In the Major and Minor Prophets we found many prophecies of the coming of the Lord which have not yet been fulfilled. The use of internal clues allowed us to form a preliminary sequence of events. In Daniel we found the sequence in which the prophecies of the Lord's coming will be fulfilled.

What did the man Y'Shua have to say about His return to this earth? His disciples asked Him this very question. Their questions and His answers are recorded in Matthew Chapter 24, for us to study.

NOT ONE STONE
The Messiah had been to the Temple to worship or teach many times. Now He departs for the last time. Soon God's Temple will be the hearts of faithful men. John 4:21-24, 1 Cor. 3:16. "Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God?"

As they are leaving, the disciples, impressed by the building, make comments concerning its grandeur.

Matthew 24:2. "See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (The "wailing wall" is not part of the temple. This lie is but one of Satan's many attempts to break the Word of God.) This is a repeat, and confirmation, of earlier prophecies of the destruction of the City and Temple. Dan. 9:26, Jer. 5:10-12.

THE QUESTION IS, WHEN?
Verse 3: "When shall these things be?" (The City and Temple destroyed.) "What shall be the signs of thy coming?" "What shall be the signs of the end of the world?" The disciples have asked Y'Shua three questions. One concerning the destruction of the City and Temple, one about the evidence (signs) of His coming and one about The End of this physical world. Now (with hindsight) we can see the destruction of the City and Temple by Titus had nothing to do with the end of this physical universe.

After verse 2 the Lord makes no other comment (as recorded by Matthew) about the City's fall to Titus. He answers the questions about His return and the end of this world.

WATCH FOR FALSE PROPHETS
Verse 4: "Take heed..." He begins with a warning about false prophets. The deceiver will send liars to deceive you; as he deceived Adam and Eve, Cain, Ham and Nimrod.

Verse 5: "For many shall come..." Every one of them sent by Lucifer. If one false prophet telling one lie can't deceive you, he will send another with a different lie. If you're not deceived by Mormonism or Muhammadism, he'll try materialism or secular humanism; and if these don't succeed, sex, drugs, self righteousness or pride. 1 Tim. 4:1-3, 2 Thes. 2:11. See pp. 75, 135.

THE END IS NOT YET
Verse 6: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars..." He seems to be reassuring them. He is telling them, and us, the signs (events) He has just listed (vv. 4, 5 and 6) do not (by themselves) indicate The End has come (yet).

Verse 7: "For nation shall rise against nation... and there shall be famine, pestilences, earthquakes, in divers places." He has just given a list of events which will come upon mankind. But He uses the phrase "divers places," indicating that as long as they occur separately they do not mean The End has come (yet). But it is clear The End and His coming is the subject of His speech.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END
Verse 8: But now His tone changes. Listen with your spirit. "All these are the beginning of sorrows." There are two phrases in this sentence: "All these are..." and "the beginning of sorrows." See the contrast: comprehend the change in the message. First He said, "divers places." Then He said "All these..." Now He has collected the listed signs together, saying "all these" are the beginning of sorrows. While the listed events occur in divers places "the end is not yet." But He tells us "all these" (collectively) are the beginning of the pains of (eternal) birth.

WE MUST WITNESS
Verse 9: "Then they shall deliver you up..." The term "then" means things have changed; that, though conditions were not ready for a specific event, "then" they are ready. "Then" indicates a change of time. The time was not right for an event, now it is. The term "then" refers to events already discussed; understood by the listener; which will "then" bring about the now described consequence. In this context "then" refers to the time when "All these..." are in full bloom.

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and they shall kill you: and you shall be hated..." In the days of Noah there were "they" and "you." "They" were those who did not see the "signs of the times." In the days of Y'Shua's ministry there were "they" and "you." "They" were those who did not comprehend the "signs of the times." Today "they" are those who know not God, while "you" are those who love the Truth.

Our Savior taught us, by example, what love is: the fulfillment of God's law. He taught us to love even our enemies. Now He tells us that in return, we, like He, will be hated. Mat. 10:25.

SEE THE SEQUENCE
It must be emphatically stated, the affliction which is described in verse 9 follows "the beginning of sorrows" in verse 8, which begins after "all these" (events listed in vv. 4-7). Therefore this affliction cannot be that which came upon the Early Saints. This is prophecy of the affliction which the last century Saints must endure. Rev. 6:11. See p. 159.

THE WEAK WILL FALL
Verse 10: "Then shall many be offended..." Here the term "then" refers to the affliction which began after "all these..." "Offended," not because of the wars or earthquakes, but because of the affliction. ("Why did God let this happen to me?") Heb. 12:7, James 5:11, 1 Thes. 2:11.

WATCH FOR FALSE PROPHETS
Verse 11: "Many false prophets shall rise..." Not a few, many. All who teach the philosophy of religion are false prophets, as are any who tell us the Word of God does not mean exactly what He said. 1 Tim. 4:1-3.

SIN COVERS THE EARTH
Verse 12: "And because iniquity shall abound..." Iniquity is that whole way of life which is opposed to God. "Abound," because those who oppose God will conquer the world. Dan. 7:12. "As the days of Noah were, so shall these last days be." 2 Tim. 4:3, 2 Pet. 2:1.

ENDURE TO THE END
Verse 13: "But he that shall endure unto the end..." From the beginning of His speech in the fourth verse the Master has been speaking of The End of this world and His return. Let us not change His meaning here in this verse.

He has been speaking to you--His disciples. Does this mean, then, that some of the disciples to whom He was speaking would live until the end of this world? If so, where are they? Because none of them have survived, He could not have been talking directly to them to the exclusion of all others.

The Faithful who live at the time of The End are also His disciples, are we not? Because He refers to His disciples as "you," and we are His disciples, then He is speaking to us. Some of the faithful will survive to the end. He just said so: "He that shall endure unto the end..." See pp. 159

"Endure unto the end..." As Job endured affliction to test, purify and exemplify his faith, those of us who see these last days will also endure a little affliction. The test of our faith by the fires of affliction (vv. 9-12) is brought upon us by "them" (those who know not God) just before The End.

THE END COMES
Verse 14: "And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then the end shall come." The disciples asked "When" and here He has answered that question. "When the Good News... then."

Here again is the term "then." When the Gospel... "then the end..." What is an important "sign" of the coming End? The "Good News" is now being preached to all the World. But there is more.

ATTENTION TO THE SUBJECT
All along He has been speaking of the signs of His coming and The End, and from verse 4 to 14 He has not mentioned the temple. All of the events listed in verses 4 to 14 are events which must happen before the coming of the Lord and The End of this world. The destruction of the Temple was not included in this list. Verses 8 to 14 are a sequential list of End Time events which Y'Shua gave in reply to the disciples question, "When...?"

Since nothing can happen on this earth after The End, then any events which are described hereafter in this discourse must occur before The End or must indicate a change of subject.

THE ABOMINATION
Verse 15: "When ye therefore shall see..." [Who is this "ye"?] "...the abomination of desolation..." [What or who is this?] "...spoken of by the prophet Daniel, stand in the Holy Place," (whoso readeth, let him understand,)...."

We must answer three questions: First. Is this "Holy Place" Herod's Temple? Second. What is this "abomination?" Third. Who is He speaking to?

First: He said, "...stand in the Holy Place..." Which place does He mean? We must be careful to consider the meaning of His words within the context of His speech. First and foremost we must remember He is speaking of events which will occur under the New Covenant. Under the New Covenant, what is the correct definition of "Holy Place?" We also need to ask, (in order to make sure we understand this prophecy,) "was Titus the abomination and did he stand in the Holy Place before destroying it and the City?"

THE HOLY PLACE
We know under the Old Covenant the Holy Place was in the Temple. But Y'Shua said, "The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem, worship the Father..." John 4:21-24. Now, under the New Covenant, God's Holy Place is in our hearts. Acts 17:24, 1 Cor. 3:16. God's Most Holy of Holy Places is in Heaven. Rev. 4:2, 15:15, 21:1-3.

Does not place also mean position? Example: "He is in a position (place) in his life where he must make a decision." Is not God, now, this very day, in His "Holy Place" of worship in our lives? Will Satan be usurping--standing in--that Holy Place; which we have given to God, and belongs to God alone; when he claims to be God and demands to be worshiped as God?

ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
The Romans surrounded Jerusalem before destroying it, but Titus did not stand in the Holy place before taking the City. True, he may have stood (after defeating 24,000 Jewish troops) in the Temple before it was destroyed. However, consider verse 16 carefully. "...Then let them... in Judea flee..." See that, first, He did not say "in Jerusalem," but "in Judea." That is, in the country or state of Judea. Second, and most instructive, is this fact: If the residents of the City had waited until they saw Titus "stand in the Holy Place," it would have been too late for them to flee. This prophecy does not concern Titus. It is about Satan and the last three and half years of human bondage.

Finally, Titus is not the abomination because he did not "bring desolation until The End," nor was he destroyed by the coming of the Lord. Dan. 8:25, 9:26.

HISTORY, OR FUTURE EVENT?
Second: The abomination of desolation Y'Shua has mentioned is spoken of by the Prophet Daniel three times. In 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11. In 12:11 the Spirit of the Lord tells Daniel that from the abomination to The End would be 1,290 (or 1,335) days; and He is referring to both 11:31 and 9:27. All these prophecies are about The End and second coming of the Lord. None of these tell of the destruction of the City and Temple by Titus in A.D. 70.

If Y'Shua had wanted to refer to scriptures which tell of the fall of Jerusalem to Titus, He could have referred to Daniel 9:26 which specifically describes the destruction of the City and Temple. Or He could have referred to Jeremiah 5:12-18, which specifically tells of the fall of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel 9:1-9 also describes His first coming and the destruction of the City and Temple. But He did not refer to Ezekiel, Jeremiah or to Daniel 9:26. Instead He referred to the Abomination of Desolation which in every case depicts End Time events and His second coming.

THE SUBJECT UNDER DISCUSSION
Third: For this whole discussion, so far, the Lord has been speaking of "the end" and the signs of His coming. That did not occur in the lifetime of those to whom He was speaking. If He is now speaking about the destruction (which occurred in their lifetime) of the Temple, then He has changed the subject of His speech.

But our Lord has not changed the subject. He is still speaking of The End and His final visit to this earth. Since these events did not occur in the lifetime of those who heard Him describe them, we must conclude He is speaking to those who will be here to see them occur. (Vv. 15, 33, "Ye shall see...").

A MAJOR END TIME EVENT
The Master is not speaking to His disciples of the destruction of the City and Temple by Titus in A.D. 70. He is talking about Satan's proclaiming himself to be God and the subsequent desolation of the world: signs (events) which occur just three and a half years before The End. Isa. 14:13, Dan. 9:27, 11:31, Rev. 13:14.

Verse 16: "Then let them... in Judea flee..." Verses 16 to 20 are plain and simple language: the remnant of Israel will not need scholars to explain their meaning.

FAITH TESTED BY FIRE
Verse 21: "For then..." Here again is the term "then" which tells the listener conditions are now right for the coming event. "...shall be great tribulation." The term "then" is referring to the Abomination of Desolation described by Daniel. Y'Shua is referring to the consequences of Satan's "standing in the Holy Place" and proclaiming himself to be "God."

The "affliction" described in verses 9 to 12 is brought upon the Church by those who "love not the truth." 2 Thes. 2:3-12, On the other hand, this "tribulation" is brought upon the whole of mankind by Satan. Having proclaimed himself to be "God," he will murder all but a remnant of the Saints; and God will pour His wrath upon Satan, his kingdom and those who reject Y'Shua. Dan. 12:12, Rev. 9:1-6, 13:4-8, 16:13-14. Don't be mislead by those who are deceived or angry and blame the God of Creation for this tribulation. Satan is the destroyer. Jer. 51:25.

MERCY FOR THE ELECT
Verse 22: "But for the mercy of God, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Here He tells His disciples (us) that some of His disciples (us) will survive (by God's mercy) until The End. Verse 13. Isa. 10:20-27, 1 Thes. 4:17, Rev. 20:9.

"No flesh saved..." This tribulation is so murderous that if it were not for the mercy of God no human being would survive on the face of this earth. Who are the elect for whom God will shorten the holocaust of those last days? Dan. 12:1-3, Rev. 11:13, 20:9. Mat. 1:21, Col. 1:1-3, Acts 2:37-47, 1 Thes. 1:1-4, 4:15, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:2.

WATCH FOR FALSE PROPHETS
Verse 23: "Then if any..." Here again is the term "then," giving an indication the circumstances or time is specified. In this context the term "then" indicates the time from when Satan (the abomination) stands in the Holy Place through the tribulation. (A period of three and a half years. Rev. 13:5.)

"Any man..." We all understand the term "man" is generic and means "human." The term "any," like "all," is inclusive, and tells us "none" are excluded. Therefore, any person, man or woman, who says, "Look, here is the Christ," or "He is in Jerusalem" is wrong or lying. His warning sounds so emphatic it now has the ring of command: "Believe it not."

Verse 24: "For false Christs... false prophets... great signs and wonders..." Why? To deceive even (if possible) the very elect. Satan is the deceiver. He deceived Adam and Eve, who actually had the privilege of walking in the garden with the Lord. Solomon was finally overcome by Satan, and bowed down to idols. Satan will do his best (or worst) to deceive us too. 2 Thes. 4:3, Acts 17:17.

Verse 25: "Behold, I have warned you before." Four times now He has warned us. Because He has warned us so many times, it is clear our not being deceived is important to Him. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Verse 26: "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, behold, He is in the desert... He is in the secret chambers; believe it not." What is He telling us here? Is it that the idea He will come in secret is a lie? He just said He is not going to come to some out of the way (desert) location. He just said He is not going to slip into the city (secret chamber) unnoticed and start a whispering campaign to collect a few favored (if they say to you) disciples.

EVERY EYE SHALL SEE
Verse 27: "For as lightning... so shall the coming of the son of man be." Lightning is a local occurrence, but it is an event which can be used to teach a world encompassing truth. When lightning strikes near you, no one has to tell you, "lightning!" Everyone sees it at the same time. As lightning is local to you, so the whole world is local to the coming of our Lord. Every eye shall see Him. Every eye will see him at the same time. No one will have to say to you, "the Lord has come." Nor will we be able to say to our companion, "the Lord has come." Why? Because there will be no more time; and every soul, living or who ever lived, will all know at the same time. The End of Time is coming toward us at the speed of light. Rev. 1:7.

VULTURES FLY
Verse 28: "Where the body is..." Here is another reason we should not believe any person who tells us, "He has come." The Messiah died as the sacrifice for our sin. It is by and through His death we have hope in God's mercy. This body is His. His blood is the blood of the New Covenant. The Elect eat the Passover Supper of His flesh and blood (the bread and wine). Exo. 12:17. John 6:51-55 and Mat. 26:26-28. Eagles and vultures both fly and eat flesh. We live by His flesh, and will fly up to meet Him in the sky.

IDENTIFY THE CONTEXT
From verse 4 to 22 Y'Shua has listed the signs of the times by which we can recognize the generation of His coming. He has graphically described events which will precede The End. From verse 23 to 28 He explained how we can recognize false prophets who lie and tell us "He has come." Now in verse 29 He returns to the tribulation first described in verses 15 to 22.

THE QUESTION IS, WHEN?
Verse 29: "Immediately after..." Without delay: next.) "...the tribulation of those days..." "Those days" are the last Three and an Half days of Daniel's week. Dan. 9:27. This tribulation is that which is brought by the Abomination. (Then) "shall the sun be darkened... the moon shall not give her light, the stars shall fall from heaven." Ps. 102:26.

Do not be deceived: Do not listen to those who say this is "only figurative speech" used to teach us some vague "moral lesson." Y'Shua spoke the common language of His day. He spoke to the common people, not to philosophers or intellectuals. Mat. 11:25-27. This message is literal and is understandable in the common language to common people of today. Let philosophers and intellectuals believe what they wish. Let those who love Truth believe exactly what He said. Y'Shua is The Word, and the very word He spoke is Truth. John 18:37.

Stars shall fall. Indeed, the astronomers can detect these falling stars now, but refuse to believe what they see. They prefer to believe the lie of the "Big Bang Expanding Universe" and call them "Quasars," and claim they are at the edge of the universe.

THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN
Verse 30: "And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven..." The term "then" again, again denoting a change from the time or circumstances before an event could occur to the time or circumstances when it will take place. "Then" in this context refers to the events just described. That is, the sun and moon darkened and stars falling. Y'Shua has just revealed "when." After "the gospel" is preached, after the tribulation, when the sun is darkened--THEN!

The period of tribulation will be of three and a half years duration. During these years the preaching of the Good News will be finished, and many Saints will be killed for their testimony. Dan. 9:27, Rev. 11:3-9.

EARTH'S TRIBES MOURN
"Then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn..." The term "all" is wholly and totally inclusive: none are omitted, none are excluded. Every soul who ever lived will see Y'Shua coming in the clouds of heaven with great glory and power. Rev. 1:7.

Verse 31: "And He shall send His angles..." He (The Man Y'Shua, our Lord) is in command of the events of That Day, ("All authority is given...") "...shall send His angels..." The Son of God will send Heaven's legions to gather those who sleep, and the remnant of His people. Isa. 27:13, Zec. 9:14, 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thes. 4:16 and Rev. 11:15-19. Verses 14 and 31 both depict the same event--The End and His coming.

AN UNDERSTANDABLE PARABLE
Verse 32: "Now learn..." This is a parable, like the house built on the sand, told to teach us a truth. The teller of the parable uses something the listener already understands, in story form, to teach something not yet understood. When the tender buds of the plants begin to swell and turn green it is spring, and summer is near. Y'Shua wants us to use this practical method of telling the seasons of the earthly year to recognize the seasons of God's time. The events He has just described are the "buds." When these "buds" begin to "swell and open" (occur) then we can know "summer" (His coming) is near.

YOU WILL SEE
Verse 33: "When ye shall see all these things..." Y'Shua just said his disciples would see all these things. If He was speaking to the disciples of His day, then either they are still alive, (all of these events have not yet occurred,) or his word is broken, since they did not see them all. Or, He was not speaking to them but to His disciples living in the days these events would occur.

OUR GENERATION
Verse 34: "Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Taken in the context of this complete discourse (it is all about the same subject), the phrase "all these things" indicates all events listed and described in verses 4 to 14, 15 to 21, 27, 29 and 30.

Together "When ye shall see..." and "this generation" must indicate the generation which sees the "buds" open is the generation who will see the lord come. Because the generation who sees these events begin to occur will not all die until they are all fulfilled. All the events He has listed must occur within the lifetime of one generation.

Either those who listened to Him list the events, or the generation who witnesses the listed events will know they are the generation who will see the Lord come.

Since it is obvious all the events listed have not yet occurred; and since He said this generation shall not pass till "all" these things be fulfilled; and since we know none of the generation to whom He spoke has survived to this day, then we must conclude that the generation He identifies as "this generation" is the generation who see the listed events occur, not the generation who heard them listed.

"This generation" indicates a specific generation. "All these..." indicates one generation, and thus the listed events cannot be divided between more than one generation. The generation who heard Him give the list did not see them all occur, therefore "this generation" can be only one other generation -- Our generation.

The Messiah was commanded by His Father what to say and what to do. John 12:48-50. We know, therefore, that not only did He mean to say generation, but that God the Father instructed the Son to say "generation."

A STATEMENT OF FACT
Verse 35: "Heaven and earth shall pass away..." This is a clear and concise statement of fact. This physical universe will case to exist: period. Those who refuse to believe this present world will end are refusing to believe the Truth. "...But my word will not pass away." This physical world is temporary. His Word is eternal: it will not change, it will remain the same forever. His words mean the same thing today they meant the day He spoke them.

EXACT TIME IS UNKNOWABLE
Verse 36: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man..." While it is given to the generation who sees and recognizes the signs of the times to know they will see The End, they cannot know the exact day or hour in advance. There is a difference between knowing the generation who will see Him come, and knowing the day and hour He will come. Heb. 10:25, 1 Thes. 5:4.

OUR DAYS LIKE NOAH'S
Verse 37: "But as the days of Noah were..." Noah and his family are foretypes of physical Israel saved out of Egypt and Spiritual Israel saved out of this world. As the world was full of sin and violence then, so it is today. As the world was destroyed then, so will it be destroyed in lifetime of those who witness the rebirth of Rome. 2 Peter 3:7, 10-12.

Verses 38-39: "They were eating and drinking..." Noah and his sons knew the world would end in their lifetime. But "they" knew not until the flood came and swept them away. "They" were the unbelievers who saw Noah building the Ark, but would not believe the flood (of which Noah forewarned) was coming.

They/them are unbelievers of our day who will not believe our testimony concerning the signs of the times which are occurring in our lifetime. "They" are those who see the Bible but will not believe it is the Word of God. "They" are those who see the nuclear weapons but refuse to believe they will be part of the Great Tribulation which will all but wipe mankind off the face of this earth. "They" will refuse to believe The End of this world is coming in our lifetime. They will refuse to believe it right up to the moment it comes upon them.

THE DOOR WILL BE CLOSED
When the earth runs loose in the heavens like the roe fleeing the wolf; the sun ashen, the moon blood red, stars falling in the sight of men; it will be too late. As in the days of Noah, God will close the door of the ark. "...And took them all away; so shall the coming of the son of man be." Gen. 7:16.

NOT IN SECRET
The Lord has taken great care to tell us He is not going to come in secret, and that all the peoples of the earth will see Him come. (v. 26.) Rev. 1:7.

THE LAST TRUMPET
Verses 40-41: "One shall be taken... the other..." All along Y'Shua has been speaking of the end of this world and His coming. There has been nothing said so far to suggest He might come twice more. Indeed, as noted in verse 26, He has taken great care to assure us He is not going to come in secret. So the question is, "When..." "When will one be taken and the other left?" The answer is contained within the term "then." "Then" tells us when. In the context of His speech, "then" refers to verse 31 when He shall send the angels to gather His elect. "Then" shall one be taken and the other left. "Then" refers to the Seventh Trumpet and "That Day" as described in verses 14, 30, 31 and 36. Compare these to 1 Thes. 4:15-16, 1 Cor. 15:51-52 and Rev. 11:15-19.

WATCH, AND SEE
Verses 42-43: "Watch therefore..." Here again the Lord is speaking of "That Day," the day of His coming. "What hour the Lord doth come..." Referring again to verses 14, 27 and 31. In verse 43 He speaks of the time the thief comes. Some theologians have misunderstood this parable, so we should consider it with care and payer. We must consider this parable in the light of the context of His speech. First, this parable repeats, in different words, the same idea as verses 40 and 41. In fact, the words are much alike. "What hour the Lord..." and "What watch the thief..." "Hour" and "Watch" both mean "time." The careful Bible student will also notice that in describing the "thief" the Lord said "come" and not "getaway."

IDENTIFY THE CONTEXT
From verse 4 to 14 Y'Shua has given a detailed chronological list of events leading to The End; events which climax with His return. Verses 15 to 22 are specific details of events which occur during the time period identified by verse 14. The abomination will bring the holocaust which is described in verse 21. The signs given in verse 29 will be seen within the three and a half years after the Abomination stands in the Holy Place, and just before our Lord's return as described in verse 30.

BE CAREFUL OF THE LIES
In verses 36 and 44 He tells us any man who attempts to tell us he knows the day or hour of His coming is sadly mistaken, or is a liar sent by Satan. The counter part of this lie is "no one can have any idea of the general time of His coming."We can know the generation, as did Noah's generation, but we cannot know the day or hour.