Ross Patterson : Lessons from Matthew 24

THE 24th chapter of Matthew, being the longest prediction of consecutive events uttered by Christ while here upon the earth, has been justly styled “Our Lord’s Great Prophecy.” Peculiar dignity and importance attaches to it because it is a prophecy from the lips of Christ himself, unlike most others which came through the medium of inspired men. 1. The prediction covers all the gospel dispensation from the days of Christ to the end of time. It was not all fulfilled at and by the overthrow of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and the dispersion of the Jewish nation, as some claim. This is proved by many considerations, among which may be mentioned.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON EIGHTEEN.
1. What is the 24th of Matthew justly styled?
2. What gives it peculiar importance?
3. How much time does the prediction cover?
4. When do some claim it was fulfilled?
5. What limits the fulfilment of verse 7?
6. How long after Jerusalem’s overthrow did the Roman kingdom remain a unit?

(1.) The fulfilment of verse 7, which could not take place till after the Roman empire had broken up, and nations and kingdoms had been developed therefrom. But for a hundred years previous to the overthrow of Jerusalem, and for nearly three hundred years afterward, Rome, like a mighty colossus, bestrode the world, and held all people subject to itself in the unity of its empire.

(2.) After their rejection of Christ, the Jews were not the elect of verse 22. The days of tribulation accompanying the destruction of Jerusalem were not shortened for their sake, neither were they shortened for the sake of Christians, the true elect; for these all fled from Jerusalem at the appointed sign, and found safe shelter at Pella, sixty miles away, while wrath to the uttermost came upon the Jewish people.
(3.) The signs predicted, verse 29, were to come after the tribulation referred to; but all the signs pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem occurred before that event. And moreover Christ had said that there should be no sign given to that people, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
(4.) Verse 14 could not be fulfilled till the light of the gospel had made the circuit of the globe. This was not true in that day, but it is in ours.
(5.) No such signs as verse 29 predicted to occur, took place at the destruction of Jerusalem. It must therefore refer to a later time.