DRAFT ONLY

Introduction
      Chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew's gospel is titled "The Little Apocalypse". The reason for this title is that the form of writing is Apocalyptic. It parallels other apocalyptic literature in the Bible, namely, Daniel, Zechariah, Revelation. Apocalyptic literature was a popular form of writing used from around 400BC up till the end of the New Testament period. This section in Matthew is similar to other Apocalyptic literature in:
        i] Form.
        ii] Vocabulary, eg. Dan.2:28, 7:27, 11:31, 12:11...
        iii] Message - It reveals the secrets of the end time and in so doing encourages the faithful child of God to stand firm through the times of trouble.
        iv] Situation - A word for a time of persecution. Jesus spoke these words in the framework of his Jerusalem ministry which was marked by opposition and the shadow of the cross. It was a word to his disciples who soon would have to bare the brunt of persecution themselves.

      To rightly understand this passage requires a knowledge of:
        i] Apocalyptic literature;
        ii] the nature of Biblical prophecy;
        iii] the Biblical theology of the Kingdom of God.
      It is crucial to understand that Biblical prophecy has different levels of fulfillment. What Jesus might say about the destruction of Jerusalem is just as applicable to the chastisement that will fall on the church in the last day. What he has to say has different levels of fulfillment. (See notes - "Kingdom of God, A Biblical theology", and "Bible Study, Interpreting the Bible.)

The five "appearings" of Jesus
      Crucial, to a right interpretation of these two chapters, is the way Jesus breaks open the meaning of "coming" in the disciples question, "What will be the sign of your coming". An understanding of this word "parousia" (parousia) or "presence", usually translated "coming" in the NIV, is essential to a right understanding of Matthew 24-25. There are actually five "appearings" (comings) of Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus mentions four of them in these chapters.

      1. Jesus' appearing in his birth - his coming to this world. He comes as a light in darkness to save the world, Jn.12:47. He comes to complete the purpose of the law, Matt.5:7, and thus "call sinners to repentance", Matt.10:35.

      2. Jesus' coming in judgement upon Jerusalem, Matt.25:31. This is the "abomination of desolation", 24:15, spoken of by Daniel and made explicit by Luke. "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then know that it's desolation is at hand". This is based on Daniel 7 where the Son of Man comes to (appears before and is accepted by) the Ancient of Days and initiates judgement. There have been many such "appearings" where the sinner is overtaken in judgement, unpredictable, swift, conspicuous and violent. The Bible often calls them "a day of the Son of Man". The flood in Noah's time was such a "day". Abraham rejoiced to see such a "day", Jn.8:56, the "day" being the judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah. The destruction of Jerusalem will be such a "day", says Jesus. That "day" occurred in 70AD.

      3. Jesus' coming to reign through the gospel - in the clouds of heaven, Matt.24:30, 34, 26:64. This derives from Daniel 7:13 where the Son of Man comes with the clouds into the presence of the Ancient of Days and receives the Kingdom. It is a "coming", an appearing, to reign. His reign is over the nations. This reign is exercised in the mission of the church through the conversion of the Gentiles through the preaching of the gospel. It was on the basis of this authority that Jesus sent his disciples out. This work begins in earnest after the destruction of Jerusalem, cf. Matt.21:40-43. As Jesus says to his disciples, "You shall not go through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes". ie. before Jerusalem is destroyed and the Gentile mission launched in all its fullness. The Gentile mission is described in the terms of Isaiah 13:10, Matt.24:29, the imagery of a world turned upside down - social and national turmoil, through the proclamation of the gospel.

      4. Jesus' coming as the Spirit of Christ, "the sign of the Son of Man in heaven", Matt.24:30. Through the Spirit, God's people are gathered and blessed. The gospel brings about repentance and draws a people to Christ, Jn.16:8, Rev.1:7. All this is initiated in the generation of the disciples, Matt.24:35.

      5. Jesus coming with the angels for the final judgement, Matt.25:31ff. In 2Thessalonians 1:6-10 we see the best description of this coming judgement. Daniel 7:10, also Zechariah 14:5, defines the imagery of this appearing in final judgement.

The passage
      v1-2. Jesus told the disciples that the temple was going to be destroyed. In response to this his disciples asked:
        i] When would this occur?
        ii] What would be the sign of his "coming"?
        iii] What would be the sign of the consummation of the age, ie. what would occur prior to the end of the world?
      v1-14. Events to be expected before the Great Tribulation. Jesus is primarily describing the events that lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem which was to occur in 70AD. Yet what he has to say about this event is just as applicable to the end of the world. Thus, there are two levels of fulfillment in Jesus' words. This is the normal prophetic perspective. The prophet addresses the immediate situation which the people of God are facing. Yet their experience is the experience of the people of God in another age who find themselves in a similar position within the dispensation of the Kingdom of God.
        i] For the age that ends with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD.
        ii] For the age that ends with the chastisement of the church in the last days.
      In the time interval before the end there will be false religious leaders, wars, natural disasters, persecution, a falling away of believers, evil times.
      The one key sign of the coming end will be the spreading of the gospel throughout the world, along with inevitable persecution. We work towards this today in the same way as the early Christians did. In fact, the writer of Acts saw this as accomplished in Paul's arrival at Rome. The gospel had been preached from Jerusalem to the ends of the world.