Matthew 24 by J. H. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 27, 1886

By J. H. W.

There has been a long-continued controversy over this chapter, between the Universalists and those of “evangelical” faith. Universalists well understand the importance of the contest on this field, for if it can be proved that this refers only to the destruction of Jerusalem, and not at all to the future advent of Christ in person, then the second and personal advent of the Saviour may be discarded altogether, and the doctrine of a future Judgment falls to the ground.

Many reasons may be given for applying this chapter to the second advent. A few we will notice:—

1. Before “the end” here referred to, nation should rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes should be in divers places. No such state of things intervened between the time when our Saviour uttered these words, and the revolt which resulted in the overthrow of Jerusalem.

2. There was to be the greatest tribulation (upon the elect, see verses 21, 22) which ever was or ever should be. If we say the Jews were the elect, then we find tribulation equally great under the Babylonians. See Lam. 2 and 4; especially chapter 4: 3-10; Dan. 9:11-13. But Christ said (John 8:44) that the unbelieving Jews were of their father the devil; therefore they were not the elect. But the greatest tribulation did not come upon the true people of God at the destruction of Jerusalem. They were mercifully delivered at that time.

3. Those who “spiritualize” this chapter say that “the coming of the Son of man,” means the coming judgments upon Jerusalem, through the Roman army. But it cannot appear reasonable to make the Roman army the Son of man and the “abomination of desolation” in the same scripture.

4. When they saw this abomination of desolation, then if any man should say, “Lo, here is Christ,” they were not to believe it. But if the coming of Christ was only a figure to represent the Roman army, then they were to believe and escape when they saw it. To apply this to the Roman army would be to cut off their warning and their escape.

5. The coming of the Son of man shall be as the lightning, shining from the east to the west. This well represents the advent of the Saviour in the glory of the Father, with all the holy angels. See Mark 8:38; Matt. 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. But it does not at all represent the coming of the Romans to Jerusalem.

6. At the coming of the Son of man the elect are to be gathered unto him. Matt. 24:29-31; 2 Thess. 2:1. But at the coming of the Roman army the servants of God left the city and fled away.

7. Paul said, before the Lord comes and the saints are gathered unto him, there should come a falling away and the man of sin would be revealed. What fulfilled that prophecy if Christ came when Jerusalem was overthrown?

8. The signs of verse 29 are supposed to be figurative, and the darkening of the sun is made to mean the removal of the civil power of the Jews, as the moon is referred to the ecclesiastical. We will not say that they who argue thus are ignorant, but they must be very thoughtless to make the Saviour prophesy the loss of civil power to the Jews so many years after it was totally lost! Themselves confessed they had no king but Cæsar. They were in complete subjection to the Romans when this prophecy was uttered.

9. It is argued that wonderful signs were shown before Jerusalem was destroyed. Admitted, and what then? The text says that after the tribulation of those days the signs were to appear. If the tribulation were the destruction of Jerusalem, and the signs occurred after that, of what were they signs? There is no harmony in that view. But let the tribulation be upon the elect, the greatest that ever was would include the terrible persecution under the papacy; immediately after that, 1780, the sun was darkened, and the moon did not give her light; the stars fell in 1833. Thus the signs were not signs of the tribulation, but they were after the tribulation, and are signs of the Saviour’s coming. Here is the harmony of truth.

10. The instruction of this chapter was not given to prove that Christ will come again (though it does prove this), for this is abundantly proved by other scriptures, and on this point the questioners had no doubt. But it was given especially to teach the church when that event is “near, even at the doors.” They did not ask him if he was coming again, but, what should be the sign of his coming and of the end of the world. He gave them the information they desired.

11. He informed them that when he comes he will find some faithful servants giving the household “meat in due season,” while evil servants will be saying in their hearts, if not with their tongues, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” One class shall be made rulers in the kingdom of the Saviour, and the other shall be cut asunder and appointed their portion with the hypocrites. Matt. 24:45-51. O fearful doom of self-deceived ones! Reader, on which side will you be in that day? Where do you stand now? J. H. W.

Matthew 24.