`So shall it be at the end of this age' (Matt. 13:40,49).

`The end of the age' (Matt. 24:3).

`Even unto the end of the age' (Matt. 28:20).

`Once in the end of the ages' (Heb. 9:26).

The first occurrence connects the term with the harvest, and in this lies the explanation of the word, for the first

occurrence of the same word in the Septuagint of Exodus 23:16 refers to the same period:

`The feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering

(sunteleia), which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field'.

At first it may seem that there is a discrepancy between the Lord's words in Matthew 13:39 and this passage.

The Lord said that the harvest was the sunteleia, whereas Exodus 23 speaks of a feast of harvest, as distinct from the

feast of the sunteleia. The answer is suggested by the presence of the word `firstfruits', and by the particular kind of

harvest in view - `which thou hast sown in the field'. A reference to Exodus 34:22, however, makes all plain: `Thou

shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end'.

Now, the disciples being Jews and taught in the law, knew the order of their feasts and much of their typical

nature. Unless the reader has definitely studied the feasts of Israel he is at a disadvantage here, and before we can

hope to appreciate the teaching of Matthew 24, we must supply the deficiency. There is one chapter in the law that

sets out the feasts of Israel in their order, namely, Leviticus 23, and to that we must turn.

The sabbaths (Lev. 23:1-3). The first of the feasts to be mentioned is the weekly sabbath. This underlies the

whole of God's dealings with Israel. There are the following sabbaths mentioned:

SABBATH of seven days (Lev. 23:3).

SABBATH of seven weeks (Lev. 23:15).

SABBATH of seven months (Lev. 23:34).

SABBATH of seven years (Lev. 25:2-7).

SABBATH of seven times seven years (Lev. 25:8-17).

SABBATH of seventy years (Dan. 9:2), and finally the

SABBATH of seventy times seven (Dan. 9:24), in which the whole purpose of God for Israel shall be

This emphasis is too insistent to be avoided. Underlying the whole history of Israel is this sabbatic element.

From verse 4 of Leviticus 23 feasts `in their seasons' are recorded, which also conform to the sabbatic character.

We have, in verse 5, the feast of the first month detailed, and in verses 34 and 39 that of the seventh month

described. Between these two all the other feasts are found, so that while Israel's year had twelve months, with an

intercalary thirteenth month at intervals, its typical year took note only of seven of these months

We must now tabulate the feasts in order to place the sunteleia:

THE SABBATH. Impressing the character of Israel's typical history (See Heb. 4:9, Greek).

THE PASSOVER. Redemption, `out of `.

THE UNLEAVENED BREAD. The sheaf waved (Lev. 23:10). A firstfruits.

PENTECOST. Two wave loaves. Fifty days. Jubilee anticipated.

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(5) FEAST OF TRUMPETS. Joel 2:1 and 15; 1 Corinthians 15:52.

(6) THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. Repentance (Lev. 23:28,29). Reconciliation and access.

(7) TABERNACLES. The sunteleia. Harvest and ingathering. The eighth day stressed (Lev. 23:39).