The Temple to be destroyed and the tribulation

Verses 1-14

This chapter is one of prophecy mainly about the end times and the second coming of Christ. All Scripture like this one before us ought to be considered with deep humility and prayer. On leaving the temple for the last time the disciples with the natural feelings of Jews called their Master’s attention to the building of which was composed. To their surprise, Christ tells them that the temple would be destroyed.

They came to Christ as He sat upon the Mount of Olives and asked Him, “Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Here we see a clue to the subject of the prophecy before us. There are three points that Christ makes. One is the destruction of Jerusalem. Two, the personal second coming of the Messiah, and three, the end of the world.

The first fourteen verses of the prophecy are taken up with general lessons of wide range and application. Let us now see what those lessons are before us.

The first lesson is a warning against deception. The first words of this warning by our Lord are, take heed that no man deceive you.” The devil knows very well the value of prophecy and has laboured to bring the subject into contempt. Let no man deceive you as to the facts of unfulfilled prophecy, by telling you they are impossible, or by which means or manner they shall come to pass. Let no man deceive you as to the time of unfulfilled prophecies by fixing dates onto certain events. The Bible is clear that the Gospel must be preached in every nation before the second coming of Christ. The Gospel has been declared in many nations, but not all. Above all let us remember that the first coming of the Messiah to suffer was an event that was hard to believe and understand by some.

The second lesson before us is a warning against extravagant expectations as to things that are to happen before the end times. It is a warning of great importance. We are not to expect a reign of universal peace until the coming of the Prince of Peace. Our Lord tells us to look for, “wars, famines, pestilence” and much persecution. We are not to expect a time of universal purity of doctrine and practice in the church of Christ before the end comes.

We will make a great mistake if we think the church of Christ is pure on earth at all times. We shall see the rising of “false prophets” the “abounding of iniquity” and the “waxing cold of the love of many.” The truth will never be received by all professing Christians. Only when the Head of the Church returns, and Satan is bound will we see true holiness and the truth loved by all in the church without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:27). The Gospel is to be preached in all nations as a witness to the truth, but we must not believe that it will be universally believed. The nations will be fully gathered when Christ returns. May we spread the Gospel in the world for the time is short. The night cometh when no man can work. Troubled times are ahead. Heresies and persecutions may soon weaken and distract the people and the church of Christ. A fierce war of principles may soon convulse the nations. The doors that are open to us today to do good may soon be shut forever.

This day may come sooner than we might think. We have already seen the Bible banned and outlawed in many settings. Public prayer is already a crime outside abortion centres. There is a growing secular and anti-God attitude in the West. There have been laws passed that are contrary to God’s law and the vast support for unholy men is something that should motivate us to preach the Gospel to the lost. Conservative Christian values are hated in the West. Many people are offended by Christians just saying what they believe. Just look at the state of our society we have ungodly leaders and professing Christians calling good evil and evil good. Our national Church, the Church of England is no longer a true Christian church and has abandoned the Bible almost completely. The men who are meant to be the spiritual leaders of England are openly supporting sin and applauding wickedness in our country. They are not wolves in sheep’s clothing, but wolves in wolf’s clothing as their errors are plain to see. O what a pitiful and sad state we find ourselves in.

We may yet see in our lifetime the sun going down on Christianity just like the sun went down on Judaism in AD 70. Let us long for the return of the King. May we all have the heart to pray daily, Come, Lord Jesus Christ, Come quickly Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

Christ Warns of false Christs.

Verses 15-28

Our main focus in these verses is our Lord’s prophecy concerning the takeover of the City of Jerusalem by the Romans. This event that Christ spoke of happened forty years later. A full record of this is to be found in the work of Josephus, the first-century Romano-Jewish historian. He writes, “No other city ever suffered such things. All the calamities which have happened to any from the beginning, seem not comparable to those which befell the Jews.”

It is surprising that so much importance is attached to the taking of Jerusalem. Some would rather regard this chapter as an unfulfilled prophecy. Some forget that the temple and Jerusalem were the heart of the old Jewish dispensation. The Lord Jesus Christ predicts the desolation of “the holy place.”

Those who doubt are told to look at the last chapter of the prophet Zechariah and the last chapter of the prophet Daniel. These two chapters contain deep and solemn words for us. They throw light on the verses that are before us in this passage of Matthew.

It now remains for us to consider the lessons which are for our edification.

Firstly, we see that flight from danger may sometimes be good and the Christian’s duty. Our Lord Himself commanded His people under some circumstances “to flee.” The people of Christ are not to be cowards. The Christian is to confess his Lord before men even if that means death. He must be willing to die for the sake of the truth. The Christian is not to run to danger or willingly seek trouble unless it comes in the line of duty as a faithful servant. He is not to be ashamed of his faith in Christ. He is to be bold in his proclamation of Christ. There is deep wisdom in this lesson. May we have the wisdom to know how to act in times of persecution.

Secondly, in delivering this prophecy our Lord makes mention of the Sabbath. He says, “that your flight be not on the Sabbath day.” Pious Jews would have scruples about travelling more than a Sabbath day’s journey on that day.  He is foretelling the final destruction of the temple as if to mark the day with honour.

Thirdly, we learn that the elect of God is always people of special care. Twice in this passage, our Lord mentions them. Firstly, “for the elect’s sake the days of tribulation will be shortened” and secondly, He mentions them when He says it will not be possible to deceive the elect.

Those whom God has chosen to be saved by Christ are God’s elect. He has a special love for them and will protect them in the world. He keeps them by the Holy Spirit. Neither man nor the devil will be able to pluck them out of the Father’s hand. May we make sure that we are part of God’s elect. Give the diligence to make our calling and election sure.

Finally, we see from these verses that whenever the second coming of Christ shall be it will be a very sudden event. It will be “as the lightning coming out of the east, and shining ever to the west.” This is a truth that we should always keep in mind, that our Lord will come again to this world in person. He will come in a time of great tribulation. However, as to the year, the month, the day, the hour no man knows. We only know that one day Christ shall return and it will be sudden and a glorious day. We are to live as always prepared for His return. Let us walk by faith and not by sight. Let us believe in Christ, serve Christ, follow Christ, obey Christ, and love Christ. So that when Christ does return we shall be ready to meet Him.

It is well worth noting that the Pope of Rome claims to be Christ on earth and claims to be on equal footing with God, the Father. They have deceived many and led many astray. It is possible that the many false Christs mentioned in the text are pointing to the many Bishops of Rome, those men of sin. The Bishop of Rome fits the description of such spoken of here. He claims to be the Vicar of Christ, meaning “in the place of Christ”, making him an antichrist.

Christ will come to judge the world

Verses 29-35

In this part of our Lord’s prophecy, He describes His second coming to judge the world. If the words here mean nothing more than the coming of the Romans to Jerusalem, we may explain away anything in the Bible. The events described here are far more than a march of an earthy army.

Firstly, we learn that when the Lord Jesus returns to earth, He will be with glory and majesty. He shall come “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Before His presence, the sun, moon, and stars shall be darkened and all “the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” The second coming of Christ shall be different from the first coming. At His first coming Christ was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He was born in a humble manger in Bethlehem. He took on the form of a servant and was rejected by men. He shall come the second time as king of all the earth, with royal majesty.

Secondly, we learn that when Christ returns to this world, He will take care of His Church. He shall “send His angels” and “gather together His elect.” Those mighty angels who rejoiced in heaven when each sinner repented shall meet with the Church in the air. When Christ comes again Christians shall be gathered together.

Thirdly, we learn that until Christ returns to this earth the Jews will always remain a separate people. Our Lord tells us, “This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.” Let us remember this. Let us see in every wandering Jew proof that the Bible is true and that Christ will one day return to the earth.

Finally, we learn that our Lord’s prediction will be fulfilled. He says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Our Lord knew the unbelief of man’s nature. He knew that “scoffers would arise in the last days, saying, Where is the promise of His coming.” Christ knew that faith would be rare on earth. How true is that of our society and experience in most of the world? There is great unbelief, unfaithfulness, and doubt. We are living in days of unbelief which is the setting for the second coming of Christ. We do not know when Christ will return but the state of the world points out that Christ will soon come.

This unbelieving age does not believe the report of His second coming. Let us beware of this. May God give us a mind and will to believe all that Scripture reports about Christ and His second coming.

No Man Knows the Hour

Verses 36-51

In the closing verses of Matthew 24, we read about Christ and the final details He gives about His second coming. We learn that men will be about their daily business just like they were in the days of Noah. They laughed and mocked Noah for building an ark in the middle of the desert. It must be said that when the rain fell, and the water got deeper and deeper they were not laughing then. No doubt they were crying for mercy and begging to enter the ark, but it was too late.

The ark is an Old Testament picture of our Lord. The ark was the one and only way to be saved from the great flood. Christ is the one and only way to be saved from sin.

We learn in these verses that when Christ shall come again the world will be just like it was in Noah’s day. When the flood came men were found, “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” They were taken up with worldly pursuits and completely absorbed in self-interest. They cared not for the most part about spiritual matters despite Noah’s repeated warnings. They mocked Noah and drowned in the flood. They have been swept away unpardoned, unconverted, and unprepared to meet their maker and Judge. Do not be like those men and women who were ill-prepared. As we are warned in Scripture and by conscience, “Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12).

Remember, the days of Noah are the kind of days when Christ shall return. Millions will be found unbelieving, godless, Christless, worldly, and unfit to stand before Christ. Let us take heed that we are not found amongst them.

There will be an awful and great separation when Christ returns. We read that “one shall be taken and the other left.” The divide will be between godly and ungodly. In other words, between Christians and non-Christians. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet and forevermore the world will be split into two between the children of God and the children of the devil. Who can tell the joy and happiness of Christ’s return to earth when those are taken? Who can imagine the woe and misery of those who will be left behind? Think about these things and consider your ways before the Lord? Search the depths of your heart and soul, are you in Christ this hour?

We must pay particular attention to the question above because as Scripture warns us Christ’s second coming will be like a thief in the night, unexpected. “Watch”, says Christ because you, “know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Christians ought to live like watchmen. The day of the Lord shall come like a thieve in the night.

Let us seek to make sure that our election and calling are sure. Let us make sure that we are safe in our ark which is Christ. Let us live as if Christ will return at any moment. Let us be prepared to meet Christ. The importance of the text and warning before us cannot be more stressed. Prepare to meet thy God.