Very many of them now assert that the Bible expressions
concerning the perdition of the wicked, such as those in 2 Thes-
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salonians 1, and 2 Peter 3, and Revelation 20, are to be taken
figuratively–not at all literally.
we are very confident that Matthew 24 reaches to matters
beyond the destruction of Jerusalem, and into time yet future; and
that it refers to a literal, personal, visible coming again of our
glorified Saviour. But the instruction which it contains was not
given to prove this truth–that his coming will be personal or literal.
This, now, has become the chief point of controversy on the
chapter, whereas if it is not made a point at all in the chapter. To
this we shall call further attention hereafter.
VERSE I: "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple;
and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the
temple."
Jesus had been addressing the multitude, in the presence of his
disciples. He had reproved the scribes and Pharisees for their sins,
and had declared the doom of the Jews, their city, and their temple.
Chapter 23. The disciples supposed that the temple would stand
forever. And they called the attention of Christ to its magnificence
and strength, as if to convince him that he was mistaken.
VERSE 2: "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these
things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone
upon another that shall not be thrown down."
This statement from the Master could but deeply interest the
disciples. And whether they supposed that the destruction of the
temple, the coming of Christ, and the end of the age, would all
occur at the same time, or at different periods, it matters not, since
Christ, in his answer in this chapter, has dis-
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tinctly spoken of each separately, and has given each its place in
the prophetic history of events.
VERSE 3: "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the
disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these
things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end
of the world?"
These questions relate, first, to the destruction of Jerusalem; and
second, to Christ's second coming at the end of the Christian age.
Both were distinctly answered by our Lord. Jesus did not censure
the disciples for desiring to look into the future, but answered their
questions fully. As Christ was here speaking to his disciples, and not
to the promiscuous multitude, his words in this prophetic discourse
are addressed to the church.
Two questions were asked by the disciples:–
I. "When shall these things be?" On this no controversy has ever
been raised. It is universally conceded that it refers to t
