Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Understanding Matthew 24
There are many who interpret parts of Matthew 24 to fit whatever they want to believe, but few seem to just sit down and try to really understand what it is actually saying. The Bible is often more clearly stated than we want to admit. It is man's twisting of scriptures, trying to interpret it that has led to there being thousands of denominations in Christianity. The truth... God's truth and not man's interpretation, is often very clear if we just open our eyes. I believe this is the case for Matthew chapter 24.
The chapter starts with the disciples being amazed at the great buildings in Jerusalem, and pointing them out to Jesus. Jesus responds by telling them that all of them will be destroyed. Not one stone will be left upon another. His disciples then ask Him what will be the signs of His coming and the end of the age.
Starting in verse 4, Jesus lists off some signs...
* There will be many false Christs.
* There will be wars and rumors of wars.
* Nation will rise against nation.
* There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
There are two things that should be noted of these signs. In verse 8 Jesus clearly states that these are not the end but are just the birthing pains. This is just the prelude to the End Times. Secondly is that these signs are all generalized. These are things that have happened throughout history.
I believe this is intentional. The Lord wanted His believers to always be looking for His return. So He was not going to give specific signs to watch for that no other age would see happening.
The chapter starts with the disciples being amazed at the great buildings in Jerusalem, and pointing them out to Jesus. Jesus responds by telling them that all of them will be destroyed. Not one stone will be left upon another. His disciples then ask Him what will be the signs of His coming and the end of the age.
Starting in verse 4, Jesus lists off some signs...
* There will be many false Christs.
* There will be wars and rumors of wars.
* Nation will rise against nation.
* There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
There are two things that should be noted of these signs. In verse 8 Jesus clearly states that these are not the end but are just the birthing pains. This is just the prelude to the End Times. Secondly is that these signs are all generalized. These are things that have happened throughout history.
I believe this is intentional. The Lord wanted His believers to always be looking for His return. So He was not going to give specific signs to watch for that no other age would see happening.
Matthew 24:9 (NASB)
9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
So everything before this was Pre-Tribulation. Now we are stepping into the Tribulation. He says they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. I find this very interesting because this fits very well with the 5th Seal in Revelation.
Revelation 6:9-11 (NASB)
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
Many try to say this is the beginning of the Christians being persecuted by the Antichrist. But it never mentions the antichrist or that they refuse to take the mark or anything. It only says they are killed because they hold to the testimony which they maintained. Because of the Word of God. Just as in Matthew 24:9 they are killed and hated because of Jesus.
I believe this is actually going to be persecution from the One World Religion. As Christians will be the only religion that refuses to join them and stands strong on the truth that the only way to heaven is through Jesus. The one world religion will have its extremists who will hate the Christians for this, name them as hateful and even start killing them.
Then Jesus continues with the things that will happen during the Tribulation.
* Many will fall away and even betray one another. Here we have the Apostasy that is mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
* Many false prophets will rise up and mislead many.
* Most people's love will grow cold.
* This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world.
People seem to commonly mix these signs up with those of the pre-tribulational signs. Thinking that love is growing cold today so it is a sign. That the gospel must be preached in all the world first. No. Though people's love seems to already be growing cold, what we see today is nothing compared to what it will be like after the Tribulation starts. The Gospel does not need to reach the remote parts of the world until during the Tribulation.
In verse 15, Jesus changes things up. He does not continue from where He left off. He uses the word "Therefore". So Now He is telling us something else.
I believe this is actually going to be persecution from the One World Religion. As Christians will be the only religion that refuses to join them and stands strong on the truth that the only way to heaven is through Jesus. The one world religion will have its extremists who will hate the Christians for this, name them as hateful and even start killing them.
Then Jesus continues with the things that will happen during the Tribulation.
* Many will fall away and even betray one another. Here we have the Apostasy that is mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
* Many false prophets will rise up and mislead many.
* Most people's love will grow cold.
* This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world.
People seem to commonly mix these signs up with those of the pre-tribulational signs. Thinking that love is growing cold today so it is a sign. That the gospel must be preached in all the world first. No. Though people's love seems to already be growing cold, what we see today is nothing compared to what it will be like after the Tribulation starts. The Gospel does not need to reach the remote parts of the world until during the Tribulation.
In verse 15, Jesus changes things up. He does not continue from where He left off. He uses the word "Therefore". So Now He is telling us something else.
Matthew 24:15 (NASB)
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—
When you read Daniel, you learn that it is in the middle of the last week (7 Years) of his 70 weeks prophecy that the "prince who is to come" will put an end to sacrifices and grain offerings. He calls this man the abomination of desolation. So we know Jesus is now talking more specifically of the midpoint of the Tribulation.
He gives warning to the people that they must flee immediately when this happens. To leave everything behind and just flee. Do not even go back inside to get their cloak. He says to pray that it doesn't happen in the winter or while you are pregnant etc... He is making it very clear that when the man of lawlessness, as Paul calls him, enters the Temple, they are to flee immediately!
He gives warning to the people that they must flee immediately when this happens. To leave everything behind and just flee. Do not even go back inside to get their cloak. He says to pray that it doesn't happen in the winter or while you are pregnant etc... He is making it very clear that when the man of lawlessness, as Paul calls him, enters the Temple, they are to flee immediately!
Matthew 24:21 (NASB)
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 again.
This verse is key. Many preterists read all this that happened and connect it to 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, and say all of this already happened. That it is not about the End Times. But Jesus makes it clear that this Tribulation after this happens will be the worst the world has ever witnessed or ever will witness. There is not an honest scholar in the world that would call what happened in 70 AD as being worse than the Holocaust. The simple fact that the Holocaust was worst by a large margin, means that either Jesus was talking about a yet future event, or He was wrong to say it was the worst that would ever be.
God often allows prophecies come partially true so that the people will see the prophecy is truly from God. Then it will be fully fulfilled at a later time. This is one of those cases. The prophecy seemed to be fulfilled in 70 AD. But it was not completely fulfilled because what happened in 70 AD was not the worst this world has ever seen. It also did not last 7 years and start with Nero making a covenant with many. So we know there is yet a future 7 Year Tribulation coming and in the midst of it, the antichrist will enter the temple and put an end to sacrifices and claim to be God. When that happens, it will set off the Great Tribulation which will be the worst 3.5 years this world has ever witnessed.
Jesus then gives a very important warning for the believers on the earth at this time...
God often allows prophecies come partially true so that the people will see the prophecy is truly from God. Then it will be fully fulfilled at a later time. This is one of those cases. The prophecy seemed to be fulfilled in 70 AD. But it was not completely fulfilled because what happened in 70 AD was not the worst this world has ever seen. It also did not last 7 years and start with Nero making a covenant with many. So we know there is yet a future 7 Year Tribulation coming and in the midst of it, the antichrist will enter the temple and put an end to sacrifices and claim to be God. When that happens, it will set off the Great Tribulation which will be the worst 3.5 years this world has ever witnessed.
Jesus then gives a very important warning for the believers on the earth at this time...
Matthew 24:23-28 (NASB)
23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 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. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
If you study the end times, whether you are pre-trib Rapture or post-trib rapture believer, there is one fact we all can agree on. The next time we see Jesus, it will be in the clouds. If the rapture happens pre-trib, we know that Jesus will come in the clouds and with a great shout call us up. The world will not see Him at this time, but every believer will see Him where? In the clouds. If you dont believe in the pre-trib rapture and believe it is post-trib, the Bible is very clear that in the Second Coming, every eye will see Him coming. Where? He will be descending from heaven and coming in the clouds. So if anyone says He is somewhere (anywhere) already on earth, do not believe them. The next time anyone sees Him it will be in the clouds. For the Son of Man will come as lightning flashes from the East to the West. Which is where? In the sky! That warning clearly tells us how to keep from falling for a false Messiah.
Matthew 24:29-31 (NASB)
29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Let me clarify right from the beginning that there is no possible way this is speaking of the pre-tribulation rapture. It is clearly speaking of the Second Coming. It cannot make it any more clear. It specifically states "immediately after the tribulation".
The Sun will be darkened and the moon will not reflect light. This is different from the signs that precede the day of God's Wrath where the moon turns blood red. Here the moon goes dark. Then every tribe of the earth will see Jesus coming in the clouds (as I already clarified). He will send forth His angels to gather the elect.
I will also clarify that this scripture does not in any way prove the Pre-Trib Rapture wrong. When the rapture happens pre-trib, Jesus gives a great shout and we are all changed and then caught up. The Greek word for "caught up" is "harpazo". It means to be snatched up quickly. Almost in a violent manner. Not to be gathered. The Bride is raptured and taken to heaven. The Elect are the 144,000 Jews who are sealed on their foreheads. They will be gathered and taken to Mount Olives where Jesus will set foot, and they will follow Him everywhere He goes.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
The Sun will be darkened and the moon will not reflect light. This is different from the signs that precede the day of God's Wrath where the moon turns blood red. Here the moon goes dark. Then every tribe of the earth will see Jesus coming in the clouds (as I already clarified). He will send forth His angels to gather the elect.
I will also clarify that this scripture does not in any way prove the Pre-Trib Rapture wrong. When the rapture happens pre-trib, Jesus gives a great shout and we are all changed and then caught up. The Greek word for "caught up" is "harpazo". It means to be snatched up quickly. Almost in a violent manner. Not to be gathered. The Bride is raptured and taken to heaven. The Elect are the 144,000 Jews who are sealed on their foreheads. They will be gathered and taken to Mount Olives where Jesus will set foot, and they will follow Him everywhere He goes.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32-35 (NASB)
32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
The first note here is that Jesus clearly says to learn this parable. This is not an ordinary parable. This parable has something important to learn and you will need to figure it out. Its not readily apparent.
To understand this parable, you have to understand how the fig tree works. In the Spring when most trees sprout their leaves, the Fig Tree continues to lie dormant. At one point, it even begins to give forth its fruit before any leaves come out. When it does finally sprout its leaves, the people know that Summer is right around the corner.
The interesting thing is that Jesus makes a comparison in this parable. He compares When the leaves sprout its right before Summer, to When you see all these things, know that He is right at the door. The sprouting of the leaves is compared to seeing all these things. The Summer is compared to His Coming.
Then we have the most controversial verse in this chapter. Jesus says that "this generation will not pass until all these things take place. Everyone is arguing over which generation He is talking about. Some say it is the generation of the Jews He is speaking to at that moment. Others say it is the generation that sees all these signs. Still others say it is the generation that witnesses the sprouting of the fig tree leaves.
Ask yourself, what was the whole parable of the fig tree for? Jesus did not tell parables because He just liked to throw stories out there now and then. He didn't tell them because He liked the sound of His own voice. He always told parables so we could learn from them. What can we learn from the parable of the fig tree?
Some might say to just make a comparison that when those signs happen, He is right around the corner, but does that really make sense to you? He clearly said to learn this parable! There was clearly something more important than just a simple comparison. The comparison to "He is right around the corner" when we see these signs seems really, really, simplistic compared to even His normal parables. Logically, there is more to learn from it.
When you study into it, you learn that the Bible uses trees to symbolize Israel. Sometimes it is the Olive tree. Sometimes the Vine represents Israel. A couple times the Fig Tree symbolizes Israel.
In particular, you have to look at how Jesus uses the Fig Tree here. That it lays dormant for so long and then sprouts its leaves right before Summer. If the Fig Tree is Israel, then what would its many leaves symbolize other than the people? If you are not aware of Israel's history, this is an awesome comparison and a prophetic one as well.
In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and passed a law. No Jew was allowed to live in the land again. They killed many of the Jews and took many as slaves. They ran the rest of the Jews out of the nation. Israel was no longer a nation and it laid dormant for 1,878 years. Then in 1948 it became a nation once again and the Jews returned to their homeland. After laying dormant for so long, the Fig Tree sprouted its leaves.
Again, I ask you, if this parable was not making this comparison using the fig tree to symbolize Israel, what was the sense to it? Why even give the parable? Why would He gives this parable when speaking about the end times? The fact that the fig tree is sometimes used to symbolize Israel, and that it laid dormant for so long and then sprouted its leaves, how can you not recognize that this is what Jesus was speaking about? Jesus didnt say "This generation" after telling of all the many signs to watch for. He says that after this parable. It was in reference to the fig tree sprouting its leaves right before the Summer. Which is to understand that Israel will see the Jews come back right before He returns. So "this generation" is clearly the generation that witnesses the return of the Jews to Israel.
Now if that is the generation that Jesus was speaking of, the question many ask then, is how long is a generation? A long time ago, there were some who interpreted scripture to say a generation was 40 years. Then when that amount of time passed, they changed it and found a way to interpret it to be 70 years. Now some are saying 80 years. This constant change has had the effect the devil wanted. It made people stop believing the parable was real. Let me ask you this... How long is a kiss or a hug? How long is a movie? How long is a thunder storm? How long is a life?
A generation is something we know when it starts. When did my life start? When I was born. When does it pass? When I die. When does any of these things start? The hug begins when two people embrace. It ends when they let go. There is no definitive length to any of these things. We know when they start but we never know when they end until they actually end. That is the truth to how a generation works.
Jesus clarified that the generation starts with the witnessing of the Fig Tree sprouting its leaves. When does that generation end? There is no specific pre-ordained length of time. It ends when the last person who was alive when it happened dies. People can interpret scripture to mean what they want, but that is the only logical understanding of when a generation passes. Jesus is simply saying that when all things are fulfilled, there will still be some who witness Israel becoming a nation again, who will still be alive.
People can live to be over 100 years old. So long as there is someone who was born before 1948 still alive, that generation has not passed. Likely of all the people alive in 1948, there are going to be some who live to be over 100 years old. So logically, we cannot even begin to assume that generation passed until at least 2048. Keep in mind that there will be a 7 year tribulation before Jesus returns in the Second Coming. So that means the tribulation would likely be before 2041. However, that does not mean He will wait that long before coming in the rapture. He never says all things will be fulfilled in the last couple years of the generation. Just that it will not pass. Jesus very well could rapture us today and the tribulation start soon after. That is why starting in verse 42, Jesus starts warning us to be alert for we do not know the day or hour.
To understand this parable, you have to understand how the fig tree works. In the Spring when most trees sprout their leaves, the Fig Tree continues to lie dormant. At one point, it even begins to give forth its fruit before any leaves come out. When it does finally sprout its leaves, the people know that Summer is right around the corner.
The interesting thing is that Jesus makes a comparison in this parable. He compares When the leaves sprout its right before Summer, to When you see all these things, know that He is right at the door. The sprouting of the leaves is compared to seeing all these things. The Summer is compared to His Coming.
Then we have the most controversial verse in this chapter. Jesus says that "this generation will not pass until all these things take place. Everyone is arguing over which generation He is talking about. Some say it is the generation of the Jews He is speaking to at that moment. Others say it is the generation that sees all these signs. Still others say it is the generation that witnesses the sprouting of the fig tree leaves.
Ask yourself, what was the whole parable of the fig tree for? Jesus did not tell parables because He just liked to throw stories out there now and then. He didn't tell them because He liked the sound of His own voice. He always told parables so we could learn from them. What can we learn from the parable of the fig tree?
Some might say to just make a comparison that when those signs happen, He is right around the corner, but does that really make sense to you? He clearly said to learn this parable! There was clearly something more important than just a simple comparison. The comparison to "He is right around the corner" when we see these signs seems really, really, simplistic compared to even His normal parables. Logically, there is more to learn from it.
When you study into it, you learn that the Bible uses trees to symbolize Israel. Sometimes it is the Olive tree. Sometimes the Vine represents Israel. A couple times the Fig Tree symbolizes Israel.
In particular, you have to look at how Jesus uses the Fig Tree here. That it lays dormant for so long and then sprouts its leaves right before Summer. If the Fig Tree is Israel, then what would its many leaves symbolize other than the people? If you are not aware of Israel's history, this is an awesome comparison and a prophetic one as well.
In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and passed a law. No Jew was allowed to live in the land again. They killed many of the Jews and took many as slaves. They ran the rest of the Jews out of the nation. Israel was no longer a nation and it laid dormant for 1,878 years. Then in 1948 it became a nation once again and the Jews returned to their homeland. After laying dormant for so long, the Fig Tree sprouted its leaves.
Again, I ask you, if this parable was not making this comparison using the fig tree to symbolize Israel, what was the sense to it? Why even give the parable? Why would He gives this parable when speaking about the end times? The fact that the fig tree is sometimes used to symbolize Israel, and that it laid dormant for so long and then sprouted its leaves, how can you not recognize that this is what Jesus was speaking about? Jesus didnt say "This generation" after telling of all the many signs to watch for. He says that after this parable. It was in reference to the fig tree sprouting its leaves right before the Summer. Which is to understand that Israel will see the Jews come back right before He returns. So "this generation" is clearly the generation that witnesses the return of the Jews to Israel.
Now if that is the generation that Jesus was speaking of, the question many ask then, is how long is a generation? A long time ago, there were some who interpreted scripture to say a generation was 40 years. Then when that amount of time passed, they changed it and found a way to interpret it to be 70 years. Now some are saying 80 years. This constant change has had the effect the devil wanted. It made people stop believing the parable was real. Let me ask you this... How long is a kiss or a hug? How long is a movie? How long is a thunder storm? How long is a life?
A generation is something we know when it starts. When did my life start? When I was born. When does it pass? When I die. When does any of these things start? The hug begins when two people embrace. It ends when they let go. There is no definitive length to any of these things. We know when they start but we never know when they end until they actually end. That is the truth to how a generation works.
Jesus clarified that the generation starts with the witnessing of the Fig Tree sprouting its leaves. When does that generation end? There is no specific pre-ordained length of time. It ends when the last person who was alive when it happened dies. People can interpret scripture to mean what they want, but that is the only logical understanding of when a generation passes. Jesus is simply saying that when all things are fulfilled, there will still be some who witness Israel becoming a nation again, who will still be alive.
People can live to be over 100 years old. So long as there is someone who was born before 1948 still alive, that generation has not passed. Likely of all the people alive in 1948, there are going to be some who live to be over 100 years old. So logically, we cannot even begin to assume that generation passed until at least 2048. Keep in mind that there will be a 7 year tribulation before Jesus returns in the Second Coming. So that means the tribulation would likely be before 2041. However, that does not mean He will wait that long before coming in the rapture. He never says all things will be fulfilled in the last couple years of the generation. Just that it will not pass. Jesus very well could rapture us today and the tribulation start soon after. That is why starting in verse 42, Jesus starts warning us to be alert for we do not know the day or hour.
Matthew 24:36-41 (NASB)
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 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, 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. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Lets be clear here. Jesus has now changed the subject to the rapture and not the Second Coming. Verses 29 - 31 were absolutely about the Second Coming, but there is a clear difference from those words to these. In those verses He plainly states that He will come with great signs and the world will see Him coming and will mourn for it. Here the image is one of sudden surprise.
The Son of Man's coming will be like in the days of Noah. They will be eating and drinking and marrying and giving away in marriage. These are not sinful acts. These are just acts of living. Going on with life and not worrying. It makes the comparison in verse 40 and 41. When He comes back, there will be two men in the field, one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill and one will be taken and the other left behind.
When Jesus comes in the Second Coming the sun will darken and the moon will not reflect light. Lightning will be flashing across the sky. Everyone will see Him coming. They will see the Lord and His enormous army descending in the clouds. Can you possibly imagine there will be two men working in the field when that happens? That two women will still be grinding at a mill? One is a great event that everyone would stop what they are doing and watch in awe. The other one portrays people going about life and it happens suddenly. They dont stop and watch all the fireworks and then the one next to them is gone. It doesn't even come close to sounding like that.
Some like to argue that this passage is showing us that the evil ones are taken away and not the Godly. This simply is a bad understanding. When someone writes and uses words like "he", "him" or "them", it is always referring to the last person or group of people mention in particular. When it says the floods came and took them away, follow the words backwards to the last individuals it mentions and that is who it is referring to. In this case it is Noah. So it would be saying that the floods came and took Noah and his family away. It is not speaking of the sinners being taken away because these scriptures do not even mention them. In the very least, one has to admit it does not specifically state if it is the wicked or Noah and his family that is taken away by the floods. So you cannot say that it is the wicked taken.
The Son of Man's coming will be like in the days of Noah. They will be eating and drinking and marrying and giving away in marriage. These are not sinful acts. These are just acts of living. Going on with life and not worrying. It makes the comparison in verse 40 and 41. When He comes back, there will be two men in the field, one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill and one will be taken and the other left behind.
When Jesus comes in the Second Coming the sun will darken and the moon will not reflect light. Lightning will be flashing across the sky. Everyone will see Him coming. They will see the Lord and His enormous army descending in the clouds. Can you possibly imagine there will be two men working in the field when that happens? That two women will still be grinding at a mill? One is a great event that everyone would stop what they are doing and watch in awe. The other one portrays people going about life and it happens suddenly. They dont stop and watch all the fireworks and then the one next to them is gone. It doesn't even come close to sounding like that.
Some like to argue that this passage is showing us that the evil ones are taken away and not the Godly. This simply is a bad understanding. When someone writes and uses words like "he", "him" or "them", it is always referring to the last person or group of people mention in particular. When it says the floods came and took them away, follow the words backwards to the last individuals it mentions and that is who it is referring to. In this case it is Noah. So it would be saying that the floods came and took Noah and his family away. It is not speaking of the sinners being taken away because these scriptures do not even mention them. In the very least, one has to admit it does not specifically state if it is the wicked or Noah and his family that is taken away by the floods. So you cannot say that it is the wicked taken.
Matthew 24:42-44 (NASB)
42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
This is more evidence that the last set of verses was speaking of the rapture and not the Second Coming. It starts off with "therefore be on alert". This is not changing the subject from verses 36 through 41, but it is adding an explanation. It says you do not know when the Lord is coming. It explains that if the head of a household knows when the thieves are coming, his house would never be broken into. So since we do not know when the Lord is coming, we need to stay on the alert.
Now when you really study the end times, you learn something through the Bowls. There comes a point when the people no longer repent after the bad things happen. At a certain point, even when the worst happens, it says they do not repent. There is a point in the end times when God decides what is done is done. Those who have turned to Him are His and those who refused are now lost. The focus changes from turning people to Him to just punishing the wicked. At this point, there is no purpose to staying alert for Him to return. Those who are Gods will stay Gods and those who are not His will not change their mind. I am a believer this is the very last weeks or months before the Lord returns. Also, through the Tribulation, there are so many things that are literally prophesied in the Bible that will happen, that those who believe will do nothing else but look for His return. They will know when the Lord is not coming because they will know certain events have not happened. Once all is fulfilled, they will then know to start watching for Him.
If the AC has risen to power but he has not killed the two witnesses yet. Every believer will know the Lord is not due to return in the Second Coming yet. He kills the two witnesses but some of the bowls have not happened. Revelation tells us so many things that will happen that the believers will be able to follow the events to know that the Lord is not going to return yet and once they are all fulfilled, they will know to start watching. There will be no sense in watching for His return when some of the events have not happened yet. So it makes zero sense to tell the people to stay alert for the Second Coming when they can just follow prophecy to know when that is ready to happen.
However, with the rapture, there are no signs before it happens. There are no events that must still happen first. It can happen as you are reading this or it could wait years yet. We simply have no possible way of knowing when it will happen. For the rapture, it makes perfect sense to be warned to stay alert because we do not know when He is coming.
Now when you really study the end times, you learn something through the Bowls. There comes a point when the people no longer repent after the bad things happen. At a certain point, even when the worst happens, it says they do not repent. There is a point in the end times when God decides what is done is done. Those who have turned to Him are His and those who refused are now lost. The focus changes from turning people to Him to just punishing the wicked. At this point, there is no purpose to staying alert for Him to return. Those who are Gods will stay Gods and those who are not His will not change their mind. I am a believer this is the very last weeks or months before the Lord returns. Also, through the Tribulation, there are so many things that are literally prophesied in the Bible that will happen, that those who believe will do nothing else but look for His return. They will know when the Lord is not coming because they will know certain events have not happened. Once all is fulfilled, they will then know to start watching for Him.
If the AC has risen to power but he has not killed the two witnesses yet. Every believer will know the Lord is not due to return in the Second Coming yet. He kills the two witnesses but some of the bowls have not happened. Revelation tells us so many things that will happen that the believers will be able to follow the events to know that the Lord is not going to return yet and once they are all fulfilled, they will know to start watching. There will be no sense in watching for His return when some of the events have not happened yet. So it makes zero sense to tell the people to stay alert for the Second Coming when they can just follow prophecy to know when that is ready to happen.
However, with the rapture, there are no signs before it happens. There are no events that must still happen first. It can happen as you are reading this or it could wait years yet. We simply have no possible way of knowing when it will happen. For the rapture, it makes perfect sense to be warned to stay alert because we do not know when He is coming.
Matthew 24:45-51 (NASB)
45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; 50 then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, 51 and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Okay, lets be blunt here. This one is very simple to explain. If someone starts doing things that are sinful simply because they dont believe the Lord is due to come right now, they are not saved. For them they will be headed for hell.
I am not saying that sin sends us to hell. I am not saying we are judged by our actions. I am not even saying that no true believer would fall into sin. What I am saying is that no true believer would willingly sin just because they believe they have time. Those who are the Lords typically do not want to live in sin. Some are dragged into sin and some are stuck in sin, but they dont do it because they believe they can get away with it. They do it because they cannot help themselves. There is a difference that takes place in their hearts.
There is a lot of unnecessary interpretation being done in this chapter to support when people want to believe. When you really just stop and read it, it is not so hard to understand. With scripture, more often than not, the most logical understanding is the right understanding. The more people need to twist verses to mean things they never say, the more often you fall to man's interpretation instead of God's truth. This is not always the case, but more often than not it is.
I am not saying that sin sends us to hell. I am not saying we are judged by our actions. I am not even saying that no true believer would fall into sin. What I am saying is that no true believer would willingly sin just because they believe they have time. Those who are the Lords typically do not want to live in sin. Some are dragged into sin and some are stuck in sin, but they dont do it because they believe they can get away with it. They do it because they cannot help themselves. There is a difference that takes place in their hearts.
There is a lot of unnecessary interpretation being done in this chapter to support when people want to believe. When you really just stop and read it, it is not so hard to understand. With scripture, more often than not, the most logical understanding is the right understanding. The more people need to twist verses to mean things they never say, the more often you fall to man's interpretation instead of God's truth. This is not always the case, but more often than not it is.
