Matthew 24a

This week I want to start looking at the prophecy of the last days that Jesus told to His disciples. We’ll find that it makes a perfect connector between the books of Daniel and The Revelation.

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “See you not all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down”. 3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?”

The disciples pointed to the magnificent buildings associated with the temple and expected Him to share in their great pride in it. But their Master looked at its great blocks of marble and sadly informed them that not one would be left standing on the day of its destruction. His prediction was terribly fulfilled when the Roman soldiers burnt it down about 40 years later in the year 70AD, and then moved the blocks and ploughed the ground to reach the gold which had melted.

It will the same for the organised church in the last days, spiritually speaking! (Remember Amos 5:4-6? “For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, Seek you Me, and you shall live: but seek not Bethel [the house of God], nor enter into Gilgal [the place of circumcision], and pass not to Beersheba [where Elijah desired to die]: for Gilgal [rituals] shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel [the organisation] shall come to nought. Seek the LORD, and you shall live; lest he [Satan] break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel”.)

Because they associated the destruction of the temple with the end of the world (and it WAS the end of theirs, as they knew it), the disciples asked when this would occur. Without giving them a date, Jesus then gave them signs by which they would know the nearness. But, because they were coming to the end of their 490 year period, and because the Son of God could also look into more 490 year probationary periods of the future, He gave these signs in such a way that they cover the disciples’ generation, all the next periods, and the last generation as well!

Jesus did not answer His disciples by taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming. He mingled the description of these two events. Had He opened to His disciples future events as He beheld them, they would have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He blended the description of the two great crises, leaving the disciples to study out the meaning for themselves. When He referred to the destruction of Jerusalem, His prophetic words reached beyond that event to the final conflagration in that day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish the world for their iniquity, when the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. [Isaiah 26:21.]

This entire discourse was given, not for the disciples only, but for those who should live in the last scenes of this earth's history.

So the following statements may be read three different ways. First, with a local (one generation) fulfilment, then over a two thousand year period of many generations, and lastly, in a special way for the generation which will see the second advent. We need to take care HOW we read each verse, making sure WHICH base we are working from. In these readings I intend to concentrate mainly on the first and last day warnings, because they are the most important for us.

Between the Son of man’s death in 31AD and the siege of Jerusalem from 67-70AD many false messiahs did appear claiming to work miracles, and declaring that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation had come. These mislead many, and thus Christ's words were fulfilled. Also, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, men fought wildly for the supremacy of the world. Emperors were murdered. Those supposed to be standing next the throne were assassinated. There were wars and rumours of wars. “All these are [only] the beginning of sorrows,” Christ said, “and as such need not concern you too much, for they will mainly affect the unbelievers”.

But as the rabbis saw those signs, they declared them to be God's judgments upon the nations for holding in bondage His chosen people, and that they heralded the redemption of their nation. They declared that those signs were tokens of the advent of the Messiah. However, in reality they became the beginning of His judgments on the Jewish nation as He was forced to withdraw His protection from His representative people. The people looked more and more to themselves and He could do no more for them. They did not repent and become converted that He could heal them. The signs that they looked to as tokens of their release from Roman bondage, were actually signs of their impending destruction! Sad, sad, situation!

The same deceptions practiced by the religious leaders prior to the destruction of Jerusalem have been practiced through the ages, and are being practiced again in these last days, and we should be aware of this. If we really want to know the future all we need to do is study the past, for this warning was given also to those who live in this age of the world.

“Then shall they [apostate church leaders] deliver you [the followers of God] up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and [then] you shall be hated of all nations [worldwide] for My name's sake. And then shall many [professed Christians] be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another”. All this the Jewish Christians suffered. Fathers and mothers betrayed their children. Children betrayed their parents. Friends delivered their friends up to the Sanhedrin. The persecutors wrought out their purpose by killing Stephen (Acts 7:57-60), James (Acts 12:1-3), and other Christians.

Why will the church leaders be so upset? Because those giving the message of the gospel in the last days will be doing it under the influence of the Spirit of God without asking permission or the blessing of the religious authorities., It will be a very different message from that normally given by the church, for it will include a decisive change of nature from sinner to saint, from unjust to just, from unrighteousness to righteousness, and a positive conviction that Christians can overcome temptations to sin through the power of a Saviour. All this will encapsulated in the Sabbath message, for the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and the great message of Sabbath rest will unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints. When the church leaders are asked about this “rest”, they will deny it, and in this rejection their power over those who follow Christ in their hearts will be broken.

God has worshippers who do not see and keep the Sabbath, but they have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the little time of trouble, certain Christians will claim the promise of the power of the Holy Ghost and will go forth with a loud cry proclaiming the Sabbath truth more fully. (See Hebrews chapters 3 and 4.) This will enrage the leaders in the Protestant churches and the nominal Adventists, as they cannot refute the Sabbath truth. And at this time those who follow God's word will all see clearly the truth, and they will come out and endure the persecution. THIS is the gospel that will be preached in all the world, and which will bring about the end. (The EVERLASTING gospel of salvation has always been taught.)

Lateral thought: What’s the purpose of persecution? Why doesn’t the Son of God protect us from it?

Through His servants, God gave the Jewish people a last opportunity to repent. He manifested Himself through His witnesses in their arrest, in their trial, and in their imprisonment. Yet their judges pronounced on them the death sentence. [Why? See note 2.] They were men of whom the world was not worthy, and by killing them the Jews crucified afresh the Son of God. [Hebrews 6:6.]

On every occasion when persecution takes place, those who witness it make decisions either for Christ or against Him. Those who manifest sympathy for the ones wrongly condemned show their attachment for Christ. Others are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice. Many stumble and fall, apostatizing from the faith they once advocated. Those who apostatize in time of trial will, to secure their own safety, bear false witness, and betray their brothers [and sisters]. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the unnatural, cruel course of those who reject the light.

Persecution polarizes people, both in and out of the church. This is how it has always been, and, although we who live in the western world find it at present to be a very tolerant community, we should realise that religious feelings without the benefit of the love given by the Holy Spirit will soon change. When danger threatens themselves or their loved ones, professed Christians will show their lack of understanding and turn on their former friends. Christ continued:

An “abomination” in God’s sight causes death eventually, but “an abomination of desolation” is anything that leads directly to death. Proverbs 21:27. Christ gave His disciples a sign of the ruin to come on Jerusalem, and He told them how to escape: “When you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it [the city] depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled”. Luke 21:20-22. This warning was given to be heeded at the destruction of Jerusalem forty years later, when a window of opportunity 24 hours long would be opened. At that time the obedient ones obeyed the direction, and not one Christian perished in the fall of the city.

In the last days the worldwide unions of religions and states will result in the powers of the world being used to surround the people of God in attempts to destroy them. But those who look for the “abomination of desolation” will know when to leave their former places of refuge and obey immediately the latest directions from the LORD.

Because of the dangers of the last day movements, Christ advised those who could, to get out before the very last moment. By listening to the voice of the Spirit in answer to their prayers the Christians of the last generation will be led to solitary places in advance of the “abomination”, as were some of the Christians of the first generation.

We should also note that He who appointed the Sabbath and its “rest” did not abolish it, nailing it to His cross, as some teach. The Sabbath was not rendered null and void by His death. Forty years after His crucifixion it was still to be held sacred, and the disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day, due to their careless inattention. The observance of the seventh day by the Christians of the last days as a symbol of their resting in Him, will likewise be a cause for earnest prayer.

From the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event, the last link in the chain of this earth's history, – the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory. Between these two events, there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness, centuries for His church marked with blood and tears and agony which He could not avert. Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look, and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention. “Then shall be great tribulation,” He said, “such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”. For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers. Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had not some listened to His voice, all would have perished. “But for the elect's sake,” He said, “those days shall be shortened”.

And I beheld another beast [the second anti-christ] coming up out of the earth; and [at first] he had two horns like a lamb [it looked Christ-like], and [then] he spoke as a dragon [Satanic]. And he exercised all the power of the first beast [the first anti-christ] before [in front of] him, and caused the earth and them which dwell therein to worship [the way of] the first beast, whose deadly wound was [now] healed.

And he [the second one] had power to give life to the image [copy] of the [first] beast, that the image of the beast should both speak [through religious laws], and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.]

False teacher/prophets did rise, deceiving the people, and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes where they often perished as at Masada. See note 1 at the end.

But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days, for this experience is given as a sign of the second advent as well. Even now teachers claiming to be Christ, and false prophets claiming to have messages from God, are showing signs and wonders to seduce His disciples. Have you heard the cry, “Behold, He is in the desert [a solitary place]”? (A while ago it was the favourite cry of the UFO people.) Thousands have gone forth into the desert, hoping to find Christ through religious experiences or alien encounters.

There are churches today which preach that Christ has already come in secret, while others claim that His coming is to individuals in moments of ecstasy.

And from many gatherings where men and women profess to hold communion with departed spirits, the call can now be heard, “Behold, He is in the secret chambers” for this is the claim that spiritism puts forth! But what says Christ? “Believe it not. For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” [it will be obvious to all who are looking up].

What is “the sign of the Son of man” which precedes the advent of the LORD? Sorry, we’ll have to leave that till next week.

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

Masada became famous for its attributed mythic significance`in the First Jewish-Roman War [66-73AD] (also known as the Great Jewish Revolt) when a siege of the fortress by troops of the Roman Empire led to a mass suicide of the site's Jewish Sicarii fugitives when defeat became imminent. Today, Masada is a very popular tourist destination.

Masada today is one of the Jewish people's greatest symbols. Israeli soldiers take an oath there: "Masada shall not fall again." Next to Jerusalem, it is the most popular destination of Jewish tourists visiting Israel. As a rabbi, I have even had occasion to conduct five Bar and Bat Mitzvah services there. It is strange that a place known only because 960 Jews committed suicide there in the first century C.E. should become a modern symbol of Jewish survival. [It honours death – Satan’s dominion!] Back

Note 2.
There are two kinds of churches professing Christianity:
One is made up of adult believers who accept excommunication as the ultimate church punishment for public sinful actions (not differences in doctrine). Another that is made up of all the people in a given physical area (or common belief) who accept extermination (genocide) as the ultimate punishment for what they consider to be error.

I suggest that the latter position has not changed much even in today’s Protestantism, as the 36^th article from the Belgic Confession makes clear.

I have added the emphasis, coloured and upper case. The description ANABAPTIST in the text means (among other things) those who believe in adult baptism only.)

It may not be evident right now, but, as Christ has told us (verses 9-12), when religious controversy rages without the benefit of a neutral state control, the majority of professing Christians will always persecute the minority to death.

The Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort comprise the doctrinal standards of the Christian Reformed Church. Also known as the "Three Forms of Unity," they arose out of the Protestant Reformation in Europe - the first two were written in the 1560s and were approved more than 55 years later by the same Synod of Dort (1618-1619) which drafted the third. Each had a different purpose, and they vary greatly in their tone and style; together, they define the core of what it means to be "Reformed."

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Article 36: The Civil Government

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We believe that

because of the depravity of the human race

our good God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers.

He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies

so that human lawlessness may be restrained

and that everything may be conducted in good order

among human beings.

For that purpose he has placed the sword [capital punishment]

in the hands of the government,

to punish evil people

and protect the good.

And being called in this manner
to contribute to the advancement of a society

that is pleasing to God,

the civil rulers have the task,

subject to God's law,

of removing every obstacle

to the preaching of the gospel

and to every aspect of divine worship.

They should do this

while completely refraining from every tendency

toward exercising absolute authority,

and while functioning in the sphere entrusted to them,

with the means belonging to them [the sword].

They should do it in order that

the Word of God may have free course;

the kingdom of Jesus Christ may make progress;

and every anti-Christian power may be resisted. ^*

Moreover everyone,

regardless of status, condition, or rank,

must be subject to the government,

and pay taxes,

and hold its representatives in honor and respect,

and obey them in all things that are not in conflict
with God's Word,

praying for them

that the Lord may be willing to lead them

in all their ways

and that we may live a peaceful and quiet life

in all piety and decency. ^**

* The Synod of 1958, in line with 1910 and 1938, substituted the above statement for the following (which it judged unbiblical):

And the government's task is not limited

to caring for and watching over the public domain

but extends also to upholding the sacred ministry,

with a view to REMOVING AND DESTROYING

all idolatry and false worship of the Antichrist;

to promoting the kingdom of Jesus Christ;

and to furthering the preaching of the gospel everywhere;

to the end that God may be honored and served by everyone,

as he requires in his Word.

** The Synod of 1985 directed that the following paragraph be taken from the body of the text and be placed in a footnote:

And on this matter WE DENOUNCE THE ANABAPTISTS, other anarchists,

and in general all those who want

to reject the authorities and civil officers

and to subvert justice

by introducing common ownership of goods

and corrupting the moral order

that God has established among human beings.