The Last Days
Matthew 24:1-14
Part of The Gospel of the King—According to Matthew
May 10, 2024

The Last Days

Introduction:
In a world gone mad anxiety is at an all time high.
Worldwide pandemics, social unrest, war in the Middle East, fear of terror, and unsettling technological ‘advances’ have us looking for a way out.
Fear reigns and there is no shortage of gurus and preachers that are looking to capitalize with clicks and book sales.
But what does the Bible actually teach?

What Christians should agree on:
The Gospel - the sinless life, substitutionary death, burial, victorious resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
The Return of Christ - Jesus is coming back to judge, to restore, and to reign.

Glossary of Terms:

  • Last Days / End Times - Time period immediately preceding Christ’s return
  • 2nd Coming - The sudden, personal, bodily, visible return of Christ
  • Millennium - 1000 Years preceding the final state (questions to contemplate: figurative or literal? A-millennial, Pre-millennial, or Post-millennial?)
  • Tribulation - A time of worldwide persecution of Christians Rapture - the sudden snatching away of believers prior to Christ’s return or meeting Christ in the air and ushering him into His own.
    • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - meet in the air… (compare Matthew 25:6 and Acts 28:15)
    • Historic usage: A besieged city welcoming the victorious general with a delegation of leaders and dignitaries welcoming the victor and ushering him and his troops into the city amid great acclaim and celebration.
    • Matthew 24:37-42 speaks about judgment not the rapture: In the days of Noah people were going about their lives and then the flood snatched them away. The terminology of o”one taken” refers to taken in judgment not taken in the rapture.
  • Antichrist - a person opposed to Christ and His people - many will come through history and a final Antichrist will come at the very end of time
  • Preterist - Interpretive view that believes events took place in the past
  • Futurist - Interpretive view that believes events described are yet to come
  • Partial Preterist - interpretive view that believes in an Interchange between historical events and future events

**The Olivet Discourse:** Jesus teaching on the events of 70 AD and the last days leading up to His 2nd Coming.
  • Matthew 24-25
  • Mark 13
  • Luke 21

  • Matthew 23:38 - Your house will be left desolate —> Abomination of Desolation (Mt.24:15; Luke 21:20)
  • Matthew 24:1-2 - The Temple will be destroyed
  • Matthew 24:3 - 2 Questions: When will the Temple be destroyed? When will you come back?
  • Matthew 24:4-51 - Jesus answers the Disciples’ 2 Questions
  • Chapter 24 Interpretive options:
    • Option 1: Most if not all of the events are yet to happen in the future
    • Option 2: Mt. 24:4-35 are about AD 70 Mt. 24:36-51 are about the second coming of Jesus
      • Interpretive Challenges:
        • V.21 - never before, never since: A Jewish phrase used 12x in Scripture
        • v.29 - Sun darkened, moon will not give its light: Prophetic, poetic language also used for judgments on Babylon, Egypt and Edom (see. Isaiah 13:9-19)
        • v.30-31 - could mean enthronement of Jesus in the middle of history not at the end of history
    • Option 3: Interchange / Prophetic Telescoping throughout Matthew 24

Matthew 24

  • Matthew 24:4-14 – Don’t be led astray
  • Matthew 24:15-28 – Abomination of Desolation
  • Matthew 24:29-31 – Enthronement of the Son of Man
  • Matthew 24:32-35 – Lessons from the Fig Tree
  • Matthew 24:36-51 – The Coming of the Son of Man

Matthew 25

  • v.1-13 Parable of the 10 Virgins: now is the time to get ready
  • V.14-30 Parable of the Talents: keep on working for the purposes of the Kingdom
  • v.31-46 Final Judgment is coming

Signs of His Coming:

  • The Gospel is preached to all Nations - Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10
  • Great Tribulation - Matthew 24:15-22; Luke 21:20-24
  • False Prophets - Matthew 24:23-25
  • Signs in Heaven - Matthew 24:29-30
  • Man of Sin + Rebellion - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 13
  • Salvation for Israel - Romans 11:12

Purpose of Apocalyptic Literature:

  • Comfort for the persecuted
  • Hope for the fearful
  • Call to holiness and watchfulness

What am I to do?

  • Matthew 24:13 - Stand firm: Love God and love neighbor
  • Matthew 24:14 - Preach the Gospel: Bear witness to Jesus
  • Matthew 25 - Be ready: There is no room for fear, apathy, or moral compromise