Great Tribulation, Part 2

Matthew 24:15-28

Last time, we began looking at this section of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 where Jesus tells about great tribulation. He says in Matthew 24:21, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This time describes what will take place on earth prior to the return of Christ. It’s that unprecedented period of trouble that is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament. Isaiah 26:20 calls it “the indignation“. Jeremiah 30:7 calls it “the time of Jacob’s trouble“. Joel 2:1 refers to it by the broad name “the day of the LORD“. Daniel 12:1 calls it “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time“.

Remember that in Matthew 24-25 Jesus is teaching His disciples about His “coming … and the end of the age” in answer to their question in Matthew 24:3. We already saw in Matthew 24:4-14, some general signs, or birth-pains, that will characterize the times that precede Christ’s coming. And last time we looked in detail at Matthew 24:15 where Jesus describes …

1. The Event That Signals the End (Matt. 24:15)

Jesus said, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), (Matt. 24:15). So, as Jesus instructed us, we took time to dive deep into the prophecies of Daniel to understand just what “the abomination of desolation” means and why it signals the end.

We saw that this sign was foreshadowed by a similar “abomination of desolation” during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the second century before Christ as Daniel predicted. And in a sense, it was also foreshadowed by the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, just as Daniel and Jesus had both prophesied.

But the conclusion that I demonstrated from Daniel, Matthew, and the rest of scripture is that this sign is yet to be ultimately fulfilled in the future, just prior to the second coming of Christ. I believe it will be fulfilled by rise of the one whom John calls “the Antichrist” (1 John 2:18)—the future, satanically empowered world ruler described in dreadful detail in Revelation 13 as “the beast” who deludes the whole world into worshiping himself. Paul describes him as the “man of sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, whose revealing is immediately associated with “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” (2 Thess. 2:1).

The sign of the abomination of desolation is so specific that on the basis of it, Christ warned those living in Judea to flee when it occurs. His instructions were dramatic, as recorded in Matthew 24:16-20. There, we see …

2. The Tribulation Prior to the End (Matt. 24:16-21)

Jesus says that when “the abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15) is seen—when the Antichrist sets up the defiling image in the temple of God, and declares himself to be God (2 Th. 2:4) …

¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. ¹⁸ And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” (Matt. 24:16-18)

These instructions from the Lord describe the desperate urgency that will characterize the times. These are instructions specifically for those “who are in Judea,” the area around Jerusalem. A man shouldn’t run to the safety of the city, but rather should run for the hills of the wilderness. He shouldn’t even bother to get his valuables out of his house, or even bother with basic comforts such as his coat. It would be better to shiver in the cold than to fail to get away. He also adds to the sense of urgency by describing how horrible it will be for those whose travel is impeded:

¹⁹ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! ²⁰ And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. (Matt. 24:19-20)

This kind of urgency was needed in the times that preceded the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 also. And some interpret this passage in Matthew and the corresponding one in Mark to be fulfilled at that time. One of the major reasons that they interpret it this way is because they interpret Matthew and Mark based on Jesus’ teaching in Luke. Luke 21 is his account of the Olivet Discourse.

But to me, it is clear that Luke records a different part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse that Matthew and Mark do not. The warning is similar, but the circumstances and the sign are different. Listen to Luke 21:20-24,

²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-24).

Did you notice the significant differences in Luke’s account of Jesus’ warning? Luke’s sign relates to the city of Jerusalem (Luke 21:20), in Matthew’s account, the sign relates specifically to the temple, “the holy place” (Matt. 24:15). In Luke, the sign is Jerusalem surrounded by armies; in Matthew, it is the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. In Luke, Jesus predicts great distress in the land and wrath on “this people” (the Jews); in Matthew, Jesus predicts unparalleled great tribulation on the world. He says, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21). In Luke, the distress is followed by the Jews being led away into captivity among the nations and Jerusalem trampled by the Gentiles; in Matthew, the tribulation is followed by signs in the heavens and the visible coming of Christ.  

I believe that Luke and Matthew are describing different events. In Luke, Jesus is warning His disciples to flee Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the city the Romans. In Matthew, Jesus is warning about the great tribulation that will occur prior to His second coming. While the two events have some things in common, Matthew’s account clearly looks beyond the fall of Jerusalem to the end of the age. The events surrounding fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD may foreshadow the great tribulation prior to the second coming of Christ, but its fulfillment remains in the future.

Here in Matthew 24, Jesus didn’t go into specific detail about all the things that will occur in the great tribulation. But He tells us enough to let us know that He knows that they will be unprecedented. In Revelation 6-19 our Lord does give John a vision of this tribulation. What we need to remember is that Jesus knows what will happen. It is not a surprise to Him. The severity of the tribulation and persecution of those days is only by God’s divine permission and design. In fact, in Matthew 24:22 Jesus clearly states …

3. The Divine Limit of the End (Matt. 24:22)

Matthew 24:22 says, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

The context of this verse is the great tribulation that Jesus has just warned about. The conjunction ”And” connects Matthew 24:22 to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:21. On one hand, this verse serves to emphasis the unparalleled, unprecedented severity of the Great Tribulation; on the other hand, it emphasizes the sovereign control of the Lord over all the events of this world.

Look at the severity of it, “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved.” The term “no flesh” refers to humanity (Jer. 12:12; Rom. 3:20; 1 Cor. 1:29; Gal. 2:16). This is yet another reason why we know that Jesus is speaking of something beyond the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. That was a horrible distress; but it was not so intense that, unless it had been cut short, all flesh would perish. But the great tribulation will be that severe. It will be a time in which, unless God’s hand intervened to cut it short, it would result in the complete destruction of all human life. Unless God puts a stop to the tribulation, no one would survive.

But the total destruction of all flesh will not occur! God does not let evil run unrestrained. Jesus says, “but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” The elect are those the Lord has chosen for Himself, believers in Jesus Christ. There will be both Jewish and Gentile believers who come to Christ during the great tribulation. Our Lord let us know that not only is the beginning point of the great tribulation defined by Him, but so is its end. It will only go ‘so far’; and no further. It cannot harm His people any more than He permits it to.

Our loving God is sovereign over the great tribulation. Finally, Jesus warns about …

4. The Deceptive Climate of the End (Matt. 24:23-28)

²³ “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you beforehand.” (Matt. 24:23-25).

Jesus had already warned about the deception of false christs in Matthew 24:4-5. But now Jesus shows that not only would these pretenders arise who say they are Christ or His prophets, but they will be demonically empowered to “show great signs and wonders.” Perhaps it is like the magicians of Egypt in the days of Moses. Through their cunning deception, were able to duplicate some of the miraculous signs that God did through Moses. The deception of these false christs and false prophets is so powerful that Jesus says that if it were possible (and it is not), they would deceive even the elect. Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception…” (2 Thess. 2:9-10).

But notice our Lord’s sovereignty here. He says, “See, I have told you beforehand.” All of these things are known to Him in advance; and so, He is able to warn believers in advance.

These false prophets will try to convince believers that Christ has already come in some hidden and secret way. Jesus says, “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.” (Matt. 24:26). When Christ comes back, He isn’t going to make His appearance off in the distance someplace in some shadowy form. It won’t be in secret or hidden to all but a select few. Many false teachers have claimed that Christ has already returned in a “spiritual coming” or a “coming in judgment”. Full preterists say that Christ returned in this way in 70 AD., so that the final judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the new heavens and new earth all also took place at that time. Jehovah Witnesses say that Christ’s second coming was an invisible coming in October 1914 where Christ began ruling in heaven.  

Jesus says that His coming will not be like that, so do not be deceived. When Jesus returns, He won’t be hiding out in the desert or in some back room someplace. When Jesus comes again, He won’t be making only faint “spiritual” appearances. When Jesus returns, it will be clear to all. There will be no mistaking it. Look at how He describes it in Matthew 24:27-28, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”  When Christ returns, everyone will know it. It will be as obvious as the lightning flashing across the sky—from the east to the west. It will be as obvious as spotting the carcass by the vultures that encircle it. Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

Do not be deceived. Jesus has told us what His coming will be like.

Conclusion

Last week, when I began teaching this section of Matthew 24 about the great tribulation, I gave you some reasons why this prophecy (and all prophecies in scripture) should encourage us. We should be encouraged because the Almighty sovereign God, who knows all things from the beginning to the end, has revealed by prophecy what will happen in the future. Jesus gives His sure word about His coming and the end of the age so that we would be prepared and not be deceived.

I said that prophecy also encourages us because it assures us that God is in control over the events of history. The reason that God can reveal the future is not only because God knows the future, but because all of history—past, present, and future—is in His hands. Our sovereign God has determined the signs, the events, the severity, and the length of the great tribulation that precedes Christ’s coming. Nothing will happen outside of God’s predetermined plan.

Therefore, we are to watch, wait, and be alert, but not afraid. We are not to be paralyzed with fear, but rather, to be transformed into the likeness of our Savior who died for us, was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming again. The apostle John encourages us with the reality of Christ’s coming when he writes, “² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3).

Do you have this hope in Christ? Do you believe He is coming again and every eye will see Him? If so, is that truth, that hope in Christ, having a purifying work in your heart and life? Is it keeping you from sin? Is it making you more righteous? Is it causing you to love the brethren? Is it driving you to tell others about the Savior?

Today, as we come to worship at the Lord’s table, consider Christ who died for your sins. Remember His body which was broken for you. Remember His blood poured out for the forgiveness of your sins. Remember that He promised to come again to receive us to Himself and judge the world in righteousness. Let these truths purify you as you eat and drink.

And if you have not yet trusting in Jesus Christ. Let these truths draw you to the Savior. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ today. Confess Him as Lord and He will save you now so that you will be pure on the day He appears.