TEACHING NOTES Introduction The subject of end times is wildly popular and also highly debated. Those who love to study the end times are often watching the news to see which chapter of Revelation predicted the headlines. Masses of Christians are eagerly awaiting the Rapture so they can avoid a Great 7-Year Tribulation. When anything bad happens in America, many Christians immediately assume the end is near and start posting “end time” scriptures online. Many times these passages come from Jesus’ words in Matthew 24. Disclaimers: There are various views on end times held by qualified Bible scholars. This study is not intended to change your view, but only to present alternatives. The earliest Christians, some of whom knew the apostles, held various views of the end times. Many of them expressed that they couldn’t be sure on the details. Therefore, we should not be overconfident that our view is correct. I believe that Jesus will return to earth in the future. But I do not believe Matthew 24 is describing that event. Views of Eschatology (End Times) Below are the three major categories of eschatology. Each category has one or more variations in which people disagree on the details. Premillennialism: The return of Christ will occur before the millennial reign of Christ. The return of Christ is preceded by an intense period of tribulation. Postmillennialism: The return of Christ will occur after the millennial reign of Christ. Adherents to this view differ on the tribulation. Amillennialism: The millennial reign of Christ began when Jesus ascended to the right hand of God and continues until the return of Christ. Popular View: Dispensational Premillennialism This view states that in Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21 Jesus was describing something called “The Rapture” and “The Great Tribulation.” The church will be raptured out to avoid the seven-year tribulation period. During the tribulation, God will again work with Israel and they will rebuild the temple and sacrificial system. This prepares the Jews to accept Jesus as Messiah when He returns. After the tribulation, Jesus will return to earth and setup His kingdom for 1,000 years. After the kingdom age will come judgment day and the new creation. It’s important to know that Dispensational Premillennialism, the rapture, and a seven-year tribulation was totally unknown until the year 1830. It is literally the newest view of the end times. No one in church history spoke of a rapture and a seven-year tribulation until 1830. Until 1830, everyone believed that “the rapture” and the 2nd coming were the same event. Dispensationalism was created by John Nelson Darby in England. Darby began as a priest in the Church of Ireland but after two years he left to start a new group called The Brethren, later called the Plymouth Brethren. However, Darby’s non-negotiable views on the separation of Israel and the church, the rapture and seven-year tribulation, and his strict literal interpretations of the Bible eventually split the Brethren denomination. Those who disagreed with Darby’s views referred to themselves as the Open Brethren. Darby’s group became known as the Exclusive Brethren or Darbyites. Darby’s views became most popular after he traveled to the United States and Canada on seven speaking tours from 1859 to 1874. His views eventually were included in the popular Scofield Reference Bible in 1909. In 1918, Clarence Larkin published Dispensational Truth which promoted Darby’s views and was the first to include elaborate end times charts. Today, it is the most popular view in the United States. However, Darby’s views are not held in much of the world. Two Problems with Modern Eschatology Context is often ignored. Historical events are often unknown or ignored. What if Jesus wasn’t talking about the end of the world? What if we’re misunderstanding Jesus because we’re reading out of context? Before we get into Matthew, we need to see that Isaiah 5 is the backdrop for how Matthew has designed ch. 21-24. Since Matthew 21-24 seems to be following the flow of Isaiah 5, we would expect Jesus to be talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. In order to understand Matt. 24 we need to backup into ch. 23 to correctly understand the context. In Matt. 23, Jesus is in Temple area pronouncing seven “woes” or warnings on the Pharisees (the shepherds of Israel). In the seventh woe, Jesus makes a striking statement about the Pharisees’ future... Matthew 23:35 ESV 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. On you = Whatever Jesus is going to predict in the next chapter is going to happen to these Pharisees. Therefore, we have a clue that these events are not directed to some distant future generation, but are directed to “this” generation. God’s judgment on Israel and Jerusalem would come on the Pharisees in the first century. ​ Matthew 23:37 ESV 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Jerusalem = Here we see that Jesus is inditing Jerusalem, the capitol city of the nation of Israel. You were not willing = Jesus wanted to gather them into safety, but they were not willing to listen to Jesus as the Messiah. ​ Matthew 23:38–39 ESV 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” Your house = It should be noted that when Jesus first came into the temple He called it “my Father’s house” (). Now Jesus calls the temple “your house.” Left to you desolate = Jesus is using language from Isa. 64:11; Jer. 12:7; 22:5 that refers to God abandoning the temple, which has always led to its destruction. Many Christians do not know that Jerusalem’s temple has been destroyed twice in history. The first temple (Solomon’s Temple) was destroyed in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians. Israel’s prophets predicted the temple’s destruction and used much of the same apocalyptic language that Jesus uses in Matthew. The second temple (Herod’s Temple) was destroyed in A.D. 70 around 38 years after Jesus predicted its destruction. Matthew 24:1 ESV 1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Take note that the temple is the context of the conversation. The disciples are pointing out the huge temple complex. Why? Because they just heard Jesus refer to its destruction. They had also heard him say things like this about the temple before (John 2:18-20). These Jewish disciples are shocked that such a large temple complex would be destroyed. ​ Matthew 24:2 ESV 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Not one stone left upon another = This indicates total destruction. Even the massive stacked stone walls would be torn down. Interestingly, this is exactly what the Jewish historian Josephus wrote after Jerusalem was destroyed. ​ Matthew 24:3 ESV 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Sat on the Mount of Olives = This tells us where this conversation is taking place. If you sat on the Mt. of Olives and looked to the west, the massive temple mount would be the view. The view is very important for the context. The disciples came to him privately = Here we’re told exactly who Jesus is talking to in the following verses. Mark 13:3 tells us it was Peter, James, John, and Andrew. This is important for how we interpret the passage. Jesus is going to say things like, “when you see all these things,” and the “you” is the disciples, not people living 2,000 years later. The disciples have questions: When will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming/end of the age? These Things = Refers to what Jesus has already said about the temple’s destruction. Apparently, for God to abandon the temple and allow it to be destroyed, meant the end of an age. Sign of your coming = Today, when people talk about Jesus’ return they call it “the second coming.” However, the Bible never uses the phrase “second coming” but only that Jesus is coming. There is no numerical value given in the New Testament. There is no biblical reason to think that Jesus is limited to only two comings. The end of the age = An important fact to know here is that the King James Version of the Bible translated this phrase as “the end of the world.” However, that is incorrect because the Greek phrase is synteleia ho aion, which means the end of the age. The Greek word for “world” is kosmos and is not used in this passage. In order to understand this phrase, we must realize that Israelites thought of history in terms of ages. An aion or age is a period of time with a beginning and an end. Jesus and His disciples are in the age of the second temple which was still under the Law (Torah) or the old covenant. The old covenant (age) depended on the temple for obedience to the Torah and forgiveness of sin. Jesus brought in a new age and a new covenant that does not depend on Israel nor its temple for obedience and forgiveness of sin. In fact, there is no longer any need for a temple because God has made believers His temple. Now, in order for the old covenant to end and the new one take over, the old temple must be removed. That’s why Jesus declares that it will be torn down and a new temple would be established. This new temple is made up of believers indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Other passages about the end of the age: Matt. 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 1 Cor. 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” Heb. 9:26 “for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Note: Both Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7, say the disciples asked “When will these be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” Only Matthew includes “your coming and the end of the age.” Therefore, the disciples assumed all these events are connected and not separate. Did Jesus say when these events would happen? Matthew 24:34 ESV 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. This generation = If there is any doubt as to what generation Jesus is referring to, we can look to other times when Jesus used this phrase. In Matt. 11:16, Jesus asked “to what shall I compare this generation?” obviously speaking of the people listening to Him. In Matt. 12:41, the Pharisees are rejecting Jesus and demanding signs, Jesus says “The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment of this generation and condemn it...” In Matt. 23:36, Jesus is pronouncing woes of judgment on the Pharisees and says, “all these things will come upon this generation.” Therefore, “this generation” must refer to the people living in the first century. In New Testament times, a generation was 40 years. Jesus is saying that the events He is predicting would occur within 40 years. Jesus was right and 38 years later Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70. Note: Some say that everything from Matt. 24:1-35 would occur in the first century, but everything Jesus said in Matt. 24:36ff would occur much later in the future. However, Mark and Luke both record that all of the events mentioned in Matt. 24 would occur within “this generation.” Only in Matthew, “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” is in the middle of Jesus’ speech. In Mark and Luke it is at the end of Jesus’ speech. Therefore, we should understand that every event Jesus is predicting would take place within 40 years of the time Jesus predicted them. Signs of False Prophets Matthew 24:4–5 ESV 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Many will come claiming to be the Messiah = Jesus is saying that before Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed, many false Christs (or antichrists) would try to deceive people into following them. See that no one leads you astray = Notice that Jesus is warning Peter, James, John, and Andrew that false Christs (antichrists) would try to deceive them. In this passage, when Jesus says “you” He is talking to these four disciples. History: Josephus records that during the seige of Jerusalem, many false prophets tried to lure people into following them in the years leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction. These false prophets convinced people not to leave the city, which led to their slaughter. See Wars of the Jews 2.13.258-263 and 6.5.285-287. Signs on Earth Matthew 24:6–8 ESV 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Wars and rumors of wars = Between 66 and 70 AD there were multiple wars in and around Israel. Different groups of Jews fought with each other, Rome conquered certain areas, and other nations were threatening war. History: The Roman historian Tacitus wrote about this time period, “The history on which I am entering is that of a period rich is disasters, terrible with battles, torn by civil struggles, horrible even in peace. Four emperors fell by the sword; there were three civil wars, more foreign wars, and often both at the same time.” (Tacitus, The Histories, 1:2) Famines and earthquakes in various places = These events are well recorded in first century writings. One famine is even recorded in the New Testament book of Acts, which occurred in 44-48 AD (Acts 11:28). Josephus also records this famine in Antiquities 3.320; 20.101. History: Josephus records that there were great storms and earthquakes during the war and that these were signs that Jerusalem’s destruction was near (The Wars of the Jews 4.4.286-287). These are but the beginning of the birth pains = Meaning that wars, famines, and earthquakes are the signs that the end of Jerusalem is near. ​ Matthew 24:9–12 ESV 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. They will deliver YOU up to tribulation = Jesus is telling the disciple that they will suffer tribulation and be killed at the hands of all nations. Obviously, this came to pass as both Israel (Jews) and Rome (Gentiles) persecuted the church. Many will fall away = Persecution and tribulation has a way of weeding out false believers. Under the persecutions of Israel and Rome, many Christians recanted their faith in Christ to save their own lives. Many were led astray by false prophets. Lawlessness will be increased = If you read the accounts of Josephus, you will be sickened by the grotesque lawlessness that occurred during the seige of Jerusalem. Awful things were done, even inside the temple, by both Jews and Romans. These unspeakable acts continued for 3.5 years before the war was over. The love of many will grow cold = During the Jewish War the Romans had shut in the population of Jerusalem within the city walls. This was a common method in the ancient world. The strategy is to lock the people inside the walls and wait them out. Once starvation set it many tried to escape and were killed or taken as slaves. Those who remained inside faced the most fierce famine, in-fighting, and other awful actions against each other. Josephus describes in graphic detail how people were chewing leather strap, searching dead bodies for food, and even cannibalism. One line of Josephus relates to what Jesus is saying, “as the shadow of any kind of food did anywhere appear, a war was commenced presently; and the dearest friends fell a fighting one with another about it, snatching from each other the most miserable supports of life” (War of the Jews 6.3.194). ​ Matthew 24:13–14 ESV 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Gospel of the kingdom = Notice that Jesus refers to His gospel as “the gospel of the kingdom.” Proclaimed throughout the whole world = We must realize that the biblical authors know nothing about the world being a globe. The Greek word used here for “world” is oikoumene, which refers to an inhabited area or an empire. For the New Testament writers, the Roman Empire was the entire world. Then the end will come = The end of what? Here we must remember that the context is about Jerusalem and the temple, not the end of the world. After Jesus said these things, the apostles went on spreading the gospel all over the known world for the next 38 years. At the time that Jerusalem was destroyed, the gospel had already reached every area of the Roman Empire. ​ Matthew 24:15 ESV 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), Abomination of desolation = Jesus tells us that we need to read and understand Daniel’s prophesies in Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. Daniel’s prophesy states that a ruler would desolate the temple by committing an abomination inside the Holy of Holies. Daniel is told that from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 7) to the desolation of the temple would be 490 years. This has happened more than once in Jewish history. The first abomination of desolation occurred in 586 BC when Babylon destroyed the temple. The second occurred in the intertestamental period when Antiochus Epiphanes turned God’s temple into a Greek temple and began sacrificing pigs in the temple to Greek gods (1 Macc. 1:20-53). The last abomination of desolation occurred in AD 70 when the Roman general Titus came into the temple at the end of the Jewish War. Titus set up Roman idols in the Holy of Holies and made sacrifices to them, spread out a scroll of the Torah and had intercourse with two harlots on the scroll, took all the temple vessels, and then burned down the temple. These events are well attested by multiple ancient Jewish and Roman sources. ​ Matthew 24:16–18 ESV 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. Let those in Judea flee to the mountains = Jesus is warning the disciples that when they see these things happening, they must get away from Jerusalem immediately. Obviously, these disciples would have also warned other believers as well. History: Josephus describes a speedy exodus of Jews in Nov.-Dec. 66 AD (The Wars of the Jews 2.20.556). Eusebius writes that those who believed Jesus’ warning fled to Pella, Jordan as these events unfolded (Church History 3.5.3). This is also attested by Epiphanius (Panarion 29.7.7-8 and 30.2.7). ​ Matthew 24:19–20 ESV 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. Pray that your flight may not be in winter = In Israel, winter was flood season. The Jordan river would flood, making it too dangerous to cross. The Christians who fled to Pella had to cross the Jordan River during flood season. However, Revelation 12 describes a woman (symbol of God’s people) fleeing to the wilderness and kept safe for 1,260 days or 3.5 years (Rev. 12:1-6). The dragon (Satan) pursues the woman and tries to kill her with a flood, but the ground opens (earthquake) and swallows the flood waters (Rev. 12:13-17). Or on a Sabbath = In Israel, long-distance travel was forbidden on the Sabbath. ​ Matthew 24:21 ESV 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. Then there will be great tribulation = This is where people get the idea of “The Great Tribulation” that is most often described as a 7-year period in the future. However, Jesus is not talking about our future and nowhere in the Bible is this period described as being 7 years long. It is repeatedly described as being 3 1/2 years long in the Bible, which is exactly the length the Jewish War. Such has not been and never will be = Josephus used the same terminology in describing the Jewish War. ​ Matthew 24:22 ESV 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. If those days had no been cut short = Jesus is saying that certain events would be cut short so some people would survive. This pause in the war would give time for the elect (believers) to escape. History: Josephus tells us that when the war first began in 66 AD, the general Cestius and the Roman army had gotten all the way to the temple wall but then suddenly fled away. Josephus says that Cestius had won the war, but suddenly fled “without any reason in the world” (The Wars of the Jews 2.19.538-540). Josephus believed that God had done something supernatural at the temple that only Cestius saw and it scared him so much he stopped the war. This event gave ample time for any believers to flee Jerusalem. ​ Matthew 24:23–28 ESV 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. See I have told YOU beforehand = Jesus is warning His disciples, not a distant future generation. Jesus is saying that believers in the first century would experience these events. It would make no sense for Jesus to warn His disciples about these events if they would be dead for thousands of years before they happened. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather = Jesus is saying that if the disciples don’t heed His warning they will be killed. History: Josephus claims, though scholars dispute his numbers, that there were approx. 1,100,000 people killed during the war and 97,000 were taken captive by the Romans. Other historians state that between 63 and 70 AD the number of people killed in and around Judea was 1,337,490. Signs in the Heavens ​ Matthew 24:29–30 ESV 29 “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 heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Immediately after the tribulation of those days = As these events begin to conclude there will be signs in the heavens to signal the end. Sun and moon darkened, stars will fall = Many modern readers take these phrases literally. However, Jesus is using Old Testament language that has always been understood as figurative in Israel’s history. This language was common in the Old Testament for describing a time of trouble and even the destruction of Jerusalem. This was not new ideas original to Jesus. For example, God tells Jeremiah to prophesy against Jerusalem that false prophets would come before its destruction in 587 BC (Jer. 5). Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah all said that the sun and moon would be darkened and the stars falling when Jerusalem would be destroyed (Isa. 13:10; 24:23; Ezek. 32:7; Joel 2:10; Zeph. 1:14-18; Zech. 14:1-21). However, figurative language does mean that nothing will actually happen in the heavens, but that strange things will be happening in the heavens as signs that judgment is coming. Solar and lunar eclipses, along with falling stars, were seen as signs from heaven for the Jewish people. The sign of the Son of Man = This sign of the Son of Man would be seen in the clouds. This comes directly from Daniel 7:13-14 where the Son of Man comes on the clouds to be presented to God and given an everlasting kingdom that includes people from all nations. In Daniel, the Son of Man is coming on the clouds to God, not to the earth. In Matthew 24, the Son of Man is also coming on the clouds, but never mentions Him coming down to the earth. The Son of Man is doing something in the heavens. ​ Matthew 24:31 ESV 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call = Notice here that the trumpet call is for the angels, not those on earth. The trumpet calls the angels to action. They will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of HEAVEN to the other = Notice here that the angels are not gathering from the earth but from heaven. In the Old Testament, the “four winds” are described as part of heaven and not part of the earth (Dan. 7:2; Zech. 2:6). The angels are gathering heavenly beings for battle. History: Many read Jesus’ words about the signs in heaven and immediately assumed these events have not yet happened. However, ancient historians have recorded strange events happening in the heavens during the Jewish War. Miraculous Signs During the Jewish War Josephus (Jewish eyewitness) tells us that miraculous signs were seen before and during the Jewish War and Tacitus (Roman historian) confirms them as well. These are found in Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, 6.6.288-315 and Tacitus, The Histories, 5.13. - A sword-shaped star stood over Jerusalem for a year. - A comet was seen in the sky for a year. - During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a bright light shone around the altar of the temple during the 9th hour of the night. It was so bright it looked like daytime around the temple for 30 minutes. - At the same feast, while the high priest was bringing a heifer to be sacrificed, it gave birth to a lamb in the middle of the temple. - In the 6th hour of the night, the eastern gate of the temple opened by itself. It takes more than 20 men to open or close this massive brass and stone gate. Then the captain of them temple closed it back by himself. To the wise, this signaled that the temple was no longer protected. - At sunset on the 21st day Jyar (shortly after the above feast), multiple witnesses saw chariots and soldiers surrounding the city in the clouds. - During Pentecost, as the priests were doing their nightly ministrations in the temple, they felt and heard a loud quaking followed be the sound of a multitude saying, “Let us leave this place.” ​ Matthew 24:32–35 ESV 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 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. Popular View of the Fig Tree: Many modern people say that the fig tree is symbolic for the nation of Israel. This view says that Jesus was predicting that Israel would again become a nation and that generation would experience all these events. Since Israel became a nation again in 1948, this view says that "this generation” began in 1948 and would end in 1988. However, proponents of this view have been updating the date ever since. This view also misses the fact that Jesus cursed a fig tree on His way into Jerusalem and declared it would never produce fruit again and the fig tree withered all the way to its roots (Matt. 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-23). Jesus’ View: What Jesus is saying here is very simple. Just like you can tell a new season is coming by looking at the leaves of a fig tree, you can see these events happening and know the end of an age is coming. The fig tree is merely an illustration on how to discern the times. ​ Matthew 24:36 ESV 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Concerning the day and hour no one knows = Jesus has just given them a general time frame (within 40 years), but they will not know exactly what day or hour. This is why all the signs occurred first, to give them plenty of time to leave town. This is the basis or context for the parables Jesus tells in Matthew 25 which are focused on being ready because the day and hour are unknown. ​ Matthew 24:37–42 ESV 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Popular View: Many modern readers assume that this passage is describing the rapture of the church before the tribulation. A close reading reveals that is not the case. If we read closely we will notice that it is not the righteous who are taken, but the unrighteous. Jesus said this event would be like the days of Noah. Who was swept away in Noah’s flood? The unrighteous. In the same way, when all these events unfold in Jerusalem the people who refused to believe Jesus would die or be taken away as slaves to Rome. ​ Matthew 24:43–44 ESV 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. If the master of the house had known = In parable form, Jesus speaks of two “masters”, one in Matt. 24:43 and another in verses 44-51. These are two different masters. In verse 43, the master seems to be in charge of Jerusalem and/or the temple. If this master had known the day and hour, he wouldn’t have let his house be destroyed. This may a reference to the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus. ​ Matthew 24:45–51 ESV 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Faithful and wise servant = Whereas the previous master was careless and let his house be overthrown, Jesus now describes a faithful and wise servant of a different master. This master seems to be Jesus Himself, who gives all His possessions to His faithful and wise servant. This parable is intended as a warning to the disciples (servants) not to get lazy and immoral but to be faithful and wise. In that place = While many see this as a reference to eternal hell, it seems more likely that the context is Jerusalem where much weeping and gnashing of teeth went on for over three years during the Jewish War. Jesus also uses this language when speaking about Gehenna, which was a valley outside of Jerusalem where the dead bodies of criminals and the poor were burned. What Now? In Matthew 24, Jesus is describing the judgment of Israel and the end of the Old Testament age of the Law. Those events occurred during the first century. But that leaves us with more questions. If what Jesus predicted in Matthew 24 has already happened, what about the events in Revelation? That will be covered in the next series. In short, there are still events to come in the future that are found toward the end of Revelation. The return of Christ, the final battle between good and evil, the resurrection, judgment day, and the new creation are yet to come.