Matthew 24 - Part 11

We left off in our previous study at the last phrase in verse 6, “...but the end is not yet. 

But [alla:G235] The End [telos:G5056] 

The first two terms, “but” and “the end”  appear in four other passages, two of which (Mark 13:7 and Luke 21:9) are the parallel verses to Matthew 24:6. The other two are as follows:

In verse 26 of Mark 3:22-27 these two words are rendered, “but” along with “an end”: “And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. {23} And he called them [unto him], and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? {24} And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. {25} And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. {26} And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but [alla:G235] hath an end. [telos:G5056] {27} No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.”

This passage is actually speaking about our present “day of judgment” in which we are privileged to witness the systematic dismantling of Satan’s kingdom, one institution at a time, by God Himself, as He now is ruling over this world “with a rod of iron,” as we read in Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” This “division” is seen all over the world, and is the answer to why so many people worldwide can readily identify with the question, “why is the world so divided”?  

In verse 13 of 2 Corinthians 1:12-14, these two terms are expressed as, “than” and “the end,” in this chapter which speaks of both “the sufferings of Christ” as well as the “consolation”:  “ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation [“lifestyle”] in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. {13} For we write none other things unto you, than [alla:G235]  what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;” [telos:G5056] {14} As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also [are] ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Please note the careful emphasis on what has been “written” - and “acknowledged” - the Bible itself.

Incidentally, you might be wondering if this word, “the end” in verse 6 is the same as the term, “of the end” in Matthew 24:3 that the disciples posed to the Lord, and which led to the Lord’s response in the rest of Matthew 24. and please note that the Lord did not say, “But of that day and hour knoweth no [man]...”:  “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end [synteleia:G4930] of the world [aion:G165] ?”  This word “synteleia”  is only found in five other references, and in each case, the term, “world” appears next to it,  which might have been better translated as “of the age” since it is speaking about end-time events, and not the physical end of our world and universe, after which God will usher in the “New Heavens” and “New Earth.”  However, the expression, “the end” in verse 6, is also found, for example, in Matthew 10:22 which does look forward to the “last day” of this prolonged day of judgment: “And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end [telos:G5056] shall be saved.”

Summary: These two words, “but” and “the end” have application for our day, as we see the “division” in the world, but one’s focus must be continually on the Word, which alone brings “consolation,” in spite of “the sufferings of Christ” that the elect experience.

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