Micah 1-4; Matthew 24
Micah 1-4
The books of the minor prophets give us insight into Israel's spiritual state during their apostasy periods. Micah, who prophesied during the same time as Isaiah and Hosea, addresses many of the same themes. The book of Micah consists of three cycles of judgment against Israel, each beginning with the word "Hear" (Micah 1:2; 3:1; 6:1). Micah presents the basis for the coming judgment but concludes each cycle by speaking of God's salvation, which will follow the punishment of the people. Here's how the first cycle ends: "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people." (Micah 2:12).
In the second cycle, Micah brings charges against the princes and prophets—Israel's spiritual leaders: "Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest." (Micah 3:12). However, Micah also describes the future restoration of Israel, which will occur at the second coming of the Messiah: "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it." (Micah 4:1). "He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (Micah 4:3).
Matthew 24
In His Olivet Discourse, Jesus provides a detailed explanation of future events. In response to the disciples' question regarding the destruction of the temple, the sign of His coming, and the end of the age—"Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)—Jesus outlines a series of events. Some prophecies were fulfilled during the apostles' lifetime, while others are yet to be fulfilled, corresponding to His second coming and the end of the age.
For instance, the prophecy about the gospel being preached to the whole world (Matthew 24:14) and the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the sky, which "all the peoples of the earth will see" (Matthew 24:30), have not yet been fulfilled. On the other hand, some events may have been realized during the destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus in AD 70 (Matthew 24:15-20).
At the time, the disciples likely did not distinguish between these events, seeing them as part of one continuous timeline (a similar phenomenon occurred with the Old Testament prophets, who often viewed Christ's first and second comings as a single event). The reason for this is rooted in Jesus' core teaching about the end times:
- His coming will be entirely unexpected—"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36).
- The main task of every believer is always to be ready to meet Christ—"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42).
The books of the minor prophets give us insight into Israel's spiritual state during their apostasy periods. Micah, who prophesied during the same time as Isaiah and Hosea, addresses many of the same themes. The book of Micah consists of three cycles of judgment against Israel, each beginning with the word "Hear" (Micah 1:2; 3:1; 6:1). Micah presents the basis for the coming judgment but concludes each cycle by speaking of God's salvation, which will follow the punishment of the people. Here's how the first cycle ends: "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people." (Micah 2:12).
In the second cycle, Micah brings charges against the princes and prophets—Israel's spiritual leaders: "Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest." (Micah 3:12). However, Micah also describes the future restoration of Israel, which will occur at the second coming of the Messiah: "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it." (Micah 4:1). "He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (Micah 4:3).
Matthew 24
In His Olivet Discourse, Jesus provides a detailed explanation of future events. In response to the disciples' question regarding the destruction of the temple, the sign of His coming, and the end of the age—"Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)—Jesus outlines a series of events. Some prophecies were fulfilled during the apostles' lifetime, while others are yet to be fulfilled, corresponding to His second coming and the end of the age.
For instance, the prophecy about the gospel being preached to the whole world (Matthew 24:14) and the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the sky, which "all the peoples of the earth will see" (Matthew 24:30), have not yet been fulfilled. On the other hand, some events may have been realized during the destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus in AD 70 (Matthew 24:15-20).
At the time, the disciples likely did not distinguish between these events, seeing them as part of one continuous timeline (a similar phenomenon occurred with the Old Testament prophets, who often viewed Christ's first and second comings as a single event). The reason for this is rooted in Jesus' core teaching about the end times:
- His coming will be entirely unexpected—"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36).
- The main task of every believer is always to be ready to meet Christ—"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42).
Posted in Reading Bible Together