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Matthew Chapter Twenty-four

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Lord’s Speech Concerning Things that would Take Place in Future

I. The speech to the Jews the elect:

  A. The prophecy that the temple will be thrown down (v.1-2).

  B. The prophecies before the coming of the end of the age (v.3-14).

  C. The prophecy concerning the Great Tribulation (v.15-28).

  D. The prophecy concerning the coming of the Son of Man (v.29-31).

II. The speech to believers of the New Testament:

  A. Knowing that the Lord in near from the parable of the fig tree (v.32-35).

  B. As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (v.36-44).

  C. When the Lord comes, He will punish evil servants (v.45-51).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Matt. 24:1 “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.

   YLT: “And having gone forth, Jesus departed from the temple, and his disciples came near to show him the buildings of the temple,”

   The Background: after the temple which was rebuilt by Zerubbabel (See Ezra. 3:8) was thrown down, “the temple” here refers to the one that was rebuilt again around B.C. 20 because Herod the Great wanted to please the Jews. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, it had been built for forty-six years (See John. 2:20) and it still had not been finished. According to the records of the Jewish historian Joseph, the whole temple was finished in A.D. 64. This temple was magnificent and grand. Each marble of the temple extends more than 3 meters and there were colossal golden decorations in it.

   Literal Meaning: “Jesus went out and departed from the temple” This happened after He declared that “your house is left to you desolate” (See Matt. 23:38). He showed that He had rejected this temple with action just like glorious God departed from the Holy Temple (See Ezek. 9:3, 10:4, 11:23). “The temple” here indicates the sacred place.

  “Show Him the buildings of the temple.” The disciples may want the Lord to appreciate the magnificence and beautifulness of the temple with them together.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Jesus departed from the temple.” When the children of God reject the Lord, the Lord departs from them and He is not with them.

2) Today many so-called “church” only have magnificent, tall and grand appearance (See Mark. 13:1), however, the Lord is not in them (“Jesus departed from the temple”).

3) “The disciples showed Him the buildings of the temple” What they care about in their hearts is the temporal things which are seen with eyes instead of the eternal glory which are not seen (See 2Cor. 4:17-18).

4) Do we boasts of our “temple”------such as numerous people, thriving work, and beautiful buildings, or “the Lord” in the temple?

 

Matt. 24:2 “And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’”

   YLT: “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.’”

   Literal Meaning: “do you not see all these things?” The Lord knew what was in His disciples.

  “Assuredly, I say to you…shall be…” Here the Lord Jesus predicted again the thing that would be fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Holy City was destructed and the Holy Temple was burnt down. The Lord predicted this again and again (See Matt. 21:41, 22:7) in order to show that this will be fulfilled rapidly.

  “Not one stone shall be left here upon another.” It was fully fulfilled in A.D.70 literally. At that time, the Romans, under the lead of Titus, completely destructed Jerusalem and the buildings of the temple and they even unclenched the stones to obtain the gold foil which had been melted into the stones from the roof of the temple when it was burnt up. Someone said that some stones had not been moved at that time. Till the dynasty of the Empire Julian, he moved the stones that had been left because he wanted to rebuild the temple (this makes the Lord’s prophesy be completely fulfilled), however, his plan of rebuilding the temple was given up halfway.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the temple” typifies the church; “stones” typify believers (See Eph. 2:20-22, 1Pet. 2:5).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) No matter how beautiful and civilized the world is in men’s physical eyes, all the elements shall melt with fervent heat in the spiritual eyes (See 2Pet. 3:12).

2) The glory of the temple is not gold, silver, or gem but the presence of the Lord. Since the church is God’s temple, we should pay attention to God’s presence more than the outward large scale.

3) The church that has thriving appearance and does not have the presence of the Lord will fall apart sooner or later and members of the church could not get along with each other (“not one stone shall be left here upon another”) because the Lord allows this kind of church to be “destructed” by men’s hands. 

4) Natural men (stones) cannot accompany with each other and be built together and therefore if our natural lives have not been destructed, we can neither let the Lord have position in us nor have the true building.

 

Matt. 24:3 “Now 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?’”

   YLT: “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?’”

   Meaning of Words: “coming”: a being near, presence and advent (parousia, it includes the meaning of the continuing process); “sign”: miracle, token, wonder.

   Literal Meaning: “He sat on the Mount of Olives” “The Mount of Olives” is located in the outside of the Brook Cedron on the east of Jerusalem. It is a ridge of about two kilometers and the lay of it is a bit higher than that of Jerusalem.

  “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” According to the foresight of modern times, the questions of the disciples could be divided into three: a) when will be these things? “These things” indicates prophecies said by the Lord towards Jerusalem and the Holy Temple (See Matt. 23:32-24:2); b) what will be the sign of Your coming, i.e. the time the Lord comes back for a second time? c) what will be e sign of the end of the age, i.e. the completion of this age?

  In the hearts of disciples at that time, they obviously held that these three things would happen at the same time and therefore they asked them together. However, the Lord mentioned these three things together in His answer probably because the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple and the disasters that are about to take place in the Holy land are the preludes and typifications to the things that would take place in the last day when the Lord comes back.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Christ’s coming will bring us His everlasting presence.

2) If believers want to receive the vision of the last day from the Lord, they have to climb the high mountain and come to Him.

3) Every time we come to hidden places (“the disciples came to Him, privately”), draw near to Christ who had been risen and taken into heaven and now sits on the throne (“Jesus sat on the Mountain of Olive”) and have imitate fellowship with Him, we will receive the Lord’s abundant words and revelations (“tell us”).

 

Matt. 24:4 “And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you.

   YLT: “And Jesus answering said to them, `Take heed that no one may lead you astray,”

   Meaning of Words: “deceive”: be out of the way, cheat.

   Literal Meaning: “take heed that no one deceives you.” “Deceive” indicates to make it difficult to discern what is true or false with deceitful means and therefore we should take heed of it.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is good for us to hold on the cautious attitude towards others’ speeches concerning Christ.

2) All the prophecies of the Bible, as a lamp that shines in a dark place (2Pet. 1:19), provide us light, and let us not be deceived. Therefore if we do not want to be deceived, we should pay attention to prophecies and be cautious and should not confuse right and wrong.

 

Matt. 24:5 “For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

   YLT: “for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray,”

   Literal Meaning: “many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ.’” indicates those who call themselves Christ. The Lord’s words show that the appearance of false christ is the sign of the destruction of the temple. The Jewish historian Joseph recorded that during forty years after the Lord died and rose again to Jerusalem was destructed, several false christs came forth and they drew together a group of henchmen. Note that the phenomenon of false christs continues to take place in two thousand years and it becomes increasingly intense.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) One of the signs of the last day is that men like to promote themselves with Christ. However, Christ is the spiritual reality instead of the flag.

2) Anyone who calls himself Christ is actually false. Some deceivers do not pronounce that he is Christ and they mislead others to regard him as Christ unconsciously.

 

Matt. 24:6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

   YLT: “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.”

   Meaning of Words: “end”: final, conclusion.

   The Background: “rumors of wars” When Matthew was writing this book, the rumor that the Roman Cavalry was willing to suppress was widely reported.

   Literal Meaning: “you will hear of wars and rumors of wards” This is the second sign before the temple was destructed. After the Lord was dead, the rumor that wars were going to take place made men scared and jittery.

  “You are not troubled.” It indicates that “being troubled” is of no help and we should be prepared at all times to face these things.

  “For all these things must come to pass.” It is the reason to “be not troubled”. Since wars are unavoidable, “being troubled” is of no help.

  “But the end is not yet.” “End” indicates “the end of the age” (See v.3), i.e. the Great Tribulation of the three and a half years (See Rev. 11:2).

 

Matt. 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

   YLT: “`For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places;”

   Literal Meaning: “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” “Nation will rise against nation” indicates wars between nations and tribes and villages; “kingdom against kingdom” indicates international wars. From the time when the Lord was taken up into heaven to now, wars take place incessantly from ages and from generations.

  “There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Wars always bring in famines. In all ages earthquakes increase unceasingly and earthquakes are about to become more serious in the end of the age (See Rev. 6:12, 8:5, 11:13, 19; 16:18).

   Spiritual Meaning: “nation will rise against nation” symbolizes that the earthly people would dispute with the heavenly people.

  “Kingdom against kingdom” symbolizes that the kingdom of Satan is against the kingdom of God.

  “There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” “Famines” symbolizes that the lack of spiritual food in all places does not make God’s people be full; “earthquakes” symbolizes that all things beyond God shall be removed (See Heb. 12:27).

 

Matt. 24:8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows.

   YLT: “and all these [are] the beginning of sorrows;”

   Meaning of Words: “sorrows”: throes.

   The Background: when a woman gives birth to a child, she must have intermittent throes. When the intermission between throes becomes shorter and shorter, the degree of it becomes more and more serious.

   Literal Meaning: this verse shows that after the Lord was dead, the tribulations which Israel suffered in the Holy Land are only the beginning of sorrows, just like a woman went through sorrows. The truly fearful “Great Tribulation” comes later. Moreover, before the coming of the Great Tribulation, the sorrows they suffer will become more and more serious.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God allows tribulations to happen to us for birth instead of destruction. It does not make us be desperate but give us hope.

2) Wars, famines and earthquakes all bring men tribulations of the flesh, however, these tribulations are sorrows and these will give birth to a child and finally these will bring men joy (See John. 16:21).

3) God’s will is to have many sons (See Gal. 3:26, Heb. 2:10) to be manifestations of glory of His son Christ, therefore all the tribulations are used by God to build the church of His Son.

 

Matt. 24:9Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.

   YLT: “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;”

   Meaning of Words: “deliver up”: cast.

   Literal Meaning: “then they will deliver you up to tribulation.” “Then” indicates in the beginning of sorrows; “you” indicates the Lord’s disciples. They were both Jewish and believers and therefore “sorrows” must be related to both the Jews and believers of the New Testament.

  “You will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” “All nations” indicate the Gentiles who are unbelievers. Both the Jews and the Gentile believers will be hated (See Matt. 10:22), persecuted (See Matt. 5:11) and killed by unbelievers for the Lord’s name’s sake.

   Enlightenment in the Word: all tribulations that we are about to suffer are added by “men” besides natural disasters (See v.7). It is truly tribulation upon tribulation and trouble upon trouble.

 

Matt. 24:10 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

   YLT: “and then shall many be stumbled, and they shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.”

   Literal Meaning: here the offense, betray and hatred are certain outcome of tribulations and persecution (See Matt. 10:36; 13:21; Mark. 13:12-13; Luke. 21:16; John. 16:1-2).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Because they are unwilling to suffer pain and death many believers are willing to apostatize (“be offended”) and betray brothers and sisters (“betray one another, and hate one another”) in order to preserve themselves.

2) Believers should love one another, however, they may change to “betray one another and hate one another”.

 

Matt. 24:11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

   YLT: “`And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray;”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord said that many would be deceived again and again, showing that deceit is a common fact in the Church History (See 1Tim. 4:1, 2Tim. 3:13, 2Pet. 2:1).

2) The deceit of false prophets is to make men misunderstand that what they say are God’s words. There is no doubt that we should not despise prophecies, however, what’s essential is that we should prove all things (See 1Thess. 5:20-21).

 

Matt. 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

   YLT: “and because of the abounding of the lawlessness, the love of the many shall become cold;”

   Literal Meaning: “because lawlessness will abound” “Lawlessness” indicates the unruly things and things that are against the will of God. It indicates that lawlessness happens not only in the world but also in the church. This is the result of deceit of false prophets. “Lawlessness” will become more and more.

  “The love of many will grow cold.” Once the “lawlessness” abounds, the “love” of many believers may be hurt and then they will grow cold.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Love” and “Lawlessness” cannot co-exist. If one wants to have more love, he has to stand aloof from lawless environments.

2) The church is the lamp to bear witness to Christ (Rev. 1:20). And the most important testimony of the church is the first love. Once the first love is lost, it also loses its value of its existence as a lamp (See Rev. 2:4-5).

3) The church in Philadelphia (it means “brotherly love” in the original) is the one where brothers love one another and therefore they are kept from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (See Rev. 3:10), showing that “love” is the best equipment to withstand tribulations.

 

Matt. 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

   YLT: “but he who did endure to the end, he shall be saved;”

   Literal Meaning: “be saved” does not mean to receive the redemption but to be delivered from tribulations and enter into the kingdom (See Acts. 27:20, 44; Ps. 80:3, 7, 19; Jer. 23:6, 30:7). In the last period of the Great Tribulation, the Lord Jesus will save those who are of Him out of the tribulations. The only way to be saved is to “endure to the end” which means that hold fast what you have in the lawless environment (See Rev. 3:8-11).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Through many tribulations, we must enter into the kingdom of God. However, since we have the hope of kingdom, we should endure in tribulations.

2) Believers are fellow-partakers in the tribulations and kingdom and patience of Jesus (Rev. 1:9).

 

Matt. 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

   YLT: “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.”

   Literal Meaning: “this gospel of the kingdom” have the same nature of gospel with “the gospel of grace” (See Acts. 20:24). And the emphases of them are different. “The gospel of grace” stresses on men’s sins and God’s redemption and the aim of this gospel is to bring men to believe in the Lord and receive the forgiveness of sins. “The gospel of the kingdom” stresses on men’s obedience and God’s power. The aim of this gospel is to lead men to repent and be under His authority. Though these two kinds of gospels are different in wording, actually they are two sides of one. The salvation which makes men have everlasting life actually makes men to enter the kingdom of God and receive the heavenly governance of God.

  “Will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations.” “All the world” indicate the whole habitable earth. “All the nations” indicate all the unbelievers (especially the Gentile unbelievers). “As a witness” is preaching the glad tidings, however, it is preaching not only by words but also by manifestation of behaviors (See Pill. 1:27).

  “Then the end will come.” “The end” indicates “the end of the age” (See v.3, 6). It is the prerequisite to end this age that glad tidings shall be preached in all the world. In another words, preaching glad tidings to every corner of the world will speed up the coming of the end.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If children of God do not work with Him to bear witness to the kingdom and fight against this world, God would rather delay ending this world than end it quickly.

2) The Lord wants believers to work with Him to promote the ending of this age and the second coming of the Lord. Therefore the Lord appointed believers to go and preach everywhere to the end of the earth (See Matt. 28:19; Mark. 16:20; Acts. 1:8).

3) Preaching glad tidings is first and then judgments come. God gives men enough chance to receive grace and then look into one’s attitude towards grace. Anyone who is unable to sympathize or care about others is unworthy to condemn others.

 

Matt. 24:15Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

   YLT: “`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)”

   Meaning of Words: “desolation”: make it desolate, make it waste; “abomination”: the abominable things, disgusting things.

   Literal Meaning: “spoken of by Daniel the prophet” It is quoted from Dan. 11:31. It originally means that the Greek King Antiochus IV (namely Epiphanes) who invaded Palestine and overturned Jerusalem in the time between two testaments. He set up the altar of heresy in the Holy Temple in B.C.168. The Lord here purposely used this to predict that: a) the thing that would take place in A.D.70; b) the conditions that will come forth at the last day.

  “See the ‘abomination of desolation’, standing in the holy place.” “Desolation” indicates the antichrist (See Dan. 9:27); “abomination” indicates idols (See Deut. 29:17); “the holy place” indicates sanctuary in the temple (See Ps. 68:35, Ezek. 7:24). This sentence typified the presumptuous things the heathens had done in the Holy Temple when the Holy City was occupied in A.D.70 on one hand. On the other, it also typified the “apostasy” and antichrist at the last day (See 2Thess. 2:3-12). According to the prophecies in the Bible, in the three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, the image of antichrist (See Rev. 13:14-15) will be set up in the Holy Temple and this will become a sign of ending this age.

  “Whoever reads, let him understand.” When Matthew wrote this book, it was close to A.D.70, he could not protest who the “abomination of desolation” was. Therefore he added this sentence in parenthesis in order to remind readers to notice its hidden meaning when reading this prophecy.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Before the Lord comes back, the “abominable” things will be manifested in the church such as adultery, apostasy, antichrist and etc.

2) God is a jealousy God (Exod. 20:5). Where there are idols, there the wrath of God would befall. He would rather let the Holy Temple (the church) be destructed than let it be profaned.

3) This verse especially notes that “whoever reads, let him understand” in order to remind believers it is possible that the throne of Satan dwells in the church (See Rev. 2:13).

 

Matt. 24:16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

   YLT: “then those in Judea let them flee to the mounts;”

   Literal Meaning: when suffering persecutions, God’s people are supposed to “flee” instead of resisting (See Matt. 10:23, Rev. 12:6). “The mountains” are easy to hide themselves. According to the report of the early church, before Jerusalem was occupied, the disciples fled to the city of Piera at the foot of mountains and on the east of Jordan River. 

   Spiritual Meaning: “flee to the mountains” symbolizes to pay price to live in spiritual realm.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Once the worship of idols (including the worship of spiritual Giants) appears in the church, believers are supposed to flee and come out from among them quickly (See 2Cor. 6:17).

2) If believers want to escape the Great Tribulations at the last day, the best way is to pay price to seek to reach high spiritual realm (“flee to the mountains”) and then will be raptured by the Lord (See v.40-41).

 

Matt. 24:17 “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

   YLT: “he on the house-top let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house;”

   The Background: the houses of the ancient Jews were terraces and there were the outside ladders to climb to the housetop.

   Literal Meaning: “on the housetop” “housetop” indicates the roof and it is outside of the house.

  “Not go down to take anything out of his house.” It means that do not go down from the outside ladder to take things.

   Spiritual Meaning: “on the housetop” symbolizes those who have reached the heavenly realm; “anything out of his house” symbolizes the worldly and material things.

   Enlightenment in the Word: Every believer who already has got some spiritual attainments (“on the housetop”) should take care and avoid being dragged by earthly things (“go down to take anything out of his house”).

 

Matt. 24:18 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

   YLT: “and he in the field let him not turn back to take his garments.”

   Meaning of Words: “clothes”: robe.

   Spiritual Meaning: “in the field” symbolizes bondmen who serve the Lord (See Luke. 17:7); “clothes” symbolizes estimation before men.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The true servants of the Lord (“in the field”) regard the will of God as the most important in all circumstances and should not merely take care of others’ feelings towards us (“go back to get his clothes”).

2) Those who love the Lord with pure hearts (“in the field”) should not go back to their former lives (“go back to get his clothes”).

 

Matt. 24:19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

   YLT: “`And wo to those with child, and to those giving suck in those days;”

   Literal Meaning: “woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies” because they are tied by the leg and there’s not enough time for them to flee.

   Spiritual Meaning: “who are pregnant” symbolize those whose lusts have conceived; “who are nursing babies” symbolize those who have care of the flesh.

 

Matt. 24:20 “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

   YLT: “and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter, nor on a sabbath;”

   Literal Meaning: “not be in winter or on that Sabbath.” “Winter” is the season of rain and snow. The road is either blocked by snow or muddy and it is difficult to walk. Men are not allowed to go out and take a long journey on the “Sabbath”. They are restrained and hindered from fleeing. The “Sabbath” in this verse proves that this passage was said to the Jews even more.

   Spiritual Meaning: “winter” symbolizes the abnormal spiritual state which is dried-up and dead. “Sabbath” symbolizes to obstinately cling to letters and regulations. Believers under this kind of situation are unable to flee and haven’t realized that they should flee.

 

Matt. 24:21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

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

   Literal Meaning: this verse predicts the degree of the Great Tribulation because it is unprecedented and unrepeatable (See Joel. 2:2; Dan. 12:1). Since it is unimaginable by men, the word “great” is used to describe its terribleness.

  According to the records of the Jewish history, about a million Jews had been killed in the case in A.D.70 and most of which were crucified. About two millions Jews were sold into slavery and they drank the cup of bitterness and sorrow to dregs and they were even dead because of this. However, this situation could not catch up with the greatness of the Great Tribulation at the last day.

 

Matt. 24:22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

   YLT: “And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened.”

   Literal Meaning: “the elect” indicates the Jews and they are people who are elected by God. This verse predicts the time of the Great Tribulation. Because unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, God limits the time of tribulations to three and a half years, i.e. forty-two months or one thousand two hundred and sixty days (See Dan. 9:27; Rev. 13:5; 12:6).

   Enlightenment in the Word: God is still merciful in His severity (See Rom. 11:22).

 

Matt. 24:23Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ!' or There!' do not believe it.

   YLT: “`Then if any one may say to you, Lo, here [is] the Christ! or here! ye may not believe;”

   Literal Meaning: “then” indicates the three and a half years of the end of the age, i.e. the time of the Great Tribulation.

  “Here is the Christ…there.” “Here” and “there” both indicate some certain places, showing that the Christ they spoke of rose on earth (characters of the earth) instead of appearing in heaven (See v.30).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today anyone who calls himself Christ who was born in the world must be the false Christ undoubtedly.

2) The Lord does not want us to listen to and trust men’s words because He is near us, even in our mouth and in our hearts (See Rom. 10:8).

3) The coming of the Lord Christ is not shown to a small part of people, but to be seen by all the people (See v.30).

4) Christ is exceeding and He fills all in all and He will never be limited by men.

 

Matt. 24:24 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

   YLT: “for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and they shall give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, also the chosen.”

   Literal Meaning: “because false christs and false prophets” The plural shows that the number is more than one.

  “Show great signs and wonders” The lawless ones, after the working of evil spirits, and therefore they could do various kinds of powerful words and signs and lying wonders (See 2Thess. 2:9).

  “Even the elect” “The elect” indicate the Jews (See Is. 65:9; Rom. 10:21; 11:28).  

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The false christs and false prophets not only deceive the Gentile unbelievers, but also it is possible that they may deceive believers.

2) Satan and its subordinators also do sings and miracles and therefore Christians should not believe that they are sent by God easily because they can do great signs.

 

Matt. 24:25 “See, I have told you beforehand.

   YLT: “Lo, I did tell you beforehand.”

   Literal Meaning: the Lord here tells us beforehand for the purpose of reminding us to take care when encountering this kind of things. We should not misunderstand that they are from God because they are able to do great signs and wonders.

 

Matt. 24:26Therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.

   YLT: “`If therefore they may say to you, Lo, in the wilderness he is, ye may not go forth; lo, in the inner chambers, ye may not believe;”

   Meaning of Words: “inner rooms”: storehouses.

   Literal Meaning: “He is in the desert!” It indicates that He hides in the rural and underpopulated place. “He is in the inner rooms!” It indicates that He hides in secret house in the populous city.

   Spiritual Meaning: “desert” symbolizes the place which is far from the world; “inner rooms” symbolizes secret place which is not public.

 

Matt. 24:27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

   YLT: “for as the lightning doth come forth from the east, and doth appear unto the west, so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man;”

   Literal Meaning: “as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west.” “Lightening” dazzles at high speed and lightens the skyline. It describes that when the Lord comes, it happens quickly as a thunder and makes men be caught unawares on one hand, on the other, men of all the land will see His coming and it is not hidden.

  Remark: there are two phases of the Lord’s second coming. The first phase is that He comes in the clouds and it is hidden and at that time, the Lord will catch up the overcomers; the second is that He comes with clouds (See Rev. 1:7, Acts. 1:11) and it is public and at that time, the Lord will judge the whole world and the failing Christians. The first phase will last a period of time and then the second phase will come suddenly. The signs which the Lord had described in this passage indicate the second phase. If you want to know the first phase, please see v.36-44 in this chapter.

 

Matt. 24:28 “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

   YLT: “for wherever the carcase may be, there shall the eagles be gathered together.”

   The Background: when there is carcass in some place, the raptors such as the eagles will be gathered from unknown places suddenly. The reason for their coming may be their keen nose or sense of sight and they do not need men’s notification. Therefore when men see groups of eagles hovering around, there must be carcass there.

   Spiritual Meaning: there are three different kinds of explanations about this verse:

  a) “Carcass” typifies the corporate sinners. They are like dead carcasses which do not have life in God’s sight (See Eph. 2:1). “Eagles” typify God’s judgments. It indicates that when the Lord comes with His Angels, He will execute judgment over the whole world (See Matt. 25:31).

  b) “Carcass” typifies the antichrist and its evil army. They are stinky carcasses in God’s sight. “Eagles” typify Christ and His angels and they will wipe them out (See Rev. 19:17-21).

  c) “Carcass” typifies Christ who has been crucified. “Eagles” typify God’s people (See Is. 40:31; Deut. 32:11). Where Christ is, those who believe on Him will be gathered there. Since the Lord’s coming is as sudden as the lightening (See v.27), those who truly believe on Him will know immediately and be gathered in the place where He is.

  

Matt. 24:29Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

   YLT: “`And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken;”

   Literal Meaning: from this verse, we could know that the Lord’s “public” coming happens at the end of the Great Tribulation. Moreover, when He comes, the signs of the heaven will change greatly (See Zech. 14:5-6; Joel. 2:31; 2Pet. 3:10).

   Spiritual Meaning: the change of the signs of the heaven sometimes also symbolizes the upheaval of social condition and the rise and fall of dynasties and nations (See Ezek. 32:7-8; Amos. 8:9); this also indicates the shake-up of nature.

   Enlightenment in the Word: the sun, the moon and stars all typify Christ; when the body comes, the shadow is not essential (See Col. 2:16-17). The moment Christ appears, all light bearers will be overshadowed.

 

Matt. 24:30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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.

   YLT: “and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth smite the breast, and they shall see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of the heaven, with power and much glory;”

   Literal Meaning: “then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,” “then” indicates the time “after the Great Tribulation has just past by” (See v.29); “the sing of the Son of Man” must be a sign that the moment men see it, they will know that it is the sign that the Lord Jesus Himself comes. It will “appear in heaven” and therefore it is a mysterious and supernatural phenomenon.

  Someone holds that this sign may be a cross in the air because when the scribes and the Pharisees wanted to see the sign, the Lord answered them that an evil and adulterous generation sought after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas (it typifies the cross) (See Matt. 12:38-41).

  “All the tribes of the earth will mourn.” “All the tribes” indicates all the races of Israel who will repent and mourn (See Rev. 1:7; Zech. 12:10-14).

  “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” “The Son of Man” is the title for the Lord who became flesh and suffered pain. When the Lord comes, He will show the conditions of “power” and “great glory” because the Lord the Lord shall consume the antichrist with the spirit of his mouth (power), and shall destroy it with the brightness (great glory) of his coming (See 2Thess. 2:8).

  “Coming on the clouds of heaven” At that time, He is not hidden in the clouds of air. He comes on the clouds of heaven.

 

Matt. 24:31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

   YLT: “and he shall send his messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the heavens unto the ends thereof.”

   Literal Meaning: “His elect” indicates Gentile (various countries in the world) Jews (See Is. 45:4; 65:9; 49:22; Deut. 7:6).

  The Lord comes with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God (See 1Thess. 4:16) and He will gather those who are of Him on earth together before Him.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The moment the glorious Christ appears, He will draw all the nations to Him; the best way to preach the glad tidings is to manifest Christ to men.

2) Only those who are of Christ can belong to Him. Today how much of our being and deeds are of Him and will belong to Him in the eternal age?

 

Matt. 24:32Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

   YLT: “`And from the fig-tree learn ye the simile: When already its branch may have become tender, and the leaves it may put forth, ye know that summer [is] nigh,”

   Literal Meaning: “when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves” indicates the time when life is lively. It means that it has already been spring and therefore summer is not far away.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the fig tree” typifies the kingdom of Israel. It was cursed because it did not bear fruits (See Matt. 21:19) and therefore its withering typifies the fall of Israel. Today its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves and it typifies that the Restoration of Israel.

  “Summer” is in contrast with winter and winter symbolizes the time of the Great Tribulation (See v.7-21); summer symbolizes the age of the restoration of kingdom (See Luke. 21:30-31) and this age will start from the Lord’s second coming.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Learn this parable from the fig tree.” Christ is the one who fills all in all (See Eph. 1:23). All things all manifest Christ and therefore we should learn to know Christ from all things.

2) Christ reigns in life (See Rom. 5:17) and His kingdom must be full of abundant lives. The more abundantly believers have life, the more they will partake in the kingdom of God (See John. 10:10).

 

Matt. 24:33 “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors!

   YLT: “so also ye, when ye may see all these, ye know that it is nigh at the doors.”

   Literal Meaning: “when you see all these things.” “All these things” indicate the Lord’s prophecies that had been fulfilled in the past two thousand years.

  “Know that it is near.” “It” that is near should indicate “summer” i.e. the kingdom.

   Spiritual Meaning: the Lord’s words remind us that as long as we see that the kingdom of Israel has restored, we should know that the Lord’s second coming and the realization of the kingdom are near.

 

Matt. 24:34 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

   YLT: “Verily I say to you, this generation may not pass away till all these may come to pass.”

   Literal Meaning: “this generation will by no means pass away,” The word “this generation” means “many generations” in the original and the generation in the Bible usually does not mean the age of men’s existence but men’s moral state before God (See Deut. 32:5, Matt. 11:16; 12:39, 41, 42, 45; 23:36); in another words, the situation that the world is evil, adulterous and wicked determines the length of the generation. Therefore this generation could continue and indicate the whole period until the Lord’s second coming.

  “All these tings take place.” “All these things” include the things before the Lord comes back.

  The words that the Lord has said must be fulfilled. The Restoration of Israel is fulfilled in A.D. 1948 and therefore we could hear indistinctly the steps of His second coming. Saints should never regard the Lord’s words as unimportant.

 

Matt. 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

   YLT: “The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

   Literal Meaning: “heaven and earth will pass away” “Heaven” is singular, showing that it is the heaven that is in contrast with the earth. One day, the old heaven and earth will perish (See 2Pet. 3:10; Heb. 1:11-12).

  “My words will by no means pass away.” The Lord’s word is settled in the heaven (Ps. 119:89) and it must be fulfilled.

 

Matt. 24:36But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

   YLT: “`And concerning that day and the hour no one hath known not even the messengers of the heavens except my Father only;”

   Literal Meaning: “that day and hour” indicates the Lord’s second coming and the Day of Judgment at the last day. “No one knows.” If someone declares that he knows that the Lord comes back some day and some time, we could judge that he must be the false prophet according to words here.

  “Neither the son” shows that He stands on the position of humbling Himself and obeying God the Father (See John. 10:30; 14:28), He is willing to be unknown.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though all sorts of signs show that the end of this generation is near and the Lord is coming for a second time, no one knows the day and hour of the Lord’s coming, but God the Father.

2) Calculating the day and hour is not pious and it is destined to fail.

3) The Lord, standing on the position of the Son of Man, is willing to be unknown. Sometimes, we should not manage with an effort to know the things that God does not let us know (for example: the day of the Lord’s coming, the meaning of the seven thunders in Rev. 10:14 and etc.), lest we fall into the trap of Satan and think that we shall be as God, knowing good and evil (Gen. 3:5) and eat “the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.

 

Matt. 24:37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

   YLT: “and as the days of Noah so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man;”

   Literal Meaning: “as the days of Noah were,” The features of “the days of Noah” are as follows:

  a) The world was corrupt and evil (See Gen. 6:5-13); b) They were eating and drinking, marrying and give in marriage (See v.38); c) They did not believe that the flood would come suddenly (See 2Pet. 2:5); d) They did not believe in the salvation of the ark (See 1Pet. 3:20).

  “So also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” This passage are teachings especially for believers of the New Testament and therefore the Lord here showed that believers may act like the world who indulge themselves in the needs of the flesh (i.e. eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage) and are unaware of preparing themselves to face the judgment of the Lord’s second coming (they did not know until the flood came and took them all away).

 

Matt. 24:38 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

   YLT: “for as they were, in the days before the flood, eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, till the day Noah entered into the ark,”

   Literal Meaning: “they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” “Eating and drinking” indicates to maintain the existence of the flesh and the enjoyment of soul; “marrying and giving in marriage” indicates to continue the life of the flesh and the joy of soul.

   Spiritual Meaning: “Noah entered the ark” typifies that men are able to enjoy the salvation of the cross by believing in Jesus Christ and are saved from God’s judgment of wrath (the flood).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The world who do not believe in the Lord only makes provision for the flesh (“they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage”) and seeks the earthly enjoyment, however, their hearts are hardened and they are unwilling to receive the salvation (“entering the ark”).

2) Believers in last time should live in Christ all the time, lest we may be judged by God.

 

Matt. 24:39 “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

   YLT: “and they did not know till the flood came and took all away; so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man.”

   Literal Meaning: this verse shows that the Lord will come suddenly and execute judgment when men are absolutely unconscious.

   Enlightenment in the Word: everything and everyone that are not related to Christ will be taken away by the flood; what we should seek is what can not be taken away by the flood.

 

Matt. 24:40 “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

   YLT: “Then two men shall be in the field, the one is received, and the one is left;”

   Literal Meaning: “two men will be in the field.” “Two men” is in contrast with “two women” in the following verse.

  “One will be taken and the other left.” “Be taken” means “associate with oneself”; “left” means the one has not been taken away. Which is good of “being taken” or “being left”? We should see who takes and leaves one. The former says that the Son of Man comes and therefore we could conclude that blessed is the one who has been taken by the Lord and woe to the one who has been left by the Lord.

   Spiritual Meaning: we must judge what the “two men” indicates according to the meaning of the Lord in this passage (See Matt. 24:32-25:30). In the past, many commentator of the Bible held that “two men” indicates all the people (which include those who are saved and those who have not been saved) and the one who is taken indicates the one who is saved is raptured and the one who is left is the one who has not been saved is abandoned by the Lord. However, we hold that this statement is inappropriate and the reasons are as follow:

  a) Closely after the parable of “one will be taken and the other left”, the Lord said that “watch therefore” (See v.42), showing that this is a warning to the disciples (those who are saved) and if they do not watch, they may be left.

  b) Only those who are saved are able to watch and those who have not been saved cannot watch. 

  c) “Your lord” (See v.42) shows their master-servant relationship with the Son of Man and only those who are saved are His servants.

  d) “The evil servant says in his heart, ‘my master…’” (See v.48). The word shows that he confesses his relationship with the master in his heart. Common people may say yes and mean no. The confession with his mouth may be unreliable, however, the confession with one’s heart must be all right.

  e) In addition, many verses in Matt.25 show that what the Lord indicates are those who are saved. This will be mentioned in next chapter.

  In a word, when the Lord comes, first He comes secretly in clouds of the air and catches up the living believers in the clouds to be with the Lord. This is the meaning of “being taken”. As for believers who do not watch, they will be left on earth and experience the Great Tribulation of three and a half years and then they could see the countenance of the Lord. Please note that the Lord teaches men to watch here. “One will be taken and the other left” does not mean that those who are raptured just occupy a half.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today, believers seem to be the same in appearance and they all live and labor for the Lord, however, God knows the one who loves Him (See 1Cor. 8:3).

2) There is no doubt that we should work in toil, however, we must work “in the Lord” and then our labor is not in vain (See 1Cor. 15:58); otherwise, though one works in toil, he may be left by the Lord.

3) There is no doubt that workers who serve the Lord are building, however, they must take heed how they build upon it. If their work is wrong, it may be burned one day (See 1Cor. 3:10-15).

4) To servants, it is our duty to work in the field and serve the Lord in the house (See Luke. 17:7-10). The problem is that what the real motive and attitude of us to serve the Lord are.

 

Matt. 24:41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

   YLT: “two women shall be grinding in the mill, one is received, and one is left.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Farming and “grinding” are both related to grain; the most important work of believers in the church is to supply spiritual food to each other.

2) Not only brothers are responsible to supply spiritual food (work in the field), but also sisters partake in this work (“two women will be grinding at the mill”). There is no male or female in the church (See Gal. 3:28).

 

Matt. 24:42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

   YLT: “`Watch ye therefore, because ye have not known in what hour your Lord doth come;”

   Literal Meaning: “watch therefore” “Therefore” carries on the above verses, showing that the distinction between one that is taken and one that is left does not lie in whether one is saved but whether he “watches”. If the condition to be taken is that one is saved, the Lord Jesus does not need to persuade His disciples to watch. Watching means that one should not be careless and should live and work with the attitude of waiting for the coming the Lord daily and any move and any concern of him should be for welcoming the Lord and pleasing Him.

  “For you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” If we know what hour the Lord is coming, we do not need to watch everyday and only need to watch at the last day; however, for we do not know what hour the Lord is coming, we have to watch everyday.

   Enlightenment in the Word: The first important thing of welcoming the kingdom is “watching”; anyone who does not care about the second coming of the Lord does watch.

 

Matt. 24:43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

   YLT: “and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be broken through;”

   Literal Meaning: “if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come.” There are two features of the thief: a) he comes when men are careless; b) he specially steals things that are precious.

   Spiritual Meaning: “the master” typifies believers; “the house” indicates our spirits, souls and bodies, i.e. our behaviors and work; “the thief” typifies the Lord Jesus who comes suddenly just like the thief; “his house to be broken into” typifies to prove everything after we have been saved.

  The Lord’s second coming happens unpredictably and He will take believers who are spiritually mature.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Jessie Penn-Lewis said, “Christians should watch from the first day of their Christian life”. We should be watchful of the enemy, the world and ourselves.

2) To the Jews, rapture is the sign of the end of the age; to believers who are left, the days of suffering hardship come to them.

 

Matt. 24:44 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

   YLT: “because of this also ye, become ye ready, because in what hour ye do not think, the Son of Man doth come.”

   Literal Meaning: “therefore you also be ready.” “Be ready” means to take oil to one’s vessel (See Matt. 25:4).

  “The Son of Man is coming” “The Son of Man” is the Lord’s title in the kingdom (See Matt.19:28; John. 5:27-29), and He reigns as a man.

   Enlightenment in the Word: we must make us “be ready” and hope to grow up in the Lord and we should also “watch” and live piously in the Lord.

 

Matt. 24:45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

   YLT: “`Who, then, is the servant, faithful and wise, whom his lord did set over his household, to give them the nourishment in season?”

   Literal Meaning: “who then is a faithful and wise servant” “Faithful” is towards the Lord, i.e. one fulfills what the Lord has entrusted; “wise” is towards brothers, i.e. knowing what others are in need of. “Servant” is slave in the original. We are not our own for we are bought as slaves with a price by the Lord (See 1Cor. 6:19-20).

  “Whom his master made.” This sentence shows that the source of service is the Lord and it is not of the “individual” or “corporate” sending.

  “Ruler over his household” “Ruler” does not mean to lord over but to look after (See 1Pet. 5:2-3); “household” indicates believers (See Eph. 2:19). The identity of believers before God is the household of God on one hand and on the other His servants. We should not think that only the so-called “pastors and preachers” who serve the Lord full-time are the Lord’s servants.

  “Give them food in due season.” Every believer, no matter he is great or not, has a duty to do in the house of God (the church)------sharing spiritual provision with saints who are around him according to God’s season, for example: praying for weak members, communicating the enlightenment that he has received with others, visitation and concern with love and etc.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Faithful” means that one does not discount the Lord’s words and we shall do as the Lord has said; “wise” means that one is concerned about the need of men and supplies men what they need.

2) It is unfaithful that believers hold their own opinions as right; it is not wise that believers do not take care of others’ need and give all that they have to others randomly.       

3) Our trouble is that: someone may be faithful and unwise; someone may be unfaithful and wise; someone may be unfaithful and unwise and all these conditions make us be unable to perform our duties.

4) “Giving food” is to serve God’s words and things to others to make them receive nourishment of life.

 

Matt. 24:46 “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

   YLT: “Happy that servant, whom his lord, having come, shall find doing so;”

   Literal Meaning: “when he comes” indicates the time when the Lord Jesus comes for the second time.

  “Blessed is that servant.” “Blessing” is not the blessing of this life but the reward of the kingdom.

 

Matt. 24:47 “Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

   YLT: “verily I say to you, that over all his substance he will set him.”

   Literal Meaning: “make him ruler over all his goods” is to gain the authority over cities in the reality of the kingdom (See Luke. 19:17-19).

   Enlightenment in the Word: if believers cannot “rule one’s household” today (See v.45), it is impossible to “rule all his goods” in future; today what the Lord has entrusted us is only for us to practice and exercise and make preparations for gaining more commissions in future. 

 

Matt. 24:48 “But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming,'

   YLT: “`And, if that evil servant may say in his heart, My Lord doth delay to come,”

   Literal Meaning: “that evil servant” does not indicate those who have not been saved because he confesses that the Lord Jesus is “my master” “in his heart”.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The reason why the servant is evil is that he thinks that the Lord must “be delaying His coming”; he who does not have the right knowledge of the Lord’s second coming may become an evil servant.

2) He who does not believe that the Lord comes quickly is the evil servant; some evil servants say that the Lord must come quickly with their mouths, however, in their hearts they think that the Lord must be “delaying His coming”.

3) We should have the attitude and wish for the quick coming of the Lord and therefore we should always pray, “come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20).

 

Matt. 24:49 “and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,

   YLT: “and may begin to beat the fellow-servants, and to eat and to drink with the drunken,”

   Literal Meaning: “and begins to beat his fellow servants.” “Fellow servants” indicate brothers who are fellow-servants. Believers are fellow-partakers in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus (See Rev. 1:9). “Begins to beat” may not indicate beating with hands. All that we make Saints feel sad, hurt and be offended with words and attitudes could be counted as “beating”.

  “To eat and drink with the drunkards.” “Drunkards” indicate those who are greedy of the present world and are libertine and unrestrained (See Eph. 5:15-18), including the corrupt and failing believers and unbelievers.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should never tread or hurt brothers and sisters who are our fellow-workers.

2) If we do not set forth the Lord’s second coming before our eyes, we may easily loosen ourselves and on one hand we may owe believers and make them feel hurt by words and attitudes and on the other we may associate with those who are of the world and the flesh and seek the pleasures of sins.

 

Matt. 24:50 “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,

   YLT: “the lord of that servant will arrive in a day when he doth not expect, and in an hour of which he doth not know,”

 

Matt. 24:51 “and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

   YLT: “and will cut him off, and his portion with the hypocrites will appoint; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.”

   Literal Meaning: “appoint him his portion with the hypocrites” “The hypocrites” indicate the nominal religious believers;

  “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” indicates that one regrets having done something and unfortunately time will not wait for him.

  The Lord will come quickly and unexpectedly and separate anyone who says that the Lord must come quickly with mouth and does not take it seriously in his heart from other believers and he will receive the punishment that he deserves temporarily. At that time, it is too late for them to repent.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

When will “These Things” (v.3) Be?------the Lord’s Answer

I. Israel is filled up with the measure of their fathers (Matt. 23:32)------they betray one another and hate one another, false prophets deceive many, the love of many will grow cold because lawlessness will abound (v.10-12).

II. The Lord sent prophets, wise men and scribes (Matt. 23:34)------“you” will be hated by all nations for the Lord’s name’s sake (v.9).

III. The Lord will render the evil Israel (Matt. 23:35-36)------then there will be great tribulation (v.21-22).

IV. The Holy Temple will be thrown down (v.2)------the “abomination of desolation” will stand in the holy place (v.15).

V. The house of Israel will look upon the Lord’s second coming (Matt. 23:39b)------they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (v.30).

VI. The Lord will gather the Israel as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings (Matt. 23:37)------they will gather together His elect (v.31).

 

What will Be the Sign of Your Coming and of the End of the Age (v.3)?------The Lord’s answer

I. The branches of the fig tree must become tender and put forth leaves (v.32-33).

II. There must be the beginning of sorrows (v.6-12).

III. There must be many things that deceit the elect (v.4-5, 23-26).

IV. The abomination of desolation must stand in the holy place (v.15).

V. There must be rapture (v.37-41).

VI. There must be the Great Tribulation (v.21-22).

VII. There must be the great change of the signs of the heaven (v.29).

VIII. There must be the sign of the Son of Man (v.30-31).

 

The Sign of the Lord’s Second Coming

I. The sign before the end of the age:

  A. Many people who deceive men will rise up in future (v.3-5, v.11).

  B. Many man-made and natural disasters will take place in future (v.6-8).

  C. Many lawless things such as persecuting the Saints will happen (v.9-10, 12-13).

  D. Gospel must be preached in all the world first (v.14).

II. The sign of the end of the age:

  A. Antichrist will appear in the Holy Temple (v.15-20).

  B. There must be the Great Tribulation (v.21-22).

  C. False christs and prophets will still rise up (v.23-26).

III. The sign of Christ’s second coming:

  A. The sign of the coming of the Son of Man (v.27-31).

  B. The sign that the branches of the fig tree become tender and bring forth leaves (v.32-36).

  C. The Son of Man comes suddenly as the thief (v.37-44).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren