues.
00:29:04.24\00:29:05.67
"He mingled the
description of these two events.
00:29:05.71\00:29:11.48
Had he opened future
events to His disciples
00:29:11.51\00:29:14.12
as He beheld them,
00:29:14.15\00:29:15.55
they would have been
unable to endure the sight.
00:29:15.58\00:29:18.95
In mercy to them He blended."
00:29:18.99\00:29:21.12
Notice, she used
the word mingled.
00:29:21.16\00:29:23.49
Now she says,
00:29:23.53\00:29:24.86
"In mercy to them He blended
00:29:24.89\00:29:27.00
the description of
the two great crises,
00:29:27.03\00:29:29.86
leaving the disciples to study
out the meaning for themselves.
00:29:29.90\00:29:34.27
When He referred
00:29:34.30\00:29:35.64
to the destruction of Jerusalem,
00:29:35.67\00:29:37.41
His prophetic words
reached beyond that event
00:29:37.44\00:29:41.54
to the final
conflagration in that day,
00:29:41.58\00:29:44.78
when the Lord shall
rise out of His place
00:29:44.81\00:29:47.25
to punish the
world for their inequity,
00:29:47.28\00:29:49.68
when the earth
shall disclose her blood
00:29:49.72\00:29:52.35
and shall no
more cover her slain."
00:29:52.39\00:29:55.02
And then comes this statement.
00:29:55.06\00:29:57.39
"The entire discourse, not part,
00:29:57.43\00:30:01.96
the entire discourse was given
not for the disciples only,
00:30:02.00\00:30:07.14
but for those who
should live in the last scenes
00:30:07.17\00:30:12.54
of this earth's history."
00:30:12.57\00:30:15.61
Here's another one.
Great Controversy, page 22.
00:30:15.64\00:30:19.45
"Christ saw in
Jerusalem a symbol of the world
00:30:19.48\00:30:24.95
hardened in
unbelief and rebellion,
00:30:24.99\00:30:28.26
and hastening on to meet
00:30:28.29\00:30:30.09
the retributive
judgments of God."
00:30:30.13\00:30:34.00
In Great Controversy, page 22,
00:30:34.03\00:30:35.83
she wrote,
00:30:35.86\00:30:37.20
"Jesus, looking down to
the last generation saw,"
00:30:37.23\00:30:42.94
listen carefully now,
00:30:42.97\00:30:44.31
"saw the world
involved in a deception similar
00:30:44.34\00:30:48.08
to that which caused the
destruction of Jerusalem."
00:30:48.11\00:30:51.38
In other words, the
sin of the world at the end
00:30:51.41\00:30:53.08
is similar to the sin that was
committed by the Jewish nation.
00:30:53.11\00:30:56.08
You say, what is the similarity?
00:30:56.12\00:30:58.19
She continues,
00:30:58.22\00:30:59.55
"The great sin of the Jews
00:30:59.59\00:31:01.66
was the rejection of Christ.
00:31:01.69\00:31:04.39
The great sin of
the Christian world
00:31:04.43\00:31:06.59
would be their
rejection of the law of God,
00:31:06.63\00:31:09.56
the foundation of his government
00:31:09.60\00:31:11.37
in heaven and earth."
00:31:11.40\00:31:12.73
You say, well, those
are two different sins,
00:31:12.77\00:31:15.00
rejecting Christ and rejecting
His law are two different sins.
00:31:15.04\00:31:18.27
No, they're not.
00:31:18.31\00:31:19.64
You see the law is a reflection
of Christ's character.
00:31:19.67\00:31:22.84
So how can you say I
reject the reflection
00:31:22.88\00:31:25.48
of Christ's
character and not say
00:31:25.51\00:31:27.58
that you're rejecting
Christ at the same time?
00:31:27.62\00:31:30.99
The law is a
written demonstration
00:31:31.02\00:31:35.92
of what the
character of Christ is alike.
00:31:35.96\00:31:38.09
So how can you say I love Jesus,
00:31:38.13\00:31:40.80
but the law was
nailed to the cross?
00:31:40.83\00:31:43.40
It just doesn't make sense.
00:31:43.43\00:31:44.77
It's basically the same
idea to reject Jesus in person,
00:31:44.80\00:31:49.10
as it is to
reject the reflection
00:31:49.14\00:31:51.41
of His
character in His holy law.
00:31:51.44\00:31:55.04
Great Controversy, page 36,
00:31:55.08\00:31:57.45
"The Savior's prophecy
00:31:57.48\00:31:59.45
concerning the visitation
of judgments upon Jerusalem
00:31:59.48\00:32:03.05
is to have another fulfillment
00:32:03.08\00:32:06.79
of which that
terrible desolation was,
00:32:06.82\00:32:09.52
but a faint shadow."
00:32:09.56\00:32:10.89
Now, if you want to see
how terrible Jerusalem was,
00:32:10.93\00:32:12.86
just read Josephus's
works, Wars of the Jews,
00:32:12.89\00:32:18.07
or read the first chapter
of the book, Great Controversy.
00:32:18.10\00:32:22.07
You say how can
anything be worse
00:32:22.10\00:32:24.54
than what Ellen White
describes in that chapter
00:32:24.57\00:32:26.78
on the destruction of Jerusalem?
00:32:26.81\00:32:28.24
And yet Ellen
White is saying here
00:32:28.28\00:32:30.21
that what happened in Jerusalem
00:32:30.25\00:32:31.65
was, but a faint shadow
of what's going to happen
00:32:31.68\00:32:35.12
at the end of time.
00:32:35.15\00:32:36.69
She continues,
00:32:36.72\00:32:38.05
"In the fate of the chosen city,
00:32:38.09\00:32:40.06
we may behold
the doom of a world
00:32:40.09\00:32:43.49
that has rejected God's mercy
and trampled upon His law."
00:32:43.53\00:32:49.06
A couple of more statements.
00:32:49.10\00:32:50.77
This one is Thoughts
from the Mount of Blessing,
00:32:50.80\00:32:53.17
pages I20 and 1 21.
00:32:53.20\00:32:56.50
"The ruin of Jerusalem
was a symbol of the final ruin
00:32:56.54\00:33:00.28
that shall overwhelm the world.
00:33:00.31\00:33:02.61
The prophecies that
received a partial fulfillment
00:33:02.64\00:33:07.02
in the overthrow of Jerusalem
have a more direct application
00:33:07.05\00:33:12.52
to the last days.
00:33:12.55\00:33:14.26
We are now
standing on the threshold
00:33:14.29\00:33:16.46
of great and solemn events.
00:33:16.49\00:33:18.56
A crisis is before for us,
00:33:18.59\00:33:20.43
such as the world
has never witnessed."
00:33:20.46\00:33:23.93
And then I'll give you
one final one on this point,
00:33:23.97\00:33:27.07
Testimonies to
Ministers, page 232.
00:33:27.10\00:33:31.71
"The warnings of that
Christ gave to Jerusalem
00:33:31.74\00:33:35.31
were not to end with them.
00:33:35.34\00:33:38.35
The judgments upon
Jerusalem were a symbol
00:33:38.38\00:33:42.58
of the events of Christ coming
to judgment in the last day,
00:33:42.62\00:33:47.89
when, before Him shall
be gathered all nations.
00:33:47.92\00:33:51.16
He shall send His angels
with a great sound of a trumpet,
00:33:51.19\00:33:54.93
and they shall gather together
His elect from the four winds
00:33:54.96\00:33:59.13
from one end of
heaven to the other."
00:33:59.17\00:34:03.67
So clearly the destruction
of Jerusalem and the events
00:34:03.71\00:34:07.68
that led up to this
particular event symbolizes
00:34:07.71\00:34:12.38
what is going to happen
at the very end of time.
00:34:12.41\00:34:15.22
I review what
Ellen White states,
00:34:15.25\00:34:17.55
she says the
whole chapter has to do
00:34:17.59\00:34:20.56
with the Second
Coming of Christ.
00:34:20.59\00:34:22.19
The destruction
of Jerusalem typifies
00:34:22.22\00:34:24.36
what is going to take place.
00:34:24.39\00:34:25.96
The prophecy has
a twofold meaning.
00:34:25.99\00:34:28.06
The destruction of
Jerusalem prefigured
00:34:28.10\00:34:30.00
the terrors of the last day.
00:34:30.03\00:34:31.77
The destruction of Jerusalem
pointed to a wider judgment.
00:34:31.80\00:34:35.04
The destruction of
Jerusalem was a symbol
00:34:35.07\00:34:37.67
of the destruction of the world.
00:34:37.71\00:34:39.44
He mingled, He blended
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:34:39.47\00:34:42.68
with what's going to
happen at the end of time.
00:34:42.71\00:34:45.25
The entire discourse has to do
with end time events and so on.
00:34:45.28\00:34:50.95
So clearly Matthew Chapter 24
00:34:50.99\00:34:54.59
has a dual fulfillment.
00:34:54.62\00:34:57.99
In other words, it pointed
to the destruction of Jerusalem
00:34:58.03\00:35:01.90
in the year 70 and to the events
00:35:01.93\00:35:03.83
that led up to
that particular event.
00:35:03.87\00:35:06.43
And it also on a larger scale
00:35:06.47\00:35:09.54
points to the final
destruction of the world.
00:35:09.57\00:35:14.28
Now, point number
five in our study,
00:35:14.31\00:35:16.88
and let's just review the points
00:35:16.91\00:35:18.31
that we've studied so far.
00:35:18.35\00:35:19.78
First of all, the
prophecy of Matthew 24
00:35:19.81\00:35:22.58
is of vital importance.
00:35:22.62\00:35:24.05
We must study it
and we must teach it.
00:35:24.09\00:35:26.79
Secondly, it's a message
for God's own professed people.
00:35:26.82\00:35:31.53
The primary purpose is
not for the world in general,
00:35:31.56\00:35:34.03
not for the secular,
although we can use it
00:35:34.06\00:35:36.40
to show that the signs indicate
that Jesus is coming soon.
00:35:36.43\00:35:39.90
The purpose of the
chapter is to get God's people
00:35:39.93\00:35:42.34
to hang in there and to not
be deceived, not to give up.
00:35:42.37\00:35:45.97
Point number three,
00:35:46.01\00:35:47.41
we must study all
three gospels together.
00:35:47.44\00:35:50.75
Matthew 24, Mark 13
and Luke Chapter 21.
00:35:50.78\00:35:55.58
Point number four, Matthew
24 has a twofold fulfillment.
00:35:55.62\00:36:01.09
Now let's go to
point number five.
00:36:01.12\00:36:03.49
And this one is
particularly important.
00:36:03.53\00:36:07.20
The events of Matthew 24
00:36:07.23\00:36:10.10
are in strict
chronological order.
00:36:10.13\00:36:13.80
So if you want to know what
the order of end time events
00:36:13.84\00:36:17.64
is going to be, you have
them in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:36:17.67\00:36:21.68
it's different than
the parables of Jesus
00:36:21.71\00:36:23.75
that each parable
deals with a different aspect
00:36:23.78\00:36:26.15
of end time events.
00:36:26.18\00:36:27.85
It's different than
studying Genesis and Revelation
00:36:27.88\00:36:30.12
because the Genesis
stories touch different elements
00:36:30.15\00:36:32.75
of end time events.
00:36:32.79\00:36:34.39
So you have to
put all of the stories
00:36:34.42\00:36:36.39
in the chronological order
in which the events will occur.
00:36:36.42\00:36:40.66
So, the unique way of
studying Matthew Chapter 24
00:36:40.70\00:36:45.50
is the fact that the chapter
is in chronological order.
00:36:45.53\00:36:49.90
And you say, well,
Pastor Bohr, how do you know
00:36:49.94\00:36:51.74
that Matthew Chapter 24
is in chronological order?
00:36:51.77\00:36:55.18
Well, because of
several temporal expressions
00:36:55.21\00:36:59.05
that are used in the chapter.
00:36:59.08\00:37:02.28
Let's notice several of these.
00:37:02.32\00:37:05.75
In fact, let's look at all
of the temporal expressions
00:37:05.79\00:37:09.56
in this chapter.
00:37:09.59\00:37:10.99
Matthew 24:6,
00:37:11.03\00:37:14.60
"And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars.
00:37:14.63\00:37:18.73
See that you are not troubled,
00:37:18.77\00:37:20.60
for all these
things must come to pass,
00:37:20.64\00:37:23.44
but the end is not yet."
00:37:23.47\00:37:25.81
Then notice verse 7,
00:37:25.84\00:37:27.41
"For nation will
rise against nation,
00:37:27.44\00:37:29.58
and kingdom against kingdom.
00:37:29.61\00:37:31.35
And there will be
famines, pestilences,
00:37:31.38\00:37:33.68
and earthquakes
in various places."
00:37:33.72\00:37:35.92
Now comes a temporal expression.
00:37:35.95\00:37:37.62
"All these are the
beginning of sorrows."
00:37:37.65\00:37:41.36
Then we have a very
important little word
00:37:41.39\00:37:44.39
that is used
throughout the chapter.
00:37:44.43\00:37:46.06
In fact, it's used nine
times in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:37:46.09\00:37:49.73
Mark and Luke only
used the word four times,
00:37:49.76\00:37:52.87
but in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:37:52.90\00:37:55.37
you have this little
word used nine times.
00:37:55.40\00:37:58.24
It is a temporal expression.
00:37:58.27\00:37:59.61
What is it?
00:37:59.64\00:38:00.98
It's the word, then.
00:38:01.01\00:38:03.24
It translates
the Greek word tote.
00:38:03.28\00:38:06.38
What does tote mean?
00:38:06.41\00:38:08.65
I'm going to read from
the exegetical dictionary
00:38:08.68\00:38:10.99
of the New Testament.
00:38:11.02\00:38:12.35
This is the definition.
00:38:12.39\00:38:14.26
Tote means in the
sense of thereafter
00:38:14.29\00:38:18.53
introduces that
which follows temporarily.
00:38:18.56\00:38:22.53
In other words,
this happens then this,
00:38:22.56\00:38:25.13
then this, and then this.
00:38:25.17\00:38:27.27
In other words,
00:38:27.30\00:38:28.64
events that occur
in chronological order.
00:38:28.67\00:38:33.21
Let's notice verse
9, this word is used.
00:38:33.24\00:38:36.58
After saying that the
wars and rumors of wars,
00:38:36.61\00:38:40.42
nation against nation,
kingdom against kingdom,
00:38:40.45\00:38:43.08
famines,
pestilences and earthquakes
00:38:43.12\00:38:44.85
in various places and saying
00:38:44.89\00:38:46.92
that this is the
beginning of sorrows,
00:38:46.96\00:38:49.16
verse 9 begins by saying then.
00:38:49.19\00:38:52.06
In other words,
there's a relationship
00:38:52.09\00:38:53.43
between all these
disasters in society
00:38:53.46\00:38:56.03
and what happens in verse 9.
00:38:56.06\00:38:58.83
"Then they will deliver you
up to tribulation and kill you,
00:38:58.87\00:39:02.47
and you will be hated by
all nations for My name's sake."
00:39:02.50\00:39:06.51
And then in verse 10,
you have the word again.
00:39:06.54\00:39:09.34
And then, that is
when people are delivered
00:39:09.38\00:39:12.51
by their enemies to death.
00:39:12.55\00:39:14.28
It says,
00:39:14.32\00:39:15.65
"Then many will be offended,
00:39:15.68\00:39:17.42
will betray one another
and will hate one another."
00:39:17.45\00:39:19.79
In other words,
00:39:19.82\00:39:21.16
many are going
to forsake the face
00:39:21.19\00:39:22.66
as a result of persecution.
00:39:22.69\00:39:24.99
Then we notice in verse 11,
00:39:25.03\00:39:28.06
"Then many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many."
00:39:28.10\00:39:32.23
In fact, many, we're
going to notice in our study
00:39:32.27\00:39:34.24
that many of those
who forsook the message
00:39:34.27\00:39:37.57
when persecution came,
they then became false prophets
00:39:37.61\00:39:41.24
to accuse God's faithful
people before tribunals,
00:39:41.28\00:39:45.11
before political leaders.
00:39:45.15\00:39:47.42
And then I want you
to notice, we're also,
00:39:47.45\00:39:49.12
we're noticing where
the word then is used.
00:39:49.15\00:39:51.19
Verse 14,
00:39:51.22\00:39:52.75
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:39:52.79\00:39:54.79
will be
preached in all the world
00:39:54.82\00:39:56.73
as a witness to all the nations
and then the end will come."
00:39:56.76\00:40:01.26
So you notice you have
the preaching of the gospel,
00:40:01.30\00:40:03.40
then you have the end.
00:40:03.43\00:40:06.23
Notice also verse 19,
the word then is not used,
00:40:06.27\00:40:10.74
but you have a
temporal expression.
00:40:10.77\00:40:13.94
Actually let's go to verse 15.
00:40:13.98\00:40:16.08
It says,
00:40:16.11\00:40:17.45
"Therefore when you see
00:40:17.48\00:40:18.81
the 'abomination of desolation,'
00:40:18.85\00:40:20.18
spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
00:40:20.22\00:40:21.75
standing in the holy place,
00:40:21.78\00:40:23.28
whoever reads,
let him understand."
00:40:23.32\00:40:25.19
So you, when you see the
abomination of desolation,
00:40:25.22\00:40:27.36
it says, then let
those who are in Judea flee
00:40:27.39\00:40:31.69
to the mountains.
00:40:31.73\00:40:33.06
So notice once again, the
word then, the flight comes
00:40:33.09\00:40:36.73
when the sign is seen,
once again, chronological order.
00:40:36.77\00:40:41.34
Then we go to verse 19.
00:40:41.37\00:40:44.27
It says,
00:40:44.31\00:40:45.64
"But woe to
those who are pregnant
00:40:45.67\00:40:47.38
and those who are nursing babies
00:40:47.41\00:40:49.58
in those days
that is in the days
00:40:49.61\00:40:52.15
of the great tribulation
when God's people fled."
00:40:52.18\00:40:55.55
And then verse 21
uses the word then again,
00:40:55.58\00:40:58.39
"For then there will
be great tribulation,
00:40:58.42\00:41:01.39
such as has not been
since the beginning of the world
00:41:01.42\00:41:04.53
until this time
no, nor ever shall be."
00:41:04.56\00:41:08.46
So notice, you have the
sign, God's people flee.
00:41:08.50\00:41:13.27
And then you have
not only the tribulation,
00:41:13.30\00:41:16.81
which was mentioned in verse
9, but the great tribulation.
00:41:16.84\00:41:22.74
And then I want you
to notice verse 21 again.
00:41:22.78\00:41:26.31
"Then there will be great
tribulation such has not been
00:41:26.35\00:41:30.72
since the beginning of the world
00:41:30.75\00:41:32.09
until this time,
no, nor ever shall be."
00:41:32.12\00:41:36.06
And then in the
midst of the tribulation,
00:41:36.09\00:41:38.73
after the tribulation begins,
after God's people have fled,
00:41:38.76\00:41:42.26
it says in verse 20, verse 23,
00:41:42.30\00:41:48.17
it says,
00:41:48.20\00:41:49.54
"Then if anyone says to you,
00:41:49.57\00:41:51.47
'Look, here is the Christ!'
or 'There!' do not believe it.
00:41:51.51\00:41:54.84
For false christs and
false prophets will rise
00:41:54.88\00:41:56.95
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive
00:41:56.98\00:41:58.91
if possible, even the elect."
00:41:58.95\00:42:01.18
You know, Ellen
White describes this
00:42:01.22\00:42:03.65
as the counterfeit
Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
00:42:03.69\00:42:07.46
Satan is going to counterfeit
the Second Coming of Jesus.
00:42:07.49\00:42:10.13
It's spoken of in 2
Thessalonians Chapter 2.
00:42:10.16\00:42:14.00
So notice, you have the
abomination of desolation,
00:42:14.03\00:42:17.77
which is the
sign, God's people flee.
00:42:17.80\00:42:20.80
Then there is a
great tribulation.
00:42:20.84\00:42:22.80
And in the midst
of the tribulation,
00:42:22.84\00:42:24.51
then Satan is
going to counterfeit
00:42:24.54\00:42:27.64
the Second Coming of Christ.
00:42:27.68\00:42:30.21
That's verses 23
through verse 27.
00:42:30.25\00:42:35.15
And then interestingly
in verse 28, it says,
00:42:35.18\00:42:37.99
"For wherever the carcass is,
00:42:38.02\00:42:39.62
there the eagles will
be gathered together."
00:42:39.65\00:42:41.72
We'll deal with
that a little bit later.
00:42:41.76\00:42:44.43
Notice verse 29
00:42:44.46\00:42:46.29
immediately after the
tribulation of those days.
00:42:46.33\00:42:49.13
Notice again, this is taking
place as a chain of events
00:42:49.16\00:42:53.30
in chronological order.
00:42:53.34\00:42:54.80
"Immediately after the
tribulation of those days,
00:42:54.84\00:42:57.57
the sun will be darkened,
00:42:57.61\00:42:58.94
and the moon will
not give its light,
00:42:58.97\00:43:00.61
the stars will fall from heaven,
00:43:00.64\00:43:02.34
and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken."
00:43:02.38\00:43:05.85
Verse 30, here is
once again the same word.
00:43:05.88\00:43:08.35
"Then the sign of the Son of Man
00:43:08.38\00:43:11.15
will appear in the heaven
00:43:11.19\00:43:12.52
and then all the
tribes of the earth will mourn
00:43:12.55\00:43:16.29
and they will see the Son of Man
00:43:16.32\00:43:18.59
coming on the clouds of heaven."
00:43:18.63\00:43:20.70
Then it says in verse 31,
00:43:20.73\00:43:22.06
"And He will send His angels
00:43:22.10\00:43:24.13
with a great sound of a trumpet,
00:43:24.17\00:43:26.03
and they will gather together
His elect from the four winds
00:43:26.07\00:43:29.47
from one end of
heaven to the other."
00:43:29.50\00:43:33.51
Clearly Matthew 24
presents end time events
00:43:33.54\00:43:38.31
in chronological order.
00:43:38.35\00:43:41.62
So let's go now
to point number six,
00:43:41.65\00:43:45.69
particularly
important this point.
00:43:45.72\00:43:48.46
If you want the best commentary
that has ever been written
00:43:48.49\00:43:52.26
on Matthew Chapter 24,
you need to read the book,
00:43:52.29\00:43:56.56
the Great
Controversy by Ellen White.
00:43:56.60\00:44:00.17
You'll see Matthew Chapter
24 begins with the destruction
00:44:00.20\00:44:03.94
of Jerusalem and it ends
with the coming of Christ.
00:44:03.97\00:44:08.78
If you read the
book, Great Controversy,
00:44:08.81\00:44:10.91
you'll find that the first
chapter of Great Controversy
00:44:10.95\00:44:14.18
is the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:44:14.22\00:44:17.52
And the closing event is
the Second Coming of Christ
00:44:17.55\00:44:21.92
and the millennium,
but the great controversy
00:44:21.96\00:44:25.89
fills in many gaps with
details between the great events
00:44:25.93\00:44:31.63
that are mentioned
in Matthew Chapter 24.
00:44:31.67\00:44:35.00
The book Great Controversy
is also in chronological order.
00:44:35.04\00:44:39.94
In other words, it begins with
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:44:39.97\00:44:42.98
Then it moves throughout
the course of church history
00:44:43.01\00:44:45.81
and it comes to end time events,
00:44:45.85\00:44:47.78
the deceptions of Satan
and the Second Coming of Jesus
00:44:47.82\00:44:51.29
and the taking of
His people to heaven
00:44:51.32\00:44:53.72
and then after
that, the millennium.
00:44:53.76\00:44:56.09
So if you want
to fill in the gaps
00:44:56.12\00:45:01.43
of the great prophetic events,
00:45:01.46\00:45:03.20
the sequence of prophetic events
00:45:03.23\00:45:05.03
that we find in
Matthew Chapter 24,
00:45:05.07\00:45:07.17
you need to read the
book, the Great Controversy,
00:45:07.20\00:45:10.37
because that is a commentary
00:45:10.41\00:45:12.94
on Matthew Chapter 24.
00:45:12.97\00:45:18.41
By the way, if you want to
get a copy of Great Controversy,
00:45:18.45\00:45:21.68
when you watch
this presentation,
00:45:21.72\00:45:23.69
I would encourage you to get
in touch with Secrets Unsealed.
00:45:23.72\00:45:27.19
We have plenty of
Great Controversies on hand,
00:45:27.22\00:45:31.39
and you can get a copy from us.
00:45:31.43\00:45:35.20
The final point,
point number seven
00:45:35.23\00:45:37.67
is that when Matthew 24
00:45:37.70\00:45:40.24
uses the word you,
00:45:40.27\00:45:43.81
it's not referring only
to the original recipients
00:45:43.84\00:45:47.61
of the sermon of Jesus.
00:45:47.64\00:45:49.54
You see the you there
applies to God's people
00:45:49.58\00:45:54.42
at all times in history
till the very end of time.
00:45:54.45\00:45:58.19
You'll notice that
in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:45:58.22\00:46:00.56
the word you is
used very frequently.
00:46:00.59\00:46:03.43
Let's notice verse 4,
00:46:03.46\00:46:05.93
"Take heed that
no one deceives you."
00:46:05.96\00:46:10.23
Then you have verse 6,
00:46:10.27\00:46:11.87
"You will hear of
wars and rumors of wars."
00:46:11.90\00:46:15.64
Then you have in verse 9,
00:46:15.67\00:46:17.24
"Then they will
deliver you up to tribulation."
00:46:17.27\00:46:21.41
Then you have verse 15,
00:46:21.44\00:46:23.14
"Therefore, when you see
the abomination of desolation."
00:46:23.18\00:46:27.35
Then you have verse 20.
00:46:27.38\00:46:29.62
It says,
00:46:29.65\00:46:30.99
"And pray that your flight
00:46:31.02\00:46:32.42
may not be in
winter or on the Sabbath."
00:46:32.45\00:46:35.46
Verse 23,
00:46:35.49\00:46:36.86
"Then if anyone says to you,
00:46:36.89\00:46:39.23
here is the Christ or
there, do not believe it."
00:46:39.26\00:46:42.10
Verse 25,
00:46:42.13\00:46:44.10
"See, I have
told you beforehand,
00:46:44.13\00:46:47.37
verse 26,
00:46:47.40\00:46:48.74
therefore if they say to you,
00:46:48.77\00:46:50.77
look, he is in the desert."
00:46:50.81\00:46:52.71
Then you have verse 33.
00:46:52.74\00:46:55.68
It says,
00:46:55.71\00:46:57.05
"So you also, when you
see all these things know
00:46:57.08\00:47:00.22
that is near,
even at the doors."
00:47:00.25\00:47:02.85
Verse 42,
00:47:02.88\00:47:04.55
"Watch therefore,
for you do not know
00:47:04.59\00:47:07.12
what hour the Lord is coming."
00:47:07.16\00:47:09.32
And verse 44,
00:47:09.36\00:47:10.93
"Therefore you also be ready
00:47:10.96\00:47:13.09
for the Son of man
is coming at an hour
00:47:13.13\00:47:15.46
you do not expect.
00:47:15.50\00:47:18.33
So who does the
you refer to here?
00:47:18.37\00:47:21.90
Does it refer
only to the disciples
00:47:21.94\00:47:24.34
and the events that led up
to the destruction of Jerusalem
00:47:24.37\00:47:27.64
or does it apply to all
Christians at all times?
00:47:27.68\00:47:32.71
Folks, it applies to
all Christians at all times.
00:47:32.75\00:47:36.28
The fact that Jesus spoke
it directly to His disciples
00:47:36.32\00:47:39.62
doesn't mean
that it does not apply
00:47:39.65\00:47:42.39
to all of God's
people at the end of time.
00:47:42.42\00:47:45.66
Let me give you some examples
00:47:45.69\00:47:47.10
of where Jesus used the word you
00:47:47.13\00:47:49.50
and Christians have
no problem in saying
00:47:49.53\00:47:51.80
that the you applies to
all Christians of all time.
00:47:51.83\00:47:56.64
Matthew 28:18-20
00:47:56.67\00:48:00.08
has what is known as
the baptismal formula.
00:48:00.11\00:48:04.88
There Jesus said, once
again, verse 18, Matthew 28,
00:48:04.91\00:48:08.78
"And Jesus came and
spoke to them, saying...
00:48:08.82\00:48:12.22
Who is He speaking to?
00:48:12.25\00:48:13.89
To the disciples, right?
00:48:13.92\00:48:16.02
"All authority has been given
to me in heaven and on earth.
00:48:16.06\00:48:20.73
Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations,
00:48:20.76\00:48:24.73
baptizing them in
the name of the Father
00:48:24.77\00:48:27.37
and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,
00:48:27.40\00:48:30.01
teaching them to
observe all things
00:48:30.04\00:48:32.17
that I have commanded you,
and lo, I am with you always,
00:48:32.21\00:48:37.15
even to the end of the age."
00:48:37.18\00:48:39.25
Amen.
00:48:39.28\00:48:40.68
Did Jesus give
the great commission
00:48:40.72\00:48:42.55
only to His 12 disciples?
00:48:42.58\00:48:45.29
Well, it says, He
spoke to them and He says,
00:48:45.32\00:48:49.42
"I have commanded you."
00:48:49.46\00:48:51.43
So it must apply
only to the disciples.
00:48:51.46\00:48:53.90
Of course not.
00:48:53.93\00:48:55.26
It applies to all
Christians at all times.
00:48:55.30\00:48:59.07
Notice John 14:1-3.
00:48:59.10\00:49:03.67
Jesus in the previous chapter
has just told His disciples
00:49:03.71\00:49:07.54
that He's going to leave.
00:49:07.58\00:49:09.61
And Peter says,
00:49:09.64\00:49:10.98
"Well, I want to go with you."
00:49:11.01\00:49:12.35
Jesus says,
00:49:12.38\00:49:13.72
"Well, Peter, you
can't go with me now,
00:49:13.75\00:49:15.72
but you will follow Me later."
00:49:15.75\00:49:17.39
And Peter says,
00:49:17.42\00:49:18.75
"I don't want to
follow You later.
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.12
I want to go with You now."
00:49:20.16\00:49:22.69
And so the
disciples are very troubled
00:49:22.72\00:49:25.36
by the idea that
Jesus is going to leave them
00:49:25.39\00:49:27.63
because they had spent
three and a half years with Him.
00:49:27.66\00:49:30.20
They loved Him.
00:49:30.23\00:49:31.57
They couldn't
conceive of even a minute
00:49:31.60\00:49:33.70
living without being
in the presence of Christ.
00:49:33.74\00:49:36.54
So Jesus knew that
they were troubled.
00:49:36.57\00:49:38.67
So we find this,
00:49:38.71\00:49:40.04
this famous
passage in John 14:1-3,
00:49:40.08\00:49:44.65
let not, he's
speaking to the disciples.
00:49:44.68\00:49:46.38
"Let not your heart be troubled,
00:49:46.41\00:49:49.38
you believe in God,
00:49:49.42\00:49:51.42
believe also in Me.
00:49:51.45\00:49:53.29
In my Father's
house are many mansions,
00:49:53.32\00:49:55.89
if it were not so,
I would have told you,
00:49:55.92\00:49:58.39
I go to prepare a place for you.
00:49:58.43\00:50:02.30
And if I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:50:02.33\00:50:05.67
I will come again and
receive you to Myself,
00:50:05.70\00:50:08.97
that where I am,
there you may be also."
00:50:09.00\00:50:11.97
So only the disciples are going
to be in the kingdom, right?
00:50:12.01\00:50:15.88
Of course not.
00:50:15.91\00:50:17.65
We take this promise as applying
00:50:17.68\00:50:19.51
to all Christians of all ages.
00:50:19.55\00:50:22.75
Jesus promises to take
all of His people to heaven.
00:50:22.78\00:50:26.86
Not only those whom
He addressed at first.
00:50:26.89\00:50:31.66
Let me give you
another couple of examples,
00:50:31.69\00:50:34.50
John 16:1-2,
00:50:34.53\00:50:38.73
Jesus says to His disciples,
00:50:38.77\00:50:41.30
"These things I
have spoken to you
00:50:41.34\00:50:45.54
that you should
not be made to stumble.
00:50:45.57\00:50:50.31
They will put you out
of the synagogues, yes,
00:50:50.35\00:50:54.62
the time is coming that
whoever kills you will think
00:50:54.65\00:50:58.75
that he offers God service."
00:50:58.79\00:51:01.19
So here's my question.
00:51:01.22\00:51:03.12
Is this saying that
only the faithful believers
00:51:03.16\00:51:07.06
who existed in
the times of Christ
00:51:07.10\00:51:11.10
would be put out
of the synagogues
00:51:11.13\00:51:13.90
or does this passage
also tell us that at the end,
00:51:13.94\00:51:19.81
faithful believers
will be cast out of churches
00:51:19.84\00:51:24.28
because we don't
gather today in synagogues,
00:51:24.31\00:51:26.88
we got gather in churches.
00:51:26.92\00:51:29.42
Obviously these
verses that describe
00:51:29.45\00:51:33.76
persecution
apply to all Christians
00:51:33.79\00:51:37.99
of all ages.
00:51:38.03\00:51:39.93
You know, Jesus raised
up a prayer to His Father
00:51:39.96\00:51:42.90
in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:51:42.93\00:51:44.60
It's actually on the way
to the Garden of Gethsemane
00:51:44.63\00:51:47.87
And this prayer is found
00:51:47.90\00:51:51.24
in John Chapter 17,
00:51:51.27\00:51:54.01
it's His great
intercessory prayer
00:51:54.04\00:51:56.21
for His disciples.
00:51:56.24\00:51:57.58
He said, I want them to be one,
Father as you and I are one,
00:51:57.61\00:52:01.78
but He not only prayed
these words for His disciples
00:52:01.82\00:52:05.85
because John 17:20-21 tells us
00:52:05.89\00:52:11.06
that Jesus prayed this
prayer for all who would believe
00:52:11.09\00:52:16.50
as a result of the
testimony of His disciples.
00:52:16.53\00:52:19.43
It says in John 17:20-21,
00:52:19.47\00:52:23.07
"I do not pray for these alone,
00:52:23.10\00:52:26.41
but also for those
who will believe in Me
00:52:26.44\00:52:30.98
through their word,
00:52:31.01\00:52:32.61
that they all may be one as you,
00:52:32.65\00:52:36.28
Father, are in Me and I in you,
that they also may be one in Us
00:52:36.32\00:52:41.82
that the world may
believe that You sent Me."
00:52:41.86\00:52:46.86
So notice that
Christ's intercessory prayer
00:52:46.90\00:52:49.76
applies not only to
the original recipients,
00:52:49.80\00:52:53.60
to the disciples,
00:52:53.64\00:52:54.97
but also to all
believers of all ages.
00:52:55.00\00:52:59.94
So these are the
seven introductory points
00:52:59.97\00:53:03.01
to the study of
Matthew Chapter 24.
00:53:03.04\00:53:06.61
We have many other things
00:53:06.65\00:53:08.42
that we're going
to take a look at.
00:53:08.45\00:53:10.65
I mean, it's amazing
00:53:10.69\00:53:12.25
as you look at the sequence
of events in this chapter.
00:53:12.29\00:53:16.32
It points out in
detail the great events
00:53:16.36\00:53:20.96
that will take
place one after another
00:53:21.00\00:53:24.87
at the end of time.
00:53:24.90\00:53:27.27
We're going to take a look
at how it applied to events
00:53:27.30\00:53:30.57
that led up to the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:53:30.61\00:53:33.01
And then we're going to take up
00:53:33.04\00:53:34.98
the study of how
these events foreshadowed
00:53:35.01\00:53:38.48
or typified greater global
events at the end of time.
00:53:38.51\00:53:43.69
So let's review the seven points
00:53:43.72\00:53:46.69
that we have studied today.
00:53:46.72\00:53:49.19
Number one, the
study of Matthew 24
00:53:49.22\00:53:53.50
is of vital importance.
00:53:53.53\00:53:56.23
Ellen White was
shown this again and again,
00:53:56.26\00:53:59.30
the signs of Matthew 24
fulfilling according to her.
00:53:59.33\00:54:02.97
Ministers and
teachers instruct people
00:54:03.00\00:54:06.14
using Matthew Chapter 24,
00:54:06.17\00:54:08.48
and preachers should leave
off things of minor consequence
00:54:08.51\00:54:12.15
and preach on things that will
determine the destiny of souls
00:54:12.18\00:54:16.82
in this case, Matthew 24.
00:54:16.85\00:54:19.55
Secondly, Matthew
24 is directed at those
00:54:19.59\00:54:24.66
who claim to
believe in Jesus Christ.
00:54:24.69\00:54:28.10
The focus is not on
the secular on the world.
00:54:28.13\00:54:30.83
Although we can use
this chapter in evangelism
00:54:30.87\00:54:34.17
to show the world
that the signs indicate
00:54:34.20\00:54:37.17
that the coming
of Jesus is near.
00:54:37.21\00:54:39.11
But the main focus
is that God's people
00:54:39.14\00:54:42.14
hang in there,
they stay faithful
00:54:42.18\00:54:44.31
and they are not deceived
by Satan at the end of time.
00:54:44.35\00:54:48.68
Then our third point is
that we must take a look
00:54:48.72\00:54:53.19
at all three accounts.
00:54:53.22\00:54:55.92
We must look at
Matthew Chapter 24,
00:54:55.96\00:54:58.69
Mark Chapter 13
and Luke Chapter 21,
00:54:58.73\00:55:02.53
because Mark
and Luke add details
00:55:02.56\00:55:05.03
that we don't find
in Matthew Chapter 24.
00:55:05.07\00:55:09.74
Then we noticed
that Matthew Chapter 24
00:55:09.77\00:55:12.61
has a dual fulfillment.
00:55:12.64\00:55:14.84
In other words, it was fulfilled
00:55:14.88\00:55:17.28
in the destruction of Jerusalem
00:55:17.31\00:55:18.91
and the events
that led up to that.
00:55:18.95\00:55:21.48
And it will have a
greater global fulfillment
00:55:21.52\00:55:24.75
in the events that lead up
00:55:24.79\00:55:26.52
to the final
destruction of the world.
00:55:26.55\00:55:30.13
We also noticed, and
this is point number five,
00:55:30.16\00:55:33.29
that the events
of Matthew Chapter 24
00:55:33.33\00:55:36.26
are in strict
chronological order.
00:55:36.30\00:55:39.93
One event follows
the previous event.
00:55:39.97\00:55:43.24
Then there's
another event after that one
00:55:43.27\00:55:45.41
and another
event after that one,
00:55:45.44\00:55:47.64
beginning with the
destruction of Jerusalem
00:55:47.68\00:55:50.18
and ending with the
destruction of the world,
00:55:50.21\00:55:53.28
the Second Coming of Jesus
00:55:53.31\00:55:55.28
and the gathering
together of His elect.
00:55:55.32\00:55:59.45
That's why it's
wonderful to study this chapter
00:55:59.49\00:56:01.52
because everything is
in chronological order.
00:56:01.56\00:56:04.26
It's different
than studying prophecy
00:56:04.29\00:56:06.19
from other perspectives
00:56:06.23\00:56:07.63
where you have to
kind of take and collage
00:56:07.66\00:56:09.96
the different events
in different passages,
00:56:10.00\00:56:12.33
and then put them
in chronological order.
00:56:12.37\00:56:14.87
Point number six, is
that the best commentary
00:56:14.90\00:56:18.31
on Matthew 24 is in the
book the Great Controversy
00:56:18.34\00:56:22.94
written by Ellen White.
00:56:22.98\00:56:24.58
By the way, that book has
00:56:24.61\00:56:26.58
almost 700 pages
00:56:26.61\00:56:31.09
and it's commenting on
one particular chapter.
00:56:31.12\00:56:34.22
Of course, it has
many other Bible verses
00:56:34.26\00:56:36.29
corroborating the points,
00:56:36.32\00:56:37.93
but the chronology
of Great Controversy
00:56:37.96\00:56:41.56
is the same
sequence of the main events
00:56:41.60\00:56:44.70
that we find in
Matthew Chapter 24.
00:56:44.73\00:56:47.27
So if you want to
get the full picture
00:56:47.30\00:56:50.61
of all of the events that occur
00:56:50.64\00:56:52.84
between the great events
that are in chronological order,
00:56:52.87\00:56:56.81
you need to get a copy of
the book Great Controversy,
00:56:56.85\00:57:00.05
have Matthew 24, Mark
13 and Luke 21 on one side,
00:57:00.08\00:57:03.99
have Great
Controversy on the other side
00:57:04.02\00:57:06.15
and see where the
book Great Controversy
00:57:06.19\00:57:08.42
fills in the gaps
between the great events
00:57:08.46\00:57:12.03
that are described
in Matthew Chapter 24.
00:57:12.06\00:57:16.50
The final point is
that when Matthew 24
00:57:16.53\00:57:20.47
uses the word you,
it is not referring only
00:57:20.50\00:57:24.47
to the original disciples,
00:57:24.51\00:57:26.34
to the 12, it's
referring to all Christians.
00:57:26.37\00:57:30.48
In other words, all
Christians are in danger
00:57:30.51\00:57:34.28
of giving up when
persecution comes.
00:57:34.32\00:57:36.92
All Christians are in danger
of being deceived by Satan.
00:57:36.95\00:57:41.39
All danger, all
believers are tempted
00:57:41.42\00:57:45.49
to throw in the
towel and to give up.
00:57:45.53\00:57:48.13
But the purpose of the chapter
00:57:48.16\00:57:49.93
is that God's people should
remain faithful, watchful.
00:57:49.96\00:57:55.30
They should pray,
and they should work
00:57:55.34\00:57:58.37
knowing that the
coming of Jesus is near.
00:57:58.41\00:58:01.88
Thank you for being with us.
00:58:01.91\00:58:03.35
I look forward to a
fuller study of this chapter.
00:58:03.38\00:58:06.28