Rev. David Holwick ZE "Questions People Ask" topical series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 6, 2002
Matthew 24:30-35
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I. Prophecy mania.
A. Sales figures for "Left Behind" series.
1) 30 million copies sold, at rate of 1.5 million a month.
2) $50 million in profit for authors.
One skeptical commentator asks, what do you suppose
Mr. LaHaye is doing with all this money?
How much of that money do you think is in long-term
bonds?
B. What does our future hold? Many are concerned...
1) Economy is dicey, with huge losses on the stock market.
2) War may be on horizon, or terrorist nukes in our backyards.
3) People are anxious and looking for answers.
C. Jesus predicted these conditions.
1) He did NOT teach that his followers would make the world
a warm, fuzzy place.
2) He predicted turmoil, then catastrophe, then an amazing
event, his second coming.
3) He said it would be soon.
D. By our perspective, it hasn't been.
1) Even ancient Christians felt the tension.
2) You might even say the Bible shows the tension.
II. Hints on when Jesus thought he would come back.
A. (Before evangelism of Israel is done, he will come.) Matt 10:23
(Not used in my sermon due to time restraints)
B. Some standing here will see Kingdom come. Matt 16:28
C. This generation will see God's judgment. Matt 23:36
D. This generation won't pass away. Matt 24:34
III. What are the options?
A. Jesus is wrong.
1) Albert Schweitzer, Congo missionary doctor and theologian.
a) Jesus thought he would come back in their lifetime,
but was mistaken.
b) He tried to force the coming of the Kingdom, failed,
and on the cross lost his faith in God. ("forsaken")
2) Religious fanatics often manipulate prophecy to give sense
of urgency.
a) Jehovah Witnesses and predictions of early 1970s.
b) Edgar Whisenant, hoopla over "88 Reasons Jesus Will
Come Back in 1988."
c) Did Jesus do this?
B. Jesus was partially wrong.
1) Even he admits no one but the Father knows the date.
a) Easy to pin this on characters like Whisenant.
b) But Jesus pins it on himself.
2) He gave indications of a delay in his return.
a) Parables with delay theme.
b) Most have a "you better be obeying" application.
C. Jesus is accurate, if understood correctly.
1) Many aspects of "soon coming" have a multiple fulfillment.
a) "Those standing here" passage is followed by
Transfiguration, when heaven touched earth.
b) The disciples got a taste of Kingdom power then, but
full experience is still in future.
2) Some terms he used have more than one meaning.
a) This generation will see God's judgment. Matt 23:36
1> Not necessarily FINAL judgment.
b) Meaning of "generation" can be stretched. (see below)
IV. This generation won't pass away. Matt 24:34
A. We give our generations names.
1) I am a "baby boomer."
2) Some of you are "baby busters" or "Generation X".
3) Others are "Depression babies" or "World War II-ers."
B. Meaning of generation in this passage.
1) Human race.
a) We won't nuke ourselves to oblivion before he returns.
b) But humanity's presence at Second Coming is obvious,
and Jesus's hearers could not imagine us
annihilating ourselves.
2) Jewish race.
a) Their survival as a people is a remarkable testimony.
b) But no hint elsewhere in Bible they will cease to exist
before end of world.
3) Generation alive at Last Days.
a) Those who see signs beginning to be fulfilled.
1> Hal Lindsey ties this in with #2 - the last
generation of Jews will see the End.
2> Establishment of Israel in 1948 is starting point.
3> Jesus will come within one generation: 40 years
(or 70 years?).
b) "These things" refers to all the events of Tribulation.
c) But if future generation is intended, "THAT generation"
is more likely.
4) The generation alive with Jesus.
a) "This" is key word.
1> All other references point to Jesus' own generation.
2> Always has ordinary sense of people in one
age-group.
b) Means "generation now living."
1> Echoes OT wilderness wanderings. Deut 1:35; 32:5
2> Cf. Luke 11:29, Mark 8:38.
C. Identification of "all these things."
1) Context points to Jesus' comments on destruction of Temple.
a) Temple was one of the most beautiful buildings in
ancient world.
1> Its temple enclosure was the largest.
2> Even pagans admired it.
3> Saying negative things about future of Temple got
both Jesus and Stephen in trouble. (Paul, too)
b) Subtle differences between Mark and Matthew:
Mark 13:4 --
"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will
be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"
Matthew 24:3 --
"Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what
will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the
age?"
c) Two separate questions.
1> Mark focuses on destruction of Temple in both.
A> Mark 13:30 sees these things" as Temple events,
not other prophecy events.
B> Luke does as well. Cf. Luke 21:24 & Rev. 11:2
2> In Matthew's second question, signs focus on Second
Coming rather than destruction of Temple.
2) The perspective of time.
a) Matthew wrote AFTER Temple was destroyed.
1> He understood there would be a gap.
2> Temple's fall is fulfilled, Parousia is future.
b) Mark wrote before event, smooshed them together.
1> In reality they are separated by vast time.
2> "This generation" saw fulfillment of first part
only.
D. Fulfilled by Titus in AD 70, forty years later. cf. Ps 95:10
1) Period is very close to a typical generation in Bible.
2) Multiple-fulfillment is common in Bible prophecy.
a) Old Testament "smooshes" first coming and second one.
b) It appears the New Testament sometimes "smooshes" the
destruction of the Temple and the Second Coming.
V. Our salvation is more important than the date.
A. We could be the last generation.
1) Since Old Testament times, ANY generation could be last.
2) Many Old Testament prophets predicted "soon coming."
3) Apostle Paul and others thought they were in last times,
and that it seemed sooner than they previously thought.
a) He seemed to shift in his personal expectation of the
Rapture.
B. Apparent delay means more time for us to repent. 2 Pet 3:9
1) Maybe the coming of Jesus to earth has been delayed because
of YOU!
a) Once you repent, the whole ball will roll.
b) Are you holding him up?
2) His coming should be a motivation for holy living.
a) Warnings on becoming cynical - such will be caught
unawares. Matt 24:48
b) Committed Christians will NOT be caught unawares.
1 Thess 5:4
C. The delay gives us more time for us to evangelize.
1) One condition of return is worldwide evangelism. Matt 24:14
2) By our efforts in this area we can speed up his
return. compare 2 Pet 3:12
_________________________________________________________________________
Commentary that was especially helpful:
F.F. Bruce, "Hard Sayings of Jesus," InterVarsity Press
I. Hard saying for those who identify passage with second coming.
A. Was Jesus mistaken?
B. Some identify it with a Christian apocalypse, not Jesus.
II. Alternate meanings of "this generation."
A. Race, such as Jewish race.
1) But no hint elsewhere in Bible they will cease to exist
before end of world.
2) Would also be too vague.
B. Human race.
1) But their presence at second coming is obvious.
C. Generation alive at Last Days.
1) Not ordinary meaning of "this generation."
a) "This generation" is common Biblical theme.
b) Always has ordinary sense of people in one age-group.
2) "desperate attempt," not way his people would have
understood it.
3) Means "generation now living."
a) Echoes OT wilderness wanderings. Deut 1:35; 32:5
b) Cf. Luke 11:29, Mark 8:38.
4) If future generation intended, "THAT generation" is better.
III. Identification of "all these things."
A. Context points to Jesus' comments on destruction of Temple.
B. Fulfilled by Titus in AD 70, forty years later. cf. Ps 95:10
1) Some saw this as fulfillment of divine judgment.
a) Probably not.
2) Mark conflates destruction of Temple and Second Coming.
a) In reality they are separated by vast time.
b) Jesus himself did not know all details of timing.
3) Luke puts more emphasis on destruction of Jerusalem.
a) Compare Luke 21:24 with Rev. 11:2.
4) Matthew writes after destruction of Temple.
a) He sees gap in fulfillment.
1> Temple is fulfilled, Parousia is future.
b) Mark focuses on Temple, Matthew shifts to Second Coming.
Mark 13:4
"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will
be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"
1> Everything focuses on fall of Temple.
Matthew 24:3
"Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what
will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the
age?"
1> Fall of Temple is distinguished from Second Coming.
2> Later conclusion:
A> This generation doesn't pass away until all
"THESE THINGS" happen. Matt 24:34
B> Focuses on disciples' question about Temple
only.
C> Reference to Jesus not knowing about "THAT day"
focuses on other prophecy events in chapter.
c) Distinction is clear in Matthew, less clear in Mark.
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