Matthew 24 - Part 13

We are down to the last two words in verse 7, “in divers places” of Matthew 24. This expression consists of two words, 

In Divers [kata:G2596] Places [topos:G5117] 

These two terms appear in 11 other verses, two of which are the parallel accounts to Matthew 24, in Mark and Luke. In four of the other references, we find the Lord taking the apostles to a “private” place for some “alone time” with Him, as is the case in Mark 6:31, in which these words are rendered as “apart” and “place”: And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart [kata:G2596] into a desert place [topos:G5117], and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Two other passages are particularly noteworthy as they reveal that false accusations that were leveled against Stephen in Acts 6:13 and later Paul in Acts 21:28 respectively, in which these two terms are translated as “against” and “place”: And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against [kata:G2596] this holy place [topos:G5117], and the law:

And then regarding Paul we learn: Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against [kata:G2596]  the people, and the law, and this place [topos:G5117]: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. [topos:G5117]  The Jews during the time of Stephen and Paul - like the denominations of our day - did not recognize that it was God who was going to spiritually destroy them. It was God Who had become their enemy, as we learn from Isaiah 63:10, But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.

Moreover the two expressions, “holy” [hagios:H40] “place” [topos:G5117] in Acts 6:13 and Acts 21:28 are also found in Matthew 24:15, as the “holy place” - speaking of the New Testament churches and denominations - which God allowed Satan to infiltrate as “the abomination of desolation”: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy [hagios:H40]  place [topos:G5117] , (whoso readeth, let him understand:) This is exactly what the Lord was referring to back in Matthew 24:1-2, And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple. {2} 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. This is further corroborated by 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, in which “that man of sin” and “the son of perdition” also represent Satan: Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; {4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Let’s proceed on to verse 8: All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.  This statement is also referring back to verse 2, and also to verses 4-7, 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. ... {4} And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. {5} For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. {6} And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

 [Are] The Beginning [arche:G746] Of Sorrows [odin:G5604]

Let’s consider the two terms,  “the beginning” and “of sorrows” which are only found together in the parallel account in Mark 13:8, so we will have to investigate each of these separately. Let’s start with “of sorrows” first:

Of Sorrows [odin:G5604]

Once again this word appears in the parallel account in Mark 13:8. But it is also expressed in two other citations, one of which is verse 3 of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, which is speaking about the same context as Matthew 24, namely the Great Tribulation (May 21,1988- May 21,2011):

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. {2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. {3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail  [odin:G5604] upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Lord willing, next month we will consider the term, “beginning,” along with verse 9, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Summary: Today we noted that the term “divers places”  can refer, among other things to God’s judgment beginning first at His own house, as Matthew 24:15 explains. Verse 8 spoke about “the beginning of sorrows” referring back to verse 2, and verses 4-7. “Sorrows” is also translated as “travail” (as a woman giving birth) according to verse 3 of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 which also speaks of the Great Tribulation as Matthew 24.

Prayer And Praise

• Your prayers for our daughter Maria are very much needed and most certainly appreciated.

• BMI has secured a library in La Jolla to hold a monthly Fellowship at; we are awaiting a critical piece of equipment which will enable us to “live stream” directly from the library to YouTube and our website, Lord willing. Please let us know if you would like to attend once a month by dropping us a note, a phone call, or email.

• Please for BMI’s Vice-President and Board Member, Mark Hewitt, and his large family as they face displacement from their home in Ohio. He is looking for new employment and God’s provision for moving expenses as the family must relocate within the next few weeks. 

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