Delivered at the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony meeting, Olivet House Lisburn, May 22nd 2025.

I believe it correct to say that this chapter and chapter 25 might rightly be called a great ‘Compendium of Bible Prophecy’.

Here, in great detail, is given an answer to the questions of the disciples by the Master Expositor, the Lord Jesus Himself.

He Who is THE WORD OF GOD reveals to us the sequence of events which are of particular interest to those awaiting His return and the end of this age.

I will try and condense and catalogue the contents of the chapter as best I can.

Let me start with the first 4 verses.

I. HERE WE HAVE QUESTIONING DISCIPLES AND A WILLING TEACHER.

The first point I wish to make was mentioned back in our March meeting by the speaker, Rev Brian McClung, and it is this:

1. Christ wishes us to understand prophecy. When the disciples asked Him: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the AGE?” verse 3, — to give the proper rendering of the word translated ‘world’, — He replied, not by discouraging such a question but by beginning immediately to give a detailed response.

To those who have suggested that the study of prophecy is futile because it is ‘complicated’ I would say that they act in utter contrast to the Saviour here. If what they say is wise, then we ought to cease all Bible study, for is not the general doctrine of God and His eternal purpose in this world a most complex subject?

2. Let us also learn the patience the Saviour has with ‘ignorant’ believers. It was good that these disciples were interested in prophecy but it was not good that they showed such ignorance of “the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age”. 

We should remember that, “All the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days,” Acts 3:24.

These enquiring disciples showed a sad lack of knowledge regarding that which was repeatedly set forth in the Word of God in Old Testament times! That statement surely reminds us of ‘progressive revelation’. There a time before Samuel when the knowledge of this subject was less well known. There was no detailed mention of Christ from Moses until Samuel, Deut 18:15,  17-18.

3. It should be noted that their ignorance of prophetic truth was but part of a general ignorance concerning the Lord. From the beginning of their acquaintance with the Saviour, they showed great ignorance. Matt 8:23-27. “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” verse 27. They did not understand Him speaking of His suffering. Matt 16:21-23; 17:22-23; Luke 24:13-27. Note His rebuke: “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” 25-26. Ignorant of Christ’s suffering and His glory!

Yet He was ready to patiently teach such!

II. HIS FIRST WORDS WERE WORDS OF WARNING.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you,” verse 4. HERE is why the Saviour would have us understand prophecy! It sets forth warnings! Here also is why the devil hinders such a study, his schemes are exposed!

1. Every doctrine in the Word of God is subject to misrepresentation, but none more so than that of Bible prophecy. If the devil and his agents can mislead on a right understanding of prophecy, then they rob Christians of hope and peace in this evil world. They induce carelessness, 2 Peter 3:2-4. Scoffing is the language of the devil! How many foolish ministers use the devil’s language!

2. The deceptions regarding the ‘end times’ are very many.

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many,” verse 5.

3. Please note that the deceptions will be of the most extreme kind. The devil will not stop short of seeking to impersonate the Saviour Himself!

4. The period from Christ’s ascension until His return, will be a most turbulent one. “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. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows,” Matthew 24:6-8. Disorder and confusion of every sort, social, geographical, and chiefly, spiritual, verses 10-12.

5. Despite the adverse conditions, the gospel will be preached unto ‘all nations’! 

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,” Matthew 24:14. Despite that, the gospel will reach countries unreached before. Countries to which it would be impossible to send missionaries, now hear the gospel by the internet! We here tonight will reach into nearly every country in the world! What a triumph that is for God’s sovereign power!

III. THE SAVIOUR THEN BRINGS HIS DISCIPLES TO THAT MOST IMPORTANT PERIOD OF THE END TIMES.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” Matthew 24:15.

The DETAIL given indicates the Saviour’s desire for us to be well informed of His return!

1. What the Lord would have His people understand, the devil has done his best to complicate. The interpretations placed upon these words of the Saviour are prolific! That in itself suggests just how important it is to understand what the Saviour is saying. 

The ‘holy place’ in Bible terms, from its first mention in the Bible, is the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem. The Babylonians, the Greeks and the Romans had defiled the temple as a mark of their detestation of all that was linked in any way to Jehovah.

That will happen again at the end of this age.

2. That event will signal the beginning of that period spoken of as ‘the great tribulation’. 

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be,” Matthew 24:21. That period will last for three and a half years. “And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished,” Daniel 12:7. It is referred to under two other classifications of time. 

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth,” Rev 11:3.

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days,” Revelation 12:6.

Both of these verses refer to the period of ‘the great tribulation’.

And again, it is defined in months. 

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months,” Revelation 13:4-5.

The Lord spells out the length of the tribulation in days, months and years! It would be hard to get it wrong but still those deceived by the devil manage to do so!

3. The tribulation will be centred chiefly in Israel. “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains,” Matthew 24:15-16.

The Saviour shows particular concern for His ancient nation for it will be focus of the Antichrist’s attack.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it,” Zechariah 12:2-3. This is a reference to the finale of the Antichrist’s rage against Israel. He will seek with his gathered forces to annihilate the Nation of Israel. He will march from Armageddon through various towns and villages of Israel, (Isaiah 10:28-31) and then on the hill of Nob, which over looks the Temple Mount, he will “shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem,” verse 32. 

His doom will immediately follow. “Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled,”  verse 33.

While the tribulation will be centred in Israel, I believe the whole of the Antichrist’s domination, the ten kingdoms in the territory of the old Roman Empire. will feel something of his wrath against the gospel.

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” Revelation 13:7-8.

The word ‘earth’ there does not mean the whole inhabited globe, but it is linked to Israel. It first occurs in the New Testament in Matthew 2:6. “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” In verse 20 and 21 it refers to ‘Israel’ and Judaea in verse 22.

The word then is to be understood by the context in which it is used. Those that worship the Antichrist will be those who live in his kingdom.

Another Beast

There is another ‘beast’ in the Antichrist’s kingdom. He is very much part of the devil’s latter-day deceptions. 

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name,” Revelation 13:11-17.

4. There will be a terrible price to pay by those who receive the mark of the Beast. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name,” Revelation 14:9-11.

To suffer under Antichrist for owning Christ as your Saviour will be severe BUT it is preferred to that suffered by those who worship the Antichrist!

IV. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE TRIBULATION WILL LAST FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS, THE BELIEVER WILL BE WELL INFORMED ON THE TIMING OF THE SAVIOUR’S RETURN.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken,” Matthew 24:29. As well as being able to count the days from the manifestation of the Antichrist, there will be these additional signs in the sun, the moon and the stars!

Further to that, we have a general description of the last period.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be,” Matthew 24:36-39.

Remember, it became clear to Noah that the judgment of God was very near when the Lord commanded him to enter the ark. 

“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; they, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered,” Genesis 7:11-19.

Thus events indicated to Noah that the great judgment had come. Likewise, the unfolding of those events the Saviour refers to in Matthew 24:29, will let the redeemed know that the coming of Christ night at hand.

So it was with the Israelite, on the night of the Passover. He knew what was going to happen, Exodus 12:1-11.

Ignorance Today!

The Saviour said; “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only,” Matthew 24:36. I believe that ‘ignorance’ relates to the time when Christ was teaching the disciples and even to this day. But, as the Saviour said in Luke 21:25-28: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” There will be signs that will inform us to look up and see Christ returning in glory and great power. 

It was for this reason that Paul drew a distinction between the knowledge of the unbeliever and the believer!

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief,” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4.

Thus, this chapter takes us from the acknowledged ignorance of the apostles to that point where the redeemed will look up to see the greatest and most stunning sight human eyes will ever behold! — the Redeemer coming in “power and great glory. That which John saw by way of a spiritual vision, those alive upon the earth and who are washed in the blood will see: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 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. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” Revelation 19:11-16.

EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!