THE DEBATED MATTHEW 24

Matthew 24 is a hotly debated chapter in the Bible. There are two primary views of this passage: First, there is a futurist view which believes everything therein is yet to happen in the future. And second, there is a partial-preterist view that believes much of Matthew 24 occurred in A.D. 70 when Israel was destroyed by Rome. Both views believe that the Lord’s second advent, his second coming, has not yet occurred but most assuredly will occur at an unknown time in the future.

In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples ask him a threefold question after informing them that the temple would not be left standing: They asked when would the temple be destroyed, what would be the sign of his coming, and about the end of the age. Jesus then goes on to answer all three parts of their question. In verses 4-35, He discusses the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the sign of his coming which occurred in A.D. 70. Verses 36-44 Speak of his second coming. If Jesus did indeed accurately predict the destruction of Jerusalem as the partial-preterist holds, then does it not stand to reason that the prediction of his second coming will undoubtedly come to pass as well? Yet the Lord cautions us that no one knows the day and hour he will return, and so we should not give any credence to anyone who claims otherwise.

The return of Christ is our blessed hope. His bodily resurrection from the dead and his prophecy of the temple's destruction within the lifetime of the generation to whom he was speaking should greatly bolster our confidence in his second coming and our inevitable resurrection from the dead.

Come to worship this Sunday to hear the biblical answer to this question. Be sure to bring a friend because the Word and fellowship will do them good! Amen!