QT 3/31/2022 Matt 24:9-22, Lawless will increase in the last days

Matthew 24:9–22 (ESV) — 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

 

NOTE: Matthew includes this description of the tribulation period, probably because his gospel was written to a Jewish audience, and non-believing Jews will be alive living through this period. It sounds similar to Luke 20-24, but differs significantly with the last verse 24, "They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." This clearly indicates that the Luke passage is prior to the tribulation. There are many similarities between the judgment in AD 70 and the judgment that occurs in the tribulation, except the tribulation will be many times worse and across the globe. So, Luke answers the first question concerning the sign of the fall of Jerusalem. The Matthew passage lets the Jewish people know what life will be like during the tribulation period. The Jews are already hated around the world, but it will continue to increase in the end times. Some Jews, the remnant will take the gospel across the world -- we call this group the tribulation saints. The Antichrist will stand in the newly built temple and call himself god. Then begins the last half of the tribulation, also called the Great Tribulation. And like the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, the Jews will flee to the mountain regions and hide. It will be a time of great pain. It is not just the Jews who will suffer, but all of mankind will suffer because we refused to believe and obey God. We have substituted our worldview for God's word. We have rejected his rule. We have placed our thoughts higher than his thoughts. We have rebelled, and we have no excuse.

 

PONDER:

1. The passage says that in the last days lawlessness will be increased, and the love of many will grow cold -- is that happening to me? Am I doing what is right in God's eyes? Do I care for others who are suffering?

 

PRAYER: Father, keep us safe during these days, but also may our boldness for Christ rise above the fears of our own safety. I pray we would be excellent witnesses for Jesus in our words, deeds, and care for others. I pray we would live according to the word of God and not according to the schemes of the devil incorporated in the culture and its worldview.