24:27Matthew 24:27

Christ's return will be open and worldwide, seen across the sky like lightning flashing from east to west, not hidden, local or secret. GC88 624.2–625.2+4 It will be personal and literal, sudden and unmistakable, coming with power and great glory to illuminate the earth and raise the dead to immortal life. 8MR 233.3–235.1+4 For this reason claims that He is already present in deserts, hidden rooms, or spirit gatherings are not to be believed, and Satan's wonders cannot counterfeit this manner of coming. GC88 624.2–625.2+4 The prophecy was given beforehand as a danger signal so believers will not be deceived, will discern the fulfilling signs that His coming is near, and will watch, repent and prepare. DA 630.4–631.1+4

Matthew 24:27 belongs to Jesus' discourse on Olivet about the destruction of Jerusalem and His coming, with the warning about Jerusalem's overthrow joined to the warning about the second advent and the two described together.DA 627.1–3+2 The prophecy reaches beyond Jerusalem's fall to the final events of earth's history and the Lord's coming.DA 627.1–3 The warning about false Christs and false prophets is joined to both the danger surrounding Jerusalem's overthrow and the dangers of the second advent, though the disciples did not yet understand why these events were connected.Ms 78, 1897, par. 52–53 The warning belongs to every age and is to be understood and applied to its proper time, especially to the age leading to the end after the gospel has been carried to every kingdom under heaven.Ms 78, 1897, par. 52–53+1

It is part of Christ's great prophecy in Matthew 24 that sketches the history of the present dispensation from His first advent to His second advent and His coming in His kingdom.GC88 bC.1+2 The chapter traces important events in the history of the world and the church, placing His coming in His kingdom after the signs and tribulations described earlier.GC 393.2–394.1+1 The narrative brings sympathy with the church in her warfare and sufferings as she passes on to her promised redemption, and kindles hope in the final triumph of the people of God.GC88 bC.1 It extends on to the complete restitution of all things, the destruction of Satan and all his followers, the total and eternal extirpation of evil from the universe, and the renovation of the earth as the everlasting inheritance of the saints when the great controversy is concluded.GC88 bC.1 Its predicted events provide waymarks showing that what He foretold will surely come to pass.18MR 178.2–3+1

The discourse in Matthew 24 and 25, including predictions and warnings, was given shortly before Jesus entered Gethsemane.ST Nov 20, 1884 It was spoken after a day of work while He was weary and Pharisees pressed Him with questions.ST Nov 20, 1884 In that Olivet prophecy He foretold that His people would face humiliation, reproach, and persecution from the time He was taken from them until His return in power and glory to deliver them.4SP 39.1

The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a type of the final destruction of the world by fire, belonging to events preceding the coming of the Son of man.Ms 77, 1899, par. 4–5 It shows that great, seemingly permanent structures cannot protect an impenitent people from God's judgments, calling people to recognize that the Lord is near and to warn the world that the end is at hand.21MR 79.9–80.3 The verse gives no date for His coming, for the day and hour are unknown.Ms 1, 1906, par. 1–6+1 The signs show that His coming is near, though it is a visible event not confined to Jerusalem's destruction, and the disciples are warned instead to heed Christ's words, prepare themselves, and faithfully warn others.Ms 1, 1906, par. 1–6+1

The coming of the Son of man will be as lightning shining from east to west, and from north to south, open and far-seen, public and visible across the whole world, universal and unmistakable, not hidden, local, secret, or invisible.GC88 624.2–625.2+4 Its manner cannot be counterfeited by Satan or by false christs, so claims that Christ has appeared in a particular place, in the desert or in secret chambers and hidden rooms, are to be rejected, not believed, and not followed by going forth after them, for no one will need to be told where He is.GC88 624.2–625.2+4 It was spoken with prophetic sight of the very end of earth's history as a danger signal with specifications of dangers that will surely come in the last days, joined both to the danger surrounding Jerusalem's overthrow and to the dangers of the second advent, which the disciples did not yet understand to be connected, to be carefully studied so that God's people are not blindfolded and deceived.DA 630.4–631.1+2 Before that advent false christs and false prophets will arise showing great signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect, after the gospel has been carried to every kingdom under heaven, and the chapter's teaching about that advent calls people to heed, be ready, watch, and prepare for the Son of man's appearing.DA 630.4–631.1+3 The warning had a fulfillment in false prophets who deceived the people and led many into the desert and mountain solitudes by magicians and sorcerers claiming miraculous power as a sign of Jerusalem's destruction, but it is spoken also for the last days as a sign of the second advent, now met in thousands going into the desert hoping to find Christ and in thousands of gatherings professing communion with departed spirits which is the claim of Spiritualism.DA 630.4–631.1

It will be literal and personal, openly manifested across the earth, Christ coming personally at the end of the present world, not a hidden or merely spiritual reign.GC 321.1–323.1+1 It is a real, visible event, not a spiritual experience to be spiritualized away, and that spiritual view is a deception that ensnares people and must be opposed.GC88 321.2+1 It does not come after a thousand years of earthly peace, but brings the end of the present world with unmistakable visibility like lightning shining across the sky.GC 321.1–323.1

It will be sudden, like a lightning flash across the sky, arriving when people are absorbed in worldly life and expecting continued prosperity.Ms 15b, 1886, par. 8+2 The flood in Noah's day illustrates that warnings may be mocked and ignored, but unbelief does not prevent God's appointed judgment, and as people in Noah's day were surprised by the flood so Christ's return will likewise surprise those who are unprepared and overturn the worldly prosperity and hopes people have trusted in.GC 337.3–339.1+1 It will come with power and great glory, and those who have mocked God's offers of mercy will be terrified, while those who have believed the warning and prepared will not be caught by surprise.Ms 15b, 1886, par. 8

That open illumination of the earth from east to west and from north to south has not taken place in hidden meetings or fanatical excitement, and no claim that the dead are already raised is true.8MR 233.3–235.1+1 When Christ the great Lifegiver comes in the clouds of heaven the event will be unmistakable, openly illuminating the earth with power and great glory, accompanied by a terrible earthquake, the trump of God resounding through earth's remotest bounds, and the voice of Jesus calling the dead from their graves to immortal life.8MR 233.3–235.1+2 Since that visible glory, earthquake, trumpet, and resurrection have not been seen and heard, claims that Christ has already come in secret, locally, or as already past, or that the dead are already raised, are delusion.8MR 233.3–235.1+1 Christ will appear in the east at the time of trouble when the signs are acted over again and the day and hour are made known, with the sea boiling like a pot and with the faces of His people shining like Moses.Ms 6, 1849, par. 9 He comes with His sword girded on His thigh to bring perfect and entire deliverance, and God's people are caught up to Him on the white cloud.Ms 6, 1849, par. 9

Claims that Christ is present in a particular place, in the desert or in secret chambers and hidden rooms, are not to be believed and men are not to go forth after them.GC88 624.2–625.2+4 No one will need to be told where Christ is because the whole world will witness His coming, which will be open, far-seen, visible and universal, shining across the whole sky like lightning from east to west.GC88 624.2–625.2+4 It will not be a hidden, local, secret or invisible presence in a desert or hidden place or room, and no claim saying here is Christ or there is Christ is to be followed.Ms 5, 1895, par. 11–12+4 Christ spoke this with prophetic sight of the very end of earth's history as a danger signal with specifications of dangers that will surely come in the last days, to be carefully studied so God's people are not blindfolded and deceived.DA 630.4–631.1+2 The warning about false Christs and prophets is joined to both the danger surrounding Jerusalem's overthrow and the dangers of His second advent, applying to the age leading to the end after the gospel has been carried to every kingdom under heaven.DA 630.4–631.1+1

Before the advent false christs and false prophets will arise showing great signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect.DA 630.4–631.1+2 Christ told this beforehand in unmistakable language about the second coming together with warning of dangers before the advent, that those who take heed may not be deceived.DA 630.4–631.1+2 Satan cannot counterfeit the manner of that coming, which is public and universally witnessed and not a secret or local appearance, so claims that Christ has appeared in a particular place are to be rejected.GC88 624.2–625.2+2 The verse thus helps God's people recognize a false Christ by the Scriptures and distinguishes the true second coming, openly manifest, from Satan's deceptive impersonation.GC88 624.2–625.2+2 Satan will perform great wonders and appear in every outward respect like Christ, but he will not be Christ.Lt 46, 1889, par. 4

The warning had a fulfillment in false prophets who deceived the people and led many into the desert and mountain solitudes by magicians and sorcerers claiming miraculous power as a sign of Jerusalem's destruction.DA 630.4–631.1 It is spoken also for the last days as a sign of the second advent.DA 630.4–631.1 That last-day fulfillment is now met in thousands going into the desert hoping to find Christ and in thousands of gatherings professing communion with departed spirits which is the claim of Spiritualism.DA 630.4–631.1 The coming of the Son of man will be like the lightning's flash, openly illuminating the earth from east to west and from north to south with power and great glory, not secret, local, or already past, but coming in the clouds of heaven as the great Lifegiver to raise the dead.8MR 233.3–235.1+1 When He comes there will be a terrible earthquake, the trump of God will resound through earth's remotest bounds, and the voice of Jesus will call the dead from their graves to immortal life.8MR 233.3–235.1+1 Since that visible glory, earthquake, trumpet, and resurrection have not been seen and heard, claims that Christ has already come in hidden meetings or fanatical excitement or that the dead are already raised are delusion.8MR 233.3–235.1+1

Matthew 24:27 belongs to the prophecy of Christ's second coming, and the events foretold in that chapter are waymarks showing that what He foretold will surely come to pass.18MR 178.2–3+1 Its prophecy is being fulfilled today, showing that Christ's coming is at hand.Ms 62, 1903, par. 9–12 The signs that precede the revelation of the Son of man in heaven are rapidly fulfilling as the world nears His coming, after the gospel has been carried to every kingdom under heaven.Ms 78, 1897, par. 52–53+1 The fulfilling signs of the times make His return a reason to awaken from lethargy and take up the work God has given.Ms 147, 1902, par. 1

The warning belongs to every age and should be understood and applied to its proper time.ST Feb 20, 1901 As in Noah's day warnings may be mocked and ignored, but unbelief does not prevent God's appointed judgment.GC 337.3–339.1 Christ's coming will likewise arrive suddenly like lightning flashing across the sky, overturning worldly prosperity and hopes, and will surprise those absorbed in worldly life and expecting continued prosperity, as people in Noah's day were surprised by the flood.GC 337.3–339.1+1

The chapter outlines what is to come upon the world and describes the perils of the last days now being lived out, when people perishing in sin must be warned.Lt 90, 1902, par. 5–9+1 It calls people to recognize that the Lord is near and to warn the world that the end is at hand.21MR 79.9–80.3 That warning requires investing lent means to advance the last message of mercy instead of spending for self-gratification.Lt 90, 1902, par. 5–9 The signs Jesus foretold give instruction to those who would afterward believe to help them prepare for the great conflict, and in this age believers must discern those signs and reach a higher standard.STB 362.1–2 Vigilance prepares believers so the day does not overtake them unexpectedly, while indifference to them is sinful.AA 259.4–260.2

The teaching of the chapter about the second advent calls for heeding Christ's words, being ready, watching, and preparing for the appearing of the Son of man, with no date given for that coming and with the day and hour unknown though the signs show it is near.LS 61.3–63.3+2 Believers are to live and act with that coming continually in view.SLGB 1.11 Warnings about that coming move hearers to repentance and consecration, because it is an urgent event for which people must prepare.SG1 133.2

The expectation of His coming is joined to a coming test that will prove the genuineness of professed faith amid the perils of the last days and in distressing perplexity.SG4 220.3+1 Those among Sabbath-keepers who profess to look for it yet are unwilling to make sacrifice and have yielded to the influence of the world will face a trial of most distressing perplexity.SG4 220.3 Uniting with unbelievers in picnics and other gatherings of pleasure and enjoying frivolous, empty conversation separates pleasure seekers from God, makes them children of the world and miserable examples to unbelievers, and God does not own the pleasure or amusement seeker as His follower.SG4 220.3 Only those who are self-denying and live a life of sobriety, humility and holiness are true followers of Jesus.SG4 220.3

The predictions of Matthew 24 must be carefully studied so God's people are not blindfolded and deceived, and must be brought to the attention of believers and unbelievers.Ms 5, 1895, par. 11–12+1 Ministers and teachers must present them to those they instruct, leaving matters of lesser consequence, because their truth decides eternal destiny, and the church must arouse as it sees unmistakable fulfillment with prophecy being fulfilled today showing Christ's coming is at hand.Ms 62, 1903, par. 9–12 The fulfilling signs and the outline of what is to come upon the world, applying to the perils of the last days now being lived out, are a reason to awaken from lethargy, take up the work God has given, faithfully warn those perishing in sin, and invest lent means to advance the last message of mercy instead of spending for self-gratification.Ms 1, 1906, par. 1–6+2

The verse was applied to William Miller and his associates proclaiming the second advent of the Son of God, as John the Baptist heralded Christ's first advent.SG1 128.1–129.1 It teaches the truth of Christ's speedy return to be received from the Scriptures and published as a warning.GC88 362.3 In South America in the midst of barbarism and priest-craft in the eighteenth century it was received and published under the assumed name Rabbi Ben-Israel as by a converted Jew to escape the censures of Rome, and about 1825, having found its way to London, it was translated into English where its publication deepened the interest already awakening in England in the second advent.GC88 362.3

That preparation is God's great day of preparation through the last message of mercy to the world, the third angel's message of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, given after Christ's change of position from the holy to the most holy place in the sanctuary.Ms 13, 1888, par. 20–23 Because the Lord is coming, ministers must not sleep or be indifferent but must labor with all their might for precious souls, with zeal, living interest and intensity appropriate to the truth for this time.Ms 13, 1888, par. 20–23 They are to carry invitations of mercy and reflect light into the dark world with the right spirit and with Christ constantly present even when the penetration of the light cannot be seen, feeling as Christ felt weeping over Jerusalem.Ms 13, 1888, par. 20–23