Matthew 24:15
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him for a sign of His coming and of the end of the world; He told them to watch for wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilences, famines and false prophets (Matthew 24:7-11)…..”but”, He said, “these were only the beginning of sorrows”. However a few verses later, in that same chapter, Jesus gave a sign that would lead the believer to the key of knowing when the actual day of the great tribulation would begin…..and the eventual answer to the disciples original question….the exact day of His return.
Gospel preached
During the times of these wars, pestilences, earthquakes etc, that Jesus spoke of, it should be understood that the gospel of the Kingdom of God would continue to be preached to all nations. But in verse 14 Jesus points out that when this job of preaching to every nation is accomplished then the end would come. (Matthew 24:14)
SO HAS THE GOSPEL BEEN PREACHED?
This scripture as often been interpenetrated to mean every region, island, town and person receiving the good news. I believe this to be an unrealistic view. Because, as each generation passes a new generation takes its place; which obviously is a non-ending cycle. So what about the verse that says “a great falling away in the faith” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) doesn’t it make you wonder who is going to do the job of evangelizing if the church has fallen away. And in what generation does this falling away happen? There has to be a cut off somewhere, and at the rate man is destroying earth and each other, I sincerely pray it comes soon.
I’m reminded of what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:23b
” ….Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
So it would not seem possible for the millions of other podunk villages and towns throughout the rest of the world to receive a personalized message from a church that has “fallen away”.
Early church evangelizing is a thing of the past. Modern churches have long been infected by a form of Christianity called “Churchianity”, which promises the lost as well as the searching believer tradition upon tradition but which lacks the power of the original gospel of Jesus Christ. (Mark 7:13)
By simply comparing end time warning verses with actual on-ground events in our world today there should be no doubt the gospel has indeed been preached in all the world as a witness to all nations. Yes, in my mind this prediction by Jesus has been fulfilled and we are witnessing the beginning of the end of this world as we know it.
Abomination of desolation
In the verse (15) Jesus points His end time believers to the next piece of the puzzle.
“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:)
The clue we’ve been all looking for. This nugget should put us all at rest with the knowledge that no matter what is happening around us; whether earthquakes, comets, wars, economic collapse, etc. the abomination of desolation must stand in the holy place before it is time to flee into the wilderness.
It is therefore pointless to go looking under every rock or stick, or browse a million alternative or conspiratorial sites, when we as believers, have already been told what sign to expect before the great tribulation begins. (Matthew 24:21)
when is the rapture?
Another amazing thing about Matthew 24 is that it puts to rest the question of when the rapture will take place.
It seems many Christians have been deceived into thinking the church won’t be here during the great tribulation. In Matthew 24:29-31 Jesus clearly describes His return as being after the tribulation of those days.
So dear ones be assured you will be very much needed by Jesus and the lost as their light in the darkness that the abomination of desolation will throw upon the whole world.
“Early church evangelizing is a thing of the past. Modern churches have long been infected by a form of Christianity called “Churchianity”, which promises the lost as well as the searching believer tradition upon tradition but which lacks the power of the original gospel of Jesus Christ. (Mark 7:13)”
Matthew 24
If you don’t fully understand what is happening in the world around you then please begin reading your bible…it’s a road map through the times the world is passing through right now.