Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
2. The End Times Speech of Jesus (Matthew 24:3-28)
Matthew reported out of the speeches of our Lord Jesus Christ about the future particularly his admonishing notes and urgent warnings against anti-Christ:
MATTHEW 24:3-28
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. 24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together.
The Lord Jesus does not go in details about anti-Christ in his End Time speech on Mount Olives, yet he makes clear:
- He warns his followers against many false Christs and many false prophets, who will arise and lead many unstable souls astray (verses 5.10-12).
- On the verge of the end of time there will be an extensive persecution of the followers of Christ. The followers of Christ have to be hated by all mankind, and many of them will be killed (verses 9-10.21-22).
- In such a situation the followers of Christ prove themselves not primarily by their knowledge about End Time developments, but by their love of their betrayers, enemies and all unrighteous men (verses 12-13).
- The testimony of love of the persecuted will be accompanied by an uninterrupted evangelization of the world until the end of time (verse 14).
- The sign of the coming Son of man is supernatural and glorious and looks like the glaring flash which will bedazzle all men from east to west (verses 27.30-31).
- Jesus impresses upon us that we are watchful and waiting eagerly for his return (verses 42-44).
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You and magnify You because in Your hand are rule and authority over the development of our corrupt world. We thank You because You save those who believe in You and they will not be destroyed in the judgments of the last days, but they will experience Your protection and faithfulness in the midst of the upcoming deadly confusion. Grant us the gift of discerning of spirits that we may not come into the traps of false christs and prophets. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- Why did Christ say in His speech on the last days, “See it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,'“ so that they may let you fall?
- Who is saved during the last darkness? What is the only sign that confirms to us the expected second coming of Christ?