Matthew 24 - Prophecy to come * - Removing The Fog of Religion

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Matthew 24 - Prophecy to come *

PROPHECY > Prophets Speak
Matthew 24 by YaHshua
Matthew 24 - YaHshua's Prophecy
Presented by your servant, Dan L Baxley



The following is a commentary on Matthew 24, one of the most important Prophetic writings in the whole Bible when coupled with the Book of Revelations.  YaHshua is a direct source and tells us what our Heavenly Father wants us to know --   
(Mat 24:1) YaHshua left the Temple and was walking away when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to its buildings. NIV (his name restored throughout)
Mat 24:1  And YaHshua went out, and departed from the Temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the Temple. KJV (his name restored)

Comment: Notice the disciples were admiring the “buildings” not just the Temple but the whole complex.  Several other buildings and walls and structures, many having nothing to do with the Temple itself. King Herod was admittedly a wicked king but he spent 40 years of his life building this monument to himself and to keep the Jewish leadership happy, and, perhaps, to buy favor with the God of Israel. He would not be the first to think to buy his salvation his way into favor.  This building, however, was never part of the City of Jerusalem itself.  Jerusalem was the original City of the Jebusites (2 Sam 5:6-7) the very city King David took for himself, then renaming it City of David, sometimes called Mount Zion, or Zion.   The Temple would be built later, from a place overlooking (?) the City of David, at a location (location of the threshing floor is questionable) where David had sacrificed to YaHWeH.  From this place (location) the Angel of YaHWeH would be sending a curse over Jerusalem -- The Threshing Floor of the Jebusite --  Araunah -- 2 Sam 24:16 -- "And the angel of the LORD (YHWH) was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite."  Why is this important?  Location, for one -- this Angel is by the threshing floor, about to curse Zion, that is Jerusalem.  It is the threshing floor where David did sacrifice, and Solomon, his son, was crowned King.   In a previous description -- 2 Sam 6:16-23, we find that the ARK is set down at a place constructed a tabernacle -- 2 Sam 7:2 -- for the ARK in Jerusalem.  It is stated that He, YaHWeH, lived among the people.  We see the importance of using threshing floors as place to rest the ARK -- just as it was being stored at the house of Nachon -- 2 Sam 6:6 -- where it would be set to steady it on its journey to Jerusalem.  It would see logical that the threshing floor, at Jerusalem, Araunah's threshing floor would be the ideal location.  This, of course, is far from the placement of the Temple Mount of today.  And we have then, Solomon, being Crowned King at Gihon

Because, today the Temple is gone, not a stone left, there continues a lot of arguing over just where this Temple Stood, ironically over where the Tabernacle of curtains and the ARK itself was located, in Jerusalem.  This is important because YaHshua mentions the Abomination that Causes Desolation standing in (or on) the Holy Place. We read about this in later verses 15 &16.  As you will see, later, this all falls into the sequence of events described by our Lord.  To some, this suggests a Temple being present at the Return of our YaHshua as King of Kings.  However, this would mean that a new Temple would have to be built, or would it?

Technically, the word "in" could, just as easily, be "on" -- Not "standing in" but "standing on" -- in either case, this calls for the builders knowing the place of the Temple.  What if, eventually, the location of the Tabernacle, the very first living place of YaHWeH among the people, were located.  Wouldn't that be considered a Holy Place?  If the people see that which causes "desolation" standing on the Holy Place, then the people, who are told to flee, must know where this Holy Place is.  The same would be true if another Temple is built, but this alternate view merely points out that it may not be necessary for an actual Temple to be built.  There is also something to be said for more than one location that could be a Holy Place.  Seeing the Tabernacle travel from on resting place to another, the Holiest of Holy would be the placement of the ARK itself. The place where our Father and Savior live.  This, of course, moves us from the physical to the Spirit.  At present, in this prophetic line of words, spoken by our Lord and Savior, YaHshua, this is all purely in the physical, and something visible.

At this first verse of words, by our Savior, we are standing with Him at a place He calls the Temple -- He is coming out of the Temple, so it says.  Notice, He is coming out of the Temple, and walking away, His disciples come running up to Him.  We are not told what He was doing in the Temple, only that He is coming out from it, and his Disciples are not with Him.  I would suggest that they were waiting for Him to come out, and full of questions.  Not once, however, does YaHshua say that this Temple that Herod built, is not the Temple.  The original Temple of Solomon is different from where the ARK set within the tabernacle of curtains, located in Jerusalem.  Food for thought, when everyone is arguing over where the Temple is.  It is wherever the Holy Spirit is, or chooses to be.  

It is interesting to note that that place most call the Temple Mount, is actually Mount Moriah, which means -- Mountain of YaH -- Mount of YaHWeH, or Mountain of God.  Maybe the HOLY PLACE, is not a Temple at all?  Maybe it is a "place", like a mountain.  There is Mount Sinai or the Mountain Jabal Lawz, the Mountain of Laws, and then were is Mount Moriah?  It in Median, the land Moses fled to, the land of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, and not the Sinai Peninsula, but located, today, in Saudi Arabia.   Of course, all of this is debatable, and like the Temple location has been and is still being argued over.   

In the chronology of things before Sinai -- Abraham is said to have been ready to sacrifice His first son on Mount Moriah.  also, the Place He has chosen to put His Name -- Mount YaH.  Some say that Moriah means, Land of YaHWeH -- no matter how you say it, the Temple mount, minus a Temple is a Mountain that belongs to YaHWeH -- Mount Moriah.  Think about it -- and today, that very place is still called by that Name.  Truly amazing.  So, what would be the Abomination standing on the Holy Place?  We get to that with a better understanding as we continue through the verses of YaHshua's words, about those things to come.

Consider this prophetic promise, and then ask yourself, where is this Tabernacle of David?  Not Moses, and not Solomon, but King David --

Act 15:16-17 --  'After these things I (YaHshua) will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up, That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are called by My Name, Says the Lord, who does all these things.

Not the Tabernacle of Solomon.  Not the Tabernacle of Herod.  Remember, the Tabernacle of Moses was one made up of curtains and tents, with the ARK, the seating place of YaHWeH, and container for the Commandments.  From the Tabernacle of curtains, to the Tabernacle of David, place in the City of David.  The Tabernacle of Solomon, a building of Cedar and Stone and Gold, no long of curtains, and called, The Temple -- still a Tabernacle -- the place His Spirit resides.  Nowhere is a restoring of the Temple, after the Temple of Herod, mentioned, but, the Tabernacle of David is mentioned, and its restoration is mentioned.

Still, if the Holy Place is the Mountain it self, Moriah, the placement of David's Tabernacle may have no meaning other than the place of His throne sat, and may sit again -- Reading Zechariah 14, we see this very possibility.

(Mat 24:2) Do you see all these things? He asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every-one will be thrown down." NIV
Mat 24:2  And YaHshua said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. KJV

Comment: Our Messiah said this -- and it happened.  And it is very simple.  Our Messiah is obviously speaking of the “buildings” the disciples were admiring. Some of the stones used in the construction of the surrounding buildings were approximately 42’ x 11’ x 20’ and weighted several tons -- Base stones upon which these buildings sat.  Remember our Lord said that on one stone on top of another, not that the foundations would be moved.  The Herod Temple complex was much, much larger than the Solomon Complex.   The Herod Temple Complex was approximately Two and a Half times larger than the Solomon Complex.  

The Romans tore the Herod Temple down to the ground in 68 AD – 70 AD.  The Temple proper is no longer visible.  The Wailing wall, is a small part of a retaining wall set around the Herod Temple Complex to retain, or create the large platform needed to hold level all of the building, plus the Temple itself.  No one, to date, has been able to pinpoint the placement of the Herod Temple.  

The complete destruction of the buildings may not be complete, according to some.  Why?  Because, to this day the Western wall still stands in part, but this is not part of the Temple itself, and it is not part of the buildings either, it is an outer wall, as the platform for the buildings support.  We cannot say this prophecy is really finished if we determine our Savior was talking about all of the surrounding buildings and THE wall surrounding the complex?  

Everyone knows about the “Wailing Wall”, it is yet to be thrown down making a complete fulfillment of YaHshua’s words, according to some, in fact, reading from Josephus we have a record that that portion of the Wall was left standing as a monument to Roman power, so everyone could see how massive the stones they, the Romans, had toppled.  This Temple Complex was a mighty show in Roman strength, to have demolished such a grand Complex – by his command the destroyers left that portion to proclaim his greatness – it is not part of the Temple and never has been.   The Western Wall has become a worship site for the Jews but to the Romans it was for bragging rights.  The Temple has not been visible and its positioning lost, from 70 AD to now.  The City of David, however, was left intact, for the most part. But --

Later the City of David (Zion), that we know as Jerusalem, would suffer the same fate -- 138 AD – 140 AD (70 years after the Herod Temple is ground into dust, so goes Jerusalem).  the whole of Jerusalem was flattened, but still portions of the wall of the Temple area (the Wailing Wall) were left standing, covered perhaps, but standing and today stands as a grim reminder of Israel’s punishment. Perhaps we are waiting the final fulfillment of this prophecy -- the fact remains that nothing remains of the Temple and if it is the Temple that is called the Holy Place, then we need to know where it is.  Some believe the Temple must be rebuilt?

Historical note: Titus Caesar ordered everything torn down (70 AD) and ground to dust except for the west wall and three massive towers to serve as a garrison for soldiers left there to proclaim the victory of Caesar. This information can be found in, "Josephus War of the Jew".  Also -- A second rebellion in 138 AD leading to the complete levelling of all of Jerusalem, completed in 140 AD.

(Mat 24:3) As YaHshua was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?"

Comment: Imagine, if you will, Yahshua, having left the Temple grounds is now sitting somewhere on the Mount of Olives, across from the Temple Mount, at least a 30 minute walk, and it is here that His disciples want to know more.  This is the mountain He ascended from into Heaven.  It is to this mountain He will return (Must reads: John 6:62, Acts 1:11-12 and Zechariah 14:3-4).  Looking across the valley of Kidron, to a full view of the Temple, the walls gleaming bright white and the sun light, and they ask, the question everyone is still asking, When?

(Mat 24:4) YaHshua answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
(Mat 24:5) For many will come in My Name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many.

Comment: What a warning, wow! “Many will come in My Name ... ” -- Yes, in that first century, but then something changed and His Name was CHANGED.  Many would come seeking the understanding of our Lord's words.  But, do we see His real Name, His Birth Name, being used today?  Not really, not quite yet --(update: 2024) -- A few years ago, His Birth Name was only used or even known by a few.  Today, however, we find His Birth Name, in various forms, being used everywhere, just checkout You Tube. -- But we do see a greater number using or referring to His Birth Name.  We see it all over the internet, but for the majority of professing believers it is that other name they call on, the other, whose name they accept while rejecting His Holy Name is prophetic -- Another name they accept -- John 5:43.  In that first century the followers of YaHshua, did see happening -- "many coming in His Name, and deceive many” -- false prophets, teaching in His Name, a Name given Him by His Father, our Father (John 17:12). History shows us that His Name was abandoned soon after the last disciple died.  The First century Church seemed to disappear (Rev 12:16-17), virtually swallowed up, only to reappear in the third and fourth centuries as something else, a Church of the Roman Empire, under the tutelage of Roman Emperor Constantine, making the Christian Church, or what was to be called the Christian Church, the State religion of the Empire.  Technically, Emperor Constantine is the founder of Modern Christianity, from Constantinople, to Rome Catholic, to Protestants to Evangelical, and on to various cults -- all connected in their worship in the other name, Jesus -- pronounced Geezus, Hezeus, or Isus -- avoiding His Birth Name, YaHshua, a name that we have had, on Earth, among men, for centuries -- NO, for over two millennium, His Birth Name has been available and it the Name He was Named at His birth, and yet, we have a completely different name being used today.

The revealed birth name of our Savior is becoming evermore present. As knowledge increases and the errors of past scholars, deliberate, or otherwise, is being uncovered.  The knowledge of His real Identity and that of the Father is growing. Even in times past you can find reverence to the Holy Name of God, the God of Israel mention in other writings, some ancient, but never in the modern scriptures -- like a secret well kept.  We are seeing, however, an ever growing number of private works restoring His Holy Name, as this knowledge spreads.

The Biblical scholars and translators joined with the Jewish scholars in following a "custom of men" in regards to the Holy Identity of our Savior and Creator. They purposely used the method of substitution when it came to the use of the Holy Name of our Creator and Savior. The term “lord” being the favored word substituted for the Heavenly Name of the God of Israel, the God of the Holy Bible -- when you see the term, or title, LORD, in small capital letters in your Bible be alert to the fact that this is the translator's own admission to replacing His Holy Name with another name, in this case a title, they have turned into a name.  So, when you read or see, LORD, in small caps realize that is the replacement for YHWH, YaHWeH.
This method, however, was not followed in the New Testament writings.  No, in those writings, the Name of our Lord was given at Birth was literally changed -- changed completely into another, different name.  In the English we hear this name JESUS, over and over again, a name that never, ever existed until around 400 years ago.  

The prophetic sense of verse 5 is that many will again begin to use His true Identity, restoring His Birth Name to their readings. He does not say they will call Him by another Name but by His Name and His Name is YaHshua, not Jesus. We see this slow progression toward this truth in many Christian teachers using the name, Yeshua.  But this, still, is not His Name -- Yeshua means salvation, while YaHshua means YaH's salvation or Savior -- closer and much better than the bogus, Jesus, pronounced by some as Hezeus, or Heysous.  With this knowledge we must take care we are not deceived by someone because they use His true identity, for "many will come acknowledging this truth and deceive many". Once again, our standard, our guide for determining the truth is the Scriptures, our only protection against these false teachers -- stay tight in His word, the word already delivered and taught by Him and His disciples (Our Savior's request: John 17:20).

In Acts 12:4 it says: "...there is no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved."   There is salvation in only one name and eventually everyone will be given the chanced to accept or reject that Name. Believe me, the knowledge of His true Identity is a relevant truth for those called but it is not the deciding factor. A false teacher can have this knowledge and be using it to deceive those coming to this truth for the first time -- these words of warning from our Savior, YaHshua, about false teachers apply to those with this knowledge just as it does to those who reject this truth, perhaps even more so.  In another place our Savior gave this very same warning --

(Mat 7:22-23)  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.

Notice how complete this warning is -- and it is all about HIS NAME.  First He mentions those who would call on Him as Lord, and then He mentions those who would claim to do wonderful works, specifically in His Name.  He knows the hearts, the spirits of those who make these claims.  For this reason, we too, must be on our guard against all types of deception.  

Just because someone has this knowledge does not mean they are honest and to be trusted, after all, even the Devils have this knowledge, and they too believe -- (James 2:19) You believe that there is one God (Father); you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

When you read the book of Revelation, those things concerning the Beast and the False Prophet, you can see that it is truly a battle of names (Rev 13:17, 13:6-8; 14:1, 14:11; 7:3; 9:4).  Make no mistake, it is a battle over names -- whose name you will confess (accept or reject) -- the one name for the Beast will be that of a man, a number or the sum of a number, while the other Name will be that of our Savior, our Creator and His Holy Spirit -- YaHshua, not the false name, Jesus (the zeus).  Whose name will you confess?  

The Second Beast of Revelation Chapter 13, will be given great power.   This Second Beast has the appearance of a Lamb, like the Messiah/Christ, but this Second Beast will speak like a Dragon -- Rev 12:9, identifies the Dragon as Satan.  and anyone not accepting the Name of the First Beast will not be able to buy or sell -- in other words, you will not be able to earn a living unless you take on the name, the number of his name or the sum of his name, the name of the First Beast and it will not matter if you are a believer or a non-believer -- no mark, no job, no buying and no selling and no support of any kind -- think about it.  Eventually the Second Beast, this Lamb Beast, somehow gains even more power and is able to pass the death penalty on to anyone refusing the Mark or the sign or the seal of the First Beast.   Read all of Revelation 13 and do not laugh it off.  We have seen this pattern, historically, before, it may sound strange, but the Roman Catholic Church, during the Dark Ages, had such power, and after them the German Nation did too -- some elements were missing but the fact remains, people were put to death for being something other than what the power in charge wanted or for refusing to go along with the evil or refusing to confess the Christ the Church said everyone must confess or die.  It is all a matter of history.  Can it happen again?  According to the Book of Revealing, it can, and it will, only this time it will be more than just a single nation.  Imagine if the Roman Church had united with the Nazi power of Germany what the outcome might have been.  Hitler a human Beast, and the Pope, with the appearance of a powerful Lamb, able to call death to masses of people, as they once did, and not that long ago, in an historical context.  

You need this knowledge if you are to endure the coming "time of trouble" -- a time that is still in the Future. Some will reject His true Name for another, different name, a name like that of the Beast, or the number of his name (Rev 13:16-18), taking on the Seal or Mark of the Beast.  Others, a few others, will reject the Beast seal and these will receive the "Seal" of our Heavenly Father's Name.  The Beast Mark, which will be his Name, or the Mark of the Living God and Father, which is His Name -- you choose.  in these terrible days still to come, His Name will be of the greatest importance for all who are living in those times (Rev 7:3, 9:4).  You need the "seal" of His Name while rejecting the "mark" of the beast and his name, otherwise, you too will have to suffer the Wrath of the Father.  

We have yet to see "many" preaching this truth, or preaching in His Name, but it is becoming more and more prevalent everyday as many begin to see the name “Jesus” is a bogus name and does not belong to our Savior, a name dreamed up, a name that is really hard to pin to any past language in a clear connection -- contrary to what some try to suppose, the name JESUS, is not backward transposable, to Greek, period!  But, and this is big -- the name Geezus, is pronounced as HeyZeus, by a large population of the earth.  The Fact Remains, His Name Was Replaced.  

Sooner or later those of us that make a habit of studying the Scriptures will have put enough pressure on the false teachers and those living in this error to finally abandon this “other Christ” and attempt to reconcile the false name “Jesus” with the true Name of Our Savior, YaHshua -- the English transliteration, to be sure, and it may appear differently in other languages but the sound, when spoken will be the same of not, very similar, but the name JESUS is nowhere even close, it is a completely different name.
   In this day we many more teachers using the birth name of our Savior along side of the false name attempting to blend the two. We are seeing this, just as the first century Church saw it, but in "reverse", there is a pattern of deceit. Another thing you should watch for, in association with this knew knowledge, is found in a warning we read in Revelation 3:9 -- "...you have little strength but you have not denied My Name." Along with not denying His Name there are those who claim to be Jews and are not, they obviously will have knowledge of our Savior's true Identity, certainly if they are going to make such claims.  We see this in Replacement Theology and we also see it in the Hebrew Roots Movement, as well as the British Israel proponents.  Most of these groups work toward restoring the Old covenant, and in doing this they are claiming, in effect, that they are Jews -- be forewarned -- they are ever learning and gaining knowledge -- 2 Tim 3:7 -- but never able to come to the Truth. They are few in number but growing -- looking at the internet you would think those ever learning people and organizations are the majority, but they are not, not relative to the complete, religious populations of the Earth.  The call for Christians to return to its, "Jewish Root", as they say, is a call to join with those who say they are Jews but are not -- even then, as we have read there seems to be an argument between those who are seeking their "Jewish Roots" and those who are not, but still have not denied His Name.  It is not that the Jewish roots people, like the British Israel doctrine and the Hebrew Roots and Sacred Names Movements do not know His Name, they do.  No, it is something else.  What these groups have in common is their attempt at restoring the Old Covenant, with them it is not a disagreement over His Birth Name.  Under the pressure from such groups there are those who have Not Denied His Name but still have not joined with those trying to live like or be Jews, by restoring the Old Covenant, and by taking on an identity that is not theirs, we do see this happening today as never before.
 
  No one is preparing for the opening of the 6th seal, the coming of the "great quake", the signs in the Heavens -- more on that later, as we continue with what our Lord YaHshua has to tell us about Earth's journey toward His literal return.

(Mat 24:6) You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Comment: This is very interesting -- a warning for all ages -- notice, the disciples were asking about the “end age” (verse 3). YaHshua gives a caution -- "not to be troubled", or not to be too concerned about world events concerning "wars and rumors of wars”. Certainly, these things should rate our attention but we are not to become overly concerned -- concern but not overly concerned -- watching and believing the word -- not hiding or denying what we see but not overly fearful, as these things are going to happen and must happen before our Lord and Savior, YaHshua Returns -- but the end is not yet. Still, each generation seems to do just that, matching up current events with every event that happens on the surface of this earth with End Time Prophecy, making it fit.  There has been one group after another, in every generation, that has proclaimed the coming of our Savior in their time.  Even today we witness this.  New born babes in Him, being turned toward a false hope, listening to the false teacher (prophets) connecting the twisted dots of prophecy for their generation, as if they are the final generation, in a Doctrine of Fear.  This almost seems as if they want the Wrath of to the Lamb and the Wrath of God the Father to come and smash all the people they see as the wicked.  Of course, as these preachers and teachers push forward their plan of escape, their false hope, appealing to the flesh, they find an audience anxious to hear what they want to hear as opposed to what they should hear.  They do not want to suffer, no one relishes suffering or death but death is inevitable, for everyone.  Still, the wolves make a living out of telling people what they want to hear by a doctrine of premature escape.  So, what happens when it fails, when Prophetic truth becomes reality and those caught up in the Lie find themselves in the middle of what they thought or wanted to avoid?  These then, become the real Scoffers of the end time. and so, most have been teaching an escape plan called the Rapture.

(2Pe 3:3-4) ...knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

A scoffer? Me?  Not about the Truth, not about the fact that He is preparing to come again, and not about the fact that He will return and set up a Kingdom centered at Jerusalem -- not about any of that, only that He is coming in this fading generation, in this passing generation of prophets who have all been teaching that He would come in their generation -- to those I scoffer.  Disagreeing with those fading away does not make me a scoffer to anyone but them, and my pointing out their errors make me a realist -- a prophetic realist.  Notice, in the warning from Peter, that the scoffers are believers, NOT disbelievers, or atheists.  If they were either, they would care less and have nothing to say, but deceived believers would.  this is exactly the response you would expect from a deceived and disappointed, professing believer.

Today, a new generation of prophecy students in various degrees of understanding are coming on to the scene making the same claims for their generation.  This new generations are hashing over the same words the previous generation hashed over and all trying to call our Savior down before His Time.  The Generation that thinks it is in their time that our Lord is to return need to read Revelation 3:14-18, because that is the discription of the Church condition in the literal time of our Lord YaHshua's return.  That is the generation that thinks it is prepared but it is not.  But, before all of that, the Chruch throughout all of its generations, all listed as eras, one through seven, progressing to the end to His return, with each of the Seven Churches, once a collective existing during the same first era, leaves behind, as the History of the Church progresses, a bit of itself, each overlapping the other in its progress toward His return.  But, we are not there yet, and here we are 1,980 to 1,987 years (give or take however you want to calculate His Birth and Resurrection) later, we read the Prophetic words of our Savior, and we certainly can testify to their accuracy up to a point -- up to the opening of the 6th Seal.  Let's continue.

(Mat 24:7) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Comment: We can read about these things today and in every generation from the time of the Roman Empires rule down to our very own day. “Earthquakes in various places”, what kind of warning or caution is that? You see, Yahshua knew full well that we, the believers, those called to Him, would, or should understand the basic events to unfold prior to His return. This caution is there will be earthquakes and not to assume that every earthquake that comes along has anything to do with the Great Earth announcing His return. The other earthquakes we will discuss later are not to be confused with the many earthquakes happening in “various” places, as we approach the Great Quake of the 6th seal. The "great quake" will be a worldwide event, not quakes in diverse place but in one place, the whole of earth, shaken, perhaps even tipped, rolling from side to side like a drunk trying to find his footing -- Isa 24:20 -- there is coming a Worldwide shaking and it is a shaking our Savior, YaHshua, eventually tells us about.

(Mat 24:8) All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Comment: The things our Savior mentions -- actually covers 1,900 plus years, as we see, unlike his disciples sitting at his feet on the Mount of Olives the, the “end age” is not yet – these things are but the “beginning of birth pains”. The early Disciples would never have dreamed a continuation of 2,000 or more years. They thought they were living in those "end days" and not them alone -- down through the ages, generations after generation has believed this very same thing -- The Prophecy teachers of today are teaching this very thing, -- "We are the end time generation", they say. These false teachers even deceive themselves (2 Titus 3:13) by their “end time doctrines". One thing is sure, we, you and I, are living in OUR end days. How is this? You and I are not immortal and you will die sometime within the generation you were born and live, so, the "end time" is actually at the end of your life -- the next wakened moment, at the time of the resurrection will be to meet our Lord in the sky, as He returns, or to the Judgment at the end of His 1,000 rule from Jeruslame.  
  But this is not the teachings of the false teachers, no they, like those before them, think to know the mind of God and without reservation use the words of our Savior to prove we live in the “End Times”, even though our Savior says plainly, “All these (you know, the things He just mentioned) are the beginning of birth pains” -- not the beginning of the pregnancy, but of the “birth”. Very few babies are born at the first sign of birth pain – ask any mother about the process of birthing -- and you may get a better understanding of what our Savior was saying. Remember, news reports about the  Earth has always been bad -- world news, from the beginning has always been filled with elements of war, and world disturbances of all sorts, just like today. Look at this last generations disturbances WWII, the Korean war, Vietnam, on and on, not to mention the earthquakes in different places, countless iives lost.   Still, there is something greater coming, something literally Earth Shaking, on the horizon, but on our Lord's time line that is still, not yet.

(Mat 24:9) Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

Comment: You can actually go back in history and see where the first followers of YaHshua (remember, the name “Jesus” did not come into being until 1600 years later) were persecuted for staying loyal to YaHshua as Savior. Later a false church rose up, a state approved church (church of the government?), and this Church began its on brand of “Christian” persecution, and not only Christians of the Word, but the Jews too. In Satan’s hunt to annihilate the Jews many a true Christian (follower of YaHshua) has been caught up in the same satanic snare, and the reverse is true also, when the Christian follower of the Messiah, YaHshua, is persecuted so is the Jew. I think, however, the Messiah is saying something even bigger, encompassing an even greater area of the earth than that of the Roman Empire -- this can be seen in His statement, “…hated by all nations, because of Me”. Certainly we can see, historically, the trials the believers of the Word have endured but “all nations”? Remember, YaHshua’s disciples are asking about the “end of the age”.

(Mat 24:10) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

Comment: Something is going to happen that will cause many to fall away. It has happened in the past when the people YaHshua have been distressed. Many a professing Christian has stumbled under the stain of physical assault. Here we see, what I believe to be the "great falling away" (2 Th 2:3). The sense of this statement is troubling, indeed, to think of brothers and sister in the faith actually hating each other and betraying one another. What condition will we find the the world in causing such betrayal? Doesn’t this suggest a kind of outing by your friend and family?  We have seen this happen on and off again and again throughout world history.  This history, we are living in, witness a falling away fromthe Christian religion.  The children of many Christian families choosing other types of religion, abandoning the Bible, the Word of God in favor of a more intelliectual avenue pushed forward by the false science prophets, while others leave the church or intergrate the church with Eastern religious practice.  There is a time coming when this will be even more apparent. When the Second Beast steps onto the historical scene and causes many to be put to death -- all those who will not take on the name of the Beast - Rev 13.  It will be a battle over Names -- accept the Name of the Beast or the Name of our Lord YaHshua.  

(Mat 24:11) and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

Comment: this, of course has been going on from the beginning, but it really fits here. As those turning away from the true faith in YaHshua and begin exposing these true followers, even family and one time friends, to the authorities.  They will need a replacement belief to replace what they have abandoned – they will be ripe for exploitation by the many false prophets, the Wolves, then and now.

(Mat 24:12-13) Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Comment: As the days of Noah, so goes the saying, so we will see it in the end age. How else can you explain the many traitors of the faith? I am also of the opinion that this “love” is the “love” professing Christians have or are supposed to have. Notice, it is the increase in wickedness that the “love” grows cold. As the climate of the world becomes ever more wicked and violent the pressure on the follower of the Messiah will increase. As the world continues to become more wicked it would only be natural for their love to be cold. Our concern and love for our Savior and our Heavenly father must be unwavering and our love to “mankind” must be maintained if for no other reason than men are made in the image of the Creator Himself, and He so loved the world He sacrificed Himself for it. He wants everyone to be saved and knowing this we too need to be respecters of His feelings as His Children toward those who are blind, even toward those who would have us destroyed for not going along for the good (as they see it), for the good of all, and take on the name of the Beast, as opposed to His Holy Birth Name. You can hate the evil and the wickedness but pray for those caught up in the wickedness of the world -- as our Lord said while He hung on the Cross, "Forgive them because they do not know what they are doing..." .  We pray for them, even as they kill us, or those of our brothers and sister that come after us.

(Mat 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Comment: There is a parallel found in Mark’s writings really making this statement stand out in a meaning few have recognized. Looking at Mark 13:10 we find this additional statement, “...must be published in all the world”. Putting the two together, as many fail to do, and you have a statement that the Gospel must be “preached” and “published” in all the world. This preaching of the message of salvation has been preached in all the world, no denying that, but published? Even Paul suggested to the Colossians the gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven (Colossians 1:23). And yes I know this word for “published” in Mark could also be interchange for the word “preached” and isn’t it interesting that the subject of “preaching and publishing” of the word are the same? The publishing of the Word in all the world has only recently occurred. China was the last hold out and today, in our time the Gospel message, the very Word of God is being literally published in China. Just a few years ago if you had suggested such a thing would happen so quickly you would have been laughed at. I personally believe the political attitude in China, allowing a certain westernizing for economic gain, came about largely to tear down this last wall against the Holy Bible and its being published in all nations. My friends, you have witnessed a prophetic happening not even noticed by the world – the Word Published in China! There is yet another concern with this “preaching” of the Gospel to the whole world and this can be found in Revelation 14:6. This might be considered the absolute final Gospel message – no one will be able to say, “Well, I never heard that before”, and this will be the final and complete fulfillment of YaHshua’s prophetic statement, concerning the Gospel and the time of The End of man's rule and the rule of Satan, who is called the God of this world -- Luke 4:6 and 2 Cor 4:4.

(Mat 24:15-16) So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Comment: The warning here I believe concerns a much greater event than the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies, although one can see a type of fulfillment, but notice, the warning is not merely for those living in Jerusalem but to all of Judah and that basically covers the whole of modern Israel today. Most of the history we get concerning the events and timing of the destruction of the Temple in and around 68AD comes to us from the writings of Josephus (The Wars of the Jews).  But, during that time there was no abomination that causes desolation set up mentioned by Daniel.  At the time our Lord uttered these words there had been an historical fulfillment, but our Lord YaHshua is talking about another, a different abomination, one that Daniel also mentioned.  Still, this has not happened yet.

  Let me say right here, no one, that is no one, has this prophetic statement nailed down. Our Savior gives us a source, Daniel, and some of what Daniel says is plain and easy to understand as a prophetic piece of history, but some of the remarks by Daniel concerning the "abomination of (or that causes) desolation" is not so easily understood. We know from the Messiah's warning it is a specific event that He is thinking about -- Daniel and the abomination seemed to find it fulfillment with the invasion of Jerusalem by Antiochus IV Epiphanes -- whose real name was Mithradates. If he is seen as a forerunner for the one who will bring about the final fulfillment of this abomination that causes desolation Then it is important to realize that changing Names may be a characteristic of the coming Beast or Antichrist.  Look at the Popes of Rome, when they are elected to the seat of their power, they too change their names.  Don't forget the Savior's follow-up remark, "let the reader understand". We know from Daniel there is an example of an abomination taking place concerning Antiochus Epiphanies but this took place around 168 BC so our Savior obviously knew all about this event "spoken of by Daniel the prophet" , and that this event seemed to have already occurred, a fulfilling of historical prophetic words written centuries before it happened, to come into reality with Antiochus IV. So, what is our Savior, referring to? It can't be the same event, an abomination by Antiochus, setting up and Idol in the restored Temple, sacrificing pigs blood on the Jewish altar, that was all in the future when Daniel wrote about it, but now it is in the past.  What our Savior YaHshua was talking about had to be still in the future, and so we are left with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 68-70 AD under the Roman command of Titus. Is this what Daniel spoke of, is this the event our Savior was telling us about, then? Consider, Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 -- the problem is that Titus never set up any image, in fact, the destruction of the Temple was something Titus tried to stop, but, according to Josephus, the troops ran wild.  The destruction of the Temple brought about a forced end to sacrificing to YaHWeH.  Something that after the final sacrifice by His Son, our Savior on the Cross, broght an end to, and because they, the Jews, would not accept this, so then our Heavenly Father put an end to it Himself, using the enforcer of peace, the Roman Empire to destroy a House, Temple, He, YaHWeH would not longer honor.

Some of this you will have to decide for yourself. To me it seems to make sense our Savior, Yahshua, is speaking of a time further in the future, more into our time and I get of the feeling for this from something Daniel was told: (read all of Daniel 12:12-13)

(Dan 12:6-7) One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
(Dan 12:8) I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?"
(Dan 12:9-10) He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
(Dan 12:11-13)From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.

It is from these verses many end-time teachers think the Temple is to be rebuilt and the reason for this is the mention of the 1290 days -- there is no way you can fit that time into a period coming off the destruction of the Temple under Titus within the rapture teaching. I admit the 1290 days, even figured at a day for a year principle does not measure up as a marking of the "end time" so these days are projected into a future timing after the rebuilding of the Temple. Notice verses 9-10, Daniel is told the 'words are sealed up until the end time'. So, what if we are not in the "end time", as being taught today? Then the words are still "sealed up", right? Now take a critical look as verse 11-10, and we see many, not all, or millions, but "many" are made spotless at this time, but see what is said next, "the wicked will continue to be wicked"? Does this sound like going into the Kingdom? It sounds more to me like a continuation of time. Look, we know our Savior put an end to the daily Sacrifice, by His personal sacrifice. The complete stopping of the daily sacrificing came in 69-70 AD and has not resumed since.  What this means for the Jews, all Isralis is that they have no forgiveness for sin.  It was their sacrificial system through which they receive forgivness for sin -- that was brought to and end by our Savior, YaHshua, at the Cross and forced to stop by Titus in 70 AD.  The Jewish leadership know this, and still in rejection of His Son YaHshua, plan for a time to rebuild this Temple.  Is it possible that the rebuilding of a Temple will be the act YaHshua is referring to?  Is it possible the rebuilding of a Temple on Mount Moriah will be the Abomination that causes desolation?  But there is another view and something to consider.

Our Savior's statement in Matthew 24:15, the subject of this lengthy comment, mentions the "holy place" but no mention of the Temple, or a Temple, but the Holy Place only.  If we are to understand that the Temple He saw, and His disciples were looking at, in a future destruction, being rebuilt, why wouldn't He mention the Temple, a rebuilt Temple? He had just told His disciples the Temple would be destroyed? The "holy place" is Mount Moriah itself. So, I am not convinced the Temple is to be rebuilt. What of the 1290 days, the 1335 Days? There are certainly a lot of opinions and a lot of differing views taught as fact, but, at this point I'm not sure. I admit I am not wise enough to sort all of this out but one thing is certain, when the event of the Great Quake hits this earth we will all begin to see things and understand things we can only guess at right now, perhaps that will be when the understanding of the closed portion of the Book of Daniel will be opened.
  The "abomination that causes desolation" is seen standing in the "holy place", as YaHshua says, it is then the Jews, or anyone in Jerusalem, are warned to escape to the hills. Run for the hills, get out of there, leave, flee. YaHshua's warning and command is urgent and is a perpetual warning -- He doesn't know the time, the angels don't know, we don't know the time, Satan doesn't know the time, only our Father in Heaven (Mat 24:36) and we have not yet seen the "abomination that causes desolation", that YaHshua references, that is still to happen, still a future event.  We should note that this abomination does not have to be standing in a rebuilt Temple.  The Prophecy is that this abomination will be standing in the Holy Place -- the in could be translated on -- this abomination could be something that is sitting or standing on Mount Moriah, such as a building.  

Because it has not happened yet we are all guessing.  Yes, Antiochus seems to be a type, but not quite.  Still it is tempting to say that another one of his type is coming, someone just like him, and this is what many prophecy teachers do teach, that there is another Antiochus coming and will set up an idol in the newly rebuilt Temple.  A possiblitiy, but could it be the rebuilt Temple itself -- the Temple that is the abomination, the thing stand in the Holy Place?  This meaning is only a suggestion but still, isn't Mount Moriah the Holy Place?  Just asking or, Just saying.  This, of course would not be a popular idea, but from a Christian point of view this should be something to consider and not to be counted out.  

What is this “abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy place”? I am not sure, but, if I were to guess I would say it is the “False Prophet”, the one that stands in the place of the True God, the one speaking mighty things against the Creator and our Savior YaHshua, perhaps in the assumption they are speaking for the God of Heaven but instead speak for the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4). This same individual will be able to perform miracles, calling fire from the sky (Rev 13:13), causing the betrayal of the true followers of YaHshua, causing small and great to worship the Beast system, and the Beast himself. That would be my guess. When you see this Destroyer standing in the Holy Place those in Judah should head for the hills because something is about to happen on a grand scale. Keep in mind, for this to happen the Temple does not have to be rebuilt. The Holy Place is still there, the spot of the Holy of Holies is still there – the building is gone that’s all. A great religious leader of world renown could take the steps leading to the Holy Mountain where the Temple once stood and make his way to the Holy of Holies and this abomination will cause much destruction. Just think about it – I’m only guessing, of course. There is, of course, the possibility, as in BC 168, an idol will be set up.

The Dome of the Rock?
There are some that believe this object is the Dome of the Rock? But that cannot be correct, because the Muslim Dome (Al-Aqsa Mosque), has been on top of Mount Moriah since 691 AD -- that does not sound like what our Savior is telling His Disciples for the simple reason, as we will soon read, a great set of events are to take place immediately AFTER these days never matched in history. The following verses we see that the  "abomination" is a sign that marks the beginning of "great distress", and it is this event that is triggered by the "abomination" as still future, and is a time preceding the return of our Savior. We need His intervention or no one will be saved. A time, or an event preceding the signs to come, one of which is a Great Worldwide Quake, or Shaking -- events beyond the control of man or Beast.  Reading on this will become clear.

(Mat 24:17) Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house.
(Mat 24:18) Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.
(Mat 24:19) How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
(Mat 24:20) Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
(Mat 24:21) For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again. NIV (KJV has, great Tribulation)

Comment: This cannot be the time that the Temple was purged in 68-70AD for the simple reason that that time was not a time that could never be equalted again.  The time of distress, none as the Great Tribulation, is a time that can very be equaled again, but look at what the Germans did in WWII, 6 million Jews, and another 6 million Christians and others for a total of 12 million murdered in the Nazi purge, not counting the 50 million who died in this war. Nothing on that scale has ever happened before and there can be no comparison with the smaller scale of the Roman purge against the Jews.    
Many bible teachers during those years, 1939-45,  labeled Mussolini and Hitler as the two horns of the Beast government and the Pope as the False Prophet, and it all looked pretty good, but what came of it – Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War – and forgetting that Mussolini and Hitler are now long dead. Can it happen again? After WW I who would have believed WW II could be worse – WW I had been labeled the war to end all wars , that was the saying and then followed Hitler and Mussolini, another time of war that ended with the development and the use of the Atomic Bomb, and that certainly was a time never before matched or seen before.  

Forgive me if it seems like I am repeating things, it is my way of working out what the possibilities may be, and maybe clearing away some of the fog, enough to see where we actually are on the time line of things to come.  Perhaps seeing what is to happen, literally, before the Return of our Lord.  Let's press on.  

(Mat 24:22) If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Comment: Here is another clue these prophetic statements of our Savior, as found in this verse, relates to a time in yet future. For the sake of the Elect things are going to be shortened. There seems to be a real danger here of losing the Elect and the survival of everyone, as in the days of Noah, would result if a saving intervention were not to take place. I believe this may also mean the spiritual survival not just a physical one. If things are allowed to continue at that end age even the Elect may no longer be able to withstand the on slot of evil – Satan’s assault on mankind and the unrepentant hearts of men would lead to the lose of all, just as in the Days of Noah. Remember, we are told that a true believer will not be taken beyond what he, or she, can endure. I know you don’t what to hear these things but hear you must. If you do not close your eyes and stuff up your ears you will be better suited in preparing yourself for the evil times ahead. You do not need to be taken by surprise for we are not disciples of darkness (1Th 5:4-5). If you understand the necessity of the coming events, unpleasant as they may be, you will not be weakened in your faith in our Savior but strengthened. But, if you are not aware and are not watching and you are caught off guard you may falter. I would liken it to hitting you thumb with a hammer and the first words out of your mouth would not be, Praise God. If, however, you were told the next strike of the hammer you would be hitting your thumb and you should praise God you did not knock your thumb completely off then your response is more likely to be, “Praise you YaH”, or, HalleluYaH – thanks for the warning.

(Mat 24:23) At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.
(Mat 24:24) For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.

Comment: These words should ring in your ears just look at what has happened and continues to happen as “false Christ” come and go through history. Even today we see demon filled preachers putting on shows filled with “signs” and “miracles” (1 Th 2:9, 2 Peter 2:3) . This should give a believer pause, a warning of the first order. Signs, miracles, and wonders, and stories made up are the first order the false teachers and prophets not of the true prophets or teachers of the Creator God -- this is at a time AFTER the Abomination that cause desolation (back to verse 15-16).  These false prophets will APPEAR to preform Great Signs and miracles, but it is only the appearance of such thing, the reality will be different, and thus people will believe what they want to believe, not what they should believe -- we have been forewarned.  No wonder Satan and those of his spirit appear as "angels of light", this is all fitting for the god of this world, Satan (2 Cor 11:13-14). Certainly this was as true then, now and in between – but even more so as we are hurled into the evil days ahead. (I personally do not believe we are in the end age. Much of what our Savior tells us is present through every age, or generation) Keep in mind this is all to be in a time that is going to be shortened. With this understanding it is plain the events spoken of do not find their final fulfillment 2000 years in the past. There is no “gap theory” either, that is one of the many false doctrines taught by the Rapture people. The 7 Seals of Revelation 6 make that plain. Each of those Seals brings us closer to our Savior’s return. Those seals are historical progressions with the final seal delivering the world into the “Wrath of the Lamb” (Rev 6:12-15).

  It is with a “Great Sign” our Savior will announce His coming -- His Great Sign will be Heavenly, not some slight of hand or manmade, manufactured trick, but the literaly shaking of the heavens, the shaking of the whole world. His "sign" will be so stupendous and frightening that some will die from fright. The “signs” of the agents of Satan will be very convincing even if it were possible to deceive the “elect”. The way it is worded it seems these false prophets will not be able to deceive the elect. I’m thinking this is the case as the elect are so grounded in the Word that anyone attempting to convince the religious community “great signs” and "miracles" the elect will be able to "discern" these things as not from our Creator. By His word, the written words of God, the elect will be able to see these things for what they are – deceiving signs -- deceiving miracles. All believers should be wary of anyone coming with “signs” and “miracles” as these things are actually and “end time” warning of deception, not of the Holy Spirit as these fakers of today and tomorrow try to make out. If you are in a Church that is centered on “sign” and “miracles” then you had better take a second look. Our Savior has warned us – our Savior has warned you. Read, II Thessalonians 2:9-10 closely and you will see the use of “signs” and “miracles” is not the sign of a true man, or woman, of God, far from it. Isn’t it amazing how many ministries are built around these kinds of things when the plain words of our Messiah warns against these things. Read Matthew 12:39 and then think twice about searching for, seeking, signs. Protect yourself, take up the serious study and reading or you Savior's words.

(Mat 24:25) See, I have told you ahead of time.

Comment: This is a chilling statement. Our Messiah, YaHshua, has warned us well “ahead of time”. We have been warned – given a heads up, so to speak – are we listening? I hope so but what I see in the Evangelical community is not good it is down right scary. The deceivers have infiltrated the Evangelical community and in their own minds are deceiving and deceiving even themselves. If you are seeking signs and wonders you will get them, all you can take, you sill see what you want to see. When the ultimate sign hits this world is will be something beyond man, it will be heavenly, and it will be globally, but will it be recognized for what it is -- the sign of His coming?

(Mat 24:26) So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

Comment: If you, as a Believer, have to be told where the Messiah is then you have missed out. This also demonstrates your ignorance toward the Word of God. The true believer, in word and deed, called of the Father to the Son, will see the Great events to strike this world for what they are, not the “end” but only the beginning culminating into something glorious – the Return of our Savior and the end of all war, well, almost. HalleluYah.

(Mat 24:27) For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Comment: I love this verse, it is so simple yet so difficult for the world to understand. For one thing lightening does not travel from east to west (as the KJV has it – the NIV, quoted here has actually tried to make sense of it, but the wrong sense). Lightening is not only seen from the east, but the west, the north and south. In reality lightening comes from above to the ground and sometimes from the ground up to the clouds this, of course is what our Savior will do, coming with the clouds to the ground. Here, however, is a better understanding and meaning of this verse. What is it that travels from east to west and is as bright as lightening and is seen by everyone the world over? The sun, of course, just as we see it move across the earth from east to west. Is it the sun that is moving? No, of course not, it is the rotation of the earth -- the sun is stationary. When we see the Savior coming He will be as a bright sun approaching the earth and the earth, all of the earth, every eye, will see him just as they see the sun appearing to move from east to west so will be the coming of our Savior and the people of earth, small and great will shake with fear and dread.

(Mat 24:28) Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Comment: This is a hard one, no one seems to know exactly what this means and from this it may not be a point to worry about but I will take a crack at it anyway. I have heard of the possible interpretation, not supported by any of the original wording, but much more suitable to the Christian mind and that is this: Wherever the Body is there the chicks will gather. This makes sense in the fact our Savior is discussing His return. Like I said, however, there is no support for this other than a Christian sense of being gathered to the Messiah. Another suggestion involves the dead bodies to result form our Savior’s deliverance of Israel and the Elect. It either means something happy, or something very sad, or both.

(Mat 24:29) Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
(Mat 24:30) At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

Comment: Immediately AFTER the distress of those days -- this is AFTER what days?  The days of the abomination that causes desolation, those days, the days those in Judah are to flee, or will flee, into the moutanis.  Now we can really get down to business. This is all about the 6th Seal of Revelation 6. Everything mentioned here is mirrored in the vision of revelation given to John. There cannot be any mistaking this. More proof that the return of our Savior is anything but secret or silent, as the Rapture teachers would have you believe. Notice, and I repeat --  it is "immediately after the distress of those days", what days? The days of "abomination that causes desolation". We will see a great persecution taking place in Israel and then the intervention of our Savior by a mighty, "great quake", that will reset the world political systems.  As mention earlier, it is the Abomination that is the trigger for our God and Savior to take action, to do something to this world that only they can do, shake it, as if to destroy all of humanity.  It is, however, not the plan to destroy everyone, but enough to put a stop to the every growing madness.

(Isa 24:19-21)  The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that YaHWeH shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

(Mat 24:31) And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Comment: Here we are launched into the sounding of the Trumpets and the gathering of the Elect from every corner of the earth. Imagine. But prior to this we have to deal with the 6th Seal, and the 7th Seal launching the world into the 7 Trumpet sounds and these Trumpets take us into the Resurrection. Read Revelation 10:7, when the 7th Trumpet is ABOUT to sound, “the Mystery of God is accomplished”. From here and into Revelation 11 where you see the resurrection of the Two Witnesses and, I believe, the Elect of the earth, dead and living. Then in verse 15 we see the 7th Trumpet sound and it is highlighted by the declaration of all the kingdoms becoming the Kingdoms of God punctuated with another “earthquake and a Great Hail Storm”. From here our Messiah, in His “end of age” lesson, gave His disciples a lesson in observation and this lesson is for those living toward and eventually into the “end age”.

(Mat 24:32) Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
(Mat 24:33) Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Comment: When we see these things, like forecasting the weather, we should know we are near, and has anyone seen these things? No, they have not because they have not occurred yet. So, why are the many Evangelical teachers speaking things with such a positive attitude, could it be they really think they are to escape the days coming? An interesting side light to this warning of observation is that modern man leaves the reading of the skies, the heavens to others. Today most have their nose so close to the ground (myself included) they seldom look up to the heavens other than to admire its beauty in a romantic mood but seldom to tell what the weather is going to be like. If not for the TV weather man people would be lost in reading the signs of the seasons. We, as a people, have lost that talent and perhaps it is a sign of modern man’s inability to read the “end age” weather signs, modern Christians inability to study and understand the scriptures for themselves. Here is an interesting point in the lesson of the "fig tree". Our Savior gives the example of a fig tree breaking from spring into summer. Revelation 6:13 also speaks of the fig tree but in this case it seems to be a reference to an untimely event. The fruit is shaken from the tree before its time.

The fig tree is seen as a symbol for Israel and apply the remarks concerning the "fig tree" to Israel and its possession of the area of land they now sit on. But look, they do not control the Temple Mount, they do not control the land mass given them by God and they keep trying to make deals with their belligerent neighbors. Perhaps this is the "fig tree" of untimely fruit? At any rate our Savior speaks of determining the times by and action not unlike watching conditions of the earth in determining the time of season we live in. the Fig tree of the 6th seal is translated by some works as and over ripe condition while others, like the KJV see it as unripe fruit. So, there you have it, your choice, before the fruit is ready or after. One thing is sure, when the fruit is shaken to the ground is it there to rot, no mention of a harvest at that point in time.

(Mat 24:34) I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
(Mat 24:35) Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
(Mat 24:36) No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Comment: How often are these verses quoted and then almost immediately broken? I have heard it all. Okay, we can’t know the day or the hour, but we can know the season, they say, and then begins the speculation on the day and the hour. After all, they say, He didn’t say we couldn’t know the year, only the day and the hour, right? I personally am not against weather watching, meaning world event watching, and looking for the season of His coming, as the Messiah told use to learn the lesson of the “fig tree”, right? On one hand we see when summer approaches and on the other we see and untimely shaking. Listen, my friends, when the fruit falls and hits the ground and is bruised it will rot. So, I’m seeing that warning as being observant not so much in world political events but as events out of man’s control -- beyond man's control. We do not control the weather, not do we control earthquakes, the wind blows where it will and it is our Creator and only our Creator that can control the heaven and the earth as described in the 6th Seal. The natural events of the earth are controlled by its Creator so it is these events we are to look for, to watch for and then we can tell when the fruit is about to fall.  Nuclear war?  There will always be wars and rumors of wars and minor earth quakes in different place, but like He told us, those things must happen, but the end is not yet, not in those thing -- those things are a natural course that men run, as they run toward violence.  The violent rage and riot, just as Satan and his angels raged, rioting, in rebellion against their creator, with dreams of taking over the Kingdom.  They failed, and continue to fail here on Earth, but hmanity has those who would do the same, and we see this kind of rebellion in every riot, and war that men engage in from decade to decade.  But, what is to come from our Creator is much, much greater and worldwide in scope.  

(Mat 24:37) As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
(Mat 24:38) For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
(Mat 24:39) and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Comment: “The Days of Noah” , how often have we heard those words? Verse 38 is a favorite, “they were eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage”. This all sounds almost ideal but the days of Noah were anything but ideal. Violence filled the earth in those days and the wickedness of man reached to the heavens – sound familiar? Even in all of the current turmoil people are going about their business, especially here in the United States, as if nothing is happening. Fighting a war on terror, collapsing economy and what is the average citizen doing? Going to the movies, taking vacations, flying here and there, not a care, not a worry. Even the unemployed are living pretty good. Sure some of the newly unemployed have had to downsize from their 3-4000 square foot home but by and large life is really good when compared to the average citizen of Pakistan, or India, or Mexico, or South America, or just about anywhere else. Even in those impoverished nations they still are marrying and giving n marriage as if all things continue, the level of poverty or wealth does not stop this event.

Look, I’m not saying we should give up living because there are Wars and Rumors of Wars but we should be paying more attention than we are. In the times of Noah he was found to be blameless before YHWH and some have suggested this could well mean that he was the last of the line of Adam not having crossbred with other races (Gen 7:1, some see this verse as "prefect in his generation), but wait, think about it for a second -- Noah's wife, too, then, would have to have been perfect, that is, if it were about DNA perfection, some kind of racial thing, but it is not and was not about race or genetic perfection.  Noah and his family were saved, eight souls in all. Of course, if it were about genetic perfection we need to remember, also, that Noahhad three sons and this would make them pure, genetically, also. The fact of the scripture is found in the Genesis 6:9, Noah, a righteous man, a man walking with his Creator -- this fact is mentioned right after we see the men of God (like Noah) mingling with the daughters of other men (non-believers, even those who would be considered, savages). We see this in the world today the barrier of interracial marriage has been brought down, but it is not about race as much as about religion and belief -- the believer in our Creator and Him alone taking wives from among the non-believers -- King Solomon did this, doing great harm to himself and to the nation of Israel (1 King 11:1-2).

God, our Creator, originally confused the languages of men dividing the races by tongue and then by area (Gen 11:1), but this was AFTER the Great Flood and would have been a sure demonstration that YaHWeH not only meant for men to not eliminate the races by intermingling as happened in the first world. Look at the make up of the nations, AFTER the flood -- Genesis chaper 11, they are all from the sons of Noah, so, again, this perfection found in Noah could not have meant a DNA or gentic perfection.  And one more point to consider, when it comes to the days that are like the days of Noah:  What it the perfection, what is it that made Noah stand out?  His walk with YaHWeH.  His desire to serve and worship Him only.  But, was Noah perfect, as in "perfect", without fault?  No, he was as human as the rest of us and we know this by something that happened after the flood waters had subsided and Noah and his boys had their first crop and their first fruit of the vine -- Noah got falling down drunk -- Genesis 9:20-21.

A day is coming when everyone will return to their own land, or place of origin -- ”like sheep without a shepherd”. (Isaiah 13:13-14, the timing of this verse is seen in the statement, “Wrath of YHWH”, in the day of His burning anger and the day He shakes the earth – Rev 6:12-15) This, of course, is not politically correct but still does not change what our Creator had in mind for us. As the days of Noah, not only had they become wicked in everything they did but the line of the men of God was being lost, as we see in Genesis 6, by intermarriage leading them away from the true god. Anyone knowing the story of Solomon can see this very same thing as he took to himself wives of every race and in doing so he began to cave in to their demands for religious representation in Israel. In his later years Solomon had returned Israel to a pagan worship second only to the Canaanites before them. This time of Noah is more than marrying and giving in marriage, it is a time of losing the true worship, a true gospel being lost. This makes the remark of our Savior even more pointed concerning His return, “Will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). In Noah’s day it was only Noah, only Noah while his three sons their families went along for the ride. So, as the days of Noah? Will He find faith when He returns? It may well be that the true follower of YaHshua may number in a few thousand (the 144,000 for sure), not the millions mentioned in today’s census.

These words about His coming, His Return are reinforced in a later teaching as well:

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that YaHshuadied and rose again, even so them also which sleep in YaHshua will God (the Father) bring with Him. (this is now explained in the following verses)
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord (YaHshua), that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord (YaHshua) shall not prevent them which are asleep (asleep in Him).
1Th 4:16-17  For the Lord himself (YaHshua) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the YaHshua in the air (sky): and so shall we ever be with the Lord (with the Lord, YaHshua -- Rev 7:9).
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

(Mat 24:40) Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
(Mat 24:41) Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
(Mat 24:42) Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Comment: The Rapturist like to quote this verse giving no heed to the lesson found in the “parable of the Weeds” (Matthew 13:24-30), “first collect the weeds and then tie them in bundles to be burned”. Those taken first, in this parable, are not the followers but the weeds, and they are thrown into the fire. This is a witness against the false Rapture teaching as they teach -- the false Rapture Doctrine is just the opposite lesson from what our Messiah, YaHshua, said.  Those taken are taken to be burned up, not taken to Heaven as they suppose -- at least, in this parable about the Seed and the Tares.

(Mat 24:43) But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
(Mat 24:44) So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Comment: 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 is the answer to this – we are not children of the darkness that this day should take us by surprise. I am afraid, however, that that may be just the case, as we have seen, few escaped in the days of Noah -- we must pray for our brothers and sisters to have courage, to be able to stand in the day of His Wrath that we might glorify His Name. Will He find faith, we should shout, yes! Look, here am I, Oh Lord, here am I.

(1Th 5:4-5)  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Do you see?  Children of the Light will not be caught off gaurd, they will see the developments, according to the word and know the truth about the times that are to come upon this world.  He, our Savior, tells anyone that will listen to watch, to stay awake, to keep your eyes, your spiritual eyes open, to hear what He is saying and not be fooled, by the true scoffers who deny His prophetic words for their own sensitive feelings and being guided by their fear, thus insisting on hearing only smooth words, as opposed to words they should hear.  Let their blood be on their own heads -- He has warned us all, and for nearly 2,000 years this warning has gone out over the whole earth.  So, who is listening?  Are you choosing to live in the dark or the light?

(Mat 24:45) Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

Comment: I pray this is food for you at the proper time. I know this is a selfish endeavor on my part but I seem driven to it.  

(Mat 24:46) It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
(Mat 24:47) I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
(Mat 24:48) But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,'
(Mat 24:49) and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
(Mat 24:50) The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.

Comment: Of course I do not want to be that servant who thinks our Savior is delaying, maybe not even coming and this may be what it means to have the patience of the saints (Rev 13:10). These verses speak for themselves and anyone attempting to teach the Word, or to care for the people within the Body of the Christ YaHshua, should take them seriously. The day of reckoning is approaching, be gentle with those you are feeding, never compromising the Word of truth and most certainly never using the Word to punish those you are supposed to encourage by the Word. There is more than one way in the art of beating the children of God and to their shame many false teachers desiring to be adored as leaders use the Word itself as a club to keep the deceived in line. Constantly being threatened not to judge, and you will be judged as you judge. These are true sayings of Scripture being misused and abused. The understanding is not given in judging, not by your words but by the Word and words of our God and our Savior, YaHshua. When you use the Word of God as your instrument of judgment it is not you that judge but the Word -- do you see? It is not for us to "condemn" but we must judge, but by the written word alone, not what we think or feel, but what His Word tells us He thinks and feels. It is by the written word we are able to defend ourselves against the deceivers, and we must make a judgment constantly concerning our belief and knowledge as opposed to the false teachers threatening us with the "judgment club" to beat the weak back into line -- judge not, they scream and rant, or you shall be judged.  In other words, sit down and shut up, we will not hear it from you.  This is a perfect example of how the misuse of the word is used to silence the timid, and in some cases, to drive a brother or sister from the group, by using the Judgment Club and beating anyone raising a quesiton to death with it.

(Mat 24:51) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Comment: Sounds like hell to me – outside of the Kingdom, do doubt. It is appropriate our Savior would end with this warning to the servants of the household, after all, He began with a warning about “deceivers”, might as well end with where they are headed (Hell, really?). He has a lot to say without giving away all the details. Why else the Book of Revelation?  Now go and read Revelation 6:12-17, about the Wrath of the Lamb, the 6th seal, and realized, at this point, the 7th Seal has not been opened yet.  We are on the edge of the 6th Seal opening, which, I believe will be triggered by the Abomination that Causes Desolation.  Once the 6th Seal is peeled away then Mountains will be moved out of place, as well as Islands and from this we can only imagine the horrific tsunamis that will ravage all of the coastlands.  After this Great Earth Shaking event, as the dust settles and people crawl back out, those who survive, and a rebuilding begins the question will be about Repentance -- will mankind, in recovery and before the 7th Seal is peeled away, Repent?  It would seem that the fore knowledge our Creator says no, man will not repent.  A few, perhaps, but not the majority of survivors.  In fact, some of the survivors may even curse God and all the Host of Heaven, during such a time.  One day a generation of people are going to experience the opening of the 6th Seal, and that is a fact, believe it or not.  His Word is always true and the opening of the 6th Seal will prove just that, for anyone willing to see it, hopefully, before hand.  

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