| THE VISIBLE SIGNS |
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| Jesus’ explanation is in two parts, similar to Daniel’s visions. The visible signs are described in verse 4-14, and the spiritual signs in verse 15-31. |
| 1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “Don’t you see all of these things? Most assuredly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” |
| Matt 24:2 not one stone – in Dan 9:26 we were told that the people of the ruler to come, the Romans, would destroy the city and the sanctuary. In Dan 9:24 we learn that this sanctuary is a spiritual sanctuary, the body of Christ, “seventy weeks are determined to anoint … most holy.” The expression “most holy” without the article was not used to describe a building but of the priesthood of Aaron (1 Chron 23:13). Daniel’s prophecy is on two levels: the destruction of the physical temple and City by the Romans, and the destruction of the spiritual temple and City, New Jerusalem, by the Romans. Here, Jesus describes the destruction of the physical temple. In verse 15, He will describe Satan’s destruction of the “spiritual temple” through “the abomination of desolation.” |
| 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?” |
| Matt 24:3 what will be the sign? – Jesus answers this clearly in verse 15-29. |
| 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. |
| Matt 24:4 many will say “I am the Christ” – an entire line of Popes said “I am Christ on earth.” |
| 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. |
| Matt 24:7 wars, famines, earthquakes – see Rev 6:1-8, these are the plagues over a fourth of the earth, the four seals, the four horsemen. |
| 9Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then will many stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. |
| Matt 24:9 then they will deliver you – Luke gives the opposite message to Matthew, and quotes Jesus saying: “but before all these things, they will lay hands on you and persecute you” (Luke 21:12-19). We can’t really ascribe any significance to the statement “then they will deliver” to place it sometime after the wars, famines and earthquakes. Indeed, the persecution of the saints had already begun in the Apostolic age. The detailed chronology of events begins in verse 15. |
| 14 This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. |
| Matt 24:14 this gospel will be preached…and then the end will come – the conclusion of the overview. |
