Evangelism is the beginning of the Great Commission but the Great Commission goes much deeper than that. We are preparing the nations for the return of Jesus and for the conclusion of His glorious plan that joins together the salvation of Israel and the nations.
Evangelism is the beginning of the Great Commission but the Great Commission goes much deeper than that. Evangelism is a key activity of the Great Commission, but the Great Commission is also intended to prepare the nations to be judged on a single question.
In Matthew 25, Jesus bases His judgment of the nations on how they have responded to “My Brethren.” Given that His brethren become central to the judgment, it is important that we understand Jesus’ judgment and recognize that Jesus was affirming previous prophecies of the day of God’s judgment of the nations.
Is it possible to know for certain what period of time Jesus is referring to in Matthew 24 and 25? Is He referring to 70 AD or is there more to His prophecy? Are there other passages that help us understand Jesus’ prophecy and the time in which it is fulfilled?
It is important when studying the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25 to understanding the context that surrounds the passage. The overall biblical context, the context of the book of Matthew, and the immediate context of the preceding chapters all help to make the passage much more clear and more easily understood.
