24 BSF Matthew Week 24, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

What does it mean to mourn?  Why will all peoples of the earth mourn?  Won’t this be a joyful time of Christ’s second return?

English is such a limited language that we sometime can’t see the way words were used.  In Greek, the word used for mourn in this passage and in Revelation 1:7 is kopto (Strong’s G2875).  It does translate to mourn or lament.  It, like the Hebrew word used in Zechariah 12:10, caphad (Strong’s H5594) does mean to weep, wail, lament, and the beating of the chest in grief.

But here is what is interesting.  This is the same word used in Mark 11:8, “Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.”  Did you catch it?  It is that last part, “which they had cut.”

When Jesus returns it will be a parallel to his arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  But this time, instead of palm branches, it will be all people of the world themselves who, every one of them, fall down at His feet on His triumphant entry back into the world.

My Answers:

8.
a.
False prophets appear and perform great signs to deceive, sun will darken, moon not give light, stars will fall, heavenly bodies shaken, sign of the Son of Man appear in heaven, all people of earth will mourn.

b.
Zech: pour out spirit of grace and supplication, look and mourn the one they pierced
Matt: sign will appear and all the people of earth will mourn when they see Him coming on cloud
Rev: Look – every eye will see Him, all peoples will mourn because of Him

c.
No one knows, not even the angels nor the Son – only the Father

9.
The signs are visible, evident and known, not deeply clouded in mystery to make them invisible in the present.  When you see the signs of spring, you know summer will follow. (Rom 1:19-20)