The Prophetic Scope of Matthew 24

By Arthur W. Pink

The Prophetic Parables of Matthew 13
http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/pinks_archive.htm

The prophetic discourse of Christ found in Matthew 24 and 25 was delivered by Him in private to a few of His disciples less than a week before the Crucifixion. He had left the Temple for the last time. His public ministry was completed. He had announced to the leaders of the nation that, "your house is left unto you desolate," and had declared, "You shall not see Me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord."

As Christ left the Temple, accompanied by His disciples, they, no doubt, awed and puzzled by what He had just said, directed His attention to the magnificent buildings of the Temple, particularly to the massive stones of which they were constructed, saying, "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" (Mark 13:1 and compare John 2:20). To which He responded, "See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2). Then, as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, in full sight of the City and Temple, the disciples asked, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world ?" (Matthew 24:3).

Each of the first three Gospels supply us with an inspired account of our Lord’s prophetic discourse, but it is only by diligently comparing them and noting their differences that we can discover the scope and design of each, for there is no mere repetition in Scripture. Luke’s account differs from Matthew’s and Mark’s in two important respects—what is related and what is omitted. Matthew’s account is based upon a threefold question, see Matthew 24:3; whereas Luke’s is based upon a twofold question, see Luke 21:7. It is most important that the student should carefully note the omission of any reference to Christ’s "coming" in Luke’s account. The second main difference is connected with the time for "fleeing". In Matthew 24:15, 16 we read, "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." Whereas in Luke 21:20, 21 we read. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains." That part of our Lord’s prophetic discourse recorded in Luke 21 (to the middle of v. 24) was all fulfilled by the year A.D. 70. First, Jerusalem was invested by Cestius Gallus, who was repulsed. Later, it was attacked by Titus, the emperor’s son, who was successful. But between the two besiegements, there is good reason to believe that, all Christians "fled," and that none of them perished in Jerusalem. Luke’s "sign" is past, Matthew’s is yet future. It is most important to observe that in Matthew 24 no reference is made to the destruction of Jerusalem after verse 2; while, on the other hand, in Luke 21 no reference at all is made to "the abomination of desolation.’’

Now the first thing to do in taking up the study of Matthew 24 is to pay careful attention to its context, namely chapter 23. There, a sevenfold "woe" is uttered, and solemn sentence of doom is pronounced by the Lord Jesus upon the apostate nation of Israel. This is found in verses 34-38, closing with those fearful words, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Then the Lord added, "For I say unto you, you shall not see Me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord" (v. 39). This last verse is most important. The "coming" of Christ which is there referred to is not His descent into the air to catch up the Church, but His return to the earth unto the people of Israel. It is this which supplies the key to Matthew 24:3, and shows that everything in.Matthew 24 is yet future and is wholly Jewish.

"And Jesus went out, and departed from the Temple" (v 1). Mark the first word of this verse: the "and" denotes that what follows gives a continuation, without any break, of that which is recorded in the closing verses of chapter 23. It supplies a solemn confirmation of what was there announced: "Your house is left unto you desolate" is verified by the words "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple."

"And His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, see ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (vv. 1, 2). This foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, or more specifically, the razing of the Temple. It is most important to observe that this was said before the prophetic discourse of Christ’s which is recorded in Matthew 24:4 and onwards.

"And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?" (v. 3). That this question was asked separately from "And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" or "age," shows plainly that the "when shall these things be?" referred specifically to the overthrow of the Temple, which implied the destruction of the City. It is to be noted that only Luke records Christ’s answer to that question, see Luke 21:20-24. This part of our Lord’s prediction Matthew was guided to omit.

"And what shall be the sign of Thy coming?" (v. 3). What did the disciples have in mind when they asked this question? Surely there cannot be the slightest difficulty for us now to discover the true answer. So far as the inspired records go, up to this point the Lord had said nothing whatever to His disciples about His going to the Father’s house to prepare a place for His people, and of His coming again to receive them "unto Himself." No hint whatever had been given of His future descent into the air for the purpose of removing His saints from this earth. Therefore this aspect of the Lord’s "coming" could not have been in the mind of the disciples at that time. It should be obvious to every honest heart and impartial mind that when they asked, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming ?" they had before them what He had just said to the nation of Israel, namely, "You shall not see Me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21:9); which was His coming back to the earth,. One other thing enables us to fix the meaning of this question of the disciples, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming?" No "signs" are now given to or for those whose calling is a heavenly one. How could there be, when of them it is written, "we walk by faith, not by sight"? (2 Cor. 5:7). God’s people today are not to be looking for "signs," but listening for a sound, namely, the "shout" of the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16)!

"And of the end of the age?" To what "age" did the disciples refer? Surely there can be only one answer: that associated with Christ’s "coming" to the earth itself. It should be carefully borne in mind that this question was asked by the disciples, as Jews, before the Cross, before the Christian dispensation began. It is of the greatest importance that this fact should be kept before us, for a mistake on that point necessarily involves an erroneous interpretation of what follows. If we remember that at this time the apostles had no thought of (or, at any rate, no real belief in) Christ’s death and resurrection, it should help us to see that the Christian "age" could not have been in their minds. They were Jews, in spirit, hopes, expectations—the very first verse of Matthew 24 (following right after Matthew 23:38) more than hints at that. It is failure at this very point which has led so many to imagine that Matthew 24 teaches that "the Church" will pass through the great Tribulation.

It is to be carefully observed that in His answer the Lord referred the disciples to Daniel: "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place" (v. 15). It is interesting to note that the expressions "the end" or "time of the end" occur in Daniel just thirteen times, and that they are found nowhere else in the Old Testament. These expressions refer to the unfulfilled 70th "week" of Daniel 9:24-27, which brings to a close Israel’s national servitude under Gentile domination. The new "Age" will be introduced by the second advent of the Messiah to this earth and the consequent placing of Israel at the head of the nations. References to that "Age" are found in Hebrews 2:5, 6:5. Thus the disciples rightly connected the "end of the age" with the "Coming" of Christ; for His return to this earth and the ending of the "Age," i.e., the "Times of the Gentiles" synchronize. What is so important to note is that in Matthew 23:39 Christ did not connect His "coming" with the destruction of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the Temple, but with the glorious epoch of Israel’s national conversion.

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (vv. 4, 5). The Lord was here addressing His disciples as the representatives of the godly Jewish remnant of the future. Matthew does not record Christ’s answer to their first question, that being given in Luke. There is nothing at all in Matthew 24 parallel with Luke 21:20. Nor is there anything in it which falls, directly, within the scope of the Christian dispensation. The whole of this parenthetical dispensation is ignored, coming in as it does between the 69th and 70th "weeks" of Daniel 9. Verses 4-14 of Matthew 24 treat of the first half of the 70th "week"; verses 15-30 of its second half. Though verses 4-7 describe conditions which have obtained, more or less, all through the centuries of this Christian era, yet will they appear in a much more intensified form during the Tribulation period.

Fuller and further details concerning the time covered by Christ’s prophetic discourse in Matthew 24 are furnished in the Revelation, the major portion of that book treating of the same period. At the close of this present dispensation Christendom is spewed out (Rev. 3), the saints are raptured (Rev. 4:1), and then the united company of the redeemed are seen in Heaven worshipping God (Rev. 4:4-11). Following this, the Lamb as the "Lion" of the "tribe of Judah" takes "the book" (Rev. 5), and Israel at once appears on the scene. As soon as the "seals" of that book are broken we find that which corresponds exactly with what we have in Matthew 24. Marvelous, minute, and many are the parallels between the two chapters. At a few of them only shall we now glance.

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:4, 5). This was the first part of the Lord’s reply to the questions asked by His disciples. "And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four living creatures saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer" (Rev. 6:1, 2). These words picture the Anti-christ deceiving men, posing as the true Christ—of. Revelation 19:11.

"And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not troubled: for all must come to pass, but the end (i.e. of the 70th "week") is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:6, 7). "And when He had opened the second seal I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword" (Rev. 6:3,4). Thus the contents of the second seal correspond exactly with the second part of Christ’s prophecy.

"And there shall be famines" (Matthew 24:7). "And when he had opened the third seat, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse (the color of famine, see Lamentations 4:8; 5:10); and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst, of the four living creatures say, A measure of wheat for a penny (a day’s wage, see Matthew 20:2) and three measures of barley for a penny" (Rev. 6:5, 6).

"And pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matthew 24:7). "And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with Him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Rev. 6:7,8).

"All these are the beginnings of sorrows" or "birth-pangs" (Matthew 24:8). These "birth-pangs" are the travail which shall yet precede the birth of a regenerated Israel. If the reader desires to trace out the remaining correspondences between the two chapters let him compare Matthew 24:8-28 with Revelation 6:9-11; and then Matthew 24:29,30 with Revelation 6:12-17.

Passing on now to verse 15: "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth let him understand." This is the point which marks the division between the two halves of the 70th "week"; compare Daniel 9:27. These words were addressed by Christ to His apostles, but the "ye" need occasion no difficulty. The Lord was speaking to them as Jews, as the representatives of those who shall be on earth at the time these things are fulfilled. That this is not a "begging of the question" should be clear by a reference to Matthew 23:39: the word "Ye" there was spoken to the scribes and pharisees as the representatives of the Nation both present and future, that is, of the nation as a unit. A similar instance is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, "Then we which are alive." The apostle did not say "they," but addressed those Thessalonian saints, including himself, as the representatives of all believers who shall be alive on the earth at the Lord’s coming in the air.

The "abomination of desolation" is the image of Anti-christ (Rev. 13) which will yet be set up in the re-built Temple at Jerusalem. The reference here in Matthew 24:15 is not to the defiling of the Temple by Titus, as Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11 clearly show. It is in "the midst of the week" that "sacrifice and oblation’’ are made to cease. It is then that the pseudo-Christ will throw off his mask and appear as an opposing Christ, demanding that Divine honors shall be paid to him alone: an Old Testament type of this is found in Daniel 3:1-7.

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake (i.e. the sake of the godly Jewish remnant) those days shall be shortened" (Matthew 24:21, 22) The double reference to "those days," and there is a third one in verse 19, finds its interpretation in the "when you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation" of verse 15. It was not the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus of which Christ here spoke. His words in verse 22 are clearly parallel with Daniel 12:1, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book" i.e., God’s "elect" among the Jews. Thus the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21 instead of referring to the time when Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel dispersed, speaks of that which shall immediately precede the day when they shall be "delivered."

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe not" (Matthew 24:23). This has in view the time when the Man of Sin shall sit in the Temple of God "showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:3, 4).

"For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:27). Never once is this title of Christ’s used in any of the Pauline (Epistles which are addressed to the members of the Body of Christ. We are waiting the call of "God’s Son" (1 Thess. 1:9, 10).

"For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together" (Matthew 24:28). The "carcass" refers to the apostate mass of Israel; the "eagles" are the symbols of Divine judgment: see Deuteronomy 28:26, Ezekiel 39: 17, Revelation 19:17.

"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled" (Matthew 24:34). With this should be carefully compared Matthew 12:43-45. Not only would not the Jewish nation ("generation") pass away, but it would not cease as a "wicked generation." But when Matthew 24 has been completely fulfilled then that "wicked generation" shall "pass away," and be followed by a new Nation: see Psalm 22:30, 31; 102:18; Deuteronomy 32:5, 20.

The reference to "the days of Noah" in verses 37-39 are in striking accord with the rest of this prophetic discourse, and at once fix the scope thereof. First, Noah lived at the very close of the antediluvian age: so Matthew 24 describes conditions at the very end of the Jewish age. Second, Noah and his house were saved through a great and sore judgment of God: so an elect Jewish remnant will be preserved through the great Tribulation (Rev. 12:6, 14). Third, Noah and his house came forth from the ark on to an earth which had been swept clean by the besom of destruction, and entered into a new Age: so the godly Jewish remnant pass through the great tribulation, and from them will spring millennial Israel. Fourth, judgment consumed the ungodly: "So shall also the coming of the Son of man be." But how blessed for the Christian to remember that before the Flood began, Enoch—type of the Church—was translated! May this blessed hope be the stay of our hearts, and the purifying power for our walk. May we, instead of looking for "signs," be listening for that Sound of all sounds; instead of dreading the swiftly approaching Tribulation, be found praising God that we shall be high above it all; instead of studying the character of Mussolini or others to find in them marks of the Man of Sin, may we be "looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

What do YOU think ?

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Date: 31 Oct 2005
Time: 23:33:01

Comments:

great teaching...partial preterism is the correct understanding of the themes in my view,,,,it is true, but sad,,that not long after the start of the new nazarene faith,,that rome came and swept it and polluted it with pagan doctrines,,such as trinity and sunday ..we are in similar shape as the carcus mentioned by our lord...judgement will begin in the house of God,,,God is One,,,not Three in One,,as the mass of deceivers have said,,,salvation is prohibited from anyone who accpts the trinty doctine of rome's constantine in 325 AD..

we must drive this point to all who wish to enter paradise...One God..father Yehwah,,,One Lord..prince yeshua the Massiah ..no other way.
Mik...UAE. Dubai

Date: 17 Dec 2010
Time: 16:14:06

Your Comments:

To the statement above let it not be said that GOD isnt a Tri Unity. The Church at the consil of Nicea wasnt the Roman Catholic Church it was the church at large ( universalist church) all Churchs of Christ. David that is King David understood GOD as a Tri Une GOD it wasnt invented by the Nicene gathering it was just formed as a term for the doctrine. What shall we say about who raised Christ from the dead for instance. #1. Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and "God the Father", who raised him from the dead;#2. John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days "I will raise it up". #3.But if the "Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead" dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

As you can see its obvious when one asks WHO raised Christ from the Dead, GOD OUR FATHER, GOD THE SON, or GOD THE HOLY SPRIT, well let it be finally seen by my brother in the above statement that GOD is TRI UNE for God the Father raised Christ as well as Christ raised Himself from the dead and also as we can see The Holy Spirit aswell raised Christ Jesus from the dead. SO WHO RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD ( GOD did) in all Three forms.
If you want to say its not an older testament doctrine then read Isaiah 48:16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

This is Jesus speaking: there am I, and now the LORD GOD FATHER and His HOLY SPRIT has sent me.

Please understand this to be in love for there is a HOLY TRIUNITY and it is this thast is found even more so in the Hebrew than in english however there are enough proofs to see it in our language. Just think was Jesus a Vintriliquest when He was Baptised and spoke from also from heaven saying this is my Son in whom I am well pleased, I say no it was our heavenly Father as the scriptures state.
If Jesus loved Himself it would have been Sinful. The Father loves the Son are two of the GOD head. You can also see this doctrine in the first pages of our Bible when God says Gen 1:26 And God said, Let "us" make man in "our" image,

I Pray that the above person may make it back here to His statement above which is a heretical doctrine to suppose that Jesus is the Father or the Spirit and in anyother way you may choose to switch them around, to try and make God fit the doctrine you have been taught. PRAY that you will see the truth and leave that false doctrine. However I wouldnt damn you for not, because I dont know if God himself would. God Bless rcscrolls@aol.com


 

Date: 17 Dec 2010
Time: 16:14:06

Your Comments:

To the statement above let it not be said that GOD isnt a Tri Unity. The Church at the consil of Nicea wasnt the Roman Catholic Church it was the church at large ( universalist church) all Churchs of Christ. David that is King David understood GOD as a Tri Une GOD it wasnt invented by the Nicene gathering it was just formed as a term for the doctrine. What shall we say about who raised Christ from the dead for instance. #1. Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and "God the Father", who raised him from the dead;#2. John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days "I will raise it up". #3.But if the "Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead" dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

As you can see its obvious when one asks WHO raised Christ from the Dead, GOD OUR FATHER, GOD THE SON, or GOD THE HOLY SPRIT, well let it be finally seen by my brother in the above statement that GOD is TRI UNE for God the Father raised Christ as well as Christ raised Himself from the dead and also as we can see The Holy Spirit aswell raised Christ Jesus from the dead. SO WHO RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD ( GOD did) in all Three forms.
If you want to say its not an older testament doctrine then read Isaiah 48:16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

This is Jesus speaking: there am I, and now the LORD GOD FATHER and His HOLY SPRIT has sent me.

Please understand this to be in love for there is a HOLY TRIUNITY and it is this thast is found even more so in the Hebrew than in english however there are enough proofs to see it in our language. Just think was Jesus a Vintriliquest when He was Baptised and spoke from also from heaven saying this is my Son in whom I am well pleased, I say no it was our heavenly Father as the scriptures state.
If Jesus loved Himself it would have been Sinful. The Father loves the Son are two of the GOD head. You can also see this doctrine in the first pages of our Bible when God says Gen 1:26 And God said, Let "us" make man in "our" image,

I Pray that the above person may make it back here to His statement above which is a heretical doctrine to suppose that Jesus is the Father or the Spirit and in anyother way you may choose to switch them around, to try and make God fit the doctrine you have been taught. PRAY that you will see the truth and leave that false doctrine. However I wouldnt damn you for not, because I dont know if God himself would. God Bless rcscrolls@aol.com

Date: 24 Sep 2011
Time: 14:38:02

Your Comments:

As of this "writing" I haven't thoroughly read this whole article, but Pink's assertion that Luke omits any mention of Jesus' "coming" has got to be the most astounding claim he makes anywhere. It doesn't matter what your eschatological position is; even a cursory glance at the text shows the following:

(Greek) "kai tote opsontai ton huion tou anthropou erchomenon nephele meta dunameos kai doxes polles"

(Eng.) "And then they will be seeing the Son of [the] Man COMING in a cloud with power and glory great."

Wow. How did Pink manage that??? One can argue as to whether we should construe that "coming" literally or figuratively, but to actually say it *isn't there*??? Just . . . wow. Talk about betraying your bias.

-Andy in Toronto

Date: 19 Sep 2011
Time: 14:17:19

Your Comments:

It is very simple, when the man rescinds his alliegance to sloth and machinations clothed in supposed "scholarly" exegesis. Darby himself spoke of the burgeoning evil of man in the "Millennium" posited in Premillennialism, "When this obedience is not paid, excision takes place, so that all is peaceful and happy."(Collective Writings, xi., p. 534). The Millennium spoken of here is one where Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is in bondage to a burgeoning evil, along with his Glorified Elect. This theory also places under bondage to evil the very creation said in Romans 8:20-21, to be freed unto regeneration. As we know from Genesis 4:10, with evil present and violations of wicked sin such as murder occurring, even with Darby's "excisions" physically of the sinners under the iron rod rule of Christ, the creation will be tainted with the wickedness of sin once again. The rule of God in righteousness and justice is absolute not taste upon God's ability to put down the rebellion or opposition but based upon God's ability to entirely extirpate sin from his creation. The Premillennial "Millennium" associates of glorified Christ, bathed in absolute righteousness and glory, along with his siblings of the same constitution, with the sin and death which, according to Romans 8, should have been cleansed away forever in the presence of such glory. We have a Bible, especially Isaiah, replete with allusions to a time commensurate with the commandment of the Great Commission, the subversion of Christ's enemies under his feet (Psalm 110, 1 Corinthians 15) and the destruction of the first Beast (apostate political power) and the second Beast or False Prophet (false/apostate religious power. This time alluded to by the occurrences fulfilling the aforementioned vss., will be an indefinite "millennium" of increasing righteousness where the Church of Christ will expand under the sovereign election of those Jesus commands to be evangelized i.e.....
Acts 1:8 (ESV) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Nature itself will also see a burgeoning of righteousness in that the very animals themselves who were made blood thirsty in the fall, will have a change in the fundamental integrity of their nature, just as man will experience en masse...
--Isaiah 11:6 (ESV) 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.
God did not allow evil to become extant to chace Good out of the world to hide in Heaven; God made evil possible, that those chosen to reign with him in submissive glory would know and harbor gratitude for the glorious & righteous state of their eternal station in a capacity superseding all created beings prior; for the glorified human will carry within himself not just a great Gift of being and station but an inextricable tale, each his own, of the rise from a torturous dead existence to the most glorious Gift of Life and a perfect appraisal of the value of that Gift, full and eternal in its provision, in the form of Selfless Love, which is what Jesus meant in say "I came to serve not to be served." And thus we will serve our God for eternity, in perfect Joy.