The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com
Matthew Chapter 24
departed
Jesus leaves that which He abandons to judgment;
(See Scofield) - (Mar 8:23)
in light of (Mat 11:21); (Mat 11:22).
Compare (Rev 18:4).
Tell us
The beginning of the Olivet Discourse.
Comparing Matthew 24 with (Luk 21:20-24) answers the threefold question. The order is as follows: "when shall these things be?" -- that is, destruction of the temple and city. Answer: (Luk 21:20-24).
Second and third questions: "And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?" Answer: (Mat 24:4-33).
Verses 4 to 14 (Mat 24:4-14) have a double interpretation: They give
(1) the character of the age -- wars, international conflicts, famines, pestilences, persecutions, and false Christs. Compare (Dan 9:26).
This is not the description of a converted world.
(2) But the same answer (Mat 24:4-14) applies in a specific way to the end of the age, namely, Daniel's seventieth week. (Dan 9:24-27).
(See Scofield) - (Dan 9:24).
All that has characterized the age gathers into awful intensity at the end. Verse 14 (Mat 24:14) has specific reference to the proclamation of the good news that the kingdom is again "at hand" by the Jewish remnant (Isa 1:9); (Rev 14:6); (Rev 14:7).
(See Scofield) - (Rom 11:5).
Verse 15 (Mat 24:15) gives the sign of the abomination,
(See Scofield) - (Dan 9:27),
the "man of sin," or "Beast". (Th2 2:3-8); (Dan 9:27); (Dan 12:11); (Rev 13:4-7).
This introduces the great tribulation (Psa 2:5).
(See Scofield) - (Rev 7:14),
which runs its awful course of three and a half years, culminating in the battle of
(See Scofield) - (Rev 19:19),
at which time Christ becomes the smiting Stone of (Dan 2:34).
The detail of this period (Mat 24:15-28) is:
(1) The abomination in the holy place (Mat 24:15);
(2) the warning (Mat 24:16-20) to believing Jews who will then be in Jerusalem;
(3) the great tribulation, with renewed warning as to false Christs (Mat 24:21-26);
(4) the sudden smiting of the Gentile world-power (Mat 24:27); (Mat 24:28);
(5) the glorious appearing of the Lord, visible to all nations, and the regathering of Israel (Mat 24:29-31);
(6) the sign of the fig-tree (Mat 24:32); (Mat 24:33);
(7) warnings, applicable to this present age over which these events are ever impending (Mat 24:34-51). (Plm 4:5).
Careful study of Daniel 2, 7, 9 and Revelation 13 will make the interpretation clear.
See, also, "Remnant" (Isa 1:9); (Rom 11:5).
iniquity
That is, lawlessness, sin.
(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23).
kingdom
(See Scofield) - (Mat 3:2).
world
Greek, "oikoumene" means "inhabited earth".
(See Scofield) - (Luk 2:1).
Then let them which
Compare (Luk 21:20-24).
The passage in Luke refers in express terms to a destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled by Titus, A.D. 70; the passage in Matthew to a future crisis in Jerusalem after the manifestation of the abomination.
See "Beast"; (Dan 7:8); (Rev 19:20); and
"Armageddon"; (Rev 16:14); (Rev 19:17).
As the circumstances in both cases will be similar, so are the warnings. In the former case, Jerusalem was destroyed; in the latter, it will be delivered by divine interposition.
Son of man
Also (Mat 24:37); (Mat 24:39); (Mat 24:44).
(See Scofield) - (Mat 8:20).
angels
(See Scofield) - (Heb 1:4).
This generation
(Greek, "genea", the primary definition of which is, "race, kind, family, stock, breed"). (So all lexicons.) That the word is used in this sense because none of "these things," that is, the world-wide preaching of the kingdom, the great tribulation, the return of the Lord in visible glory, and the regathering of the elect, occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 70. The promise is, therefore, that the generation -- nation, or family of Israel -- will be preserved unto "these things"; a promise wonderfully fulfilled to this day.
angels
(See Scofield) - (Heb 1:4).
Son of man
(See Scofield) - (Mat 8:20).
Son of man
(See Scofield) - (Mat 8:20).
Son of man
(See Scofield) - (Mat 8:20).
faithful
See (Luk 12:42-46); (Co1 4:2).
It is faithfulness, not ability, in the Lord's service that is first approved by Him.