马太二十四章一至三十一节论到以色列人。在三节门徒说,“请告诉我们,甚么时候会有这些事?你的来临和这世代的终结,有甚么兆头?”门徒的问题包含了三点:甚么时候会有这些事,这不仅包括殿的拆毁,(太二四2,)也包括二十三章三十二至三十九节所说的事;基督来临的兆头;这世代终结的兆头。从二十四章四节至二十五章四十六节,主的话答复门徒关于这三点的问题。
这节的来临,希腊文是parousia,巴路西亚,意即同在。基督的来临乃是与信祂的人同在。这同在(巴路西亚)要开始于男孩子的被提(启十二5),以及初熟果子的被提,(启十四1-4),结束于祂和圣徒一同在地上的显现。在祂的巴路西亚期间,会有始于超自然灾难(启六12-17,八7-12)的大灾难(太二四21,启九1-21,十一14,十六1-21)、基督降临到空中(启十四14)、大体信徒被提到空中(帖前四15-17)、基督的审判台(林后五10)、以及羔羊的婚娶(启十九7-9)。这里所问的问题是关于主巴路西亚的兆头,以及这世代终结的兆头。因此,祂在二十四章的答复,主要的是论到祂巴路西亚的兆头,以及这世代终结的兆头。
马太二十四章十五至三十一节,描述在这世代的终结,三年半的期间所要发生的事。这世代的终结开始于十五节。十四节指明这世代终结有力的兆头,就是国度的福音传遍全世界。当这事成就时,我们就该领悟,末了的三年半即将开始。因此,国度福音的传扬,将是这世代终结最大的兆头。在这传扬以前,许多其他的事将已发生。但这些事不是这世代终结的兆头,因为题到这些事时,主说末期还没有来到。因此,国度的福音传遍天下,将是这世代终结独一的兆头。
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The Consummation of This Age – Matt. 24:3
Matthew 24:1-31 is concerned with Israel. In verse 3 the disciples said, “Tell us, when shall these things be, and what is the sign of your coming and of the consummation of the age?” The question of the disciples consists of three points: when these things will be, including not only the destruction of the temple (Matt. 24:2), but also the things mentioned in 23:32-39; the sign of Christ’s coming and the sign of the consummation of the age. The Lord’s word from verse 4 through 25:46 answers the disciples’ question concerning these three points.
The Greek word rendered “coming” in this verse is parousia, which means presence. Christ’s coming will be his presence with his believers. This parousia will begin with the rapture of a male child (Rev. 12:5), the rapture of the first fruits (Rev. 14:1-4) and end with his coming to the earth with his saints. Within his parousia, there will be supernatural calamity (Rev. 6:12-17, 8:7-12), the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21, Rev. 9:1-21; 11:14; 16:1-21), Christ’s coming to the air (Rev. 14:14), the rapture of the majority of the believers to the air (1 Thes. 4:15-17), the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10) and the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). The question asked here is concerning the sign of the Lord’s parousia and the sign of the end of this age. Hence, his answer in chapter 24 deals mainly with the sign of his parousia and with the sign of the end of this age.
Matthew 24:15-31 describes what will happen at the consummation of this age, a period of three and a half years. The end of this age begins in verse 15. Verse 14 indicates a powerful sign of the end of this age is the declaring of the gospel of the kingdom throughout the world. When this is accomplished, we should realize that the last three and a half years are about to begin. Therefore, the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom will be the greatest sign of the end of this age. Before this preaching, many other things will have happened. However, these things are not the signs of the end of this age because the Lord said the end has not yet come when referring to them. Therefore, the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom throughout the world will be the only sign of the end of this age.