THE STUDY OF REVELATION BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY THE OLIVET DISCOURSE Matthew 24 LESSON 4 (Saving Israel Matthew 24:27-51) SAVING ISRAEL By now you should be well aware that the message of Matthew 24 is primarily for Israel and the Jewish people. This verse speaks of His Second Coming, not the Rapture. Matt 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. The following verses relate to God s intention to save Israel: Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Ezek 20:33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: 34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Zech 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Notice clearly that it is God s intention to save Israel, and it is at the end of the Time of Jacob s Trouble when He intends to do it (Jer 30:7). He announces that He will come as the lightening and then will save them (Matt 24:27). They will finally recognize Him and mourn (Zech 12:9). Notice that He will purge out the rebels among them (Eze 20:38). The carcase represents
apostate Judaism and the Antichrist world system (Matt 24:28). Eagles represent the judgment of God (Matt 24:28. 1 END OF JACOB S TROUBLE The following verses are used by some to refer the Rapture of the church. As stated earlier, there is no Rapture in Matthew 24 because the Rapture is for the church, not Israel. Matt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. The preceding verses speak of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Notice these next verses in regards to the Second Coming: Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF Lords. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 1 Lieth, HIDDEN SIGNS IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, pp. 21, 22.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. In Matthew 24, verse 31, angels are sent to collect God s elect. Note that angels are not associated with the Rapture, it is Christ alone that comes in that event: 2 1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. It is therefore the nation of Israel, God s elect, that is being gathered by the angels in Matthew 24, verse 31, not the church. 3 So these verse of Matthew 24, verses 32 and 33 speak of Israel. 4 Matt 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 9:10. 5 The nation of Israel is represented by the fig tree. This is seen in Jeremiah 24 and Hosea Jer 24:5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. Hos 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time. THIS GENERATION Matt 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. It is my opinion, together with the opinion of other teachers and theologians that specialize in eschatology, that Matthew 24:34 has been misinterpreted in the hope that a date for the Rapture can be established. This has led many pastors and teachers to try to define what is meant by a generation. They believe that it will be the generation that see the signs that will not pass away, and this may well be true. Their mistake is trying to fit a Rapture and the church into the narrative. Is it 40 years as some have assumed, leading many to believe that 40 years from 1948 at Israel s founding pointed to 1988 as the time the Lord would return? Others believe that the 1967 war when Jerusalem was recovered was the starting point leading to 2007 as the time of the Lord s return. When neither of these worked out, then a generation must be 70 years, meaning that Jesus can be expected in 2018. I believe that what is found here is that the meaning of generation (genea) has been wrongly understood. It also can mean that this race or the Jewish people will not cease to exist 2 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, pp. 130, 131. 3 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, pp. 130, 131. 4 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 131. 5 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 131.
as a separate people before all these things (the Tribulation) takes place. It refers to the preservation of the Jewish people. 6 It implies that the Jewish people will experience their time of Jacob s trouble. This has no reference to the church. It is my opinion, as well as that of some others that Matthew 24:34 is referring to the fact that the Jewish people, while failing to assimilate, has maintained their distinct national identity for 2000 years of dispersal. These Jews at the time of the end will experience the Time of Jacob s trouble, the Tribulation that the preceding verses speak of. Verse 35 says that the Lord s word will never change throughout eternity. THAT DAY AND HOUR Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. As if the Lord was anticipating that many would try to predict the day and hour based upon verses such as Matthew 24:34, the Lord states that no one will figure it out. You can see the approach of rebellion against God, but you can never set a date. THE DAYS OF NOAH Matt 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. The days of Noah were evil times. People were living as if God did not exist. They were going about their daily routine until the flood came and took them away. They were all drowned except for Noah and his family. TAKEN AND LEFT Matt 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Many pastors and teachers teach that these two verses are speaking about the Pre- Tribulation Rapture of the church. However, up to this point Matthew 24 has followed a chronological path. These pre-trib pastors and teachers are using a post-trib argument to support their pre-trib position. For the post-trib adherent the placement is still chronological. The pre-trib teacher must believe that Jesus is speaking to the church represented by the disciples and that Matthew does not follow a chronological path. Neither assumption is correct or logical. The question of who these people represent harkens back to the answer to who are the elect of Matthew 24:31. If the elect is Israel as we have discussed, then the ones taken and left refer to Israel, because we have not seen the church anywhere to this point. According to Ezekiel, God will in the future plead in the wilderness with His people Israel, and will purge them. Charles Feinberg writes that since these people are scattered over the earth that a single wilderness place in the Arabian Desert may not be in mind here. The wilderness spoken of may refer instead to the spiritual heart condition of these people in the locations where 6 Spiros Zodhiates (editor), THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY: New Testament, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1992, 1993, pp. 362, 363. McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 131.
they were scattered. What is stated here is that there will be a purging of His people, and it may be exactly as stated in Matthew 24, verses 40-41. 7 Ezek 20:34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. In Matthew 24:31 Israel has been gathered by angels from the four points of the compass. Ezekiel 20 speaks of judgment of the nation of Israel after gathering from the four corners. Ezekiel speaks of pleading with them in the wilderness and purging the rebels from among them. It will be at a time of great wickedness in the world, just like in the time of Noah. Then we are told that some will be taken and some will be left. It will be a time of purging. The question of who will be taken and to where can be seen in the parallel verses of Luke 17: Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. Luke s telling reveals that those taken are taken in judgment. It is the ones that remain that will enter the Millennial Kingdom, Israel s promised kingdom. So therefore, those taken in Matthew s telling are taken in judgment. However, not so fast say the dissenters. What about the word paralambano (taken)? Doesn t it mean taken in a loving embrace, such as the Rapture? The problem is that paralambano also means taken in judgment as when Christ was taken to the cross (Joh 19:16) or Satan taking Jesus to tempt Him (Matt 4:5, 8). Those that disagree point out that a different word was used in Matthew 24:39 referring to the wicked during Noah s time being taken (airo) in the flood. 8 But Luke 17:34-37 appears to clinch it for taken in judgment in Matthew 24:40, 41. According to J. Vernon McGee: This is not referring to the Rapture when the church will be taken out of the world. Rather, this pictures the removing from the earth by judgment those who are not going to enter the millennial kingdom. 9 Notice carefully what J. Dwight Pentecost has to say about Matthew 24:41-42: Again, this passage is in that discourse in which the Lord outlines His program for Israel, who is already in the tribulation period. The one taken is taken to judgment and the one left is left for the millennial blessing. Such is not the prospect for the church. 10 John MacArthur agrees that Jesus opens this section using Noah s flood as an example where the unbelievers are taken away by the judgment through the Flood. Then he writes: When He [Jesus] returns, one will be taken to judgment and the other will be left to enter the kingdom. This is the same separation described in the next chapter by the 7 Charles Lee Feinberg, THE PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL: The Glory of the Lord, Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1969, pp. 114, 115. 8 Zodhiates (editor), THE COMPLETE WORD STUDY DICTIONARY: New Testament, pp. 1108, 1109. 9 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, p. 132. 10 Pentecost, THINGS TO COME, A Study in Biblical Eschatology, p. 162.
figures of sheep and goats (25:32-46). The ones left will be Christ s sheep, His redeemed people whom He will preserve to reign with Him during the Millennium. 11 IMMINENCY WATCH! Matt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Many who see the church and a Pre-Tribulation Rapture in Matthew 24 are concerned that the doctrine of imminency will be compromised. Imminency means that the Lord can come at any moment. If it is the Jews who are to watch, not the church, then doesn t this discredit the doctrine of imminency? The answer is no! Notice that Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost lists the following verses that support imminency, but does not list Matthew 24:42 as one of them: 12 John 14:2-3: The bride never knew when the bridegroom would come. Acts 1:11: They seen Him go but were not told when He would return. 1 Co 15:51-52: Again we are not told when. Phil 3:20: We are to look for His coming. Col 3:4: He will appear, and we will appear with Him in glory. 1 Th 1:10: We wait for Him who delivers us from the wrath. 1 Tim 6:14: We hold steady until the appearing. James 5:8: The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 2 Pet 3:3-4: Scoffers will scoff. The Jews are to watch for the signs. The church is to watch for the Lord s return. 13 1 Th 5:6: Watch for the Lord, not for the signs. Titus 2:13: Watch for the Lord, not for the signs. Rev 3:3; Watch, I will come as a thief. Since the Jews will be in the Tribulation, the Tribulation signs are the signs that they are to watch for. The Jewish Scriptures are full of the signs of this Time of Jacob s Trouble. Since the Rapture of the church is without signs, the church is to always be ready for the sudden return of Jesus Christ in the Rapture. 14 Since the Church will not be in the Tribulation, the signs of the approaching Tribulation may indicate its nearness, but staying prepared and eager is what the church is to do. Notice what J. Dwight Pentecost says: Such passages as 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:3 all warn the believer to be watching for the Lord Himself, not for signs that would precede His coming. 15 There are signs for the Second Coming, but not for the Rapture. If one studies the prophetic fulfilment of the Feasts of Israel, one could understand that the fall Feast of Trumpets September/October might logically be the season for the Rapture as proposed by some, but not the day, hour, or year. 16 What are we supposed to do: 11 John MacArthur, THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY: Matthew 24-28, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1989, p. 74. 12 13 Pentecost, THINGS TO COME, A Study in Biblical Eschatology, pp. 202, 203. 14 15 16
1 Thess 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ATTITUDE The remainder of Matthew 24 consists of a parable that illustrates what the attitude of people will be to His coming and what will happen when He does. 17 Matt 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 17 McGee, THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. IV, Matthew-Romans, pp. 132, 133.