Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Matthew 24

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Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Rocklyn Clarke

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Description

Welcome to Focus On The Message – the first component of our Following Jesus discipleship program. This web page contains the lessons for:

Matthew 24

Purpose

Follow this link for information about these key aspects of our training: Purpose, Goals, Habits, Ministries, and Assignments.

Matthew 24

This chapter has 4 lessons. You should ideally cover one chapter (with all of its lessons) in a week, but please don’t let a week go by without completing at least one lesson.

Lesson 1: The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times – Part 1

Checkout the following:

Topics to explore:

    • What key events from Matthew 23 precede this passage?
    • Jesus is leaving the temple following the events of Matthew 23.
      • He had previously issued both a rebuke and a warning.
      • His disciples marvel at the beauty of the Temple and Jesus predicts its destruction.
      • The disciples ask:
        • When will this happen?
        • What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
    • Jesus predicts:
      • Many will come in Jesus name and deceive many.
      • Don’t be alarmed at wars and rumors of wars – these must happen but the end is still to come. 
      • False Christs, false prophets, wars, natural disasters, persecution.
      • Gospel preached to all nations, divine support during arrest and trial.
      • Betrayal, encouragement to stand firm to the end.
      • Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
      • Be on guard. You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death.
      • Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.
      • Many false prophets will appear and deceive many.
      • Because of the increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold.
      • The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
      • The gospel must first be preached to all nations and then the end will come.
    • Summary:
      • Watch out for false Christs and false prophets. Don’t be deceived!
      • Don’t be alarmed by wars and natural disasters – they are just the beginning of birth pains.
      • Be on guard for persecutions – arrests and trials.
      • Stand firm to the end!

Additional resources to check out:

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

    • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 2: The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times – Part 2

Checkout the following:

Topics to explore:

    • Key Points
      • When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong.
      • Let those in Judea flee to the mountains.
      • Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to get anything out.
      • Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.
      • Dreadful for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
      • Pray it won’t take place in winter.
      • Days of distress unequaled from the beginning until now and never to be equaled again.
      • For the sake of the elect the days have been shortened.
      • False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive event the elect if possible.
    • Note the Contrast
      • Don’t be alarmed by wars, natural disasters, persecution, betrayals, etc.
      • Be alert when you see:
        • The abomination that causes desolation – Mark 13:14; Matthew 24:15
        • Jerusalem surrounded by armies – Luke 21:20
      • Get out!
        • Don’t try to salvage any possessions
        • It will be a time of great distress.
        • Don’t be deceived by false Christs and false prophets.
        • This specific advice makes sense for people in a city under siege, but not so much for impending worldwide judgment. Where would you escape to?
      • Let’s take a closer look at the ”abomination that causes desolation”:
    • Daniel 9 – “seventy sevens”; “abomination that causes desolation”
      • Daniel 9 (NIV); Daniel 9 (ESV)
      • Gabriel is sent to Daniel right away with a message from God:
        • 70 “sevens” (490 years) from the call to restore Jerusalem until the Messiah.
        • 7 “sevens” (49 years) – Restoration of Jerusalem complete.
        • 62 “sevens” (434 years) – Messiah!
        • Final “seven” (7 years) – Final destruction of Jerusalem.
      • ▾ Possible timing:
        • Jewish years are 360 days.
        • Start with decree of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1) in 445 BC.
        • Adding 7+62 “sevens” (483 years of 360 days = 476 of our calendar years) brings us to roughly 30 – 33 AD. Presumably the date of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
      • Alternatively, we can begin with the decree of Cyrus in 538 BC (Ezra 1:1-2) and interpret the numbers more symbolically.
      • How do we interpret Daniel 9:25-27?
        • Compare NIV with ESV.
        • Does vs 27 recapitulate vs 26?
        • Who confirms the covenant in vs. 27 – the Messiah or the ruler who will come?
        • Who puts an end to sacrifice and offering – the Messiah or the ruler who will come?
        • Is there a “church age” gap between the 69th “seven” and the 70th “seven”?

Additional resources to check out:

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

    • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 3: The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times – Part 3

Checkout the following:

Topics to explore:

    • Jesus uses apocalyptic language to describe the fall of Jerusalem.
    • Jesus uses apocalyptic language to describe his exaltation.
      • Daniel 7:12-13; Daniel 7:26-27
      • Notice that the “Son of Man” coming on the clouds of heaven is traveling up from the earth – not down to the earth!
      • Notice that the interpretation of the dream equates this with earthly kingdoms being handed over to God’s people.
    • How does Jesus reign? How do Jesus’ followers reign?
      • By dying.
      • By serving.
      • Minimal coercion.
      • Planting Jesus communities in places where people are hurting.

Additional resources to check out:

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

    • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 4: The Day and Hour Unknown

Checkout the following:

Topics to explore:

    • Following that distress:
    • Day and Hour Unknown
      • No one knows the day or hour, only the Father.
      • As in the days of Noah: one taken, another left.
      • If the owner of the house had known what time the thief was coming.
      • Who is the faithful and wise servant.
    • Note the analogy to the flood.
    • During Noah’s flood:
      • The people who were engaged in eating, drinking, marriage, etc. knew nothing about what would happen until the flood took them all away.
      • They were taken away to judgment.
    • During the destruction that Jesus predicts:
      • People will experience the haphazard victimization that happens in war and riots.
      • The people taken are under judgment.
      • The people left are survivors.
    • If you were in Jerusalem during this time you wanted to be left behind – not taken.
    • Passages related to Jesus’ actual return:
      • Philippians 3:17-21 – “our citizenship is in heaven . . .”
        • Philippi was a Roman colony. Its residents were Roman citizens (i.e. their citizenship was in Rome). As Roman citizens, they’re goal was not to eventually relocate to Rome but rather to make Philippi resemble Rome.
        • As citizens of heaven (God’s headquarters) our goal is not relocation to heaven but rather to make the world around us reflect heaven as God’s Spirit leads us. This is why we pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” –  Matthew 6:5-15 (especially v 10).
      • Acts 28:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “. . . caught up together with in the clouds . . .”
        • When visiting dignitaries came to your city, it was customary to meet them before they got there and to escort them through the city walls. We see an illustration of this in the way believers from Rome met Paul and his companions before they got to Rome.
        • When Jesus returns we will meet him in the air and escort him to earth where he will reign.
        • As we see in Revelation 21, our ultimate home is not heaven, but rather the New Jerusalem that comes down to earth from heaven.
      • Matthew 25:31-46 – “The Sheep and the Goats”

Additional resources to check out:

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

    • Read the main passage and related passages above.

 

Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Rocklyn Clarke

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Acknowledgements

Please join me in acknowledging the key people who contributed to this material!

Advance to Matthew 25

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