Israel, Christians, Unbelievers, what is at our doorstep?
The
Olivet Discourse
In
Context
By Pastor F. M. Riley
Revised April 1, 2013
Text: Matthew 24:36; 24:42; 24:44; 25:13; Mark
13:32-33; 13:35.
Introduction
I am quite familiar with the above
texts. I should be! I have had these verses quoted and misquoted to me dozens of times
over the past 59 years. I can read just
as well as the average person, and a whole lot better than some folks. Not a one of these verses contains the words date, date setter, date setting, forbid, or
forbidden. I wholeheartedly believe every one of these
verses. However, I believe them based on the context in which they
occur. I say without apology that there
is not a human being on the face of this earth that can “rightly divide the Word of
truth,” if they ignore the context in which a Scripture
occurs. It cannot be done! Period!
In this study I purpose to set forth a
brief exposition of the Olivet Discourse, using Matthew’s account in Matthew
24-25 and referring to the other two accounts as necessary to make the
exposition clear. Join us for an enlightening study…….
The Chronological Order of the Olivet Discourse
Matthew
24:1-2 Christ
leaving the Jewish Temple
24:3-8 The
entire Dispensation of Grace leading up to the Tribulation period.
24:9-14 The first half of the Tribulation period.
24:15-28 The
second or last half of the Tribulation.
24:29-31 The
bodily, visible, return of Christ at or after the end of the Tribulation.
This concludes the prophecies of Christ
covering the entire time period from 30 A.D. to the end of the Tribulation
period. The rest of Matthew
24 and 25 are what scholars refer to as “parenthetical passages.” In
other words, these passages fill in details of events which actually occur at
some point during the prophecies given in the first 31 verses of the
chapter.
24:32-35 The Parable
of the Fig Tree. This parable sets
forth the re-establishment and expansion of Israel as a nation during this
present “dispensation of grace,” and points out that from the time
Israel expands its territory [putteth
forth leaves] until all the prophecies the Lord had given in the preceding
31 verses are fulfilled will require only one generation.
24:36-44 A stern warning for people, Jews
and Gentiles, to be watching and ready for the Lord’s coming at the time of the
rapture. The Greek word translated as “coming”
in verses 3, 27, 37, and 39 is the word “parousia.” Whether some
readers like it or not, this word does refer to the rapture of God’s people
over and over again in the New Testament.
Therefore it is obvious that Christ was
1
warning people
to be watching and ready when He comes to resurrect and rapture His people
to glory.
24:45-51 A parable warning of the two kinds of
servants whom the Lord will find when He comes to rapture His people to
glory. How will each of our readers be
found; faithfully serving the Lord, or unfaithfully serving themselves?
25:1-13 The parable of the ten virgins
gives a stern warning to the Jewish people who have
“professed” to be God’s people during this present dispensation.
25:14-30 This parable sets forth details of
the “bema” judgment of believers [1 Corinthians 3:9-23; 2 Corinthians 5:10],
in the form of a stern warning.
25:31-46 The
judgment of the surviving Gentiles following the bodily, visible, return of
Christ at the end of the Tribulation period to establish His Millennial Kingdom
upon the earth.
The above chronological division of the
Olivet Discourse is based upon the statements which the Lord Himself made and used
to divide the discourse into normal contexts and time periods. It is my prayer that it will be helpful to
every serious student of this discourse.
Those readers who find fault with it certainly have freedom in Christ to
take their criticism to the Lord.
Discerning the Context
The Olivet Discourse, as it is commonly called, is recorded in Matthew
24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21.
All three accounts are the same
discourse, given to the same
people, on the same occasion. The three accounts vary in wording only
because the Lord wanted to emphasize different aspects of truth in each of the
three accounts. When you study these
three accounts, keep in mind that the three accounts are all the same discourse.
Contrary to what is commonly taught, the
Olivet Discourse was not given to “the
church” in any sense other than being a part of the whole inspired Word
of God. Anyone who seriously studies
this discourse can easily see that the Lord gave the Olivet Discourse in
response to the questions asked by four
Jews; Peter, James, John, and Andrew, Mark 13:3. These four Jews were disciples of the
Lord, however they didn’t come to the Lord on this occasion as His
disciples. They came to Him as Jews
representing the Jewish people. This
is clearly proven by Matthew 24:9. These four disciples were
not a nation, and were not “hated of all nations.” But Israel is a nation, and today Israel is “hated
of all nations,” even as the Lord predicted. This is plain enough for anyone to see
that wants to deal honestly with God’s Word.
These
four Jews came to the Lord
asking Him Jewish questions
about Jewish concerns. The Lord answered them in this Olivet
Discourse by speaking of things which would be of particular concern to the Jews during this present
dispensation, and especially during the Tribulation period which will follow
this present dispensation. Therefore, it
should be obvious to anyone willing to deal honestly with this discourse that
the entire discourse was given to the
Jews, was for the Jews,
and is primarily concerned with the
Jews. In this study I purpose to
demonstrate the truth of this statement for my readers.
The Three Questions
The three questions asked by these four
Jews, were, [1] “Tell us, when shall these things
be? [2] and what shall be the sign of Thy coming [parousia], [3] and of the end of the world?” [aion…age]. All three of these questions
relate to things that were of special interest to the Jewish people.
Now let’s review these three
questions.
The first question, “Tell us, when shall these things be”? This question obviously had to do
with the destruction of the Jewish Temple.
These four Jews were deeply shaken by the Lord’s
2
pronouncement that their beloved Temple would be destroyed
to the extent that “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be
thrown down,” 24:2. The Temple represented Israel’s special
relationship with God, and the glory of the whole nation of Israel. Therefore, as Jews, they wanted to know when the Temple would be
destroyed.
The next two questions are bound
together under one “sign.” “and what shall
be the sign of Thy coming [parousia], and of the end of the world [aion…age]?” The way this question
was asked and the words they used in asking, should make it obvious to every true believer that those four
Jews were not as ignorant as some would make them out to be. It is quite obvious that they KNEW
that there was a distinct difference in the “parousia”
and the “end of the age.” Being Jews,
they asked the Lord for a specific “sign” that would indicate that [1]
the Lord’s coming [parousia] was at
hand, and also [2] that “the end of the world [aion…age]”
would follow. The Lord,
throughout the history of Israel
Both
the “coming”
[parousia] and the “the end of the world” [aion…age] were of great concern to these
Jews, because as disciples of Christ they knew that the resurrection and
rapture would occur at the “parousia,” and
as Jews they knew that the Kingdom promised to Israel would be
established in the earth at “the end of
the age.” It should be obvious to every reader that these are two different
events occurring at two different times, regardless of the fact that some
“expositors” today choose to ignore this truth.
The “parousia” of Christ is repeatedly connected with the
resurrection and rapture of God’s people over and over again in the New
Testament. See my word study entitled “The Parousia.” It will be sent to any reader upon
request.
The Lord’s Answers
When verses 4 through 31 are carefully
studied, it will be discovered that the Lord answered all three of the
questions asked of Him, in the exact chronological
order in which the prophecies He gave were to be fulfilled. This chronological order is important if one
wants to correctly understand and “rightly divide” [2 Timothy 2:15] this discourse. Now let’s examine the Lord’s answer to these
three questions carefully and closely.
When shall these things be?
In answering this question, the first thing the Lord did in 24:4-5
was to warn the Jews of “false
messiahs,” who “shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” This prophecy was literally fulfilled by such “false messiahs” as Simon Bar Kochba,
Moses of Crete, and others, who rose up during the 40 year period following the
ascension of Christ. These “false
messiahs” did “deceive many,” as they instigated rebellion among the Jews
against the Roman Empire and brought upon the Jewish people great persecution, suffering,
destruction, and death. The Jewish
people were easily deceived since they had rejected and crucified their true
Messiah, but yet were still looking for and expecting their promised Messiah to
come at that time. But this prophecy
should be of no concern at all to New Testament believers, for we know
that the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah and Savior, has already come. Praise the Lord! Glory to God!
Then in 24:6 the Lord warned the
Jews about the Roman wars which would devastate the Holy Land, and result in the
destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. and the scattering of
the Jews among the nations, Luke
21:20-24. Such wars would then
continue right on throughout this present dispensation, and are still going on
right to this present hour, 24:7.
The Roman wars between the crucifixion of Christ and 70
A.D. would bring such suffering upon the
Jewish people that the Lord explicitly told the Jews that “the end is not yet.”
Thy Coming
3
The Greek word translated as “coming”
in 24:3
is the word “parousia.” This word occurs again and again in the
New Testament in connection with the resurrection and rapture of God’s
people. In 24:7-8 the Lord described
the remainder of the “dispensation of grace” in just these
two verses in Matthew’s account. In
these two verses the Lord gave the “signs” which will precede His “coming”
[parousia] at
the rapture, and which will bring this present dispensation to a close.
The first half of the Tribulation
Then in 24:9 the Lord began to
speak about the seven year Tribulation period. It is obvious that Peter, James, John,
and Andrew, the four Jews to whom Christ was speaking, did not
constitute a nation [verse 9], nor
were they “hated of all nations,” as already noted, but Israel and the
Jewish people have been “hated of all nations” throughout
this present dispensation, and this hatred has never been more intense than it
is today. It will only intensify during
the Tribulation, which here in the Olivet Discourse begins with verse 9.
This prophecy also does not concern
New Testament churches and believers.
While the Lord’s true New Testament “churches” and people are also hated
by the world [John 15:18-19; 17:14],
the Lord’s churches are not “nations.”
The
Lord in 24:9-14, in exact chronological order then speaks of the
first half of the seven year Tribulation period which follows the “dispensation
of grace.” During the first
half of the Tribulation there will be great persecution of both Jews and
Gentiles who cleave to the God of Israel and to His inspired Word. Just as the Lord said, during that time “many”
will be “offended” [stumble; fall]
and will “betray one another” and “hate one another.” Compare Daniel 7:21, 7:25, 8:24-25,
Revelation
6:3-4, and 6:9-11. It is during the
first half of the Tribulation that the anti-christ will be rising to power,
and anyone and everyone he considers to be a “threat” to his ambitions will be slaughtered.
In
such an atmosphere of hate, the Lord warned that “many false prophets shall rise,
and deceive many.” This will be
of great concern to the Jews,
because God has always ministered to the Jewish people by raising up “prophets”
among them. But this warning does not
apply to New Testament believers, for we know that “the law and the prophets were
until John: since that time the Kingdom
of God
That these verses are speaking about the
first half of the Tribulation is obvious from the statements the Lord made
in verses 13-14. The “end”
the Lord speaks of in verse 13 is the same “end”
the four Jews asked about in verse 3; “the end of the age.” It has nothing whatsoever to do with
“enduring to the end” of a person’s life. True believers are not saved by works;
that is, “enduring to the end,” Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5. What the Lord is saying in this verse is that
every Jew who survives to “the end” of the Tribulation will
be saved. This is exactly what is stated and taught in Jeremiah
31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:8-12. The Jewish “remnant” who survives the
Tribulation will turn to the Lord with their whole heart, and will be saved for
time and eternity, exactly as stated in verse 13.
It is also true that it is during the
first half of the Tribulation that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come,” verse 14. I
know it will upset the theories and deflate the egos of some today, especially
some proudhearted “preachers,” but a careful study of God’s Word will reveal
that it is God’s “two witnesses” [Revelation
11:3] and the “144,000” Jewish evangelists [Revelation 7:3-8; 14:1-5] who will take “the gospel of the kingdom”
to every place in the
habitable earth where there is one human being to hear it during the
first half of the Tribulation. This
verse has nothing to do with New Testament believers or the Lord’s
church, for we won’t even be on earth when this passage is fulfilled. It ought to also be clear to any true
believer who carefully studies God’s Word that we New Covenant believers do
not preach “the gospel of the kingdom” during this present
dispensation. What the Lord’s New
Testament church preaches is “the gospel of the grace of God in Christ
Jesus.” This 14th verse will be
fulfilled
4
by the preaching
of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists and God’s “two witnesses” during the first half of the
Tribulation. Praise the Lord!
The last half of the Tribulation
In
24:15 the Lord spoke of “the abomination of desolation.” Now why would this be of any concern
to New Testament believers? This event will
occur at or near the middle of the Tribulation. New Testament believers will not be on
the earth at that time. But unbelieving Israel will be here,
because they will have missed the resurrection and rapture of New Testament
believers three and a half years previously.
This predicted future event concerns the
Jews, and is of no concern at all to “the church.” Compare Daniel 8:11-14, 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11. For more details about this event
request my study entitled The Abomination
of Desolation. It will be sent to
any reader upon request.
Then in 24:16-20 the Lord spoke
about those Jews who would be living “in Judea,” and about
them fleeing on “the sabbath day.” These
verses in context with verse 15 make it clear that the Jews begin
their flight when “the abomination of desolation” is set up in the court yard of
the Jewish Temple. Verses 21-22
then make it clear that their flight and what follows occurs during the
last half of the Tribulation period.
None of the things mentioned in these verses concern New Testament
believers. We don’t live in “Judea.” We don’t observe “the sabbath day” [at least I don’t]. Our Savior has already come. It is quite obvious that these predicted
events concern the Jews.
Then in verses 23-26 the Lord graciously
gives the Jews a stern warning against being deceived by “false Christs” [false messiahs] and “false prophets” who will
attempt to seduce and deceive the Jews who will have fled to Petra, Revelation
12:6; 12:14. These wicked
deceivers will attempt to lure Jews to leave Petra, 24:26. Any Jew who falls for their deception
will be destroyed. Again, if our readers
want more details on Israel’s flight to Petra, then request my study entitled Israel’s Flight to Petra.
In order to save space and for Scriptural
insight into verses 27-28, I refer our readers to my study, Those Troublesome Eagles. This study explains these verses and also
those in Luke 17:24; 17:37. I
will be glad to send this study to any reader requesting it.
The End of the Tribulation
Then in 24:29-31 the Lord foretold the
end of the Tribulation. Verse 31 completes the chronological
outline of prophecy laid out by the Lord in this discourse. In the remainder of Matthew 24 and all of Matthew
25 the Lord simply added details to explain the fulfillment of
the prophecies already given in the first thirty-one verses of chapter 24.
Remember
that Moses gave the Law to Israel in Exodus 20 and then used the
remainder of Exodus and the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy to
add to, amplify, and explain that Law. Even so the Lord gave His chronological
outline of prophetic events in the first thirty-one verses of Matthew
24 and then used the remainder of the chapter and Matthew 25 to add to, amplify,
and explain His prophetic outline. Keep
in mind that Moses was a type of
Christ [Deuteronomy 18:15-19],
and on this occasion a greater than Moses was speaking to the Jewish
people, John 5:46-47.
Now let’s
examine the Lord’s own amplification and explanation of the prophecies He gave to
the Jews in these first 31 verses of Matthew 24. Notice that the Lord sets
forth these truths in the same chronological order in which the
prophecies will be fulfilled.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
In Matthew 24:32-35 the Lord gave “The Parable of the Fig Tree.” All serious Bible students know that this
parable applies to the reestablishment of the nation of Israel, which occurred
on May 14, 1948, and that the new nation began to “put forth leaves” [expand it’s territory] during the Six Day War of 1967. However, it also took it’s rightful place
among the nations of the Middle East in 1978-79 after Egypt finally made a
“peace agreement” with Israel. Both of
these events are prophetically important.
This parable has nothing to do with New
Testament believers, other than being a “sign” to the
5
whole world that
the end of the age began with Israel’s national restoration. A complete exposition of this parable is
contained in my study, “Why? Here’s
Why…,” which I will be glad to
send to any reader upon request.
The Warning to “Watch”
I know this will come as a shock to many of our readers, but there
are two completely different words in the Greek text which in the
English are translated as “come, cometh,
and coming.” These two different
words are extremely important in “rightly dividing” Bible prophecy,
because each word has a totally different meaning and refers to two different
aspects of the Lord’s return.
The “parousia,” as first mentioned in 24:3 obviously precedes
“the end of the age.” “Parousia” is
one of the sources of the English word, “arouse.” This word is listed in Strong’s as No.
3952. This Greek word occurs only 24
times in the New Testament, and is repeatedly connected with the
resurrection and rapture of God’s people.
It speaks of the “time” when the Lord will “come” in the air to
awaken [arouse] “the dead in Christ” and “change”
the living in Christ and take all New Testament believers “home” to
glory. At that time the Lord will not
come back to the earth, and will not appear to anyone but those of His
people who are being resurrected and raptured.
I have two studies on the subject of The
Parousia in print which I will be glad to send to any reader upon request.
The other important word in the Greek text
is the word “erchomai.” This Greek word literally means “to come; to return.” The word is listed in Strong’s as No.
2064. This word is repeatedly used
throughout the New Testament. When used
in connection with the Second Coming of Christ in the
prophecies, it always
refers to the Lord’s literal, visible, bodily return back to the earth
at the end of the
Tribulation [age] to defeat the enemies of Israel and
to establish His Millennial Kingdom.
I
have emphasized these two words because the way they are used and the places
they occur in the Olivet Discourse is of paramount importance if one wants to “rightly
divide” these prophecies in Matthew 24 – 25. The “parousia”
refers to the resurrection and rapture, which is the next great prophetic
event in chronological order following the restoration of Israel
In
24:36-44
the Lord then warned the Jews to whom He was speaking that the “day
and hour” of His coming [parousia….verses
3, 27, 37, 39] would be unknown to the Jewish people [and to the rest of humanity].
See verses 36, 42, 44, 25:13, Mark 13:32-33, Luke 12:40, and 2
Corinthians 4:3-4. Therefore they were to be “watching.”
The
only “time marker” referred to in these verses is a repetition of “the
days of Noah,” verses 37-39. Compare what the Lord said to
the Jews in these verses, with what is explicitly stated to the church
in 1
Thessalonians 5:4-6. Anyone, Jew or Gentile, who believes and studies
God’s Word should be able to recognize when “the days of Noah” are
being repeated in our society today.
Those who do not or cannot recognize a repetition of such immoral world
conditions, simply are not “watching” world events in the light of Bible
prophecy, Mark 13:34-37. This says
a whole lot about the true spiritual condition of some today who claim to be
“Christians.” Compare Daniel
12:9-10. God have mercy!
The Two Servants
Then
in 24:45-51
the Lord spoke about two kinds of “servants” who would be
living “when He cometh, verse 46. The
“faithful
and wise servant” is spoken of in verses 45-47 and the “evil
servant” in verses 48-51.
The clear
implication in context here is that the “faithful and wise servant” will be
“watching” over the Lord’s “household” over which the Lord has made him “ruler,”
and will be giving “them meat in due season.” Compare
Hebrews
13:7 and Acts 20:26-27. The term,
“due
season,” clearly implies giving the Lord’s “household” the right
meat [spiritual food] in relation
to the time period involved. How many
preachers today are really “feeding the flock” with God’s Word, and preparing
God’s people for the resurrection and rapture? Well…??
In
direct contrast, the “evil servant” doesn’t believe the
Lord is coming anytime soon, and is “smiting his fellow servants” [2 Peter 3:3-7] and is living “the good
life” with the lost world, verses
6
48-49. The Lord Himself emphatically declared that such “servants” will be
taken by complete surprise when the Lord comes [verse 50; Revelation 3:3], and will have reason to deeply regret
their “unfaithfulness,” verse 51. Compare
Luke
12:35-48.
Now think
about this! Which of these two “servants”
represents YOU?
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Folks, there are also two kinds of Jews living today. There are those Jews who are “secular” [non-religious] who have totally
renounced their ancient Jewish faith.
Then there are also those Jews who do believe the Scriptures and are
looking for and expecting the Jewish Messiah to come. Among this latter group there are also Jews
who have “professed” faith in Yeshua. Is
it then just coincidence that in this very next portion of Scripture the Lord
sets forth “The Parable of the Ten
Virgins”?
Matthew 25:1-13 records “The Parable of the Ten
Virgins.” A careful study of this
parable will reveal that the parable is dealing with events connected with and
leading up to a Jewish wedding. This
parable, like nearly everything else in this discourse, is dealing with the
Jewish people in spite of the efforts of many today who try in every
conceivable way to apply this parable to “Christians” and “the church.” Folks,
this parable does not apply to either Christians or the church. A little careful and serious study of
the marriages recorded in the Old Testament holds the “key” to understanding
what is really being taught in this parable.
If you really want to know the truth of God’s Word, then STUDY, 2
Timothy 2:15. The events
prophesied in this parable clearly precede the marriage. The “bride” is
never even mentioned in the parable, and it is quite clear that only those “virgins”
who are “ready” get to go in “with Him to the marriage,” 25:10. Compare Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke
13:24-27.
The Parable of the Talents
Are our readers paying attention to the chronological order
in which the Lord is explaining these prophecies? Let’s review…..
The chronological order set forth by the
Lord:
1. The
Parable of the Fig Tree –
The restoration of Israel
2. The
Warning to Watch -
For the Parousia –
The resurrection and rapture
3. The
Two Servants -
The faithful who are “watching” versus the disobedient “scoffers”
4. The
Parable of the Ten Virgins -
Believing
Jews who are “watching” will be taken when the
“parousia” [rapture] occurs, and “religious” Jews will be
left behind.
Now
what immediately follows the resurrection and rapture of God’s people in
prophetical and chronological order?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:10…..
In Matthew 25:14-30 the Lord gave the “Parable of the Talents” as it is commonly called. This parable is nothing more or less than an
account of resurrected and raptured believers appearing before the “bema”
throne of Christ to “receive” our rewards for “the
things done in [the] body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad,” 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Compare also 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Any reader who is familiar with the
outline of Bible prophecy set forth throughout the Scriptures knows that the “bema”
judgment is the next event in order immediately following the
rapture.
Dear readers, don’t fail to notice that
the rewards, or lack of them, at this “bema” judgment are not based
on the degree of accomplishment, but rather on the faithfulness of God’s
people in serving the Lord. “His
Lord said unto him, Well done, thou
good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,” 25:21. Folks, it requires no great knowledge
of God’s Word, no great education, no great speaking
7
ability, no
measure of monetary success, no special prestige, no great skill of any kind,
to simply love the Lord and be faithful.
The meekest, weakest, lowliest, poorest, most unskillful, true
believer is qualified to be faithful, and that is all the Lord is
asking of any of His children. Read Habakkuk
2:4, Romans 1:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 2:20, 3:11, and Hebrews
10:38. Glory to God! Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
If
the Lord wants more from any of us, He will qualify us Himself. This is made plain in the remark He makes to the
unfaithful “servant,” “Thou oughtest therefore to have put My money to the
exchangers, and then at My coming I should have received Mine
own with usury [interest],”
25:27. Folks, every possession
we own, every blessing we receive, every skill we learn, everything we obtain
to work with, is a gift from the Lord Himself.
Have you read John 15:5 lately, “…for
without Me ye can do nothing”? All we possess to serve the Lord
acceptably is “the measure of faith” which He has placed within the heart of each
of us. It is our faithfulness or
our lack of it which is going to determine our rewards at the “bema”
seat of Christ. How “faithful”
are YOU in serving the Lord with what He has given you? Think about it?
The Judgment of the Gentiles
Then…..Matthew 25:31-46. In this portion of Scripture the Tribulation
has ended. The Lord has returned to the
earth “in His glory,” and is seated “upon the throne of His glory,
25:31; Ezekiel 43:7. At that time
all the Gentile peoples on earth who have survived the Tribulation
will be gathered before the Lord.
In 25:32 the Lord states that He will
separate these survivors of the Tribulation, “…as a shepherd divideth his sheep
from the goats.” This makes two
groups of Gentile survivors who are being judged.
However, a
careful study of these Scriptures reveals that there will be a third
group of people present, whom the Lord refers to as “My brethren,” 25:40. This is referring to the Lord’s Jewish
“brethren,”
the redeemed Jewish “remnant” who will also have survived the
Tribulation. This redeemed Jewish “remnant” will not be those being
judged on this occasion. The Tribulation
itself will have been their time of judgment, from which they will have been
brought forth as a redeemed and purified people. See Isaiah 1:21-27, Ezekiel 22:18-22, Zechariah
13:8-9, Malachi 3:2-3, and other similar passages.
The “sheep” Gentiles will be saved
Gentiles who will have repented of their sin and received the Lord Jesus Christ
as their Savior right at the end of the Tribulation when they see the Lord
returning, Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians
1:7-10; Revelation 1:7. They
will be Gentiles whom the Lord kept safe during the Tribulation,
preserving their lives and granting to them mercy and grace to believe and be
saved, because they fed and clothed and visited and cared for the Lord’s
“brethren”
during the Tribulation, even at the risk of their own lives, 25:34-40.
Compare Matthew 5:7, Revelation 12:6, and
12:14. How gracious is our God!
The
“goat”
Gentiles will be Gentiles still lost in sin, who, even when they
witness the Lord’s coming again in glory, will still obstinately refuse to
repent and believe on the Lord and submit themselves to His saving grace. At this judgment the Lord will show them no
mercy because they also extended no mercy to the Lord’s “brethren”
during the Tribulation, 25:41-45. Read Genesis 12:3, Hebrews 10:28 and James
2:13, and take heed!
At
the conclusion of this judgment, the “sheep” Gentiles will enter the Millennial Kingdom
In direct contrast, the “goat” Gentiles will
enter “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” and
therefore “into everlasting punishment,” 25:41; 25:46.
One other truth which is commonly overlooked or ignored by most of
God’s people when they study this portion of Scripture, is the fact that all of
the people involved in this judgment are flesh and blood survivors of
the Tribulation living in their natural bodies. Why am I emphasizing this fact? Because verse 46 explicitly states that
“the
righteous” [the sheep] go “into
life eternal.” Glory!
Now let’s be honest with the Scriptures
folks….. Does this verse say that they
receive “glorified bodies”? Does
it? Well…?? No it doesn’t! And our readers know it! What this verse says is that
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these “righteous” redeemed Gentile
believers enter into “life eternal” in their natural
bodies. They will live forever in
their natural bodies! Glory! Praise the Lord! Glory to God!
Hallelujah!
Folks, right here in Matthew 25:46 is Scriptural
confirmation of my Bible studies on The
Ages to Come which sets forth the Scriptural truth that there will “eternally”
be two peoples in God’s Kingdom.
There is an abundance of Scripture which both states and teaches that
there will be a natural people
living on this earth in their natural
bodies throughout “eternity,” as well as there being a heavenly people living in
glorified bodies throughout “eternity.” I have now written twelve studies on The Ages to Come, which I will be glad
to send to any reader upon request.
The Whole Point of this Exposition
Now let’s return to the very reason why I
have gone to such lengths to point out that this entire Olivet Discourse was
given to the Jews, was for the Jews, and is primarily concerned
with the Jews.
Do I need to labor the point any
further? Since Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke
21 are the same discourse,
given to the same four Jews, on the same occasion, the three accounts
varying in wording only as the Lord inspired the three different writers, it
should be obvious that all three accounts are dealing with the Jews. Isn’t it
obvious that the entire context
of the Olivet Discourse is primarily Jewish?
Who can deal honestly with the Scriptures and deny this glaringly
obvious truth?
Scriptural Conclusions
Now that we have determined that the context of the Olivet
Discourse is primarily Jewish,
then what conclusions can be Scripturally drawn?
It was immediately after giving “The Parable of the Fig Tree” that the
Lord said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of
heaven, but My Father only,” Matthew 24:36.
According to the
context that we have already examined, who was Christ speaking to? In verse 42 of this chapter, the Lord added, “Therefore
be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of
man cometh.” Did the context change in any of these
passages? Wasn’t Christ still speaking
to the same four Jews? Wasn’t He still
speaking about matters of particular concern to the Jews? Folks, the answer to these questions is
obvious.
Since all three gospels record the same
discourse, given to the same people, on the same occasion, then it is a simple
conclusion that in Mark 13:32-33 and 13:35 the Lord is still speaking to,
for, and about the Jews.
Now let’s see how this harmonizes with what
the Scriptures teach about unbelieving
Israel
Who is Blind and in Darkness?
Now that we have discerned the
context of the Olivet Discourse, let’s study the Scriptures to find out
exactly what people it is that are spiritually “blind,” walk in
spiritual darkness, and are unable to discern spiritual truth.
In Romans
11:7-10 we read, “What then?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election
hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is
written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should
not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day…..Let
their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back
always.” Is this plain enough?
Then in Romans 11:25 the Scripture states, “For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”
Again in 2
Corinthians 3:14-15 we read, “But their minds were blinded: for
until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old
testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read,
the veil is upon their heart.” The
context clearly indicates that Paul is referring to the Jews.
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Each of these passages clearly point out
that it is unbelieving Israel Israel
In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 the Scriptures
state, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel
of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” These Scriptures make it clear that all lost people, regardless of
their race, are spiritually blind, and walk in darkness.
This truth is in perfect harmony with 1
Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man [person having only a natural birth]
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.”
Folks, no unsaved person can understand, know, or comprehend the
things of God. That which God reveals
can only be known by the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, and lost
people do not have God’s Spirit dwelling in them. Therefore, “the natural man” is
spiritually blind and walks in darkness.
This is plain enough for any true believer to understand. So who is blind and in darkness and cannot
know? All unsaved people are
spiritually blind, both Jews and Gentiles.
Now WHO
was the Lord speaking to in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 when He said, “But
of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My
Father only?” Isn’t it obvious
from the context that the Lord
was speaking to the Jews,
about the Jews, and for the benefit of the Jews? In plain language, the Lord was speaking to unbelieving Israel Israel
Who is not Blind and is not in Darkness?
In direct contrast to unbelieving Israel and unbelieving Gentiles,
stands the Lord’s people [true
believers]. The Lord’s people
are those New Testament believers who have been genuinely saved by the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s
churches are composed of God’s people who have covenanted together to form
a New Testament church.
When a person is genuinely “born
again” [John 3:3-7], the Holy Spirit takes up
residence in that person’s body, John 14:16-17. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
gives to that believer spiritual
understanding of the things of God, to whatever extent the believer
is willing to study God’s Word, John 16:12-15, 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 2
Timothy 2:15. People who have
been genuinely saved have been
given “the mind of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 2:16. This allows us who are true believers to see things as the Lord sees them, and
from His point of view. Therefore those
who are truly saved are not spiritually blind and do not walk in
spiritual darkness.
This is why the inspired Apostle wrote to
the Thessalonian church and said, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that day should overtake you as a thief,” 1 Thessalonians 5:4. This statement is in direct contrast
[not contradiction; contrast]
to the statement the Lord made to unbelieving
Israel
A Time for Heart Searching
At this point some folks that “profess” to
be “Christians” need to do some heart searching. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5 and 2
Peter 1:10. Are you really saved? ….or are you just a lost “religionist?” Do you have spiritual discernment? …..or are you really blind and walking in
darkness? Quit riding the fence! You are either truly saved, or you are still
lost in your sins. You either have
spiritual discernment, or you are spiritually blind and cannot see spiritual
truth. Which is it?
God’s people [true believers] “are not in darkness,” and are able
to “see
the day approaching,” Hebrews 10:24. If
you are truly saved, then the only reason that the coming of the Lord will “overtake
you as a thief” is because you choose to be “willingly ignorant,” 2 Peter
3:3-5; Revelation 3:3. If you
want to identify yourself with unbelieving
fools [Luke 24:25], that is your choice. I choose to identify myself with those children
of God who have been given spiritual light, and are willing to use that light
to discern the “times and seasons” of the Lord’s return. I have God’s Word. I do not walk in darkness, Psalm
119:105.
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An Explicit Command
In Matthew
24:37 the Lord explicitly stated, “But as the days of Noah were, so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
No one can be honest with the Scriptures and deny that the Lord
revealed to Noah in advance the exact
day the flood was coming. See Genesis
7:4; 7:10. Deny that truth, and
you will be denying God’s Word.
Folks, even as I write this study [1998…updated…2011…2013] I do not know
the “day
and hour” when the Lord is coming to resurrect and rapture His people
to glory. But I do know that the
day is drawing near. I fully expect to
know the exact day just
shortly before the Lord comes. The Lord
is going to fulfill His Word whether some folks like it or not. The Lord did not say that the “day
and hour” could not be known, or that it would not be
known. He spoke in the present tense, indicating that it was not known at that
time. Some folks need to learn the
difference between past, present, and future tenses, then respect God’s Word
enough to pay attention to the tenses when studying the Word.
In Mark 13:34-37 the Lord commanded the
Jews [and all who claim to be the Lord’s
people] to “Watch.” In verse 37 the
Lord explicitly said, “And what I say unto you [Jews]
I say unto all, Watch.” Now some of these “super-smart, super
spiritual, all wise, all knowing “Christians” [?] today tell us there are no
signs to indicate the Lord’s coming again.
But if there are no signs or indications that the Lord’s return is
approaching, then what is it that God’s people are supposed to “watch?” The logic of some of these “great
spiritual leaders” today makes about as much sense as some of their
“theology.” Sic!
The Lord explicitly stated in Revelation
3:3, “…..If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” The Lord addressed this statement to
one of His churches. 1
Thessalonians 5:4 quite clearly states that the Lord’s churches “are
not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” The Lord has explicitly commanded His
people to “Watch.” To refuse to do
so is to disobey the Lord Himself.
The plain implication of Revelation 3:3 is that if God’s
people do watch, then the Lord
will not come on us as thief, and we will know “what
hour” He is coming. These
so-called “great leaders” in the ranks of Christianity today, many of whom
won’t even lift a finger to seriously study the prophecies of God’s Word, can
get angry over this statement, and stomp and spit and puff and blow, but this
passage in Revelation 3:3 will keep right on saying exactly what it
says. The truth is the truth whether men
like it or not.
Conclusion
Folks, great end-time truths are being
revealed today for those of God’s people [true
believers] who are willing to search them out. It is not God’s people who are “blind”
and “in darkness.” It is
past time that many who “profess” to
be God’s people quit using Matthew 24:36 as an excuse to
justify their own “willing ignorance,” and start seriously studying and “rightly
dividing the Word of truth,” 2 Timothy 2:15.
The Olivet Discourse, when studied in context, provides nothing for the “willingly ignorant” to
hide behind. In this study I have
clearly demonstrated this truth, whether some like it or not.
In closing this study I want to emphasize
to our readers that “the end of the age” is now staring humanity in the face. There are good Scriptural reasons to
believe that the Lord is coming to resurrect and rapture His people [true believers] to glory in 2013. This means that there are only a few days
left for God’s people to witness to and seek to win their lost loved ones
to the Lord, and there are only a few days left for the unsaved to seek the
Lord for salvation. Folks, it is now, or
it may be never!
Do you have assurance of salvation in
Christ? Read 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2
Peter 1:10, and 1 John 5:13, and earnestly pray for
the Lord’s guidance.
Do you
know that you have received Christ and are not still lost in sin? Read John 5:24, 14:6, Acts 16:30-31, and Romans
10:8-13, and pray asking the Lord for assurance or salvation.
Do you
need spiritual help for assurance or salvation?
Contact me at once! By God’s
GRACE I know the way, and I will do everything I can to help you.
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But
for those people who refuse to accept the truths that have been presented in
this study, preferring to walk on in darkness and ignorance, the Word of God
does say, “If any man will be ignorant, let him be ignorant,” 1 Corinthians
14:38. SELAH!
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NOTICE:
Permission is granted to any true
believer or to any Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this
study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.
This ministry is supported solely by the
voluntary free will offerings of those who feel led of the Lord to help us send
forth God’s wonderful Word.
All
comments, questions, or correspondence should be addressed to: Pastor F. M. Riley, 184 County Road 108,
Harrisburg, Missouri 65256, or I can be contacted by email at fmr7sngn@centurylink.net
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