Matthew 24:9-14

What Will Happen To His Followers And Those Who Oppose Them At This Time (24:9-14).

But while these wars and disasters are going on, and on into the future, His followers will have their task to do. And in doing it His own followers must recognise that they must expect to suffer intensive persecution in one way or another, and that many false prophets will arise. The path to truth will not be easy. Furthermore they must not be deceived into thinking that the whole world will respond to them. Far from it. The world will become increasingly lawless and religion will in general stagnate. Nevertheless through it all the Good News of the Kingly Rule of Heaven will triumph and will reach out into the whole world as the light continues to shine in dark places (Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6). This is God's programme for the future, during which awful times the Kingly Rule of Heaven will spread throughout the world among men (Matthew 24:14), and this will prepare for the future ‘coming to birth' of the final heavenly Kingly Rule of Heaven, and the future enjoyment of ‘eternal life' (Matthew 25:46).

We have already seen indications that Jesus was aware that after His death and resurrection there would be a period of time before His return. Given a little thought it was required by the parables of the Kingly Rule of Heaven in chapter 13, and we can compare also Luke 19:11. So the events described here will cover at the minimum a fairly long period of time, for they are to occur among ‘all nations'.

Analysis of Matthew 24:9.

a “Then will they deliver you up to tribulation, and will kill you” (Matthew 24:9 a).

b “And you will be hated of all the nations for my name's sake” (Matthew 24:9 b).

c “And then will many stumble (or ‘be entrapped), and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another” (Matthew 24:10).

d “And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray” (Matthew 24:11).

c “And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved” (Matthew 24:12).

b “And this Good News of the Kingly Rule will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations

“And then will the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

Note that in ‘a' a quick end will come for many of His followers, while finally in the parallel the end will come for all. In ‘b' His disciples will be hated of all nations, and in the parallel the good news of the Kingly Rule will be proclaimed among all nations. In ‘c' there will be failure, betrayal and hatred, and in the parallel lawlessness will multiply and love will grow cold (apart from those who are His). Central in ‘d' will be the rise of false prophets to lead men astray.