In Matthew 24 Jesus gave an overview of prophecy/history, covering, in one short chapter, all of the significant events from then till the end of the world. This same prophecy is also given in Luke 21: and Mark 13 so comparing scripture with scripture occasionally from the parallel verses from those chapters will be quoted as well to help clarify what is being said.

MATTHEW

CHAPTER 24

MAT 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.

MAT 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

MAT 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

The disciples asked two questions assuming that the magnificent, mostly stone, temple could only be destroyed at the end of the world in such a devastating manner. I believe that this prophecy has two applications. The first primarily answering the question regarding the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem and secondly its parallels to end of the world as we know it and the second coming of Jesus.

MAT 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

MAT 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Satan had counterfeit saviours for the people to lead them astray. Many were believed to have been anointed by God to save the Jews from their political oppressors and rid them of the Romans. This is what the people wanted from their "Christ", not salvation from their sins. How often we would rather be bailed out of the mess we put ourselves in rather then put away our bad habits.

MAT 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Wars etc. in themselves are not signs of Christ's soon coming. Thus Christ taught that his second coming was not to be in their lifetime.

MAT 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Soon after Christ several rebellions against the Roman empire encouraged the Jews to revolt. Many claimed to be sent of God to save the Jews from the Romans and hence these false "saviours" or anointed ones, Christ's, led many to their destruction. Four major famines were recorded during Claudius's reign (41-54 A.D.) alone. One of them is referred to in Acts 11:28. Serious earthquakes around Crete in 56-47 A.D. and even Rome itself in 51 A.D. The Romans fought significant wars to maintain the empire in Mauretania (41-42), Britain (43-61), and even suffered great military defeats in Armenia in 62 A.D. which would have encourage the Jewish revolt which led to the destruction of Jerusalem.

In a second sense this is also an overview from then through the dark ages.

"By famine and sword, 580,000 Jews were destroyed between A.D. 96 and A.D. 180.

"In Antioch, from A.D. 96 to A.D. 180, earthquakes destroyed 13 cities and over 100,000 lives.

"In Rome, A.D. 169, pestilence destroyed 10,000 daily.

"In Rome, A.D.187, pestilence appeared and continued three years.

"In London, A.D. 310, by famine, 40,000 died.

"In A.D. 446, Sept. 17th, an earthquake shook down the walls of Constantinople, and 57 towers fell.

"In Rome, A.D. 539, in one district 50,000 died.

"In Antioch, A.D. 588, and earthquake killed 60,000.

"In A.D. 542, the plague killed 10,000 daily in Turkey.

"In A.D. 679, a severe famine in England, three years.

"In A.D. 717, in Constantinople, 3000,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1005, earthquakes three months, followed by pestilence, by which it is said one-third of the human race died.

"In A.D. 1077, in Constantinople, so many died by plague and famine the living could not bury them.

"In A.D. 1124, in Italy, there was such famine that the dead lay in the streets not buried; and in England one-third of the people died of plague.

"In A.D. 1294, in England, thousand died of famine.

"In A.D. 1346, in London, 50,000 died of plague and famine, and were buried in one grave-yard; in Norwich, 50,000; in Venice, 100,000, in Florence, 100,000; in Eastern nations, 20,000,000. It was called the black death.

"In A.D. 1352, in China, 900,000 died of famine.

"In A.D. 1450, in Milan, 60,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1570, in Moscow, 200,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1572, in Lyons, 50,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1625, in London, 35,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1656, in Naples, 300,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1665, in London, 68,000 died of plague.

"In A.D. 1755, an earthquake destroyed the city of Lisbon, killing 50,000. In Mitylene, and the Archipelago, it shod down 2,000 houses. It shook all the Spanish coast. The plague followed, which destroyed 150,000 persons in Constantinople." Noah Webster, LL.D., published in 1799 and confirmed by the Encyclopedia Britannica.

MAT 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

MAT 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Even Paul delivered Christians up for persecution before being converted. Gal. 1:23; Acts 8:1-4; 22:3,4. Again in the last days those thinking that they do God service will persecute the faithful.

MAT 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

MAT 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

"A false prophet was the occasion of these peoples's destruction, who had made a public proclamation in the city that very day, that God commanded them to get up upon the temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance. Now, there was then a great number of false prophets suborned by the tyrants to impose upon the people, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God; and this was in order to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes." Wars of the Jews Book VI chapter V sec. 2 by Joshephus a credible Jewish historian.

In a second sense this is also true of the many false Christs and prophets that have deceived the "many" believers. I find it hard to believe that Christ looked down the ages of time and gave his followers this warning about a few thousand that followed some cult leader here or there but rather summarized the deceptions of the majority of professed believers. One of the chief disputes between Protestants and Catholics is over the "Holy Father's" claim that at mass they literally call Christ down from heaven, another was their right to hear and forgive sins as well as interpret and add to the word of God. These purgatives, claims are that of being "Christs", or High Priests in their own right. Latter Protestants would likewise claim titles like "Reverend" (Ps.111:9, See Appendix pg. II) which likewise belong only to God and almost universally claim to have the gift of "prophecy" in a sense as they came speaking for God but all to often these mouthpieces proclaimed misleading doctrines such as the idea of once saved always saved, the natural immortality of the soul, and many other deceiving beliefs which we will cover more thoroughly throughout this book.

MAT 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent[out of control], fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

MAT 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

As with any race it is not how one starts but how they finish that counts. Profession alone does not save, we can turn back and be lost. (Luke 9:62; 12:42-48; Mat. 25:1-13)

Once Saved, Always Saved? Many believe in the doctrine that once you have accepted Christ as your saviour you can never be lost. Salvation is eternally secure that once born again once a child of God you can never be unborn, once in the hand of God, no one can pluck you out (John 10:28,29). They believe that their joy and happiness in this life and to some extent the size of their reward will be affected by their obedience but their choices since being saved have nothing to do with their salvation. Since whole denominations believe in this doctrine let us examine it.

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hasth counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, and unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Heb. 10:26-29 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. . . Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. 10:35-39

"For if God spared not the natural branches, [Jews] take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off." Rom. 11:21, 22.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:5-6.

Believing, trusting Christians who are connected to the living vine may choose to separate from the vine. We learn that eternal security depends entirely upon their connection with the tree or God. Thus though once born of God you may not be unborn but you can die of starvation or separation from the vine. Thought no one else can pluck a saint from God's hand they may leave God's protection, leaving God's hand of their own choice.

"If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22.

Clearly if one leaves Christ and goes back to wallow in the mire of sin after having been washed clean their fate will be worse than if they had never been washed clean.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. 4:1.

"He that hath the Son, hath life." 1 John 5:12 but if you don't have the Son abiding in you you do not have life. Unless you continue to partake the spiritual food God provides for you, you cut yourself off and die John 6:53,63.

Nowhere in the Bible is entrance into God's kingdom tied to a momentary faith experience. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, . . nor thieves, nor covetous, not drunkards. . . shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 6:9,10 (Rev. 21:27).

Paul warned that even though "I preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Cor. 9:27. The same Greek word is translated "reprobates" in 2 Cor 13:5 & Titus 1:16 clearly applying to the lost.

In Luke Christ gives a parable about a faithful servant of His that goes bad. "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household. . . ? That servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing . . .he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." Luke 12:42-46 (Also see Eze. 33;13,18).

Church going Christians partaking of the Lord's supper can receive damnation according to 1 Cor. 11:29. "Having damnation because they have cast off their first faith." 1 Tim. 5:12.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?" Rom. 6:16 So when we choose to obey Christ no longer, but evil we become children of the devil in God's eyes for we have rejected his gift of victory over sin. 1 John 3:7,8; 2 Pet. 1:5-10; Rev 2:4,5. For further study see: 1 Sam 10:6,9; 28:6,15; Ezek 18:24; 28:14,15; Matt 24:13; 1 Cor 9:27; Gal 5:4; Heb 3:12-14; 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:4.

MAT 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Historically we know that the gospel was preached throughout the Roman empire and beyond, from Ireland to North Africa, India and to the trade caravans to China, all in the life of the disciples. The word of God testifies that this was fulfilled before the end of Jerusalem and the Temple came. ". . . the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doeth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:". "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" Col. 1:5,6 & 23 (Also Gal. 1:23) "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Rom. 10:18 Even to "Caesar's household" Philippians 4:22 before the end of Jerusalem came. This will happen again just before the end of the world will come. (See Rev. 14:6; Mat. 28:19,20) The word of everlasting life, and the last warning message to earth must be given to those who are perishing in their sins. We must be awakened to our responsibility in this matter.

MAT 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Lets look at the parallel verse in Luke:

LUKE 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

In 70 A.D. the legal government of the day, the Romans under Titus, son of Caesar, surrounded Jerusalem the stronghold of God's true religion on earth. When the Romans began a siege they placed a standard at the gates of the city declaring it be their property, the property of their pagan gods, this false standard was an abomination to the Sanctuary of God which was the spiritual strength of Jerusalem. We will see a similar declaration of war from "Rome" to the "Jews" in the last days.

When Cestius in 66 A.D. surrounded Jerusalem many saw the handwriting on the wall and abandoned the city according to Eusebius's, Church History book 3, chapter 5.

MAT 24:16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:

MAT 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

MAT 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

MAT 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

MAT 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem resisted and kept in the city those that didn't win their favor but when the city was surrounded by the Romans they left the city and fought all day. This was the only time safe passage out of the city was possible. Notice that Christ was concerned about them fleeing on the Sabbath day indicating that it was still a holy day.

I will let Josephus the Jewish historian, who was there with his mother inside the city, tell you about the destruction of Jerusalem.

"Those that were at Jerusalem were deprived of the liberty of going out of the city; for as to such as had a mind to desert, they were watched by the zealots; and as to such as were not yet on the side of the Romans, their army kept them in, by encompassing he city round about on all sides." Chapter IX sec. 1

[Under Titus the Romans came back to Jerusalem in pursuit of the rebels.] "These legions had orders to encamp at the distance of six furlong from Jerusalem," Book V chapter II sec. 3

The Jews: "Thus did they encourage one another when they were gotten together, and took their armour immediately, and ran out upon the tenth legion, and fell upon the Romans with great eagerness, as they were fortifying their camp. . . on that account had in great measure laid aside their arms; . . . The Jews became still more and more in number, as encouraged by the good success of those that first made the attack; . . . the Romans were at length brought into confusion, and put to flight, and ran away from their camp." Book V chapter II sec. 3 & 4.

At this time both the zealots and the Romans were engaged in battle for most of the day and those that followed the counsel could flea but only if they didn't delay. Their was no time to pack or even gather clothing.

Four years earlier the Romans surrounded the city and then abandoned their siege because the emperor had died. At this time "many left Jerusalem" but this was only a forewarning for it did not fulfill the admonition that they wouldn't have time enough to get their coat.

[Back to Titus and the end of Jerusalem] "The Romans got possession of this first wall, (the outer wall defending the city) on the fifteenth day of the siege," Book V chapter VII Sec. 2

Due to the famine inside "those that are within it are under greater miseries than if they were taken, although their walls be still standing" chapter IX sec. 3

"They also invented terrible methods of torment to discover where any food was, and they were these: to stop up the passages of the privy parts of the miserable wretches, and to drive sharp stakes up their fundaments! and a man was forced to bear what it is terrible even to hear, in order to make him confess that he had but one loaf of bread, or that he might discover a handful of barley-meal that was concealed; and this was done when these tormentors were not themselves hungry; . . . These men went also to meet those that had crept out of the city by night, as far as the Roman guards, to gather some plants and herbs that grew wild; and when those people thought they had got clear of the enemy, these snatched from them what they had brought with them," chapter X sec. 3

Titus (the Roman General) . . ordered they should lay ambushes for those that went out into the valleys to gather food, . . . so they were first whipped, and then tormented with all sorts of tortures before they died, and then crucified before the wall of the city. This miserable procedure made Titus greatly to pity them, while they caught every day five hundred Jews; nay, some days they caught more; . . . So the soldiers, out of the wrath and hatred they bore the Jews, nailed those they caught, one after one way, and another after another, to the crosses, by way of jest; when their multitude was so great, that room was wanting for the crosses, and crosses wanting for the bodies." chapter XI sec. 1

"So all hope of escaping was no cut off from the Jews, together with their liberty of going out of the city. Then did the famine widen its progress, and devoured the people by whole houses and families; the upper rooms were full of women and children that were dying by famine; and the lanes of the city were full of the dead bodies of the aged; the children also the young men wandered about the market-places like shadows, all swelled with famine, and fell down dead wheresoever their misery seized them. . . . many died as they were burying others. . Nor was there any lamentation made under these calamities. . . the robbers (the Jewish zealots that had taken over the city) were still more terrible then these miseries were themselves for they brake open those houses which were no other than graves of dead bodies and plundered them of what they had; and carrying off the coverings of their bodies, went out laughing, and tried the points of their swords on their dead bodies; and, in order to prove what mettle they were made of, they thrust some of those through that still lay alive upon the ground; . . Now every one of these died with their eyes fixed upon the temple," Book V chapter XII sec. 3

"Hereupon some of the deserters, having no other way, leaped down from the wall . . . but here a worse fate accompanied these that what they had found within the city; . . . for when they came first to the Romans, they were puffed up by the famine, and swelled like men in a dropsy; after which they all on the sudden over-filled those bodies that were before empty, and so burst asunder, excepting such only as were skillful enough to restrain their appetites, and by degrees, took in their food into bodies unaccustomed thereto. Yet did another plague seize upon those that were thus preserved; for there was found among the Syrian deserters a certain person who was caught gathering pieces of gold out of the excrements of the Jews' bellies; for the deserters used to swallow such pieces of gold, (so they would have money) . . .So . . they . . cut up those that came as supplicants, and searched their bellies. Nor does it seem to me that any misery befell the Jews that was more terrible than this, since in one night about two thousand of these deserters were thus dissected." chapter XIII sec. 4

[The testimony of just one gatekeeper] "There had been carried out through that one gate which was intrusted to his care no fewer than a hundred and fifteen thousand eight hundred and eighty dead bodies, in the interval between the fourteenth day of the month Nisan and the first day of the month Tamuz. . . . number of the poor that were dead; and that no fewer than six hundred thousand were thrown out at the gates, . . . . some persons were driven to that terrible distress as to search the common sewers and old dung-hills of cattle, and to eat the dung which they got there; and what they of old could not so much as endure to see they now used for food." Chapter XIII sec. 6 & 7

An example of what went on inside. "She then attempted a most unnatural thing; and snatching up her son, who was a child sucking at her breast, she said, "O thou miserable infant! for whom shall I preserve thee in this war, this famine, and this sedition? . . .Come on; be thou my food, . . she slew her son; and then roasted him, and ate the one half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed. . . .Upon . . the scent of this food, they threatened her that they would cut her throat immediately if she did not show them what food she had gotten ready." Book VI chapter III sec. 4 This fulfilled the prophecy: "Thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, . . . in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee." Deut. 28:47-53

Titus to the Jews "I do not force you to defile this your sanctuary; and if you will but change the place whereon you will fight, no Roman shall either come near your sanctuary, or offer any affront to it; nay, I will endeavour to preserve you your holy house, whether you will or not." Book VI chapter II sec. 4

A solder cought fire to a window when looking in with a torch to one of the outer rooms and even though many Romans and Jews tried to quench it all was lost.

Titus speaks after walking around the defeated city. "We have certainly had God for our assistant in this war, and it was no other than God that ejected the Jews out of these fortifications; for what could the hands of men, or any machines, do towards overthrowing these towers!" Book VI chapter IX sec. 1

According to prophecy if they became obstinate in their wickedness they would be sold as slaves to Egypt for their punishment (Deut. 28:68, Jer. 44:7, Hosea 8:13, 9:3, 11:35)

"So . . slew all those that had been seditious and robbers, . . but of the young men, he chose out the tallest and most beautiful, and reserved them for the triumph; and as for the rest of the multitude that were above seventeen years old, he put them into bonds, and sent them to the Egyptian mines. Titus also sent a great number into the provinces, as a present to them, that they might be destroyed upon their theatres, by the sword and by the wild beasts; but those that were under seventeen years of age were sold for slaves." Book VI chapter IX sec. 2,3

"Nay, the terror was so very great, that he who survived called them that were first dead happy, as being at rest already; as did those that were under torture in the prisons, declare, that, upon this comparison, those that lay unburied were the happiest." Wars of the Jews by Josephus, book IV chapt VI sec. 3

The gold woven into the cloth and plated on the wood melted into the cracks of the foundation stones of the temple. To recover the gold every stone was pried to the ground thus fulfilling the words of Christ. "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Matt. 24:2 (pg.109). And again "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying,' If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and they children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.''" Luke 19:41-44. Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency; . . . and much of the wall on the west side. This wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison; as were the towers also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valour had subdued; but all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited." Book VII chapter I sec. 1

"That God acts as general of the Romans better than he can do, and is giving the Jews up to them without any pains of their own, and granting their army a victory without any danger;" Vespasian commander of the Romans. Wars of the Jews by Josephus, book IV chapt VI sec. 2

MAT 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

MAT 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. the Jews suffered greatly and were even kicked out of much of Judea and Palestine by the Romans. The Christians suffered under the Romans as well as the Christian faith was illegal. Then the dark ages began and the 1260 year reign of the Catholic Church during which any that opposed the official yet apostate faith were declared heretics and punished by both civil and church authorities. Those days most likely refer to the prophetic periode, the 1260 days. If the Catholic church didn't suffer setbacks such as electing two Popes at the same time, internal squabbles and kings breaking off their allegiance to the Pope the protestant faith might have been eradicated by the inquisition. This was the worst persecution in history by its long years and by the estimated 50+ millions of martyrs. (See "Wear out the saints" pg. 57) For several generations the faithful had to hide in the wilderness.

Again in the last days a persecution, though not as long, will come against the faithful. This will be worse than any other in its intensity and likewise will require a shortening so that the elect will be saved. This is a type or an example of what is to come.

MAT 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

MAT 24:24 For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

The great deceiver is not out to deceive those that he already has but the best of the Christian world, God's elect. In order to be deceived we must be in error on some biblical doctrines, some biblical belief. This will lead to a loss of our salvation. (See 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 2:8-12; 2 Cor. 11:14; Rev. 16:13,14)

MAT 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

MAT 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Who during the time of the Dark Ages or soon after claimed to be Christ and deceived many? This is the catholic mass and their priesthood that claims to our mediators for sin, our source of salvation. The false prophets are those that claim to have a message from God but deceive millions these are the false protestant churches, many ministers claim to be messengers from God and they to have deceived millions. Again in the last days their will be a special manifestation of Christ's and prophets that will deceive millions.

MAT 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

MAT 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

This parallels the "one taken and one left" those that were left were dead. Many modern translation such as the TEV, NIV, NAS say Vultures instead of Eagles. In other words they would be food for the birds of prey. Compare with 2 Thes. 2:8 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:" (Rev. 6:14-16, Matt. 13:41-43)

The birds: "And I saw an angel . . . cried with a loud voice saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and . . . ." Rev. 19:17,18 "And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, . . . thus ye shall be filled at my table with . . . mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God" Ezek. 39:17-20 (Also see Isa. 56:8,9; 1 Sam. 17:44,46).

MAT 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Through the movements that grew out of the Reformation of the 16th century the power of the Papacy to enforce its decrees against those it declared heretics [Protestants] decreased until by the mid 1700's religious persecution virtually ceased. After the tribulation of those days and just before the end of the 1260 days prophecy the signs began. (See Mark 13:24,25; Joel 2:30,31; Joel 3:15; Isa. 13:10; Amos 3:9)

After the 1260 years which ended in 1798 signs were seen that brought a feeling that the earth was about to come to its end. (See Rev. 6:13) The affliction from the papal church was passed. The long, dark night of persecution upon the church had come to an end; there was a respite "for the elects's sake," lest no flesh should be saved. While the power still lingered in the hands of the man of sin, the signs commenced their fulfillment and were seen in the areas of the greatest protestant revival.

"The Dark Day" is the common expression for what happened on 19 May 1780.

"In the month of May, 1780, there was a very terrific dark day in New England, when 'all faces seemed to gather blackness,' and the people were filled with fear. There was great distress in the villages where Edward Lee lived, 'men's hearts failed them for fear' that the judgment-day was at hand; and the neighbors all flocked around the holy man, for his lamp was trimmed, and shining brighter than ever, amidst the unnatural darkness. Happy and joyful in God, he pointed them to their only refuge from the wrath to come, and spent the gloomy hours in earnest prayer for the distressed multitude." Tract No. 379 of American Tract Society - Life of Edward Lee.

"Although the uncommon darkness which attracted the attention of all ranks of people in this part of the country on the 19th of May, 1780, was a phenomenon which several gentlemen of considerable literary abilities have endeavored to solve, yet, I believe, you will agree with me that no satisfactory solution has yet appeared." Dr Tenney writing to the Historical Society in 1785 quoted in An Exposition of Matthew Twenty-Four or the Second Coming of Christ pg. 47.

"The dark day in Northern America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which will always be read with interest, but which philosophy is at a loss to explain." Herschel the great astronomer Ibid.

From 10 AM on the 19th until midnight. One said that if every luminous body had been struck out of existence, he could not imagine that the darkness could have been more intense.

"Almost, if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind in nature's diversified range of events during the last century, stands the dark day of May 19, 1780, a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and the atmosphere in New England, which brought intense alarm and distress to multitudes of minds, as well as dismay to the brute creation, the fowls fleeing, bewildered, to their roosts, and birds to their nests, and the cattle returning to their stalls. Indeed, thousands of good people of that day became fully convinced that the end of all things terrestrial had come; many gave up, for the time, their secular pursuits, and betook themselves to religious devotions." Our First Century. Ibid pg. 48.

November 13, 1833 - STARS FALLING (U.S.A.)

"At the cry, 'Look out of the window,' I sprang from a deep sleep, and with wonder saw the east lighted up with the dawn and meteors. The zenith, the north, and the west also, showed the falling stars, in the very image of one thing, and only one, I ever heard of. I called to my wife to behold; and while robing, she exclaimed, 'See how the stars fall!' I replied, "That is the wonder!' And we felt in our hearts that it was a sign of the last days. For truly, 'the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.' Rev. 6:13. This language of the prophet has always been received as metaphorical. Yesterday, it was literally fulfilled. The ancients understood by aster, in Greek, and Stella, in Latin, the smaller lights of heaven. The refinement of modern astronomy has made the distinction between stars of heaven and meteors of heaven. Therefore, the idea of the prophet, as it is expressed in the original Greek, was literally fulfilled in the phenomenon of yesterday."

"And how did they fall? Neither myself, nor one of the family, heard any report and were I to hunt through nature for a simile, I could not find one so apt to illustrate the appearance of the heavens, as that which St. John uses in the prophecy before quoted."

"The stars fell ' even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.' Here is the exactness of the prophet."

"The falling stars did not come as if from several trees shaken, but from one; those which appeared in the east, fell toward the east; those which appeared in the north, fell toward the north; those which appeared in the west, fell toward the west; and those which appeared in the south (for I went out of my residence into the park), fell toward the south. And they fell not as the ripe fruit falls. Far from it; but they flew, they were not cast, like the unripe fruit which at first refuses to leave the branch, and when, under violent pressure, it does break its hold, it flies swiftly, straight off, descending; and in the multitude falling, some cross the track of others, as they are thrown with more or less force; but each one falls on its own side of the tree. Such was the appearance of the above phenomenon to the inmates of my house." Journal of Commerce, Nov 15, 1833 Article on The Falling Stars by Henry Dana Ward (Nov 13, 1833).

November 25, 1833 STARS FALLING (Europe)

"On November 25, 1855, their was a fine display of falling stars on the continent of Europe . . . in Minsterburg, Silesia, stars fell like a rain of fire. With them fell balls of fire, making the night so light that the people thought that the houses near them must be on fire.

"At the same time in Prin, Austria, there was a falling of stars that covered a space of over five hundred square miles. It was described by some as like streams of fire coming down from heaven. Some called it a rain of fire. Horses were frightened by it, and fell to the ground. Many people were made sick through fear." from Leonard Heinrich Kelber's book published in 1835 in Stuttgart, Germany quoted in The Second Advent Message by J.N. Loughborough page 97.

MAT 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

"A cloud too him out of their sight. . . . this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11 See Rev. 1:7.

MAT 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

In Review: We see that Christ took his hearers down from his day till the end of the world or at least the second coming. I believe that this has two applications, in both the events come in order.

The first and most literal is that false saviours and rumors of rebellion against Rome incites the rebellion of the Jews and persecution of Christians but these are the beginning of sorrows. Christians spread over the empire and the Gospel is preached over the known world then the romans declare war on Jerusalem giving only a few hours of time for those inside to flee. Then the destruction of Jerusalem even to the throwing down of all the stones as predicted. Then the great tribulation of the Christians first from the pagan Romans and then 1260 years of papal supremacy whose persecution was shortened. Then the warning of a great deception upon the Christian world and the coming of Christ as lightning with those that remain left for the birds. The signs in the heavens tell of the end of the great dark ages for Christianity and warn of the end of the world approaching.

Secondly I believe this also means that the wars and pestilences of the world from then through the dark ages with the false Christ's being the catholic church with its "Holy Fathers" that create Christ afresh at every mass. This was followed by many false protestant faiths all claiming to have a special message from God which is what a prophet claims to do. Then in the last days persecution of the faithful with the gospel being preached to the whole world so that the world will be warned before its end. Then an abomination will be set up against the true heavenly sanctuary and the true faith. A declaration of spiritual war on the faithful. Then those that are wise are to flee from the cities to the mountains or less populated areas. Then a great tribulation such as has never been against the faithful, though not the greatest in years but in its intensity for it will be the last effort of Satan, will happen so that those days must be shortened. In these last days a literal false Christ and prophets will deceive the world and then the real Christ will come and leave them dead for the birds to eat and we will know of his coming just prior by the signs in the sky.

MAT 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

MAT 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

MAT 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Within forty years of the preaching of this sermon Jerusalem was leveled. See pg. 84 generation.

MAT 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

MAT 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

MAT 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

MAT 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

MAT 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

MAT 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

MAT 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

MAT 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

MAT 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

MAT 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

When the Bible differentiates between two types of people it is usually the good and the bad, the saved and the lost. The field represents the world, (see Matt. 13:38). A woman represents a people that profess to follow God (Isa 54:6; Jer 6:2; Rev 12:1, 17:3,7). Grinding at the mill would represents eating or working with the word of God. (Matt. 13:33).

Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days (Gen. 7:10) the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. "So" in the last judgment. Silently, as unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of each individual's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.

LUKE 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

LUKE 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

LUKE 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

LUKE 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (Gen. 19:16-24)

Sodomy: Never in history have perverts so proudly marched through the streets declaring their perversion and their political power. Even worse then the days of Lot in Sodom are to days Gay Pride Parades. Our acceptance of "Sodomy" has legitimized all lesser forms of immorality, such as Adultery and Fornication. It is the purpose of civil government to put a stop to the breaking of these social commandments of God and not to legitimize this "Abomination" See: Lev. 18:22,23; 20:13 (Ex. 22:19; Rom. 1:24,26,27,32) Even talking about what they do is evil according to Eph.5:12.

The Lord comes as a thief to the wicked (1 Thes. 5:1-3) but not to the righteous (1 Thes. 5:4-6 Isa. 25:9). He comes as a thief not in that He is not seen by all but in that they are unprepared. "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." 2 Peter 3:10 (Also see 1 Cor. 15:52; Rev. 1:7; Rev 6:16,17) While blind to the eternal reality people pursue pleasure, money, etc. and do not realize that the end is at hand.

There is no second chance just as their was no second chance for those in the days of Noah or Sodom.

LUKE 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

LUKE 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

The "Secret Rapture" was made popular by Hal Lindsey's book, The Late Great Planet Earth which came out in the late 1960's. Fifty years ago this belief was virtually unknown. Hal Lindsey got the idea from the footnotes C.I. Scofield put in his study bible the Scofield Reference Bible which was published in 1909. Before him the first Protestants to accept this were The Plymouth Brethren Church founded by John Darby an Englishman in 1850. Before them it was published by a south American Jesuit priest in 1731 in his book The Coming King. He called it futurism. He got the idea from the writings of the Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera who in 1590 was assigned the job proving that the reformers, such as Martin Luther, were wrong in applying the Antichrist of the bible to the catholic church. This is the source of this doctrine.

"So great a hold did the conviction that the Papacy was the Antichrist gain upon the minds of men, that Rome at last saw she must bestir herself, and try, by putting forth other systems of interpretation, to counteract the identification of the Papacy with the Antichrist."

"Accordingly, toward the close of the century of the Reformation, two of the most learned doctors set themselves to the task, each endeavoring by different means to accomplish the same end, namely, that of diverting men's minds from perceiving the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Antichrist in the papal system. The Jesuit Alcasar devoted himself to bring into prominence the preterist method of interpretation, . . . and thus endeavored to show that the prophecies of Antichrist were fulfilled before the Popes ever ruled in Rome, and therefore could not apply to the Papacy."

"On the other hand, the Jesuit Ribera tried to set aside the application of these prophecies to the papal power by bringing out the futurist system, which asserts that these prophecies refer properly, not to the career of the Papacy, but to some future supernatural individual, who is yet to appear, and continue in power for three and a half years. Thus, as Alford says, the Jesuit Ribera, about A.D. 1580, may be regarded as the founder of the futurist system of modern times."

". . . It is a matter for deep regret that those who advocate the futurist system at the present day, Protestants as they are for the most part, are really playing into the hands of Rome, and helping to screen the Papacy from detection as the Antichrist." Daniel and the Revelation by Rev. Joseph Tanner, pg. 16,17.

MAT 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

MAT 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

MAT 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

MAT 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

MAT 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

MAT 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

MAT 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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