The first section of the Lord’s prophecy in in Matthew 24 concerning the end of this age is in two main parts: first, verses 4-14, which cover the general course of human history that began from the time of His ascension; and second, verses 15-24, dealing with the last 3 1/2 years of this age, which will be time time of the Great Tribulation.

However, in His word here the Lord also seems to indicate there will be a particular period of increased persecution of the believers towards the end of the general course of human history, just prior to the time of the Great Tribulation. He does this beginning in verse 9, when He says, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation” (See “Before the Great Tribulation” • Part 1)

Let’s look at some of the events the Lord speaks of in these verses. Here is this entire portion, quoted from the Standard Version:

9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations for My name’s sake.
10 And at that time, many will be offended and will betray one another and will hate one another;
11 And many false prophets shall arise and shall lead many astray.
12 And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end, he shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come.

It may be that we don’t yet see all of these things happening, but surely many of them are:

• The general hatred of Christians among the nations (v. 9) is increasing in a very striking way.
• At least in society in general, there is a marked increase in offenses and hatred among different people (v. 10); perhaps before long we will see more direct evidence of this among the believers themselves.
• We certainly see a rise in “false prophets” who are indeed leading many astray (v. 11), not only with false Bible teaching, but also with all kinds of bizarre spiritual systems claiming some kind of authority for themselves.
• Beyond any doubt, one of the most striking characteristics of our age is the increase of lawlessness the Lord prophesies of in these verses (v. 12).
• And as the Lord also foretells here, this has resulted in the love of so many toward the Lord, both in society at large and even among the believers, growing cold (v. 12).

Of course, these things are all on the negative side.

Yet, there is one very positive event prophesied by the Lord in this section that is also taking place during our time: the “gospel of the kingdom” is being preached in all the earth for a testimony to all the nations (v. 14). Praise the Lord for that!

We will consider what the Lord means by “gospel of the kingdom,” and why this gospel has not been preached until recent times, in the next Note in this series.

But the onset of all of these events should help us to see that the Lord’s return is surely drawing near, and that realization should greatly encourage us to stand faithfully for Him and for His kingdom in these dark times.

Amen; come, Lord Jesus!

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—  23 November 2024 —