This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

Matthew 24:15-22 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for ethe sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Life altering events are hard to see coming or to notice when they do happen. Imagine a community wiped out by unpredictable wildfires in the American west. Seasons when wildfires spread can bring with it unexpected shifts and destruction of homes and lives. Yes, the wildfires are predictable in that they will come each season, but the devastation they leave behind can often come from unexpected natural occurrence.

We now come to a passage within Jesus' Olivet Discourse that speaks to an event that was known to occur long before by the prophet Daniel. The vision of the Abomination of Desolation was known in Jewish tradition as an apocalyptic sign that would certainly come, but the prophecy was shrouded in mystery even as Jesus prophesied its coming in Matthew 24:15-16.

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

Matthew 24:9-14 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Why do we endure suffering? Why do we endure tribulation? This is the common question for everyone who is in the midst of a season of suffering isn't it? Why? Why am I going through this? The opening of Jesus' Olivet Discourse [verses 3-8] began with the encouragement for the Apostles and the Church that endurance of theological trickery [false messiahs], war, famines and earthquakes “must take place, but the end is not yet." [Matthew 24:6]

Jesus's teaching transitions, compounding those tribulations as they increase to what will be greater tribulation of martyrdom, apostasy, and perseverance. The tension associated with the suffering and tribulations of the saints builds in this teaching.

Matthew 24:3-8 As he sat 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?" And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Jesus begins his response to the twelve with words of warning. He speaks of times of tribulation and suffering for HIS twelve and for HIS Church. Matthew 24:4-7 is a description of events preceding our LORD's return. But this description is a reminder to not forget who Christ IS. He begins to warn his disciples that there will be deceit, temptation, suffering, and conflict in the world. These events are guaranteed but according to our LORD are necessary and must occur before HE returns for HIS Church.

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

Chapters twenty-four and twenty-five of Matthew's gospel share Jesus' private teaching with his twelve concerning the destruction of Herod’s temple, Jesus' return, and the end of the age. At the core of this teaching is the reassurance that Christ will return for HIS elect despite the reality that HE must depart. We all desire to know when a beloved will return if he or she must go away. Love attracts us to one another and anxiety can rise up when that attraction is disrupted. The key point that Jesus wants his disciples to remember is that we MUST remain awake and alert, longing for HIS return. The biblical truth is that God is always faithful and Christ, the Son of God, is also faithful. If Jesus promises that he will return, then the signs that he speaks of in this apocalyptic teaching are trustworthy. Jesus will return and when we see the events that Jesus speaks of, both historical and eschatological, we know that Christ will be back soon.

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 & 25 unpacks Christ's love for HIS people and HIS people's love and longing for Christ's return. Jesus instructs his disciples about the end of all time, his parousia, HIS eventual return, through direct discourse and by parables.

In summary, today's passage, Jesus' finale, is a condemnation and a prophecy, but it is also a teaching on Christ's LOVE and the genuine LOVE of HIS people for HIM.