Matthew 24 – The Second Coming Of Christ?, The Destruction Of Jerusalem? Or Both?
Premillennialists say all of Matthew chapter 24 is referring to the second coming of Christ, while those who believe the 70 A.D. theory (and a few others) say all of Matthew 24 refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. But neither option fits all the details of the context.
Three Questions
The first three verses are essential to the chapters’ understanding. They read “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Verses 1-2 are obviously talking about the physical destruction of the temple. This leads to the disciples three questions in verse 3:
1. When shall these things be? (destruction of the temple)
2. What shall be the sign of thy coming?
3. and [What shall be the sign] of the end of the world?
Jesus’ disciples may or may not have thought all three of these events would happen together; we just don’t know. The 70 ADers think all three would happen at the same time (in the first century), but we learn from how Jesus answers these three questions (in chapters 24 and 25) that the destruction of the temple and the end of the world would be two separate historical events.
The Siege Of Jerusalem Occurred In About 70 A.D.
Flavius Josephus (famous Jewish historian) wrote about the destruction of Jerusalem. And you can read it about it from other historical sources, including Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70_CE). Because history confirms it occurred, Jesus’ detailed prediction of the event three decades or so previous had to be no less than supernatural, and is very good evidence for the inspiration of the Bible.
Verse 34 Is The Demarcation Point
To understand Jesus is describing two different events in chapter 24, notice the contrast between knowing when something is near (fig leaves indicating summer is near / i.e., the destruction of Jerusalem) in verses 32-33 versus not knowing whether something is near (the second coming of Christ) in verse 36. Verse 34 says the first event would occur during that generation, so the first event must be the destruction of Jerusalem and not the second coming of Christ. This proves Premillennialism wrong. And because of that same contrast, do you see why verses 36 through the end of chapter 25 cannot be talking about that same first century event, but instead the second coming of Christ / end of the world?
Signs Of The Destruction Of Jerusalem
Jesus warns of many false signs in verses 4-13 before giving two definite signs of the impending Jerusalem destruction in verses 14 and 15. The first sign is that the gospel would be preached in all the world first. Premillennialists say preaching to the whole world has not occurred yet, therefore this must be a sign of the end of the world. But that isn’t so. Col 1:23 says by the time that book was written, the gospel had been “preached to every creature which is under heaven.” Verse 15 supplies the second definite sign, which would be the most immediate to the destruction of the city. When the faithful see the “abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (Dan 9:26-27, 12:11), that is, the Roman “armies” approaching the city (Luke 21:20), they were to flee immediately.
Fleeing For Safety Doesn’t Make Sense If We Are Talking About The End Of The World
Verses 16-18 tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains, those on the housetop to flee without taking the time to get anything out of the house, and those in the field to flee without returning home to get their clothes. Verses 19-20 warns about how hard it would be to flee for mothers with small children, and to pray that escape would not have to take place in the winter or on the Sabbath day. Evidently the latter is referring to the fact that the gates to the city would be closed on the Sabbath (Neh 13:19) not allowing for easy flight. My point about these last five verses is that fleeing for safety and in haste doesn’t make sense if we are talking about a global destruction, that is, the end of the world (II Pet 3:10-11). But it makes a lot of sense if we are talking about a localized destruction/siege of Jerusalem.
Gruesome Calamity
Confirming the calamity as described in verses 21-22:
“Josephus reported that such a fearful, gruesome event occurred, that future generations would hardly be able to believe it. There was a respected woman, wealthy and well bred, across the Jordan; having fled Jerusalem in fear with some others. Now, since the city had been so grievously beset with hunger, (with what manner of crying and pain, one can only imagine) slaughtered her young child in the cradle, roasted half of it and ate it. When the soldiers came by looking for food, she set the remaining portion before them. The soldiers removed themselves from this gruesome scene, and having mercy upon the miserable woman, revealed this event to the lord of Jerusalem”
Now do you see why Jesus was telling the disciples to flee when they saw the armies? – He didn’t want them to be caught up in this terrible siege!
Verses 23-28 continue with the signs and/or false signs of the coming of Jesus in judgment of Jerusalem. Compare this with the event discussed later in the chapter (after verse 34) when there would be no signs. While Jesus knew the when of the former event, he wouldn’t know the latter’s timing (Mark 13:32). So before verse 34 and after verse 34 must be talking about two different events.
Verses 29-31 Might Look Like The Second Coming Of Christ, But …
On the surface verses 29-31 might look like it is talking about the end of the world. But compare this section with the description of the judgment of Babylon in Isaiah 13:6,9,10-13,19:
“Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty … Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. … Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger … And Babylon … shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”
and Ezekiel 32:2,7-9’s description of judgment upon Egypt:
“Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers … And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God. I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.”
and you will see the Bible commonly uses such phraseology to refer to figurative comings (spiritual judgments) of Christ. Verses 29-31 are not describing the end of the world, but instead like we would say – an “earth shaking” event.
After all, the Lord can come in judgment without physical/literally coming to the earth. An example is found in Isaiah 19:1-2 which reads,
“The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Now read Matthew 24:32-34 again. Whatever Jesus is talking about here:
· there would be signs to let Christians know it was coming so they could escape physical peril
· it was to happen in that generation (the end of the world did not happen in that generation obviously or we wouldn’t be here)
A Change In Topic
Beginning in verses 35-36 Jesus is talking about a different event, one with no warning signs, no warning. Notice also the contrast of “days” plural (24:19,22,22,29) versus “day” singular in verse 36. Verse 36 is where Jesus begins to discuss “the end of the world” (asked about in verse 3), which is to happen on a singular day. According to verses 37-39, this event will happen suddenly, surprisingly, like Noah’s flood – no signs (unlike the destruction of Jerusalem).
The Rapture
Verses 40-42 describe an event commonly called the “rapture” just like I Thess 4:17 does
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
“But how did this teaching of the apostle Paul ever come to be called the Rapture? The answer lies in the word translated ‘shall be caught up’ (Greek harpagésómetha). In Latin, this word is rapere, from which ‘rapture’ is derived. Free of any arcane or mysterious interpretation, it simply means ‘to be caught up,’ ‘snatched’ or ‘seized.’" (Richard T. Ritenbaugh).
Notice that three of dictionary.com’s five definitions for the word “rapture” match what these two Biblical texts describe:
3. the carrying of a person to another place or sphere of existence.
4. the Rapture, Theology … the experience, anticipated by some fundamentalist Christians, of meeting Christ midway in the air upon his return to earth.
5. Archaic … the act of carrying off.
However, the “rapture” will not be secret as Timothy LeHaye’s “Left Behind” series supposes. Talking about Jesus’ second coming (which coincides with the rapture), Revelation 1:7 says “… he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.”
Premillennialism Is False
“Premillennialism” (a future 1000-year physical reign on earth) is false. The signs in Matthew 24:5-34 point to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (something in that generation, verse 34), not to the second coming of Christ. When Jesus comes back, he will not set up a kingdom on earth; instead, the earth will be destroyed – II Peter 3:3-4,9-10:
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation … The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Jesus’ kingdom is already now in existence according to Mark 9:1 (unless some are still alive today who were alive in the first century):
“And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”
and Col 1:13:
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
and other passages. Jesus is reigning now according to Acts 2:30-31
“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ …”
and I Corinthians 15:24-26
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
The Thief Illustration
On the other hand, the verses 43-44 section is obviously referring to the second coming of Christ (not the destruction of Jerusalem) because of its thief illustration. Notice other places in the New Testament referring to the second coming of Christ where this same thief illustration is used:
· I Thess 5:2 the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night
· II Pet 3:10 the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night
Just how will Jesus’ second coming be like a thief? A thief gives no warning or signs that he is coming. This stands in contrast to the signs given for the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem described previous to verse 34. Notice the latter part of the chapter describes an event that is to be like a thief that gives no warning, while the destruction of Jerusalem is likened to a fig tree (verses 32-33) that does give signs. See the difference?
Four More Illustrations Taking Us To The End Of Chapter 25
Verse 45 through the end of chapter 25 provide four illustrations exhorting us to be ready for Jesus’ second coming (the judgment day). The “wise servant” illustration of verses 45-51 ends with the evil servant “weeping and gnashing … (his) teeth,” plainly indicating eternal punishment (the final judgment day) is under consideration, not the destruction of Jerusalem. In chapter 25 verses 1-13, the account of the ten virgins illustrates how we should be prepared for when Jesus comes back, not prepared for Jerusalem’s first century destruction. The story of the talents in verses 14-30 encourages us to use what God has given us until Jesus’ return (not until the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem). Again the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” phrase in verse 30 indicates the final judgment day (not the destruction of Jerusalem) is being talked about. The judgment of the sheep and the goats found in chapter 25 verses 31-46 supplies criteria on how God separates the righteous from the wicked on that final judgment day. Verse 46 explains that the consequences are “everlasting punishment” or “eternal life,” not physical death or physical life which would be the consequences at the destruction of Jerusalem.
Conclusion
Many brethren agree the sheep and goats judgment is referring to the second coming of Christ, but think all of chapter 24 is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. I ask them, if the switch from the destruction of Jerusalem to the second coming is not verse 34 of chapter 24, then where is it? That is by far the most logical transition point. The contrast between signs before verse 34 versus no signs after verse 34 prove verse 34 is the obvious changeover point.
By proving there are two different events described by Matthew 24 (the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world):
· We cut out the sensationalism underpinning the premillennial theory as we show these signs were for then, not for now.
· We falsify the 70 A.D. theory because that theory says the destruction of Jerusalem is the only second coming of Christ the world will ever see. The 70 A.D. theory (that the second coming of Christ already occurred in 70 A.D.) is an overreaction to the false doctrine of Premillennialism, just like Calvinism is an overreaction to the false system of Catholicism).
There is going to be a second literal/physical/personal coming of Christ. Heb 9:28 says Jesus will appear the “second time.” If we are only talking about spiritual comings (in judgment), then this wouldn’t be Jesus’ second coming, but his ninth or tenth or twenty-first. The fact that it is called his second coming means it must be the second one like his first physical coming in the neighborhood of zero A.D.. The 70 A.D. theory that Jesus’ first coming is the only literal one there will ever be is therefore proven false by Heb 9:28, and Matthew 24 as this article has demonstrated.
hear Bible Crossfire Sunday nights at 8:00 central on SiriusXM radio Family Talk 131 and 59 local stations across America or at www.BibleCrossfire.com