Matthew 24:22-28: “Behold, I have told you in advance”

“As lightning comes from the east and shines [in] the west, so will… the Son of Man,” Jesus, Matthew 24:27

"Christ's return does not mean that he literally comes back to this earth. Rather, it means that he takes Kingdom power toward this earth and turns his attention to it... Bible evidence shows that in the year 1914 C.E. God's time arrived for Christ to return and begin ruling.”  (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, "You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth," p. 147)

"The prophets, they spoke about me. It took me time to learn that, but I am what they were expecting, what they have been expecting for 2,000 years." (Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, alive today, who preaches to followers in 35 nations, many of whom have “666” tattooed on their bodies.  Source: CNN, Feb. 2007)

Jesus continues to speak of the “great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be,” (v.21).   This unprecedented tribulation is mentioned in the same paragraph in Matthew 24 as “the abomination of desolation as spoken of by the prophet Daniel,” (v.15).     

The Lord shows His complete sovereignty over the tribulation by letting us know that He has ordained their duration:  “And if those days had not been cut short [past tense], no human being would be saved.  But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short [future tense],” (v. 22).    Most Bible scholars agree these days have been numbered at 3 ½ years or forty-two months (see Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2; 13:5).

But who are the elect for whom those days will be cut short?   If one ascribes to a pre-tribulation rapture, then the elect certainly could be those who come to faith after the rapture of the church.   Some say the elect are the Jews of whom the Lord is not yet finished; in Isaiah 44:1 Israel is referred to as the LORD’s “chosen.”

As mentioned before (v.5), false Christs (v. 24) will be a factor.  Spiritual famine will be the norm and many false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead many astray, if possible, even the elect (v. 24).  (Personally, I find strong parallels between Matthew 24:21-24 and Revelation 13:11-18.) 

May we not be led astray (v. 24).   Rather, let’s remember Jesus’ warning, “See, I have told you beforehand, (v. 25).”  No one will need to go in the wilderness (as a false Christ named Theudas did in those days as reported by Josephus in Antiquities 20.97-99) or to inner rooms (v. 26) in order to see Him, as the Jehovah Witnesses claim.  

  

In contrast, His return will be obvious to all on earth; as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man, (v.27).  Craig Blomberg, in The New American Commentary on Matthew, (p. 361) says His return “will be unmistakable in its nature, universal in its visibility, and cosmic in its scope and effect.”  There will be no need for a news bulletin or a tweet because peoples’ attention world-wide will be jolted to His return, just like wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather, (v. 28).   

The precise timing and details surrounding Christ’s return are ambiguous; Christ-loving, Bible-believing Christians have different opinions.     But all Christians agree that God is sovereignty over the End Times.  First, He has dictated both when and how long the tribulation will be; it is not “open” to discussion.   Second, the Father knows the day and hour of His return (v. 36) but when it happens, the world will know with certainty.   

“Therefore let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching,” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).    Maranatha!  Come, Lord Jesus!