THE END OF THE AGE
‘Take heed that no man deceive you.’
To understand the drift of this chapter we must carefully keep in view the question which gave rise to our Lord’s discourse—‘When shall these things be?’ The first fourteen verses apply with equal force to the close of both Jewish and Christian dispensations. What lessons have they to teach us?
I. A warning against deception.—Many false Christs and false prophets arose before the destruction of Jerusalem, and the eyes of man are continually blinded in the present day as to things to come. Be not deceived—
(a) As to the leading facts of unfulfilled prophecies, or (b) as to the manner in which they will be brought to pass, or (c) as to the time when they will be accomplished.
II. A warning against over-sanguine expectations.—As to the things which are to happen before the end comes. Do not expect—
(a) A reign of universal peace (Matthew 24:6); or,
(b) A time of universal purity of doctrine (Matthew 24:11); or,
(c) A universal acceptance of the Gospel (Matthew 24:14).
III. Look up.—Yet, whatever may happen, look up, and pray daily, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ (Matthew 22:20).
—Bishop J. C. Ryle.