There are three chapters
located in the Gospels that
deal somewhat differently
with the same discourse.

Matthew 24,Mark 13 and Luke 21.
This message will deal with
Luke 21.

(Overview of Matthew 24 is included
at the bottom of this message.)

Luke 21:5 - in this verse we see the
temple being bragged on (compare to
Matthew 24:1)

:6 Jesus makes the same statement
he made in Matthew 24:2 concerning
the future of the temple.

:7 the disciples ask the
same question they asked in Matthew
24:3 concerning the time frame of
the shocking statements Jesus had
just made.

(Thus far, we have an unarguable
parallel between Matthew 24 and
Luke 21--they are descriptions of
the same discourse given by different
people and from a slightly different
view point).

:8 we see another parallel--Jesus
warning his disciples not to be
deceived (and he is not just talking
to those sitting in front of him at
the time). This is an end time warning.
(compare with Matthew 24:21-25)

In verses 8-11 we must recognize that
Jesus is making a direct reference to
a time in the distant future which he
identifies in Matthew as the "Beginning
of Sorrows."
(compare with Matthew 24:4-8)

We know this because he makes the time
distinction by saying:

"but **before** all these things (:12).

In Luke 21:12, Jesus begins to describe
what he calls the "Days of Vengence."
Luke devotes 12 verses (:12-24) to relating what
Jesus had to say about the destruction of Jerusalem
that we now now took place in 70AD.
(Matthew only briefly touched on this in 24:2)

We know that verse :24 is still referring to
the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, because
there is a reference in that verse to the captivity
and scattering of the Jews that took place at that
time.
(See also Luke 19:41-44)

(When the anti-christ comes to power, there
will be severe persecution, but no destruction
of Jerusalem and no captivity or dispursment of the
Jewish population--The Jews will never again be
taken from their land).

:25-28 shifts in focus to the time just prior to the
appearance of Jesus on this earth to establish his
kingdom that will have no end.
(compare with Matthew 24:29-30)

In Luke 21:26 and Matthew 24:29 we see the identical
phrase "the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

Both Luke 21:27 and Matthew 24:30 "see the Son of Man coming with
power and great glory."

Both Matthew 24 and Luke 21 are different
descriptions/viewpoints/focus of the same discourse
which clearly deals with both the 70AD destruction of
Jerusalem and the end time events that will culminate
in the return of Jesus Christ to this earth in power
and great glory.

Matthew 24 Overview:
jocelyn wrote:
>
> Dear Norman,
>
> Thank you for posing such
> a provocative question. Until
> you did, I had no idea there
> was any question that Matthew
> 24 was an end time prophecy.
>
> I did know, of course, that parts of
> it are challenged and interpretations
> an vary widely.
>
> But as far as its general end time
> prophetic nature, I never realized
> there was much controversy on that.
>
> So, you challenged me to re-read it.
>
> Below is an overview of what I see
> in Matthew 24:
>
> :1-2 - Jesus prophesys the 70 AD
> destruction of the Temple
> in Jerusalem.
>
> :3 - The disciples ask 3 questions
> * When will the temple be destroyed?
> * When will Jesus be coming into
> his Kingdom?
> * When will the end of the age be?
>
> :4-5 - Jesus warnes against being deceived
> and accepting a false Messiah.
>
> :5-8 - Jesus describes a time period called
> "The Beginning of Sorrows."
>
> :9-14 - Jesus continues describing the
> "Beginning of Sorrows" and gives
> a generalized overview of that
> time to his visible return
> (when the end will come)
>
> :15-22 - Jesus then gives specific details describibg
> the beginning of what he calls (in :21)
> "Great Tribulation."
>
> :23-26 - Jesus warns again that this will be a time
> filled with false Messiahs and false miracle
> workers.
>
> :26-31 - Jesus describes in vivid, unmistakable terms
> what his visible return will be like (so those
> who are looking for him will not be deceived).
>
> :32-35 - Jesus tells them that the generation that sees
> the beginning of these things will not pass away
> until they see the completion also. He further
> assures them that his words are true and will
> surely come to pass.
>
> :36 - Jesus lets them know that date setting is
> impossible. On the day he gave that prophecy
> (until today), no one but the father knows the
> the day or hour of Christ's visible return.
>
> :37-42 - Christ describes what the times will be like
> immediately preceeding his visible return.
>
> :43-44 - Jesus makes it clear that his people can know
> when to be watching for his visible return to
> earth.
>
> :45-47 - There will be a reward for those who are faithful
> to Christ during this special time of watching and
> "Great Tribulation."
>
> :48-51 - There will be dire consequences for those who
> disregard Christ during this time period.
>
> Matthew 24 is dealing with a specific period of time and with what
is
> happening "on earth" during that time.
>
> The references to "enduring to the end" are referring to enduring
to
> the end of that time period--not to "enduring to the end" of our
> lives, in general, in order to find out if we attain salvation (see
> contrasts and comparisones in both the files and links sections of
> this group).
>
> The rewards to the faithful servants and the cutting off of the
> unfaithful ones are not referring to either the Judgment Seat of
> Christ or the White Throne Judgment.
>
> These are referring to the judgments and rewards that will be
decreed
> during the judgment of the nations (which will take place on earth
> after the close of the time of trouble (when Christ establishes his
> earthly kingdom at his coming).
>