An Overview of Matthew 24

Introduction

Matthew 24 has grown to be a heavily discussed chapter in recent years as interest in end times prophecy increases. Not only does it predict the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple which history reveals occurred in 70 AD, but it also outlines events that are to occur in our future, most specifically the return of Christ. Jesus’ prophecy about the end times is paralleled in Mark 13 and Luke 21; both books provide additional details, but Matthew 24 is perhaps the most extensive version of the prophecy.

The beginning of Matthew 24 shows Jesus leaving the temple after proclaiming God’s judgment on the scribes and Pharisees and the city of Jerusalem (Matthew 23). Verse 1 describes the disciples coming and showing Jesus the buildings of the temple, upon which He also proclaimed a future destruction that would not leave one stone standing upon another. This future destruction was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman army invaded Jerusalem and burned the temple before proceeding to tear down every individual stone to gather the precious metals that melted into the rubble.

In Matthew 24:3, the Lord sits Himself on the Mount of Olives (where He will later return at His second coming according to Zechariah 14:4) and His disciples came to Him privately to ask about the timing of these things as well as the sign of His coming and the end of the world. This is where Jesus begins to lay out the prophecy about the Last Days.

Let No Man Deceive You

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Matthew 24:4

Jesus begins His response by warning His disciples to not allow anyone to deceive them. This is a warning for us too, and Jesus explains why this is important.

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Matthew 24:5

There will be many who will come proclaiming themselves to be Christ or claiming to be sharing the same authority as Christ. While some may not necessarily call themselves Christ, their words and deeds imply that they exalt themselves to the divine level of Christ. These people preach heresies that contradict the scriptures, though ironically, they disguise their heresies with scriptures. They are charismatic in nature and their influence captivates lost souls and Christians who are not rooted in the truth of God’s word. This is why it is imperative that we know and understand the truth of God and not allow ourselves to be deceived. We are commanded to study the word of God:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 1 Timothy 2:15

Many people just simply read the Bible, but there is a difference between reading the scriptures and studying them. It is important that we study the word of God and have a real relationship with Jesus so we are not easily persuaded by the subtle words of a false Christ.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

In the next verse, Jesus begins talking about wars.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6

War has been part of history since almost the beginning of time. But Jesus warned that in the end times we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. There is a lot of talk about the war between Russia and Ukraine on the news daily. It is a war that has sparked fears of an imminent World War 3. The threat of WW3 can be considered a “rumor of war.” It is a circulating story of doubtful truth.

Despite the circulating stories of war and the rumors of war we may hear daily, Jesus told us not to be troubled about these things. He assured us that these things must come to pass, but they do not signal the end of the world is here.

Nation vs. Nation, Kingdom vs. Kingdom

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7

In the modern English language, it may seem like Jesus is repeating Himself concerning nations and kingdoms, but He is making a clear distinction between the two words. Nation derives from the Greek word ethnos, which means “nation.” Ethnos is similar in spelling as “ethnic,” as in ethnic group, which is a population sharing the same racial background, language, culture, religion, and customs. So what Jesus is saying in verse 7 is that ethnic groups will rise against other ethnic groups, for reasons that will vary from nation to nation.

A bitter example of this is the centuries-long conflict between black people and white people. While yes, it is a sensitive topic (and I am in no way intending to guilt-trip anyone, I’m only stating facts) history reveals the extreme prejudice and hatred whites have expressed to black people by horrendously brutalizing them, especially during slavery. One cannot fathom the gross abuse that was done to black people by white people in the past. Sadly, it was a fulfillment of what Jesus said about nation rising against nation.

Now, kingdoms relate to what we call today “nations” or countries that are ruled by kings, presidents, or prime ministers. “Kingdom rising against kingdom” describes the often-violent conflicts waged by one country against another. We are witnessing this with the Russian-Ukraine war that started on February 24, 2022.

Natural Disasters

In verse 7 Jesus also spoke about famines, pestilences, and earthquakes appearing in various places. These plagues affect countries physically, economically, and geographically.

Currently, there are countries right now are experiencing famines. Severe food shortages are plaguing Sri Lanka and China. The American mainstream media have neglected to broadcast the seriousness of the situation in both countries, especially in China, where the president, Xi Jinping, has forced everyone to stay in their homes, due to coronavirus restrictions, without exception. This has triggered a food crisis and sparked riots in the streets.

Famines are not always physical; they can also be economical. The United States is experiencing an economic famine, a great recession that is. Inflation has sent everything in all industries skyrocketing to unprecedented levels. Everyone is familiar with the record-high gas prices that are constricting the country, with the highest prices being found in California with $7 and $8 gas. This is not to mention the outrageous food prices that have many Americans struggling to make ends meet.

In addition to famines, pestilences are another plague that is prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:7. A pestilence is a disease, plague, or pest that causes great discomfort or disruption to good health. Many times it causes death. Most will agree that the coronavirus is an example of a pestilence. But the coronavirus is not the only plague that will pester the world and cause death. There will be many more pestilences worse than covid that will potentially kill off populations of people.

Finally, we are told that earthquakes will also strike in various places, even in places where earthquakes don't usually occur. California is known for getting earthquakes, but for the last several years places like Oklahoma and parts of the Midwest are getting earthquakes, which are odd places to experience earthquakes. Many of these earthquakes will also be powerful, with some reaching 7.0 and 8.0 magnitude levels. Earthquakes in the 6.0 range and above will only increase as we get closer to the return of Christ.

So far we forewarned about wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. While all these things are terrible plagues that will drastically reshape society, they do not signal the end of the world. Rather, they are signs of the days leading up to the end. These events are just the beginning of the troubles the world will face.

“All these things are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:8

Persecution and Betrayals

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” Matthew 24:9

As the days of the end times draw closer to the second coming, persecution will increase. It will get so intense that Christians will be murdered for their faith. This is already happening right now in certain countries like China, Russia, India, North Korea, and certain African countries like Nigeria. Christians will be banned and hated by all nations (ethnic groups) because they believe in Jesus. Many Christians, particularly in America, believe that we will not be here on earth when tribulation begins, that only the world will go through the troubles prophesied in the Bible. But then why would Jesus say that we Christians will be delivered up to affliction and be killed and hated for His name’s sake? He was not just talking to His disciples who were later persecuted and killed for their faith. This dialogue applies to us as well.

Unfortunately, when many Christians realize they have to die for their faith, they will cower at the sight of their persecutors and, to save their lives, denounce the Lord and join sides with the world. This is why we must prepare spiritually as well as mentally for the troubles that are coming. We must have a strong relationship with the Lord that is grounded in love and trust. If we do not have faith in God, we will falter under the pressure of the world which is trying to convince us that Jesus is not our Savior and that we should put our trust in people.

The abandonment of their faith will lead to betrayals of the Church.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Matthew 24:10

This is what the apostle Paul called in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 the “falling away.”

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Unable to bear the hatred received from the world, many Christians will resort to joining sides with the wicked and turn on their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. These former Christians who once believed wholeheartedly in God will come to hate their own brothers and sisters in Christ. By these former Christians choosing to abandon their faith, they will open their minds up to believe in false doctrines. They will follow false prophets that will deceive them as well as many others.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11

Jesus also warned that sin and wickedness will increase. If you keep up with the news you're aware of the increased wickedness that is reported daily. From senseless killings by teenagers to rapings of young girls, we are being shown that there is no low for sin. People have also grown more aggressive, heartless, and inconsiderate. It is absolutely mind-boggling how cruel people have become, and yet more people are adopting these negative spirits. Not only have people's hearts grown cold toward their neighbor, but also and especially toward God. Less and less people are even willing to hear any preaching of Jesus; they blatantly reject it before they even hear it. The ubiquitousness of iniquity has even caused some Christians to grow cold-hearted. They have become numb to the pain of rejection, but they have also grown callous toward the things of God, making their hearts hardened. This prevents them from hearing from the Holy Spirit or feeling any conviction for their sins.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:12

But Jesus tells His disciples that whoever endures unto the end, that is, the end of this present age, will be saved from the wrath of God which will come upon this world. We are encouraged to remain faithful to the end, for we have a great reward for staying true to God and His word.

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

We must keep the faith of Jesus in these last days no matter how bad things get. As Paul said:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

Having this type of attitude will ensure that you will be able to endure unto the end of this age. Not only will some Christians be able to endure, but they will also be a part of the great commission, the end times harvest of souls. They will be preaching the gospel with power throughout the entire world, to be a witness unto all nations. In this way, all in the world will have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and will have been given a choice between God or Satan.

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14

The Abomination of Desolation

There is one major sign of the end times, an event that takes place in the holy place of God’s temple (Matthew 24:15-22). In verse 15 Jesus describes the abomination of desolation which was prophesied by Daniel the prophet (see Daniel 8:13). He warned that when this thing sets itself in the holy place of the temple, those who live in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those who are to flee are cautioned not to even return to their homes to gather anything out of their houses; they should literally drop everything they are doing and run for their lives. Those days are what Jesus described as “great tribulation,” a time in which things will be so severe that if those days were not cut short, no one would be saved alive. The identity of the abomination of desolation and its exact timing in the prophetic will be explored in a later article.

Around this same time, there will also be those running around telling people that Jesus has returned. Jesus warned that if anyone comes to us saying that they saw Christ somewhere (no matter where it is), whether it is in the desert or the wilderness or a building or a temple, we are NOT to believe it. This is crucial because in those days there will be many false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders to “prove” that Jesus has returned or that they themselves are Jesus. These false miracles will be so convincing that, if it were possible, the very elect (God’s true people, the true believers) would be deceived. It just goes to show how powerful this deception will be. This is why Jesus warned us at the beginning of His response to not let any man deceive us. We have to know the word of God if we are to withstand all the deceptions of the last days.

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:23-24

Immediately After the Tribulation

There will be no need for anyone to tell you that Jesus has returned; it will not be some secret Second Coming. No matter if you are a believer or not, you will KNOW for certain that Jesus has returned because the signs of His coming will be displayed in the heavens and in the earth. He describes the signs of His coming in verse 29:

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:29-30

A peculiar sign that everyone will see is the “sign of the Son of man” in heaven. This sign is Jesus Himself being seen sitting by the right hand of the Father in heaven. This occurs when the sky above us is as John in the book of Revelation described it, "rolled together like a scroll rolling back."

“Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:64

In the above verse, Jesus was describing how His return will look to the whole world. This is the sign of the Son of man in heaven. The whole world will see this sign, and those who are guilty and wicked will be terrified at this sight. This is the sight the world will see before Jesus descends from heaven to gather His people from all the four directions of the earth.

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:31

The second coming will be the most awesome event in the world’s history. God’s Son will come with great power and great glory that will outshine the sun, moon, and stars. For the saints that are alive at that time, it truly will be the most exciting day of their lives. They will be the few blessed enough to have lived through all the trials and persecutions and difficulties of the end times. This day is their reward.

Jesus will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather His saints that are alive during that time as well as the dead in Christ who will rise first.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Jesus then moves on to tell us a parable of the fig tree. He likens the signs of His return to the budding leaves of a fig tree which signal the imminent arrival of summer. Jesus tells us that when we see these signs take place, we will know that His return is imminent. However, He informs us that no one will know the exact day or hour of His return, not the angels in heaven, not even the Son (see Mark 13:32). Only the Father knows when exactly Jesus will come back to earth. This is why we are cautioned a few verses before to not believe it when someone comes to us saying that Jesus has returned. This is also a warning for us to not follow behind people who claim to know the exact day and/or hour of the Lord's return.

For this reason, it is our responsibility to also be watchful for the Lord's return and not grow complacent. If we grow slack in our walk with Lord or worse, decide to join the world and live fleshly lives, we will be caught off guard by Jesus' return. Jesus provides us with another parable explaining this point with the faithful, wise servant and the evil servant (Matthew 24:45-51). The wise servant that faithfully kept the master's household and fed others meat in due season was blessed and made ruler over all the master's goods. The evil servant that slew his fellowservants and chose ungodliness was given a gruesome punishment.