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| 1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! |
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| 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
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| 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, |
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| 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
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| 5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
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Take heed – Appears four times in this chapter: lest any one deceive you (verse 5); to yourselves, what ye say and do (verse 9); to what I have told you (verse 23) and, watch and pray (verse 33). R566:1*
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| 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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Saying, I am Christ – Not the fanatics who from time to time have claimed to be Christ and have deceived but few, but the great church systems of men which have so counterfeited the genuine Messiah (Head and Body) as to partially deceive many. D580, D565
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| 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
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Ye shall hear of wars – Thus briefly did our Lord summarize secular history, and teach the disciples not to expect very soon his second coming and glorious kingdom. D566
Rumours of wars – Threats, intrigues of wars. D566
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| 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
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Kingdom against kingdom – It will be the thorough transition from the reign of sin and death to the reign of righteousness and life which will cause the great time of trouble Marking the closing of the Gospel age. R5399:6
And troubles – The great time of trouble. R5399:6
Beginning of sorrows – Primary sorrows, the secular history of the Gospel age. D566
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| 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
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But take heed – Thus Jesus forewarned how we would be treated. R356:5
Deliver you up – During that same period, the Gospel age. D566
In the synagogues – They could teach the people there for a time, but as they shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God, they soon found little, and finally no opportunity, to teach the people in the synagogues. R986:5
Ye shall be beaten – As the disciples of Jesus met thereafter from house to house, but, if bold for the truth, were no longer permitted in the Jewish synagogues, so we no longer meet with the nominal Gospel church, which is now so overrun with tares that the wheat cannot flourish. R356:5
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| 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
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Must first be published – This witness has already been given. The word of the Lord, the Gospel of the kingdom, has been published to every nation of the earth. D568
In 1861, reports of the Bible Societies showed that the Gospel had been published in every language of earth. A91
Among all nations – The commission given at the beginning of the age: "Go ye and teach all nations." (Matt. 28:19) C215
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." (Matt. 24:12) A91; D169, D567
Does not imply the conversion of the world. He says nothing about how the testimony will be received. This witness has already been given. A91; D169, D567, D568
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| 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
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| 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
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| 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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Ye shall be hated – The mob spirit, the lynching spirit, is but a less legal form of "The Holy Inquisition." Evidences multiply that the mob spirit, the Inquisition spirit, is growing. All should be on guard. PD48/97
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| 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
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When ye shall see – Recognize, discern, distinguish. R710:6; B268, B271; D572, D573
Understand, recognize, identify. D572
The abomination, defilement and desolation are old; but so gross was the darkness of error during centuries past that few, if any, could see it. D572
The abomination – That Wicked One (2 Thes. 2:8), the Man of Sin (2 Thes. 2:3), the Mystery of Iniquity (2 Thes. 2:7), the Antichrist (1 John 4:3), the Son of Perdition (2 Thes. 2:3), the Beast (Rev. 13:1), the Little Horn (Dan. 7:8), the Papacy. B271, B277
The Papal doctrines of transubstantiation and the sacrifice of the Mass, supplemented now by theories of self-atonement by Papacy's imitators. C98, C99; D572
Whose foundation rests in the doctrine of the Mass, which substitutes human performances instead of the great sacrifice of Calvary for the cleansing away of sin. D572
In another parallelism, fleshly Israel's rejection of the true sacrifice for sins and their retention of the typical sacrifices were no longer acceptable to God, but abominations. D572
Standing – Having stood. D573
Where it ought not – In the holy place. (Matt. 24:15) God's holy place or true temple, the Church. D572, D573; C26
In the holy place, in the stead of the true sacrifice. D573
Let him that readeth – Reader. D573
Understand – Consider. D573
Take heed and not be mistaken regarding the real abomination. C26
That be in Judea – Christendom, the system falsely styling itself Christ's kingdom, not literal Judea, as it is itself a hill country. D573
Flee – From the influence of the abomination and from the system falsely styling itself Christ's kingdom, mountain. D573
To the mountains – The true mountain, Christ's kingdom. D573
The Greek may with equal or greater propriety be rendered in the singular--mountain--and is so rendered in a majority of instances in the Common Version. D573
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| 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
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On the housetop – Represents the most saintly of the people of God. R5456:4
Of the church systems of Babylon. House-top saints, who have a higher life and experience and faith than merely nominal church members. D575
Not go down – All temporizing or human reasoning will be dangerous; no time must be lost in obeying. D574
Into the house – Represents the house of God. R5456:4
Nominal church systems. D575
Take any thing out – Their valuables in human estimation, such as titles, dignities, respect, commendations of good and regular standing, etc. D575; R5456:4
Everything must be forsaken. R5456:4; D575
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| 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
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That is in the field – In the world, outside of all human organizations. D574
Any of the Lord's people who have left the nominal church, and gone out into the world. R5456:4
Not turn back again – Not join the nominal churches. D574
But flee to the Lord. R5456:4
Take up his garment – Their valuables in human estimation. D575
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| 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
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Woe to them – How difficult it is to flee from the nominal church system with its multitudinous machinery for false and rapid begetting, which they have learned to glory in and boast of. D576
They will fear to flee in this day; realizing that but few of their "babes" would be able or willing to join in the flight. Indeed, only the spiritual will be able to endure the ordeal. D577
The perils would seem overdrawn if applicable only to the physical sufferings of the believers who fled in the Jewish harvest; but his words are manifestly appropriate to the spiritual flight and trials of this harvest time. D574
That are with child – There are spiritual "babes" as well as fleshly babes, and bastards as well as sons. D575
All faithful servants of Christ, all earnest laborers for souls, are such as are described in this text as being "with child." D575
With spiritual children, begotten of error instead of truth, hence spurious, not sons of God. (Heb. 12:8) D576
And to them – Ministers, Sunday School teachers--those whose work consists in giving out "milk." D576
Them that give suck – Includes many ministers and Sunday School teachers, whose religious work consists in giving out "milk"; not always pure, sometimes diluted with tradition and philosophy, opiates which keep their babes docile, sleepy and "good," but hinder their growth in knowledge and grace. D577
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| 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
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Not in the winter – The winter-time of Babylon's trouble--the burning of the tares in a great time of trouble. D578
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended (winter has come), and we are not saved. (Jer. 8:20) D578
It is still the custom in country places to leave the burning off of refuse until the winter. D578
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| 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
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For in those days – The trouble coming will be the outgrowth of selfishness, which is fast ripening. R1470:2
As a result of selfishness reaching its limit, becoming ripe and going to seed. SM266:1
Affliction, such as – More terrible as well as more general. D540
Neither shall be – It will never need to be repeated. R1519:4
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| 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
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Except that the Lord – So great will this trouble be that without some intervening power to cut it short the entire race would eventually be exterminated. D579
Those days – The anarchy of the world. C366
For the elect's sake – Through or by the elect, who will intervene at the proper time. D578, D579
His kingdom, Christ and his Church, will intervene at the proper time and bring order out of earth's confusion. D579
Shortened the days – The work of destruction will be "a short work." (Rom. 9:28) D558, D578
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| 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
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And then – That is, now. D581
Lo, here is Christ – Displaying himself as the only representative of Christ--the Pope, the Sovereign of England, the Czar of Russia, the Synods, Conferences, and Councils. D580
Anticipating a greater deception by the increased power of unified Protestant denominations cooperating with Papacy, the "Image of the beast." (Rev. 13:15) D581
Or, lo, he is there – In any particular place. B165
Believe him not – Our Lord's revelation at his second presence will not be in a room, nor to a community in a wilderness or desert place, nor even to one nation, as at the first advent, but it will be a general world-wide manifestation. D583
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| 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
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For false Christ's – Deceptions. R113:6
False prophets – False teachers. R113:6
And shall shew – Lead into confusion and error. R113:6
Signs and wonders – Through the assistance of the fallen angels, more than even Spiritists have dreamed of. R2189:3, 4351:2, 2179:1
To seduce – By suggesting the abandonment of the way of the cross, and cooperation in "social uplift." E115
If it were possible – The "strong delusions" upon Christendom will not be permitted to deceive "the very elect." R3296:1, 4438:6
But so close will they be in sympathetic fellowship with the great Shepherd that they will discern his voice and not be deceived. R4438:6
To those who abide in Christ, grace, wisdom, and aid sufficient will be granted for their time of need. F192
If the Lord did not protect them by the "armor of God." (Eph. 6:11-18) R3490:4
Even the elect – The "very elect," those who "make their calling and election sure." (2 Pet. 1:10) F165
The "very elect" will be shielded by the Truth and its holy Spirit. R4351:2
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| 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
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| 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
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In those days, after that tribulation – Still in the 1260 years of Papal power, but after the brunt of the tribulation had passed. D585
The tribulation "of those days" should be clearly distinguished from the tribulation at the end of those days, in which this age and harvest will close. D583
The sun – Symbolically, the Gospel light, the truth--and thus Christ Jesus. D590
Shall be darkened – Literally, in the dark day of May 19, 1780 which extended over 320,000 square miles. D587
The nominal church's sun is being darkened, its moon is being turned into blood, and its stars are falling. D591
Symbolically, by denial that we were bought with the precious blood, and by substituting the theory of Evolution. D592
And the moon – Symbolically, the light of the Mosaic Law. D590
The darkening of the moon at its full the night following May 19, 1780, seems to have been little less remarkable than the darkening of the sun. D587
The moon as a symbol represents the light of the Mosaic Law. As the moon is a reflection of the light of the sun, so the Law was the shadow, or reflection beforehand of the Gospel. D590
Not give her light – "Shall be turned into blood," (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20)--the Law comes to be regarded merely as a meaningless and barbaric ceremony of blood. D593
As the sunlight of the ransom becomes obscured, so the moonlight of the Mosaic Law, which in its sacrifices foreshadowed the ransom, must of necessity become obscured also. D592
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| 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
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And the stars – The Scriptures do not distinguish between stars and meteors, as is commonly done in our day. D588
The word star (Greek: aster) is not used respecting any of the faithful (outside the apostles) in referring to them in this present life; but it is used in reference to those who depart from the truth and become "heady." D594
Symbolically, the false stars, wandering stars (Jude 13), pulpit stars, regarding themselves of equal or superior authority with the "twelve stars" (Rev. 12:1), and the inspired apostles (2 Cor. 11:13), Rev. 2:2) D591, D593, D594
Shall fall – Literally, the meteoric shower of Nov. 13, 1833. D588
The teachings of the God-ordained twelve stars of the Church, the apostles, will fade from view--cease to be recognized guides or lights. D593
Many of the false stars have fallen from every pretense of Gospel shining to the level of the comprehension of the masses to whom they shine. D596
Symbolically, the false stars make a great display in coming down from spiritual to earthly conditions--to the Christian-citizenship-politics level. D595
And the powers – The sectarian creeds and systems. D597
That are in heaven – The nominal church. D600
The heavens represent the ecclesiastical powers of Christendom. D591
The religious powers and influences of the world. R1305:2
Shall be shaken – This shaking is already begun. R1305:2, 5516:6
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| 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
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And then – At that same time. D597
Shall they see – With the eyes of their understanding. D600; B153
Some will see the divine plan of the ages and recognize it as one of the signs of the presence. (Luke 12:37) D599
Coming in the clouds – Clouds of trouble. B152
The tribes of earth will see the clouds of trouble and confusion incident to the shaking of the "heavens" and realize it to be a storm which shall shake the "earth" also. (Heb. 12:26, 27) D600
The judgment of Babylon, Christendom, social and ecclesiastical, is another sign that the Judge has come. D599
Power and glory – The glory of power and justice. B153
In his glorious body, (Phil. 3:21) a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:44-49) R261:2
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| 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
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Send his angels – Messengers as he has used throughout this age--earthly servants, begotten of his holy Spirit. D601
Colporteurs, magnetically attracting the "wheat" class, are flying through the midst of heaven giving sympathy, consolation and Christian love which hearts have longed for and nowhere else found. R4541:2
Messengers of the new King of earth. D600
Gather together – For this gathering the Lord has provided a general unity, sympathy, and teaching through a general channel. F274
"Gather my saints together unto me." (Psa. 50:5) B164
"Make up my jewels." (Mal. 3:17) B164
Gathering of the good fish into baskets. (Matt. 13:47-49) D600
Gathering of the wheat from the tares into the barn (Matt. 13:30), the calling of "my people" out of Babylon. (Rev. 18:4) D600
His elect – All of the consecrated class accepting the high calling of God and to whom a crown is apportioned. F165
From the four winds – From every quarter. D601
Part of heaven – The nominal church. D600
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| 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
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Of the fig tree – The incident of the Lord cursing the fig tree (Matt. 21:19, 20) inclines us to believe that the fig tree in this prophecy may be understood to signify the Jewish nation. D604
The Jewish nation. D604; R5503:2
Branch is yet tender – The buds will thrive, but will bear no perfect fruit before October 1914, the full end of "Gentile Times." D604
Putteth forth leaves – One of the signs of a new dispensation would be the sprouting, or indication of life, hope, promise, amongst the Jews. R5503:2, 4788:5
Looking forward to the re-establishment of the Jewish nation. R4788:5
The winter time, the blight time of the nation is at an end. R5503:2
We see the Jews looking back to Jerusalem. Thus the fig tree is putting forth its leaves, or giving signs of life, looking forward to the re-establishment of the Jewish nation. R4788:5, 5920:6; D604
Summer is near – The Jewish nation has been having a long winter time, but the spring time of this nation is now at hand. R5920:6
The Hebrews divided their year into two seasons, summer and winter. D602
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| 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
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That it is nigh – The kingdom of God. (Luke 17:21) D602
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| 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
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This generation – Greek, genea, not used with the significance of race, but in reference to people living contemporaneously who will witness the signs enumerated. D603
A "generation" might be reckoned as a century, the present limit, or 120
years, Moses' lifetime, the Scripture limit. D604
Might be reckoned as equivalent to a century from 1780, the date of the first sign. By 1880 every item predicted had begun to be fulfilled. D604
It would not be inconsistent to reckon the generation from 1878 to 1914, 36-½ years, about the average of human life today. D605
These things be done – We are not looking for things to come which are already here, but are waiting for the consummation of matters already in progress. D605
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| 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
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Heaven and earth – The present ecclesiastical and social order. D602
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| 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
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That hour – When the heavenly Kingdom should be set up. E36
Of his second coming. R5943:5
Knoweth no man – It was not then due to be revealed; does not prove we cannot know now. B18; D605; R1873:3
Our Lord gave quite a detailed account of events which must intervene, indicating a lapse of a considerable period between, yet giving no clear idea of its length. B160
These words cannot be understood to mean that none but the Father will ever know of his times and seasons. B18
The time was unknown then and was to so continue until God's due time for making it known. R1873:3
"The wise shall understand." (Dan. 12:10) D606; B19; R2972:6; OV268:3
Neither the Son – It does not say the Son never will know. B18; D605; R2972:6, 1796:3
Times and seasons for the full accomplishment of the restitution of all things were wisely hidden from his view, as they were also wisely hidden from the Church's view until the realization of it was near at hand. R1688:2
The Son certainly must know of the time of his own second advent, at least a little while before it takes place. R2972:6, 1873:3, 1796:3; D605
He does not so answer in Acts 1:6-8. We must suppose that then he did know, because he was then "born of the Spirit" with "all power" including the power of knowledge. R2082:5, 1796:5
Jesus proved himself worthy to "loose the seals." (Rev. 5:2, 12) of the scroll of God's plan. R5943:5,4
The revelation of the plan to him was a gradual one as features became due. R3160:3
The things that were sealed on the inside of the scroll of Rev. 5 were not proper to be understood by our Redeemer until he had received all-power, after his resurrection. R5943:6, 2156:2
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| 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
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Take ye heed – The times and seasons will be very important some time, so do not become indifferent. B19
None then living shall escape the great time of trouble except the Little Flock, the Bride class. R2302:5
Watch and pray – Watching unto prayer, thus keeping their hearts in a humble and teachable attitude. R1797:1
Be always watching for the first evidence of my parousia. B163
Watch yourselves and also the word of prophecy. B22
With the Word of God in heart and mind, and the spirit of truth in yourself. B23
That in due time ye may know. D606; B19
"Watch ye, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape." (Luke 21:36) R2302:5; B23; D606
For ye know not – Because the time was long according to human reckoning, and a knowledge of it would therefore have been discouraging. R1796:3
Although it was neither proper nor possible for the Lord's people to know in advance the exact time of the second presence, yet when the due time would come, the faithful ones, the watchers, would be informed. R2972:3
The time of the Lord's presence could not be known beforehand, even by the saints; nor was the fact of the Lord's presence recognized until nearly a year after October 1874. D612
Such a state must continue until the proximity of the event renders the knowledge of the time no longer a cause of discouragement, but of the revival of hope and anticipation. R1796:5
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| 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
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A far journey – Even to heaven itself, not to return until the time for his kingdom to be established in glory and power. R2634:2
Every man his work – Each should seek to know his talents and to use them, and should not attempt the use of talents not given him, and a work therefore not committed to him. R2527:1
In the Church. R2527:1
As illustrated by those who built with Nehemiah. R2526:6
As Nehemiah's plan was that each person should undertake the building of the wall nearest to his own residence. R2527:1
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| 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
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Watch – The signs of the times in light of God's Word, for the second advent of the Lord, the establishment of the kingdom, and the transformation of the Church to the divine likeness. R2973:3, 1796:3
Our watching is to be for the second coming of him who redeemed us. R2973:1
Watch intently, earnestly, interestedly, because we know of the good things God has in reservation. (1 Cor. 2:9-13; 1 Pet. 1:4) R2973:5
Watching implies hoping, and it also implies waiting. R2973:2
Watch, because ye know not, in order that, at the proper time, ye may know. R2972:2; D606
We are to watch the signs of the times in the light of the Lord's Word, our lamp. R2973:3
The watchers look not merely at the outward signs, as seen in the world. They scrutinize carefully and repeatedly their "chart," the Bible's prophetic outline of the world's history furnished by the King himself. R2973:6
The watchers are those who are in harmony with the King and who have respect to his promise, and they, therefore, do not neglect the words which he speaks. R2974:1
Implies not only some advantage in watching, but that the manner of the second advent will require some discernment. R1796:5
This watching will serve as an antidote to worldly influence. R2303:1
Therefore – Implies that the manner of the second advent might be contrary to general expectation. R1796:5
Cometh – This cannot refer to our Lord coming at death, as often taught, because death is an enemy. R2303:1
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| 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
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| 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
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I say unto all – Unto all believers. R2972:5
The whole Church to the end of the age. R1796:2
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