The Misuse of Matthew 24:14

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

     This verse is used in the Worldwide Perspectives course as a major motivation and justification for world missions. Both its literature and speakers contend that we must reach all nations with the gospel before the end comes [or can come] in order to complete the Great Commission. In my opinion, this is a misuse of Jesus' words for three reasons:

1) Jesus clearly and emphatically stated that this would happen within His "this generation" (Matt. 24:34). Every NT use of this language always refers to the generation of the people there and then present, and never to a future, yet-unborn generation or race of people. What's more, He tied it into the destruction of the temple and the end of the Jewish age (Matt. 24:3).

2) Scripture confirms this accomplishment within that time frame. It's clearly stated in Rom. 1:8; Col. 1:6, 23; Rom. 10:18; 16:26; Also Acts 1:8; 2:5; Luke 2:1.

3) "The end" the Bible proclaims came [past tense] during that same time frame, exactly as the Holy Spirit led the early church and every NT writer to expect (John 16:13) - no gaps, no delays, no exegetic gimmicks. Otherwise, 1 Pet. 4:7, Luke 21:20-22 and many other consummatory verses were mistaken. This fulfillment perfectly harmonizes with Daniel's "time of the end" prophecy (Dan. 12). [Note - not the unscriptural "end of time"]:

Starting Point - July of 66 A.D. cessation of the daily sacrifice to Rome (vs. 11)
1290 Days Later - A major abomination in the temple area.
End of 1335 Days - Spring of 70 A.D. the abomination that causes desolation is set up - i.e. Roman armies encamp on hills surrounding Jerusalem.
The End - In April of 70 A.D. the final siege began. In September, it was over. The temple was destroyed, the Jewish Old-Covenant age ended, forever, and "the power of the holy people" was finally "broken" and "all things" were "completed" (Dan.12:7).

     Assuredly, we modern-day Christians are commanded to spread the gospel. But we're also to "earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all delivered" - past tense - (Jude 3). BIG DIFFERENCE! This is the faith we need to take to the world!

| Why Does the Prophecy Reformation Matter? | The Misuse of Matthew 24:14 |

| Do You Believe the End is Coming? | A Solution to the Problem of the End-Times |

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