THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE ADVANCED BIBLE STUDIES SERIES “THE FOUR GOSPELS”
Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
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The following is an excerpt from the Advanced Bible Studies Series course on The Four Gospels, which is available from Way of Life Literature. (It is best to order them by phone at 866-295-4143, but they can also be ordered from the newly redesigned online order form at the Way of Life web site, http://www.wayofife.org.)
There are currently 20 titles in the series, and any of them can be special ordered in large print and in ring coil binding. We don’t believe that you will find better quality, more truly life-changing Bible courses from any other source. They are based strictly upon the King James Bible and the powerful word studies assist in the understanding of the KJV but never cast doubt upon it. They are thorough and comprehensive. They are very practical and have the objective of producing well-equipped Christian soldiers that have a solid understanding of the Bible. They stress holy and obedient Christian living and separation from worldliness and error, exalt evangelism and the New Testament church, and promote world missions. They emphasize the crucial differences between law and grace and positional and practical sanctification, and they continually fortify the student’s understanding of the life-changing doctrines such as justification, substitutionary atonement, and eternal security. The courses are non-Calvinistic and interpret Bible prophecy literally. The student will be prepared to stand against the wiles of the Devil and to refute the major theological heresies of our day. One pastor said the books “are extremely helpful for any Christian, no matter where they are spiritually; the practical application is extremely helpful and edifying.”
The Advanced Bible Studies Series can be used as private study guides for the individual Christian, as Sunday School lessons, as textbooks in Bible colleges, as part of a home schooling curriculum, as study material in jails and prisons, for discipling new (or older) Christians, and as refresher study material for Bible College graduates.
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MATTHEW CHAPTER 24 - PROPHECY OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION AND CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
On this occasion Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, and this is thus called the “Olivet discourse” (v. 3).
Maps: Palestine in the Time of Our Saviour
Prophecy of the Events Just Preceding Christ’s Return
1. When will these things occur? There are differences of opinion among Christians about the things described in this chapter. Some say that they have been fulfilled during the course of the church age. We know that this is not true for the following reasons:
a. This chapter is Jesus’ answer to the question in verse 3. “what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Thus these things refer to the future.
b. In verse 29, Jesus said that these events will occur just before His return.
2. The timing of Matthew 24:
a. The events are divided into two major parts:
(1) The beginning of sorrows (vv. 5-20)
(2) The great tribulation (vv. 21-28). The last part is worse than the first.
b. These events cover the final week or seven years of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27). For the following reasons we know that the 70 weeks are weeks of years, or 490 years.
(1) Daniel was told that 70 weeks were required to complete God’s judgments upon rebellious Israel and to bring in the kingdom.
(2) The first 69 weeks occur up to the time that Christ was crucified (vv. 25-26). From the time that Jerusalem was rebuilt until the coming of the Messiah was 483 years (69 X 7).
(3) The last week, or 7 years, remains to be fulfilled (v. 27). Between the 69th and 70th week is an undetermined period of time called the church age.
(4) That last week is divided into two parts, and in the middle the antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and will exalt himself as God.
c. The prophecies of Revelation reaffirm this division of the Tribulation into two 3.5 year periods.
(1) The first half: The two witnesses of Revelation 11 will preach for 1260 days, or three and a half years (Rev. 11:3).
(2) The second half: Antichrist will rule for 42 months, or three and a half years (Rev. 13:5). Israel shall flee into the wilderness for 1260 days, or three and one-half years (Rev. 12:6).
3. What will happen during the tribulation period?
a. Spiritual deception (v. 4).
(1) This is the first thing that Jesus warned about when He described the end of the age, and churches need to take this to heart and be very cautious about error (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess. 5:21).
(2) We are protected by continuing in the Word of God (Jn. 8:31-32) and by obedience (Jn. 7:17).
b. False prophets (v. 11).
(1) The Bible warns repeatedly that there will be MANY false teachers and many false Christians who follow them. They will increase throughout the church age (2 Tim. 3:13).
(2) It is not surprising to see that most churches in the world do not follow the Bible.
(3) Churches must give many warnings about false teachers.
c. False christs (v. 5, 23).
(1) There were already false christs during the first days of the churches (2 Cor. 11:4), and Jesus warns that they will increase as the time of His return draws near.
(2) The Roman Catholic Church has presented false christs throughout the church age. The pope claims to sit in the place of Christ and takes the titles and prerogatives of Christ. The Catholic hermits said that you find Christ in a desert or a secret, far-off monastery. According to the Catholic mass, you find Christ in a mysterious little tabernacle.
d. False miracles (v. 24). When the Bible speaks of miracles at the end of the church age, it always warns of false miracles. See also 2 Thess. 2:9 and Rev. 13:14.
e. Wars, pestilence, famine, earthquakes (vv. 6-8)
f. Persecution (vv. 9-10). Jewish evangelists will announce the coming kingdom and will be persecuted by the antichrist.
g. Preaching of the gospel of the kingdom (v. 14).
(1) This is the same message that Jesus preached when He came the first time (Mat. 4:17).
(2) It is the message that the kingdom of God is about to be established on earth.
(3) It will be preached by the Jewish evangelists described in Rev. 7.
h. The Antichrist (v. 15).
(1) This refers to when the antichrist will set himself up as God. Compare Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; 2 Thess. 2:4.
(2) The Jews are warned to flee to the mountains (vv. 16-21), for this marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
i. Judgments upon Israel (vv. 16-20). God’s judgment upon Israel will not be completed until those days.
j. Judgments upon the whole world (vv. 21-22).
k. The return of Christ (vv. 27-31). This return will be visible to the whole world.
4. How can we know that the time for these things is near?
a. After the tribulation starts, those who are in it can know that all of the events will occur quickly (v. 33-35).
b. No signs precede the rapture of church age believers. These things will come upon the world unexpectedly (vv. 37-44). We are warned to be ready at all times. For church-age saints, the coming of Christ is imminent.
c. One mark of a true believer is that he is looking for the Lord’s return (vv. 45-51). Compare 2 Tim. 4:8.
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The previous is an excerpt from the Advanced Bible Studies Series course on The Four Gospels, which is available from Way of Life Literature. (It is best to order them by phone at 866-295-4143, but they can also be ordered from the newly redesigned online order form at the Way of Life web site, http://www.wayofife.org.)
There are currently 20 titles in the series, and any of them can be special ordered in large print and in ring coil binding. We don’t believe that you will find better quality, more truly life-changing Bible courses from any other source. They are based strictly upon the King James Bible and the powerful word studies assist in the understanding of the KJV but never cast doubt upon it. They are thorough and comprehensive. They are very practical and have the objective of producing well-equipped Christian soldiers that have a solid understanding of the Bible. They stress holy and obedient Christian living and separation from worldliness and error, exalt evangelism and the New Testament church, and promote world missions. They emphasize the crucial differences between law and grace and positional and practical sanctification, and they continually fortify the student’s understanding of the life-changing doctrines such as justification, substitutionary atonement, and eternal security. The courses are non-Calvinistic and interpret Bible prophecy literally. The student will be prepared to stand against the wiles of the Devil and to refute the major theological heresies of our day. One pastor said the books “are extremely helpful for any Christian, no matter where they are spiritually; the practical application is extremely helpful and edifying.”
The Advanced Bible Studies Series can be used as private study guides for the individual Christian, as Sunday School lessons, as textbooks in Bible colleges, as part of a home schooling curriculum, as study material in jails and prisons, for discipling new (or older) Christians, and as refresher study material for Bible College graduates.
