MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Gospel of Matthew: Chapter Twenty-Four
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Genesis 2:7, “then the Lord God [the deity of Christ] formed man of the minerals from the soil [biological life], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives [soul life imputed to biological life along with the human spirit]; and man became a living being [literally a soul with life: with human life now residing in the soul].”
וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאָדָם, עָפָר מִן-הָאֲדָמָה, וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו, נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים; וַיְהִי הָאָדָם, לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה.
Matthew Chapter 24
The Lord Jesus Christ gives a discourse from the Mount of Olives called the Olivet Discourse which is taught in Matthew 24-25; Mark 13 and Luke 21:5-38. The purpose of this discourse is to give vital instruction to the Jews living in the Tribulation, a period of great historical disaster. A former professor of Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Merrill Unger in his Biblical Dictionary had this to say, “In this far-reaching eschatological pronouncement Jesus in a sense gives a farewell message to Israel through his disciples in the role of representative Israelites and outlines the future of the nation previous to the millennial kingdom. In this prophetic statement of our Lord concerning Israel, there is no mention made of the church, her beginning, her course, her destiny, or her sojourn in the world. Likewise, no reference is made to the Person or work of the Holy Spirit as they occur in this age.”
Matthew 24:1
Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐπορεύετο, καὶ προσῆλθον οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπιδεῖξαι αὐτῷ τὰς οἰκοδοµὰς τοῦ ἱεροῦ·
Jesus came out from the temple [after criticizing the religious leaders, Jesus walked out on religion] and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him [they were impressed with the construction and the beauty].
The purpose of the temple was to be a witness of Christ, “the tabernacle of witness” (Acts 7:44). Everything in the temple was to testify and to teach something about Christ. However, since Jesus Christ was rejected as Savior, his thinking was not in the stream of consciousness of the Jewish people. In their souls was only religious thinking; they had accepted the ritual (legalism) but had rejected the reality of salvation. “Behold, your house [temple] is being left to you desolate [the witness was completely obscured]” (Matthew 23:38).
The disciples at this time had false priorities. They were not thinking of the true purpose of the temple. It’s not the beauty of the buildings which is important rather it is the spiritual life of the believers occupying those buildings. Always when believers do not have sufficient metabolized doctrine and wisdom, they emphasize the superficial things such as the number and beauty of their buildings or attendance etc. ‘O look how beautiful our church is.’ O’ how our church is growing for fifty thousand Christians attend our church.’ Jesus Christ deemphasized buildings etc., and emphasized doctrine (Matthew 24:2).
As soon as He said they would not see Him again as per Matthew 23:39, He turned around and walked out on them. Notice the principle: Jesus walked out on them, He separated Himself from religion. He would not in any way be identified with religion; “and departed from the temple.” He phased them out. He kept walking and walking until He was out of the temple and on His way to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 24:2
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οὐ βλέπετε ταῦτα πάντα; ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν, οὐ µὴ ἀφεθῇ ὧδε λίθος ἐπὶ λίθον ὃς οὐ καταλυθήσεται
And having answered [He thought before he spoke], He said to them [his disciples], “Stop looking at all these things. Truly [an important statement will follow] I say to you for your benefit [dative of advantage], emphatically not [subjunctive of emphatic negation] one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
Jesus Christ is prophesizing in 29 AD regarding the destruction of the temple in August of 70 A.D. and the great price that many Jews will pay for rejecting Christ. In that siege 1,900,000 Jewish people died, and 97,000 were taken into slavery.
Matthew 24:3
Καθηµένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ µαθηταὶ κατí ἰδίαν λέγοντες, Εἰπὲ ἡµῖν πότε ταῦτα ἔσται, καὶ τί τὸ σηµεῖον τῆς σῆς παρουσίας καὶ συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος.
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives [a genitive absolute], the disciples came to Him privately [They waited until they were away from the temple.], saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen [destruction of the temple and Jerusalem], and what will be the sign [always used for Israel: 1 Corinthians 1:26] of Your coming [2nd Advent], and of the end of the age [of the Jewish Age namely the end of the Tribulation]?”
Jesus answers their three questions. Luke records Jesus’ answer to the first question in 21:20. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then recognize that her desolation is near,” The second and third questions are answered in Matthew 24:27-30. Before answering the second and third questions, Jesus alerts the disciples and future Jewish believers regarding the false signs of his return.
Matthew 24:4
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Βλέπετε µή τις ὑµᾶς πλανήσῃ·
And Jesus answered [He thought before he spoke.] and said to them, “Be alert lest anyone deceive you [during the second half of the Tribulation].
Happy are those who are alert (Revelation 16:15b). Happiness in the greatest disasters of history is related to alertness. Maximum doctrine in the stream of consciousness makes one alert; it gives one the wisdom to understand the trends of history and the wisdom to know what to do in historical change and even in historical disaster.
Believers who do not possess metabolized doctrine in their souls have neither the alertness nor the wisdom to know what to do in historical upheaval. Furthermore, they will always believe the lies that are communicated during historical times of disaster.
Matthew 24:5
πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόµατί µου λέγοντες, Ἐγώ εἰµι ὁ Χριστός, καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive the many.
The first deception relates to false Messiahs. There would be false Messiahs both in the Church Age and in the Tribulation. In the Tribulation, many Jewish believers will be deceived by false Messiahs. Without maximum truth in the soul there is no protection against deceit.
Matthew 24:6
µελλήσετε δὲ ἀκούειν πολέµους καὶ ἀκοὰς πολέµων· ὁρᾶτε, µὴ θροεῖσθε· δεῖ γὰρ γενέσθαι, ἀλλí οὔπω ἐστὶν τὸ τέλος
“Furthermore, you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. Be alert that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the Jewish Age namely the Tribulation].
There would be hot wars and cold wars (rumors of wars) from the time Christ spoke up to His 2nd Advent. Believers are to be alert in understanding the historical trends as well as understanding how to make application to these historical trends. Believers are not to be disturbed or frightened by these historical events. God’s provision and the spiritual life are more than adequate to handle these historical upheavals.
Just because you live in a time of historical disaster, does not mean that the Tribulation has occurred. Furthermore, you are not to be frightened. God has provided for you perfect provision and protection and the greatest possible spiritual life. The believer with capacity from metabolized doctrine in his soul can have great happiness in historical disaster whereas the believer without doctrine in the soul is always afraid in disaster.
Since wars are inevitable, wise nations prepare for war by developing a well-equipped and trained military. Furthermore, since it is the responsibility of every man to defend his beloved homeland, he should serve some time in one of the branches of defense whether it should be the army, air force, or navy unless one’s nation has become just as evil as its adversaries.
Matthew 24:7
ἐγερθήσεται γὰρ ἔθνος ἐπὶ ἔθνος καὶ βασιλεία ἐπὶ βασιλείαν, καὶ ἔσονται λιµοὶ καὶ σεισµοὶ κατὰ τόπους·
“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
These things will occur in the Church Age as well as in the Tribulation. So, when historical disaster occurs, do not assume that you [the church age believer] are in the Tribulation. There will be many wars and disasters during the Church Age. Just because you find yourself in the middle of a world war or world famine does not mean that the Tribulation has begun.
As a matter of fact, all Church Age believers will be removed from the earth via the Rapture of the Church prior to the Tribulation. As soon as the Church Age believer is removed, the seven year-Tribulation will begin. Christians are removed at that time because the Tribulation is a part of the Age of Israel, not a part of the Church. The Tribulation is the last week (seven years shortened) of the 70 Weeks (490 years) of Daniel 9:24-27. (Each week represents seven years.)
Matthew 24:8
πάντα δὲ ταῦτα ἀρχὴ ὠδίνων
“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
These beginning birth pangs prior to giving birth occur during the Church Age, from the Day of Pentecost to the Rapture. These pangs include war, depression, natural disaster, famine etc. These are not signs of the Tribulation, but historical trends in the Church Age. The true signs of the Tribulation are specific prophesies found in Matthew 24:9-26.
The intense birth pains are the seven years of the Tribulation. Since the suffering leading up to birth is not as severe as the suffering during birth, historical disasters will be more intense in the Tribulation than in the Church Age especially in the last three and half years which is called the ‘Great Tribulation’.
Signs of the Tribulation found in verses 9-26:
Matthew 24:9
τότε παραδώσουσιν ὑµᾶς εἰς θλῖψιν καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν ὑµᾶς, καὶ ἔσεσθε µισούµενοι ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν διὰ τὸ ὄνοµά µου
“Then [in the Tribulation] they [gentiles] will deliver you [Jews] up to oppression, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My person.
Anti-Semitism will intensify in the Tribulation. All nations will hate the Jews. Hatred is an emotional sin and irrational.
Matthew 24:10
καὶ τότε σκανδαλισθήσονται πολλοὶ καὶ ἀλλήλους παραδώσουσιν καὶ µισήσουσιν ἀλλήλους·
“Also, at that time, many [Jews] will be caused to sin and will both betray one another and hate one another.
Some Jews will join the wave of anti-Semitism against other Jews. The Jewish dictator himself will be anti-Semitic.
Matthew 24:11
καὶ πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐγερθήσονται καὶ πλανήσουσιν πολλούς·
“Many false prophets will arise and shall deceive the many [especially Jewish believers].
The Jewish dictator for one will use these false prophets to deceive the Jewish people, especially the believers. Many times, politicians lie to the people in order to gain their objectives. If the people do not have truth in their souls, they will usually believe these lies.
Matthew 24:12
καὶ διὰ τὸ πληθυνθῆναι τὴν ἀνοµίαν ψυγήσεται ἡ ἀγάπη τῶν πολλῶν
“Also because lawlessness will increase, the love of many [Jewish believers] will be extinguished.
These Jewish believers were very advanced believers for they had some love for the members of the Trinity, but they had not reached the final stages of maturity. Many believers react to the lawlessness of politicians and other lawless people and so are never able to complete their spiritual lives; they never reach the point of sharing the happiness of God and Occupation with Christ.
People-testing distracts many believers. When facing pressure caused by other people, many believers do not have enough humility to be able to treat other people in grace; they are not able to apply unconditional love and keep their spiritual advance.
Matthew 24:13
ὁ δὲ ὑποµείνας εἰς τέλος οὗτος σωθήσεται
“But the one [believer] who endures to the end [end of the Tribulation], he will be delivered.
Only the mature believers will have the momentum to advance in the greatest pressure of human history. They will use the faith-rest drill under extreme pressure and be delivered from death. In the first half of the Tribulation, Jewish believers will be delivered by obeying God’s mandate to flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15, 16). In the second half of the Tribulation, believers will be delivered by fighting in battle rather than surrendering to their anti-Semitic enemies (Zechariah 12).
Not only will the mature believers be delivered called in the Hebrew the “upright” (Jeshurun, Yeshurun) (Deuteronomy 33:26), but also those people who are associated with them (Zechariah 12:1-9, 14:2, 3).
Matthew 24:14
καὶ κηρυχθήσεται τοῦτο τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουµένῃ εἰς µαρτύριον πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, καὶ τότε ἥξει τὸ τέλος
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the Tribulation] will come.
There will be an intensification of evangelism during the Tribulation. There will be evangelism by the 144,000 in the first half, by the two great heralds, and by angels in the second half as well as personal evangelism by many others during this entire period.
In verses 15-26, the mature believers (Jeshurun: the righteous ones) are mentioned.
Matthew 24:15
Ὅταν οὖν ἴδητε τὸ βδέλυγµα τῆς ἐρηµώσεως τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ ∆ανιὴλ τοῦ προφήτου ἑστὸς ἐν τόπῳ ἁγίῳ, ὁ ἀναγινώσκων νοείτω,
Therefore, when you see the Detestable Idol [the Abomination of Desolation, an idol of the image of the dictator of the revived Roman Empire being placed in the Holy of Holies in the temple in Jerusalem] which was communicated by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let the reader who understands),
After the resurrection of the Church namely the Rapture, the Jews build a temple in Jerusalem. The Holy of Holies of this new temple will be empty, and this is where this idol of the dictator of the Revived Roman Empire will be set up in the middle of the Tribulation.
There are two classes of Jews in Israel at this time. Some are believers waiting for the Second Advent of Our Lord. Others have agreed to the policy of the dictator of the revived Roman Empire. In this agreement an idol is put up in the temple. (Daniel wrote about this in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11).
The alert Jewish believer especially the ones who have completed the spiritual life will know exactly what to do and they will do it.
Matthew 24:16
τότε οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ φευγέτωσαν εἰς τὰ ὄρη,
then those who are in Judea [a word for Israel at that time] must flee to the mountains;
Two categories of Jewish believers will flee to the mountains: the Jeshurun (mature) believers and new believers who listen to the message and advice of these mature believers. So, under the leadership of the mature believers, they will flee to the caves in the mountains of Amon, Moab and Edom all the way down to the Gulf of Aqaba. The Jews will be hiding out in all of these places.
In time of great crisis, it is necessary to make good decisions quickly. You don’t have time to dilly dally around. Those who flee quickly will be safe.
Matthew 24:17
ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώµατος µὴ καταβάτω ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ,
Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house [because there will be very little time for escape].
They must obey this command and move quickly if they want to live. The tops of the houses in Israel are open and flat on top with an outside stairwell. The Jewish believers on the top of their roofs when they hear this news are to come down this outside stairwell and move quickly to these caves in the mountains for refuge. This will require the use of the faith-rest drill. They will have to trust the Lord for their provisions for the next three and half years. Some will be tempted to go into their homes to gather some funds and food. These will in most cases be captured and executed.
Matthew 24:18
καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ µὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω ἆραι τὸ ἱµάτιον αὐτοῦ
Furthermore, whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
Remember this is a great crisis. As soon as this treaty is signed with the dictator of the revived Roman Empire, a military will be sent out to round-up the Jewish believers who have been against this alliance. These Jewish believers must act fast otherwise they will be apprehended and killed.
Matthew 24:19
οὐαὶ δὲ ταῖς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσαις καὶ ταῖς θηλαζούσαις ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡµέραις
“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
The advanced believers who know well this prophecy will make sure their wives do not become pregnant during this time of crisis. However, many of the new converts will be pregnant or nursing babies. This will make their flight and life in the caves a lot more difficult. Even though it will be difficult for them to flee and seek refuge in the mountains, they must do so.
Matthew 24:20
προσεύχεσθε δὲ ἵνα µὴ γένηται ἡ φυγὴ ὑµῶν χειµῶνος µηδὲ σαββάτῳ·
“But pray that your flight will not be in the winter [inclement weather], or on a Sabbath.
It is a lot more difficult fleeing in cold and stormy weather. Also because of crowded highways, it would be difficult fleeing on the Sabbath (holidays). So, the Jews are told to pray for good conditions for fleeing.
Matthew 24:21
ἔσται γὰρ τότε θλῖψις µεγάλη οἵα οὐ γέγονεν ἀπí ἀρχῆς κόσµου ἕως τοῦ νῦν οὐδí οὐ µὴ γένηται
“For then there will be a great tribulation [in the second half of the Tribulation] such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will occur again.
This last half of the tribulation is the most disastrous period of all of human history, the greatest period of oppression.
Matthew 24:22
καὶ εἰ µὴ ἐκολοβώθησαν αἱ ἡµέραι ἐκεῖναι, οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθη πᾶσα σάρξ· διὰ δὲ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς κολοβωθήσονται αἱ ἡµέραι ἐκεῖναι
“Unless those days [last half of the tribulation] had been cut short no human life would have been delivered; but for the sake of the excellent ones [Jeshurun: the highest level of maturity] those days will be cut short.
The Greek word “eklectos” has many meanings. Sometimes it means elect, but that is not the meaning here. This word also means high quality, elite, best of a kind. It is a reference to those believers who have completed the spiritual life.
Matthew 24:23
τότε ἐάν τις ὑµῖν εἴπῃ, Ἰδοὺ ὧδε ὁ Χριστός, ἤ, Ὧδε, µὴ πιστεύσητε·
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. [Beware of the public lie]
This means that during the next 31/2 years search parties will be sent out to lure these Jews out of their hiding places. These search parties will claim that the Messiah has returned. This public lie will be especially luring toward the end of the 31/2 years when these believers will be expecting His return. These Jews must know exactly the signs of the Lord’s return so that they will not be deceived by these lies.
Toward the end of the Tribulation, the armies of the North (what today would be the Russians) and the armies of the South, the united Arabs will undoubtedly send out search parties to try to lure the Jews from their secure positions in the caves.
One thing has always been true historically and will always be true: Arab nations have been and will remain anti-Semitic up to the 2nd Advent of Christ. The Muslim religion has only intensified their hatred of the Jews. Generally, the Muslim Arab is the most anti-Semitic person on the face of the earth. Not only is he anti-Semitic, he is also anti-Christian and anti-Christ.
There is a simple application related to this namely no nation can be the friend of the Jews and the friend of the Arabs at the same time. If a nation blesses the Arabs, he is cursing the Jew, and if he curses the Jew, he will be cursed by the Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:3).
See R. B. Thieme Jr.’s book on Anti-Semitism.
Matthew 24:24
ἐγερθήσονται γὰρ ψευδόχριστοι καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται, καὶ δώσουσιν σηµεῖα µεγάλα καὶ τέρατα ὥστε πλανῆσαι, εἰ δυνατόν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς·
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders [extra natural phenomena] to mislead even the excellent ones [Jeshurun: the highest level of maturity] if possible, and it is [but not very likely].
The dictator of the Revived Roman Empire will have great power.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-10, “For the mystery of lawlessness [already people have made deals with Satan] is already operational only he [God the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will continue that ministry until he [the Holy Spirit] is taken out of the way [at the Rapture]. (8) And then [after the Rapture] the lawless one [the dictator of the revived Roman Empire] will be revealed, whom the Lord shall destroy with the breath of His mouth [the least power of God] in fact he shall neutralize him by the very appearance of His coming [2nd Advent], (9) whose presence [in history] shall be according to the modus operandi of Satan with all power and by means of great signs even super natural wonders of the lie. (10) and by means of all deception of unrighteousness to those who are being led astray, depraved because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order that they might be delivered [from this delusion].”
Some believers will be deceived. However, for the most part the leadership of the mature believers (the ‘Jeshurun’ believers, a Hebrew word for the righteous ones] will protect the less informed believers from deception.
Matthew 24:25
ἰδοὺ προείρηκα ὑµῖν
“Be alert, I have told you in advance.
Because the Lord loves believers, he desires to protect them. So, he warns these Jewish believers of this future danger.
Matthew 24:26
ἐὰν οὖν εἴπωσιν ὑµῖν, Ἰδοὺ ἐν τῇ ἐρήµῳ ἐστίν, µὴ ἐξέλθητε· Ἰδοὺ ἐν τοῖς ταµείοις, µὴ πιστεύσητε·
“Therefore, if they say to you [Jewish believers of the Tribulation], ‘Behold, He is out in the desert,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in one of the private rooms [of the temple],’ do not believe [that public lie].
The believers who believe these lies and go out from their safe haven will be tortured and killed. In effect, they will die for disobeying the command in the above verse in which they are commanded not to believe these lies.
From verse 27 to the end of the chapter, we have the answer to the second question of verse 3, ‘What are the signs of the coming of Christ?’
Matthew 24:27
ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ ἀστραπὴ ἐξέρχεται ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ φαίνεται ἕως δυσµῶν, οὕτως ἔσται ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
“For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west so will the coming of the Son of Man be [His coming though with great speed will be observed as lightning travels with great speed and is observed].
It is important for Jewish believers living in the Tribulation to understand the true signs of the Coming of Christ that they be not deceived and lose their lives. In a crisis situation where decisions are vital to life, knowledge of doctrine is critical to life.
The four characteristics of lightning as they apply to the second advent of Christ:
1. Lightning travels at great speed, and Christ returns to the earth will be with great speed.
2. Lightning can be seen by anyone; Christ will be seen by everyone, Revelation 1:7.
3. Lightning is a warning of a storm, and the return of Christ will be characterized by the storm of the Baptism of Fire.
4. Lightning disturbs and frightens people and the return of Christ is going to do the same thing as per Revelation 6:15-17, “Both the kings of the earth and the nobility, and the highest military ranks, and the rich, and those who have ability plus every slave and free person [the two make-up the working force] hid themselves in caves and among the rocks. (16) And they [these categories of unbelievers] said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne [God the Father] and from the wrath of the Lamb. (17) For the great day of their wrath [the Baptism of Fire] has come, and so who is able to stand? [only believers]”
Matthew 24:28
ὅπου ἐὰν ᾖ τὸ πτῶµα, ἐκεῖ συναχθήσονται οἱ ἀετοί
“Wherever the corpse is [after Christ slaughters the attacking armies], there the vultures will gather.
There are millions of troops launching a final attack to destroy Jerusalem toward the end of the Tribulation. These armies come from the north (today this would be the area of Russia), east (Asians) and the south (the Arabs). And possibly even the armies of the west, the Revived Roman Empire. Just when it seems hopeless for the wonderful army made up of Jewish believers, Jesus Christ returns and slaughters all of these armies. It will take the Jews 7 months to bury the dead (Ezekiel 39:11-20). During that period of time the Vultures will have a feast.
Revelation 14:20, “Therefore, the wine press [judgment on the armies] was trampled outside of the city [Jerusalem], and the blood flowed out from the wine press up to a horses’ bridle for a distance of one hundred and seventy-five miles.”
Revelation 19:13-18, “He [the Lord Jesus at the 2nd Advent] is clothed with a robe dipped in blood [bloody from all the killing] and His name is called The Word of God [title of the Lord Jesus Christ]. And the armies [Church Age believers in resurrection bodies] which are in heaven clothed in fine linens, white and clean [the Church Age believers do not participate in the killing], were following Him on white horses [there will be horses in heaven]. From His mouth comes a sharp sword so that with it He may strike down the nations [the ones attacking Jerusalem in anti-Semitism] and He will rule them [nations in the Millennium] with a rod of iron [there will be swift justice: for example, capital punishment for murder and rape] and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty [millions must be killed before the Millennial peace]. And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, “King over Kings, and Lord over Lords.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun and he cried out with a loud voice saying to all the birds [the angel knows the bird language] which fly in the heaven, “Come and assemble for the great supper of God [all the armies which were slaughtered by the Lord at His Coming] so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders [military] and the flesh of mighty men [great soldiers] and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
Matthew 24:29
Εὐθέως δὲ µετὰ τὴν θλῖψιν τῶν ἡµερῶν ἐκείνων, ὁ ἥλιος σκοτισθήσεται, καὶ ἡ σελήνη οὐ δώσει τὸ φέγγος αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες πεσοῦνται ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ αἱ δυνάµεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days [at the 2nd Advent] the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its reflected light and meteors will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
The second sign of the 2nd Advent of our Lord is celestial disturbances. All light to the earth is removed on the day of his return.
Zechariah 14:6, 7, “In that day [the day of His return] there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it is a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night [both the sun and the moon do not give their light], but it will come about in evening time there will be light [light will accompany the return of Christ].”
Isaiah 13:9, 10, “Behold the day of the Lord is coming. Cruel, with fury and burning anger [integrity of God executing judgment] to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it [the anti-Semitic enemies]. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light (reflected light).”
Besides supernatural darkness being a sign, it protects the Jews who are fighting against a tremendous number of the enemy. These Jews are about to be overrun by the enemy. So, this darkness protects them until Jesus returns for during this complete darkness it will be impossible for any soldier to move and fight.
Matthew 24:30
καὶ τότε φανήσεται τὸ σηµεῖον τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ τότε κόψονται πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὄψονται τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόµενον ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ µετὰ δυνάµεως καὶ δόξης πολλῆς·
And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and then all the tribes of the Land will mourn [a reference to Jewish unbelievers], and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power [to accomplish all which He needs to accomplish] and great glory [which will provide the light for all to see].
Passages communicating the Signs of the 2nd Advent:
Zechariah 12:10, “I will pour out on the dynasty of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication [The 2nd Advent is the beginning of great spirituality in the Millennium] so that they look on me [Jesus Christ at the 2nd Advent] whom they have pierced [unbelieving Jews of the Tribulation], and they will weep bitterly over Him as one mourns over an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping [over the death] of the firstborn.”
Revelation 1:7, “Behold, He is coming [2nd Advent] with clouds [innumerable peoples namely the Church and all the Old Testament Jewish believers], and every eye [every person in the world with emphasis on Jewish believers and unbelievers] will see Him, including everyone who has pierced Him [the unbelieving Jews of the Tribulation] and all [the unbelieving Jews of] the tribes with reference to the Land [promised to the Jews] will enter into extreme lamentation [beat their breasts] over Him. Yes, I believe it.”
In both the Zechariah and the Revelation passage there are many people piercing Jesus Christ. So, this is not a reference to the one Roman soldier who pierced Jesus Christ while he was on the cross (John 19:34). This views the rejection of Jesus Christ in the Tribulation, the greatest period of evangelism in all of human history, a period of sensational evangelism by the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, by the two heralds, Moses and Elijah and even by angels. Even though there will be a most accurate and lucid presentation of the gospel, most will reject Jesus Christ as savior. What a shock to reject Jesus Christ as personal savior, and then to see Him return to the earth. The unbelieving Jews will mourn when they see that he truly is the Savior, “all the tribes of the land will mourn.”
Isaiah 60:2, “For behold darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness will blanket the people [invading armies]. However, the Lord will rise upon you [2nd Advent] and his glory will appear upon you [The glory of the Lord moving through supernatural darkness will be the only visible object.].”
Luke 21:25-28, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehension of what is coming on the world for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time, they will see [the people on the earth] the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift-up your heads [Jewish believers] because your resurrection is drawing near.”
Matthew 24:31
καὶ ἀποστελεῖ τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ µετὰ σάλπιγγος µεγάλης, καὶ ἐπισυνάξουσιν τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ἀνέµων ἀπí ἄκρων οὐρανῶν ἕως ἄκρων αὐτῶν
“And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet [sound], and they will gather together His elect from the four winds [the four cardinal directions], from one end of the sky to the other.
From the four winds of the sky indicates that these Jewish believers those who died before the 2nd Advent are resurrected from the place where they were buried. Just as the trumpet will sound for the resurrection of the Church at the end of its age so it will sound for the resurrection of the Jewish believers at the end of the Jewish Age.
The Jewish believers who died before the ascension of Christ lived in Paradise (Abraham’s bosom). At the ascension of Christ, they followed him in a procession into heaven. (Jesus Christ had to be the first human to enter heaven since he is the First Fruits.) There, they will reside with their souls in interim bodies until the 2nd Advent at which time they will receive their resurrection bodies.
Jewish people who become believers during the Church Age are not classified as Jewish believers, but royal family of the Church (Galatians 3:26-28). So, they will receive their resurrection bodies at the end of the Church Age called the Rapture along with all other Church Age believers.
Matthew 24:32
Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς συκῆς µάθετε τὴν παραβολήν· ὅταν ἤδη ὁ κλάδος αὐτῆς γένηται ἁπαλὸς καὶ τὰ φύλλα ἐκφύῃ, γινώσκετε ὅτι ἐγγὺς τὸ θέρος·
“Now learn the parable from the fig tree [analogous to Israel] when the branch [Lord Jesus Christ as per Isaiah 11:1] is about to sprout and puts forth its leaves [Jewish evangelism and teaching in the Tribulation], you know that summer [2nd Advent] is near;
Don’t confuse the fig tree above with the fig tree of the 1st Advent. The fig tree of the 1st Advent withered, but this fig tree begins to recover in the Tribulation and will flourish in the Millennium.
The fig tree of the 1st Advent is found in Matthew 21.
Matthew 21:19-20, “And seeing a fig tree [analogous to Israel] on the way [probably near Bethphage], He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And He said to it, “let no fruit grow on you forever [analogous to that generation of Jews who had no production].” And immediately the fig tree withered away [analogous to 5th cycle of discipline which would occur in August of 70 A. D.]. (20) And when the disciples saw [Monday evening on their return to Bethany] they marveled, saying, “How quickly the fig tree has withered away” [analogous to Israel’s 5th cycle of discipline and the destruction of the temple]!”
Fig leaves without fruit represent religion. In the garden the first parents initially became religious by putting on fig leaves; they tried to solve their problem and enter into a relationship with God through an act of human good. They thought that putting on fig leaves would make them respectable before God. However, only perfect righteousness makes a person respectable before God.
Matthew 24:33
οὕτως καὶ ὑµεῖς, ὅταν ἴδητε ταῦτα πάντα, γινώσκετε ὅτι ἐγγύς ἐστιν ἐπὶ θύραις
Likewise, you too, when you see all these things [the things discussed], know that it [the 2nd Advent of Christ] is near, right at the door.
Matthew 24:34
ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν ὅτι οὐ µὴ παρέλθῃ ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ἕως ἂν πάντα ταῦτα γένηται
“Truly I say to you, this race [the Jews] will not pass away [from the earth no matter how great is anti-Semitism] until all these things take place [The judgments etc. in the Tribulation].
Israel has a future even though Satan would like to destroy all the Jews before the 2nd Advent of Christ, he will not succeed nor will he be able to prove himself greater than God as he alleged he would at his fall. “I will make myself like “The Most High” as per Isaiah 14:14b.
Matthew 24:35
ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ παρελεύσεται, οἱ δὲ λόγοι µου οὐ µὴ παρέλθωσιν
“Heaven and earth will pass away [2 Peter 3; Revelation 21], but My words will never ever pass away.
At the end of the Millennium, the heaven and the earth will be destroyed and new ones created (2 Peter 3; Revelation 21:1). However, God’s word never changes and will never be destroyed. It is immutable and eternal. By application don’t emphasize what is transitory namely the heaven and earth or anything in it, but emphasize what is eternal.
2 Peter 3:7-10, “But the present heavens [postdiluvial heavens] and the earth [postdiluvial earth] by his Word [Colossians 1:17] are being reserved [the stored-up gases and molten rock] for fire [nuclear destruction] kept for the day of destruction [destruction of the universe] and destruction of Godless men [Revelation 20:12-15]. (8) But do not let this one doctrine escape your notice [be forgotten], with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) And the Lord is not slow about his promise as some conclude slowness, but is patient toward you [the unbeliever] not wishing for anyone to perish (to die without believing in Christ and to face the last judgment), but for all to come to a change of thinking (about salvation). (10) But the day of the Lord [a protracted period: 2nd Advent to the end of the Millennium] will arrive like a thief [suddenly: fear, panic and shock] in which [the last portion of that day namely the end of His millennial reign] the heavens will vanish with a sudden roar and the elements [chemical structure of the universe] will be dissolved with intense heat [thermal action from nuclear fusion], both the earth [believers involved in human good] and its works [the Book of Works, the basis of indictment at the Last Judgment] in it [the earth] will be investigated [a reference to the Last Judgment].”
Revelation 21:1, “Then [sequential use of kai] I saw the new heaven and the new earth [Isaiah 65:17] for the first heaven and the first earth passed away and there was no longer any sea.”
Matthew 24:36
Περὶ δὲ τῆς ἡµέρας ἐκείνης καὶ ὥρας οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι τῶν οὐρανῶν οὐδὲ ὁ υἱός, εἰ µὴ ὁ πατὴρ µόνος
“But concerning that day and hour [of the 2nd Advent] no one knows, not even the [elect] angels of heaven nor the Son [speaking from his humanity], but the Father alone.
No one knows when the Rapture and the 2nd Advent will take place. Obviously, if one knew when the 2nd Advent would occur, he could merely subtract the length of the Tribulation and know also the time of the Rapture. So, if one doesn’t know the date of the 2nd Advent, he also doesn’t know the date of the Rapture.
Since Jesus addresses God the Father as “Father,” he is speaking from his humanity. Obviously, both God the Son and the Holy Spirit know these dates since they are omniscient. The Father is in view here since he is the author of the plan.
Some pastors think that they are like God and think that they know the date of the Rapture. They think that they have information that not even the humanity of Christ possesses.
Matthew 24:37
ὥσπερ δὲ αἱ ἡµέραι τοῦ Νῶε, οὕτως ἔσται ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like [introduces the historical analogy] the days of Noah.
This is an illustration by historical analogy. In the time of Noah, the flood removed all the unbelievers from the earth; only eight believers remained on the earth to multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1). Just as in the flood so also at the 2nd Advent. At the 2nd Advent all unbelievers will be removed either through being killed in battle or through the Baptism of Fire (All unbelievers not killed in battle will be destroyed by fire and cast into Torments), but believers will remain on the earth to enter into the Millennial Kingdom.
Matthew 24:38
ὡς γὰρ ἦσαν ἐν ταῖς ἡµέραις ταῖς πρὸ τοῦ κατακλυσµοῦ τρώγοντες καὶ πίνοντες, γαµοῦντες καὶ γαµίζοντες, ἄχρι ἧς ἡµέρας εἰσῆλθεν Νῶε εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν,
“For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking [normal living: not alcoholic beverage since there was no alcohol in the Pre-diluvian Civilization: no microorganisms], marrying and giving in marriage [the woman is given to the man: some form of establishment], until the day that Noah entered the ark,
At the time of the Flood people were neither interested in knowing God nor in the gospel with just a few exceptions. They were distracted mostly by normal living. “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit [the Holy Spirit] will not always convince, strive in man forever [convinced the unbeliever regarding the gospel through Noah’s evangelism] for he is flesh; his days will be a hundred and twenty years [a warning that lasted this long]” (Genesis 6:3). Toward the end of that 120 year-warning of coming judgment, Noah would warn them that the time was short, but they remained indifferent to the gospel.
Immoral degeneracy is obvious; moral degeneracy is not. So, this verse deals with the less obvious distractions namely moral degeneracy. This verse is not talking about sin since eating and drinking is not sin nor is getting married a sin. Though not mentioned in this verse, there was a lot of immoral degeneracy during this period as well. Just study Greek mythology or other mythologies or read Genesis 6.
People who are not interested in eternal things must try to get as much out of life as possible. So, people of the pre-diluvian period concentrated on getting as much happiness out of life as they could. They were preoccupied with the things of this life. Again, eating delicious food and drinking non-alcoholic beverage are not sins, but their preoccupation with these things indicates apathy and indifference to God and the gospel.
There were no microorganisms before the flood so there could not have been any alcohol. The first person to ever get drunk in history was Noah and that occurred after the flood. After the flood God shortened man’s lifespan through the introduction of microorganisms.
Matthew 24:39
καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἕως ἦλθεν ὁ κατακλυσµὸς καὶ ἦρεν ἅπαντας, οὕτως ἔσται [καὶ] ἡ παρουσία τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
And they did not understand [preoccupation with life] until the flood came and took them all [reversionistic unbelievers] away; so [introduces prophecy] will the coming of the Son of Man be [the 2nd Advent].
Both the Prediluvian period and the Millennial reign of Christ are civilizations. At the Flood all unbelievers were destroyed and so the post diluvial civilization began with believers only. At the 2nd Advent of Christ all unbelievers will be removed from the earth so that the Millennial reign of Christ will begin with believers only. Civilizations always begin with believers only.
Matthew 24:40
τότε δύο ἔσονται ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, εἷς παραλαµβάνεται καὶ εἷς ἀφίεται·
“Then [at the 2nd Advent] there will be two men in the field; one will be taken [the unbeliever removed via the Baptism of Fire] and one will be left [the believer to enter into the Millennium].
Matthew 24:41
δύο ἀλήθουσαι ἐν τῷ µύλῳ, µία παραλαµβάνεται καὶ µία ἀφίεται
“Two women will be grinding at the mill [normal living]; one will be taken [the unbeliever removed via the Baptism of Fire] and one will be left [the believer to enter into the Millennium].
The believers will stay on the earth to enter into the Millennium, but the unbelievers will all be removed from the earth. This occurred only once before when all unbelievers were removed by the flood in the time of Noah.
There are three civilizations in history namely the pre-diluvial, the post-diluvial and the Millennium. God begins each civilization with believers only. Adam and Eve began the pre-diluvial civilization; Noah, his three sons and their wives began the post-diluvial civilization; the believers alive at the 2nd Advent, both Jews and gentiles will repopulate the earth during the Millennial reign of Christ.
Explaining the phrase “The Coming of the Son of Man” as found in Matthew 24; 25:31
1. Jesus is talking to his disciples, the apostles to Israel in 29 AD which is about 2 months before the Church Age would begin. Jesus Christ has just come out of the Jewish temple (Matthew 24:1-29) and had sat down on the Mount of Olives to where he will return at his 2nd Advent. While he was seated, His disciples came to him and asked about the end of the Jewish Age.
2. All the way through Matthew 24 and in 25:31 Jesus Christ is referred to as the Son of Man. Jesus Christ, the 2nd Adam is descended from the 1st Adam as the Son of Man. The first Adam lost rulership of the earth to Satan. The 2nd Adam will take back the rulership of the world from Satan at the 2nd Advent. So, the 2nd Advent uses the phrase, “the Coming of the Son of Man.”
3. Matthew 24:15-31 clearly states the doctrine of the 2nd Advent of Christ. Matthew 24:32-25:46 are the parables which illustrate the doctrine of the 2nd Advent.
4. None of these parables deal with the Rapture of the Church. For example, the first parable found in Matthew 24:32 talks about a fig tree analogous to Israel as it relates to the Tribulation and 2nd Advent.
5. Matthew 24:37, 39 make a parallel between the flood at the time of Noah and the 2nd Advent. In both cases all the unbelievers are removed from the earth and a new civilization begins.
A few points distinguishing the 2nd Advent from the Rapture of the Church.
1. Paul writes to the Thessalonian Christians in 52 AD regarding a misunderstanding of the Rapture of the Church (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 gives the doctrine of the Rapture (the resurrection) of the Church. During this presentation, the phrase, “the Coming of the Lord” is used.
3. The Church is never called a fig tree, and the branch never refers to the Rapture.
4. There is no parallel between the flood of Noah and the Rapture of the Church, but there is a parallel between the flood and the 2nd Advent.
Matthew 24:42
γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε ποίᾳ ἡµέρᾳ ὁ κύριος ὑµῶν ἔρχεται
“Therefore, be on the alert [regarding knowing when to flee and when to fight in order to stay alive even though outnumbered], for you [Jewish believers in the Tribulation] do not know which day your Lord is coming [So, you need to be briefed on the Abomination of Desolation and the signs of his return].
After the Rapture of the Church, many Jewish unbelievers seeing their Christian friends depart will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. These 144,000 Jews will form the first great evangelists and teachers. Later many more Jews will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They must learn the prophecy regarding the Tribulation so that they will know what to do in this difficult historical period. In this way they will be able to stay alive.
Concept: Alertness in any situation and in any age comes from knowledge of Bible doctrine metabolized. Disorientation results in fear and hysteria which comes from the lack of truth in one’s soul.
Parables found in verses 43 to 51to help these believers.
Matthew 24:43
ἐκεῖνο δὲ γινώσκετε ὅτι εἰ ᾔδει ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης ποίᾳ φυλακῇ ὁ κλέπτης ἔρχεται, ἐγρηγόρησεν ἂν καὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ
“But know this, that if [introduces a Second Class Conditional Sentence] the head of the house [by analogy a Jewish believer in the Tribulation] had known at what time of the night the thief was coming [analogous to the swiftness of the 2nd Advent as per Revelation 16:15], but he didn’t [because he was ignorant of pertinent doctrinal information], he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into, but he was not alert and his house was broken into [This Jewish believer is killed before the 2nd Advent of Christ because he does not follow the warnings found in Scripture.]
The believers in the Tribulation are commanded to know the pertinent information “know this.” To stay alive in the Tribulation is going to require knowing the information and instructions given in this passage. This story is about the master of the household who has prepared his house against thieves but then relaxes his defense system. And so, when he least expects it, disaster strikes.
His house is not protected and therefore he suffers. Here is a believer who is not alert and therefore he suffers. He is not alert to the coming of Christ; he is not alert to the dispensation into which he finds himself, and his failure to know doctrine means that he is taken by surprise by the events of the Tribulation, and deceived by the many public lies leading up to the 2nd Advent. In the final analysis, the thief refers to the catastrophes leading up to the 2nd Advent, and so this believer of the Tribulation is wiped-out namely destroyed by catastrophe.
Matthew 24:44
διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑµεῖς γίνεσθε ἕτοιµοι, ὅτι ᾗ οὐ δοκεῖτε ὥρᾳ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται
“For this reason you also become prepared; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think [He will come; when you least expect it].
Matthew 24:45
Τίς ἄρα ἐστὶν ὁ πιστὸς δοῦλος καὶ φρόνιµος ὃν κατέστησεν ὁ κύριος ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκετείας αὐτοῦ τοῦ δοῦναι αὐτοῖς τὴν τροφὴν ἐν καιρῷ;
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant [faithful believer in the Tribulation] whom his master put in charge of his household [the Tribulation] to give them their food [gospel to the unbeliever and ministers to believers as well] at the proper time [to give out the right information at the right time]?
This verse looks from the standpoint of someone who is alert. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant,” two characteristics of the prepared believer: wise means he has doctrine and is ready to apply it; faithfulness means that he has stability and can be relied on. He has Bible doctrine and applies it; that’s wisdom. Next, we have, “whom his lord hath made ruler over his household.” The Lord has given this believer the responsibility for providing food namely to witness and teach in the Tribulation.
Matthew 24:46
µακάριος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ὃν ἐλθὼν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει οὕτως ποιοῦντα·
“Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
Here is a believer in the Tribulation who is prepared and so has great blessing. He will know and apply doctrine. He will live by doctrine, he will communicate doctrine, both by his life and by his lips. So, there is blessing for believer who has advanced spiritually.
Matthew 24:47
ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν ὅτι ἐπὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν αὐτοῦ καταστήσει αὐτόν
“Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
When Christ returns this person will have reward and apparently this reward begins in the Millennium.
Matthew 24:48
ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃ ὁ κακὸς δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, Χρονίζει µου ὁ κύριος,
“But if that evil servant [unbelieving Jew] says in his heart [in the mentality of his soul], ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’
Matthew 24:49
καὶ ἄρξηται τύπτειν τοὺς συνδούλους αὐτοῦ, ἐσθίῃ δὲ καὶ πίνῃ µετὰ τῶν µεθυόντων,
And begins to beat his fellow servants [Jews abusing Jews] and eat and drink with drunkards;
He, an unbelieving Jew begins to bully other Jews, and in his misery, he sublimates by eating and drinking with drunkards.
Matthew 24:50
ἥξει ὁ κύριος τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνου ἐν ἡµέρᾳ ᾗ οὐ προσδοκᾷ καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ᾗ οὐ γινώσκει,
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour in which he is not aware.
In other words, Messiah is coming whether he thinks He is coming or not. The unbelieving Jew thinks He hasn’t even come the first time; “and in an hour that he is not aware of.” The unbeliever will be caught flat-footed; he is caught by the second advent. And when the second advent overtakes the unbeliever, he is removed by the Baptism of Fire.
Matthew 24:51
καὶ διχοτοµήσει αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ µέρος αὐτοῦ µετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτῶν θήσει· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθµὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγµὸς τῶν ὀδόντων
And will punish him severely [Baptism of fire] and assign him a place with the hypocrites [religious unbelievers] in that place there is weeping and gnashing of teeth [at the point of judgment; they have missed the opportunity of being saved].
