Lesson Five (Chapter 24)
The Day of HaShem
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch [netzer] shall grow out of his roots…He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked…The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat...
Isaiah 11:1; 4, 6
Introduction
- Last week we saw the “8 woes” of chapter 23. We saw that the woes came because of behavior and character that was contrary to the 8 ashrei [“blessed are you”s] from chapter 5.
Historical Setting
- It is difficult to read Matthew 24 without reading our understandings into it. No one hearing Yeshua's teaching on the Mount of Olives anticipated the past 1,975 years. They surely reasoned, if He was Messiah, then the fulfillment of numerous “end times” prophecies were about to occur.
- There is every evidence that the early talmidim remained in Jerusalem after Shavuot because they anticipated Yeshua's eminent return.
- Around 68 CE, the believers living in Jerusalem fled because they believed that Luke 21:20-21 was being fulfilled. After this many of the remaining believers went to Pella.
- After the first generation of believers had died, the temptation to allegorize the Matthew 24 discourse increased.
Two Questions
- In Luke 21, Yeshua's is answering the question about when the things regarding the destruction of the Temple would occur (Luke 21:5-6).
- Matthew 24 is the answer to entirely different questions. Matt 24:3:
- The sign of Your coming?
- The end of the age?
- It starts much like Luke 21, but in vs 15 there is a dramatic shift. The trigger to flee is NOT armies surrounding Jerusalem as Luke 21. The trigger is the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy Place as spoken of by Daniel.
- 24:21-31: The answer to the 2 questions is detailed.
- The “end” after the Kingdom message is given to all the nations.
- A warning not to be tricked by false Messiahs.
- A time of tribulation.
- Sun and moon darkened
- The Son of Man coming in the clouds. (Dan 7:13; Jude 1:14; Zech 14:5)
The First Days, of the Last Days
- Acts 2:1-24: Peter recognizes that the Last Days had begun. His quote from Joel indicates that he understood that the experience at Shavuot was a foretaste of what would culminate in the Day of HaShem.
- And yet, the Sun and moon had not darkened, the days of tribulation were great, but they were repeated afterward.
Day of HaShem
- Joel 2:1-18:
- An army, unlike any other seen before – untouchable, and absolute in victory.
- The earth quakes before them – the heavens tremble. The Sun and moon darkened.
- Vs 11: HaShem gives voice to His army. The only hope to stand on that day is to repent.
- Joel 2:28-3:3:
- In those days, bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem.
- Pouring out of the Spirit – sun and moon darkened.
- Then the Day of HaShem.
- Gathering the nations in the “Valley of Jehoshaphat ” – to be judged.
- Joel 3:12-17:
- Gathering the nations in the “Valley of Jehoshaphat ” – to be judged.
- Winepress full (Rev 14:20; Rev 19:15).
- Day of HaShem in the “Valley of Decision”.
- Sun and moon darkened.
- HaShem will roar from Zion! The Heavens and earth with shake.
- He will be a shelter for His people.
- He will dwell in Jerusalem – Jerusalem holy – no alien [zur = stranger, not a covenant member]
- Zech 14:1-21:
- Day of HaShem: Nations gathered to battle against Jerusalem.
- HaShem will fight against them.
- He will stand on the Mount of Olives – split in two.
- HaShem comes with all His saints (Jude 1:14).
- A day no one knows.
- Then He will be King over all the earth.
- HaShem echad.
- Feast of Tabernacles celebrated to worship the King, HaShem.
- Sacrifices mean there must be a Temple/Tabernacle.
The Kingdom Message – to the Nations?
- Matt 24:14: The Kingdom message preached to all the nations – and then the end.
- Is 42:6-8: Messiah, a light to the goyim [nations, Gentiles].
- Is 49:6: Restore Jacob, a light to the goyim, salvation to the ends of the earth.
- Is 2:2-5: Amim [peoples] will come up and worship at “the house of the G-d of Jacob”. Torah goes forth from Jerusalem.
- Jer 16:19-21: goyim turn from lies to G-d. They will know His Name.
- The goyim added to the commonwealth of Israel is a fulfillment to G-d’s promise to Abraham. Gen 18:18: …”and all the goyim of the earth shall be blessed in him.”
Summary
- What is the personal message of Matthew 24? It is not about having a correct of end times. It is about preparation.
- Trust and obey. There is no other way.