The lesson focused on understanding the signs of the Lord’s second coming and the end of the age, using Matthew 24 as the framework. Matthew 24 serves as a “mini-Revelation”, containing events that are explored in more detail in the Book of Revelation. It discusses the beginning of the calamity – a war between God’s chosen people given a new word at the second coming, and those belonging to Babylon who seek to destroy them. After this war where the “sun, moon and stars” (pastors/leaders) go dark, Jesus promised to send his angels to gather the elect from all directions onto the mountain. This harvesting work happens through a “faithful and wise servant” distributing the proper spiritual food, contrasted with wicked servants who destroy instead of feeding. The lesson explored the 12 tribes of the new spiritual Israel promised in Revelation 7, named after the 12 apostles who Jesus said would sit on thrones judging these tribes. An activity was introduced to eliminate one tribe per lesson until the student’s tribe is revealed by the end of the intermediate level. The tribe of Matthew was eliminated first, indicating it is not the tribe the students belong to. The main thrust was understanding the prophetic signs, events and players involved in the second coming and end times as depicted in Matthew 24 and Revelation.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Signs of the Lord’s Second Coming and the End of the Age
Mt 24, Jn 8
So we’re looking at the signs of the Lord’s coming and the end of the age. Keep these important ideas in mind as we delve deeper into Matthew 24.
Matthew 24 is a critical chapter for understanding the book of Revelation. Why? Because the two are tightly connected.
We could call Matthew 24 a “mini Revelation.” Why? Because all the events we read in Matthew 24 also appear in the book of Revelation.
Therefore, it is a very important book for us to study and understand. As Revelation is being fulfilled, Matthew 24 is also being fulfilled at the same time because they describe the same events. So we’ll study Matthew 24 thoroughly.
We’ll go through the entire chapter, section by section, verse by verse.
John chapter 8 is a contextual chapter. In John chapter 8, there was a conflict between Jesus and the people of Israel. Jesus, who was born of God, bore others of God through him.
However, there were those who were no longer born of God, and their fatherhood had changed. Jesus had to make this known to them, leading to a conflict. It was not a conflict with guns, bullets, or bombs.
No, it was not fought with swords or shields, but it was a war of words. A war with the word. This is the type of war Jesus fought and the type of war that will be fought at the second coming.
Keep these two things in mind.
Our hope is to recognize the signs of the times and to belong to the place of salvation at the second coming.
We will understand this well as we study Matthew 24.
1.- About the Second Coming (End of the Age)
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:1-3
So let’s understand what is being discussed here. One important aspect to grasp is the relationship between Matthew 23 and Matthew 24. Matthew 23 is a rebuke of first-coming Israel. Matthew 24, on the other hand, is a prophecy. The entire chapter is a prophecy about the second coming.
In Matthew 23, Jesus rebukes Israel at that time. In Matthew 24, Jesus is prophesying about future events. We know this because his disciples asked him a crucial question in verses 2 and 3. Let’s look at verse 3: As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen?” referring to the temple being destroyed, “and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” So, everything Jesus says in Matthew 24 is prophecy. This means we should expect to see parables in prophecy.
The entire chapter is filled with parables. For many years, as believers, we did not fully understand the difference between figurative language in prophecy and literal language. We defaulted to interpreting things literally, which led to differing opinions on when certain prophecies were fulfilled. Many familiar with second-coming doctrine say Matthew 24 has already been fulfilled long ago. But I pose this question when someone says that: Where is Jesus? Because Jesus said these signs are about his second coming. If these things were fulfilled 2,000 years ago, where is Jesus? Perhaps he wasn’t speaking literally. Keep that in mind as we proceed.
Everything in Matthew 24 is about the second coming and the signs indicating Christ’s return. Think of it like a trailer or teaser that Jesus gave his disciples when they asked him this question. Later, Jesus came to Apostle John, likely the last living disciple at that time, and gave him the book of Revelation while he was on the island of Patmos.
Let’s delve into Matthew 24 section by section and discuss it, starting with the beginning of the calamity that Jesus promised.
2.- The Beginning of the Calamity
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ, ’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:4-14
So, let’s understand this in more detail. Jesus begins to explain signs for us to witness and know that His coming is near. One of the first things He mentioned is, “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
This is a warning not only from Jesus but also repeated by His disciples in the epistles written to the early churches. Many will come in His name, claiming, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
Jesus said, “Do not be deceived.” That’s warning number one. Do not be deceived.
He then said, “You will hear rumors of wars. But see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”
“Nations will take up swords against nation.” Again, what kind of content is this? Prophecy. This is prophecy.
So, we should think, if two nations go to war against each other, is this literal? How many wars have been fought since these words were written? Thousands of wars.
Thousands of wars around the world have been fought literally with swords and shields, spears and arrows, and later with guns and bombs. So which of those wars signifies the coming of Christ? Should we look at current wars as a sign that Christ is coming soon if all previous wars did not?
No. If someone looks for a physical war to represent the coming of Christ, surely it was World War One. That was, up to that point, the worst war fought.
Christ didn’t come then. Surely it had to be World War Two. That war was worse than the first.
But where is Christ? Right? People throughout the last 2,000 years have always thought Christ is coming soon because of a horrible war happening at that time.
And then they were quite disappointed. So we could be asking ourselves, is now any different? That’s what we should be thinking.
ONE – War of Doctrines (Words)
Should we be looking at the things we see in the news as evidence if people for so long have been disappointed by what they thought would be the coming of Christ? This is why Jesus said, “Do not be deceived.” However, what Jesus said will indeed take place.
There must be a war. As he said, these things must happen. So, what type of war should we be looking for? And who are the nations in this war that must be fought?
It’s a war of doctrines. A war of words that will be fought between two spiritual nations. And what is a nation, everyone? A nation is a church or a kingdom.
Now, Jesus didn’t mention which nations would be fighting in this war, but the book of Revelation does. In the book of Revelation, we see Jerusalem and Babylon. Jerusalem represents God’s chosen people, while Babylon represents Satan’s people. This is the war that must be fought. And as we read, who wins the first war that takes place in Revelation? Babylon. That’s right. Babylon’s side wins this battle—the first war. This is what Jesus means by the calamities he mentioned later on.
So let’s keep reading from verse 8. All of these are the beginning of birth pains. In Matthew 24:7, it says, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. You will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”
TWO – Famine → Amons 8:11
So, we have the beginnings of famine. What kind of famine?
A famine of the words.
That’s right. Any verses come to mind about this?
Amos 8:11. A famine of the words of the Lord. And because the words of the Lord will be absent, people will fight not with God’s truth, but with men’s traditions and thoughts. And they will not agree with each other.
So, they will go to war against each other. “No, it means this.” “No, it means this.”
And in this war, one side will lose because the authority that they once had is taken from them. They are overwhelmed or overcome. We will see this in just a moment.
So, the famines, earthquakes, and plagues are spiritual in nature.
THREE – Earthquakes (Saints, fields) → Heart is shaken
What is physical earth or spiritual earth?
Flesh, people. That’s right.
Earth is saints. Or you can even say fields, right? The four fields.
It’s actually a person’s heart. And if that person’s heart is quaking, it means the heart is shaken. The heart is shaken by something that has taken place.
Some of us in this class have had multiple earthquakes as we’ve been studying. Sometimes it’s every lesson that there’s an earthquake. What?
But by God’s grace, the earthquake usually settles as you come to understanding. But that’s what takes place.
As people realize something is happening, the heart begins to shake.
FOUR – Birth pains → Persecussion and Hate
The birth pains are the persecution that takes place.
Birth pains are the persecution and hating each other. God and God’s side do not persecute. Those who truly belong to God always love, forgive, and bless.
Their job is never to persecute. If you think about it, Jesus could have easily rebuked and persecuted the people killing him. But what did he say on the cross instead?
“Forgive them because they don’t understand. They do not know what they are doing.”
Philip, one of the seven deacons appointed by the now 12 disciples, in Acts 6, what did he say before he was being stoned in Acts 7? The same thing as Jesus, actually. He said the same thing.
“Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” That’s what those on God’s side do. They love, forgive, and bless.
But those on Satan’s side persecute, thinking that they are doing a service to God. That’s what those on Satan’s side do. If we turn to John 16, we’ll see an example of this.
“All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
John 16:1-4
Jesus was always measured in how he gave information to his disciples. He never told them everything all at once because that would be like feeding steak to a baby.
How effective is it for a baby to eat steak? You can’t feed steak to a baby. I see many shaking heads.
Why not?
You have to feed them with food that is appropriate for their maturity level so that they can eventually mature and receive that steak. Jesus treated his disciples the same way, not out of malice or hiding things, but by first maturing them so that they can handle the deeper things. The class is fashioned in the same way.
But what was the warning that Jesus gave his disciples? Of course, this is also prophecy. It is something that will happen at the second coming. There will be those who will put you out of the synagogue and kill you, thinking they are offering a service to God.
Those aren’t the actions of God’s true people. God’s true people, like Stephen and Jesus, say, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” So, when you’re looking at the time of the first coming, if there is a place that is receiving zero persecution, like none from anywhere, then can God be worthy to activate that place?
So, it’s the place that was receiving the most persecution that should draw your attention because Satan is fighting that place the hardest.
3. The Pace of Salvation We Flee To
15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
Matthew 24:15-20
There are quite a few details we need to cover, starting with verses 15 and 16, which should be familiar to all of us by this point. Let’s look at Matthew 24:15-16.
Now, we can see it more in context. Remember, Jesus promised that there will be war between two nations.
Which two nations will be going to war? Actually, it involves three nations, but we’ll discuss the third nation later. The two nations going to war are these right here.
At the time of the second coming, Jesus appoints Judea, or what you can call the holy place or Jerusalem. Jesus refers to them as the seven stars, seven churches in Revelation 1:20. This is why prophecy can be confusing and why people often interpret it literally.
God and Jesus, when they prophesy, use names and places that people at the time of the prophecy would be familiar with. They draw on past events, people, and places to prophesy about something spiritual that will happen later. This is why in the book of Revelation, written 2,000 years ago, you won’t see names of modern places.
You won’t see the United States in Revelation because the United States didn’t exist yet, or any other modern country. They use names of places that existed then, but contain a spiritual meaning for something that will appear later and be like that place. So, it doesn’t make sense to say everything in Revelation is figurative except Israel.
Israel is literal. Everything in Revelation is figurative except the 12 tribes. The 12 tribes are literal.
That’s illogical. Everything in Revelation is figurative, except for numbers. Numbers are always accurate, which means when it says 144,000, it will be 144,000 people. But which people?
God reveals. Are you understanding what I’m saying here? Remember, OPAGH: objects, people, animals, geographic locations, and historical events can all be used figuratively to explain prophecy or to contain prophecy, like a gift wrap.
The prophecy is the wrapping, and when you open it, fulfillment is the gift inside the wrapping. When God and Jesus fulfill their words, it will not match our thoughts because, as it says in Isaiah 55:8-9, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. God’s thoughts do not equal our thoughts.
They are not the same, and they never have been, but God would like them to equal each other because we should model our thoughts after his. His ways are not our ways. They are not the same because God’s thoughts are as high as heaven, and our thoughts are as the earth. That’s the distinction between them.
So, God and Jesus will fulfill the way they desire, not the way we think it should be. We need to understand how it has been fulfilled. That’s how it worked at the first coming too. People had many thoughts about what they expected, and God’s thoughts did not match theirs.
This is why they rejected the one who was sent. Let’s not make that same mistake.
The Abomination that Causes Desolation
So God and Jesus appoint 7 messengers.
He calls them Judea, holy place, Jerusalem, figuratively, and they go to war against Babylon, which also appears. Babylon’s beast has 7 heads and 10 horns. They go to war against each other.
The 7 heads are the seven pastors. The 10 horns are their ten authority figures, given power by the dragon, by Satan, and they come out of the sea into the holy place and destroy it. What does destruction mean?
Does it mean they killed them? What does it mean to destroy?
To fill their heads with lies. To get them to give up the word that they had received from above and to accept what they have to say.
That’s what destruction is. That’s what destruction has always been from the very beginning. Remember, it’s all about sides.
Do you belong to God, or do you not? That’s the war, and what Satan wants to do is to get people to belong to him. Destruction is assimilation, consuming, making a part of.
That’s what destruction means. So these people were set apart originally, and then Satan came and snuffed out their light and made them become one. That’s destruction.
That’s what it means. Satan did the same thing 6,000 years ago, right, when he told Adam and Eve, “Hey, all you have to do is eat from this tree and you will be like God too.” That, I think, sounds pretty cool.
Maybe we should do that. That’s why God said, “They have become like one who used to be one of us.” That’s what it means.
But he said, “They’ve become like one of us, knowing good and evil.” They’ve become like Satan. Satan destroyed them.
He assimilated them, made them his. He took them away from God. So that’s what happens here.
This is the war that Jesus promised would happen. This is the first war. So those of God’s people, they lost in this war.
You can see this in Revelation chapter 13. If you read it again with this understanding, it will make a lot more sense.
So they came out of the sea and destroyed the people. But someone has to see these events take place because he has a very important job to do. He must then testify to what has been fulfilled.
This happened, and I saw it. And now I’m testifying about what I saw. He could only know what to look for because the word was opened and given to him from God to Jesus, to the angel, to John, to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
Why? So they can come out.
So that’s Matthew 24:15-16. You see how at Revelation, it’s all connected. They’re all the same.
Let’s continue. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Will pregnant women have a harder time being saved? No. It’s not a matter of being pregnant at the wrong time. Jesus speaks figuratively here. We should understand this by now, avoiding the literal misunderstandings of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Figuratively, a pregnant woman is about to give birth, indicating she has a child within her.
This is a parable. We discussed how a seed is given spiritually. The spirit has the seed, which is the word, given to one who bears children spiritually. Who is this woman receiving the seed? The pastor. The pastor’s role is to nurture a congregation, as Paul explained in Galatians 4:19.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Galatians 4:19
So, what did Paul say here? “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth,” which is something that can physically only happen to women. But Paul is using figurative language to describe this. Why? Because he had received the seed from the Spirit, and he is teaching his congregation with that seed so that Christ can be fully formed in them. And then they too can bear fruit. But Jesus says it will be dreadful for these people. Dreadful.
Considering the time of the first coming, it’s challenging for those in spiritual leadership positions to hear new things. Very difficult. So, it’s crucial for us to be humble because God always reveals new things that we didn’t understand before. But not everyone will accept these new things easily. Some will reject them, especially those in leadership positions who find it the hardest.
Matthew 24:20 says, “Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.” So, what do people tend to do in winter and on the Sabbath? They tend to rest. But when Matthew 24 is being fulfilled, is it time to rest? No, it’s time to flee. It’s not time to rest when these things are happening. Jesus is saying, don’t be caught off guard. Like 1 Thessalonians 5, do not be asleep when these things are happening.
We should not be asleep. Are many people awake or many people asleep? Many people are asleep because they don’t know what is taking place yet. That’s why you need to study hard, class. So, let’s study hard.
4.- Great Distress / Deception
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
Matthew 24:21-28
I love that last part in Matthew 24:28, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
Jesus mentioned many important things here. Starting in Matthew 24:21, there will be great distress, meaning that there will be suffering of a people. What is the suffering that will take place for these people?
Is it the tribulation?
Yes, but let’s think about it from what we’ve already studied. What seems like it would be dreadful to experience?
The hour of trial?
Yes, the hour of trial. But where will the hour of trial happen?
When the beast invades. Let’s turn to Revelation 13 and see an example of this.
3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4 Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.
Revelation 13:3-4
So, we see here the distress of the people when the beast invaded them. They were overpowered and could not defeat the beast.
Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him? They lost the battle.
We see more of this destruction in Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 9, and also in verse 13. If you’re curious, read those chapters to understand what we mean by great distress. There is the invasion of the locusts, the star wormwood, a ship all ablaze, or a sea or mountain all ablaze, thrown into the sea.
Many horrific things were happening, all spiritual in nature, not literal. But it’s still great distress, like an earthquake. These things are promised to happen.
If we go back to Matthew 24, Jesus said, “If those days were not cut short, no one could survive. But for the sake of the elect, those days were shortened.” This verse is fascinating.
Any guesses as to what this means? What does it mean that the days were shortened? We actually read a little bit about it in Revelation 13. Maybe you caught it, maybe you didn’t.
How many months did the beast get to rule?
42 months. Okay, interesting. Let’s think about it.
In the book of Revelation, this time period is mentioned several times. If we go back to Revelation 13, you’ll see it again. I want to make sure everyone caught it.
In Revelation 13:22, we see something interesting. Revelation 13:5. Let’s look at verse 5 again.
It says, the beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for how long?
42 months, also known as 3.5 years, or 1260 days, or a time, times, and half a time, as phrased in Daniel’s prophecies. All the same period.
Time is a year, times is two years, and half a time is half a year. So, this same time period is mentioned multiple times, a period of destruction. This is how long the destruction took place.
42 months, or 3.5 years. So, if someone claims to have a testimony of Revelation, they need to provide an account of when that 42 months happened. What was the start date and end date of the 42 months?
Otherwise, that testimony should not be listened to. We need to be specific, not conjecture or guesses, but fulfillment in detail.
What does it mean that this was cut short? To understand what it means for it to be cut short, we have to look back in time. Back to when a destruction took place of God’s chosen people.
When were God’s chosen people destroyed in the Old Testament?
When Solomon betrayed, Israel was destroyed by two nations. Israel was destroyed by whom?
Babylon and Assyria. Does anyone know how long that destruction took place? 70 years.
It took place for 70 years. We can see that in Jeremiah 25, the whole chapter. They were being destroyed for 70 years.
But if the destruction of the second coming also took place over 70 years, who would be around to come out of Babylon, or to come out of destruction, or to flee? Very few people would live to see the end of that. So, the days had to be cut short, from 70 years to three and a half, for the sake of the elect.
The Elect
Now, “elect” is also another contentious term. What does elect mean? It means selection.
How does one get consecrated or chosen? And is it determined when they are born?
God is the creator. But there is an understanding in the Bible, which is inaccurate, where people believe that individuals are selected beforehand, whether they will go to heaven or hell. That’s not true. A person has a choice. Like 2 Timothy 2:20-21, in a large house, there are many articles. And if one cleanses himself from being ignoble, he can become noble. But first, one’s heart must be right. And when one’s heart is right, they can be part of the elected group.
So the way you should think about it, this is Ephesians 1 and 2 that I’m talking about. A group of people is predestined or selected. And whether an individual person is part of that group is up to them.
Let me say this again. Individual people are not determined, heaven or hell. But a group of people are determined. And whether a person is part of that group is up to them. But they must first hear and then make the decision for themselves. Do I be a part of this group or do I not be?
Do you understand the logic? If you look at Jesus’ disciples, they were part of the people that Jesus spoke in parables to. But Jesus gave them the explanation. They were his elect. Why? Why did Jesus give them the deeper understanding?
Because of their heart condition. That’s it. Matthew 13:10-15. Everyone else decided we don’t want to hear any more of what he has to say. Instead, we will kill him. Do you see the logic? Please don’t be confused about election.
What it means is those who choose to believe, they are the ones that will hear more. They are the ones that will move forward in what God is doing. But they have to first hear. Everybody has to hear. No one is exempt from having to hear first. Everybody must hear first.
Then the decision is made. Just like the people of Nineveh had to hear about what they had done wrong before they could repent before God. That’s why God was so angry at Jonah for leaving without doing his job of speaking to the people first so that they know, oh my goodness, we’ve been doing this. And then they repented right away, which is beautiful. It’s so rare to see in the Bible that people repent. It’s refreshing. They repented just like that. And God said, I will no longer judge these people. Beautiful.
So really keep that in mind, that God’s desire is for everyone to be part of this group, the elect, everyone. But first everyone must hear. Then they can make a decision.
5.- Signs of Heaven and Second Coming
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24:29-31
So there’s that term “elect” again, so keep what I mentioned earlier in mind.
It’s shortened from 70 years to three and a half years so that the elect can be saved. So what did Jesus say next in verses 29 to 31? That there will be a darkening and falling of the sun, moon, and stars.
They go dark and fall. And we understand now what the sun, moon, and stars are, right? Who are the sun, moon, and stars?
Pastors, evangelists, and saints.
But which pastors, evangelists, and saints? Let’s be a little bit more specific now.
The betrayers. The betrayers go dark and fall, meaning that the light they had received from heaven has been snuffed out. It is after this takes place that what happens? What did Jesus say he will then do?
They will come and gather the elect. How will they gather the elect? With a sickle.
Yes, with a sickle, like a harvest. And where will they bring them? Into the barn.
Into the barn that they will return to. But this can only happen after the events in Matthew 24:29-31. Are we understanding?
Betrayal and destruction happen first, then the work of salvation takes place. So who are those who are the elect?
Those who are born of God’s seed after hearing about it. Once they’ve heard and decide, “Amen, this is true, I desire to be harvested,” that’s when it’s possible for them to be harvested. But before they hear, it’s not yet possible.
So God needs people to go and teach so that they can hear, understand, and believe for themselves. Hearing the message.
Okay, the darkening and falling of the sun, moon, and stars takes place in Revelation 6.
So please read Revelation 6 to see how they went dark and fell, particularly look at the fifth seal for that. Let’s keep going. We’ll now read how Jesus describes how we should look at these signs.
6.- The Prophecy Must Come True!
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:32-36
Jesus gave a really important message here. He said, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree.”
Of course, Jesus is speaking figuratively again. He said that as soon as the twigs become tender and the leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
Back then, people didn’t have an exact understanding of when summer would occur, but they had signs to look for. Jesus was saying, “You foolish people, you are already able to do this. You are already able to predict the coming of summer by looking at the signs of the trees. Why then are you unable to recognize the signs of the times you are currently living in by me doing my work?”
Just like the people at the time of the first coming were unable to recognize the signs of the times they were living in, at the time of the second coming, it will be the same. Many will not realize what is taking place, partly because they don’t see the signs or understand them, and partly because it hasn’t come to them yet.
This is really important. It doesn’t mean that Jesus has already come, but it means that Jesus is close, that he is near when these things begin to take place and the testimony about how they’ve taken place is spread to many people. Does that make sense?
The signs must happen first, then Jesus will come. But first, we must understand the signs and know the signs that have been promised and prepare ourselves. Then Jesus says, “Even so, when you see all these things,” in verse 33, “you know that it is near, right at the door.”
“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have been fulfilled.” So which generation is Jesus talking about here?
The generation that sees the fulfillment of Revelation happening.
That’s right. Chosen people at the second coming. That’s the generation he is talking about. They will see, when things start being fulfilled, they will also see the conclusion of those things being fulfilled.
And then Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away.” Revelation 21:1 says, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” This is what Jesus meant.
Amen. Everything’s connected. Jesus says things over and over again so we get it. Okay, let’s keep going.
7.- Harvested and Not Harvested
40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Matthew 24:40-44
Jesus said something very important in Matthew 24:36: “No one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father.”
Why? How do we explain this based on what we’ve already learned?
When does this happen? When does the Father make it known?
When God gives the scroll to Jesus. Amen. Revelation 1:1-3 says, “He made it known by sending His angel to His servant, John. God to Jesus, to the angel.” Why? Because it is sealed in God’s right hand. That’s why only the Father knew. But God made it known by sending it to Jesus, who opened it and gave it to the angel.
That’s what He means. Revelation 1:1-3, Revelation 5, Revelation 6, and Revelation 8 talk about the word being opened, which means the word being fulfilled.
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. What happened in the days of Noah?
At the time of Noah, for a hundred years, an ark was being constructed. And what was Noah doing during that time while the ark was being constructed?
Preaching, teaching.
That’s right. Apostle Paul called him a righteous teacher. He was teaching during that time, but people were not listening to him. But he was building an ark during that time. So the ark was prepared as a place of salvation, but people did not listen. Only a few did. They entered the ark, and then judgment came and wiped them all away. This is what Jesus is saying the second coming will be like. In Luke 17, it also mentions Lot too.
What happened at the time of Lot?
Remember Lot’s wife.
At the time of Lot, God sent fire down and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. But Lot and his family were told to flee to the mountains. Oh, that sounds familiar. That sounds just like something else we’ve heard too. They were told to flee to the mountains. If you look at Genesis 19:17, it says, “As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, ‘Flee for your lives. Do not look back and do not stop anywhere in the plain. Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away.'”
So the Bible is very much connected. Jesus is saying that at the time of the second coming, there will be a destruction and a judgment. But we need to find the mountain or the ship that appears at the second coming, not before the second coming, which means it’s not a place that has existed for hundreds of years. It is a place that only exists at the time of the second coming. This is why we didn’t really understand those details very clearly just yet.
At the time of the second coming, there will be those who are harvested and those who are not harvested. We talked about why in previous lessons.
8.- A Servant Who Distributes Food at the Proper Time
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45-51
So Matthew 24 ends by discussing two types of shepherds, or pastors.
ONE – The Faithful and Wise Servant
The first one is mentioned in Matthew 24:45-47, the faithful and wise servant. He is tasked with giving the other servants the food at the proper time. Initially, we didn’t make the connection to Revelation.
But when this is fulfilled, the connection becomes clear. What is the food at the proper time that must be given to the servants? The testimony.
Like Revelation 2:17, it is the hidden manna. Hidden because it was prophesied and not yet fulfilled.
But when it is fulfilled, it becomes open and can then be given to the servants that things have taken place as was prophesied. If we look back at Revelation 1:1-3, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, Jesus, to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant, John, who testifies to everything he saw.
That is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. We see the logic. The faithful and wise servant gives food at the proper time to the servants.
While that is happening, Jesus returns to see him doing so. And he says, you are my faithful and wise servant. Well done.
TWO – Wicked Servant → Destroyers
But there is another type of shepherd too. We see in Matthew 24:48. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, my master is staying away a long time.
He then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. Oh, I can’t wait for us to go with this content too. Which servant is being talked about in Matthew 24:48-51?
The Betrayers
The betrayers allow the destroyers in. The destroyers bring with them food sacrificed to idols and maddening wine. They cause them to be destroyed.
Oh, there’s so much. That’s why this class takes so many months. There’s so much content to cover.
We will cover all of this content as more understanding comes.
Activity about the 12 Tribes
Okay, so because of the time, we will not be doing small group tonight.
What we’ll do is a joint explanation, asking a few questions for us. And we’ll do an activity during that time. But we’ll ask two questions and we’ll write them down.
That’s what we’ll do instead of small group because of time.
There’s one more thing I wanted to share with everyone before we close in prayer. So we mentioned one of the seven qualifications, right?
We added a bonus one: to enter the kingdom of heaven at the second coming. Please note, the second coming. We’re not talking about those before this second coming.
Let me say this: One of them is to belong to one of the 12 tribes. Are you curious as to what the 12 tribes are? I hope so. I hope that we are curious about it.
So what we’re going to do is a little fun activity. Every lesson, we will do what we like to call “Find out your tribe by finding out what tribe you’re not first.” So every lesson will reveal a tribe that we won’t be a part of. And by the end, we’ll know which tribe we will be a part of.
Let me explain the logic of this first so that we can truly understand it well.
When we think about how tribes come about, we look at the logic established by God starting with Jacob. Jacob was given the title of Israel because he struggled with God and with men and overcame in Genesis 32. So he became Israel. That was his new name. Jacob had 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of physical Israel. That was the case up until the time of Jesus.
What was said at the time of Jesus was the law was taught until John the Baptist. But at the end of John the Baptist, a new era began. Jesus, knowing that he too had to be one who overcame and gained the title of Israel as was prophesied, established 12 sons. Jesus had his 12 disciples, and they started a spiritual Israel.
What it means by spiritual Israel is this: those who believed and called on the name of the Lord would then become part of the vine that started back in Abraham’s time. Those who are spiritually God’s children. People understood Jesus from the disciples they learned from. So Peter went over here, and Simon went over there, and Andrew went over there, and John went over there. They went to different places and taught these people. It was like those people were being grafted to the tree of the branch that was one of the disciples, like in John chapter 15.
At the time of the second coming, something very similar must take place. One is given the title of overcomer, just like Jesus and Jacob before him. He sees heaven in the spiritual world (Revelation 4) and is tasked with building it on earth as it is in heaven (Revelation 7:14-15 and 21). So it must be built according to what he saw, including the establishment of 12 tribes. The way we understand this really starts at the first coming.
Let’s go to Matthew chapter 19 and look at how the disciples asked Jesus a pretty good question.
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:27-28
Oh, what an epic promise Jesus gives his disciples. Peter asked Jesus a reasonable question: “Hey, we’ve given up everything, Jesus. What’s in it for us?” And what does Jesus say? It’s okay. Just follow me. You’ll be loved very much by me. No.
What did Jesus say? He said, “I tell you the truth. At the renewal of all things,” which is what time, everybody? At the time of the second coming, “I will sit on a glorious throne and so will you. And you will sit on 12 thrones.”
And they will judge who? They will judge the 12 tribes of Israel.
In John chapter 14, Jesus promised that he will prepare a place. When his disciples died, they joined him at the preparation of this place, the holy city, New Jerusalem, which they promised will come down to those who are waiting. And where that place comes down to is the place promised in Revelation chapter 7.
Those are the tribes that they are going to judge. The 12 tribes mentioned in Revelation chapter 7. Another important thing to note about this.
Let’s see some additional verses.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
Oh, super cool. Okay, what do we see here? What did John see in verse 4?
I saw what? What did he see?
I saw thrones. Which thrones?
His disciples’ thrones. I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. Who are those people?
The disciples. That’s right. Because Jesus promised and Jesus always keeps his promises.
They were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus. The word of God and the testimony of Jesus. And because of this, they have a wonderful honor.
A really beautiful honor for their sacrifice.
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 2 gates had 12 foundations, and on those foundations were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. Their names.
Revelation 21:14
So, the new heaven and new earth, the 12 tribes of that place, will be named after the 12 disciples in their honor according to Jesus’ promise.
So let’s go to Matthew 10 and look at, let’s do our first elimination. We’ll go to Matthew chapter 10.
All the tribes are amazing, but you can’t belong to all 12 at the same time. You can’t belong to all the branches of a tree, right? A fruit is on a particular branch.
So, we’ll understand by the end of intermediate, which tribe we will belong to.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:2-4
So we see the names of the 12 disciples. Judas betrayed, so he was replaced by Matthias in Acts chapter 1. Therefore, Matthias’ name replaces Judas at the time of the second coming.
The first tribe that we will not belong to is Matthew. You can go ahead and cross Matthew off your list. Write down all the names of the disciples and cross them out as we go along until we find out which tribe we belong to.
We’ll do this by eliminating one per lesson. The Matthew tribe is an awesome tribe, but we will not belong to that tribe.
The way it works is like a tree, right? A branch. The instructors are teaching from a particular tribe.
We’ll say it like that very clearly. We will find out which one very soon.
Memorizing
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Matthew 24: 45-47
Let’s Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress …. Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Outline: Understanding the Second Coming and the End of the Age
I. Introduction: Connecting Matthew 24 and Revelation
- This section establishes Matthew 24 as a “mini Revelation,” highlighting the interconnectedness of these texts in understanding the signs of the Lord’s second coming and the end times.
- It emphasizes the importance of recognizing these signs and seeking salvation before the second coming.
II. Review: Seeds, Covenants, and God’s Plan
- This section reviews key concepts from previous lessons, focusing on the secrets of heaven, types of seeds, the harvest, and biblical history.
- It reiterates God’s plan, which involves sowing the seeds of the new covenant, allowing them to grow, and ultimately harvesting the good seed while separating and destroying the weeds.
III. The Second Coming and the End of the Age: Prophetic Language and Understanding Matthew 24
- This section delves into Matthew 24:1-3, establishing the entire chapter as a prophecy about the second coming.
- It emphasizes interpreting the chapter through the lens of parables and figurative language, cautioning against literal interpretations.
IV. The Beginning of the Calamity: Signs of War, Famine, and Earthquakes
- This section analyzes Matthew 24:4-14, outlining the initial signs of the second coming, including deception, wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution.
- It interprets these signs as spiritual in nature, emphasizing a war of doctrines, a famine of God’s word, and the shaking of faith within people’s hearts.
V. The Pace of Salvation We Flee To: The Abomination of Desolation and the Need for Urgency
- This section examines Matthew 24:15-20, focusing on the “abomination of desolation” entering the holy place as a key sign.
- It interprets this event figuratively, representing the invasion of false doctrines into the church and the subsequent destruction of true faith.
- The section urges believers to flee this destruction and seek refuge in the true mountain of God’s presence.
VI. Great Distress/Deception: The Hour of Trial and the Shortening of Days
- This section analyzes Matthew 24:21-28, highlighting the great distress and deception that will mark the end times.
- It connects this distress to the events described in Revelation, particularly the rule of the beast and the spiritual calamities that befall humanity.
- The section explains the shortening of the destructive period from 70 years to 3.5 years as God’s mercy for the elect.
VII. Signs of Heaven and the Second Coming: Darkening of Celestial Bodies and the Gathering of the Elect
- This section explores Matthew 24:29-31, interpreting the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars as the falling away of those in spiritual leadership.
- It emphasizes that after this falling away, the Son of Man will appear, accompanied by angels, and gather the elect from all corners of the earth.
VIII. The Prophecy Must Come True!: Recognizing the Signs and Preparing for the Second Coming
- This section delves into Matthew 24:32-36, urging believers to learn from the fig tree parable and recognize the signs of the times.
- It emphasizes that the generation witnessing the fulfillment of Revelation will also see its conclusion, and that while the exact timing is unknown, believers must be prepared.
IX. Harvested and Not Harvested: The Time of Judgment and the Importance of Seeking the True Refuge
- This section examines Matthew 24:40-44, contrasting those who are harvested for salvation with those who are left behind for judgment.
- It uses the example of Noah’s Ark to highlight the importance of seeking the true place of refuge provided by God.
X. A Servant Who Distributes Food at the Proper Time: Two Types of Shepherds
- This section analyzes Matthew 24:45-51, contrasting the faithful and wise servant who provides spiritual nourishment with the wicked servant who leads others astray.
- It connects this to Revelation, identifying the “food at the proper time” as the revealed testimony of Jesus Christ.
XI. Activity about the 12 Tribes: Identifying Spiritual Lineage
- This section introduces an ongoing activity aimed at understanding the concept of the 12 tribes in the context of the second coming.
- It explains the process of elimination, beginning with the tribe of Matthew, to help participants discern their spiritual lineage within the new spiritual Israel.
XII. Summary: Key Points and Connections
- This section summarizes the key takeaways from the lesson, highlighting the connections between Matthew 24 and Revelation, the importance of recognizing the signs of the times, and the urgency of seeking refuge in the true mountain of God’s presence.
- It concludes by reiterating the concept of the 12 tribes and their significance in the renewal of all things.
A Study Guide
The Second Coming and the End of the Age: A Study Guide Based on Matthew 24 and John 8
Short Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.
- What is the connection between Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation?
- Explain what is meant by the “war of words” discussed in John 8.
- What are the two main aspects of God’s plan that Jesus came to fulfill?
- How does the seminar explain the concept of “war” in Matthew 24:6-7?
- What is the spiritual meaning behind the famines, earthquakes, and plagues mentioned in Matthew 24?
- Explain the concept of “the abomination that causes desolation” and its significance in understanding Matthew 24:15-16.
- Why does Jesus instruct people to flee to the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation?
- What is the figurative meaning of “pregnant women and nursing mothers” in Matthew 24:19?
- How does the seminar explain the concept of “the elect” in Matthew 24:22?
- Who is the “faithful and wise servant” in Matthew 24:45-47, and what is their role?
Answer Key
- Matthew 24 is considered a “mini Revelation,” as it covers the same events and themes found in the Book of Revelation, particularly the signs of the Second Coming and the end of the age. Understanding Matthew 24 provides a framework for interpreting Revelation.
- The “war of words” in John 8 refers to the conflict between Jesus, representing those born of God, and those whose spiritual fatherhood had shifted. This conflict is fought with truth and doctrine, highlighting a clash of spiritual ideologies rather than a physical battle.
- The two aspects of God’s plan fulfilled by Jesus are: 1) sowing the good seed (representing the word of God) amidst the weeds (representing the works of Satan) and 2) establishing the new covenant, allowing the field (humanity) to grow for 2,000 years until the harvest.
- The war in Matthew 24:6-7 is not a literal physical war between nations but a spiritual conflict over doctrines between two spiritual nations: Jerusalem (God’s people) and Babylon (Satan’s people). It is a battle fought with words and ideas.
- Famines represent a famine of the word of God, earthquakes represent the shaking of people’s hearts and beliefs, and plagues represent the spread of false doctrines and spiritual deception. These are all spiritual manifestations of the turmoil leading up to the Second Coming.
- The “abomination that causes desolation” refers to the beast and its forces from Babylon (Satan’s side) entering and corrupting the holy place (Judea, representing God’s people) with false teachings and leading them astray from the truth.
- Fleeing to the mountains symbolizes seeking refuge in the true spiritual place of salvation established by God at the Second Coming. This represents leaving behind the corrupt systems (house, field) that are destined for judgment and destruction.
- “Pregnant women and nursing mothers” represent those who have received the seed of God’s word (the child) and are in the process of nurturing and teaching others. This signifies those in spiritual leadership positions who face difficulty accepting new truths and may experience distress during the time of the Second Coming.
- The “elect” are not predetermined individuals but rather a chosen group of people who have heard the word of God and made a conscious decision to believe and follow. They are selected based on their heart condition and willingness to accept God’s truth.
- The “faithful and wise servant” represents the true shepherds and pastors who faithfully teach the truth of God’s word (the food) at the proper time (when it is revealed). Their role is to nourish and guide God’s people towards salvation, particularly during the turbulent time of the Second Coming.
Additional Questions
1. What is Matthew 24 also known for?
– Mini Revelation
2. In Matthew 24:4-14, what kind of war between nations and kingdoms that will occur?
– Spiritual War: War of Doctrines
3. In Matthew 24:15-20, where is the place of Salvation that we need to flee to?
– Mount Zion where God, Jesus, New John and the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel are.
4. In What era was the Second Coming of Jesus compared to in Matthew 24:32-39?
– Like the days of Noah and Lot
Glossary of Key Terms
- Abomination of Desolation: A symbolic figure representing forces that corrupt and defile a holy place, signifying the spread of false teachings and spiritual deception.
- Babylon: Represents Satan’s people and forces, characterized by deception, corruption, and opposition to God’s will.
- Birth Pains: Spiritual turmoil and distress experienced by individuals and groups as a result of the events leading up to the Second Coming, including persecution and spiritual conflict.
- Elect: A chosen group of people who have accepted God’s truth and chosen to follow him, representing the harvested souls saved at the Second Coming.
- Famine, Earthquakes, Plagues: Spiritual manifestations of the chaos and upheaval preceding the Second Coming; famine represents a lack of God’s word, earthquakes represent shaken beliefs, and plagues represent the spread of false teachings.
- Faithful and Wise Servant: A true shepherd or pastor who diligently teaches and guides God’s people with the truth of his word.
- Harvest: The gathering of the elect (those who have accepted God’s truth) at the time of the Second Coming, representing their salvation and entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Jerusalem: Represents God’s people and forces, characterized by faithfulness, righteousness, and adherence to God’s will.
- Judea: A symbolic representation of God’s chosen people at the time of the Second Coming, highlighting their vulnerability to the influence of the beast and the need for spiritual discernment.
- Mountains: Symbolic places of refuge and safety, representing the true spiritual haven provided by God for his people at the Second Coming.
- Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers: Represent those who have received the seed of God’s word and are actively nurturing and teaching others.
- War of Words: A spiritual conflict fought with doctrines and ideologies, highlighting the clash between truth and falsehood in the lead-up to the Second Coming.
- Wicked Servant: A false shepherd or pastor who deceives and misleads God’s people, ultimately leading to their spiritual destruction.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events from “Signs of the Lord’s Second Coming and the End of the Age”
This timeline is based on the interpretation of Matthew 24 and Revelation presented in the provided source.
Before the Second Coming:
- The Faithful and Wise Servant Prepares: A faithful and wise servant is chosen to lead God’s people and provide them with spiritual nourishment (“food at the proper time”). This preparation takes place over an undefined period. (Matthew 24:45-47)
- The Word is Opened: God reveals his plan for the end times to Jesus, who then reveals it to an angel and finally to John. This signifies the beginning of the events leading to the second coming. (Revelation 1:1-3)
The Beginning of the Calamity:
- War of Doctrines: A war of words and doctrines erupts between God’s chosen people (“Judea”, “Jerusalem”, the “seven churches”) and the forces of Babylon (represented by the beast with seven heads and ten horns). (Matthew 24:4-8, Revelation 13)
- Spiritual Famine: A famine of the word of God occurs, leading to people relying on human traditions and opinions, fueling the doctrinal war. (Amos 8:11)
- Spiritual Earthquakes: The hearts of people are shaken as they witness and experience the unfolding events, possibly leading to conversions and changes in belief.
- Birth Pains – Persecution and Hate: The forces of Babylon persecute and hate God’s people, mirroring the persecution faced by early Christians. (John 16:1-4)
The Abomination that Causes Desolation:
- The Beast’s Invasion: The forces of Babylon (“the beast”) invade and overcome God’s chosen people, corrupting their beliefs and assimilating them into the ways of Babylon. (Matthew 24:15-16, Revelation 13:3-6)
- Flight to the Mountain: God’s faithful people are instructed to flee to the mountain of the Lamb, symbolizing a separation from the corrupted world and a gathering with the righteous. (Matthew 24:17-20)
Great Distress and Deception:
- The Beast’s Reign: The beast reigns for 42 months (3.5 years), causing great distress and suffering for God’s people. This period is marked by spiritual plagues, deception, and hardship. (Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 13:5, Revelation chapters 6, 8, 9)
- False Prophets Arise: False Christs and prophets emerge, performing signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if possible. (Matthew 24:23-25)
Signs in Heaven and the Second Coming:
- The Sun, Moon, and Stars Darken: The spiritual leaders who have betrayed God and fallen under the influence of Babylon (“the sun, moon, and stars”) lose their spiritual light and fall from grace. (Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6)
- The Son of Man Returns: Jesus returns with power and glory, accompanied by angels and a loud trumpet call. (Matthew 24:30)
- The Gathering of the Elect: Jesus sends his angels to gather his elect from all corners of the earth, signifying the final harvest and separation between the righteous and the wicked. (Matthew 24:31)
Judgment and the New Heaven and Earth:
- The Faithful Servant Rewarded: The faithful and wise servant who has been diligently providing spiritual food to God’s people is rewarded and placed in charge of all of the master’s possessions. (Matthew 24:45-47)
- The Wicked Servant Punished: The wicked servant who has neglected his duty and abused his fellow servants is punished and cast out. (Matthew 24:48-51)
- The New Heaven and New Earth: The old heaven and earth pass away, and a new heaven and new earth are created, free from sin and suffering. (Revelation 21:1)
- The 12 Tribes of Spiritual Israel: The 12 tribes of spiritual Israel, named after the 12 apostles, inhabit the new heaven and earth, judged by the disciples who sit on thrones alongside Jesus. (Revelation 7, Revelation 21:14)
Cast of Characters
1. Jesus Christ: The central figure of the prophecy. He is the Son of Man who returns to Earth at the second coming to judge the wicked and gather the righteous.
2. The Faithful and Wise Servant: A symbolic representation of a pastor or spiritual leader who remains faithful to God and provides spiritual nourishment to his followers during the end times.
3. The Wicked Servant: A symbolic representation of a pastor or spiritual leader who betrays God and his followers, leading them astray with false teachings and aligning with the forces of Babylon.
4. The Disciples: The 12 apostles chosen by Jesus, who are given the honor of judging the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel in the new heaven and earth.
5. John: The apostle who receives the revelation of Jesus Christ on the island of Patmos and records it in the book of Revelation. He serves as a witness and messenger to God’s people.
6. The Beast: A symbolic representation of the forces of evil, specifically associated with the Antichrist figure, who arises in the end times to deceive and oppress God’s people.
7. The Elect: Those chosen by God to be saved and brought into the new heaven and earth. They are characterized by their faith in Jesus Christ and their adherence to his teachings.
8. The Sun, Moon, and Stars: Symbolic representations of spiritual leaders who fall from grace and lose their spiritual light during the end times, potentially betraying God and aligning with the beast.
9. The 12 Tribes of Israel: A symbolic representation of the righteous people of God who inherit the new heaven and earth. They are judged by the disciples and reside in a world free from sin and suffering.
10. Babylon: A symbolic representation of the forces of evil and wickedness that oppose God and his people. It is often associated with worldly systems, false religions, and the pursuit of power and pleasure.
Overview
Overview: Signs of the Lord’s Second Coming and the End of the Age
Main Themes:
- Connecting Matthew 24 and Revelation: This lesson emphasizes the interconnectedness of Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation, referring to Matthew 24 as a “mini Revelation” that outlines the same events in a condensed format.
- Signs of the Second Coming: The lesson delves into various signs mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24 that signify his imminent return, including wars, famines, earthquakes, and the “abomination of desolation”.
- Spiritual Interpretation of Prophecy: The lesson stresses the importance of interpreting prophecies figuratively rather than literally. Wars, famines, and earthquakes are interpreted as spiritual conflicts, lack of God’s word, and shaken faith, respectively.
- The Role of the Faithful Servant: The lesson highlights the importance of a “faithful and wise servant” who will provide spiritual nourishment (“food at the proper time”) to believers leading up to the Second Coming. This servant is contrasted with a “wicked servant” who deceives and misleads.
- The 12 Tribes of Spiritual Israel: Drawing parallels to the 12 tribes of physical Israel and Jesus’s 12 disciples, the source suggests the formation of 12 new spiritual tribes at the Second Coming, judged by the 12 apostles.
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
- The War of Doctrines: The lesson interprets “nation rising against nation” as a spiritual war between God’s chosen people (Jerusalem) and those belonging to Satan (Babylon), fought with doctrines and words rather than physical weapons. “It’s a war of doctrines. A war of words that will be fought between two spiritual nations. And what is a nation, everyone? A nation is a church or a kingdom.” This war results in the destruction of God’s people, signifying their assimilation into Babylon’s beliefs.
- Spiritual Famine, Earthquakes, and Birth Pains: The lesson interprets these signs metaphorically:
- Famine: Represents a famine of God’s words. “A famine of the words of the Lord. And because the words of the Lord will be absent, people will fight not with God’s truth, but with men’s traditions and thoughts.” (Amos 8:11)
- Earthquakes: Symbolize shaken faith and uncertainty within individuals.
- Birth Pains: Represent the persecution and hatred faced by believers from those belonging to Satan. “Birth pains are the persecution and hating each other. God and God’s side do not persecute.”
- The Abomination of Desolation: Interpreted as the invasion of the “holy place” (God’s chosen people) by the beast (Babylon) and its destructive influence. This is a key event that signals the need for believers to flee to safety (“flee to the mountains”).
- Shortened Time of Distress: The lesson interprets the “great distress” as the spiritual tribulation faced by believers during the beast’s reign. The period of distress is shortened from 70 years to 3.5 years (“42 months”) for the sake of the elect.
- Darkening of the Sun, Moon, and Stars: This sign is understood as the falling away and silencing of pastors, evangelists, and saints who betray their faith. “The betrayers go dark and fall, meaning that the light they had received from heaven has been snuffed out.”
- The Harvest of the Elect: After the period of distress and the falling away of betrayers, the “Son of Man” will gather his elect (“those who are born of God’s seed after hearing about it”) from all corners of the earth. This event is likened to a harvest where believers are gathered into the “barn”.
- The Faithful and Wise Servant: This servant is responsible for providing spiritual sustenance to believers and preparing them for the Second Coming. Their actions are contrasted with the “wicked servant” who deceives and misleads.
- The 12 Tribes: The source proposes that 12 new spiritual tribes will be formed at the Second Coming, judged by the 12 apostles.
Quotes:
- On the war of doctrines: “It’s a war of doctrines. A war of words that will be fought between two spiritual nations.”
- On spiritual famine: “A famine of the words of the Lord.”
- On the darkening of spiritual leaders: “The betrayers go dark and fall, meaning that the light they had received from heaven has been snuffed out.”
- On the importance of hearing the word: “Everybody has to hear first. No one is exempt from having to hear first.”
Key Takeaways:
This lesson presents a detailed interpretation of Matthew 24 and its connection to Revelation, emphasizing the need for believers to understand prophecy through a spiritual lens. It stresses the importance of recognizing the signs of the times, remaining faithful amidst trials and deception, and seeking the guidance of the faithful servant who provides spiritual food. The document encourages active participation in the process of discerning one’s spiritual tribe in preparation for the Second Coming.
Q&A
Q&A: The Second Coming and the End of the Age
1. What is the significance of Matthew 24 in understanding the end times?
Matthew 24 is often referred to as a “mini Revelation” because it outlines the signs of the Lord’s Second Coming and the end of the age, mirroring many themes and events described in the book of Revelation. Understanding Matthew 24 provides a framework for interpreting the more detailed prophecies found in Revelation.
2. What kind of “wars” should we be looking for as signs of the end times?
Jesus warned about “wars and rumors of wars” as signs of the end times. However, these wars are not literal, physical conflicts between nations. Instead, they represent spiritual wars, particularly the “war of doctrines” or the clash between the truth of God’s Word and the deceptions spread by Satan.
3. What does the “abomination that causes desolation” symbolize?
The “abomination that causes desolation” is a key sign indicating the nearness of the Second Coming. It symbolizes the invasion of false doctrines and teachings into the “holy place,” representing God’s chosen people or church. This invasion leads to spiritual destruction as believers are led astray from the true faith.
4. What is the meaning of the “elect” in the context of the Second Coming?
The “elect” refers to those who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ and follow His teachings. While a specific group of people is predestined for salvation, individual choice plays a crucial role. Everyone has the opportunity to hear the Gospel and decide whether or not to become part of the elect.
5. How should we interpret the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars as signs of the end times?
The darkening of celestial bodies symbolizes the spiritual downfall of those in leadership positions within the church. The “sun, moon, and stars” represent pastors, evangelists, and saints who have succumbed to false teachings and have their spiritual light extinguished.
6. What is the role of the “faithful and wise servant” in relation to the Second Coming?
The “faithful and wise servant” represents those who remain true to God’s Word and faithfully provide spiritual nourishment, symbolized as “food at the proper time,” to other believers. This “food” includes the testimony of how biblical prophecies are being fulfilled, preparing others for the Lord’s return.
7. Who is the “wicked servant,” and what is their fate?
The “wicked servant” represents those in leadership positions who deceive and abuse their followers. They prioritize their own interests over the well-being of the flock, leading them astray with false teachings and harmful practices. Their ultimate fate is judgment and separation from God.
8. What is the significance of the 12 tribes mentioned in Revelation 7?
The 12 tribes in Revelation 7 symbolize the new spiritual Israel, comprised of believers from all nations who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. They represent the complete fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and the establishment of a new covenant people. Each tribe is associated with one of the 12 apostles, highlighting the importance of apostolic teaching and leadership in the church.