The End Times Prophetic Subtext of Matthew Chapters 16 to 25

The Surrounding Context of the Matthew 24–25 Olivet Prophecy

The Bible is full of spiritual blueprints; Yeshua’s prophecy in Matthew 24 and 25, commonly called the Olivet Prophecy is an example of another one..

Having a working knowledge of all these “blueprints” will help us to discover who we are as a people in the eyes of YHVH, where we have come from, where we are presently, and where we are going—that is, what the future holds for us, and what our spiritual destiny or divine inheritance is. Only then will we understand the end-time prophetic events leading up to the second coming of Yeshua, and we will learn what our role will be to play in them.

To understand Matthew 24 and 25, it is important first to note the chronological positioning of this prophecy in the context of the passages before and after this pivotal chapter. The chapters that precede Matthew 24 prophetically speak of precursory events leading up to the second coming of Yeshua, while those that follow Matthew 24 prophetically delineate events that occur after his return.

Matthew 24 sits like a diamond in the midst of a brilliant gold setting. It speaks of the order of end time events pertaining to the second coming of Yeshua the Messiah, our beloved King, Redeemer and Savior. Listed below is a chronology of events as Matthew lays them out, more or less, in the order in which they will occur prophetically. Many of these passages will be elucidated upon later in this book. It is important that we present the overall layout of end-time events here and now before studying the individual components in detail later.

  • Matthew 16:13–20, The disciples recognize that Yeshua truly is the Messiah.
  • Matthew 16:21–28, Yeshua is the long-awaited Messiah, the Suffering Servant, who would die at the hands of the people and resurrect from the grave the after the third day.
  • Matthew 17:1–13, This event, commonly called the transfiguration, is a revelation concerning Yeshua’s second coming in power and glory, but Yeshua shows the disciples that this will happen only after he has suffered at the cross and has risen again. Here Yeshua clearly delineates between his first coming and his second comings.
  • Matthew 17:14–21, Before Yeshua’s second coming and the establishment of his universal kingdom on earth, YHVH will sublimate all demonic forces including the arch-demon himself, Satan, whom an unnamed angel will cast bound into the bottomless pit where he will be unable to torment or deceive humanity for the duration of the 1000 year-long Millennium.
  • Matthew 17:22–23, Yeshua fills in more of the details pertaining to his death.
  • Matthew 17:24–27, Yeshua teaches that the children of the kingdom (of Elohim) will be enslaved by economic Babylon until the sounding of the jubilee trumpet (or shofar) on the Day of Atonement. This will occur at his second coming when the saints will once and for all be set free and Babylon the Great will be permanently destroyed.
  • Matthew 18:1–5, Here Yeshua talks about the requirements for entering his kingdom. He points out that only those who have been converted from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, and who will become like little children in spiritual demeanor can be members of the kingdom of Elohim.
  • Matthew 18:6–9, Yeshua then teaches about offenses. Those who offend his little children, of whom is the kingdom of heaven, are in danger of the lake of fire judgment.
  • Matthew 18:10–14, Here Yeshua talks about the final regathering of the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This regathering began at Yeshua’s first coming, continued through the ongoing work of his disciples (Matt 10:6; 15:24), continues to this day, and will continue at his second coming and on into the Millennium, which in the Jewish thought is called the “final redemption.”
  • Matthew 18:15–19:12, Here Yeshua goes into a long teaching about offenses between brothers, and discusses the subject of divorce and remarriage. This passage is discussed at length later in this book. Suffice it to say here, Yeshua is alluding to the two houses of Israel, which have been at odds with each other ever since the united kingdom split under King Rehoboam. Their reuniting is prophesied in the Tanakh (most notably in Ezek 37:15–28), and is a key event that will coincide with the second coming of Yeshua who is also known by his Hebraic title, Messiah Son of David. This long-awaited event has been written about by the Jewish sages for many years. However, it is a fact largely been ignored or forgotten by Christianity.
  • Matthew 19:13–15, Yeshua again stresses the point that only those of childlike demeanor will be members of his kingdom of heaven on earth.
  • Matthew 19:16–30, In the story of the rich young ruler, we see that Torah-observant Jews can be in Yeshua’s kingdom providing they are obedient to the Torah and are followers of Yeshua.
  • Matthew 20:1–19, In the Parable of the Laborers, Yeshua talks about the landowner (i.e., Yeshua), the vineyard (i.e., Israel) and those who have been laboring in his vineyard (i.e., his disciples). Yeshua will give out rewards to his saints at his second coming.
  • Matthew 20:17–19, Yeshua again speaks of his crucifixion and resurrection. This must first happen before his millennial kingdom can come.
  • Matthew 20:20–28, Yeshua talks about how positions of responsibility in his kingdom will be given to those who have a servant’s heart and who are willing to lay down their lives as Yeshua himself did.
  • Matthew 20:29–34, Yeshua heals two blind men. As will be discussed later, this is a prophetic picture of Yeshua healing the two houses of Israel, which are both blind in part spiritually (Isa 8:14; Rom 11:25) at his second coming.
  • Matthew 21:1–11, Yeshua triumphantly enters Jerusalem riding on a colt, but with a mare accompanying the colt. This speaks prophetically of his second coming when he will enter Jerusalem again riding a white horse (Rev 19:11)—this time not in the role as the Suffering Servant (Messiah Son of Joseph), but as the Conquering King (Messiah Son of David).
  • Matthew 21:12–22, Here Yeshua curses the fig tree, a picture of the fruitless and largely Torahless religious system of his day. He then cleanses the temple of its secular defilement. This he will do at his second coming when he will suddenly come to his temple and purify the sons of Levi—the Levites and priests (Mal 3:1–3).
  • Matthew 21:28–32, In the Parable of the Two Sons, Yeshua takes the Jewish leaders to task for being like a disobedient son, whereas the seeming disobedient son actually become the obedient one. The tables were turned on the Jews (or house of Judah) who were smug in their spiritual self-assuredness, yet those (of the house of Israel), whom they rejected and condemned, were actually the ones who would end up walking in the “way of righteousness”—a Hebraic expression for “walking in the ways of Torah.”
  • Matthew 21:33–46, The Parable of the Wicked Husbandman is a brief overview of YHVH’s dealings with Israel leading up to the second coming of Yeshua where he will judge the wicked husbandmen (the hypocritical Jewish religious leaders of his day) for not faithfully tending his vineyard (i.e., the people of Israel).
  • Matthew 22:1–14, In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Yeshua speaks of his upcoming wedding (at his second coming) between himself and those who are properly attired spiritually with robes of righteousness (Rev 19:7–9).
  • Matthew 22:23–33, Here Yeshua teaches on the resurrection of the righteous dead, which occurs at his second coming and coincides with his marriage to his bride (the saints who adhere to both the Written and Living Word of YHVH according to Rev 12:17 and 14:12).
  • Matthew 22:41–46, Yeshua again teaches about Messiah the Son of David, which is a reference to his second coming.
  • Matthew 23, Here Yeshua gives a final rebuke to the leaders of the religious system of his day comprised of blind, greedy, self-serving and kingdom-building hypocrites.
  • Matthew 24, This is a discussion of the tribulation period, and the great tribulation followed by the resurrection or “catching away” (also known as the “rapture”) of the saints. The order of events found here corresponds with those found in the book of Revelation (discussed below) and with the order of the fall appointed times (moedim) or feast days (also discussed below).
  • Matthew 25:1–13, In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Yeshua teaches that not all who are spiritual virgins will become the bride of Yeshua, but only those who have properly prepared themselves spiritually.
  • Elsewhere Yeshua taught that some who are saved will be called the least in his kingdom while others will be called the greatest (Matt 5:19).
  • Matthew 25:14–30, The Parable of the Talents teaches us that there will be different levels of rewards in the kingdom of Elohim based on our spiritual profitability or works of righteousness. Yeshua will hand out these rewards at his second coming (Rev 11:15–18).
  • Matthew 25:31–46, Here is what is often called “The Judgment of the Sheep and Goat Nations.” This too will occur at Yeshua’s second coming.

After this quick overview, hopefully it is becoming apparent that beneath the story line of Matthew chapters 16 through 25 listing a series of events in Yeshua’s life, there is a more or less chronologically-ordered subtext prophesying about events that will surround his second coming. He talks about the kingdom of heaven, which he had just initiated and begun promoting, and about regathering the lost sheep of Israel, and reuniting the divided kingdoms of Israel (the house of Judah who are the Jews, and the house of Israel or Ephraim who are loosely speaking, the Christians). These activities will be occurring up until his second advent. Then from Matthew 24 through 25, we see Yeshua prophesying about events that will occur just prior to and shortly after his return including end-times tribulations, the great tribulation, his second coming, and his giving out rewards and judgments to his servants.

 

1 thought on “The End Times Prophetic Subtext of Matthew Chapters 16 to 25

  1. Wow, well put! Love Prophecy from the day I was Saved. Waiting for His Coming and Praying for The Shalom of Jerusalem! The Gifts or Jewels, I was not sure when Y’shua hands them out till I read that!
    Great Article, thank you!

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