Matthew 24 - Part 22

We are continuing our study in Matthew 24:14, and we left off at the last few words in that verse, ...and then shall the end come, as previously we have considered the two Greek terms, ...unto all nations...which was discussed when we were researching verse 9, and the end of verse 13. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the expression come. This Greek verb is found 26 other times, as the following Scriptures illustrate:

Come [heko:G2240]

Actually we will see this word again in verse 50 of Matthew 24:48-51 which are concluding verses of this chapter: But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; {49} And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; {50} The lord of that servant shall come [heko:G2240] in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of, {51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This term is also employed in verse 42 of John 8:42-35 as the Lord testifies to the Jews which supposedly “believed” on him:  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came [heko:G2240] from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. {43} Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word. {44} Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. {45} And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not.

Verse 37 of Hebrews 10:36-39 likewise acknowledges: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. {37} For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, [heko:G2240] and will not tarry. {38} Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. {39} But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

Verse 36 can be a bit puzzling but Luke 17:7-8 helps to clarify why God’s elect would be in need of patience [hypomone:G5281], after having labored diligently to get the Gospel out during the “latter rain,” and then to find out that there would a delay with regards to the Lord’s Return: But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? {8} And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

How do we feed the Lord or give Him drink or serve Him at this time in history? In accordance with the principle found in Matthew 25:40b ...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. This of course ties in to the new commission we have received at this time to feed God’ sheep.

The last two references that contain this word come or heko are Revelation 3:3 and 2 Peter 3:10 respectively: have to do with God’s judgment against the end-time institutional churches and denominations that took place at the start of the Great Tribulation on May 21, 1988, and the second is occurring today, in our present day of judgment:

Revelation 3:3 was God’s warning to the New Testament churches which they did not heed, and consequently He abandoned them on May 21, 1988, and they ceased from being His divine organism; please note that this term is repeated: Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come [heko:G2240] on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come [heko:G2240] upon thee.

2 Peter 3:10 speaks about our present, prolonged day of judgment which began on May 21, 2011: But the day of the Lord will come [heko:G2240] as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Lord willing, in our next installment, we will be investigating Matthew 24:15

Prayer And Praise

• Your continued prayers for our daughter Maria are deeply appreciated. She has been accepted by an organization that is affiliated with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and she has agreed to allow them to help her to get permanent housing, medical care and other therapies, so we are extremely grateful to the LORD for this new development. 
• We will be having our annual “call-a-thon,” starting the first November, in which we take the time to call as many of you as possible to learn of your needs, and to share ours. This is an important time of year for BMI along with tax time, when we are able to get ahead financially, and we covet your prayerful participation, and thank you in advance. 

Additionally we have been working on a template for a new program which involves the importance of the spiritual meaning of the Hebrew and Greek letters, which are “letter words” along with their shapes. So we want to share our vision for this and ask for your prayer for this new avenue for “feeding sheep.”