By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #374 ~
Who is Matthew 24 written to? It is for all Christians, especially the final “you”, the last generation of Christians on this earth. To help you understand what I mean, here are the verses using the word “you” in Matt. 24.“See to it that no one misleads you” (vs. 4).“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened” (vs. 6).“They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all generations” (vs. 9). “When you see the abomination of desolation…” (vs. 15).“If anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ…’” (vs. 23).“Behold, I have told you in advance.” Vs. 25
“If they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out” (vs. 26). “When its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.” (vs. 32).“So you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near” (vs. 33).“Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (vs. 34).“Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (vs. 42).“For this reason, you must also be ready…” (vs. 44).“Truly I say to you that He will put him in charge of all his possessions.” Vs. 47
That’s 17 different times! And that’s just the verses using the word “you”. Several other verses imply that Matt. 24 is for this “you”, this last generation of Christians. Then there is Mark 13:9-13, a similar prophecy passage, and in these five verses, “you” appears nine times. For example: “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” Vs. 11
But who is this “you”? First, this “you” is all believers. All Christians must know there is an end to this age, that Christ is coming again to carry out His Father’s will (Matt. 6:10) in our lives and on this earth. All Christians must know that Matt. 24 contains many of His end-times’ plans that tell us what will be happening before He comes. And all Christians need hope, must know that God is working out an incredibly wonderful future for them.
Second, this“you” is believers living on earth when the Jewish people are back in their land, during what we call the end-times. This 2nd point describes our present condition as a church, and is applicable to every believer in this world. Christians alive at this time in history should know that Christ is coming very soon, and that the God-planned events of the end-times listed in Matt. 24 could take place during their lifetime. Knowing these events should excite and enlarge the hope of every Christian now living on earth. Eph. 1:18
Third, this“you” is believers living on earth during the birth pains, and when the Antichrist is revealed, and when there is great persecution, and when this age comes to an end, and when Christ comes back to rapture the church. So this “you” is most relevant for that last generation of Christians on earth. Because this is such an extremely important point, I will again state the verses that tell us this:“So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Matt. 24:33-34
Here are several thoughts relating specifically to this last generation of Christians:
* This last generation of Christians has already been selected by God. It is a special group of believers that God chose and planned to be here for this momentous time in history. God knows exactly who they are, their names, ages, countries, purpose, and whether they will be raptured, martyred, or die due to natural causes.“I am God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country… I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-10
* God saves those belonging to this last generation at just the right time, raises them up for this moment in history, gives them spiritual gifts, and trains them for the specific purposes He has planned out for them.“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you” (Jer. 1:4).“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless” (Eph. 1:4).“Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for battle.” Ps. 144:1
* This last generation needs to know all these things we have been talking about in Matt. 24, for they are the final“you”, believers living on earth in the last years before the end of this age and Christ’s coming. They also need to know the general time of His coming, that it’s not pre-trib but pre-wrath, that Christ is returning to rapture the church sometime during the 2nd half of Dan. 70th week. I really believe God has determined that a large number of Christians will be “special-ops”, mature and spiritually strong during this time, and will clearly understand the major tenets of Matt. 24. 1 Cor. 16:13-14
* It is the duty of believers living on earth to know all these things listed in Matt. 24, and be telling and teaching them to the next generation(s). We must be convinced of the need to train younger believers for what will be the greatest spiritual warfare anyone has every experienced on earth (Matt. 24:9-13; Eph. 6:10-18; Rev. 12:7-17, 13:3-18). I believe that teaching the church these 2nd coming truths should be one of the top priorities of our spiritual leaders. “… God commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children” (Ps. 78:7-9).“Make them known to your sons and your grandsons” (Deut. 4:9).“Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” Ps. 71:18, Matt. 24:45, 2 Tim. 4:1-2
* This last generation will see that the day of Christ is drawing near (Heb. 10:25). These last days’ saints will hear of and / or experience wars, famines, earthquakes, and economic calamity. They will hear that the Jewish temple has been built. They will know that the Antichrist is alive and ruling on earth. They will be living in a depraved and degenerate world. They will hear that Jews are being greatly persecuted. They will be betrayed, turned in to the authorities, and experience great persecution. They will not take the mark of the beast or worship his image. They will see a blackened sun and moon and a darkened earth and know that this age has come to an end. They will see the skies burst with light and Jesus Christ coming on the clouds (Matt. 24:3-30).“This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Matt. 24:34
* I believe that the vast majority of this last generation of Christians will have strong faith, will be trusting God, loving God, and living for Him. They will love the saved and encourage them as they see the day of Christ drawing near. They will be making disciples. They will be sharing the gospel with the lost. They will be overcomers.“In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). They will have hope, and will endure to the end of this age. And yes, many of these believers will be martyred for their faith (Rev. 6:9-11). But those who persevere, who are kept alive, will be super excited about seeing Christ and being with Him, and being with all their loved ones who went before them. 1 Thess. 2:19-20, 4:13-18
* I am 72, and I personally believe this last generation may be that of our children, more likely that of our grandchildren, and possibly that of our great grandchildren. Knowing that Christ is coming soon, and could come to a generation of people we personally know should greatly motivate us to learn all we can about the end-times and Christ’s coming (Matt. 24, Luke 21, 1 Th. 4-5 – 2 Th. 1-2, and Rev. 6-7), and then share these truths with them. Truly, this is one of the most loving things we can do!
* The absolute certainty that there will be a generation of believers who witness all these things is clearly and unequivocally stated in Matt. 24:35.“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words (about this last generation) will not pass away.” Without a doubt, a special, select group of believers, the very last Christians on earth, the very last Christians of this age and of the church age, will soon witness all these things, and be living and waiting for Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King.“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:58
* To the last generation: Be thankful that God has chosen you to be part of this last generation. Be glad that He wants you to love and serve Him in these last years before He sends His Son back to earth and then takes you to heaven. Always remember that Jesus Christ is in charge of the church. So keep looking to Him and trusting Him, and do exactly what He tells you to do. And yes, you may be afraid, and feel inadequate and weak, but be strong in the Lord. Remember that Jesus is with you to the end, and that He will give you all the grace and peace you need, enabling you to overcome the enemy and endure to that time when you see Him coming in the clouds. And don’t forget the hope God has given you, and that it won’t be long before you will be with Jesus, be glorified, be with loved ones, be in heaven, and be greatly and infinitely blessed. Heb. 12:22-24, Rev. 22:12
* These truths about this last generation should wake you up, should excite you, should motivate you to live all out for our Lord at this time, to tell those who are saved these truths about Christ’s 2nd coming, and to tell those who are lost these truths about Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, about how they can receive Christ’s mercy, be saved from their sins, and how they will experience His wrath, this“unquenchable fire”, if they don’t receive Him, if they don’t repent and believe that Christ died and rose again. Is this not what John the Baptist did? Luke 3:3-18
For all of us, we must know who God has made us to be, for this enables us to know how we are to live for Him. In the next post, I will talk about how as a church, we are to be worshipers, students, servants, workers, warriors, teachers, preachers, evangelists, overcomers, and watchman.“It is like a man (Jesus Christ) away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert” (Mark 13:34).“You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 1:9-10
P.S. Always remember that God has you alive at this time in history, and that He has special plans for you! Here are two very helpful posts – “How Then Shall You Live in the End-Times?” (12), and “Your Journey to the End – A Straight Road to Glory” (54).