Scripture Study: Matthew 24:32-51

From: Young Christian: Volume 4, 1914

Matthew 24:32‑51 • 4 min. read • grade level: 6

In Luke 21, the Christians were to flee when they saw Jerusalem encompassed with armies. They were warned, and got out in time. Here it is plainly future, as spoken by Daniel the prophet. Sudden and sharp would be the enemy’s action; no time to be lost; escape to the mountain from off the roof, without anything. Do not go to the field, for the clothes left there. Woe to those who had to care for their young; how hard for them to escape, or in the winter, when the roads and gullies would be running streams, or on the Sabbath when only allowed to go a short distance, by the law. Here is another mark that it is Jewish (the Sabbath is not mentioned in Luke 21). Some of the Gentiles join in the persecution, others help the persecuted (Matt. 25:40,45⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)
⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45)).

Matthew 24:21-22²¹For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21‑22). This brings us into the night of the great tribulation (Dan. 12:1¹And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1); Jer. 30:7⁷Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7)), such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The Lord will prepare a place of safety for His people (Rev. 12:6,14⁶And 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)
¹⁴And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)), and will encourage them with His promises (Rev. 14:12-13¹²Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. ¹³And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:12‑13)). Some will suffer much, others will be killed, but the Word will encourage them. A voice from heaven bade John write for them, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” If they lose their lives on earth, they will gain a heavenly place, and their works will follow them there. And then they will rest.

What comfort the suffering saints of that time will find in the Psalms, such as, “My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me” (Psa. 31). The Lord’s eye will he upon them, like the refiner of silver, watching till their dross is purged – He will shorten the days for His elect’s sake.

Matthew 24:23-24²³Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. ²⁴For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:23‑24). False prophets and false Christs arise with great signs and wonders, if possible to deceive the very elect. How easily cheated men are with a show of power, God has warned His people about this. (Deut. 13:1-3¹If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, ²And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; ³Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:1‑3)). Satan’s works of power are getting very plentiful now, but it will be full blown in that day. (2 Thess. 2:9⁹Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9)). By such means souls are enticed and destroyed, led from the truth of God’s Word and ruined for eternity. Those that hearken to God’s Word will be kept in His path.

Matthew 24:26-27²⁶Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. ²⁷For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:26‑27). They, being warned of God, and knowing that Jesus is on high, will not look for Him in the desert, or in the secret chamber; they will look for Him coming as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; coming as the Son of Man from heaven, appearing in glory.

How blessed this divine certainty is, as we, the church, know it. We will be caught up to be with Him in the air. This is our blessed hope. (1 Thess. 4:15-17¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑17)).

Matthew 24:28²⁸For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (Matthew 24:28). With what unerring precision, and swiftness, the judgment will fall on the ungodly. There is no escape for them then.