Strengthen your faith in God's word

Jesus leaves that which He abandons to judgment. (See Scofield "Mark 8:23") in light of Matt 11:21; Matt 11:22 Cf., Rev 18:4.

The beginning of the Olivet Discourse

Matthew 24 with Luke 21:20–24 answers the threefold question. The order is as follows: "when shall these things be?"--i.e. destruction of the temple and city. Answer: Luke 21:20–24.

Second and third questions: "And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Answer: Matt 24:4–33.

Matt 24:4–14 have a double interpretation: They give:

(1) the character of the age--wars, international conflicts, famines, pestilences, persecutions, and false Christs (cf) Dan 9:26.

This is not the description of a converted world.

(2) But the same answer (Matt 24:4–14) applies in a specific way to the end of the age, viz. Daniel's seventieth week. Dan 9:24–27. (See Scofield "Dan 9:24").

All that has characterized the age gathers into awful intensity at the end. Matt 24:14 has specific reference to the proclamation of the good news that the kingdom is again "at hand" by the Jewish remnant Isa 1:9; Rev 14:6; Rev 14:7. (See Scofield "Rom 11:5").

Matt 24:15 gives the sign of the abomination, (See Scofield "Dan 9:27"), the "man of sin," or "Beast" 2 Thess 2:3–8; Dan 9:27; Dan 12:11; Rev 13:4–7.

This introduces the great tribulation Ps 2:5. (See Scofield "Rev 7:14"), which runs its awful course of three and a half years, culminating in the battle of See Scofield "Rev 19:19" at which time Christ becomes the smiting Stone of Dan 2:34.

The detail of this period (Matt 24:15–28) is:

(1) The abomination in the holy place (Matt 24:15);

(2) the warning (Matt 24:16–20) to believing Jews who will then be in Jerusalem;

(3) the great tribulation, with renewed warning as to false Christs (Matt 24:21–26);

(4) the sudden smiting of the Gentile world-power (Matt 24:27; Matt 24:28);

(5) the glorious appearing of the Lord, visible to all nations, and the regathering of Israel (Matt 24:29–31);

(6) the sign of the fig-tree (Matt 24:32; Matt 24:33);

(7) warnings, applicable to this present age over which these events are ever impending (Matt 24:34–51). Phil 4:5.

Careful study of Daniel 2, 7, 9, and Revelation 13 will make the interpretation clear. See, also, "Remnant" (Isa 1:9; Rom 11:5).

i.e. lawlessness, sin. (See Scofield "Rom 3:23").

world

Cf. Luke 21:20–24. The passage in Luke refers in express terms to a destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled by Titus, A.D. 70; the passage in Matthew to a future crisis in Jerusalem after the manifestation of the abomination. See "Beast"; Dan 7:8; Rev 19:20 and "Armageddon"; Rev 16:14; Rev 19:17.

As the circumstances in both cases will be similar, so are the warnings. In the former case Jerusalem was destroyed; in the latter it will be delivered by divine interposition.

Also Matt 24:37; Matt 24:39; Matt 24:44. (See Scofield "Matt 8:20").

(See Scofield "Heb 1:4")

(Greek - ἀγενεαλόγητος," the primary definition of which is, "race, kind, family, stock, breed)." (So all lexicons.) That the word is used in this sense because none of "these things," i.e. the world-wide preaching of the kingdom, the great tribulation, the return of the Lord in visible glory, and the regathering of the elect, occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 70. The promise is, therefore, that the generation--nation, or family of Israel-- will be preserved unto "these things"; a promise wonderfully fulfilled to this day.

(See Scofield "Heb 1:4")

Marg

(See Scofield "Matt 8:20")

(See Scofield "Matt 8:20")

See, Luke 12:42–46; 1 Cor 4:2. It is faithfulness, not ability, in the Lord's service that is first approved by Him.