TRIBULATION

Matthew 24

E. J. Davis

This chapter tells us of the prophetic week of Dan. 9:27, which is seven years long. It is a time of tribulation coming upon the earth. The last half of that seven years will be great tribulation, called the time of Jacob’s trouble in Jer. 30:7. At the beginning of the seven years Israel will be deceived and enter into a covenant or contract with the nations. This will be their down fall.

When this period of seven years begins, Christ will be seated on His throne in heaven to reign. Many do not see this, because they know when Christ comes, He is going to judge the nations and ungodly men. They don’t understand that Christ’s second coming has two phases. He is coming first for His people, which will be the rapture, I Thess. 4:15-17. When the full overcomers are raptured, then Christ will take His throne, Rev. 4. When He comes to take vengeance on the nations, He is going to come with His saints, I Thess. 1:7,8; Jude 14,15; and Rev. 19:11-16. There is almost seven years between these two phases. When Christ takes His throne in heaven, Gentile times are ended and also Jewish captivity. One is determined by the other. This is how God sees it.

There is a wonderful type of this in I & II Samuel. Saul reigned forty years over Israel (40 is the number of testing). Saul in type represents the gentile world rulers. When Saul died, God had David ready to reign. He reigned seven years in Hebron over just two tribes (Judah). He did not rule over all of Israel. But at the end of seven years, he reigned over all Israel. See how this is a type of when Christ begins to reign on His throne in heaven. Then it will be almost seven years before He reigns on the earth and has full control for His Millennial reign. Also when David became king, there was a man who claimed the throne (one of Saul’s sons). When Christ takes His throne in heaven, there will be a counterfeit on the earth. The antichrist will claim to be God. It will be a time of deception. We can see things becoming ripe for this time. People are being deceived, they turn from the truth and believe lies.

Mt. 24:1, “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple...” The leaders of Israel rejected Him, and Jesus pronounced eight woes upon the Pharisees and scribes. (Ch. 23). He calls them blind guides and fools. Jesus pronounced those words of judgment and He went out. When people reject the Lord, His hands are tied. Chapter 23 ends with Jesus saying, “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” - V. 39. Just think how long it has been since Jesus said these words. He will not appear unto Israel until they say that and are looking for Him. A remnant will learn that the antichrist is not the one and they will cry out for the Lord to come from heaven and He will.

“...his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” - 24:1,2. It was a beautiful temple, the third temple Israel had. The first one was in Solomon ‘s time. During David’s reign, he gathered all the material (Cedars, gold & etc.) and during Solomon’s reign, they built it. It was destroyed during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem. Then after the 70 years captivity in Babylon, the temple was rebuilt during Ezra’s time. It was not as grand or as great as Solomon’s temple. That temple was destroyed. Then years later, Herod a governor over the Jews built the temple. It took 50 years to build. It was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. In the end time, the Jews will have another temple. Maybe the false prophet will help build it. It will be destroyed also.

V. 3 - “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” The temple was not on the Mount of Olives, it was on mount Moriah. Jesus did not begin to tell these things until He was on the mount of Olives Zech. 14:4 tells us that when Jesus comes again, His feet will stand on mount Olivet. The disciples ask Him three questions: (1) Tell us when shall these things be? (2) What shall be the sign of thy coming? (3) And the end of the age? (Not the Church Age, but the age they are in.)

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

Vs. 4,5 - “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” It shall be a time of deceiving. Many shall say, “I am the anointed one of Israel, the Messiah.” But the greatest deceiver, will be the antichrist.

V. 6 - “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” These things are all signs. There has been a war going on somewhere in the world since 1914. Now they fear the greatest war of all time is coming on the world and they are trying to bring a world peace to keep it from happening. We are now in that period of wars and rumours of war. Let it not cause us great anxiety, for the worst is later.

V. 7 - “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places.” War with it awful consequences is discribed here. Some may say, “Oh, these have always been common to the earth.” But in answer to the disciples question, they have a significant character, they are signs. As coming all together or shortly after one another in various places.

V. 8 - “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” In other words all these things lead up to the seven years of tribulation. It is not the tribulation period, but the beginning of sorrows. They are signs. Why does God give signs? So people will yield to Him. So sinners will accept Christ. So Christians will not be wishy washy concerning the things of God and be ready for the Lord to come. In I Thess. 5:4-11 Paul says, you are not children of the night, you should not experience the tribulation days. God doesn’t want us to go through tribulation. It is a day of wrath, He has chosen that we escape that day. So He gives us signs. I Cor. 11:31-32 - “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

Wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes should wake people up, that the time is near. But most are not stirred toward the Lord. These things happen so frequently now in various places that people treat them as common place. Thousands are killed and people are numb to the news reports. Oh, that men would seek the Lord. Even most Christians are indifferent as if they are going to continue here forever. Lk. 21:28 - “...when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh?

(continued - next issue Tribulation begins)