Former Adventists Philippines: VIDEO & OUTLINE LESSON 3: Matthew 24:1

FAP BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINAR

SESSION 3: OLIVET'S CENTRAL FOCUS

Matthew 24:1–3 and the Temple’s Coming Destruction

📅 Date & Time

Saturday, April 19, 2026

7:00 PM (45 minutes)

📖 Scripture Focus

Matthew 24:1–3

ESV Translation

🎯 Hermeneutic

Partial Preterism

Historico-Grammatical Method

SESSION AIM

I-set natin ang stage: Ang Matthew 24:1–3 ang nagsisilbing main context ng Olivet Discourse. Dito, nililinaw ni Jesus na ang Kanyang prophecy ay tungkol sa literal na pagkawasak ng Jerusalem Temple noong AD 70.

Ang naging plot twist? Medyo na-confuse ang mga disciples. Akala kasi nila, kapag gumuho na ang Temple, automatic na end of the world na rin. Pero ang totoo, maling assumption lang ‘yun na kailangang i-correct.

SESSION OVERVIEW (45 minutes)

SEGMENT	CONTENT
7:00–7:05	INTRODUCTION – The Importance of Matthew’s Narrative Context (5 min)
7:05–7:12	PART 1 – The Temple’s Imposing Glory: Why It Mattered (7 min)
7:12–7:22	PART 2 – Jesus’ Shocking Prophecy of Destruction (10 min)
7:22–7:30	PART 3 – The Disciples’ Confused Question (8 min)
7:30–7:38	PART 4 – Two Words for ‘End’: Sunteleia vs. Telos (8 min)
7:38–7:43	PART 5 – Refuting the Dispensational Omission Claim (5 min)
7:43–7:45	CONCLUSION – Summary and Bridge to Session 3 (2 min)

INTRODUCTION (7:00–7:05)

The Importance of Matthew’s Narrative Context [Read: Matthew 24:1-3]

Actually, 'yung Matthew 24:1–3, hindi pa 'yan 'yung mismong Olivet Discourse. Kumbaga, ito muna 'yung pambungad o setup para magkaroon tayo ng tamang context sa mga susunod na sasabihin ni Jesus.

Para hindi tayo maligaw sa interpretation, kailangan muna nating i-establish 'tong apat na mahahalagang pillars:

1. Ang pag-alis ni Jesus sa Temple: Symbolically, lumabas na si Jesus sa Temple. Ito 'yung act kung saan dine-declare Niya na "desolate" na o iniwan na ang Temple meaning, wala na doon ang presence ng Diyos. (Matt 23:38; 24:1a)

2. Bilib na bilib ang mga disciples: Pinakita nila kay Jesus kung gaano kaganda at ka-magnificent 'yung mga structures ng Temple. Parang proud na proud pa sila sa hitsura nito.(Matt 24:1b)

3. Ang seryosong prophecy ni Jesus: Pero bumanat si Jesus ng isang mabigat na hula. Sabi Niya, itong mga nakikita niyo, mawawasak nang sagad 'yung tipong walang batong matitira sa ibabaw ng isa pang bato. Total annihilation talaga. (Matt 24:2)

4. Ang dalawang magkarugtong na tanong: Dahil sa narinig nila, nag-react ang mga disciples at nagtanong ng dalawang questions na naging trigger ng buong discourse.(Matt 24:3)

Matthew 24:1–3 (ESV)

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 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?”

PARALLEL [Read Ezekiel 11:23]: Parang mirror image 'yung pag-alis ni Jesus sa nangyari sa Ezekiel 11:23, kung saan umalis ang Shekinah Glory sa Jerusalem papunta sa Mount of Olives. At heto ang catch: doon sa mismong spot na 'yun din nakaupo si Jesus ngayon habang pinu-pronounce Niya ang judgment. Total parallel talaga!

Ezekiel 11:23 (ESV)

And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.

PART 1 (7:05–7:12)

The Temple’s Imposing Glory: Why It Mattered

Hindi lang basta-basta mga turista ang mga disciples na nag-eenjoy lang sa architecture. Noong pinakita nila kay Jesus 'yung mga structures ng Temple 'yung sa Mark 13:1 na bilib na bilib sila sa "wonderful stones and buildings" may malalim silang theological conviction na pinanghahawakan. Feeling nila, "Bahay 'to ng Diyos, eh. Impossible 'tong gumuho."

[Read] "And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” Mark 13:1(ESV)

HISTORICAL TESTIMONY TO THE TEMPLE’S GLORY

• Josephus (J.W. 5:5:6): Covered in gold, blinding at sunrise; its stones up to 45 cubits long

• Tacitus (Hist. 5:8): “Famous beyond all other works of men” a temple of immense wealth

• Philo (Spec. Laws 1:13): “Beautiful beyond all possible description”

• Babylonian Talmud (b. Sukk 51b): “He who has not seen the Temple in its full splendor has never seen a beautiful building”

• Philo (Spec. Laws 1:14): Revenues of the Temple “will never be destroyed or diminished” assumed to be eternal

KEY THEOLOGICAL POINT: ‘Yung pride ng Israel sa Temple nila, parang replay lang nung naging "fatal confidence" nila bago mangyari ‘yung first destruction. Nag-warn na si Lord sa kanila noon pa sa pamamagitan ni Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 7:4 (ESV)

“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’”

PART 2 (7:12–7:22)

Jesus’ Shocking Prophecy of Destruction [Read Matthew 24:2]

Bumanat si Jesus ng isang malinaw at unambiguous na prophecy bilang sagot sa pagkamangha nila. Pansinin niyo ‘yung paggamit Niya ng double negation sa Greek (ou me) isa itong super emphatic na paraan para sabihing "hinding-hindi" talaga mangyayari na may matitira pang bato sa kinalalagyan nito. As in, absolute denial ito; walang lusot, talagang gigibain lahat.

Matthew 24:2 (ESV)

“You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

FULFILLMENT IN AD 70: Sabi ni Josephus, ang naging order ni Caesar ay i-demolish ang buong city pati na 'yung Temple. Grabe, as in ganoon siya ka-thorough sabi niya, "wala nang natira para maniwala ang mga makakakita na may nanirahan man lang doon dati" (J.W. 7:1:1). Talagang burado lahat.

Actually, sa buong chapters 21 to 23, unti-unting pini-prepare ni Matthew ang moment na ‘to. Kumbaga, ito ‘yung climax na tinutumbok Niya. Heto ang mga key narrative markers na kailangan nating mapansin:

MATTHEW’S TEMPLE-FOCUSED NARRATIVE LEADING TO 24:2

• Matt 21:12–16 — Jesus drives out the moneychangers from the Temple

• Matt 21:18–22 — The cursed fig tree; faith can cast this mount into the sea

• Matt 21:43 — The kingdom of God will be taken from Israel and given to a nation bearing fruit

• Matt 22:7 — Parable of the Marriage Feast: the king burns their city

• Matt 23:38 — “See, your house is left to you desolate” (ESV)

• Matt 24:1 — Jesus leaves the Temple, never to return. His public ministry ends

SUPPORTING TEXTS (ESV)	RELEVANCE
Matt 21:43	Kingdom transferred from Israel to a fruit-bearing nation
Matt 23:38	“Your house is left to you desolate”
Matt 26:61; 27:40	Jesus’ Temple prophecy used as charge against Him at trial
Matt 26:64	Jesus warns Sanhedrin of ‘Son of Man coming on clouds’ (AD 70)
John 11:48	Sanhedrin fears Rome taking away ‘our place and our nation’

PART 3 (7:22–7:30)

The Disciples’ Confused Question [Read Matthew 24:3]

Nagtanong ‘yung mga disciples ng dalawang questions, pero may iisang assumption na nagko-connect sa kanila: naniniwala sila na ‘yung pagkawasak ng Temple at ang end of history ay kailangang mangyari nang magkasabay. In short, akala nila package deal ‘yun.

Matthew 24:3 (ESV)

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?”

Note: Sa Greek text, iisang definite article lang ang nag-go-govern sa buong huling phrase "the sign of your coming AND end of the age." Ibig sabihin, for the disciples, iisang event lang ‘to. Sa paningin nila, hindi puwedeng mangyari ang isa nang wala ‘yung isa; automatic package deal na 'yun sa kanila.

THREE REASONS FOR THEIR CONFUSION:

WHY THE DISCIPLES LINKED THE TEMPLE’S END WITH THE END OF THE AGE

• Pre-Pentecost misunderstanding (John 15:26; 16:13; Acts 2:1): Hindi pa kasi dumarating ang Holy Spirit para i-guide sila sa lahat ng truth, kaya bale incomplete pa 'yung theology nila noon.

• Jewish assumption of Temple permanence (Philo, Spec. Laws 1:14): Nabaon na sa isip nila 'yung idea na ang Templo ay eternal at kasabay na talaga ng takbo ng history.

• Redemptive-historical typology: Connected talaga 'yung AD 70 sa final judgment bali parang foreshadowing o "preview" siya ng Last Day, kagaya nung mga iba't ibang "Day of the Lord" na mababasa sa mga propeta sa Old Testament.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING TEXTS:

John 16:13 (ESV)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...

Luke 24:21; Acts 1:6–7 (ESV)

Luke 24:21 “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”
Acts 1:6 “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Acts 1:7 “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”

PART 4 (7:30–7:38)

Two Words for ‘End’: Sunteleia vs. Telos

Ito ang exegetical KEY ng Matthew 24. Alam niyo ba kung bakit maraming nagkakamali sa interpretation kasama na ‘yung mga end-time schemas ng SDA? Kasi pinu-push nilang pag-isahin o i-collapse ‘yung distinction ng dalawang Greek terms na ‘to, imbes na i-treat silang magkaiba.

TERM	LEXICAL MEANING (BAGD)	REFERENT IN MATT 24
συντέλεια (sunteleia) v. 3 only	Completion / consummation of the age always eschatological in Matthew (13:39, 40, 49; 28:20)	The disciples’ question about the end of the age = the final Parousia
τέλος (telos) vv. 6, 13, 14	Goal / outcome of a movement NOT necessarily the end of history (cf. Mark 3:26; 2 Cor 3:13; Heb 7:3; Jas 5:11; Matt 26:58)	The end of the Temple (v.6, 14) or the end of the disciples’ trials (v.13)

WALK-THROUGH OF TELOS USAGE IN MATTHEW 24:

Matthew 24:6 (ESV)

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. [telos = end of the Temple, not end of history]

Matthew 24:13 (ESV)

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [telos = the end of their persecutional trials; cf. Matt 10:22]

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)

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. [telos = end of the Temple era]

Matthew 10:22 (ESV)

...and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [same telos formula, clearly not about the end of history]

PART 5 (7:38–7:43)

Refuting the Dispensational Omission Claim

Ang naging "standard move" ng Dispensationalism ay i-claim na parang "in-omit" ni Matthew 'yung sagot tungkol sa AD 70, at sa Luke 21:20–24 lang daw 'yun makikita. Sabi nina J. Dwight Pentecost, nung mga nasa likod ng Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible, at ng iba pa: ang Matthew 24–25 daw ay tungkol lang talaga sa Tribulation at Second Advent.

WHY THIS CLAIM FAILS

• Narrative context: Sa Matthew chapters 21 hanggang 23, talagang tutok na tutok at tuluy-tuloy ang focus sa Temple. Kaya naman, parang malabong bigla na lang i-snub o "i-silent treatment" ni Matthew 'yung unang tanong ng mga disciples tungkol doon.

• Logical impossibility: Nag-ugat ‘yung mga tanong ng disciples sa mismong hula ni Christ tungkol sa Temple sa verse 2. Kaya naman, kung sasagutin lang Niya ‘yung pangalawang tanong at kakalimutan ‘yung una, parang hindi na nagme-make sense ang context niyan.

• Pastoral necessity:Kailangan talaga ng mga believers noong first century na mapaghandaan 'yung AD 70 holocausts. Kaya naman, parang naging negligent naman ang Gospel ni Matthew kung i-o-omit lang niya 'yun nang buo at hindi man lang babanggitin.

• ‘Yung tanong ng mga disciples sa Matthew 24:3 ang mismong spark na nag-ignite sa buong Discourse. Kaya naman, hinding-hindi pwedeng i-rule out ‘yan o sabihing out-of-scope. Siya ang mismong mitsa ng buong usapan, kaya major part siya ng context na hindi pwedeng i-ignore.

CORRECT STRUCTURE OF MATTHEW 24–25:

PASSAGE	FOCUS	REFERENT
Matt 24:4–34	First portion of Discourse	AD 70 Temple Destruction
Matt 24:36–51	Second portion of Discourse	World-ending Second Advent
Matt 25:1–30	Parable of Ten Virgins & Talents	Final Judgment
Matt 25:31–46	Sheep and Goats	Final Judgment

CONCLUSION & SUMMARY (7:43–7:45)

Sa Matthew 24:1–3, may tatlong irreversible facts na naka-latag na ito ‘yung mga truths na hindi na talaga pwedeng baguhin o i-ignore:

1. Dineklara ni Jesus ang total destruction ng Temple ‘yung tipong bawat bato, hinding-hindi matitira sa ibabaw ng isa’t isa. At ang tindi nito, kasi literal itong natupad noong AD 70.

2. ‘Yung dalawang tanong ng mga disciples, nag-ugat sa isang maling assumption: akala nila, ang event na ‘to ang magsisilbing end of history na rin. Akala nila, kapag gumuho ang Temple, tapos na ang lahat.

3. Sasagutin ni Jesus ‘yung BOTH questions walang naiiwan.

‘Yung unang part (tungkol sa Temple at sa AD 70) ay tatalakayin Niya sa Matthew 24:4–34.

At ‘yung pangalawa naman (tungkol sa Parousia o Second Coming) ay sasagutin Niya sa Matthew 24:36–25:46.

Malinaw ang pagkakahati Niya para hindi tayo malito kung aling event ang tinutukoy Niya sa bawat segment.

BRIDGE TO SESSION 3: Ngayong na-establish na natin ang setting at 'yung mga questions, next week naman natin papasukin ang mismong Discourse proper sisimulan natin 'yan sa tinatawag na "birth pangs" sa Matthew 24:4–8. Exciting 'to, kaya abangan niyo!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

For group reflection after the lesson

Sa text natin, super sure ang mga disciples na hinding-hindi mawawasak ang Temple ng Diyos parang “impossible” talaga ‘yun para sa kanila. Bilang mga Pinoy Christians ngayon, ano kaya ‘yung mga bagay na ginagawa nating “Temple” sa buhay natin ‘yung mga tradisyon, pride sa denominasyon, o mga gawa ng tao na tinatrato nating “untouchable” at parang hindi pwedeng galawin ng Panginoon? Paano nga ba natin masisiguro na ang tiwala natin ay nakatali talaga sa Salita ng Diyos, at hindi lang sa mga religious structures?

Nakita natin na gumamit si Jesus ng dalawang magkaibang Greek words sunteleia at telos—para sa dalawang magkaibang bagay. Dito natin mare-realize kung gaano ka-importante ang careful Bible study, lalo na ‘yung pag-dive sa original languages Kailangan nating maging mapanuri para hindi tayo basta-basta ma-mislead ng mga end-time teachings tulad ng Investigative Judgment ng SDA o ‘yung Dispensational rapture theology na madalas ay bunga lang ng maling pag-unawa sa context. Kapag kasi hinimay natin ang bawat salita sa Bible, mas nagiging malinaw ang katotohanan at hindi tayo basta-basta nadadala ng kung anu-anong "new" doctrines.

Sa personal walk mo with God, paano mo hinaharap 'yung mga Bible passages na parang "conflicting" o nagbabanggaan sa unang tingin? Anong mga disciplines o habits ang nakakatulong sa'yo para makarating sa isang sound at solid na interpretation? Siguro ito na 'yung time para mas mag-dig deep tayo at huwag lang basta umasa sa "surface-level" na pagbabasa.

KEY BIBLE TEXTS USED IN THIS SESSION (ESV)

REFERENCE	BRIEF TEXT / SIGNIFICANCE
Matt 24:1–3	Setting of the Discourse; disciples point to the Temple; Jesus prophesies destruction; the two questions
Matt 23:38	“See, your house is left to you desolate” — Jesus declares the Temple forsaken
Matt 21:43	“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits”
Matt 22:7	Parable of Marriage Feast: “The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city” — AD 70 in parabolic form
Matt 26:61; 27:40	Jesus’ Temple prophecy cited at His trial and at the cross — showing it was prominent in His ministry
Matt 26:64	Jesus warns Sanhedrin: “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” — AD 70 fulfillment
Matt 10:22	“The one who endures to the end will be saved” — telos = end of persecution, not end of history
Matt 24:6	“The end (telos) is not yet” — telos = end of the Temple era
Matt 24:13	“The one who endures to the end (telos) will be saved” — end of their trials
Matt 24:14	“And then the end (telos) will come” — end of the Temple, after gospel proclamation
Matt 13:39–40, 49	Sunteleia used for eschatological end — harvest/final judgment at close of age
Matt 28:20	“I am with you always, to the end (sunteleia) of the age” — sunteleia = eschatological close
Mark 13:1–2	Disciples: “What wonderful stones and buildings!” Jesus: “Not one stone will be left here”
Luke 24:21	“We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” — disciples’ Zionistic confusion
Acts 1:6–7	Disciples ask about kingdom restoration; Jesus redirects: “It is not for you to know times or seasons”
John 11:48	Sanhedrin fears Romans taking their place and nation — fulfilled in AD 70
John 16:13	“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” — their pre-Pentecost confusion is temporary
Ezekiel 11:23	Shekinah departs Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives — type of Jesus’ departure in Matt 24:1
Jeremiah 7:4	“Do not trust in deceptive words: This is the temple of the LORD” — false confidence in the Temple
Mark 3:26	Telos = end of Satan’s kingdom (non-eschatological use)
2 Cor 3:13	Telos = end of the old covenant order (non-eschatological use)
Hebrews 7:3	Telos = end of life (no telos for Melchizedek — typology of Christ’s priesthood)
James 5:11	Telos = outcome of God’s dealings with Job (non-eschatological use)
Matt 26:58	Telos = mundane outcome (Peter watching to see ‘how it would end’)
Zech 14:4	The Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem — connects to Ezek 11:23 and Matt 24:3
2 Peter 3:10	“The day of the Lord will come like a thief” — the final Day of the Lord at the end of history (sunteleia event)
Isaiah 13:6, 9; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11; Amos 5:18, 20; Obad 15; Zeph 1:7; Mal 4:5	Multiple OT ‘days of the Lord’ — each anticipating the final eschatological Day; establishes the type-antitype pattern connecting AD 70 to the Last Day