Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Book Installment)
The One True Church
Chapter 44 – Mark 8 of 10: The Great Tribulation
I’m going to present to you a lengthy portion of Matthew 24. In The Biblical Case for the Second Coming as Accomplished Fact, I explained how this chapter speaks of a spiritual Second Coming to occur the late 1st century – including how “last days” refers to the last days of ancient Israel, not the last days of the world. I’m not going to repeat any of that explanation here.
The main thing I want you to focus on this time around is the part I’ve put in bold print. Everything else is just there for context. As usual, pay the most attention to any words or verses in bold.
Matthew 24:1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.
Matthew 24:2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
Matthew 24:3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
Matthew 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
Matthew 24:6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
Matthew 24:8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
Matthew 24:11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
Matthew 24:12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Matthew 24:14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
Matthew 24:16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
Matthew 24:18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
Matthew 24:19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
Matthew 24:20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
Matthew 24:21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
Matthew 24:22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Note that Jesus’ reference to “tribulation” in verse 9 is intensified in verses 21 and 22. He is making clear that no church of any other generation past or present could claim experience with a tribulation this great.
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