Post by Natalie on Apr 2, 2020 11:53:16 GMT -6
So, I was rereading Matthew 24 while working on my timeline posts, and I wondered about something...
Is it possible that verses 5-8 are pre-Daniel's 70th week and 9-31 are Daniel's 70th week?
I'll do some some summarizing - 5-8 speak of false teachers, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, the beginning of birth pains. These are the things we are seeing currently.
Now, I know that 9-14 could also describe the time we are living in:
9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
I guess what made me question this is that we don't have to endure to the end; we endure until the rapture which happens at the beginning (or middle for my mid-trib friends).
The other phrase was "this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world" which reminds me of Rev 14:6 where the angel goes flying around proclaiming the gospel to all the nations.
Also vs 14 "and then the end will come" In Rev 14, After the proclamation by the angel, there are some other angels announcing stuff. Then it makes the statement "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." (14:12) This fits perfectly with Matthew's enduring to the end! After these announcements, then the bowl judgments start, and "with them the wrath of God is finished." (15:1)
Going on, verses 15-31 then speak of the Abomination of Desolation, the fleeing of the Jews, and a Great Tribulation. So, 9-14 could be an overview and then 15-31 speaking of the last half.
I do take seriously that perilous times could be coming for true believers. We are warned throughout Scripture that there will be persecution. Some will even be killed for their faith.
(as a side note - Mark's account is a little different and reads as if Jesus is specifically speaking to the disciples)