Matthew 24 : 1 - 5 The Olivet Discourse : The Signs of the End of the Age.

The Last Discourse in Matthew  The Coming Judgement and the way to act.

Introduction.

Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple as he takes his final leave of it, and teaches what were the signs of His coming. These predictions are also recorded in Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38. Barnes Notes

So here we have two judgments in view. First the A.D.70 destruction. Many have dogmatically argued that this shows that Matthew was written after AD 70. This is not the case as that does not take into account Jesus Prophetic Vision of the future and His Omniscience as Divine.

Leon Morris comments, “ We may well argue that there is a Theological Unity between the two Judgements and that some of what Jesus says could apply equally well to both. The first of these is a  judgement that  followed the REJECTION of JESUS in His earthly Ministry by the Jewish Leaders, and the second is the judgement that will follow the Preaching of the Gospel throughout the World. We should not  approach these  chapters with the conviction that everything in them applies to only one of these judgements.”

1. The Destruction of the temple. 24: 1-2

Mat 24:1  Jesus had left the Temple and was going on His way, when His disciples came and called His attention to the Temple buildings.

Mat 24:2  "But You see all these?" He replied; "in solemn truth I tell you that there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be pulled down." WNT.

http://www.jesus-story.net/images/Temple_reconstr.jpg

All three of the Synoptic Gospels mention this import discourse.

Mat 24:1  Jesus had left the Temple and was going on His way, when His disciples came and called His attention to the Temple buildings.

Notes

Jesus had gone out of the Temple and was his way to the Mount of Olives, when His disciples came and called His attention to the Temple buildings.

After the Lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37-39 they may have asking how such a magnificently built Temple could ever be destroyed. There were some very large stones in the building which Herod built weighing up to forty tons.

Map of the layout of Jerusalem at the time of Christ, showing the Temple and Herod's palace.

The site of Caiaphas' residence and the Upper Room is conjecture; its exact location is unknown.

From Life of Jesus Christ  Buildings He knew. http://www.jesus-story.net/buildings_NT.htm

It was a beautiful building in Jerusalem white marblestone with its Gold overlays.

Mat 24:2  "But You see all these?" He replied; "in solemn truth I tell you that there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be pulled down."

Notes

“But You see all these things?” He relied;    BUT  is adversative conjunction in the force of its expression. Instead of the admiration for the beautiful buildings which He calls “all these things” Jesus solemnly declares their total destruction.

Instead of appreciating the Architecture Jesus prophesies its destruction. The disciples were probably expecting something positive but Jesus knew the reality.

"in solemn truth I tell you that there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be pulled down."

This is a very emphatic double negative statement::  there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be pulled down." The Disciples were told not  caught up with the beauty of the Building because they were doomed.

Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

It is more important  that  we live Godly Lives and not get caught up with admiration of Temples, Cathedrals & churches.

2. The Beginning of Troubles 23: 3-14

Mat 24:3  Afterwards He was on the Mount of Olives and was seated there when the disciples came to Him, apart from the others, and said, "Tell us when this will be; and what will be the sign of your Coming and of the Close of the Age?"

Notes.

Afterwards He was on the Mount of Olives and was seated there

Jesus and the disciples left the Temple, cross the kidron Valley and ascended the Mount of Olives. http://pamelagellercom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MountOlives10s.jpg

...when the disciples came to Him, apart from the others, and said, "Tell us when this will be; and what will be the sign of your Coming and of the Close of the Age?"

Jesus had prophesied the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem forty years before it happened.

They wanted to know Two things privately. When this was going to happen and Jesus Coming and the Signs of the End of the age.

Jesus knew he was about to leave them. This was His last few days with them. He explained Eschatology to them. [the last events of History of this age]

Mat 24:4  "Take care that no one misleads you," answered Jesus;WNT;     And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. R.V.

Notes

In the History of the church Eschatology is an area of Theology where it is easy to be lead astray. Look at the SDAs. In 1843 Jesus was supposed to return as they were all assembled on a mountain. It didn’t happen. They made a new calculation and went up in 1844. He still didn’t return according to their date. So the so called prophetess said Jesus had entered the sanctuary in heaven to examine their sins. This is completely non - Biblical and Blasphemous.

Even today their are very strong views of Pre-; Post; and A-millenialism.

These are prophecies to help believers discern the Times.

How can we be lead astray?

Mat 24:5  "for many will come assuming my name and saying 'I am the Christ;' and they will mislead many.

Notes

Take heed that no man deceive you. By pretending to be Christ. As they yet believed that Christ would surely return to reign at Jerusalem, this admonition was needed.

Come in my name. As the Messiah. We learn from Josephus that enthusiasts did come about the time of the end of Jerusalem, claiming to be sent of God. Bar-cocheba, "the son of the star," appeared in A. D. 120. From time to time other deceivers have appeared.

The Muslim False - Messiah, the MAHDI.

In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi (Arabic: مهدي‎,(or Imam Mahdi) ISO 233: mahdī "guided one") is the prophesied redeemer of Islamwho will rule for seven, nine, or nineteen years (according to differing interpretations)[1] before the Day of Judgment (yawm al-qiyamah / literally, the Day of Resurrection)[2] and will rid the world of evil.[3]

There is no explicit reference to the Mahdi in the Qu'ran, but references to him are found in hadith (the reports and traditions of Muhammad's teachings collected after his death). According to Islamic tradition, the Mahdi's tenure will coincide with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Isa), who is to assist the Mahdi against the Masih ad-Dajjal (literally, the "false Messiah" or Antichrist).[4]Differences exist in the concept of the Mahdi between Sunni Muslims and adherents of the Shia tradition. Wikipedia.com

Mat 24:6  And before long you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. Do not be alarmed, for such things must be; but the End is not yet.

Notes

And before long you will hear of wars and rumours of wars.

See that ye be not troubled (horate mē throeisthe). Asyndeton here with these two imperatives as Mar_8:15 orate blepete (Robertson, Grammar, p. 949). Look out for the wars and rumours of wars, but do not be scared out of your wits by them. Throeō means to cry aloud, to scream, and in the passive to be terrified by an outcry. Paul uses this very verb (mēde throeisthai) in 2Th_2:2 as a warning against excitement over false reports that he had predicted the immediate second coming of Christ. RWP

Destruction of Aleppo in Syria

But the end is not yet (all' oupō estin to telos). It is curious how people overlook these words of Jesus and proceed to set dates for the immediate end. That happened during the Great War and it has happened since. RWP

"The Bible predicts a downward spiral of catastrophes, human sin, and religious apostasy before Christ returns. Paul writes, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. . . . evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:1, 13). The world will continue to reject God, His Word, and His people. ... The erosion of peace and increase of turmoil that precedes the Rapture will reach epic proportions when untold numbers of people disappear from earth."

I believe the world has been in pangs since Jesus ascended, though like contractions are wont to do, start off mild and unnoticeable, increasing terribly as the birth nears. Then the water breaks, and I believe the rapture is that event we can liken to water breaking. When the water breaks, things really get serious in the labor pains and birthing process. The birth is near once the water breaks. What is being birthed? The Kingdom of Jesus Christ that will last 1000 years. (Revelation 20:2-7; Luke 1:32-33' Ezekiel 43:7).

http://the-end-time.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/wars-and-rumors-of-wars.html

Matthew 7:15-20 Watch out There are False Teachers.

If an Unsuspecting and Trusting Aussie Woman can be swindled out of AUD250,000-00 by a deceiver then watch out for there are FALSE TEACHERS out there ready to twist the Scriptures to their own gain.

Mat 7:15  "Beware of the false teachers--men who come to you in sheep's fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves.

Mat 7:16  By their fruits you will easily recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from brambles?

Mat 7:17  Just so every good tree produces good fruit, but a poisonous tree produces bad fruit.

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a poisonous tree good fruit.

Mat 7:19  Every tree which does not yield good fruit is cut down and thrown aside for burning.

Mat 7:20  So by their fruits at any rate, you will easily recognize them.

Mat 7:15  "Beware of the false teachers--men who come to you in sheep's fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves.

"Beware of the false teachers”- False Prophet G5578 ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophētēs Thayer Definition: 1) one who, acting the part of a divinely inspired prophet, utters falsehoods under the name of divine prophecies 2) a false prophet

The word prophet originally means one who foretells future events. As prophets, however, were commonly regarded as public instructors on the subject of religion, the word came to denote all who were religious teachers. A false prophet is a teacher of incorrect doctrine, or one falsely and unjustly laying claims to divine inspiration. It probably had reference to the false teachers then among the Jews.

Young Mormon 'Elder'

The doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are very interesting. Most of the 'odd' ones are not initially taught to potential converts, but they should be. Instead, "they are revealed later as one matures and gains the ability to accept them." The LDS Church tries to make its official doctrines appear Christian, but what underlies those Christian-sounding terms is far from Christian in meaning.

Following are the teachings of its officials throughout the years. Please note that these teachings are documented from Mormon writers--not anti-Mormon writers.What does Mormonism Teach by Matt Slick please read more.

<https://carm.org/teachings-of-mormonism>

Who come to you in sheep’s fleeces or sheep’s clothing.

They appear to be sheep but really they are not. They are out to devour you or have you. Don’t think that all the door-knockers who visit you are genuine.

Illustration :Yesterday I asked two young mormon elders how such young lads could be ‘elders’?

They answered that it merely means travelling religious teachers. Elder in the Scriptures is more than travelling religious teacher. Greek “Presbuteros”emphasizes the maturity and authority that the leadership has to teach and rule the church.

You will never learn Mormon doctrine from their Articles of Faith. Those are written to hide their teachings from "gentile" readers. You must look into their secret temple ceremonies and the writings of their prophets. Here are some of the surprising results.

Mormon scripture consists of four books. They are: (1) The Book of Mormon (2) Doctrine and Covenants (3) Pearl of Great Price and (4) The Bible (in that order). The first three books seriously contradict the Bible. Mormons often ignore the Bible, claiming it is "mis-translated." http://www.chick.com/bc/1985/mormonism.asp

Mat 7:16  By their fruits you will easily recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from brambles? WNT

Mat 7:16  You will know them by what they do. Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briers do not bear figs.GNB

By their fruits you will easily recognize them.

The Saviour gives the proper test of their character. People do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be beautiful and fragrant, the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is the “fruit” that is of chief service to man; and he forms his opinion of the nature and value of the tree by that fruit. So of pretensions to religion. The profession may be fair; but the “conduct” - the fruit - is to determine the nature of the principles.Barnes

Mat 7:17  Just so every good tree produces good fruit, but a poisonous tree produces bad fruit.

Once when I was a Young 8 year old i was visiting our friends farm near Maleny in S. Queensland. Well the boys at the farm who were my age decided to chop down a Gympie Gympie tree. I did not not what this tree was like and stood there. Next thong down it came right on top of this unsuspecting city boy.

Well the Gympie Gympie has long poisonous hairs that if they touch you sting like crazy.

Being Stung by the Gympie Gympie Tree Is the Worst Kind of Pain You Can Imagine

By Sumitra on January 23rd, 2015 Category: News

‘Gympie-Gympie’ is hardly the name you’d expect for a stinging-tree. It looks quite harmless too, but in reality, the Gympie-Gympie is one of the most venomous plants in the world. Commonly found in the rainforest areas of north-eastern Australia, the Moluccas and Indonesia, it is known to grow up to one to two meters in height.

In fact, the Gympie-Gympie sting is so dangerous that it has been known to kill dogs, horses and humans alike. If you’re lucky enough to survive, you  only feel excruciating pain that can last several months and reoccur for years. Even a dry specimen can inflict pain, almost a hundred years after being picked!

http://www.odditycentral.com/news/being-stung-by-the-gympie-gympie-tree-is-the-worst-kind-of-pain-you-can-imagine.html

Well they rolled me in the Cow Trough probably the worst thing to do for the sting.

One of the world’s most venomous plants, the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree can cause months of excruciating pain for unsuspecting humans.

The meaning is don’t be caught by these false teachers for it will sting and hurt more than you can imagine.

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a poisonous tree good fruit.

Mat 7:19  Every tree which does not yield good fruit is cut down and thrown aside for burning.

Jesus withered the fig tree that did not produce the fruit.

Mat 7:20  So by their fruits at any rate, you will easily recognize them.

Don’t you love a fully ripe Mango straight from the tree. This is how the fruit of the Lives and teaching of a True Teacher or prophet will effect you.

A beautiful ripe MANGO

So beware of False Teachers. They will bite and hurt you. But a True teacher will be known by their fruit.