Historical Background for Signs of the End of the World

Jerusalem’s House Desolate Jesus had just pronounced Jerusalem’s house left to them desolate (Matthew 23:37-39). As they went to the Mount of Olives, the temple would have appeared massive with the shadows caused by the setting sun. So, the disciples called Jesus’ attention to the buildings of the temple (Matthew 24:1).

Jesus’ Prophecy Jesus said not one stone would be left on top of another (Matthew 24:2-3). Its massive size must have made them marvel.

The Temple “For it was covered all over with plates of gold, of great weight: and at the first rising of the sun reflected back a very fiery splendour….” The white stones appeared to strangers coming from a distance “like a mountain covered with snow.” “Of its stones some of them were forty- five cubits in length, five in height, and six in breadth…. (Josephus, Wars of the Jews V, 5).

The Disciples’ Questions Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? Likely, they viewed this as three parts of one question. Jesus answered as if they had asked two questions with two parts.

Deceptive Signs Matthew 24:4 “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.’” Matthew 24:5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” –The Jews looked for a Messiah to lead them in conquest of Rome, which caused them to reject Christ and accept false Christs. –Acts 5:36 Theudas –Acts 21:38 An Egyptian

False Teachers “Now it came to pass, while Fadus was procurator of Judea, that a certain magician, whose name was Theudas, persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the river Jordan” (44-45 A.D., Josephus Antiquities XX, V).

False Teachers “There also came out of Egypt, about this time to Jerusalem, one that said he was a prophet; and advised the multitude to go along with him to the Mount of Olives, which lay over against the city, at the distance of five furlongs. He said further, that he would shew them from hence how, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down: and he promised that he would procure them an entrance into the city through those walls, when they were fallen down” (c , Antiquities XX, VIII).

Deceptive Signs: Wars and Rumors of Wars Matthew 24:6-7a “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” –The world was basically at peace when Jesus spoke. Notice he said “the end is not yet.” McGarvey says Alford mentions three separate threats by emperors and three uprisings of Gentiles against the Jews.

Deceptive Signs: Natural Disasters Matthew 24:7b-8 “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” –Agabus prophesied a worldwide famine (Acts 11:28; Antiquities III, XV). –According to McGarvey, at least one Roman writer refers to a pestilence which killed some 30,000 in Rome alone. There were earthquakes in Laodicea in A.D. 61 and at Pompeii in A. D. 62.

Tribulation Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” –Acts 4:1-22 Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. –Acts 5:17-41 The high priest arrested the apostles. They were beaten and told not to speak the name of Jesus. Acts 12:1-3 James was killed by Herod and Peter was arrested.

Trouble in the Church Matthew 24:10 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” –2 Corinthians 11:26b “…in perils among false brethren.” –Galatians 4:16 “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”

False Prophets and Lawlessness Matthew 24:11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” –Paul encountered false prophets and warned of their coming (Galatians 1:6-9; 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Titus 1:10-11). –Peter and Jude also encountered and warned of the same (2 Peter 2:10-22; Jude 4). Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Reward for Endurance Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” –Jesus paused to note that those who remain faithful to the end of their lives will be saved. –Revelation 2:10

The Gospel Preached in the Whole World Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” –As Jesus’ instructed (Matthew 28:18-20). –In Herod’s speech before the rebuilding of the temple, he described the Romans as “rulers of the world” (Antiquities XV, XI). In about A. D. 62, Paul told the Colossian brethren this had taken place (Colossians 1:23).

The Signal to Flee: The Abomination of Desolation Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).” –Daniel 9:26-27; 11:31)

The Signal to Flee: The Abomination of Desolation Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” Matthew 24:16 “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Why would Jesus warn Christians to do this if he was speaking of the end of the world? (2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Thes. 4:13-18)

The Need for Haste Matthew 24:17 “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.” Matthew 24:18 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” Matthew 24:19 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” Matthew 24:20a “And pray that your flight may not be in winter…” (During winter, the rains would slow them down). Matthew 24:20b “…or on the Sabbath.” (The length of a Sabbath day’s journey would not have allowed them to get far enough away. Though Christians did not keep that day holy, it might have enraged the Jews against them).

The Time Shortened Matthew 24:21-22 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Josephus claims 1.1 million people were killed (Wars of the Jews The siege lasted from April to September

Beware of False Prophets Matthew 24:23-24 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:25-27 “See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:28 “For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (Vultures, or false prophets, naturally flock to dead bodies, or Israel).

A Coming in Judgment Matthew 24:29-31 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” –This destruction was a coming of the Lord in judgment described in a fashion similar to the Old Testament prophets. –Deaver sites similar references to Idumea (Isaiah 13; 34:4-5) and Egypt (Ezekiel 32:7-8; Isaiah 19:11).

Sure Signs Matthew 24:32-33 Like one can know summer is just around the corner because the fig tree puts forth its leaves, the signs previously mentioned foretell the speedy destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 24:34 In that generation. Matthew 24:35 Jesus’ words are sure (1 Peter 1:24-25).

Signs of Christ’s Coming at the End of the World Matthew 24:36 Only the Father knows. Everything will be going on like normal before the Lord’s second coming (Matthew 24:37-41). Matthew 24:42 Because it is unexpected, the Lord urges watchfulness. Matthew 24:43-44 Like a thief comes unannounced. Matthew 24:45-51 Illustration of the householder and servants’ readiness for his return.

“Those Days” and “That Day” “Those days” –Matthew 24:19 –Matthew 24:22 –Matthew 24:29 “That day” – Matthew 24:36 Matthew 24:50 “a day” Matthew 25:13 “the day”