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Matthew Chapter Twenty-Four

1. Matthew chapters 24 & 25 form the Mt. Olivet Discourse—a private series of messages by the Lord for His disciples.
2. As they departed Jerusalem, the disciples were highlighting features of the temple complex (Matt. 24:1).  The Lord simply stated that it was all destined to come down (Matt. 24:2).
3. The disciples privately asked Jesus to plainly explain what He was talking about (Matt. 24:3). It is a threefold question that requires careful study in examining the Lord’s answers (particularly in the various written accounts).
   1. Question #1: “When will these things happen?” is in reference to the desolate house (Matt. 23:38) and the torn down temple (Matt. 24:2).  Matthew’s account of this discourse does not include the Lord’s answer to this question, but Luke’s account does (Lk. 21:20-22).
   2. Question #2: “What will be the sign of your coming?” is not answered first, but answered second in Matt. 24:29-31.
   3. Question #3: (What will be the sign) “of the end of the age?” is answered first in Matt. 24:4-28. Jesus’ answer begins by describing what is not yet the end (Mt. 24:4-14) and then by describing the great signs they were asking about (Mt. 24:15-28).
   4. All of these questions, and the Lord’s reply focus on God’s dealings with Israel, and do not relate to the Church in any manner.
4. “Not yet the end” is illustrated via beginning of birth pangs false-labor imagery (Mt. 24:4-14). These verses have a remarkable parallel to the Seal Judgments of Revelation 6 (Rev. 6:2-12).
5. The Lord conclusively indicates Daniel’s Abomination of Desolation prophecy (Dan. 9:27) was not fulfilled by the shadow typology Antiochus Epiphanes in the intertestamental period (Dan. 11:31), as He speaks prophetically of the end of the age (Matt. 24:15-28).
6. The Parable of the Fig Tree teaches that the Tribulation and 2nd Advent generation will know it when they see it (Matt. 24:32-35).
7. The timing for these events is entirely within the Sovereignty of God the Father to determine, and not revealed to the humanity of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:36).
8. The blindness of the world at that time will be like the days of Noah in which the world-wide judgment was not understood until it arrived (Matt. 24:37-41).
   1. In the days of Noah, wicked world was “taken” in judgment while Noah and his family were “left” to repopulate the post-flood world.
   2. In the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ, the unbelievers will be “taken” in judgment while only born-again believers will be “left” to repopulate the post-Armageddon Millennial earth.
   3. This is NOT A RAPTURE PASSAGE. Quite the opposite: it is an anti-rapture.
9. The application for this message is an urgency for watchful readiness (Matt. 24:42-51).

Mark Chapter Thirteen

1. Mark 13 consists of the Mt. Olivet discourse, and parallels Matt. 24&25; and Lk. 21.  This passage is the longest discourse recorded by Mark.
2. The disciples were impressed by the beauty of the temple (Mk. 13:1).
3. The Lord prophesied the destruction of that very temple (Mk. 13:2), and prompted the disciples to ask for a timetable for the end times (Mk. 13:3-4).
4. The Mt. Olivet Discourse refers to the end of the Dispensation of Israel (age of Tribulation), and has no reference to the Church at all.
5. General signs of the times are indicated as being a prelude to the Great Tribulation (Mk. 13:5-13).
   1. False Christs giving Israel false hope (vv.5-6).
   2. Hot & cold war conditions (v.7).
   3. Multinational warfare, & natural disasters (v.8).
   4. International judicial persecution of Jews by Gentiles and a corresponding witness for the Lord by believing Jews to their Gentile prosecutors (vv.9-12).
   5. International opposition to Israel because of their continued reliance upon the Lord (v.13).
6. A specific sign is given: “when” or “whenever” the Abomination of Desolation stands in the temple (Mk. 13:14-23).  The Jews must immediately flee, and the Great Tribulation is unleashed.
7. The Second Advent of Jesus Christ will be announced by heavenly warnings (Mk. 13:24-31).
8. Only the Father knows the timetable for all these events (Mk. 13:32). God the Father’s wisdom in reserving particular revelation until specific and appropriate times and recipients is a tremendous blessing worthy of praise (Mt. 11:25; 1st Cor. 2:7-9).
9. Because of the imminency of the 2nd Advent, the Tribulation generation of Israel is admonished to be on the alert (Mk. 13:33-37).

Luke Chapter Twenty-One

(Outline continues from yesterday)

2. The disciples were impressed with the temple’s beauty, but the Lord prophesied the temple’s destruction (Lk. 21:5-6).  This prompted the disciples to ask for more instruction concerning coming events (Lk. 21:7).
3. The Lord’s prophecies concerning things to come (Lk. 21:8-36 || Mt. 24; Mk. 13) spell out the events in store for Jerusalem throughout the times of the Gentiles (Lk. 21:24).
4. Luke’s narrative includes a particular focus for 70AD (Lk. 21:20-22) that is not presented in the Matthew or Mark accounts.