That 'end' they knew was harvest, ingathering, rejoicing, peace; all

inseparable from the Coming of the Lord.  Until He is 'glorified', that

'consummation', though devoutly to be wished, is as unattainable as utopia, a

mirage, the will -o' -the -wisp of politicians and reformers who have not

grasped the essential relation between 'the times of refreshing' and 'the

presence of the Lord'.  That wholesome lesson it is hoped we have learned.

And now, having some understanding of what the question of Matthew 24:3

includes and implies, we can give more earnest heed to the answers that

Having seen the Scriptural meaning of the 'end', and its type in the

feast of tabernacles, we now proceed to the continuation of the Lord's

answers to His disciples' questions.  In verses 4 to 24 He takes up this

question of the 'end'.  The first and last words in this section deal with

'And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive

you.  For many shall come in My name ... and shall deceive many'

(verses 4,5).

'For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall

shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they

shall deceive the very elect' (verse 24).

Following this opening warning concerning the false Christs, the Lord

tells of the features indicative of the beginning of sorrows, but adds, 'the

end is not yet'.  Verses 6 to 14 are occupied with the characteristic

features that lead up to the 'end' (telos):

Negative --

'The end is not yet' (verse 6).

Explanatory --

'All these things are the beginning of sorrows'

(verse 8).

Exhortative --

'Endure unto the end ... be saved' (verse 13).

Positive --

'Then shall the end come' (verse 14).

As with the prophecies of the Old Testament, such as Isaiah, Daniel,

and Zechariah, 'the nations' are involved in this period of the 'end'.  Wars

and rumours of wars, with nation rising against nation, form part of the

beginning of sorrows.  Hatred by all nations, yet the preaching of the gospel

to all nations for a witness, ushers in the end.

The 'end' is marked by 'tribulation' in two phases.  Firstly, during

the 'beginning of sorrows' the Lord says: 'They shall deliver you up to be

tribulated' (afflicted, as in verses 21 and 29).  Secondly, there comes

'great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world till

now, no, nor ever shall be' (verse 21).

We may visualize the outstanding features of this first answer:

A

24:4,5.  Warning against deception by false Christs.

B  6 -14.

The beginning of sorrows.

'Endure' 'saved'.

B  15 -22.  The tribulation in full course.

'Shortened' 'saved'.

A

Warning against deception by false Christs.