Matthew 24

 I wanted to share with you a study that I did some time ago on this exact passage. It is thorough and somewhat lengthy but I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you do also. It is entitled The Olivet Discourse.

This passage of scripture is found in three Gospels. Matt.24, Luke 21, and Mark 13. In order to fully comprehend, all these different accounts must be studied. Different authors included certain items and also left out certain items, but , when taken as a whole the context and meaning become quite clear.

To give a historical setting we will start with the Matthew account. Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6 also record this.

   1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matt 24:1-2 (KJV)

Jesus had just finished blasting the Pharisees and as he and his disciples left the temple area they pointed out the magnificence of the temple. The above scriptures record Jesus' response. This prophecy aroused three questions from his disciples..

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Matt 24:3 (KJV)

The first question "when shall these things be" refers to Jesus' warning about the destruction of the temple look at Luke's account:

7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Luke 21:7 (KJV)

When will the temple be destroyed and what sign will alert us that it is about to happen?

Another question was then posed..and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
Matt 24:3 (KJV)

This was not talking about the "catching away" of the saints as no sign will be given for that peculiar event.It was referring to Jesus' 2nd coming.

Finally, a third inquiry..and of the end of the world?

Matt 24:3 (KJV)
That word world translates age. What is the sign of your coming and what is the sign of the end of the age?
 Before answering these questions Jesus pointed to some
characteristics of the coming age none of which would signal that the end was near.

  4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.6 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.
Matt 24:4-6 (KJV)

Jesus was the first to claim to be the Jewish messiah however many since Him have made that claim. Also, he said that periods of local wars would persist but thius would not signal the end. It was at this point that Jesus began to answer the disciples questions. He dealt with their third inquiry first.

  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these arethe beginning of sorrows.
Matt 24:7-8 (KJV)
This response is recorded in all three accounts. These are the beginnings of sorrows or more closely birthpangs.This description of successive pangs is painted by the O.T.prophets. What is important here is the phrase "nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom". This is the sign of the end of the age. It is not the local wars already referred to but is a Hebrew idiom meaning a World War. This idiom when it was spoken pointed to a total conflict of the area in view. It's usage is found in two O.T. passages. Isaiah 19:1-4 points to Egypt being in view, 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 points to the Middle East, this last passage pointing to the whole world.

To keep to sequential context we must now look at the Luke account

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:12-19 (KJV)

Notice the beginning words "But before all these things"
when reading all three accounts one sees that this is inserted in Luke and it gives an account of what the Apostles are going to encounter. It is a description of their forthcoming experiences. Some say this was inserted to comfort the Apostles when the Messianic  Kingdom did not soon materialize and they confronted the suffering resulting from their preaching of the Gospel.

After this Jesus proceeds to answer the first question: the sign of the destruction the temple. It is recorded in Luke only.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luke 21:20-24 (KJV)

This passage of scripture had a very interesting fulfillment.
In 66 A.D. a Jewish revolt broke out When this revolt broke out the Roman general Cestus Gailus surrounded the city of Jerusalem thus compassing it with armies. When the Hebrew  Christians saw this they knew destruction was near. However, the Roman supply lines were inadequate to maintain the seige and he lifted it.This allowed for vs.21 to be fulfilled. After the Romans withdrew Hebrew Christians fled Jerusalem ans set up a community across the Jordan River in a towncalled Pella.
In 68A.D. another general named Vaspasian compassed the city for two years. In 70 A.D. they attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Because of the melting gold into the crevices of the stones the Romans turned every stone to get at the gold leaving not one unturned. Also, in this siege over a million Jews were slaughtered but no Hebrew Christian lost his life because of the obedience to Jesus command in vs.21. Since that time Jerusalem has been trodden down of the Gentiles.

The answer to the second question requires a careful reading of the text in Matthew and also a corresponding text in Mark.

 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. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 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.
Matt 24:9-14 (KJV)

You can read the corresponding passage in Mark 13:14-23 . Matthew 24 begins with the word Then which implies that these next passages are sequential; being part of the travail or birthpangs describing the last days. This is very similar to the passages in Mark 13:9-13 and Luke 21:12-19 . Luke is clear stating that "before all these" indicating an inserted passage. Mark has a small problem with this view because of vs.10 being mentioned in the Apostles experiences. However, the preponderance of scripture taken in context would support this view. That said ,let's look at Matthew once more and when we do it is clear that Jesus is talking about the first half of the tribulation. The use of "then" implies chronology and goes on to describe events of the first half of the tribulation.

After this Jesus moves forward to the middle and second half of the tribulation in vss. 15-28.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 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. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered
Matt 24:15-28 (KJV)

Jesus described many events taking place during this time. The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place marks the second half of tribulation. This event will signal a Jewish flight from Israel because of the intense persecution to follow this flight is also recorded in Rev.12
Anti Semitism will be worldwide and the nation of Israel would be destroyed except for a shortening of the days.
This period will be characterized by false christs and prophets typified in the counterfeit trinity of Revelation.
Jesus then warns against following this Antichrist even though he does great signs and wonders. Vs. 27 he describes what His coming will be like. Vs. 28 gives a hint as to where Jesus is coming back to. The carcase or better rendered the body is a reference to Israel being where the Gentile nations are gathered to destroy them.
The body will be gathered to a place called Bozrah or Petra in Greek. This is in accordance with Micah 2:12-13. This is where the vultures will come against them34:1-7 and Isaiah 63:1-6.

 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: 30 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.
Matt 24:29-30 (KJV)

These verses provide the final touches to the question of His coming. It gives the sign which shall precede Jesus secind coming. It will be a total blackout of light to the earth. Immediately after the tribulation of those days a blackout followed  by the light of the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. Thus, Jesus answered all three questions providing the signs which would accompany the events. The first in 66-70 A.D. The second in 1914-1918 with the first world war and the third at the end of the tribulation.

 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.
Matt 24:31 (KJV)


Jesus then describes a world wide regathering of the elect of Israel and in Luke 21:28 gives this exhortation.
When you see these things come to pass look up for your redemption draweth nigh. What things? The beginning of the birthpangs which started with the first world war.  

 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Matt 24:32-34 (KJV)

There has been much speculation about this parable most of which concern the reestablishment of the state of Israel. A quick note: Israel in scripture is usually represented as a vine not a fig tree.Also, a generation can mean anywhere from 20-100 years. In scripture only one time is it given a period of time and that is in Genesis 15:13 and that is reckoned at 100 years. In context this passage should be taken literally. Jesus was making an illustration simply saying that as the fig tree leafs out we know summer is near; so we should know that His coming is near as we see these events unfold.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matt 24:35-44 (KJV)

The next passage of scripture I believe points to the catching away or "rapture" of the saints. No matter how one believes these scriptures are describing something.People being taken away one here,the other gone. Jesus second coming can be predicted with accuracy. It is pretty clearly spelled out in Daniel and Revelation. Since that is not the purpose of this study I will leave you to investigate that on your own.
This passage refers to an event that cannot be predicted. Indeed according to this passage not even Jesus himself knows when this event will take place. It also speaks of the times as being normative. As the days of Noah they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Normal conditions. Then a taking away.At the time of Jesus physical return times will be anything but normal.The earth will be undergoing the most catastrophic judgments in history. So this passage describes a taking away under normal times. Also, in vs.42 an appeal is made to watch or to BE READY. This is equivalent to salvation.

 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36 (KJV)

Once again the appeal to watch or be ready is made. After this appeal is made our Lord went on to give five parables all pointing to the importance of watching and being ready. They all speak to some being ready for their lord and some not being ready. These are not aimed at different types of believers but at believers and unbelievers.

The Olivet Discourse comes to a close with thre judgment of the Gentile nations after the King is come and He sits on his throne.

  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
Joel 3:1-3 (KJV)

 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 3
Matt 25:31-34 (KJV)

These scriptures speak to a judgment of the Gentile nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat . The basis of this judgment will be on their treatment of the Jews during the tribulation. This is an eternal judgment and the sins against Israel are laid out in Joel.They are a scattering of the Jews in the middle of the tribulation, a parting of the land referring to the last war,and for selling the Jews into slavery. The last part of the 25th chapter of Matthew describes Jesus pronouncement of judgment on the Gentiles based on their pro or anti semitism.

God Bless.