Matthew 24:1-14; Psalm 121

Matthew 24:1-14
Matthew 24 has been called the Olivet Discourse because Jesus gave it while on the Mount of Olives. Jesus is telling His disciples about future events. First He foretells the destruction of the Temple. Then His disciples ask Him about His return and the end of the world. vv. 1-3

The remainder of the chapter deals with the events of the Great Tribulation. These judgments will take place after the Church has been removed from the earth. See 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 and 5:1-4. We call this the Rapture of the Church. Then the 7 years of Tribulation will come; this will be a time of great suffering. Then Christ will return to earth to set up His kingdom and to rule and reign on the earth for 1000 years. After that we will have eternity in heaven. And so this is the order of events very briefly:

• The rapture of the Church. 
• The Great Tribulation. 
• The Second Coming of Christ and the 1000-year reign
• Eternity

In vv. 4-14, the first half of the Tribulation is described. It will last 3 1/2 years. Here are some of the events that will occur:

• Many will be deceived. v. 5
• There will be wars and rumors of wars. vv, 6-7
• There will be famines and earthquakes v. 7
• There will be increased persecution and martyrdom. v. 9
• There will be lawlessness and chaos around the world. vv. 10-13 I want to make it clear that v. 13 does not refer to personal salvation in this age of grace. Remember that we as the Church will be gone. However, some will be saved during the Tribulation and as believers they will endure to the end of the age.
• There will be worldwide preaching. v. 14

Psalm 121

God, the creator, is our helper. vv. 1-2

God is our keeper. vv. 3-8  He is always on watch--He never sleeps! He watches over us and stands beside us. He keeps us from harm and watches over us.

The words of this short psalm are so beautiful; I think the whole psalm is worthy of our meditation:

I look up to the mountains--does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.