Journal: Pneumatikos
Volume: PNEUMATIKOS 15:1 (Spring 2024)
Article: Are Any Signs Of Christ’s Coming In Matthew 24:1–31?
Author: Jeremy Thomas

Pneumatikos 15:1 (Spring 2024) p. 83

Are Any Signs Of Christ’s Coming In Matthew 24:1–31?

Jeremy Thomas

Spokane Bible Church
Spokane, Washington, USA

Keywords: Matthew 24, signs, Israel, church, rapture, abomination of desolation, earthquakes, wars, temple, dispensationalism, kingdom, deception, generation

Abstract: Dispensationalists continue to hold a wide variety of interpretations of Matthew 24–25. Views fall into two main groups: historical-futurist and strict futurist. Within the historical-futurist interpretation, there are the gap and chronological views. Both see the church, and sometimes the rapture and judgment seat of Christ, in Matthew 24 and 25. Within the strict futurist interpretation, there are the general to specific, chronological, and recapitulation interpretations. These views see only Israel in the discourse. Each interpretation is evaluated, and weaknesses are shown.

The intended meaning is discovered by placing the discourse in the larger context of Matthew’s argument and five discourses concerning the kingdom, then narrowing in on the immediate context of Jesus’s denunciation of the Pharisees, His weeping over Jerusalem, and the disciple’s questions. Exegetical reasons are given for showing a close connection between all the events in Matthew 24–25 and placing them all within Israel’s 70^th week. Along the way, the analogy of faith is used to demonstrate the view that best harmonizes with other prophetic passages.

The study shows that while there has been progress toward a more unified interpretation, dispensationalists are still wrestling with consistently applying the grammatical-historical hermeneutic to Matthew 24–25.

Pneumatikos 15:1 (Spring 2024) p. 84

Introduction

Matthew 23:37–24:31 is the first section of our Lord’s greatest prophetic discourse, known popularly as the Olivet Discourse. This section continues to be interpreted a number of different ways by dispensationalists, especially 24:4–14. This paper is divided into two sections: 1) a sketch and critique of various views held by modern dispensationalists, and 2) a proposed interpretation consistent with Matthew’s argument.

The views of Matthew 24:4–31 by modern dis...