Signs of Christ's return, Matthew 24, end time prophecies

   Why does Jesus delay his coming?  Because there will be a last person saved on the earth. In Revelation 22:11 the angel announces " Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. God will eventually shut the door on salvation. (1), (2)

  NOTES: (1) MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.2025, Those who reject Gods warnings will fix their eternal destiny in hell, where they will retain their evil natures for all eternity. Those who respond to the warnings will fix their eternal destiny in glory and realize perfect righteousness in heaven; (2) Robert H. Mounce, The New International Commentary of the New Testament, Book of Revelation, p.406, The main point of this verse is that since the end of time has come, people will reap the consequences of the kinds of lives they have led. The time arrives when change is impossible. The arrival of the end closes any possibility of change.  

   WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIS SECOND COMING IN MATTHEW 24

  Matthew 24: 1-3, And Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He answered and said to them, "Do you not see these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down." And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (1), (2), (3)

  NOTES: (1) John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1171, At this time the disciples were referring to Jesus's coming triumph into Jerusalem and setting up His kingdom which they expected soon. The destruction of the temple did not fit into their expectations and so they asked Jesus for a clarification. Neither did they understand His coming death, resurrection, and the church age to come. The disciples were asking two questions. When will the temple be destroyed and when will you set up your kingdom; (2) R.T. France, The New International Commentary of the New Testament, The Gospel of Matthew, p.890-891, Having entered the temple in a dramatic way, He now leaves it with a far-reaching statement about its future. HE is abandoning it, never to return, and after that it has no future except to be destroyed. The temple now being deserted by God and Jesus is ripe for destruction and will make way for something greater. The temple of Herod was magnificent both in its size and splendor. "These things" makes the two parts parallel rather than distinct. Jesus' answer will cause them to rethink their assumption: the two events are not chronologically connected; (3) R. C. Sproul, Commentary on the Book of Matthew, p.680-681, No prophecy that Jesus made in His ministry so thoroughly proves His Identity and so completely validates the inspiration of Scripture by the Holy Spirit as this one. We know from history that the things He foretold came to pass in precise detail. We have eyewitness accounts from the Jewish historian Josephus of the siege of Jerusalem and its subsequent destruction, including the demolition of the temple itself. This text should shut the mouths of sceptics and cynics about Jesus and the Bible.

   Matthew 24: 4-8, And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no man misleads you. For many will come in My name saying, I am the Christ, and mislead many. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for these things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs." (1), (2), (3)

   NOTES: (1) John MacArthur Bible Commentary, Matthew 24: 4-8, p.1172, We have always had conflicts, famines and earthquakes but these things will get notably worse and escalate at the end of the age; (2) R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, p.901-903, False Messiah's would come in "Jesus' name" not because they are impersonating Jesus, but because they are claiming the role and title that properly belong to Jesus. The question Jesus is answering here was about when the temple would be destroyed but that "the end" was not yet. Natural disasters and wars are part of the normal human experience, and these things would be only the "beginning of birth pains"; (3) Gene Getz, Matthew 24, Principle 52: Israel and the Church YouTube, Many of these signs were present in the first century, but most of Matthew 24 relates to the second coming of Christ. To adequately interpret the prophesies regarding the end of the age we must carefully distinguish between statements about the nation of Israel and those scriptures referring to the church of Jesus Christ. 

  Matthew 24: 9-14, "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the world for a witness to all nations, and then will the end come." (1), (2)

  NOTES: (1) MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1172, As persecution increases many professing believers will fall away from the faith and even turn against one another. The ones who persevere are saved. This does not suggest that our perseverance secures our salvation, but God as a part of His saving work, secures our perseverance. Scripture sometimes calls us to hold fast to our faith. Despite all the persecutions, false teachers, wars and natural disasters, Gods word penetrates to every part of the globe, and then the end comes; (2) R.T. France, Gospel of Matthew, p.904-913, As persecution increases, some will abandon their faith and betray their fellow disciples. Others will succumb to false teaching and lose their faith. Believers must stand firm against all opposition. All nations will be involved in the hatred and persecution of the followers of Jesus. This passage does not mean that a worldwide evangelization as the cause of the end, but as a necessary prelude to "the end." 

  Matthew 24: 15-22, "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the house-top not go down to get the things out that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! But pray that your flight may not be in winter, or on the Sabbath; for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short." (1), (2), (3)

  NOTES: (1) MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1173, Some thought the Abomination of Desolation referred to a King of Syria desecrating the temple in 168 B.C. or the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D but Jesus is clearly looking to a future desolation of a temple at the end-times. The Apostle Paul saw a future fulfillment in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and also John in Revelation 13: 14 and 15, when the Antichrist sets up an image in the temple. Jesus is referring to a time of global cataclysm that immediately precedes His second coming. If this persecution had not been shortened no one would have survived. For the elect's sake this time is shortened; (2) R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, p.913-916, Jesus is not speaking to the disciples directly but to "those in Judea" at that time. The plight of refugees is always difficult, but for those in Judea in those days, it will be worse; (3) Paster Matt Geisinger, Book of Matthew: Signs of the End times, Sermon, December 9, 2018, The strongest sign that the end has come is the Abomination of Desolation that takes place at the temple in Jerusalem. The Antichrist enters the temple in the middle of the week (the 70th weeks of Daniel) and brings about the Great Tribulation of believers, Daniel 9:24-27. This sermon can be accessed through this website. Go to home page, click on Ridgeview Church, click on Browse Sermons, and the sermon on Matthew.

   Matthew 24: 23-28, "Then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or There He is, do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the very elect. Behold I have told you in advance. If therefore they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness, do not go forth, or behold, he is in the inner rooms, do not believe them. For just as lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." (1), (2), (3)

   NOTES: (1) MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1173, No one should believe the claims of false messiahs. When Christ returns to earth no one will miss it. The vulture-carcass imagery speaks of divine judgement which will accompany his return; (2) R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, p.916-919, Anyone who can offer new hope of divine intervention will be listened to. These verses make a distinction between the coming siege of

  Jerusalem and the future appearance of The Son of Man which will be impossible to miss, as a flash of lightning which blazes across the whole sky; (3) Paster Matt Geisinger, Book of Matthew: Signs of the End times, December 9, 2018, There is no mention of the church in Revelation chapters 4-18, showing the Rapture had already taken place.

   Matthew 24: 29-31, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL FROM THE SKY, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a GREAT TRUMPET AND THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (1), (2)

   NOTES: (1) MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1177, The ultimate fulfilment of these prophecies take place during the time of the Antichrist reign on earth. The sign of the Son of Man is Jesus Himself. The events described here precisely parallel the description in Daniel 7:13 and Revelation 19: 11-21; (2) Paster Matt Geisinger, Book of Matthew: Signs of the End times, January 13, 2019, God turns off the lights in the sky and the men of the

   earth are terrified and faint with fear, Luke 21:25-26. Matt thinks the sign of the Son of Man is not Jesus Himself, but the Divine Light, the Shekinah Glory of God after which Jesus will appear in the sky. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world."

    Matthew 24: 32-44, "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark., and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so, shall the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason, you be ready too, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." (1), (2), (3)

   NOTES: (1) MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1174, The parable of the fig tree. When the fig tree puts forth leaves, only a short time remains until summer. Likewise, when the final labor pains begin, Christ's return is near even at the doors. "This generation," cannot refer to the generation living at the time of Christ. The abomination of desolation, the persecutions, signs in the heavens and the gathering of the elect all take place at a later time at the end of the age. Jesus's emphasis is not the extreme wickedness in Noah's day, but that the people were preoccupied with the mundane activities of life. They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage when judgement fell on them. They had received warnings in the form of Noah's preaching. But they were unconcerned about such matters until they were swept away in the midst of their daily activities. The believer is to be ready at all times. (2) See R.C. Sproul on YouTube "The Rapture"; John MacArthur believes the rapture happens before the Tribulation. R. C. Sproul whom I also love, thought that believers go through the tribulation and are then raptured. I guess the point is to be ready for either. In any event the second coming of Christ will be a glorious event for believers, but a very dark day for the rest of humanity; (3) Matt Geisinger, Book of Matthew: The Second Coming, January 20, 2019, There will come a day when Jesus 

  comes in Judgement and will take away those who did not repent. We are not promised tomorrow. Watch and be ready. Are you living for Him?

   Joel 2: 30-32, "And I will display wonders in the sky and on earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those that escape. As the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls. (1), (2), (3)

   NOTES: (1) R.C. Sproul Bible Commentary, p.1528, The universal scope of events heralding the great and awesome day of the LORD is emphasized. Salvation is to be found in returning to the true and exclusive worship of God. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10:13 with regard to the inclusion of the Gentiles into the salvation plan of God. These are those who have responded in faith to the calling of the LORD. There is a hint here that divine intervention on that day does not exempt those in Zion and Jerusalem from scrutiny and judgement; (2) Leslie C. Allen, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, p.100-101, The eschatological teaching of Jesus applied these phenomena to the future, partly in the time of Jerusalem's destruction in 70 A.D. and partly in the final Judgement there will be "great signs from heaven," in Matthew 24:6-8. "Disfigurement of the sun and moon would, which would cause men to faint from fear of what is to befall the world," in Luke 21-16. God's reassuring message to His people is they have nothing to fear from these events; (3) Josephus mentioned a comet and other signs in the sky at the fall of Jerusalem, Translation by William Whiston, The New Complete works of Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, chapter 3, p.898-899.   

    Isaiah 13: 6-13, Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty, therefore all hands will fall limp; And every man's heart will melt. And they will be terrified, Pains and anguish will take hold of them; They will writhe like a woman in labor, they will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame, Behold the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it. For the stars of the heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises, And the moon will not shed is light. Thus, I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, And mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore, I shall make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place, at the fury of the LORD of hosts, the day of His burning anger. (1), (2), (3)

    NOTES: (1) John MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.776, The Day of the LORD occurs when the Messiah returns in judgement of all living on the earth. Scripture associates cosmic upheavals with the period of tribulation just before Christ's return. God will put an end to the sin of human pride and evil. Because of this visitation, human mortality will be extremely high but not total. God will spare His faithful people; (2) John N. Oswalt, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1-39, p.306-307, The immediate results of God's attack will be complete helplessness. Before God's power all vaunted human greatness will be as nothing. All of this should provoke the modern reader to ask, "In what am I trusting to defend me before the Almighty?" In these verses, the sin of human pride is directly identified as the cause of God's wrath. These verses indicate that God is Sovereign over all things and that human sin has cosmic implications; (3) R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1144, The ancients worshiped the heavenly bodies, but scripture teaches that God is the creator of them all. These expressions depict the coming of God in judgement against His creation.

   Zechariah 14: 1-9a, Behold the day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished, and half the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; And the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. And you will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him! And it will come about in that day that there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be no light. And it will come about in that day that living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as winter. And the LORD will be king over all the earth. (1), (2), (3)

   NOTES: (1) R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1644, The Old Testament prophets proclaim a "Day of the LORD" for judgment and deliverance, both of which are present in this passage. This will be a time of severe testing for God's people. Experiencing the LORD's favor does not always mean avoiding trials. when the LORD comes in judgement even the mountains cannot maintain their integrity. What human can stand before Him? The "Holy Ones" are God's chosen servants and perhaps humans as well coming to Jerusalem to liberate it from pagan aggressors. This day of battle ushers in Gods eternal kingdom; (2) The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1073-1074, The "Day of the Lord" is a technical term for God's wrath against sinners. Here Zechariah is looking into the future where God's wrath is unleashed on the world and ushers in the millennial kingdom and Christ's rule on earth. Jerusalem will be overrun by invaders which triggers God's wrath against the world. When Jesus returns, there will be a great upheaval, possibly an earthquake as the lights of the world go out. Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron. There will only be one religion in the world after Christ does away with all false religion; (3) Mark J. Boda, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Zechariah, p.747-767, Yahweh had once departed from Jerusalem through its eastern gate (Ezekiel 10: 18 and 11:22) and so He will return to the Mount of Olives to the east of the city. According to Ezekiel 43:1-4, the Lord will return through the eastern gate of the city. This Day is Known only to Yahweh.  

   Amos 5: 18, Alas, you who are longing for the day of the day of the LORD. For what purpose will be the Day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness and not light. (1), (2)

    NOTES: (1) The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.997, Even the wicked wanted the Day of the Lord to come, mistakenly thinking that it would bring victory and blessing instead of certain judgement; (2) M. Daniel Carrol R, The New international Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Amos, p.334-335, The "Day of the LORD" is connected to a powerful personal appearance of the God of Israel. In Amos time the popular understanding of this event was that God would defeat the nations enemies. The closing verses of the book disclose that after Israel's judgment there would be a time of restoration. 

 THE COMING OF THE LORDS ARMY

   Joel 2:1-13, Blow a trumpet in Zion,

And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,

For the Day of the LORD is coming.

Surely it is near, 

A day of darkness and gloom,

A day of clouds and thick darkness.

As the dawn is spread over the mountains,

So, there is a great and mighty people.

There has never been anything like it,

Nor will there ever be such after them,

Even for many generations.

A fire devours before them,

And behind them a flame burns.

The land is like the Garden of Eden before them,

But a desolate wilderness behind them,

And nothing at all escapes them.

Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,

And like war horses, so they run.

With a noise like chariots, 

Over mountain tops they leap,

Like the noise of a flaming fire that consumes the stubble.

Like a mighty people arranged for battle,

Before them people are in anguish,

All faces turn pale.

They run like mighty men,

They climb the wall like men of war,

Everyone marches in formation, 

And they do not break ranks.

They do not push one another,

Everyone marches in his own column.

They rush on the city,

They run on the wall.

They climb into the houses,

They enter at the windows like a thief.

The earth quakes before them, 

The heavens tremble.

The sun and the moon go dark,

And the stars lose their brightness.

The Lord utters His voice before His army,

Surly His camp is very great,

For strong is he who carries out His word.

For the Day of the LORD is great and very terrible, 

Who can endure it.

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping and mourning,

And rend your heart and not your garments."

Now return to the LORD your God, 

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness,

And relenting of evil. (1), (2), (3)

    NOTES: (1) R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, p.1524-1525, Joel urges all the inhabitants of the land to prepare for the imminent assault by the army of the LORD. Complex metaphors of an army and locust invasion combine to depict the judgement and devastation to occur. Such divine judgements are accompanied by a shaking and breakdown of the natural order. All creation is disturbed. The relentless army is the LORD's. He commands and His forces obey. The day of the LORD is great, dreadful and unbearable; (2) Leslie C. Allen, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, p.74, As the world quakes in alarm at God's appearing, so the locusts (in chapter 1) to Joel's mind have the same effect. For they represent Him and come as emissaries of His wrath. With the reference to God's army the prophet moves from one strand of the bundle of traditions around the Day to another: "I have issued orders to My crusaders and summoned my heroes to wreak My anger... Yahweh of hosts is mustering a host for battle." (Isaiah 13: 3, 4) The role assigned by Hebrew eschatology to the agents of God's final wrath is played by the locusts in Joel's presentation. A hostile irresistible army is on the march; (3) The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.984, The Day of the Lord does not always refer to an eschatological event; on occasion it has a near historical fulfilment. As is common in prophecy, the near fulfilment is a historic event which gives understanding to the more distant, eschatological fulfillment. 

    Zephaniah 1: 14-18, Near is the great day of the LORD, near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the Lord! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of wrath is that day, A Day of trouble and distress, A Day of destruction and desolation, A Day of darkness and gloom, A Day of clouds and thick darkness, A Day of trumpet and battle cry, Against the fortified cities, And the high corner towers. And I will bring distress on men, that they will walk like the blind; Because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them; On the day of the LORD'S wrath; And all the earth will be devoured in the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth. (1, (2)

    NOTES: (1) The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.1039, Zephaniah vividly described the Day of the Lord, rehearsing the ominous conditions characterizing that day. This section seems to point to a near fulfillment when Babylon subdued Judah, as well as the ultimate fulfilment, far in the future which will involve the whole earth. As though worthless, their blood and flesh were discarded as dust. Their silver and gold would not protect them from the holy wrath of God. The discussion expands to include the whole earth; (2) O. Palmer Robertson, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, p.287, The consequences of the coming Day of the Lord are specified, humanity, the principal object of God's wrath shall be devastated. The broader discourse of the Day of the Lord suggests a cosmic conflagration. In his opening verses, the prophet had spoken in terms of a worldwide judgment which would reverse the entire order of creation. 

   Joel 3:11-17, Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD THY mighty ones. Let the nations be waken and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come tread for the winepress is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The Sun and moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness. And the LORD roars from Zion. And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people, And a stronghold to the sons of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. So, Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will pass through it no more. (1), (2)

    NOTES: (1) The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.990, The nations of the world will be gathered to Jerusalem to the battle of Armageddon. Zechariah 12:3, 14:2, Revelation 16:16, 19:11-21. The judgment of the nation's includes the event of Matthew 25:31-46. "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will set on His glorious throne.  And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on the right and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then He will also say to those on His left, depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;" (2) Leslie C. Allen, The New International Commentary of the Old Testament, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, p.120-121, If the stable bodies of the natural world are convulsed at Yahweh's appearing, it can be taken for granted that mere mortals have little chance of escape. The stanza gradually moves from the theme of the terrifying of the nation's Day, to the comforting message of the safety afforded to Israel in Jerusalem. 

     Psalm 2 is a warning to the rulers and the nations of the earth. "Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, let us break their bonds in pieces; And cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath; And terrify them in His fury: Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession, you shall break them with a rod iron; You shall shatter them like a potter's vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (1), (2)

   NOTES: (1) The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p.598-599, Although this Psalm has no title, it seems to bear the imprint of King David's hand. It moves from the lesser David to the greater David-Jesus Christ. Psalm 2 shines its poetic spotlight on the rebellion of mankind against God. The nations of the earth, led by their kings and rulers direct their hostility toward the LORD and His anointed one. After mocking them with His divine contempt, God speaks and acts from His perfectly balanced anger. His king will be enthroned on Jerusalem's most prominent hill. "Today I have begotten you." This verse is quoted in the New Testament with reference to the birth of Jesus in Hebrews 1:5-6 and also His resurrection in Acts 13:33-34. The supreme sovereignty of the "King of kings" is pictured in His subjugating might. Instead of immediate judgement the LORD and His Anointed mercifully provide an opportunity for repentance. "Kiss the Son" God commands allegiance and submission to a mutinous and rebellious mankind; (2) Nancy deClaisse-Walford, Rolf A, Jacobson, Beth Laneel Tanner, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Psalms, p.70-71, Psalm 2 revolves around the question, who rules the earth? Do human princes and kings' rule? Or is there a different Lord of creation in control. Psalm 2 bears witness to the faith that Gods reign, though it seems hidden and invisible now is the only true reality. God is active here and now, even if Gods reign is not fully visible. The righteous, those who live under Gods sovereignty, will be vulnerable to the powers of the world, but they will never be without help.