Bible Study - The Second Coming of Christ

[MatthewG]

Hello to you, this will be a self study on the subject of what is called 'The Second Coming of Christ', of course this in their day in age reading the letters, and the Old Testament would have originally seen as the Day of the Lord, and also the Last or Great Day. Did you know that?

It is highly important to take ones time here about these scriptures that are going to be shared, the people in that day in age, where expecting a literal and applicable day of the Lord to come in which they were waiting on the Lord Jesus Christ to come and return in their day in age, and also cast upon the nation of Israel the wrath of God for having killed his son, and demolishing and destroying Jerusalem in 70AD.

Now if you decide to comment on this thread that is fine, however this is strictly for the study of the subject 'The Second Coming of Christ.'

So let's start with the very last book of the Old Testament, Malachi in which after his written letter which deals with Israel Beloved of God, Polluted offerings, Corrupt priests, treachery of infidelity, the coming messenger, do not rob God, and THE GREAT DAY OF GOD. There was 400 years of silence before the coming messenger was born - that would be the Word of God made flesh the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the book of Malachi Chapter 4 states this:

• Mal 4:1 For, lo, the day hath come, burning as a furnace, And all the proud, and every wicked doer, have been stubble, And burnt them hath the day that came, Said Jehovah of Hosts, That there is not left to them root or branch,
  [*]
  
  [*]Mal 4:2 And risen to you, ye who fear My name, Hath the sun of righteousness—and healing in its wings, And ye have gone forth, and have increased as calves of a stall.
  [*]
  
  [*]Mal 4:3 And ye have trodden down the wicked, For they are ashes under the soles of your feet, In the day that I am appointing, Said Jehovah of Hosts.
  [*]
  
  [*]Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, That I did command him in Horeb, For all Israel—statutes and judgments.
  [*]
  
  [*]Mal 4:5 Lo, I am sending to you Elijah the prophet, Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful.
  [*]
  
  [*]Mal 4:6 And he hath turned back the heart of fathers to sons, And the heart of sons to their fathers, Before I come and have utterly smitten the land!

Think about these passages for a moment it was the last letter written for 400 years prior to the Lord Yeshua was born from the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary, the virgin who bore the child.

Found in Malachi 4:5 - The Jewish audience, and the priest would teach these lessons in the synagogues in that day in age, which was written around 516 BC.

• Mal 4:5 Lo, I am sending to you Elijah the prophet, Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful.

When did Elijah the prophet come? Wasn't it when John the Baptist had come?

Let's look at what Jesus had said in Matthew,

Jesus stated in Chapter 11 of Matthew.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.

Mat 11:12 'And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force,

Mat 11:13 for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy,

Mat 11:14 and if ye are willing to receive it , he is Elijah who was about to come;

Mat 11:15 he who is having ears to hear—let him hear.

Jesus states that, none has been greater than John the Baptist, he also stated from the days of John the Baptist till now (when Jesus is speaking here in Matthew 11), the reign of heaven doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force.

What does Jesus mean about the reign or heaven doth suffer violence and violent men do take it by force? Consider how Jesus had come down from above being the word of God - and the Holy Spirit (the Kingdom of heaven) was with-in the Lord. This would mean that Jesus is suffering violence from others, and violent men do take it by force - which means because of Jesus having come everything is now in an uproar? Why?

Because of Jesus Christ the Messiah having come mentioned in Malachi chapter 3, and now also Elijah had come too, as you can see in Matthew 11:12-14.

What was to come after this? Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful. (Malachi 4:5)

 

[MatthewG]

Let's look at few other scriptures dealing with the DAY OF THE LORD.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter, which has been dated around 53-54 AD.

He wrote and said this:

• 1Co 5:4 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—ye being gathered together, also my spirit—with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 1Co 5:5 to deliver up such a one to the Adversary for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

This text has to deal with the day of the Lord, as you can see in verse 5 here.

• What is interesting to note first here is that the Apostle Paul is encouraging them, first, to deliver up the one who had - sex with his mother-in-law - and Paul admonishes them to not rejoice in such acts, and he tells them to deliver up such a one to the Adversary - some scripture states Satan - for the destruction of the flesh.

I have no idea what that means personally, but is something that Paul did say to these living, breathing people, who were having issues in their church which Paul had decided to write to them to help them and admonish them in correction, why?

So that person who was delivered to the Adversary (S.T Satan) for the destruction of the flesh, for what reason? That the spirit may be saved in the day - of the Lord Jesus.

• Paul ends up writing later for the Corinthians to have forgiveness to this individual in his Second Letter which is why it is important to consider all things of the scriptures my friends.

Now look here at the first introduction here in 1 Corinthians in what Paul writes to them also saying this,

1Co 1:1 Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother,

1Co 1:2 to the assembly of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all those calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place—both theirs and ours:

1Co 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Co 1:4 I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus,

1Co 1:5 that in every thing ye were enriched in him, in all discourse and all knowledge,

1Co 1:6 according as the testimony of the Christ was confirmed in you,

1Co 1:7 so that ye are not behind in any gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1Co 1:8 who also shall confirm you unto the end—unblamable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ;

The admonishment and purpose of writing to them, was for them to be able to continue to stand in waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who also shall confirm you unto the end - - unblameable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ when he would return, being the bride of Christ, the very first fruits that believed in Him.

Of course do you remember that the Time of unknown was pronounced by the Lord ?

Jesus had stated to his disciples - who had asked him previously when will be the signs of your coming and he addresses all the signs, but he tells him, the time and hour is unknown.

• Mat 24:36 'And concerning that day and the hour no one hath known—not even the messengers of the heavens—except my Father only;

• Now when Jesus states that - concerning that day and the hour no one hath known, does that mean that they would not see what Jesus had spoken about previously such as, about wars, persecutions, armies surrounding Jerusalem, ?
• 
  
• Could they not be able to see, though unsure if that would be the exact day or the exact hour which was going to come, but only the Father knew?

That is something you have to really think about, and go and look at all the scriptures dealing with what Jesus had stated to his apostles founded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

 

[MatthewG]

So because of what Jesus stated in Matthew 24:36, and we understand now that the great and fearful day of Yahweh was going to come when the prophet of Elijah had arrived, and that when Jesus had come, a great uproar was started at that time.

What were they going to be watching for, to be ready for?

Mat 24:1 And having gone forth, Jesus departed from the temple, and his disciples came near to show him the buildings of the temple,

• - Jesus and his disciples had come out of the temple, and his disciples came to show him the buildings of the temple which Jesus had just went hardcore on the Pharisees in scribes in the previous chapter.

Mat 24:2 and Jesus said to them, 'Do ye not see all these? verily I say to you, There may not be left here a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down.'

• - Jesus told his disciples, 'Do you not see all these? Verily I say to you, there may not be left here a stone upon a stone, and that shall not be thrown down.' - He is talking about the temple there in Jerusalem, and the destruction of it, they had just literally left it after Jesus had went hard on the Pharisees and scribes.

Mat 24:3 And when he is sitting on the mount of the Olives, the disciples came near to him by himself, saying, 'Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence, and of the full end of the age?'

• - Now Jesus and his disciples are on the Mount of the Olives which is opposite of the temple in Jerusalem.
• 
  
• - The Disciples came near to Him, and Jesus was by himself. They asked Him 'Tell us, when shall these things be? What is the sign of thy presence, of the full end of the age?
• 
  
• - The King James Version - says World here, but the actual word that is suppose to be used here is AGE
• 
  
• - so the disciples are coming to seek what the signs are going to be for when the presence of the Lord would be, and how would this destruction of the temple come about?

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answering said to them, 'Take heed that no one may lead you astray,

• - Jesus told his disciples - Take heed that no one may lead your astray. Jesus is now going to answer their question
• 
  
• - 'Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence, and of the full end of the age?'

Mat 24:5 for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray,

- Jesus says that many shall come in my name, saying I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray,

From Robertson's Word pictures
In my name (epi tōi onomati mou). They will arrogate to themselves false claims of Messiahship in (on the basis of) the name of Christ himself. Josephus (Wars VI, 54) gives there false Christs as one of the reasons for the explosion against Rome that led to the city’s destruction. Each new hero was welcomed by the masses including Barcochba. “I am the Messiah,” each would say. Forty odd years ago two men in Illinois claimed to be Messiah, each with followers (Schlatter, Schweinfurth). In more recent years Mrs. Annie Besant has introduced a theosophical Messiah and Mrs. Eddy made claims about herself on a par with those of Jesus.

• - I believe this mainly had to deal with those in that day in their age, and not to be fooled by anyone claiming that they are the messiah, because - truly - Jesus would return just as he had ascended up in the clouds which was witnessed by 500 people, in which they were encouraged to be waiting for his return which would happen in 40 years in that generation that Jesus had spoke to in that day in age about his coming. Can people do the same thing today? Sure they can but however you would know better than to believe that, Friend!

Mat 24:6 and ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all these to come to pass, but the end is not yet.

• - Jesus continues on answering His disciples question, by saying that ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all these to come to pass, but the end (of that age) is not yet. This is a message to encourage them while they are hearing these things, and they see these things, the end of that age is not quite yet and to keep going in faith and trusting in Him, and his promises which He was going to come back to save them from the wrath of God that would be poured out of the nation of Israel for killing his Son.

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;

• - Jesus told them For nation shall rise against nation -
• 
  

• What is needed to be noted here is the word (nation) used:
  [*]ethnos
  [*]
  
  [*]162x: a multitude, company, Act 17:26; 1Pe 2:9; Rev 21:24; a nation, people, Mat 20:25; Mat 21:43; pl. ἔθνη, from the Hebrew, nations or people as distinguished from the Jews, the heathen, Gentiles, Mat 4:15; Mat 10:5; Luk 2:32.
  [*]

• - So it would be the ethos shall rise again ethos - the surrounding areas of the land then and there, and the kingdom (in that same areas) against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places;

You can go and look at historical accounts such as Jospehus to consider if these things really happened or not, but Jesus is tell his disciples right then and there that they would see these things happening.

 

[MatthewG]

Let's continue on the verse by verse in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:8 and all these are the beginning of sorrows;

• - So because of the ethnos (TRIBES) of the surrounding countries, and the kingdoms, and the wars and the pestilence, and the famine, and the earthquakes, Jesus tells his disciples, that this is the beginning of sorrows.

Mat 24:9 then they shall deliver you up to tribulation, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated by all the nations because of my name;

• - Then Jesus starts to be very specific to the disciples here, about how - they shall deliver you up to tribulation, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated by all the - ethnos - tribes because of the name of the Lord Yeshua.
• - Think for yourself here and consider all of this being historical and real, not just some old story.

Mat 24:10 and then shall many be stumbled, and they shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.

• - Remember when Jesus spoke and said:
  • Mat 18:6 and whoever may cause to stumble one of those little ones who are believing in me, it is better for him that a weighty millstone may be hanged upon his neck, and he may be sunk in the depth of the sea.
• - Yeshua is reminding them of this; because of the persecution and hatred towards the disciples - the same thing would happen to the church, the very first church bride (The first fruits of believers Christ - and more would follow after) they would suffer severely, and because of this, and people claiming to be the messiah, and all the elemental effects that would start to be happening.
• - Yeshua states: and then shall many be stumbled, and they shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
• The beginning of sorrows is now there, intact, and because of it many would be made to stumble, and they shall deliver up one another (in persecution), and they shall hate one another (for differences and divisions caused)

Mat 24:11 'And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray;

• Jesus says then: Many false prophets shall arise, and lead many astray.
• What is a false prophet?

pseudoprophētēs

psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace

From G5571 and G4396; a spurious prophet, that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor: - false prophet.

• Someone that would be a religious imposter - and there was a lot of these things talked about in the letters and how these people had become.
• There was a group of people called the Nicolatians, mentioned in Revelation 2:6;14-15. That would lead people astray, there was also Antinomianism - which would be a group that says "Lets Sin so Gods Grace can abound!" - that was the mindset of that sect.
• From Robertsons Word Pictures:

• That thou hatest (hoti miseis). Accusative object clause in apposition with touto (this). Trench tells of the words used in ancient Greek for hatred of evil (misoponēria) and misoponēros (hater of evil), neither of which occurs in the N.T., but which accurately describe the angel of the church in Ephesus.
  
  Of the Nicolaitans (tōn Nikolaitōn). Mentioned again in Rev 2:15 and really meant in Rev 2:2. Irenaeus and Hippolytus take this sect to be followers of Nicolaus of Antioch, one of the seven deacons (Act 6:5), a Jewish proselyte, who is said to have apostatized. There was such a sect in the second century (Tertullian), but whether descended from Nicolaus of Antioch is not certain, though possible (Lightfoot). It is even possible that the Balaamites of Rev 2:14 were a variety of this same sect (Rev 2:15).
  
  Which I also hate (ha kagō misō). Christ himself hates the teachings and deeds of the Nicolaitans (ha, not hous, deeds, not people), but the church in Pergamum tolerated them.

Mat 24:12 and because of the abounding of the lawlessness, the love of the many shall become cold;

• - Jesus continued to say to his disciples, because of the abounding of the lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold.
• - Those who went after the things of the flesh, and abused the grace of God, and rejected the true and living messiah, and those who stumbled, those who lost their true love being Christ, the love of many shall become cold, and this is was a sign for them to look at, and be watchful for.

Mat 24:13 but he who did endure to the end, he shall be saved;

• - Jesus says to his disciples but he who did ensure to the end - he shall be saved: now a question here comes to mind, saved from what? The coming wrath upon the nation of Israel that would wrap up the age that would bring in the new heavens and earth (land) where God writes on the hearts and minds of individuals by his spirit - and the old material ways of doing things would be done away with (such as playing church.)

Mat 24:14 and this good news of the reign shall be proclaimed in all the world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end arrive.

• - Jesus said because of this good news of the reign shall be proclaimed to all the world.

Note: world
oikoumenē

oy-kou-men'-ay

Feminine participle present passive of G3611 (as noun, by implication of G1093); land, that is, the (terrene part of the) globe; specifically the Roman empire: - earth, world.

• - Jesus said for a testimony to all the nations (again Ethnos - Tribes) and then shall the end arrive.
• What end and how shall it arrive? Once all the surrounding tribes had heard of the good news of the life, death, burial, resurrection, and the coming return of the Lord Jesus, in which they were encouraged to wait and be watching and to be ready for.

Mat 24:15 'Whenever, therefore, ye may see the abomination of the desolation, that was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever is reading let him observe)

• - Jesus explains to his disciples - whenever, therefore after all the things perviously stated, - you may see the abomination of the desolation -
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  [*]Robertsons Word pictures
  [*]Matthew 24:15
  The abomination of desolation (to bdelugma tēs eremōseōs). An allusion to Dan 9:27; Dan 11:31; Dan 12:11. Antiochus Epiphanes erected an altar to Zeus on the altar of Jehovah (1 Maccabees 1:54, 59; 6:7; 2 Maccabees 6:1-5). The desolation in the mind of Jesus is apparently the Roman army (Luk 21:20) in the temple, an application of the words of Daniel to this dread event. The verb bdelussomai is to feel nausea because of stench, to abhor, to detest. Idolatry was a stench to God (Luk 16:15; Rev 17:4). Josephus tells us that the Romans burned the temple and offered sacrifices to their ensigns placed by the eastern gate when they proclaimed Titus as Emperor.
  
  Let him that readeth understand (ho anaginoskōn noeitō). This parenthesis occurs also in Mar 13:14. It is not to be supposed that Jesus used these words. They were inserted by Mark as he wrote his book and he was followed by Matthew.

• ye: Mar 13:14; Luk 19:43, Luk 21:20
  
  by: Dan 9:27, Dan 12:11
  
  whoso: Eze 40:4; Dan 9:23, Dan 9:25, Dan 10:12-14; Heb 2:1; Rev 1:3, Rev 3:22

Mat 24:16 then those in Judea—let them flee to the mounts;

• - Jesus states to his disciples once this takes place - those in Judea let them flee to the mounts.

Mat 24:17 he on the house-top—let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house;

• - This warning Jesus is given is for people to take off and do not stay there in Judea.

Mat 24:18 and he in the field—let him not turn back to take his garments.

• - This warning Jesus is given is for people to take off and do not stay there in Judea.

Mat 24:19 'And woe to those with child, and to those giving suck in those days;

• - This warning Jesus is given is for those who have children for it will be difficult for them to get out of there.

Mat 24:20 and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter, nor on a sabbath;

• - Jesus encourages the disciples when they go and travel to give this message to the people that they should pray that their flight (fleeing from Judea) may not be in winter, nor on a sabbath day.

Mat 24:21 for there shall be then great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be.

• Jesus states to his disciples for there shall be then once the abomination of desolation had begun, there shall be then great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the (Kosmos) World till, no, nor may be. So this would be one of the greatest and fearful events in world history ever to be done and never should be ever again.

 

[MatthewG]

Let's continue to look at Matthew, then move on to Mark, and then take a look at Luke, about what Jesus had said about these things of his coming.

Mat 24:21 for there will then be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor may be.

Commentary from John Gill:
Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation,.... This is urged as a reason for their speedy flight; since the calamity that would come upon those who should remain in the city, what through the sword, famine, pestilence, murders, robberies, &c. would

be such as was not since the beginning of the world, to this time, no, nor ever shall be. The burning of Sodom and Gomorrha, the bondage of the children of Israel in Egypt, their captivity in Babylon, and all their distresses and afflictions in the times of the Maccabees, are nothing to be compared with the calamities which befell the Jews in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. Great desolations have been made in the besieging and at the taking of many famous cities, as Troy, Babylon, Carthage, &c. but none of them are to be mentioned with the deplorable case of this city. Whoever reads Josephus's account will be fully convinced of this; and readily join with him, who was an eyewitness of it, when he says (m), that

"never did any city suffer such things, nor was there ever any generation that more abounded in malice or wickedness.''

And indeed, all this came upon them for their impenitence and infidelity, and for their rejection and murdering of the Son of God; for as never any before, or since, committed the sin they did, or ever will, so there never did, or will, the same calamity befall a nation, as did them.

(m) De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 11.

Mat 24:22 And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, will those days be shortened.

Interesting Commentary from John Gill

Matthew 24:22
And except those days should be shortened,.... That is, those days of tribulation which commenced at the siege of Jerusalem; and therefore cannot refer to the times before it, and the shortening of them by it, which were very dreadful and deplorable through the murders and robberies of the cut-throats and zealots; but to those after the siege began, which were very distressing to those that were within; and which, if they had not been shortened, or if the siege had been lengthened out further,

there should no flesh be saved; not one Jew in the city of Jerusalem would have been saved; they must everyone have perished by famine, or pestilence, or sword, or by the intestine wars and murders among themselves: nor indeed, if the siege had continued, would it have fared better with the inhabitants of the other parts of the country, among whom also many of the same calamities prevailed and spread themselves; so that, in all likelihood, if these days had been continued a little longer, there had not been a Jew left in all the land.

But for the elect's sake; those who were chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to believe in him, and to be saved by him with an everlasting salvation; both those that were in the city, or, at least, who were to spring from some that were there, as their immediate offspring, or in future ages, and therefore they, and their posterity, must not be cut off; and also those chosen ones, and real believers, who were at Pella, and in the mountains, and other places, for the sake of these, and that they might be delivered from these pressing calamities,

those days shall be shortened: for otherwise, if God had not preserved a seed, a remnant, according to the election of grace, that should be saved, they had been as Sodom and as Gomorrha, not one would have escaped. The shortening of those days is not to be understood literally, as if the natural days, in which this tribulation was, were to be shorter than usual. The Jews indeed often speak of the shortening of days in this sense, as miraculously done by God: so they say , that

"five miracles were wrought for our father Jacob, when he went from Beersheba to go to Haran. The first miracle was, that אתקצרו ליה שעוי דיומא, "the hours of the day were shortened for him", and the sun set before its time, because his word desired to speak with him.''

They also say (o),

"that the day in which Ahaz died, was shortened ten hours, that they might not mourn for him; and which afterwards rose up, and in the day that Hezekiah was healed, ten hours were added to it.''

But the meaning here is, that the siege of Jerusalem, and the calamities attending it, should be sooner ended: not than God had determined, but than the sin of the Jews deserved, and the justice of God might have required in strict severity, and might be reasonably expected, considering the aggravated circumstances of their iniquities. A like manner of speech is used by the Karaite Jews (p), who say,

"if we walk in our law, why is our captivity prolonged, and there is not found balm for our wounds? and why are not נתמעטו ימיהם, "the days" of the golden and silver kingdom "lessened", for the righteousness of the righteous, which were in their days?''

Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel, & Targum Hieros. in Gem xxviii. 10. (o) R. Sol. Jarchi in Isa. xxxviii. 8. (p) Chilluk M. S. apud Trigland. de sect. Karaeorum, c. 9. p. 147.

Mat 24:23 Then if anyone may say to you, Behold, here [is] the Christ! Or, Here! You may not believe;

• - Jesus continues to warn his disciples - to beware of false Messiahs who say that they are the Lord Jesus Christ, because no matter if it's there or here in whatever a person tries to lead in a direction the Messiah not to believe !

Mat 24:24 for there will arise false Christs, and false prophets, and they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, also the chosen.

• Jesus tells his disciples, there will arise false Christ - in that day in that area, and false prophets, in that day with-in the area when the desolation has begun, and they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead people astray, if possible also the chosen.
• Jesus is most surely given them a warning to be careful and not to believe those who are said to be giving great signs and wonders. There is historical accounts of these things happening in that day in age as Jesus is now promising to come about.

• there: Mat 24:5, Mat 24:11; 2Pe 2:1-3, 2Pe 3:17
  
  and shall: Deu 13:1; 2Th 2:9-11; Rev 13:13-14, Rev 19:20

Mat 24:25 Behold, I told you beforehand.

• Jesus is telling them - Behold - I have told you the signs of what will be coming about when the end of the age would be closing in, now I am telling you and now you have heard.

Mat 24:26 If therefore they may say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness, you may not go forth; behold, in the inner chambers, you may not believe;

• Jesus goes on to say to his disciples, If therefore they may say to you, (the False messiahs and their false prophets), Behold, he is in the wilderness, you may not go froth, behold in the inner chambers, you may not believe.
• Interesting word for chambers:
  

  tameion
  
  tam-i'-on
  
  Neuter contraction of a presumed derivative of ταμίας tamias (a dispenser or distributor; akin to τέμνω temnō, to cut); a dispensary or magazine, that is, a chamber on the ground floor or interior of an Oriental house (generally used for storage or privacy, a spot for retirement): - secret chamber, closet, storehouse.

Mat 24:27 for as the lightning comes forth from the east, and appears to the west, so will also be the coming of the Son of Man;

• The coming of the Lord, would be visible, and not done in secret because of the Lord and his ascension so he would return in like manner, just like a lighting strike is visible in the sky, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.
• The Apostles continued to encourage the believers to be watching and waiting on the day of the Lord, in which He would return to save them from the wrath of God that would be poured out in the nation of Israel. Which those who were watching and waiting would be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
• Those who remained would be destroyed.

 

[MatthewG]

Mat 24:28 for wherever the carcass may be, there the eagles will be gathered together.

• Jesus goes on to state to his disciples, wherever the carcass may be - This wouldn't be talking about Christ would it, to whom sensible sinner flock would it? What about the people of the Jews in their fallen, deplorable, miserable, and lifeless state, who were like the body of a man, or any other creature, struck dead with lighting from heaven; being destroyed by the breathe of the mouth, and the brightness of the coming of the son of man, like lighting, just as the antichrist will be at the last day: - John Gill
• There will be the eagles gathered together: The Eagles here are though to be the very ones who would come and destroy Jerusalem for it's crime of having killed the Son of God, the Roman ensign was an eagle, to which probably our Lord alluded in this passage - Joseph Benson

Mat 24:29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;

• We are not come to the last act of this dismal tragedy, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the find dissolution of the Jewish polity in church and state, which our Lord, for several reasons, might not think to fit to declare nakedly, and plainly, and there for chose to clothe his discourse in figurative language. Commentators, indeed, have generally understood this, and what follows, for he end of the world, and of Christ's coming to judgement: but the words, immediately after the tribulations of those days, so evidently that he is not speaking of any distant event, but of something immediately consequent upon the tribulation before mentioned, and that must be the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem, and the abolition of the Jewish polity, civil and religious. It is true, his figures are very strong, but not stronger than those used by the ancient prophets upon similar occasions.

• The Prophet Isaiah speaks in the same manner of the destruction of Babylon, Isa 13:10, The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

• The Prophet Ezekiel describes in similar terms the destruction coming on Egypt, Eze 32:7-8. When I shall put thee out I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

• The Prophet Daniel also uses similar language, when speaking of the slaughter of the Jews by the little horn,meaning probably Antiochus Epiphanes: And it waxed great even unto the host of heaven; and cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

• And lastly, God, by Joel, foretelling this very same destruction of Jerusalem, Joe 2:30-31, says, I will show wonders in heaven and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood. So that great commotions and revolutions upon earth are often represented by commotions and changes in the heavens. - Commentator Joseph Benson

Mat 24:30 and then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in the sky; and then will all the tribes of the earth strike the breast, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven, with power and much glory;

• Jesus states to his disciples after all of these things come about, from the abomination of desolation, and wars, persecutions, famines, and the great destruction of Jerusalem would come about, and then will appear - the sign - of the Son of Man in the sky;
• • This language if also founded in Johns letters of Revelation 1:1-7; in verse 7 it reads
  • 7 Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the land will wail because of Him. Yes! Amen!
• Jesus continues on in verse 30; to his disciples who asked him about what will be the sign of your presence and the end of the age? States then will all the tribes of the earth strike the breast, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven, with power and much glory.
• What is interesting to note here is tribes of the earth - or land or economy could this also relate to the very tribes identified in Revelation 7?
• Would they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven, with power and much glory? In my best estimation yes, they would. Could this allude to him being there at this time?

Mat 24:31 and He will send His messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens to the ends thereof.

Mat 24:32 And from the fig tree learn the allegory: when its branch may have already become tender, and it may put forth the leaves, you know that summer [is] near,

Mat 24:33 so also you, when you may see all these, you know that it is near—at the doors.

Mat 24:34 Truly I say to you, this generation may not pass away until all these may come to pass.

• Jesus said to his disciples that, Truly I say to you, this generation may not pass away until all these may come to pass.
• The question is do you believe that Jesus is truly telling them the truth? This meaning that generation is what he is referring to, which is normally a period of 40 years.
• Some people simply do not and simply discredit this passage, as though it is meant for any generation, in a sense that would mean Jesus would continuously always be coming back again and again.

• Fausset Cyclopedia : Generation Hebrew dowr, "revolution," period of time; 100 years in the patriarchal age (Gen 15:13; Gen 15:16; Exo 12:40), afterward 30 or 40 years (Job 42:16; Luk 1:50).

Mat 24:35 The heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

• This scripture, is normally taken literally - that when the Son of Man comes, the heaven and earth are going to pass away, however the key note here in this passage spoken by Jesus - but My words will not pass away. 2000 years later since the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. His words still have not passed away, they still are outstanding the test of time itself. However the heaven and the earth will pass away, and this language that Jesus is using here, is in reference to the Heaven and the earth that the Jews knew - they were picked and chosen and brought forth out of Egypt lead by Moses but approved by God.
• The time was going to come to an end and it would instate a new administration through the Victory of Jesus Christ, and the old administration which was through the Law - sacrifices, ordinates, priesthoods, genealogies, were all wiped away and done away with when their heaven and earth was destroyed - at the complete destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.

- Matthew 24:29-35 commentary Robert Hawker

• The darkening of the sun and moon, and falling of the stars, are certainly meant in a figurative way; and were intended to imply, that on the dispersion of the Jews, those awful events should follow which the Prophet foretold, when the Lord would cause the sun to go down at noon. See the whole prophecy, Amo 8:8 to the end. Neither when the Lord speaks of the Son of Man coming to judgment, could be meant, that immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem, would be the day of final judgment; but rather the judgment on the Jews, for rejecting the Lord of life and glory, and the sending of his Angels with the great sound of a trumpet, and gathering his elect, implies, his ministers going forth to preach the Gospel, which with the effect, is spoken of both by the Prophet and the Apostle. Isa 27:13; Rev 14:6. And the limitation of those events, to the then generation, in which Christ predicted them, is a plain proof to what they referred. For it was not full forty years after, when Jerusalem wan destroyed; so that consequently many lived to see the accomplishment. - Robert Hawker commentary

 

[MatthewG]

Mat 24:36 And concerning that day and the hour no one has known—not even the messengers of the heavens—except My Father only;

• Remember we went over this scripture earlier, Jesus stated to his disciples after giving them an great list of things that were to come, He makes them aware that concerning that Day and the hour no one has known - not even the messengers of the heavens -- except Jesus's Father only.
• Now think for yourself for a moment, just because the day or the hour is not known by anyone but that Father does that mean that it was not going to happen? That Father still knew the hour and the day, however Jesus was not even let known about it, only His Father was aware and knew about. On Behalf of the Father however, Jesus was allowed to let them know the things that they would hear, and see and experience as far as we can gain aside from the figurative language that Jesus had spoken, because he perhaps he knew these things were going to all be written down and distributed with in an short amount of time with-in that generation, before the time the Father appointed was going to be.

Mat 24:37 and as the days of Noah—so will also be the coming of the Son of Man;

• People who take the Bible literally, - believe that we live in the times of Noah, but perhaps that is a misappropriation really all together. It is simply a reference of the same things in the days of Noah. While Noah was to build the Ark, everyone would be minding their own things, and not paying attention, and perhaps this is what the Lord Jesus Christ desired for them to do. Pay attention and to remember the words that He had stated, to continue and remain watchful, and not to give up.

Mat 24:38 for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the Ark,

• Compassion langage here Jesus is telling his disciples, for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day of Noah entered into the Ark,
• All but 8 souls survived on the Ark - the rest of society was pay attention to their own matters.

Mat 24:39 and they did not know until the flood came and took all away; so will also be the coming of the Son of Man.

• Jesus goes not to say and they did not know - because they were following their own matters and not the ways of God - and they only knew it was to late when the flood came and took all away, it is the same that will be when the Son of Man comes. The apostles would go out to the people of Israel (Paul to the Gentiles later on), and there would people who come to faith, and there would be those who reject the faith, even become so deprived in their mind that false messiahs would come about, and also false prophets.

Mat 24:40 Then two [men] will be in the field: one is received, and one is left;

Mat 24:41 two [women] will be grinding in the mill: one is received, and one is left.

• My thoughts on these two verses is that, One would receive Christ, but one would be left perhaps a remnant of those who perhaps were captured and taken away during the destruction of Jerusale, One remaining, one left. Perhaps one taken away by the Lord when he returned because of being watchful and mindful of the signs of the time that Jesus had told the apostles who would go and share the very same message that Jesus had told them.
• I could always be wrong.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore, because you have not known in what hour your Lord comes;

• Jesus tells his disciples - to Watch, because you have not known in what hour your Lord comes.

grēgoreuō

gray-gor-yoo'-o

From G1453; to keep awake, that is, watch (literally or figuratively): - be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).

• So thus Jesus tells them to be watchful and be mindful of everything that he had told them.

• Watch: Mat 25:13, Mat 26:38-41; Mar 13:33-37; Luk 12:35-40, Luk 21:36; Rom 13:11; 1Co 16:13; 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 4:7, 1Pe 5:8; Rev 3:2-3, Rev 16:15

Mat 24:43 and know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief comes, he had watched, and did not permit his house to be broken through;

Mat 24:44 because of this also you, become ready, because in what hour you do not think, the Son of Man comes.

• Jesus goes on to say - talking them about the master of the house, in what watch the thief comes, he had watched, and di don't permit his house to be broken through, because of this also you, become ready, because in what hour you do not think, the Son of Man comes.
• A Direct promise that Jesus would indeed becoming, and for them to be ready and watchful.

 

[MatthewG]

Mat 24:45 Who, then, is the servant, faithful and wise, whom his lord set over his household, to give them the nourishment in season?

• Jesus goes on talking to his disciples and say something interesting here; here is a interesting comment for John Gill.
• 
  

• Who then is a faithful and wise servant,.... The Vulgate Latin adds, "do you think?" and is a question put to the disciples, which they might apply to themselves: in Luk 12:42, it is spoken in answer to a question of Peter's, in relation to the above exhortation, whether it was spoken to them, or to all; and by this answer, it looks as if it was more especially designed for them, though it may be applied to other.
  
  The "servant" is there called a "steward", for such a servant is meant; and a name that is very proper for the apostles and ministers of the word, who are stewards of the mysteries of Christ, and of the manifold grace of God; and whose characters are, that they are "faithful": for this is required in stewards, that they be faithful to the trust reposed in them; as ministers are, when they preach the pure Gospel of Christ, and the whole of it; conceal no part, nor keep anything of it; seek not to please men, but God; neither seek their own things, their ease, honour, and profit, but the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the good of souls; and abide by the truths, cause, and interest of a Redeemer, at all hazards.
  
  And they are "wise", who know and are well instructed in divine things; who make Christ the main subject of their ministry; who improve their talents and time for their master's use, and the advantage of those that are under their care; who seek for, and deliver acceptable words and matter; and manage their whole trust, so as to be able to give in a good account of their stewardship another day. The post that such a person is put in, and the work he is to do, follow:
  
  whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household; or "family", the church of God, which is the household of God, and of faith, in which are believers of various growths and sizes; some fathers, some young men, some children; and over these, the ministers are, by their Lord, made and placed as rulers; not as lords and tyrants over God's heritage, to govern them in an arbitrary way, but as over them in the Lord, to rule them according to the word of God, and the laws of his house; by preaching the Gospel, administering ordinances, and keeping up his worship and the discipline of the church; and whose principal business it is,
  
  to give them meat in due season; even "their portion" of it, as in Luk 12:42, for the word of God is to be cut and rightly divided, and everyone in the family, according to his age, appetite, and digestion, is to have his proper part and portion given him: it must be meat, proper food, such as is solid, substantial, and nourishing; even the wholesome words of Christ Jesus, that must be given them, and not husks and empty trash; and all in due season, in its proper time, as their cases and circumstances require, and call for; as whether weary, or uncomfortable, or in the dark, or under temptations and afflictions: for a word fitly and seasonably spoken, how useful is it!

Mat 24:46 Blessed that servant, whom his lord, having come, will find doing so;

• Matthew 24:46 - John Gill
  Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh,.... Whether in a way of judgment, as against Jerusalem; or at death, when he comes to remove him out of time, into eternity; or at the day of judgment, when he, the righteous judge, will give the crown of righteousness to him:
  
  shall find so doing; acting the faithful and wise part, ruling the household of God well; giving to all wholesome food, a proper portion of it, and that in the right time.

Mat 24:47 truly I say to you that he will set him over all his substance.

• John Gill -

• Verily I say unto you,.... Nothing is a greater truth, more certain, or to be depended on, than this; all such wise, faithful, diligent, and industrious servants may expect it:

• that he, shall make him ruler over all his goods; will honour him with greater gifts, bestow a larger degree of Gospel light and knowledge on him, make him more useful in the church below, and at last cause him to inherit all things in the other world, all glory, happiness, and bliss.

Mat 24:48 And if that evil servant may say in his heart, My lord delays to come,

Mat 24:49 and may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and to eat and to drink with the drunken,

Mat 24:50 the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour of which he does not know,

Mat 24:51 and will cut him off, and will appoint his portion with the hypocrites; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.”

The rest of what Jesus expresses through verses 48 - are talking about the evil servant - that starts to say in his heart, My lord delays to come - which was going to be in a generation of (40 years), and may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and to eat, and to drink, with the drunken - totally giving up on faith in waiting, for the coming of the Son of Man, and the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when does not expect, and in an hour of which does not know (you can actually simply relate this to death now today.) The wicked servant that gives up on faith and trusting in the Lord will be cut off, and will be appointed to have his porition with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

[MatthewG]

There has been a lot to go through the Chapter of Matthew 24; which so much can be learned if one does a study verse by verse and check out other commentators because there are many more people that are far more smarter than me and have done their research and taken the time to learn about these subjects through-out the course of their life, we have found out that when Jesus said this generation that shall not pass away, was going to be a period of 40 years before that generation did pass away, which would come through and by the destruction of Jerusalem, that would be caused by the Roman Empire, which in my opinion was going to be used by God to bring to ruin the materially done religion under the heaven and earth of the Jewish nation who were brought out from the land of Egypt by God, and appointed by Him, but of course they started rebelling and God destroyed them in the wilderness.

The same thing was going to happen, because of Jerusalem and their divorcement of God himself, and their idolatries and depraved ways that had started to go in and God desired to be able to reconcile the world back unto himself through the Lord Jesus Christ, and also to divorce the old covenant which would establish the new covenant which would be when God would write on the hearts and minds of individuals who looked to him in faith.

The old administration of having sacrifices, priesthoods, and the genealogies, were all done away with and waxing old, and were obliterated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, and the bride that was the Bride of Christ was married to God during these times of tribulations and persecutions and they were on watch being ready for the Lord and his return which He came back just has he had ascended in Acts, to return and grab those were the first fruits of Christ Jesus, and now today I believe personally the Kingdom of the Heavenly Jerusalem is now established by the removing of the heaven and earth that he Jews had formerly known (that old administration replaced by the new administration.)

One being a material application (circumcision was also part of the old administration), one being the Spiritual application by and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and an individual can become a child of God now today, and all of these things spoken about when it comes to the end of the age are now done and over with.

 

[MatthewG]

So as stated about Jesus coming back just as he had ascended, this is found in the very first chapter of Acts.

• Act 1:10 and as they were looking steadfastly to the sky in His going on, then, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
• 
  
• Act 1:11 who also said, “Men, Galileans, why do you stand gazing into the sky? This Jesus who was received up from you into Heaven, will so come in what manner you saw Him going on to Heaven.”

And as they were looking steadfastly to the sky in His (Jesus) going on, then, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said "Men, Galileans, why do you stand gazing into the sky? This Jesus who was received up from you into Heaven, will so come in what manner you shaw Him going on to Heaven.

Considering that with-in a generation the Son of Man would come back which is a period of forty years, an interesting then to note, these who were standing here who seen the the Lord go into heaven, were promised by two mean in white clothing - that they would also come in the same matter - back down from heaven, in which he would return for those who were waiting and watching and they would be changed in the twinkling of the eye, going on from dealing with the wrath that would be meeted out properly to the Nation of Israel for having killed the son, and also those who had made a mockery of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

to the next post # #12

 

[shroom]

Considering that with-in a generation the Son of Man would come back which is a period of forty years, an interesting then to note, these who were standing here who seen the the Lord go into heaven, were promised by two mean in white clothing - that they would also come in the same matter - back down from heaven, in which he would return for those who were waiting and watching and they would be changed in the twinkling of the eye, going on from dealing with the wrath that would be meeted out properly to the Nation of Israel for having killed the son, and also those who had made a mockery of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has not returned yet, Matthew. You'll know it when he does.

 

[MatthewG]

Continued from post # #10

Bouncing back off what what was stated in the book of Acts, and after having gone through the 24th chapter of Matthew let's look ahead in Matthew 26, where Jesus admits once again of his foretelling of coming back again.

Matthew 26:60-64
Young's Literal Translation

60 and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near,

• Jesus had just been apprehended and taken to a person named Caiaphas who was the chief priest at the time, where the scribes and elders were gathered together.
• 
  
• Peter was following after Jesus far off, to the court of the chief priest, and having gone within, he was sitting with the officers to see the end (of this dispute.)
• 
  
• So this is a historical account of where Jesus was when he had became apprehended, and they ere putting him on trial, where they had court at with the chief priest, scribes and elders.
• 
  
• And these chief priest and elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put Him to death.
• 
  
• Now here in verse 60 we find, and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find (any thing against Him), and at last two false witness having come near said.

61 said, `This one said, I am able to throw down the sanctuary of God, and after three days to build it.'

• Earlier Jesus had said this in the Gospel of John,
• 
  
• John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
• 
  
• Now Jesus was talking about his own body, and that He would raise it again in three days - because his Father would raise him again in three days ( I believe his Father was speaking by the Holy Spirit here through Jesus.)
• 
  
• Jesus also did mention the destruction of the temple, and that was also true and perhaps that is why they had heard about what Jesus had said some how through the apostles sharing with others, and they got the information mixed up about what Jesus had said about Him going to be raised again from the dead, thus their accusation was indeed wrong. However true, because it was going to be taken down eventually with-in a period of forty years. Where Jesus had returned with judgement, and the wrath of God poured out on the nation of Israel for having killed the Son of God.
• 
  
• (I could be wrong it is just how it kind of seen by me personally.)

62 And the chief priest having stood up, said to him, `Nothing thou dost answer! what do these witness against thee?

• And the chief priest having stood up, said to him, Nothing has ye to answer! What do these witness against thee?
• 
  
• So with all of these accusations Jesus remained silent.

63 and Jesus was silent. And the chief priest answering said to him, `I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou mayest say to us, if thou art the Christ -- the Son of God.'

• Jesus was silent. And the chief priest Caiaphas said to him 'I adjure the, by the living God, that thou mayest says to us, if thou art the Christ -- the Son of God.
• 
  
• They knew it, they talked about it all the time, and they did not like it, and they desired to kill him for it, I am reminded of what nicodemus had said
• 
  
• John 3:2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
• 
  
• Nicodemus said this coming to Jesus at night to talk to him, as not probably to get caught by the other priest and scribes, and Jesus had a conversation with him.

64 Jesus saith to him, `Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.'

• Jesus said to him - Thou has said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.
• 
  
• After this, everything went array and the crowds went in uproar and they started beating and spitting on Jesus, because he had claimed such authority, to be able to sit on the right hand of power - (until all things were made his footstool.) He also said to - Him (Caiaphas the Chief priest) that he shall see the Son of Man sitting there, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.
•