We used the verses from Luke to establish a foundation for understanding Jesus’ message to His disciples regarding the last days and His return to earth in glory. The ordering of events in the Gospel passages is consistent. We will see that in the verses according to Matthew and Mark. The first grouping of verses documented by these two disciples, Matthew 24:4-8 and Mark 13:5-8, speaks of great earthly destruction, with a few additional points not documented by Luke.
9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. – Matthew 24:9-12 KJV
9But 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.
10And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11But 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 Ghost. 12Now 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. 13And 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. – Mark 13:9-13 KJV
Christ tells His disciples they will be afflicted, killed and hated for His name. Many will be offended and betray those standing for Jesus Christ. False prophets will arise and deceive many. There will be a prevalence of iniquity causing the love of many to grow cold. Christ warns of the hardship to come, the murder, hate and deception that will cause many to lose hope and their faith in God.
There was another time when the love for Christ for some grew cold.
53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. – John 6:53-58 KJV
Christ tells His disciples eating His flesh and drinking His blood will save them for eternity. Christ is also referred to as the Word. We are to read and study, feeding on the Word for strength and sustainance. Christ was sent by the Father and will raise up His disciples on the last day.
60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. – John 6:60-65 KJV
Jesus knew His message was not easy to understand. He knew some would be offended and reject Him. Regardless, He stayed on the path His Father established for Him to walk.
66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. – John 6:66 KJV
Disciples, people who at one point chose to walk with Jesus. They knew Jesus on earth, in the flesh. They listening to Him preach daily and yet they walked away. They rejected His teaching and Him. Their hearts were not prepared to receive the message Christ brought from Father God. When the message became too difficult for them, they closed their hearts and walked away. These disciples simply turned and left. They did not shout, throw rocks or seek to gag Jesus in that moment. Their rejection was quiet, subtle, and this was by people who had Jesus Christ in the flesh on earth with them every day! Imagine how quickly weak hearts will be turned in the last days, unable to listen to God, unable to trust in His plan, being deceived and some, possibly many, likewise walking away.
God’s word is divine. And even though the numbering of chapters and verses was added long after the words were originally written, God’s hand comes through with this final verse being numbered the 66th verse of the 6th chapter of John, 6:66, 666.
The deception and betrayal happening during the last days will be great. Those who are not prepared in understanding of the ways of God are at risk of being deceived and turning away. With only a basic understanding of salvation, they will be limited in their ability to ask God to act powerfully on their behalf. Salvation is still for all and God and Jesus will receive those who have chosen that salvation into heaven joyfully with all our shortcomings. The key here is to understand our choices and actions will be judged to determine our eternal place in God’s kingdom. The more we understand now, the more effective we will be for God and Christ, bringing His kingdom come to earth for whatever time we have left here on earth.
God has given us the power of choice and I believe He will listen to our desire to stay in the fight on earth, doing His will, for as long as He deems us effective for His plan. He is merciful, understanding what each of us is capable of with regard to allowing Him to work through us. We do not need to live with a desire to be pulled out of dangerous, turbulent or traumatic events here on earth. The power of God is great enough to protect us and keep us exactly where we are! Just like the lion’s den and the fiery furnace, acknowledging God’s ability to protect us in any circumstances will keep our hearts from growing cold through tumultuous times.
Our time here on earth is short compared to eternity in heaven. We as saints for Christ will see each other and be together again with Christ and the Father in heaven. We do not need to mourn earthly losses through this time because those we love who have chosen Christ as their Lord and Savior will all be gathering in heaven as the earth sees her final days. We need to allow our thoughts to evolve to gain greater understanding of God’s ways, stifling human feelings that may lead us astray.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. – Matthew 24:13 KJV
Again, hope is given. Just as Christ promises in John to bring his disciples to Him on the day, here He encourages them to endure the affliction, for they will be saved. That same hope is given by God in the prophecy of Revelation.
12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. – Revelation 3:12 KJV
Those who sustain until the very end will never leave God’s temple. There is always promise from the One True Almighty God!
Continuing with the words of Christ as documented by Matthew and Mark.
14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. – Matthew 24:14 KJV
10And the gospel must first be published among all nations. – Mark 13:10 KJV
These verses confirm the Gospel will be preached to the world, to all nations. Mark adds an element to the order of events given by Christ, then the end will come.
The “end” referred to here is the final group of events that will occur. This verse does not detail every element of that final group of events. It does not specifically equate “the end” to the return of Christ, even though His return will be included in those final events. Remember, it is an angel, one of three, who is responsible for ensuring the Gospel is preached to all the world.
6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people – Revelation 14:6 KJV
All creation will have the Gospel preached to them and be given an opportunity to make their decision for eternity.