I had a few questions from Matthew 24:

1)     In Matthew 24:20, it says, “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter”.

From the foundation of the world, the Father knew exactly when the day of the return of Jesus will be.

From the foundation of the world, the Father also knew exactly when they which are in Judea should flee into the mountains.

That is the very next line after Jesus prophesied of them seeing the abomination of desolation.

It would seem that this is a very fixed date in the mind of the Father.

However, why would Jesus encourage people to pray that their flight be not in the winter, unless their prayers could affect the timing?

When the LORD says that he is going to do something, he does it.

However, he has shown us that there are a few things that can affect the timing of things:

a)     Jonah prophesied, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown”

a.     However, Nineveh repented

b.     The LORD postponed the judgment

b)     The LORD had said that he was going to destroy Israel

a.     Moses, prayed, entreating the LORD

b.     The LORD did not destroy Israel

c)     The LORD told Adam that the day that he ate the fruit that he would die

a.     However, the LORD killed some other creatures that day, in Adam & Eve’s place, making them coats of skins

b.     Their physical death was postponed over 900 years

So it appears that the LORD would change the timing of their fleeing from Judea, from the winter, to another time.

However, it appears contingent on their praying for that.

So, by changing the timing of their fleeing, in answer to their prayer, it appears to thus be changing the timing of the abomination of desolation.

Again, why would Jesus encourage people to pray that their flight be not in the winter, unless their prayers could affect the timing?

 

2)     In Matthew 24:22, Jesus said, “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened”.

From the Foundation of the world, the Father knew exactly those days are to start and to end.

The Father would not have had an original number of days, but then discover that it was too long, and have to shorten them.

No, he is omniscient, as well as eternal, outside of time, which he created.

However, the days shall be shortened from what they were originally were to be.

Is this, like question #1, a result of the prayers of the elect, resulting in the changing of the timing?

 

3)     In Matthew 24:24, Jesus said, “insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”.

Is it possible?

He didn’t say that they will try to deceive the very elect, but will not be able to.

He also didn’t say that they won’t try to deceive the very elect, either?

Back in line 4 of the chapter, Jesus warned about not being deceived.

Paul also spoke often about being deceived.

It seems to me that it may be possible to deceive the very elect.

Again, is it possible?

 

4)     In Matthew 24:30, Jesus said, “the powers of the heavens shall be shaken”.

He didn’t say that the heavens shall be shaken.

He didn’t say that the power (singular) of the heavens (plural) shall be shaken.

He said that the powers (plural) shall be shaken.

I’ve been trying to figure out who or what are the powers of the heavens.

Powers are also mentioned in Romans 8:38, Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:16, Colossians 2:15 & I Peter 3:22.

Are the heavenly powers that Paul & Peter referred to, the same powers that Jesus said shall be shaken?

 

5)     In Matthew 24:32, Jesus said, “learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh”.

Three chapters earlier, there was a fig tree in Matthew 21:19-20.

The fig tree had leaves, but no fruit, so Jesus spoke to the fig tree and withered away.

The generation of the chapter 21 fig tree, saw many things, but certainly not every prophecy fulfilled in their days.

The generation of the chapter 24 fig tree will see the prophecies fulfilled, as mentioned in line 34.

Was the withering away of the chapter 21 fig tree, indicative for that generation to be destroyed out of Jerusalem, not seeing the prophecies fulfilled?

 

6)     In Matthew 24:36-51, it is referring to that day and hour that no one knows, except the Father.

The he likens the coming of the Son of man to the days of Noe.

He didn’t liken the days of Noe to the coming of the beginning of the tribulation period.

Even though that is how I have always read it as.

No, it looks like he is indicating that right up to the day of the Second Coming, there will be people eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.

It looks like, right up to the day of the Second Coming, there will be women in the field and women grinding at the mill.

Also, the hour that he refers to appears to be the hour of his Second Coming, rather than the hour of the beginning of the tribulation period.

It looks like some of his servants will be eating & drinking with the drunken, right up to the hour of the Second Coming.

Those servants will be saying in their hearts, that Jesus is delaying his coming, right up to the hour that he comes.

Is that day and hour speaking of the day and hour of the Second Coming, or the day and hour of the beginning of the tribulation period?

 

                          Thank you,

                                       Gino