MATTHEW 24
24 Now, upon coming out, Jesus went from the
temple. Then his disciples approached
and pointed out the buildings of the temple to him. 2 But Jesus said to them, “Don’t
keep looking at all of these. I’m
telling you all surely that there will be absolutely no stone on stone here
that will not be completely torn down.”
3 Then as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him on their own, saying, “Will you tell us when these things will happen and about the sign of your coming and the conclusion of the age?” 4 So, answering them, Jesus said,
“Watch carefully, so that no one deceives you, 5 because many will come in my name saying, “I am the Christ!” and they will lead lots of people astray. 6 Yet soon you will also hear conflicts and news of conflicts. Make sure that you’re not shocked because it all needs to be happening, but not yet is that the end. 7 For nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and plagues and seismic events in various places, 8 but all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 Then they will hand you over into oppression, and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 And then many will be tripped up and they will hand each other over and they will hate each other. 11 Also, numerous false prophets will be raised up and will lead many astray, 12 and because of the escalation of lawlessness the love of many will be cooled down, 13 but the one enduring into the end, he will be rescued. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15 “Therefore, as soon as you see the Abomination of Desolation, the one described by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (note this, reader!), 16 then those in Judea must flee into the mountains! 17 The one on the housetop mustn’t go down to take things from his house, 18 and the one in the field mustn’t turn behind to pick up his clothes! 19 Oh, woe to those who are pregnant and those breastfeeding in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath, 21 because at that time there will be terrible suffering, the likes of which has not happened from the beginning of the world until now, nor may ever happen again. 22 And if those days weren’t cut short nothing living would survive – yet for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 At that time if someone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “Over here!” don’t you believe him! 24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise up, and they will perform great signs and spectacular works in order to lead even the elect astray, if possible. 25 Take note! I have warned you ahead of time. 26 So if they say to you, “Look, he is in the desert!” don’t go out there, or, “Look – in the inner rooms!” don’t you believe him, 27 because just as the lightning goes out from the eastern regions and flashes as far as the western regions, that’s how the coming of the Son of Man will be. 28 For wherever the fallen body may be, that’s where the eagles will be gathered.
29 “Then immediately after the trouble of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her brightness, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be rocked. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will be displayed in heaven. And then all the people groups on the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and abundant glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast and they will gather his elect from the four winds – from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 So learn this parable of the fig tree: At whatever time her branch may become tender and the leaves sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 Likewise you, whenever you notice all these things, know that he is near – at the doors! 34 I tell to you truly that this generation will definitely not pass away until all these things take place. 35 The heaven and the earth will pass away, but my words will definitely not pass away.
36 Now as for that day and hour no one knows – not the angels of the heavens – except my Father alone, 37 but just as the days of Noah were, that’s also how it will be at the appearance of the Son of Man. 38 For as they were in those days before the Flood – eating up and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until that day Noah entered into the ark 39 and they didn’t know until the Flood came and swept every single one of them away – that’s also how it will be at the appearance of the Son of Man. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field – one is taken and one is left; 41 two women are grinding in the mill – one is taken and one is left. 42 So keep watching because you don’t know on which day your Lord is coming! 43 Yet you do know this: if the house owner knows which time of night the thief is coming, he keeps watch and never allows his house to be burgled. 44 Therefore you all need to be prepared as well, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don’t expect. 45 Who, then, is the faithful and astute slave whom the Lord has set over his household, to give them their food at the set time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find doing this. 47 I’m telling you all surely that he will put him in charge of everything that he owns. 48 But if that slave is evil and says in his heart, “My master is taking a long time,” 49 and begins to hit his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with alcoholics, 50 then that slave’s master will arrive on a day he is not expecting him and at an hour that he doesn’t realize 51 and he will cut him into two parts, and appoint his part with the hypocrites. In that place there will be wailing and clenching of teeth.
3 Then as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him on their own, saying, “Will you tell us when these things will happen and about the sign of your coming and the conclusion of the age?” 4 So, answering them, Jesus said,
“Watch carefully, so that no one deceives you, 5 because many will come in my name saying, “I am the Christ!” and they will lead lots of people astray. 6 Yet soon you will also hear conflicts and news of conflicts. Make sure that you’re not shocked because it all needs to be happening, but not yet is that the end. 7 For nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and plagues and seismic events in various places, 8 but all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 Then they will hand you over into oppression, and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 And then many will be tripped up and they will hand each other over and they will hate each other. 11 Also, numerous false prophets will be raised up and will lead many astray, 12 and because of the escalation of lawlessness the love of many will be cooled down, 13 but the one enduring into the end, he will be rescued. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15 “Therefore, as soon as you see the Abomination of Desolation, the one described by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (note this, reader!), 16 then those in Judea must flee into the mountains! 17 The one on the housetop mustn’t go down to take things from his house, 18 and the one in the field mustn’t turn behind to pick up his clothes! 19 Oh, woe to those who are pregnant and those breastfeeding in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath, 21 because at that time there will be terrible suffering, the likes of which has not happened from the beginning of the world until now, nor may ever happen again. 22 And if those days weren’t cut short nothing living would survive – yet for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 At that time if someone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “Over here!” don’t you believe him! 24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise up, and they will perform great signs and spectacular works in order to lead even the elect astray, if possible. 25 Take note! I have warned you ahead of time. 26 So if they say to you, “Look, he is in the desert!” don’t go out there, or, “Look – in the inner rooms!” don’t you believe him, 27 because just as the lightning goes out from the eastern regions and flashes as far as the western regions, that’s how the coming of the Son of Man will be. 28 For wherever the fallen body may be, that’s where the eagles will be gathered.
29 “Then immediately after the trouble of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her brightness, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be rocked. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will be displayed in heaven. And then all the people groups on the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and abundant glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast and they will gather his elect from the four winds – from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 So learn this parable of the fig tree: At whatever time her branch may become tender and the leaves sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 Likewise you, whenever you notice all these things, know that he is near – at the doors! 34 I tell to you truly that this generation will definitely not pass away until all these things take place. 35 The heaven and the earth will pass away, but my words will definitely not pass away.
36 Now as for that day and hour no one knows – not the angels of the heavens – except my Father alone, 37 but just as the days of Noah were, that’s also how it will be at the appearance of the Son of Man. 38 For as they were in those days before the Flood – eating up and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until that day Noah entered into the ark 39 and they didn’t know until the Flood came and swept every single one of them away – that’s also how it will be at the appearance of the Son of Man. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field – one is taken and one is left; 41 two women are grinding in the mill – one is taken and one is left. 42 So keep watching because you don’t know on which day your Lord is coming! 43 Yet you do know this: if the house owner knows which time of night the thief is coming, he keeps watch and never allows his house to be burgled. 44 Therefore you all need to be prepared as well, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don’t expect. 45 Who, then, is the faithful and astute slave whom the Lord has set over his household, to give them their food at the set time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find doing this. 47 I’m telling you all surely that he will put him in charge of everything that he owns. 48 But if that slave is evil and says in his heart, “My master is taking a long time,” 49 and begins to hit his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with alcoholics, 50 then that slave’s master will arrive on a day he is not expecting him and at an hour that he doesn’t realize 51 and he will cut him into two parts, and appoint his part with the hypocrites. In that place there will be wailing and clenching of teeth.
V1-51) The first part of what is called 'The Olivet Discourse', because in v3 we see he delivers it on the Mount of Olives (it continues through chapter 25). It is Jesus' great statement on the end times (at least, the end of this present age). It can only be properly understood when read in parallel with the other synoptic gospels - Mark's account (Mark 13) is much the same, but as you can see below Luke's account (Luke 21) appears to be a different message at a slightly different time. This should not be surprising because many speakers today deliver a message that's very similar multiple times, but they adjust it each time according to the audience. This is what I believe the comparision of this account with especially Luke's account reveals. As such I would not call the Lukan account parallel, and it is not delivered on the Mount of Olives (but at the temple). Understanding these differences are very instructive in figuring out what Jesus is saying.
There may well be nothing about the Rapture in this chapter of Matthew (that is most obviously in 1 Thess 4:13-18). The last paragraph may refer to it, but verse 40 could also apply to one of the gatherings at the end of the Tribulation (the Tribulation saints for good reasons or the unfaithful for judgement). I'm still researching that one so I'll not commit yet.
I've put a diagram in the Supplement section (here) that summarizes the comparison between the Matt, Mark and Luke accounts. Not everything mentioned is included due to space constraints!
v6) conflicts and news of conflicts. Usually translated 'wars and rumours of wars'. I went with 'conflicts' because that term is a little bit broader in scope (it includes more small-scale conflicts as well) and is probably closer to what Matthew really means. I went with 'news' not rumours although I really like the translation 'threats of wars', but I can't translate according to just what I like now, can I? Basically the Greek word means 'hearings', which is clsest to 'news'.
v10) tripped up. Or 'trapped' or 'snared' - the Greek word is skandalizo and refers to something that is a stumbling block or an offence.
v14) this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. As this is in the context of Jesus' Second coming (as opposed to the rapture), this would possibly indicate that the preaching to whole world need only occur before the end of the Tribulation, not necessarily before the rapture. That does depend on exactly what 'the end' is that Jesus is referring to here (the start or the beginning...?)
v15) Abomination of Desolation. See Dan 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11. Note that Jesus points to this first because it's really the link that brings together so much of Bible prophecy.
(note this, reader!) I love how even in the middle of this speech of Jesus, Matthew inserts this little comment - like a little highlight pen!
v28) eagles. Or 'vultures', but hard to get to the bottom of this one just yet. I'm still trying.
v31) his elect. These include Tribulation saints but not 'the Church', which would have already been raptured about 7 years earlier.
There may well be nothing about the Rapture in this chapter of Matthew (that is most obviously in 1 Thess 4:13-18). The last paragraph may refer to it, but verse 40 could also apply to one of the gatherings at the end of the Tribulation (the Tribulation saints for good reasons or the unfaithful for judgement). I'm still researching that one so I'll not commit yet.
I've put a diagram in the Supplement section (here) that summarizes the comparison between the Matt, Mark and Luke accounts. Not everything mentioned is included due to space constraints!
v6) conflicts and news of conflicts. Usually translated 'wars and rumours of wars'. I went with 'conflicts' because that term is a little bit broader in scope (it includes more small-scale conflicts as well) and is probably closer to what Matthew really means. I went with 'news' not rumours although I really like the translation 'threats of wars', but I can't translate according to just what I like now, can I? Basically the Greek word means 'hearings', which is clsest to 'news'.
v10) tripped up. Or 'trapped' or 'snared' - the Greek word is skandalizo and refers to something that is a stumbling block or an offence.
v14) this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. As this is in the context of Jesus' Second coming (as opposed to the rapture), this would possibly indicate that the preaching to whole world need only occur before the end of the Tribulation, not necessarily before the rapture. That does depend on exactly what 'the end' is that Jesus is referring to here (the start or the beginning...?)
v15) Abomination of Desolation. See Dan 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11. Note that Jesus points to this first because it's really the link that brings together so much of Bible prophecy.
(note this, reader!) I love how even in the middle of this speech of Jesus, Matthew inserts this little comment - like a little highlight pen!
v28) eagles. Or 'vultures', but hard to get to the bottom of this one just yet. I'm still trying.
v31) his elect. These include Tribulation saints but not 'the Church', which would have already been raptured about 7 years earlier.