Matthew 24, Lesson 1
As we begin the study of Matthew 24, I think it is important for you to know "My Approach to Prophecy." I will only give the first four points here. If you are interested in the other points, you may go to my complete list of points with this link: My Approach to Prophecy There is another article which gives a little more of how I look at prophecy. For lack of a better way of saying it, I call it My Approach to Prophecy -- Part II
Let's begin by looking at the my first four points of how I approach prophecy.
#1. Accept statements as literally as possible.
The fall of Jerusalem.
(Matthew 24:2 NKJV) And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you., not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
#2. Use figurative interpretation when apparent.
The beasts in Daniel obviously have a meaning of something other than animals. (Daniel 7:2‑7 NKJV)
(Dan 7:2-7 NKJV) Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in
my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the
Great Sea. {3} "And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from
the other. {4} "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till
its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to
stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. {5} "And
suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and
had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise,
devour much flesh!' {6} "After this I looked, and there was another, like a
leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four
heads, and dominion was given to it. {7} "After this I saw in the night visions,
and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had
huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue
with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it
had ten horns.
#3 Let
Prophecy Interpret Prophecy.
(Sometimes this is done very clearly.)
(Revelation 1:20 NKJV) "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
#4 Compare scriptures that are apparently talking about the same event and let one shed light on the other.
(Mat 24:4 NKJV) And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. (5) "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
I compare this to Revelation 6:2, and conclude that these verses describe the same problem.
(Rev 6:2 NKJV) And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Many take this to be a prophecy of Christ. I submit the following problems with that view:
1. This is prophecy of future events. Christ had already come to earth.
2. Nowhere is Christ described as having a bow.
Christ is described as having a sword.
(Rev 2:16 NKJV) 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
3. “And a crown was given to him.”
The crown has been taken by the Pope of Rome. Look at his dress, crown, septer, throne! Christ has not returned in glory!
4. “conquering and to conquer.”
The Roman Catholic Church used the weapons of war against any who disagreed with her. The White horse may also repesent anti-Christ, but if so, time order is not followed.
Concluding thought on the White Horse:
All the other horses represent plagues of different kinds. I don’t think the first one is different! To make the first horse Christ makes the list start off good, and then everything else is bad. I think it is a consistent list.
Let’s compare Revelation 6:4 with Matthew 24:6-7
(Rev 6:4 NKJV) Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
(Mat 24:6-7 NKJV) "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} "For nation1 will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
1ethnos, eth'-nos; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; spec. a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by impl. pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
Let’s compare Revelation 6:5-6 with Matthew 24:7b
(Rev 6:5-6 NKJV) When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. {6} And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."
“The oil and the wine.” – The ruling class will not suffer
(Mat 24:7b-8 NKJV) . . . And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. {8} "All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
We skipped 2 verses:
(Mat 24:1 NKJV) Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
This is just the setting – how it all started.
(Mat 24:3 NKJV) Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
"Tell us, when will these things be? – The destruction of the temple.
And what will be the sign of Your coming,
and of the end of the age?" In their mind, did they think the end of the age and the coming of Jesus were two events, or just two ways of saying the same thing?
The fact that there are two or three events named, makes matters more difficult as Jesus does not state which question He is answering.
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