Matthew 24
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24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?departed
Jesus leaves that which He abandons to judgment. (See Scofield "Mark 8:23") in light of Matthew 11:21 Matthew 11:22 Cf., Revelation 18:4 .
24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.Tell us
The beginning of the Olivet Discourse
Mat 24 with Luke 21:20-24 answers the threefold question. The order is as follows: "when shall these things be?"--i.e. destruction of the temple and city. Answer: Luke 21:20-24 .
Second and third questions: "And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Answer: Matthew 24:4-33 .
Verses 4 to 14 have a double interpretation: They give
(1) the character of the age--wars, international conflicts, famines, pestilences, persecutions, and false Christs (cf) Daniel 9:26 .
This is not the description of a converted world.
(2) But the same answer ( Matthew 24:4-14 ) applies in a specific way to the end of the age, viz. Daniel's seventieth week. Daniel 9:24-27 . (See Scofield "Daniel 9:24") .
All that has characterized the age gathers into awful intensity at the end. Verse 14 has specific reference to the proclamation of the good news that the kingdom is again "at hand" by the Jewish remnant Isaiah 1:9 ; Revelation 14:6 Revelation 14:7 . (See Scofield "Romans 11:5") .
Verse 15 gives the sign of the abomination, (See Scofield "Daniel 9:27") , the "man of sin," or "Beast" 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 ; Daniel 9:27 ; 12:11 ; Revelation 13:4-7 .
This introduces the great tribulation Psalms 2:5 . (See Scofield "Revelation 7:14") , which runs its awful course of three and a half years, culminating in the battle of See Scofield " Revelation 19:19 " at which time Christ becomes the smiting Stone of Daniel 2:34 .
The detail of this period ( Matthew 24:15-28 ) is:
(1) The abomination in the holy place ( Matthew 24:15 );
(2) the warning ( Matthew 24:16-20 ) to believing Jews who will then be in Jerusalem;
(3) the great tribulation, with renewed warning as to false Christs ( Matthew 24:21-26 );
(4) the sudden smiting of the Gentile world-power ( Matthew 24:27 Matthew 24:28 );
(5) the glorious appearing of the Lord, visible to all nations, and the regathering of Israel ( Matthew 24:29-31 );
(6) the sign of the fig-tree ( Matthew 24:32 Matthew 24:33 );
(7) warnings, applicable to this present age over which these events are ever impending ( Matthew 24:34-51 ). Philemon 4:5 .
Careful study of Da 2,7, 9, and Re 13 will make the interpretation clear. See, also, "Remnant" ( 1:9 ; Romans 11:5 ).
24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.iniquity
i.e. lawlessness, sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23") .
24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:kingdom
world
kingdom (See Scofield "Matthew 3:2") .
world oikoumene = inhabited earth.
(See Scofield "Luke 2:1")
24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.Then let them which
Cf. Luke 21:20-24 . The passage in Luke refers in express terms to a destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled by Titus, A.D. 70; the passage in Matthew to a future crisis in Jerusalem after the manifestation of the abomination. See "Beast" ; Daniel 7:8 ; Revelation 19:20 and "Armageddon" ; Revelation 16:14 ; 19:17 .
As the circumstances in both cases will be similar, so are the warnings. In the former case Jerusalem was destroyed; in the latter it will be delivered by divine interposition.
24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.Son of man
Also Matthew 24:37 Matthew 24:39 Matthew 24:44 . (See Scofield "Matthew 8:20") .
24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.angels
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")
24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.This generation
(Greek - ajgenealovghto ," the primary definition of which is, "race, kind, family, stock, breed)." (So all lexicons.) That the word is used in this sense because none of "these things," i.e. the world-wide preaching of the kingdom, the great tribulation, the return of the Lord in visible glory, and the regathering of the elect, occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 70. The promise is, therefore, that the generation--nation, or family of Israel-- will be preserved unto "these things"; a promise wonderfully fulfilled to this day.
24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.angels
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")
24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.Marg
Son of man (See Scofield "Matthew 8:20")
24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.Son of man
(See Scofield "Matthew 8:20")
24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?Son of man
(See Scofield "Matthew 8:20")
faithful
See, Luke 12:42-46 ; 1 Corinthians 4:2 . It is faithfulness, not ability, in the Lord's service that is first approved by Him.