Back to: The End Times
Matthew 24
Matthew 24 is one of the single most important chapters in the Bible for Christians on end-times’ prophecy. If you do not know anything else, first go to this chapter, and get to know it inside and out, especially in these days, in these years leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.
The following is a detailed verse-by-verse study of Matthew 24:3-51. Let us walk through it together, right now.
v3 Now 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?
For this question to be recorded in God’s Word, it is clear that Jesus wants us to know the Bible prophecies that will be occurring just prior to His return. Let us stop here just for a moment and share with one another why you believe it is important to know the signs that will occur when Christ comes.
As we go through this chapter, keep in mind that the Lord’s coming mentioned in verse three, is referring to the Second Coming. Not the rapture. The disciples didn’t even know about the rapture. The rapture was a revelation that would come later. So, all we will read in this chapter is about the Second Coming or Second Advent of Jesus Christ.
v4-5 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
What do you believe will be the main reasons why people will be fooled? Can you think of any groups that have already been deceived like Christ warned?
v6-8 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
The Greek word for “sorrows” likens it unto the “birth pangs” of childbirth which become more frequent and intensified. These “labor pains” are characteristics of the world we live in now, but they’ll culminate in the tribulation period.
There is an alarming escalation of these things in our day and age. The number of armed conflicts (wars) are often growing and often breaking world records.
v9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
As the time draws near for Christ’s return, there will be a rise in hatred for both Israelites and Christians. CBS News has reported the following;
Dec 11, 2023 — Reports of antisemitic incidents in the U.S. over the last two months were up 337% compared to last year, the Anti-Defamation League said.
The following has been reported by Christianity Today;
- January 19, 2022 – Overall, 360 million Christians live in nations with high levels of persecution or discrimination. That is 1 in 7 Christians worldwide, including 1 in 5 believers in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 15 in Latin America… Last year, for the first time in 29 years of tracking, all 50 nations scored high enough to register “very high” persecution levels
Persecution comes in many forms. Most of us here in America do not face what our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing around the world for their faith in Jesus. But needless to say, many here are facing persecution from lost relatives, friends and coworkers. As the time of Christ’s return draws closer, persecution will intensify. If this happens to you, it would be well to remember the following;
- Expect It
If you love Jesus, and are living for Him, expect persecution.
(2 Timothy 3:12), Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
- Great Is Your Reward
(Matthew 5:10-12), Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
v10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
One of the most heartbreaking things of the tribulation period, will be the betrayal of family and friends. Under the politics of the anti-Christ, as it is even in some communist and Muslim countries today, but far worse, betrayal of both Jews and Christians will intensify greatly.
v11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Name a couple of things that will be the cause of this deception according to;
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10), The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(Matthew 22:29), Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
v12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
We should purpose in our hearts to always find more reasons why we love Jesus and His Word. Also, go out of your way to express love for others. Do all that you can to fight coldness of heart. Although the world will continue to grow colder, be that ever-glowing example of what it means to love God and each other.
v13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Salvation is by grace through a faith that is ongoing and enduring in our hearts. Do all that you can to nurture and protect your faith in God and His Word.
v14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
As of today, about 3,500 languages have some of the Bible, and 1,600 languages have the full New Testament! Our generation is seeing the amazing fulfillment of this incredible prophecy that Jesus spoke of 2000 years ago.
v15-20 Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
Here, Jesus confirms the truth that the Old Testament is indeed the inspired Word of God as He quotes from the book of Daniel 9:27 and 11:31. The “abomination of desolation” refers to the antichrist barging into the rebuilt Jewish temple, where he declares himself to be above all that is called God and demands all the world to worship him.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
v21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This is going to be a very rough time for all the inhabitants of the earth. Now is the time to be saved!
v22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
With the world’s nuclear capability of today, this prophecy seems closer than ever.
v23-34 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Here we have a description of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and when it will occur. The Lord will return at the time when all these things that we have just studied happen collectively. He will also return when “the fig tree’s branch is tender and puts forth leaves”. Many have come to believe that the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. They have come to believe that this passage is referring to the Israelites coming to faith in Jesus Christ during the great tribulation. One thing that we do know for sure, is that Israel is indeed the key to the second coming of Christ according to the following words of Jesus;
(Matthew 23:39), for I say to you (Israel), you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
v35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
In other words, His return will indeed happen!
v36-44 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The idea of this passage is referring to those that will be ready and waiting for His return and those who will not be ready. Although the Lord has been pleading with mankind for the past 2000 years, it is so sad that so many will not be ready for His return.
The following is the promise of the amazing and wonderful blessing that will be given to those that are ready for His coming, and the devastating end of all those who have refused to believe;
v45-51 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)