Matthew - Week 74

Threats of Wars 

READ 

Matthew 24:4-6 

4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.” 

Jesus warned that many would come claiming to be the Messiah. He also indicated a troubled world because of wars and threats of wars. He also referred to “the end” eventually occurring. One wonders, the end of what? Reading on in the chapter will reveal the end to which He was referring.  

REFLECT 

For those who claimed to be the Messiah in the past, you could remind people that only the grave of the Lord Jesus Christ is empty.  

RESPOND 

The miracles Jesus did and the fact He rose from the dead on the third day after His death prove He was the true Messiah. For a summary of what the true Gospel is, see 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 and notice the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.  

Beginning of the End 

READ 

Matthew 24:7-8 

7 “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” 

In referring to these troubles of being “the first of the birth pains,” Jesus was referring to a time period prophesied in the past to take place in the future after Church-age believers are caught up from the earth. This means these troubles are only preliminary to a later time. Nations and kingdoms raging against each other now are mild in comparison to what will eventually occur. 

REFLECT 

Think how terrible it will eventually be if what is seen today is not nearly as bad as what is to come. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in thinking about these passages. Read Mark 13:7-8 for a parallel passage to this one in Matthew. The Gospel writers were using Jesus’ remarks to warn others of more serious trouble to come.  

Rampant Sin 

READ 

Matthew 24:9-14 

9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” 

When Jesus referred to troubles and “more to come” in Matthew 24:8, He was referring to the future when many of His followers would be persecuted and killed. During this more terrible time in the future the “love of many will grow cold.” In the Greek text the definite article, “the,” appears before “many” making it read “the many.” Usually this is a specific reference to Israel. Those “who endure to the end” is not a reference to salvation but to those who will survive the awful time of Tribulation to come. The Good News being preached throughout the entire world will likely be done by the 144,000 who will be saved and sealed, as mentioned in Revelation 7:4-8. 

REFLECT 

No matter how difficult things may seem now, be thankful it is not nearly as bad as it will be during the future Tribulation. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how sad it is when the love for Jesus turns cold in the hearts of some. Talk about what you can do to keep your hearts from growing cold toward Him. Consider the importance of being engaged in the Bible at least four times a week, and sharing your faith with others. 

Time to Flee 

READ 

Matthew 24:15-18 

15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.” 

This passage reveals the time Jesus is describing in Matthew 24 and 25. It is a time referred to by the prophet Daniel. See Daniel 9:24-27. Especially notice what verse 27 says about the person commonly known as the Antichrist. In the middle of the seven-year period of the Tribulation, he will sit himself in the temple and demand to be worshiped as God. Intense persecution will come so quickly there will be little time for people to escape.  

REFLECT 

Some today must leave their homes quickly because of the danger of fire or storms. Think about how bad it will be in the future for these people to whom Jesus referred. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 that tells what the Antichrist will do. He is also known as “the man of lawlessness” and “man of sin.” His desecrating of the temple will be the time of “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel.  

Time of Calamity 

READ 

Matthew 24:19-22 

19 “How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.” 

Daniel’s prophecy indicates the entire Tribulation will be a period of seven years with the last three and a half being worse than the first three and a half. The awful time of the seven-year Tribulation will be so terrible that it will never be surpassed again. The number of days predicted will not be fewer.  

REFLECT 

Be thankful that if your faith is in Jesus as your Savior you will be caught up from the earth before the seven years of Tribulation begin. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for this event.  

RESPOND 

The last three and a half years of the Tribulation are likely the ones referred to when they are called “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” in Jeremiah 30:7. Check various translations to see how this verse is rendered.