MATTHEW 24:1-14
(Acts 1:6 compared with the Jewish concept of the Messiah shows this). When Christ said that the temple would be de-
stroyed, they assumed it would happen at the same time that He returned and ended the world, thereby restoring the kingdom
to Israel.
Christ, however, gave no timetable. He did not say when the three events would occur. What He did was give signs that
will occur before the events, signs that point toward His return, toward the end of Jerusalem, and the end of the world.
It is important to keep in mind that most of the signs happen all through history. But there is this difference: the signs in-
crease and intensify right before the end of Jerusalem and of the world. There will be a period known as “the beginning of
sorrows” (v.8), and a period launched by “the abomination of desolation” known as the “great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world” (v.21).
1. Events that lead to the great prophecies (v.1-4).
2. Sign 1: false messiahs (v.5).
3. Sign 2: world violence (v.6).
4. Sign 3: natural disasters (v.7).
5. Sign 4: severe religious persecution (v.9).
6. Sign 5: terrible apostasy—betrayal and division (v.10).
7. Sign 6: the rising of many false leaders—offering false hope (v.11).
8. Sign 7: a great falling away—sin’s increasing and love’s growing cold (v.12).
9. Sign 8: some’s enduring and being saved (v.13).
10. Sign 9: world evangelism (v.14).
(24:1-14) Another Outline: Christ gives at least nine signs of the last days in these fourteen verses. But He divides them in-
to three sections.
1. The beginning signs: the beginning of sorrows (v.5-8). Verse 8 makes this division. “All these (the signs just given
in v.5-7) are the beginning of sorrows.”
2. The succeeding signs: personal threats and sorrows (v.9-12). Note the word “then” in verse 9. After the beginning
of sorrows, “then” these sorrows will happen. At this point, Luke says, “But before all these (the above signs) they
shall...persecute you...” (Lk.21:12). The word “before” (pro) should probably be taken in the sense of “more important” than
of time. That is, Luke is saying, “But before (more important than) all these....”.
3. The promising signs: the result of faithfulness (v.13-14). The word “but” in verse thirteen points toward two signs
that offer all the promise and hope a believer could ever desire. In fact, his salvation and witness are what he lives for. And
the fulfillment of both is promised in the last days.
1
(24:1-4) Prophecy: The events that lead to the great prophecies (see note above—Mt.24:1-25:46 for discussion).
Thought 1. It is not the outward appearance that makes an object acceptable; it is what is within. The temple
showed that this principle is even true with buildings. The glory of a building can be tarnished by what goes on
within it. The corruption of the priests within the temple stained its glory, greatly so.
Thought 2. Man’s perspective must be kept right. Being honest and remembering two things will help tremendous-
ly.
1) All the glory and magnificence of buildings will lie as dust not too many years hence. If they are not destroyed
by war or catastrophe, they shall deteriorate and waste away.
2) Within a short, short time, the human body itself, even the most beautiful, will decay, becoming nothing more
than dirt.
Thought 3. Note the words of Christ: “I say unto you” (v.2). What Christ said happens (see DEEPER STUDY #3—
Mt.24:2). Thus, all nine signs are bound to take place. But, note a critical point. The signs happen not because God
destines them but because man sins. They come to pass because of the passion and evil within man.
Thought 4. The world and every single man should know by now what Jesus knew. The way of God is the only
way. Every nation who walks its own way without God is doomed (Ps.9:17; Prov.14:34). And every politician and
man who walks their own way without God is also doomed (Ro.6:23; Heb.9:27).
Thought 5. We must be very, very careful when looking into the secret things of God, into the prophecies of the
end time. Christ gives us a special warning: “Take heed that no man deceive you” (v.4). (cp. Mt.24:11).
DEEPER STUDY # 4
(24:2) Temple: the prophecy of Jesus was graphically fulfilled. Just a few years after Jesus’ words, Rome grew tried of the
hard rebellious spirit of the Jews who refused to submit to Roman rule. In 70 A.D., Rome sent Titus to march against the city
of Jerusalem. The city and temple were utterly destroyed, so much so that Josephus, the great Jewish historian of that day,
said that a passerby would not have known the place was ever inhabited. Not a stone was left upon another.
2
(24:5) Messiah, False: the first sign of the last days is that of false messiahs. Note what Christ said.
1. “Many shall come.” There will not be a few but many false messiahs.
2. The false messiahs actually claim, “I am Christ,” the Messiah. They will not be the false prophets and teachers men-
tioned later. They will be persons who claim to be the Messiah, the Messenger of God to the world. They will be “pseudo-
Christs” or “anti-Christs.”
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