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Matthew 24 - Part 7

In our examination of Matthew 24, we left off at the phrase, “...what shall be the sign of thy coming…” which is comprised of four Greek words, the main ones being “shall be the sign” (semeion:G4592) and “coming.” (parousia:G3952). 

Shall Be The Sign [semeion:G4592] & Coming [parousia:G3592]

These two expressions only surface together again in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 which states, “[Even him], whose coming is after [should be translated “against”] the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” This is referring to Christ opposing the attacks of Satan during the Great Tribulation in particular. Please note Satan’s tactics of utilizing “...all power and signs and lying wonders,” which highlights the chief characteristic of the Great Tribulation period, namely intense spiritual deception, which is warning that will appear four times in this chapter - beginning with the next verse -  Matthew 24:4, 5, 11 and 24

Of The End [synteleia:G4930] Of The World [aion:G165]

The next two terms in verse three are “of the end” and “of the world,”which is better translated as “age.” These two expressions surface together in the following five passages:

Matthew 13:39-40 and 49 explains what was happening in the churches and denominations throughout the church age (May 22, 33 AD - May 21, 1988), which resulted in the “tares” (or non-elect) being “burned” (or “lost”) as they entered into the prolonged day of judgment: “The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end [synteleia:G4930] of the world [aion:G165]; and the reapers are the angels. [i.e., “messengers”] {40} As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end [synteleia:G4930] of this world [aion:G165]. ... {49} So shall it be at the end [synteleia:G4930] of the world [aion:G165]: the angels [i.e., “messengers”] shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,”

Matthew 28:19-20 is the essence of the “Great Commission” during the day of salvation, which was intended to reach the nations of the elect only: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end [synteleia:G4930] of the world. [aion:G165] Amen.”

And Hebrews 9:26 reveals the superiority of Christ’s eternal priesthood (“after the order of Melchisedec”) over the Aaronic priesthood); by the way, the phrase “once in the end of the world,” has to do with the demonstration of the Cross in 33 AD:  “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” 

This brings to Matthew 24:4, and the very significant warning that it presents: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Take Heed [blepo:G991] That No [me:G3361] Man [tis:G5100] Deceive [planao:G4105] You [hymas:G4209]

Prior to the Cross, Satan had a great deal of latitude by which to deceive mankind. This can be seen in the book of Job, where God allows him to afflict Job in some exceedingly grievous ways. However, at the Cross Satan’s power was drastically downgraded, which is why we read the following parabolic language in Revelation 20:3, in which this same word, “deceive,” is employed: “And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive [planao:G4104] the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” The figurative “thousand years” encompassed the actual 1955 years of the church age (May 22, 33 AD - May 21, 1988), during which God was “plundering” Satan’s kingdom. However at the start of the Great Tribulation, God allowed Satan to once again deceive the nations, which is why we  read in Revelation 20:8, “And shall go out to deceive [planao:G4104] the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.”

Lord willing, we will continue our investigation of Matthew 24 in our next newsletter.

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