Routine History
Matthew 24 starts out with Jesus predicting the destruction of the Temple.
The Jewish Temple in Jesus' day was the Second Temple, which was built after the Babylonian exile in the 5th century BCE. The construction of the Second Temple began in 515 BCE under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, and it was completed in 516 BCE. The Temple was built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which was the site of the First Temple, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The Second Temple was expanded and renovated by King Herod the Great in the 1st century BCE, making it one of the most magnificent buildings of its time. It was considered a symbol of Jewish national and religious identity, and was a major center of Jewish worship and sacrifice. The Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE during the Siege of Jerusalem.
Since this was already the second temple, it's not unheard of to understand that the Temple could be destroyed, however it was such a central piece of their world that it would have been offensive to speak that it was going to be destroyed again.
The Disciples ask Jesus when these things are going to happen and what the sign of His coming will look like, Jesus warns that there will be false prophets and wars and earthquakes. He advises them to be on guard and to not be deceived by these false prophets. He also speaks of the "beginning of birth pains" which will signal the coming of the end times. Jesus also warns that during this time, many will be persecuted and killed for their faith. Overall, this passage emphasizes the importance of being prepared and staying true to one's beliefs, even in the face of difficult and trying times.
I think we discussed this idea previously, about how the only authority we should have is God himself and his Indwelling Spirit. When i used to read this passage about "many who will come claiming 'i am the Christ', I pictured someone walking around and making the statement that they are the returned Jesus, tho this may actually happen, and i have heard stories of people making these claims. I also want to point out that I have been in churches where the lead pastor acts in such a way that he believes he is on the same level of authority as Jesus and demands complete loyalty from their congregation, without ever making the verbal claim that they are the returned Christ they still embody the spirit behind this warning and can lead people astray.
Jesus also gives this image of a wold that is at war and says that this will not be the end, I am sure during both world wars there were people looking to the sky and wondering if this was it. Jesus says that these are just birthing pains.
Jesus gives us this warning - ““They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.”
Matthew 24:9-10 MSG
In this verse Jesus is telling us that following Gods ways is going to lead to conflict, If you check out Voice of the Martyrs you can read stories submitted.
““In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.”
Matthew 24:11-12 MSG
Lying preachers - It's too easy to be offended in our culture, and if you are going to be a Christian then there is a higher stake, The list of counter cultural beliefs can get pretty long, I am going to make an attempt here pitting secular views against Christian views.
Gender is fluid and can be chosen - Gender is determined by biological sex
Self-expression and personal fulfillment are the ultimate goals in life - Serving and glorifying God is the ultimate goal in life
Religion should be private and not imposed on others - Christianity should be actively shared and lived out publicly
All religions and belief systems are equally valid - Christianity is the one true faith
Traditional moral values are oppressive and should be discarded - Traditional moral values are based on biblical principles and should be upheld
The concept of sin does not exist - The concept of sin exists and separates humanity from God
Life begins at birth - Life begins at conception
Abortion is a personal choice - Abortion is the taking of innocent life and is morally wrong.
Individualism and self-expression is important - Putting others before oneself and living for a greater purpose is important
All religions are equal and valid - Christianity is the one true religion
Science and evolution explains the origins of life - God created the world and all living things
No objective moral truth - There is an objective moral truth that is revealed through religion and scripture
Happiness and pleasure are the ultimate goals - Eternal salvation and fulfilling one's purpose is the ultimate goal.
Marriage is a personal choice and not a religious institution - Marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman, ordained by God
Premarital sex is a personal choice and not a moral issue - Premarital sex is a sin against God and should be avoided
Divorce is a personal choice and can be for any reason - Divorce should only be considered in extreme circumstances, such as infidelity, and should be avoided if possible
Cursing and offensive language is a form of self-expression and not a moral issue - Using offensive language or cursing is a sin and should be avoided
The pursuit of balance and harmony in all things - The belief in a personal God who intervenes in the world
The belief that the natural world is a reflection of the ultimate reality - The belief that human beings are fallen and in need of salvation
The focus on personal spiritual development - The belief in the Bible as the inspired and authoritative word of God
The belief that the ultimate goal is to become one with the Tao - The belief in the triune Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The belief in the concept of yin and yang - The belief in the concept of the trinity
The belief that the ultimate goal is to become one with nature - The belief that the ultimate goal is to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ
The belief in living in harmony with the natural order - The belief in the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Belief in multiple deities or a pantheon of gods, as opposed to belief in one monotheistic God
Belief in reincarnation and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, as opposed to belief in one physical life and an afterlife
Belief in the power of nature and the natural world, as opposed to belief in a supernatural creator and the separation of the physical and spiritual realms
Belief in the inherent goodness and divinity of all living things, as opposed to belief in the sinful nature of humanity and the need for salvation
Belief in personal experience and intuition as the primary means of understanding the divine, as opposed to belief in revelation and sacred texts as the ultimate authority.
Ok, so i could probably keep going and make a pretty long list. needless to say, the Bible is very backwards and upside down to the world.
““Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:13-14 MSG
The Monster of Desecration
So this section is really interesting, In order to understand it, we have to look at Daniel 9 so that we can get a better understanding of what Jesus is saying. He does state in this part "if you've read Daniel, you'll know what i'm talking about. Take a brief moment to read Daniel 9 (<- clicking this should open a new page)
Daniel 9 is a chapter in the book of Daniel in which the prophet Daniel receives a vision from God concerning the end times. The vision includes a prophecy of the "abomination of desolation," which is a term used to refer to an event or object that is considered to be a desecration of God's holy temple or sanctuary. This term is used in the vision to describe a time when the temple in Jerusalem will be defiled by an enemy force. The chapter goes on to discuss the end times and the coming of the Messiah, who will bring an end to the desolation and restore the temple to its former glory. It also talks about the 70 years of captivity that the Israelites would suffer in Babylon, after which they will return to their land and rebuild the temple. The chapter is considered to be one of the most important in the book of Daniel and has been the subject of much scholarly study and debate.
Read more about this here - what is the abomination of desecration?
This is a section that may take more time to really understand, and i have to admit, that right now i don't fully understand what all is going on here.
““This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God’s chosen people, the trouble will be cut short.”
Matthew 24:21-22 MSG
In the Bible, "God's chosen people" typically refers to the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob, who God made a covenant with and protected throughout history. God promised to make them a great nation and to be their God, and they were chosen to be a light to the nations and to reveal God's glory to the world. The concept of God's chosen people is also sometimes used to refer to Christians, who are chosen by God through faith in Jesus Christ to be part of His kingdom.
So who did God choose? By his death on the cross . . . He choose everyone.
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
1 Timothy 2:4 "God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Ezekiel 18:32 "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!"
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
The Arrival of the Son of Man
Jesus gives us more warnings
““If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and bewitching performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning.”
Matthew 24:23-25 MSG
So this is interesting, Because it does not necessarily have to be someone claiming to be the Messiah, tho it's written this way, because this next verse sounds like the massive protest we see happening around the world where thousands are gathering.
But they are not gathering because someone is claiming to be a messiah, However they are gathering because they are pursuing change, redemption, retribution, justice . . . so it is possible that the ideology could be the perceived messiah.
However Jesus makes it clear you will not misunderstand when it is He who has returned.
““Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.”
Matthew 24:30-31 MSG
(This is further laid out in revelations where it discusses the different trumpet-blast summons and what each one brings with it)
““The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away. “The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.”
Matthew 24:37-39 MSG
This is one of the sections that people believe is referencing the rapture.
The chapter ends with Jesus giving a beautiful example of what it looks like to be ready, giving example to a reliable person who when left to work can be unexpectedly visited and still be doing what he should and contrasted to someone who, when the master leaves stops his work and begins to party, and when unexpectedly check up on is found doing what he should not.
Reminds me of being an adolescent when i was old enough to be left home alone, when i knew what hour to expect my parents home it was easy to be prepared and ready, but on those nights when you had no idea what time they would return, sometimes they came home when you didn't expect and you had to rush to be where you were supposed to be. My room was located on top of the garage growing up, you would see the headlights and hear the garage door, if my light was on they would have seen that, but if not then i would quickly clean up and jump in bed and pretend that i had been asleep for the duration of time i was supposed to have put myself to bed.
““Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation. “But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it, and it won’t be pretty. He’ll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering.””
Matthew 24:45-51 MSG
Job 29
In this chapter, Job goes on to reminiscence his life before this disaster struck his life, he expresses how everyone loved him and cherished and respected him and how he was in a position to take care of many other people.
““Men and women listened when I spoke, hung expectantly on my every word. After I spoke, they’d be quiet, taking it all in. They welcomed my counsel like spring rain, drinking it all in. When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it; their faces lit up, their troubles took wing! I was their leader, establishing the mood and setting the pace by which they lived. Where I led, they followed.””
Job 29:21-25 MSG
Job 30
In this chapter Job is comparing his former life to how it is now, expressing that no one cares for him anymore and that he is the center of peoples jokes. Job also expresses a very negative view of the people around him. . . He continues to Lament over not know what he has done to deserve this.
Job 31
This is one of those quoted verses from the bible, Here Job says
““I made a solemn pact with myself never to undress a girl with my eyes. So what can I expect from God? What do I deserve from God Almighty above? Isn’t calamity reserved for the wicked? Isn’t disaster supposed to strike those who do wrong? Isn’t God looking, observing how I live? Doesn’t he mark every step I take?”
Job 31:1-4 MSG
We hear this one a lot in Purity culture, expressing that we should also make this pact with ourselves, and when we butt it up next to Jesus letting us know that if we look at a woman with lustful intent we are also guilting of adultery then perhaps it's not a bad idea to keep this one close to our heart.
““If I’ve let myself be seduced by a woman and conspired to go to bed with her, Fine, my wife has every right to go ahead and sleep with anyone she wants to. For disgusting behavior like that, I’d deserve the worst punishment you could hand out. Adultery is a fire that burns the house down; I wouldn’t expect anything I count dear to survive it.”
Job 31:9-12 MSG
This one is so true, Though i believe that there is forgiveness and redemption and reconciliation and that Adultery absolutely does not have to be the downfall of a family, in my research i have heard testimonies from hundreds of couples who's marriages have survived adultery and actually have a better marriage now because of the changes the situation forced them each to make and the decision they had to make to fight for their marriage.
Job goes on to express how he has kept a moral life, taking good care of his employees, taking care of the poor, not taking advantage of unfortunate with his influence etc. . .
He finishes off with a plea to be put on trial and expresses that he is ready to defend himself and open to hear what it is that he has done wrong.
““Oh, if only someone would give me a hearing! I’ve signed my name to my defense—let the Almighty One answer! I want to see my indictment in writing. Anyone’s welcome to read my defense; I’ll write it on a poster and carry it around town. I’m prepared to account for every move I’ve ever made— to anyone and everyone, prince or pauper.”
Job 31:35-37 MSG
The words of Job to his three friends were finished.
Psalms 24
This psalm was written by David, This is a beautiful Psalm expressing that God claims the entire earth as he is the one who put the whole thing together.
David also lays out a call for the people to wake up and see God!
“Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! King-Glory is ready to enter. Who is this King-Glory? God-of-the-Angel-Armies: he is King-Glory.”
Psalms 24:9-10 MSG
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