THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 24, verses 1 – 14, Part 1

 

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Part 1

Chapter 24, verses 1-14

The Signs of Christ’s Return

This chapter is one of the best descriptive eschatological synopses of the sign of Jesus’ coming and the End of The Age found in the Bible. It is also one of the best, if not the best book in the New Testament, for instruction, spiritual training and for gaining discernment regarding guidance for understanding and navigating these Last Days, the End of the Age, the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, also known as the coming The Wrath of the Lamb.

 Eschatology is the study of end times. The word ‘eschatology’ comes from Ancient Greek word, éskhatos, meaning ‘last’, and (logy), ‘the study of’ is about the expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times. You and every believer and follower of Jesus needs to know these things by heart.

Signs of Christ’s Return

Matthew 24:1 Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.

Verse 2. But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly, I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

Verse 3. And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Verse 4. And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you”.

(Commentary Break): It might seem a bit odd that such a simple observation of the temple buildings by Jesus’ disciples would provoke this response from Jesus, unless you had just read Matthew chapter twenty-three. Jesus had just had a heated exchange with the Pharisees. In that exchange Jesus denounces the Pharisees, proclaiming 8 woes over them, challenging them as being hypocrites, snakes, offspring of vipers, whitewashed tombs, and murderers of the prophets.

That encounter is reflected in His prophetic response to His disciples, “Do you not see all these things? Truly, I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down”!

Additionally, the disciples would appear to have been taken aback, as they wait until Jesus is alone, sitting on the Mount of Olives, before re-approaching Him to ask, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

The disciple’s question is representative of what many, Christians, Jesus disciples, have been asking over the ages: when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age?

I want to prepare you, the reader, to understand that, every word which Jesus spoke on this matter in these verses, are literal, although He may use a simile to make a distinction.

Jesus begins His answer with, “See to it that no one misleads you”. I want to emphasize that ‘no one’ includes people and organizations. This will become increasing relevant as the Church begins to stray, and Jesus prophetic warning of the coming apostasy. We are to be diligent, alert and able to discern or test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (see 1 John 4:1). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.

(Commentary Break): I have heard many Christians, including pastors, preachers and Bible teachers say that we need to beware of those who would come along and claim to be Jesus, and that is good advice.

But, Jesus’ words are, that many will come in His name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’. Again, they will come in His Name, not necessarily using His Name. This can mean they will claim to be the Messiah, or the Anointed One, not necessarily Jesus reincarnated. Yes, the Greek word for Jesus is the transliteration of Yehoshua or Jehoshua, which means ‘Yahweh Saves’, but He is the One long anticipated by the Jews and most people will not connect the Name of Jesus specifically with the claim that they are the anticipated Messiah.

This may seem like a lesser point, but considering the prophesied great apostasy which is well under way, the rampant and spreading false teachings about God and the Bible, the spreading of false Gospels, and the millions being misled in these postmodern days, it is a significant issue.

Jesus is warning against both frauds claiming to be Him, as well as false prophets and false messiahs, whether they are individuals or groups of individuals or organizations of individuals (such as churches) claiming they are Jesus, or that they have the same authority as Jesus or that they speak for Jesus. (Examples would be the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Emergent church leaders, the Worldwide Church of God (Herbert and Garner Ted Armstrong, and the scores of frauds and even those who actually claimed to be Jesus reincarnated.) (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Verse 8. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

Verse 9. Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Verse 10. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.

Verse 11. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people.

Verse 12. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. Verse 13. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. Verse 14. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

(Commentary Break): Let’s itemize this summary of events shown here in Matthew chapter 24, as well as the world conditions as we move toward what will be the sign of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age.

1. Many will come using the name of Jesus to mislead many. (Matthew verse 5).
2. There will be wars and rumors of war. (Matthew verse 6).
   1. Also see Revelation 6:4, “And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him”).
3. But that is not yet the end.
4. Then they will hand you over to tribulation, and you will be hated because of Jesus’ Name.
   1. And, they will kill you. (Also see Revelation 6:7-9, “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained).
5. Many will die from famines and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:7)
6. At that time, many will fall away from the faith. (Matthew 24:10).
7. Many of you will hate one another and will betray one another. (Matthew 24:10)
8. Many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. (Matthew 24:11).
9. Lawlessness will increase.
10. Many people’s love will grow cold.
11. These things are just the beginning of the ‘Birth Pains’ of the tribulation – Seals One through Five. (End Commentary Break).

Please click on the link below to proceed with Part 2, “Perilous Times”. We will discuss the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet. This will be the triggering event for the revealing of the antichrist, the rapture and the transition from the first five tribulation seals, also named the “Birth Pains” (phase) of the tribulation, (so named by Jesus), into the final seven years of the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and The Wrath of The Lamb.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 23, Hypocrisy Explained, The Eight Woes

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW 24:15-28, Part 2 – Perilous Times.

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