Time for the Rescue

Matthew 24:2A
And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."

Matthew 24:3
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

The disciples asked Jesus about 3 specific topics:

1.  The destruction of the temple buildings

2.  The sign of Jesus return

3.  The end of the age

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
Matthew 24:5
"For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.

False teachings about Jesus and the time of his return would be preached.  We should be weary about false teachings.  Only God reveals the true meaning..

Matthew 24:6
"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

The time of the end does not come by wars.  They are not an imminent sign of Jesus return.

Matthew 24:7
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Matthew 24:8
"But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Matthew 24:9
"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Wars, famines, earthquakes, and religious persecution have prevailed for many years, but they are not a sign of His coming.

Matthew 24:10
"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
Matthew 24:11
"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
Matthew 24:12
"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

People have become cold in the way they treat other human beings, but this is just due as Jesus pointed out "because lawlessness is increased".  The news media and the entertainment business just pump out violence and lawlessness, and people get used to crime.

Matthew 24:13
"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Matthew 24:14
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

After the true news of His return is preached to the whole world, then He will return.  You are listening to this news right now!

Matthew 24:15
"Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Matthew 24:16
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

What Jesus is describing now is for the Jews of that time, the ones that were in Jerusalem when the temple was destroyed.  Jesus is now answering question number 1.  There are many interpretations of what is meant by the "abomination of desolation".  I suggest the reader compare what is said in Matthew with what is said by Luke:

Luke 21:20-21
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city;

Matthew 24:17
"Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
Matthew 24:18
"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
Matthew 24:19
"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
Matthew 24:20
"But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
Matthew 24:21
"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

The tribulation for the Jews was going to be intense.  They had to flee to the mountains, and out of the land of Israel, and were not able to come back to their land till many, many generations later.  Even now, the Jews have no jurisdiction over God's temple ruins.  Once this tribulation is over, God's coming is at hand. 

 Matthew 24:22
"Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

The tribulation for the Jews started with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, continued over the years with pogroms in diverse cities, and reached a maximum during the time of Hitler.  That persecution is what the old testament refers to as "Jacob's trouble", Jeremiah 30:7.  Satan thought he could destroy all the Jews, so that God could not keep the promise He made to Abraham; but he was not allowed -- "for the sake of the elect" those days were cut short.  This is explained in more detail in Reasons for the Rapture, and also in the Woman with 12 Stars.

Matthew 24:23
"Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
Matthew 24:24
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:25
"Behold, I have told you in advance.
Matthew 24:26
"So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them.
Matthew 24:27
"For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:28
"Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

God is telling us to be alert, not to go to any place... that the "vultures will gather" wherever the corpse is.  The Lord will send His angels to  gather us. We do not need to follow any human direction.

Jesus then goes on to describe the signs that will follow the tribulation --the signs before His return.  Remember, the tribulation for the Jews is just dwindling, but they are still an object of hatred in the land of Israel, with much persecution from Arabs and Palestinians.

These signs are the ones we should be looking for, and they will foretell Jesus imminent return to earth as explained in Wrath of God.

Matthew 24:30
"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31
"And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Matthew 24:33
So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

"These things" refer to the sun darkening, the moon darkening, and the stars falling.

Matthew 24:34
"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

The generation that sees the sign will not pass away till the event is fulfilled.  The generation that saw the abomination of desolation (the Roman armies desolating the temple) saw the destruction of Jerusalem (question number 1).

The generation that sees the signs in the sun, moon and stars will see Jesus return to earth for the rescue/rapture (question number 2).

The generation that suffers persecution by the one-world government of the beast will see the return of Christ for the battle of Armageddon and the end of the age (question number 3).

Do not confuse the rapture/rescue with the resurrection.  The first resurrection occurs many years after the rapture, as explained in Timeline to Revelation and Hope of the Christians.

Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Yes, God creates a new heaven and a new earth.

Matthew 24:36
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

At that time Jesus did not know that He would take so many years in returning to earth.  Only the father knew.

Matthew 24:37
"For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

Jesus did not know the time, but he knew the conditions that had to be present for his return -- the return for the rapture/rescue.

Matthew 24:38
"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

Matthew 24:39
and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

The people in the time of Noah did not understand; the same now, very few people are reading these words that you are reading now; most people are hooked to their TVs and are being influenced by Satan with lies and corruption.

Matthew 24:40
"Then there will be two in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 24:41
"Two will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Matthew 24:42
"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

As you can see, Jesus might come when you are at work.  You might be taken and your co-worker might not.  It is like a train we are all waiting for, and the train is late.  If we step out and go to do something else, we might lose the train.  The train will leave and we will be left behind.  So it will be at the time of Jesus coming to rescue his followers.  

We are sounding the alarm that the Lord is coming!  Be prepared to leave.  Do not miss "the train"! Do not delay your departure by doing something else. Remember Lot's wife, Luke 17:32. Take the warning, so you are not part of the group that is left behind.

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