Matthew 24 Matthew 24 The Destruction of Jerusalem and the End of the World Part 3 The Son of Man Coming In Judgment Upon Jerusalem Matthew 24:29-35

Matthew 24 Misunderstood Matthew 24 is very often misunderstood and misused by premillennialists who teach that there will be “signs” pointing to Jesus’ return and 1,000 year reign The word “signs” (24:3, 30) and the word “tribulation” (24:9, 21, 29) mentioned in Matthew 24 are widely used by premillenialists to teach this false doctrine

Matthew 24 Misunderstood

The Setting Jesus has been teaching in the temple during his last week in Jerusalem before going to the cross (21:12, 17-18, 23) Jesus prophesies that the Jews’ “house” (temple) will be made desolate (23:37-39; see Lk. 13:34-35; 19:41-44) Jesus’ disciples show him the beautiful temple stones (24:1; see Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews 15.11) Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem (24:2)

The Setting Jesus’ disciples ask Jesus when these things will be and Jesus answers them (24:3 – 25:46; see 26:1) When shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming (presence)? What shall be the sign of the end of the world?

The Setting When Jesus answers his disciples, he will talk about… 1. The beginning of travail (24:4-14; see 24:8) 2. The great tribulation (24:15-28; see 24:21) 3. The Son of man coming (24:29 – 25:46; see 24:27, 30, 37, 39, 42, 44; 25:31) In judgment upon Jerusalem (24:29-35) In judgment upon all the nations (24:36 – 25:46)

Matthew 24 Timeline A.D. 33 A.D A.D. 40’s – 60’s Matthew 24:1-3 The Setting Jesus predicts the temple Destruction (note the “bookends” 23:36 and 24:34) Matthew 24:4-14 The Beginning Deceivers Wars Famines Earthquakes Tribulation False prophets Gospel preached Matthew 24:15-35 The Tribulation Surrounding army Flee Jerusalem Great tribulation More deceivers More false proph. Son of Man comes All accomplished

The Son of Man Coming First, they will see the heavens shaken (24:29)

The Son of Man Coming MatthewMarkLuke 24:29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 13:24-25 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

The Son of Man Coming First, they will see the heavens shaken (24:29) Second, they will see the sign of the Son of Man (24:30)

The Son of Man Coming MatthewMarkLuke 24:30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

The Son of Man Coming First, they will see the heavens shaken (24:29) Second, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds (24:30) Third, they will see the gathering of the elect (24:31)

The Son of Man Coming MatthewMarkLuke 24:31 And he shall send forth 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. 13:27 And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. 21:28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

The Son of Man Coming First, they will see the heavens shaken (24:29) Second, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds (24:30) Third, they will see the gathering of the elect (24:31) Fourth, they will know that he is near (24:32-33)

The Son of Man Coming MatthewMarkLuke 24:32-33 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. 13:28-29 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. 21:29-31 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.

The Son of Man Coming First, they will see the heavens shaken (24:29) Second, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds (24:30) Third, they will see the gathering of the elect (24:31) Fourth, they will know that he is near (24:32-33) Fifth, they will experience all these things in the lifetime of their own generation (24:34-35)

The Son of Man Coming MatthewMarkLuke 24:34-35 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 13:30-31 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 21:32-33 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The Son of Man Coming MatthewMarkLuke 21:34-36 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The Historical Fulfillment The heavens shaken (24:29) – The mention of the fall of heavenly bodies has an OT background with reference to God’s judgment upon nations; symbolism portraying divine judgment and catastrophe: Babylon (Isa. 13:1-13), Edom (Isa. 34:1-5), and Egypt (Ezek. 32:1-10); also symbolic of radical change (Joel 28-31; Acts 2:20) – This symbolism is continued in the NT with God’s judgment upon Jerusalem and upon Rome (Rev. 6:12; 8:12)

The Historical Fulfillment The coming in the clouds (24:30) – The mention of the coming in the clouds, like the fall of the of heavenly bodies, has an OT background with reference to God’s judgment upon nations; symbolism portraying divine judgment and catastrophe: Egypt (Isa. 19:1) – This symbolism is continued in the NT with God’s judgment upon Jerusalem (see also Mt. 26:64) and Rome (Rev. 14:14-16); both are ref. to Jesus (Dan. 7:13-14)

The Historical Fulfillment The gathering of the elect (24:31) – Jesus will show his powerful judgment upon Jerusalem (24:30-31) and his powerful salvation upon the elect (24:31) – The elect would be gathered together by means of angels (Gr. aggelos = “messengers”) and the sound of a great trumpet (Isa. 27:13); possibly angelic messengers (Acts 5:19; 8:26; 10:3,7,22; 12:7-11, 23; 27:23) or human messengers (Acts 6:15; Gal. 4:14; Rev. 2:1,8,12; etc.)

The Historical Fulfillment Knowing that he is near (24:32-33) – The parable of the fig tree (taught by Jesus in the spring of the year) teaches the lesson that one can know when the time, the summer, is near (this not the “budding” of Israel in 1948!) – What Jesus said from verse 4 through verse 31 would give them knowledge of coming events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 – “At the door” is a symbol of immediate judgment (Jas. 5:9)

The Historical Fulfillment This generation (24:34-35) – Premillennialists try to make the point that “generation” (24:34) refers to the “Jewish race” alone, not to the people living at this time – However, “generation” refers to people living at the time of the matter under discussion (Mt. 1:1,17; 11:16; 12:38-45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36)

Lessons for Today Lessons for Today ( from Jesus’ Coming Upon Jerusalem) God brings down nations with great power and glory (24:29-30; Dan. 4:32; Rev. 19:15; Prov. 14:34) God makes a distinction between the judged and the elect (24:31; Lk. 18:7; Rom. 8:33; 2 Tim. 2:19) God holds a “generation” accountable for their sins (24:34; see 23:36; Num. 32:13; Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:15) God keeps his word (24:35; Mt. 5:18)