Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: SMTF
Program Code: SMTF000001
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00:35 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:37 Our Father in heaven, we thank you so much 00:39 for the privilege of being here and we ask 00:42 that as we open your Holy Word and begin this series 00:46 on this very important chapter of your Holy Word, 00:49 that your Holy Spirit will be here 00:50 to guide us, to instruct us. 00:54 Father, we need Your wisdom. 00:56 We realize that we're living 00:58 in a very trying and difficult time. 01:00 But everything has been revealed beforehand, 01:03 so we have no reason to fear. 01:06 As we study this great prophecy, 01:08 we ask that You will comfort us 01:10 and give us assurance because we ask it 01:12 in the precious name of Jesus, your beloved Son. Amen. 01:19 As I mentioned in my prayer, during this series 01:22 we are going to study the prophecy of Matthew Chapter 24. 01:27 And I'd like to give you just a little bit of background 01:30 about where this story is found 01:32 particularly in the Gospel of Matthew. 01:36 The story of the Olivet Discourse 01:40 is found in between the moment 01:43 when Jesus left the Jewish temple for the last time 01:47 and the moment when Jesus entered His final trials 01:51 and tribulations in Gethsemane and eventually 01:55 was taken to the cross of Calvary. 01:58 So basically Matthew 24 and 25, 02:01 we're gonna be studying both chapters 02:03 are found in between Jesus leaving 02:06 the Jewish temple for the last time 02:09 and when Jesus began his very severe trials 02:13 in the Garden of Gethsemane in Pilate's court, 02:16 in Herod's court and finally 02:20 as He was taken to the cross of Calvary. 02:23 Now in our study today, we're going to look 02:25 at seven great facts about the prophecy of Matthew Chapter 24. 02:32 And so, I hope you brought your Bibles 02:34 because we're going to be reading extensively 02:37 from the scripture as we look at these 02:40 seven great truths about Matthew Chapter 24. 02:46 The first thing that I want to underline, 02:48 the first great fact about Matthew 24 is that it has 02:52 a very, very important message for God's people, 02:57 who are living in these last days. 03:01 I'd like to read a statement that we find in the book 03:03 "Gospel Workers," it is a book which emphasizes 03:09 the methods that God's workers need to have 03:13 as they go out to the field 03:15 and reach other people for Jesus Christ. 03:18 In this book, "Gospel Workers," page 148, 03:23 we find these words written by Ellen White. 03:27 She says this, "The twenty-fourth chapter 03:32 of Matthew is presented to me again and again as something 03:39 that is to be brought to the attention of all." 03:44 Notice, again and again, she says that it was brought 03:48 to her attention that Matthew 24 03:50 needs to be studied by God's people. 03:54 She continues saying, "We are today living in the time 03:58 when the predictions of this chapter are fulfilling." 04:04 We got to notice that there's a twofold 04:06 application to Matthew 24. 04:09 It was fulfilled and it will be fulfilled once again. 04:13 She continues saying, "Let our ministers and teachers 04:19 explain these prophecies to those whom they instruct. 04:24 Let them leave out of their discourses, 04:27 matters of minor consequence and present the truths 04:32 that will decide the destiny of souls." 04:37 So very clearly, this prophecy has 04:39 something to do with the destiny of souls. 04:43 It is of critical importance according to her 04:47 that ministers and teachers focus on this chapter, 04:51 because the scenes are fulfilling as we speak. 04:55 And she says that again and again, 04:57 God showed her that this chapter 05:00 needs to be carefully studied by God's people. 05:03 So the first great fact about Matthew 24 is that this chapter 05:08 is of extreme importance for God's people. 05:11 Ministers and teachers need to focus on it, 05:14 because this chapter is being fulfilled before our very eyes. 05:19 And the destiny of souls 05:21 depends on the content of this chapter. 05:25 Now the second great fact that I want to focus on, 05:29 is the purpose why God gave Matthew Chapter 24. 05:34 You know, usually in evangelism, 05:37 when we use this chapter to preach to other people, 05:41 we try and emphasize that this chapter was given primarily 05:46 so that the people out in the world, 05:48 when they see the signs that are taking place in the world 05:51 they can know that Jesus is going to come very, very soon. 05:56 In fact, many times we think that this chapter was addressed 06:00 primarily to those who do not belong to the church. 06:04 But the fact is that this chapter 06:06 was not given primarily for the unchurched. 06:10 This chapter was not given primarily for those 06:13 who--secular people who are outside the church 06:16 and who have no interest in religion. 06:19 You know, you tell them by reading Matthew 24 06:22 that the signs that are mentioned here 06:24 show them that Jesus is coming soon. 06:27 Many of them have not even accepted Jesus as their savior 06:30 and they know very little about Jesus. 06:34 So the purpose of this chapter was not to convince 06:37 the worldlings or to convince the secular people 06:40 that Jesus is coming soon. 06:42 The purpose of the chapter is far greater than that. 06:47 It is actually targeted to God's professed people 06:51 and for a very specific reason. 06:53 You're saying, "Well, what is that reason?" 06:56 The fact is, that Jesus knew that Satan 06:59 was going to do his utmost to deceive, 07:03 discourage, persecute and kill his followers. 07:08 And Jesus wanted to warn His followers about this 07:12 so that their faith could grow and so that they would 07:15 not be carried away by the devil's deceptions. 07:19 I want to read three verses from Matthew 24 itself 07:22 where we see this purpose of this chapter. 07:26 In other words, the purpose of Matthew 24 07:28 is that God's people not be deceived by Satan, 07:33 either by false teachings or by persecution 07:38 or by the threat of death. 07:41 In Matthew 24:4, we find these words. 07:46 And Jesus is speaking to His disciples, 07:48 we need to focus on that. 07:49 Here Jesus is speaking to His disciples, 07:53 "And Jesus answered and said to them." 07:58 Notice He's not speaking to the world at large, 08:00 He's speaking to His disciples. 08:03 "Take heed that no one deceives you." 08:09 Who is in danger of being deceived 08:11 according to this verse? 08:12 Not the people out in the world, they're already deceived. 08:16 The target of the devil's deceptions is the church. 08:21 And so Jesus says, the reason why I'm going to give you 08:24 all of this chapter is to keep you from being deceived, 08:28 because immediately after this verse, 08:29 "Take heed that no one deceives you," 08:32 Jesus begins to describe the signs 08:34 that will lead up to His coming. 08:36 The second verse that I want to read 08:38 is the very next verse, verse 5. 08:41 And you'll notice that Jesus says something 08:43 very interesting here to add 08:45 to what we already noticed in verse 4. 08:48 He says, "For many will come." 08:51 How? "In my name." 08:57 Are these professed Christians 08:59 if they are coming in the name of Jesus? 09:00 Are these people who claim to be Christians? 09:02 Absolutely, they wouldn't come in Christ's name 09:05 if they didn't claimed to be Christians. 09:07 And so Jesus says, "For many will come 09:10 in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," 09:14 and will deceive many." 09:19 Once again the idea is that the deceptions 09:21 are targeted towards God's people. 09:24 And those who are deceiving are from among God's people. 09:28 So once again the purpose of this chapter 09:31 is not primarily to convince the people out 09:33 in the world that Jesus is coming soon 09:36 because they can see the signs transpiring in the world. 09:39 The purpose is to keep God's own people, 09:43 God's own elect from being deceived. 09:46 I want to read one more verse, 09:49 actually, there's two verses Matthew 24:23 and 24. 09:55 Notice, who once again is the target here. 09:59 "Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!" 10:04 or "There!" do not believe it. 10:07 For false christs and false prophets will rise 10:12 and show great signs and wonders 10:15 to deceive if possible" all of the secular people. 10:20 No, that's not what the text says. 10:22 That's the revised more version by the way. 10:24 It says for false christs and false prophets will rise 10:27 and show great signs and wonders to deceive if possible," 10:31 who? "even the elect." 10:36 And then he says in verse 25, 10:38 "See, I have told you beforehand." 10:41 In other words I warned you so that 10:43 when these false christs and false prophets arise, 10:47 they will not deceive you my people. 10:51 And so the second great fact about Matthew 24 10:54 is that this chapter is targeted primarily to God's people. 11:00 And by the way when we study chapter 25, 11:02 we're going to notice that the parables 11:05 that Jesus gives, actually one of them 11:07 is at the end of chapter 24 11:09 and the parables that He gives in chapter 25 11:11 are all targeted to His people. 11:13 The Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, 11:17 the Parable of the Goats and the Sheep. 11:20 All of these parables that come after Matthew 24 11:23 are meant to warn God's people that they should be ready 11:27 when all of these events take place. 11:30 So the second great fact is that Matthew 24 11:33 is targeted especially for those 11:35 who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. 11:39 Now let's notice our third great fact 11:42 about Matthew Chapter 24. 11:46 And it is that we cannot study this chapter by itself. 11:51 Because this sermon of Jesus on Mount Olivet is repeated 11:57 three times in what are called the Synoptic Gospels. 12:01 The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 12:06 And this discourse is found in all three of the gospels. 12:10 It must have been very, very important. 12:13 But the interesting thing is that in each gospel 12:16 there are details that are not found in the other gospels. 12:21 In other words, there is material in one gospel 12:23 that is not found in one or the other of the gospels. 12:27 And so to get the complete picture, 12:29 we need to compare all of the three gospels. 12:32 We need to take the material that covers 12:35 the same period in each one of the gospels 12:37 and put them all together to get a complete picture 12:41 of what Jesus wanted to teach. 12:43 Now I want to give you two or three examples of this, 12:46 so that we can understand the importance 12:48 of studying all three gospels together. 12:52 Notice Matthew 24:7, Matthew 24:7. 12:58 Here Jesus is speaking about certain signs 13:02 that are gonna take place in the natural world 13:06 and also in the political world. 13:08 He says, "For nation will rise against nation, 13:12 and kingdom against kingdom. 13:14 And there will be famines, pestilences, 13:18 and earthquakes in various places." 13:21 So notice, He says that there's going 13:23 to be earthquakes in various places. 13:26 But when you go to the Gospel of Luke 21:11, 13:30 you have a small word which adds something 13:34 to what we find in Matthew Chapter 24. 13:37 And this is a minor detail, but it illustrates 13:40 the importance of comparing the different gospels. 13:43 Luke 21:11 says, "And there will be great 13:51 earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences, 13:55 and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven." 14:00 Do you notice that there are some details 14:02 added in this verse? 14:03 For example, it says not only 14:05 there will be earthquakes in various places, 14:08 but there will be great earthquakes in various places 14:12 and then Jesus adds, 14:15 "There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven." 14:19 That was not found in the Gospel of Matthew. 14:22 And so when you put the two gospels together, 14:25 you have more information than just looking 14:28 at the one Gospel of Matthew. 14:31 Notice another example that we find 14:33 in the Gospel of Mark 13:8, Mark 13:8. 14:40 This is the same basic idea 14:42 that we just read from Matthew and Luke, 14:44 but something is added which is not 14:46 found in Matthew 24 and in Luke 21. 14:50 It says there in Mark 13:8, 14:53 "For nation will rise against nation 14:55 and kingdom against kingdom. 14:58 And there will be earthquakes in various places 15:02 and there will be famines and troubles." 15:07 Do you know, that the Gospel of Matthew 15:10 and the Gospel of Luke do not mention the word troubles? 15:13 Now the word troubles, when it's used 15:17 in the New Testament deals with internal strife, 15:20 more like a civil war, social unrest. 15:24 In other words Jesus is saying not only 15:26 that there's going to be nation rising against nation, 15:28 kingdom against kingdom, but within society itself, 15:32 there is going to be social unrest. 15:35 There are gonna be social upheavals. 15:37 There are going to be riots, 15:39 is what Jesus is saying as we near the end. 15:42 If you didn't have the Gospel of Mark, 15:44 you would be missing that very important concept. 15:48 Now I want to give you another example 15:50 of the importance of studying all of these gospels together, 15:54 these three gospels together. 15:56 By the way, the stories are found in Matthew 24, 15:59 in Mark 13 and in Luke Chapter 21. 16:03 In Matthew Chapter 24:15, we have 16:07 the mention of Jesus of the abomination of desolation. 16:11 Now I'm gonna compare all three gospels on this 16:14 and you'll see how when we read all three gospels 16:16 we have a complete picture. 16:18 Matthew 24:15, Jesus says, 16:24 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, 16:28 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 16:30 standing in the holy place whoever reads, 16:34 let him understand." 16:36 So where does the abomination of desolation 16:39 stand according to Daniel the prophet? 16:41 It stands in the holy place. 16:45 And immediately you ask the question in the holy place, 16:49 holy place, what does that refer to? 16:51 Is that the holy place of the sanctuary 16:53 that this is talking about? 16:55 You're left with questions. 16:57 Now when you go to the Gospel of Mark 13:14, 17:02 you have an added detail. 17:03 Not only do we find in Matthew 17:06 that the abomination of desolation 17:08 stands in the holy place, 17:10 but now we're going to notice another detail. 17:12 Mark 13:14, "So when you see 17:18 the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 17:23 standing where it ought not" let the reader understand, 17:30 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." 17:34 So in Matthew it says when you see 17:36 the abomination of desolation standing where? 17:39 In the holy place. 17:41 In Mark it stand, it says, 17:43 when you see the abomination of desolation 17:45 standing where it, what? 17:47 Where it shouldn't stand, in other words. 17:50 But you're saying, "well, what is the holy place? 17:52 Why shouldn't it stand there?" 17:55 Well, we need to go to Luke 21, Luke 21:20, 18:01 very significant, Luke 21:20. 18:06 And by the way this parallel in Luke 21 18:09 is very different than Matthew and Mark. 18:11 And it helps us understand many things 18:13 that we're gonna study in the course of this seminar. 18:17 Notice Luke 21:20, "But when you see" what? 18:25 "Jerusalem" compassed by what? 18:32 "Surrounded by armies, then know 18:36 that its desolation is near." 18:40 Now is that different than what we read 18:42 in Matthew and Mark? 18:44 Very, very different. Immediately we ask the question. 18:48 Where was the abomination of desolation going to be setup? 18:54 Not in Jerusalem, but where? Around Jerusalem. 19:01 And what was that abomination of desolation 19:04 according to Luke 21? 19:06 The surrounding of Jerusalem by the Roman armies. 19:11 So where is the holy place? 19:13 Is the holy place in the city 19:15 or is the holy place outside the city. 19:19 Very clearly, it's outside the city. 19:21 We're gonna notice a few furlongs 19:23 outside the walls of the city 19:25 was considered just as holy as the city. 19:28 Very clearly Luke 21 tells us 19:31 that the abomination of desolation 19:33 are the Roman armies 19:36 that surrounded the city of Jerusalem. 19:38 In other words, the holy place is not inside the holy city, 19:42 it's not in the sanctuary, it is around the holy city. 19:46 And by the way, did you notice 19:48 that in Matthew and Mark, 19:49 it's called the abomination of desolation, 19:51 but in the Gospel of Luke we're told 19:54 that abomination and desolation are two separate things. 19:58 It's actually the abomination that leads to desolation. 20:03 When they see the abomination, they can know 20:05 that the desolation is what? Near. 20:09 Once again Luke 21:20 says, 20:11 "But when they see Jerusalem surrounded by armies" 20:15 that's the abomination of desolation, 20:17 "know then that its desolation is" what? 20:21 "Its desolation is near." 20:24 So where is the holy place as you compare 20:26 Luke Chapter 21? It's outside the holy city. 20:30 What is the abomination? 20:31 The abomination are the Roman armies. 20:34 And what will the abomination lead to? 20:36 It will lead to what? The desolation. 20:39 Later on in this series we're gonna study 20:41 the second application of this story of Matthew Chapter 24. 20:46 And we're going to notice that Ellen White speaks 20:50 about something that is going to happen 20:53 in the United States of America. 20:55 She says that national apostasy will eventually 21:02 lead to what? To national ruin. 21:06 That's another way of saying 21:07 that national abomination will lead to what? 21:11 Will lead to desolation and destruction. 21:15 So it's important that we understand 21:16 that the abomination leads to desolation 21:20 and according to this, the holy place 21:23 was outside the city and the abomination 21:26 was the surrounding of Jerusalem by the Roman armies. 21:29 Now allow me to give you one final example 21:32 of the importance of studying all of the gospels together. 21:35 Are you understanding the importance of this point? 21:37 We need to take the testimony of all the gospel writers. 21:41 Notice Luke 21:24, Luke 21:24. 21:49 I want to read this verse and compare it 21:51 to a verse that we find in the Book of Revelation. 21:54 Luke 21:24, there are four elements 21:59 that I want you to notice in this particular verse. 22:02 It says there, speaking about the Jewish nation, 22:08 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword 22:12 and be led away captive into all nations." 22:16 And now notice here's the four points. 22:19 In Jerusalem, that's number one, will be what? 22:24 Trample, there's number two, by whom? 22:27 Gentiles, that's number three, 22:30 until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 22:34 Four ideas, Jerusalem, trampled, by Gentiles, 22:39 until the times of the Gentiles come to an end. 22:42 Go with me now to Revelation Chapter 11, 22:45 Revelation Chapter 11 and I want to read verses 2 and 3. 22:50 Revelation 11:2 and 3. 22:53 By the way, this is going to show us the importance also 22:55 of studying Revelation in the context of Matthew Chapter 24. 23:00 Actually, the Book of Revelation 23:01 is a commentary on Matthew Chapter 24. 23:05 So we're going to be dealing a lot 23:07 with the Book of Revelation as well. 23:09 Notice Chapter 11:2 and 3 of Revelation, 23:14 "But leave out the court which is outside the temple 23:19 and do not measure it, for it has been given to" 23:24 whom? Was that in Matthew-- 23:27 in Luke Chapter 21? Yes. 23:29 It says, "For it has been given 23:31 to the Gentiles and they will" what? 23:35 Was that in Luke 21? "They were tread or trample" 23:39 what? The holy city. 23:41 Was Jerusalem in Luke Chapter 21? Yes. 23:44 "They will trample the holy city under foot for" 23:47 how long? 42 months. 23:50 So let me ask you what are the times of the Gentiles? 23:53 The times of the Gentiles are what? 23:56 42 months. Did you notice it or not? 23:59 The holy city trampled by Gentiles 24:02 until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 24:04 Here it says, "They shall trample the holy city" 24:07 that is the Gentiles will for 42 months. 24:09 So in other words, the times of the Gentiles 24:11 are how long? 42 months. 24:14 You'll only know that if you compare 24:17 Luke Chapter 21 with the Book of Revelation. 24:20 And so we need to very carefully study 24:25 not only Matthew Chapter 24, but we need to also compare 24:29 Luke 13 and we also need to study in conjunction 24:34 with it Luke Chapter 21 and also compare 24:38 what the Book of Revelation has to say as well. 24:41 Are you understanding the importance of studying 24:43 the gospels all three of them together 24:45 and also the perspective of the Book of Revelation? 24:48 We'll be coming to this, time and again 24:50 as we study these topics in the future. 24:53 Now, let's go to our fourth great fact 24:56 about Matthew Chapter 24. 24:59 That is that Matthew Chapter 24 has a twofold fulfillment. 25:05 In other words it has 25:07 an immediate historical fulfillment, 25:10 but it is also prophetic of a future fulfillment. 25:14 In other words it has a dual application. 25:18 Now I want to read first of all from scripture, 25:22 where Jesus makes this very clear 25:24 and then I want to read a series of statements, 25:27 very important statements from Ellen White, 25:30 where she corroborates and amplifies this concept. 25:35 Go with me to Matthew 24, Matthew 24:1-3. 25:42 Jesus has just left the Jewish temple 25:45 and He said "Your house is left unto you desolate." 25:51 By the way we're gonna deal a little bit later on 25:53 with the Prophecy of the 70 Weeks, 25:56 where it speaks about the abomination and the desolation 26:01 in the last couple of verses of Daniel Chapter 9. 26:04 Matthew 24:1-3. 26:08 "Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, 26:12 and His disciples came up to show Him 26:15 the buildings of the temple." 26:17 In other words, they wanted to brag, 26:18 they were showing Jesus these huge stones over there, 26:22 "Isn't this a great building Lord?" 26:25 Verse 2, and Jesus said to them, 26:28 "Do you not see all these things. 26:32 Assuredly, I say to you, 26:34 not one stone shall be left here upon another, 26:38 that shall not be thrown down." 26:41 In other words, there's not gonna be one stone 26:43 left upon another that will not be cast down, 26:46 that will not fall to the ground. 26:49 And of course, the disciples were very disturbed about that. 26:51 They wanted to know, when this was gonna happen 26:54 and how it was gonna happen and so being disturbed, 26:57 they now ask Jesus two questions. 27:02 Notice verse 3. 27:04 "Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, 27:08 the disciples came to Him privately, 27:12 saying, "Tell us?" 27:16 Now comes question number one. 27:17 "Tell us, when will these things be?" 27:23 What things are they talking about in context? 27:25 They are talking about the things 27:27 that Jesus had just described. 27:28 The fact that the Jerusalem temple is gonna be destroyed. 27:31 There's not gonna be one stone left upon another. 27:34 And so they're saying when will these things be? 27:37 That's question number one. 27:39 When is the literal temple going to be destroyed? 27:42 And then they ask a second question 27:44 and it's a compound question. Notice. 27:49 And what will be the sign of Your coming 27:54 and of the end of the age. 27:57 In other words, when will these things 27:59 be concerning the destruction of the Jerusalem temple 28:03 and what will be the sign according to this 28:06 of Your coming and of the end of the age?" 28:08 They believe that when the Messiah would come in power 28:11 and glory like He's described in the Old Testament that, 28:14 that would be the end of the age. 28:15 In other words, when is the world 28:17 going to come to an end? 28:20 Now Jesus answered both of their questions with only one answer. 28:25 Actually, Matthew 24 28:26 is a blending of these two great events. 28:32 Number one, the destruction of Jerusalem 28:34 and number two, the condition of the world 28:37 that will exist shortly before the second coming of Christ 28:40 and also referring to the second coming of Jesus. 28:44 So they asked two questions and in His answer, 28:47 Jesus intermingles the answer and He speaks 28:51 about both events in one answer. 28:54 Now allow me to read you a series of statements 28:57 and there're many of them. 28:58 I'm amazed at the number of times 29:00 that Ellen White underlined 29:02 that because there were two questions, 29:04 there were actually two applications 29:07 of Matthew Chapter 24. 29:09 The first statement we find in the Great Controversy, page 25, 29:13 the Great Controversy, page 25. 29:16 By the way the first chapter of the book 29:17 the Great Controversy is on the destruction of Jerusalem. 29:21 She says this, "The prophecy which He uttered, 29:25 that is that Jesus uttered, was twofold in its meaning, 29:31 while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, 29:35 it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day." 29:42 Notice her terminology once again. 29:44 She says, that it had a twofold meaning. 29:48 And she says that the first destruction of Jerusalem had 29:52 or actually prefigured the terrors of the Last Great Day." 29:57 In that classic book the Desire of Ages, 29:59 page 743, she once again comments 30:04 and I am gonna read several passages 30:05 because it's important that we notice the terminology. 30:09 She uses different terminology depending 30:11 on where she is writing. 30:13 Desire of Ages, page 743, 30:16 she refers to Jesus speaking first of all about 30:19 the destruction of Jerusalem and then she says this. 30:22 "From the fall of Jerusalem 30:24 the thoughts of Jesus passed to a wider judgment. 30:30 In the destruction of the impenitent city 30:34 He saw a symbol of the final destruction 30:38 to come upon the world." 30:40 Notice the terms, twofold, prefigured, 30:43 a symbol she says here of a final destruction 30:47 to come upon the world. 30:48 So if you want to know what's gonna happen 30:50 with this world in the last days, 30:53 we're going to have study all of the disasters, 30:55 social, economic, political, wars all of these events 30:59 abomination of desolation it took place in conjunction 31:03 with the destruction of Jerusalem. 31:04 But these things are going to be fulfilled again 31:07 not with literal Jerusalem but on a global worldwide scale. 31:12 But back there, it helps us understand 31:14 the mechanics of what happened, 31:16 so that we can make the application 31:18 at the end of the age. 31:20 Once again in Desire of Ages, page 628 31:24 where she's discussing the destruction of Jerusalem. 31:26 She says this "Jesus did not answer 31:30 His disciples by taking up separately 31:33 the destruction of Jerusalem 31:35 and the great day of His coming." 31:37 Notice, she says that Jesus didn't answer, 31:40 okay, question number one, question number two. 31:43 She says "He mingled the description of these two events. 31:50 Had He opened to His disciples future events as He beheld them, 31:55 they would have been unable to endure the sight. 31:58 In mercy to them He blended," notice mingled, now she says, 32:03 "he blended the description of the two great crises, 32:07 leaving the disciples to study out 32:09 the meaning for themselves. 32:12 When He referred to the destruction of Jerusalem, 32:14 His prophetic words reached beyond 32:17 that event to the final conflagration in that day 32:21 when the Lord shall rise out of His place 32:23 to punish the world for their iniquity, 32:25 when the earth shall disclose her blood, 32:28 and shall no more cover her slain." 32:31 And then she says this, 32:32 "This entire discourse was given not for the disciples only, 32:39 but for those who should live 32:40 in the last scenes of this earth's history." 32:45 So is this an important chapter for us to study as God's people? 32:49 It's very, very important that we understand this chapter. 32:52 You know, usually when we study prophecy, 32:54 we study Daniel and Revelation. 32:57 But Matthew 24 has the sequence of events folks 33:00 in their proper order and it provides a backdrop. 33:04 It provides a structure to know where to fit 33:09 the prophecies of Revelation in. 33:11 You know, if people understood Matthew 24, 33:13 they wouldn't misinterpret the Book of Revelation, 33:16 because Matthew 24 gives us the historical 33:18 sequence of events one right after another. 33:21 Allow me to read you a few more statements. 33:24 Great Controversy, page 22, 33:27 "Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world 33:31 hardened in unbelief and rebellion, 33:35 and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God. 33:40 Once again Great Controversy, page 22, she says 33:43 "Jesus, looking down to the last generation, 33:46 saw the world involved in a deception 33:50 similar to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. 33:54 The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ." 33:58 By the way did you know that Christ 33:59 is the embodiment of the law? 34:01 The law of God is actually given a body in Christ, 34:06 the way that Christ lived. 34:07 He lived the law, in other words. 34:10 So she says, once again the great sin 34:12 of the Jews was their rejection of Christ. 34:15 "The great sin of the Christian world, 34:18 notice of the Christian world would be 34:20 their rejection of the law of God, 34:24 the foundation of His government in heaven and in earth." 34:28 You see, you can't say, I received Jesus 34:30 and I reject the law, 34:31 because Jesus is an illustration of the law. 34:34 The life of Jesus is the embodiment of the law 34:37 if you please, so to reject Christ 34:40 is the same thing as rejecting His law. 34:43 And with the Hebrew nation, 34:45 the idea was the rejection of Christ. 34:46 At the end time, it will be the rejection of His law 34:50 which is a revelation of the character and Person of Christ. 34:55 Once again, Great Controversy, page 36, 34:57 this comes through time and again. 34:59 She says, "The Savior's prophecy 35:01 concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem 35:04 is to have another fulfillment, of which 35:08 that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow." 35:13 You read that first chapter in Great Controversy 35:15 on the destruction of Jerusalem, you say, this was a faint shadow 35:19 of what's going to happen in the end time. 35:22 When Jerusalem was surrounded, mothers ate their children. 35:27 Josephus says that. 35:29 You know, when somebody went outside the city 35:33 to try and grab some plant or something they could eat, 35:37 inside the city they were waiting for him to kill him 35:40 to take that morsel of food from his hands. 35:43 There was civil unrest, there was fighting, 35:45 parents killing their children, 35:47 and children killing their parents. 35:50 And you say, she says that this was 35:52 the faint shadow of what's gonna take place. 35:55 She continues saying, "In the fate of the chosen city 35:59 we may behold the doom of a world 36:02 that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon his law." 36:08 In her book Last Day Events, page 18, 36:11 she says, the whole, notice 36:14 "The whole of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew 36:18 is a prophecy concerning the events to precede this event," 36:23 that is the second coming, 36:25 "and the destruction of Jerusalem is used to typify 36:29 the last great destruction of the world by fire." 36:35 May be I can read two or three more. 36:37 Did she believed that this was important? 36:40 Time and again she refers to it. 36:42 Testimonies for the Church, volume 5, page 753. 36:46 She says, "While these prophecies 36:48 of Matthew 24 received a partial fulfillment 36:52 at the destruction of Jerusalem, 36:55 they have a more direct application to the last days. 37:00 Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 37:01 page 120 and 121, she says, 37:05 "The ruin of Jerusalem was the symbol of the final ruin 37:09 that shall overwhelm the world. 37:12 The prophecies that received a partial fulfillment 37:15 in the overthrow of Jerusalem have a more 37:18 direct application to the last days. 37:21 We are now standing on the threshold 37:24 of great and solemn events. 37:26 A crisis is before us, such as the world has never witnessed." 37:34 One final statement, Testimonies to Ministries, 37:36 page 232, she says, 37:38 "The warnings that Christ gave to Jerusalem 37:41 was not to end with them. 37:44 The judgments upon Jerusalem were a symbol of the events 37:47 of Christ's coming to judgment in the last day 37:51 when before Him shall be gathered all nations. 37:55 He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, 37:57 and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, 38:01 from one end of the earth to the other." 38:05 Now let's go quickly to great fact number five. 38:10 Great fact number five is that along with Matthew Chapter 24, 38:15 we need to study the Great Controversy, 38:18 the book the Great Controversy. 38:21 The book of the Great Controversy 38:22 is probably in the world today 38:25 the lone remaining historicist perspective of Bible prophecy. 38:31 Every Christian church that I know of 38:34 is either preterist or futurist. 38:39 In other words, they believe that the prophecies 38:41 about the antichrist were fulfilled 38:43 with a nasty individual called 38:45 Anticus Epiphanies in the Old Testament. 38:47 Or the prophecies of the Beast of Revelation 13 were fulfilled 38:52 with the early Roman Emperors, that's preterism. 38:56 On the other hand there are many Christians 38:58 that are futurist. 38:59 They believe that the antichrist prophecies 39:01 have not been fulfilled yet. 39:03 They're gonna be fulfilled in the future 39:04 in the Middle East, with the rebuilt Jewish temple, 39:07 with the nasty individuals sitting in the temple there 39:10 for three-and-half literal years. 39:11 Raising up an image and commanding 39:13 everyone to worship the image. 39:15 In other words, everybody is looking to the future 39:18 and to the past for the fulfillment 39:20 of the antichrist prophecies. 39:23 The interesting thing is that the perspective 39:25 of Matthew 24 gives us the flow of church history 39:29 from the days in which Jerusalem was destroyed, 39:32 all the way till the end of time and everything in between. 39:36 In other words, Matthew Chapter 24 gives us 39:38 a timeline of events from the destruction of Jerusalem 39:42 till the end of the age. 39:43 And the interesting thing is that the book, 39:45 the Great Controversy gives us the exact same order of events. 39:52 In fact, you know, its very interesting 39:53 that Matthew 24 begins with a destruction of Jerusalem 39:57 and it ends with the second coming of Jesus 40:00 and the destruction of the world. 40:01 You can read that in Jesus' sermon, Matthew Chapter 24. 40:04 He begins by speaking about Jerusalem 40:07 and then He continued speaking and at the end, he says, 40:10 "They'll see the sign of the son of man in heaven. 40:12 And he'll come with His angels to gather His elect." 40:16 So in other words, Matthew 24 begins 40:19 with the destruction of Jerusalem 40:20 and ends with the coming of Jesus. 40:22 Do you know that the book, the Great Controversy 40:24 also begins with the destruction of Jerusalem 40:27 and it also ends with the final destruction of the world 40:31 at the coming of Jesus Christ? 40:33 So everything in between must also follow 40:36 the same sequence of events 40:39 that we find in Matthew Chapter 24. 40:41 In other words, we need to study the book, 40:44 the Great Controversy in conjunction 40:47 with Matthew Chapter 24, 40:48 because the order of events is the same. 40:51 The beginning event, the destruction 40:52 of Jerusalem is the same. 40:54 The second coming of Jesus, the ending event 40:57 is also the same and everything in between 41:00 follows the same order and the same sequence. 41:03 And by the way those who are watching this program, 41:05 if you're interested in acquiring a copy 41:08 of that magnificent book, the Great Controversy, 41:11 that presents Bible prophecy from a historicist perspective 41:15 that is looking at the flow of church history, 41:18 from the days of Jerusalem all the way out 41:21 to the ends of the age and with everything in between. 41:24 Make sure that you call the number that is on the screen 41:28 at the end of this production, 41:30 so that you can order your free and complimentary copy 41:33 of the book, The Great Controversy. 41:36 Now point number six, great fact number six. 41:39 The events of Matthew Chapter 24 41:42 are in strict chronological order. 41:47 What did I say? 41:48 The events of Matthew 24 are in what? 41:51 Strict chronological order and we know this because 41:54 there are time references throughout the chapter. 41:58 Go with me to Matthew Chapter 24, 42:01 Matthew Chapter 24 and let's read verse 6. 42:05 I want you to notice the time words 42:07 that are used here, time references, 42:09 Chapter 24 and verse 6. 42:13 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 42:16 See that you are not troubled, 42:18 for all these things must come to pass." 42:20 And then what does it say, "But the end is," what? Not yet. 42:26 Notice, verse 8, actually let's read verse 7 for the context. 42:32 "For nation will rise against nation 42:34 and kingdom against kingdom 42:36 and there will be famines, pestilences, 42:38 and earthquakes in various places." 42:41 All of these things are what? "The beginning of sorrows." 42:45 Do you see the time reference there? 42:47 Notice also verse 9. 42:49 It says, immediately after speaking about these things 42:52 being the beginning of sorrows, it says, 42:54 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you." 42:58 Do you notice the word then indicates 43:00 that immediately after this, 43:02 the persecution is going to take place. 43:05 Notice, also verse 15, "Therefore when you see 43:10 the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 43:13 standing in the holy place, 43:17 whoever reads, let him understand." 43:19 Then notice, "Let those who are in Judea," what? 43:22 "Flee to the mountains." Once again the word what. 43:26 The word "then." Notice also, verse 19. 43:30 "But woe to those who are pregnant 43:32 and to those who are nursing babies in those days." 43:37 Notice also verse 21. 43:40 It says, "For then there will be great tribulation, 43:43 such as has not been since the beginning of the world 43:46 until this time now, nor never shall be." 43:49 Notice once again the word "then." 43:52 Notice verse 22. 43:54 "And unless those days were shortened, 43:55 no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake 43:59 those days will be shortened." 44:00 Notice, verse 23, "Then if someone says to you, 44:05 "Look here is the Christ!" or "There!" do not believe it." 44:09 You see the number of times that the word "then" is used. 44:11 It means this is gonna happen then this, 44:13 then this, then this, and then this. 44:15 Notice verse 29, "Immediately after the tribulation 44:20 of those days the sun will be darkened, 44:22 and the moon will not give its light. 44:24 The stars will fall from heaven 44:25 and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." 44:28 Notice, verse 30, "Then the sign of man, 44:31 the Son of man will appear in heaven, 44:33 and then all the tribes of the earth will morn 44:36 and they will see the Son of man 44:38 coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." 44:44 Did you notice the number of times 44:46 that we had time references here in Matthew Chapter 24? 44:49 You have a clear sequence of events. 44:53 You have wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation, 44:56 kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, 44:59 earthquakes, beginning of sorrows. 45:02 But then Jesus says they're going to arise to kill you, 45:05 then the abomination of desolation will be placed, 45:08 then those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 45:12 then there will be great tribulation 45:14 such as never it was. 45:17 Then you will see the sign of the son of man in heaven, 45:20 then the son of man will be coming on the clouds of heaven. 45:23 In other words in Matthew 24, 45:25 we have a clear sequence of events, 45:29 a chronological sequence of events, 45:32 so that you know exactly how history is going to flow, 45:36 so that we know exactly where we are 45:38 in the course of prophetic time. 45:42 Now what are the six things that we've studied so far 45:44 before we go to our final point. 45:47 Point number one. 45:48 Matthew Chapter 24 is a very important chapter as we noticed. 45:54 The signs in this chapter are fulfilling. 45:57 Ministers and teachers need to focus on this chapter, 46:01 because they don't speak about minor things, 46:04 but very important things, and the destiny of the souls 46:07 depends on studying this chapter. 46:10 Point number two. 46:12 Matthew Chapter 24 is given 46:14 to keep God's people from being deceived. 46:18 Point number three. 46:20 All three accounts of the three gospels 46:22 need to be studied together and also the Book of Revelation 46:27 needs to be brought into the equation. 46:30 Point number four. 46:32 Matthew Chapter 24 has a twofold fulfillment. 46:35 Its first fulfillment was in conjunction 46:37 with the destruction of Jerusalem. 46:39 The second fulfillment is in conjunction 46:42 with the final destruction of the world. 46:45 Point number five. 46:47 We must study Matthew, Chapter 24 along with the book, 46:52 the Great Controversy, because the Great Controversy 46:55 gives the identical sequence of events of Matthew Chapter 24. 46:59 In point number six. The events of Matthew 24 47:03 are in precise chronological order. 47:06 We're gonna notice that the Book of Revelation 47:09 runs very similar in its chronological sequence 47:13 as Matthew Chapter 24. 47:17 Now we need to go to the seventh 47:18 and last great fact about Matthew Chapter 24. 47:23 To whom did Jesus speak these words of Matthew Chapter 24? 47:31 Well, technically if you look at the words of Jesus, 47:35 He spoke them to the disciples. 47:37 He says, make sure that no one deceives you. 47:42 If somebody tells you that the Christ is out there 47:46 or if He's in the inner rooms, don't pay any attention. 47:49 It would appear that Matthew 24 is addressed to the disciples, 47:54 to those who lived in that day and age. 47:57 And so people says, it says very clearly there, you. 47:59 But the question is, 48:01 who is the you of Matthew Chapter 24. 48:04 Does it apply only to the disciples, obviously not? 48:09 Let's read three or four verses where Jesus uses the same word, 48:14 the same pronoun 'you' to speak to His followers. 48:17 Matthew 28:18-20. Matthew 28:18-20. 48:26 Here Jesus is about to ascend to heaven. 48:28 He's gathered His disciples. 48:30 He's gonna give the final instructions 48:32 and notice what He says. 48:34 It says there, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 48:39 "All authority has been given to Me 48:42 in heaven and on earth. 48:45 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 48:49 baptizing them in the name of the Father 48:52 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 48:55 teaching them to observe all things 48:57 that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, 49:04 even to he end of the age." 49:06 So Jesus is saying that this commission 49:08 is only for the disciples, right. 49:11 Well, doesn't He say here, teaching all of the things 49:15 that to observe all of the things 49:17 that I have commanded you? 49:20 Doesn't it say, lo, I am with you always 49:22 till the end of the age? 49:24 Does that include everyone, from then there day on? 49:28 Absolutely. Notice John 14:1-3. 49:32 I want you to notice that Matthew 24 is not addressed 49:35 only to that generation, it's addressed to us. 49:38 John 14:1-3. 49:43 This is a very well known passage. 49:46 Here Jesus is speaking to His disciples and He says. 49:50 "Let not your heart be troubled, 49:53 you believe in God, believe also in Me. 49:56 In my Father's house are many mansions, 49:59 if it were not so, I would have told you. 50:02 I go to prepare a place for you." 50:05 He's speaking to the disciples. 50:06 So Jesus only went to heaven 50:08 to prepare place for His disciples. 50:10 Well, isn't He saying, I'm going to prepare a place for you? 50:14 Does that include us? 50:16 Absolutely, He says, "I go to prepare a place for you 50:20 and if I go and prepare a place for you, 50:24 I will come again and receive you to Myself, 50:28 that where I am, there you may be also." 50:32 Is this promise made to all of God's people? 50:34 Of course, it is. 50:36 But Jesus is speaking it originally to whom? 50:39 To His disciples. 50:40 So when Jesus says, beware that no one deceives you, 50:44 is He speaking only to the disciples 50:46 or is He speaking to God's people in every age. 50:50 The answer is that He's speaking to God's people in every age. 50:53 Notice John 16:1 and 2. John 16:1 and 2. 51:01 Here Jesus is speaking about persecutions 51:04 that are gonna come upon His followers and He says. 51:08 "These things I have spoken to you 51:12 that you should not be made to stumble. 51:15 They will put you out of the synagogues." 51:19 Why would He call synagogues when this happens 51:21 in the end time with God's people? 51:24 Would it be legitimate to put churches there? 51:27 Of course, because Jesus is not only speaking to them, 51:30 He's speaking to whom? He's speaking to us. 51:34 So He says "They will put you out of the synagogues, 51:37 yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you" 51:43 by extension others as well, absolutely, 51:45 who kills you, "will think that he offers God," 51:49 what? "Service." 51:51 Question, is the final persecution against God's people 51:54 going to be performed on the part of other individuals 51:58 who claim to be God's people. 52:00 It says so clear, oh is it? 52:02 But this only applies to the disciples, no it doesn't. 52:06 The word you applies to everyone. 52:09 I am with you always. 52:11 I go to prepare a place for you, Jesus says. 52:13 He's taking to everyone, 52:14 so He must be talking to everyone here, in John 16:1, 2. 52:19 So when He says, "They will put you out of the synagogues." 52:22 By the way, interesting, did believers go to synagogues? 52:27 Sure. Jews went to synagogues, so what Jesus saying is, 52:32 "Those who claim to serve Me are gonna persecute you." 52:35 And he says, "yes the time is coming that whoever 52:37 kills you will think that he offers God a service." 52:41 Very interesting that the final persecution 52:45 is not going to be wordlings against Christians. 52:49 But this verse makes it very clear 52:50 that the persecution will be Christians against Christians. 52:54 That's a sobering thought. 52:57 I want to read one final passage John 17:20 and 21. 53:01 You know, you read John Chapter 17, 53:03 Jesus is praying for His disciples, isn't He? 53:05 He's saying, I want out of these 11, 53:07 I want you to make one. Just like You and I are one. 53:13 Sanctify them my disciples with your truth, 53:16 your word is truth. He's praying for His disciples. 53:21 But is He praying only for His disciples? 53:24 Notice John 17:20 and 21. Jesus includes everyone 53:32 in His prayer when He says, "I do not pray for these alone, 53:38 but also for those who will believe in Me 53:42 through their word, that they all may be one as You, 53:46 Father, are in Me, and I in You, 53:49 that they also may be one in Us, 53:53 that the world may believe that You sent Me." 53:58 So for whom is the message of Matthew Chapter 24? 54:03 It is for us. 54:06 And just as Christians were persecuted by individuals 54:12 who claimed to obey and follow God. 54:15 In the end time, the same is going 54:18 to happen with God's people. 54:21 You know, usually if you listen to what people have to say 54:23 in the world today, they say, you know, 54:26 we need to beware of the secular humanists. 54:29 We need to beware of all those atheists out there, 54:32 who don't believe in creation, 54:34 who believe that the world is millions of years old, 54:36 who believe in evolution, you know, 54:38 who believe in gay marriage and who, you know, 54:42 who trample upon the foundations 54:44 of the Judeo-Christian tradition. 54:47 I'm not saying that, that we should believe in evolution. 54:51 I'm not saying that we should support 54:54 the idea of gay marriage. 54:57 What I'm saying is that scripture says 54:59 that the greatest enemies of God's people 55:01 are not going to be the secular people, 55:03 the great enemies of God's people 55:05 are going to be those who claim to follow the Lord. 55:09 In other words, it will be Christians 55:12 who will rise according to scripture against Christians. 55:16 And so, we find this magnificent chapter 55:19 of God's word, Matthew Chapter 24. 55:24 We're going to take 14 lectures including this one 55:28 to finish this series on Matthew 24. 55:31 We're gonna look at it from a fine tooth-- 55:33 from a perspective of a fine tooth comb. 55:36 We're gonna study in detail the abomination of desolation. 55:39 In our next lecture we're going to go to the Old Testament 55:41 and we're going to study the destruction 55:43 of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. 55:45 That is the foundation for the next destruction 55:47 of Jerusalem in the year 70. 55:49 The Bible says that Nebuchadnezzar came as-- 55:52 with his eagles to Jerusalem, to destroy Jerusalem. 55:55 Interesting that Jesus in Matthew 24 says, 55:57 "Where the carcass is, there will 55:59 the eagles be gathered together." 56:01 We'll notice that in the end time 56:02 the eagle will also play a very important role, prophetically. 56:07 We're going to study about the great tribulation. 56:09 We're going to deal with the times of the Gentiles. 56:12 We're going to study about the fig tree. 56:14 When you see the fig tree bud, 56:15 some people say that was the reestablishment of Israel, 56:18 in 1948 was the budding of the fig tree. 56:22 Does the Bible teach such a thing? 56:23 We need to take a look at. 56:25 We're gonna study about the second coming of Jesus. 56:27 We're gonna study every detail about Matthew 24. 56:31 In our last two studies together, 56:33 we're gonna take a look at the parables of Jesus 56:36 after he spoke Matthew 24. 56:38 The Parable of the Talents, 56:40 the Parable of the Wise and Good Servant, 56:43 the Parable of the 10 Virgins, 56:45 the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. 56:48 By the way, all addressed to those who profess 56:51 to serve Jesus Christ, not to the world at large, 56:54 but to those who claim to be God's people. 56:57 So we have exciting times ahead in our study. 57:00 Today, we dealt just with the foundations, 57:02 with the basics, with the ground rules. 57:04 The principles that we're going to use in the study 57:08 are Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke Chapter 21. 57:13 So I hope that those of you who are here 57:16 and those who will be watching this program on television 57:19 will make it a point to come every day 57:23 that this is program is presented to hear 57:25 this magnificent story of Matthew 24. |
Revised 2014-12-17