Matthew Chapter 24

We return once again to Luke’s account, Verses 28-30 and 32, which parallel that of Matthew’s account.

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed… Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

1) Two in one bed: one will be taken and the other left.

2) Two will be grinding together: one will be taken and the other left.

3) Two will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

“With Lot being brought into the picture, these verses can have a Great Company slant in the antitype. In fact, Verse 32 is a warning to the Great Company to “remember Lot’s wife,” who pictures the Second Death.

“In that day” of the Son of man—when he is revealed to the Great Company—let not the one on the rooftop come down for the stuff in his house or the one in the field turn back. Verses 33–36 are advice to the Great Company. Not only does Lot represent the Great Company, but Sodom pictures mystic Babylon (Christendom).

The “Lot’s wife” class could have been of the Great Company, but they will fail and thus go into Second Death. Just as separate advice was directed to Lot and his family in the type, so the advice in this context applies to the Great Company and not to the Church. However, the similar language in Matthew 24 does fit the Little Flock. For a broad perspective, Matthew 24 and Luke 17 have to be compared. (As we have attempted to do)

The three examples where there are two and one is taken refer to the Great Company’s salvation. The two in the bed, the field, or grinding together are close: husband and wife, two brothers, friends etc. Of the two, one is taken to where the freshly slain carcass is, that is, to where Jesus is.

Job 39:30 says the young eaglets suck up the blood. Eagles are known for their keen eyesight and voracious appetites, and the two characteristics are related to each other.

Christ is pictured as the freshly slain Lamb who appeared before Jehovah’s throne (Rev. 5:6, 7). Those who recognize that Jesus paid the Ransom price for the human race are attracted to him. His death means life to us. The crucified and risen Christ is the central hub of the truth, and we are the eagles.

The hungrier we are for spiritual truth, the greater our spiritual eyesight of understanding.

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” The Great Company will have to take a stand with their life just as the Little Flock makes such a decision earlier. Otherwise, the consecrated that are left behind when the feet members are taken will go into Second Death. In other words, both the Little Flock and the Great Company have to be over-comers.

The “night” of Verse 34 is the great Time of Trouble. Jesus knew he was going into a deathtrap, and the last members of the Little Flock will have to make a similar decision. To get life, the Great Company will have to make the same decision later, when they get the oil (Matt. 25:8–10).

Nominal Christendom (the professing church) will put the feet members to death BEFORE the great Time of Trouble. The world will put the Great Company to death IN the great Time of Trouble.

Personally it is my belief that both the professing church and the world will have to do with the death of both groups, just as Jezebel besought Ahab to do her dirty work.

In regard to Verse 37, truth is the attraction but especially being with Jesus (see Matt 24:28); we should be enamored with Jesus personally. Wherever he is, that is where the eagles want to be.” (“The Gospel of Luke” Edited)

We move on to Matthew Verse 42 in our next post.