An Interpretation of Matthew 24-25 (Part 4) Dr. Thomas Ice Since I have shown in previous installments that Matthew 24 is a future, end-time prophecy, the next issue to tackle is when will verses 4 through 14 come to pass? There are two major views that futurists, like myself, tend to hold. First, some believe that verses 4-14 refer to the inter-advent age-that is the time between Christs first coming and the beginning of the tribulation. Second, some hold that verses 4-14, especially verses 4-8, refer to the first part of the tribulation and correspond with the first four seal judgments of Revelation 6:1-8. I think that the second view is correct. Inter-Advent Age View Many futurist interpreters of the Olivet Discourse believe that verses 4-14 describe the general signs of the inter-advent age. Dr. John F. Walvoord, an advocate of this view says that verses 4-14 are: describing the general characteristics of the age leading up to the end, while at the same time recognizing that the prediction of difficulties, which will characterized the entire period between the first and second coming of Christ, are fulfilled in an intensified form as the age moves on to its conclusion.[1] Dr. Walvoord believes that verses 15-26 are specific signs that describe the tribulation, while verses 27-31 relate to the second coming.[2] Within the inter-advent age view is a variation of this perspective. Some think that verses verses 4-8 are general signs of the inter-advent age leading up to the tribulation. While verses 9-14 reference the first half of the tribulation. The events concerning the first half of the tribulation are recorded in Matthew 24:9-14, says Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum. This passage begins with the word then, pointing out that what Christ is describing now will come after the event of nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom.[3] If the inter-advent age view is the correct interpretation, then it would mean that wars, earthquakes, famines, and the appearance of false Christs would be constantly on the increase as we approach the tribulation period. However, if these items are references to the first half of the tribulation, then wars, earthquakes, famines, and false Christs during any part of the church age would not constitute prophetic signs. This explains why some futurists believe that increasing wars, earthquakes, famines, etc. are prophetically significant, while others, like myself, do not think that they are prophetically significant, since these verses refer to global events during the seven-year tribulation. Tribulation View I believe that Matthew 24:4-41 refers to the seven-year period (Dan. 9:24-27) that many commonly call the tribulation. The tribulation is divided in half by the abomination of desolation, mentioned by Jesus in verse 15. Thus, verses 4-14 refer to the first half of the tribulation and are parallel to the first five seal judgments found in Revelation 6. If out interpretation is the right one there must be perfect harmony between these three: Old Testament Prophecy: Matthew xxiv:4-44, and Revelation vi-xix. insists Arno Gaebelein.[4] I believe just such a harmony exists, especially between the Olivet Discourse and Revelation. This is what convinces me that verses 4-14 refer to the first half of the tribulation. Gaebelein continues: If this is the correct interpretation, if Matthew xxiv:4-14 refers to the beginning of that coming end of the age and if Revelation vi refers to the same beginning of the end and that which follows the sixth chapter leads us on into the great tribulation, then there must be a perfect harmony between that part of the Olivet discourse contained in Matthew xxiv and the part of Revelation beginning with the sixth chapter. And such is indeed the case.[5] The acceptance of this view, in part, observes John McLean, is dependent on how much weight is given to the parallels between the synoptics and Revelation.[6] Since all futurists see the Olivet Discourse as parallel to Revelation to some degree, it makes sense that these two portions of Scripture would be focused on the same basic time period-the tribulation to be continued
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 10:30:33 +0000
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