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SIGNS OF THE END MATTHEW 24
SIGNS AND TIME OF THE DAY OF THE
LORD THE END TIMES HAS BEEN PONDERED UPON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIMES. MANY IDEAS AND DOCTRINES HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE CENTURIES. SOME WOULD BELIEVE ONE THING, BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT THEY WERE RAISED WITH, SOME BELIEVE IN THE PRIEST OR MINISTER AND SOME WILL LOOK TO THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE ANSWERS. IT IS MY INTENTION TO LET THE SCRIPTURE SPEAK. IF AT ANY TIME YOU ARE IN QUESTION ABOUT ANY THING, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CHECK THE WORD OF GOD YOURSELF. I AM NOT A MINISTER, JUST A FELLOW BELIEVER TRYING TO HELP OTHERS ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE AND HELP SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL WHO WOULD HEAR. WHEN EVER POSSIBLE I WILL USE SCRIPTURE TO SUPPORT SCRIPTURE. THE QUESTION WE WILL LOOK INTO IS ONE ASKED BY THE LORDS DISCIPLES IN MATTHEW 24. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION WHO BETTER THAN TO ASK BUT JESUS HIMSELF. BEFORE WE BEGIN CHAPTER 24 I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE OF VERSES FROM ONE OF THE BOOKS THE LORD JESUS OFTEN QUOTED FROM. Deu 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; Deu 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.WHAT ARE THE SIGNS?... WILL THE CHRISTIANS BE SAVED FROM THE TRIBULATION?... HOW WILL WE KNOW?... WHEN WILL IT COME? ...WELL LETS READ MATTHEW 24 AND SEE WHAT JESUS SAY’S. WE’LL START OUR READING IN MATTHEW 24 AT VERSE 3, IT IS THE VERY QUESTION WE ARE SEEKING THE ANSWERS TO. Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?WHAT EXACTLY DID THE APOSTLES ASK? WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGNS OF YOUR COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD? Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.WHAT IS THE FIRST THING JESUS TELLS US? "TAKE HEED"... THESE THINGS MUST BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE MANY WILL TRY TO DECEIVE AND LIE TO US ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS EVEN TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS CHRIST. THIS DECEIVER IS NONE OTHER THAN THE ANTI-CHRIST THAT JOHN SPEAKS ABOUT: 2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ALSO CHECK 1 JO. 2.18 WHAT DOES EASTON’S BIBLE DICTIONARY SAY ABOUT THE ANTI-CHRIST? Antichrist against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival Christ. The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to false teachers, he says (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7), "Even now are there many antichrists." (1.) This name has been applied to the "little horn" of the "king of fierce countenance" (Dan. 7:24, 25; 8:23-25). (2.) It has been applied also to the "false Christs" spoken of by our Lord (Matt. 24:5, 23, 24). (3.) To the "man of sin" described by Paul (2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 8-10). (4.) And to the "beast from the sea" (Rev. 13:1; 17:1-18). Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. THE LORD SURE DESCRIBES BAD TIMES TO COME. OR MAYBE WE ARE LIVING IN THE BEGINNING OF THESE TIMES. TIMES WILL BE HARD AND MUST BE BEFORE THE END CAN COME. WARS, NATION AGAINST NATION, FAMINES AND EARTH QUAKES, IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER. Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.AND TO THINK THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS. Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.THE WORD AFFLICTED FROM THE GREEK ACCORDING TO STRONG 2347 thlipsis {thlip'-sis} from 2346; TDNT - 3:139,334; n f AV - tribulation 21, affliction 17, trouble 3, anguish 1, persecution 1, burdened 1, to be afflicted + 1519 1; 45 1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure 2) metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits IT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE US CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO BE LIKED MUCH DURING THESE TIMES TO SAY THE LEAST. Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. PEOPLE WILL BE SELFISH AND GREEDY. EVEN FAMILY WILL TURN ON ONE ANOTHER. PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR ANYTHING OR ANYONE AT THE END TIMES. WHAT DOES THE APOSTLE PAUL SAY. 2 TIM. 3.1-7 Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. WHAT OF THIS PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE THAT SOME ARE PREACHING? IT SOUNDS AS IF THE LORD IS TELLING US WE MUST ENDURE THIS TIME OF TURMOIL. IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT JESUS WILL COME FOR HIS PEOPLE UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD THE GOSPEL AND HAD THEIR CHANCE TO REPENT. AND THEN THE END COMES. Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. WE KNOW HIS COMING WILL NOT BE UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD THE WORD. THE ANSWER AS TO WHEN THE LORD WILL RETURN HE HASN’T SAID EXACTLY. WHAT DOES PAUL SAY TO THE THESSALONIANS 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: A TRUE SIGN TO WATCH FOR AND WHEN WE SEE IT WE SHOULD FLEE, AND THAT'S RIGHT STRAIGHT FROM JESUS HIMSELF.WHAT A GREAT SIGN HE GIVES US AND SOMETHING WE CAN CHECK IN THE SCRIPTURES. A SIGN SHOWN TO DANIEL HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE. Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. THERE IS MUCH MORE TO WHAT DANIEL HAS TO SAY. Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. I WOULD HOPE THESE TWO VERSES WOULD SPARK ANY INTERESTED BELIEVER. IN ORDER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THESE PROPHESIES THE BOOK OF DANIEL NEEDS EXTENSIVE STUDY. WE DON’T HAVE TIME OR SPACE FOR THE STUDIES ON DANIEL AT THIS POINT BUT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY FEED ON THIS MORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BEFORE WE GET BACK TO MATTHEW TRY THIS ONE FROM DANIEL. Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. LETS GET BACK TO WHAT THE LORD IS TELLING US TO DO WHEN WE SEE THIS SIGN HE TOLD US ABOUT. ALL JUDEA SHOULD FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS. Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. NOT ONLY IS JESUS TELLING US TO RUN BUT DON’T EVEN LOOK BACK. NO TIME TO TAKE A CHANCE ON GATHERING ANYTHING. IT WILL BE A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE, BUT EVEN WORSE FOR THOSE WITH CHILDREN TO WATCH AFTER. OR WHAT IF ITS IN THE WINTER OR ON THE SABBATH. THESE ARE PRETTY PLAIN INSTRUCTIONS AND I SUPPOSE IF THE LORD SAY’S RUN THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. READ 2 TIM. 3. Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.THIS LETS US KNOW HOW BAD IT WILL BE. NO FLESH WOULD SURVIVE, IF THE TIME WERE NOT SHORTENED. Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. JESUS SAYS THAT THEY WILL TRY THEIR BEST TO DECEIVE EVERYONE EVEN THE ELECT IF IT WERE POSSIBLE. THESE THINGS HAPPEN DURING THE REIGN OF THE ANTI-CHRIST THE ONE WHO WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE HE IS CHRIST. HE WOULD HAVE US WORSHIP HIM. Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before. Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. WHY IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO DECEIVE THE ELECT BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THE CHRIST IS HERE YOU WILL KNOW BETTER BECAUSE ALL WILL KNOW WHEN OUR LORD ARRIVES. Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.LETS CHECK STRONG’S LEXICON FOR THE WORD EAGLE. 105 aetos {ah-et-os'} from the same as 109;; n m AV - eagle 4; 4 1) an eagle: since eagles do not usually go in quest of carrion, this may to a vulture that resembles an eagle 2) an eagle as a standard (Roman Military) YES, I DON’T KNOW WHERE THESE PEOPLE GET THE IDEA THAT CHRIST WILL RETURN IN SOME SECRET WAY. THE WORD OF GOD TELLS ME ALL WILL KNOW AND EVERY KNEE WILL BOW. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.I DON’T THINK ANYONE COULD MISS THE COMING OF THE LORD. READ MAT. 25.31-33 AND MAR. 13.26 AND THERE ARE MANY MORE VERSES TO SUPPORT THE LORDS COMING. Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun 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: AFTER THE SIGN SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION THE FINAL SIGNS APPEAR. THESE SIGNS WERE FORETOLD BY MANY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS AND DESCRIBED BY JOHN WHEN HE RECEIVED THE REVELATION OF JESUS. Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. READ ALSO: JER. 4.28-29 AND REV. 6.12 Mat 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 in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Mat 24:31 And he shall send 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. AND THEN THE LORD WILL COME FOR HIS FOLLOWERS. THESE SIGNS ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO MISS. WE SHOULD WATCH AND BE EVER READY TO WELCOME HIM. Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. WHEN WE SEE THE SIGNS WE WILL KNOW THAT THE TIME IS NEAR. Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. SOME WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT THE THINGS THE LORD SPOKE OF HERE WERE FOR THE EARLY TIMES AND DON’T SEE MATTHEW 24 AS A PROPHESY BUT FIRST LETS LOOK AT THE WORD GENERATION AS IT WAS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK FROM THE STRONG'S LEXICON 1074 genea {ghen-eh-ah'} from (a presumed derivative of) 1085; TDNT - 1:662,114; n f AV - generation 37, time 2, age 2, nation 1; 42 1) fathered, birth, nativity 2) that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family 2a) the several ranks of natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy 2b) metaph. a group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character 2b1) esp. in a bad sense, a perverse nation 3) the whole multitude of men living at the same time 4) an age (i.e. the time ordinarily occupied be each successive generation), a space of 30 - 33 years. IF THE LORD WAS ONLY SPEAKING OF THINGS IN THOSE DAYS WHAT ABOUT HIS RETURN? IS THIS NOT WHAT HE IS DESCRIBING. IS THIS NOT WHAT THE DISCIPLES ASKED ABOUT. Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. THE LORD CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS THE PROPHESY AND TELLS US THE ANSWER TO WHEN HE WILL RETURN. NO ONE KNOWS THE HOUR OR THE DAY. ONLY GOD KNOWS. JESUS DOES TELL US WHAT THOSE DAYS WILL BE LIKE. READ THESE SAME THINGS IN BOTH LUKE’S GOSPEL AND MARKS. Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.THE PEOPLE WILL BE GOING ON WITH LIFE IN AN ORDINARY MANNER NOT EXPECTING OR HEEDING THE SIGNS. IT WILL COME ON THE WORLD UNEXPECTEDLY. Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. THIS PASSAGE WOULD SAY THAT ALL WILL END ON THE LORDS RETURN, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STUDY. Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. THE LORD WANTS US TO BE DOING HIS WORK WHEN HE COMES. NO WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO PUT ON A SHOW LIKE WE’VE BEEN WORKING HARD ALL ALONG.2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ALL OF 2ND PETER IS ON THIS SUBJECT AND SHOULD ALSO BE READ. Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. THOSE THAT ARE BUSY WITH THE LORDS WORK WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL REWARD FROM JESUS HIMSELF. BUT THOSE WHO ARE IMPATIENT AND LAZY WILL ALSO RECEIVE THEIRS. Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.READ ZECHARIAH CHAPTERS 12,13,14 SO THERE YOU HAVE IT STRAIGHT FROM JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. SO IF SOMEONE SAYS THESE THINGS IN MATTHEW 24 ARE NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT PROPHECY I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SAY GET THEE FROM ME SATAN. IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO TELL YOU THAT THE CHRISTIANS WON’T HAVE TO SUFFER THE TRIBULATION OR LIVE DURING THE TIME OF THE BEAST, DON’T BE DECEIVED. AND IF THEY ARE PREACHING THAT CHRIST IS COMING SECRETLY THEN THEY BETTER DO A LITTLE DWELLING IN THE WORD THEMSELVES. I DON’T KNOW WHAT BIBLE THEY READ, BUT WHEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COMES ALL WILL KNOW. AMEN |
