Matthew 24:23-31

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.

26 “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.

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

signs and wonders (v.24) — Revelation 13

if possible (v.24) — but it isn’t, either because of God’s protection or because the days are shortened, or both

If told that Messiah has come already and is manifesting Himself in the desert they are not to go forth seeking Him there. If told He is hidden in some secret place they are not to believe it. For His coming will be in visible manifested glory when He shines forth from heaven as lightning flaming athwart the sky. — Ironside, page 321.

I have told you beforehand (v.25) — Matthew 7:15; 15:3-14; 16:6-12; 23:1-36; 24:11

Verse 28 is saying that, as where there is death, there will be vultures, so where there is corruption, there will be judgment.

those days (v.29) — Revelation 6:12-14

sign of the Son of Man (v.30) — probably the Shekinah cloud (Acts 1:9-11)

tribes of the earth (v.30) = lit. “of the land” — Israel, Zechariah 12:10-12

mourn (v.30) — an intense, ritualistic mourning

they will see the Son of Man (v.30) — Revelation 1:7: 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.

trumpet (v.31) — the gathering of Israel — Isaiah 11:11-12; Isaiah 27:13

Christ now proceeded to describe the third eschatological event in Israel’s program — the restoration of the nation Israel back to the land. Since this whole discourse has been devoted to the prophetic program for Israel, the reference to “His elect” (Matthew 24:31) cannot refer to the church. Instead, the reference must be to the nation that God had chosen (Exodus 19:5-6). During the Tribulation, Israel will be scattered out of the land by military invasions. The Israelites will flee and find refuge among the Gentile nations. God will supernaturally bring the people of Israel back to the land through the instrumentality of angels. This will be the final restoration anticipated in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 30:1-8). — Pentecost, page 404.

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