Knowing The Word in Matthew 24:3-14

Signs of the End of the Age

[Note that Jesus leaves the temple for the Mount of Olives. In Ezekiel 11:23 the glory of the Lord leaves the temple and pauses at the mountain that is to the east of the city, which is the Mount of Olives.]

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” [Jesus’ coming and the close of the age are the same event. That the disciples combined the destruction of the temple with the end of the age, most likely shows that for them the temple’s destruction is so momentous that is must be the beginning of the end. As Jesus continues he will separate these two events, using the rest of this chapter to speak about the temple, helping the disciples to understand that a continuation of the age without the temple is possible.] 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. [This is the main problem facing the disciples.] 5 For many will come in my name [meaning to try and usurp Jesus’ place], saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. [In the ancient world natural disasters and wars were thought to be signs of the end of the age, but they are actually part of every age. They are part of life. They all lead to the end but the events are not signs of the end.]

9 “Then they will deliver you [my disciples] up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another [within the discipleship group]. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [This pictures a decline in the church as the disciples’ love of God and neighbor cools off.] 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [Picture the Parable of the Sower.] 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed [preached] throughout the whole world [Jesus is pointing to the Gentile mission after Israel rejects her Messiah] as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [The end cannot come until the gospel is preached far outside the Jewish world, but that does not give us warrant for deciding when the end must come.]