Matthew 24 – Signs of the End and Christ’s Return
Matthew 24 is Jesus’ most detailed prophecy about the end times. He warns of wars, false prophets, tribulation, and His second coming. This chapter provides both near-term and long-term prophecies, preparing believers to remain faithful until His return.
Jesus’ Prophecy of the End Times
Matthew 24 is known as the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus answers His disciples’ questions about the destruction of the temple, the signs of His return, and the end of the age.
✔ Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem and future tribulation.
✔ He warns against deception and false messiahs.
✔ The Gospel must be preached to all nations before the end.
✔ His second coming will be unmistakable.
✔ Believers must remain watchful and prepared.
📖 Key Verse: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” – Matthew 24:42
🔎 Jesus calls His followers to discern the signs and live in readiness.
Matthew Chapter 24 - Overview
Matthew 24:1-14 – The Beginning of Sorrows
📖 Matthew 24:2 – “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
🔎 Jesus prophesies the destruction of the temple, which was fulfilled in 70 A.D. by the Roman army under Titus. The temple’s fall marked the end of the old covenant system, but also foreshadowed future tribulation.
📖 Matthew 24:4-5 – “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
🔎 Spiritual deception will increase, with false messiahs and distorted doctrines leading many astray. Paul later warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 about a coming great deception.
📖 Matthew 24:6-7 – “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars… Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
🔎 These events have occurred throughout history but will intensify leading up to Christ’s return. The phrase “nation against nation” (ethnos vs. ethnos) also suggests ethnic conflicts increasing globally.
📖 Matthew 24:8 – “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
🔎 The term ‘sorrows’ (Greek: ὠδίνων, ‘birth pains’) implies that these signs will grow more frequent and intense, just as labor contractions do before birth.
📖 Matthew 24:9 – “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.”
🔎 Persecution against true believers will rise worldwide. This was partially fulfilled in the early church but continues to escalate today.
📖 Matthew 24:10 – “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”
🔎 A time of great division among those who claim faith. Many will fall away from the truth (apostasy) and betray faithful believers.
📖 Matthew 24:11 – “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
🔎 False teachers will promote deceptive doctrines, leading people away from the gospel. Paul describes this as people “having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
📖 Matthew 24:12 – “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
🔎 Lawlessness will increase, leading to widespread moral decay. Sin will become normalized, and genuine love will diminish in society.
📖 Matthew 24:13 – “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
🔎 True faith is proven by perseverance. This does not mean salvation by works, but that genuine believers will remain faithful despite trials.
📖 Matthew 24:14 – “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.”
🔎 Before the final end, the Gospel will reach the entire world. This could be fulfilled through missions, digital evangelism, or supernatural intervention (Revelation 14:6-7).
Matthew 24:15-28 – The Great Tribulation
📖 Matthew 24:15 – “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation…”
🔎 This refers to Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11), where an abomination would defile the temple. The first fulfillment came in 167 B.C. with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, but Jesus points to a future fulfillment, possibly linked to the Antichrist.
📖 Matthew 24:16-18 – “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.”
🔎 Urgency in fleeing suggests a sudden, catastrophic event. This was partially fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Christians fled Jerusalem before its destruction.
📖 Matthew 24:21 – “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world.”
🔎 This points to a future period of unprecedented suffering, often linked to Revelation’s judgments.
📖 Matthew 24:22 – “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.”
🔎 God’s intervention will prevent total destruction.
📖 Matthew 24:24 – “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets… insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
🔎 Deception will be so strong that even true believers must remain vigilant.
📖 Matthew 24:27 – “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.”
🔎 Jesus’ return will be visible and unmistakable, countering claims of a secret coming.
📖 Matthew 24:28 – “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”
🔎 This may symbolize judgment—just as vultures gather around dead bodies, destruction follows spiritual decay.
🚀 The Great Tribulation is a warning and a call to endurance—are we prepared?
Matthew 24:29-35 – The Coming of the Son of Man
📖 Matthew 24:29 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.”
🔎 Cosmic signs will precede Christ’s return.
📖 Matthew 24:30 – “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven.”
🔎 Jesus’ second coming will be visible to all, bringing judgment and deliverance.
📖 Matthew 24:31 – “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds.”
🔎 Believers will be gathered at His return, fulfilling prophetic promises.
📖 Matthew 24:34 – “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
🔎 Some interpret ‘generation’ as those alive in Jesus’ time, others as the generation that sees these signs.
Matthew 24:36-51 – Watchfulness and Readiness
📖 Matthew 24:36 – “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
🔎 The exact timing of Christ’s return is unknown—believers must always be prepared.
📖 Matthew 24:42 – “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
🔎 Spiritual alertness is required—Christians must not become complacent.
📖 Matthew 24:44 – “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
🔎 Jesus will return unexpectedly—only those who are faithful will be prepared.
Matthew Chapter 24 - Deeper Study
Overview: The End Times and Christ’s Return
🔹 Timeframe: Jesus’ final teachings before His crucifixion.
🔹 Setting: The Mount of Olives, addressing His disciples.
🔹 Theme: Signs of the end, tribulation, and the necessity of being prepared.
Key Takeaways
🔑 The world will experience increasing turmoil before Christ’s return.
🔑 Deception will be widespread, even among believers.
🔑 Jesus’ second coming will be unmistakable and glorious.
🔑 Only those who remain watchful and faithful will be ready.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 The Temple’s Destruction in 70 A.D. – Fulfilled part of Jesus’ prophecy but foreshadows future events.
🔮 The Great Tribulation – A near/far prophecy, applying to both the first-century church and future end times.
🔮 The Suddenness of Judgment – Mirrors the days of Noah, when many were unprepared (Matthew 24:37-39).
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Jewish Apocalyptic Expectations – Many Jews expected a political Messiah to overthrow Rome, misunderstanding Jesus’ true mission.
📜 Roman-Jewish Conflicts – The destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. was a major fulfillment of Jesus’ words.
📜 First-Century False Messiahs – Many claimed to be the Christ, deceiving people in Jesus’ day and beyond.
💡 Final Reflection: Are We Living Ready?
Matthew 24 calls us to be spiritually prepared. The signs are evident, but are we watchful and faithful?
📌 Are we discerning truth from deception?
📌 Do we live with urgency, knowing Christ’s return is near?
📌 Will we be found faithful when the Son of Man comes?
🚀 Watch and be ready—Jesus is coming!
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 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.
Signs of the End of the Age
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 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.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 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.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 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.
The Abomination of Desolation
Mat 24:15 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:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 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.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 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.
Mat 24:27 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.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
Mat 24:29 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:
Mat 24:30 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.
Mat 24:31 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.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
No One Knows That Day and Hour
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 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,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 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.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Date Written
Approximately 50-60 AD
Written By
The Apostle Matthew (Levi)
Language
Originally written in Greek (with strong Hebraic influence)
Verses
51