DRAFT ONLY

Introduction
      Our passage for study comes from the final discourse recorded in Matthew's gospel. In this passage he speaks of the events at the tribulation and following. For a right understanding of the passage it will be necessary to refer to the Introduction to chapters 24 and 25 found in the notes on Matthew 24:1-14.

The passage
      v15-28. Events at the time of the tribulation. Jesus is primarily describing the circumstances surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, but what he says about that event applies to the church as we draw close to the end of this age.
      The end is a moment of violent destruction signified by the term "the coming" or "appearance" (parousia) of the Son of Man, v27. It is a moment of divine judgement seen as such by God's people, v27-28. In this day Jesus comes in vengeance against evil to vindicate good, Matt.23:35-38. The language of this judgement - the man on the house top, the woman grinding, the eagles at the carcass - is similar to the judgements at Noah and Lot's time.
      There will be a significant sign prior to this "coming" in judgement. It is the "desolating sacrilege", v15, cf. Daniel.9:27. This is when "you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies". When this sign occurs the only hope is to escape the "great tribulation". God will shorten these days for the sake of his people. Somehow the early Christians read the sign and left Jerusalem prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. They migrated to Pella in the Transjordan.
      Similarly, we too will be able to read the sign of the "desolating sacrilege" when it occurs. It will somehow involve the profaning of Gods Temple, the profaning of the people of God, of the church.

      v29-31. After the tribulation. Jesus now describes the events following the catastrophic judgement upon Jerusalem. Again his words also describe the events following the great tribulation at the end of the world.
      Following the destruction of Jerusalem, God will lay his hand upon the Nations and shake them. He will enter into battle with them, v29. The imagery of the sun being darkened etc comes from Isa.13:10, Ezk.32:7, Jol.2:10-11. This will be associated with the revealing of the "sign" of the Son of Man, v30. In Isaiah 5 the prophet foretells that after God has judged his people he will lift up a sign to the nations to draw them to himself. Chapter 11 tells us that the sign is the Messiah, Jesus. This Jesus is made known to the nations through his Spirit empowered Word (the gospel) and his Spirit empowered disciples (the church). They are his messengers ("angels") whom he sends out to sound forth the gospel - to trumpet, Isa.28:13. By this means he will gather in the lost from the four corners of the earth, v31. Many will respond to this word in the mourning of repentance, v30, cf. Zech.12:10. This prophecy has found fulfillment in every age up till today. It is a prophecy describing Christian missionary work.
      Christ's mighty activity in gathering a people unto himself out of the world, is achieved because he is "the Son of Man" who comes in the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days to receive and rule a Kingdom, Matt.26:64, 28:18-20, Jn.17:2. Jesus, the faithful Son of God, through his death and resurrection, has received from the Father a Kingdom. Seated at his right hand, he now rules, bringing all things into subjection to himself. This rule is exercised through "the saints of the most high" (the church). Thus all men "see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven". They see him ruling his Kingdom now, a rule demonstrated through the Spirit directed and empowered body of believers, cf. Jn.16:7-11.
      In the last day , after the great tribulation, Jesus will appear to strike down the nations in person. At the sound of the trumpet he will then gather from the grave, those who have called upon his name.

The tribulation
      Some years ago I came across some believers who were greatly affected by the Garabandal visions. A young girl in Portugal had witnessed the events of the great tribulation. Her vision was a horror, for she witnessed the darkness of these last days before Christ's return. These believers expected a time of literal darkness to come upon the earth. During this time there would be no light, except the light of specially blessed candles. So naturally they all had their candles at the ready for that terrible day.
      I believe their understanding of the tribulation is a bit off centre. The final days before Christ's return will be anything but pleasant, an abomination that desolates. The Bible has the church in the thick of it, persecuted, despised. The taste of the troubles of today will be accentuated in that day. Still, we will be victorious, we will reign, we will reign as the gospel reigns today, overcoming the darkness in the lives of all who reach out to Jesus.