Matthew, Chapter 24, and the “Signs of the Times”

What signs? And what times?

In Matthew 23:36-24:2, Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem. He clearly stated it would occur during the generation who were eyewitnesses to His teachings. Surviving this destruction depended upon faith in Christ, faith in the instructions He gave them---be watchful and be ready, and, when the time comes, flee to the hills.

Chapter 24 begins with the little word, “and.” This should remind us that chapter divisions are man made. Chapter 24 is a continuation of what had been said in chapter 23. In this previous chapter, as He addressed the religious leaders of His day, eight times Jesus states, “woe to you.” He concludes with a scathing denunciation of these people by accusing them of being murderers, upon whom will fall all the guilt for the murders of all the past and present prophets of God, Matthew 23:31-38.

Terrible “woes” were about to descend upon the city of Jerusalem; terrible events which would occur during the lifetime of those who personally heard Jesus. Events so terrible the thought of them moved Jesus to lament and despair. He could do no more to save Jerusalem. They city would be left desolate, Matthew 23:36-38.

As chapter 24 begins, Jesus and His disciples were leaving the temple grounds where He had just spoken. His disciples, no doubt shaken by the prophecy of doom which they had just heard, began pointing out to Him the magnificent temple buildings. In verse 2, Jesus responded by describing the fate of those buildings during the destruction soon to come, “Not one stone here shall be left upon another which will not be torn down.”

As soon as they were alone with Jesus, the disciples asked Him a three part question, recorded in verse 3. The first part requests information any one just informed of an impending disaster would want to know. When is it going to happen? The second part of the question contains a reference to the coming of the Lord. Events resulting in a major change in Jewish history were often referred to as a “coming of the Lord.” See Matthew 10:23 and 16:28 for examples of this.

In the second part of the question found in verse three, the disciples ask about the signs of His coming? What signs, warnings, should they be looking for? It is only logical for them to want to be forewarned so they could be prepared for this disaster. The third part of the question possibly arose from the erroneous assumption Jesus was speaking of the end of the world. Or, the disciples might have been correctly assuming the destruction of Jerusalem meant the end of the Jewish nation, the end of the Jewish age.

Beginning in verse 4 and ending in verse 34, Jesus answers the first two parts of the question, “When will these things be?” According to verse 34, they will occur during their lifetime. Just as He stated at the end of chapter 23, “this generation,” the generation to whom Jesus was personally speaking, was the generation who would experience the prophesied events.

Please be advised, “generation” does not mean “race.” The original language of the New Testament is Greek. The Greek word for “race” is “genos.” It is not used here. In both chapters 23 and 24, the word used is “genea’” which means “generation.”

Hal Lindsay, in his book Late Great Planet Earth, written in 1970, suggested the generation of Matthew 24:34 was the generation that witnessed the reestablishment of Israel in 1948. In his 1980 book, Road to Armegedden, he predicted the second coming of Christ would occur by the end of the 1980’s. Obviously, he was wrong.

The primary warning sign in Matthew 24 mentioning when the destruction was about to occur is the Abomination of Desolation, verse 15. Luke’s account provides a good clue as to what the abomination was. Luke 21:20, “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand.” Christians were then warned to flee to the mountains.

In AD 66, the Jews rebelled against Rome. Chaos and hysteria ensued as Roman armies invaded Judea. Jewish persecution against Christians increased. Apostasy occurred, but the faithful fled to the mountains as the siege began. By AD 70 Jerusalem lay in ruins. Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled. Jerusalem was no more, the end of the Jewish nation had come, and, from the Christian perspective, Judaism was at an end.

The Kingdom, the church whose founding is depicted in the second chapter of Acts, had been triumphant. The law of Christ had replaced the law of Moses, events of such great importance they are referred to as a “coming of the Lord;” events of such importance, they shook the very foundation of the heavens, Matthew 24:29-31. The Old Testament records several episodes in Jewish history of the “day of the Lord” shaking the heavens. For some examples refer to Isaiah 13:10, 19; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7-8, Joel 2:31, Amos 5:18.

Beginning in Matthew 24:35, the writer begins addressing the third part of the question of verse 3, the “signs” about the end of the age. The brief, direct answer is found in verse 36, “no one knows.” The series of parables which follow, continuing throughout chapter 25, clearly illustrates Jesus’ primary concern, be watchful, be prepared, and live righteously. This teaching applies to us today. Instructions to the citizens of AD 70 Jerusalem, to be prepared for the destruction soon to occur, are instructions for Christians today. Live right. Luke stated it so well in his account of the destruction, chapter 21:34, “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that the day come on you suddenly like a trap.”