Matthew 24 - The Signs
The Mess We Find Ourselves In
Matthew 24:1-2 (ESV) – Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple
“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’”
Matthew 24:1-2 records Jesus predicting the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when the Romans, led by General Titus, besieged and destroyed the city (Hunt, 1998). This event was part of the Jewish-Roman War, a brutal conflict that resulted in the devastation of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jewish people.
The destruction of the Temple was a turning point in Jewish history. It marked the end of the sacrificial system and led to significant changes in Jewish religious practices. Without the Temple, the Jewish people could no longer offer sacrifices, which had been central to their means of atonement and reconciliation with God. This left them searching for new ways to express their faith and maintain their covenant relationship. Many early Christians saw this event as a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy, reinforcing their belief in His teachings (Rufus, 2017).
The period leading up to 70 A.D. was filled with turmoil—false messiahs, political instability, and revolts against Roman rule. The Jewish historian Josephus documented the horrors of the siege, describing famine, internal strife, and the eventual burning of the Temple by Roman forces (Hunt, 1998).
This prophecy is often discussed in relation to eschatology (The study of end times), with some believing it refers solely to the destruction of Jerusalem, while others see it as a dual prophecy pointing to future events (Rufus, 2017).
Matthew 24:3-14 (ESV) - Signs of the End of the Age
“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?’”
Recognizing the significance of the moment, the disciples approached Jesus privately, away from the crowds and distractions. They asked about the timing of the Temple’s destruction and the signs of His coming, reflecting both their immediate concerns—Jerusalem’s fate—and their eschatological curiosity about the end of the age. From verses 1-2, we understand that the sacrificial system would come to an end, leaving no means of redemption under the old laws. At this point, the disciples did not yet fully grasp that Jesus Himself would be the ultimate, sinless Sacrificial Lamb, fulfilling what the Law had foreshadowed.
“And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.’”
Jesus warns against deception, false messiahs, wars, and natural disasters. In this warning we learn much. Attempts will be made to mislead the “Church,” and these attempts will come from within the church itself. There are no works we can do to earn salvation; it is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is one thing we can do to lose salvation, and that is to reject Jesus from our own free will. This is what the false teachers will do by teaching a gospel that sounds great but is riddled with levin. Many will become dissatisfied with the true gospel and follow these false teachers over the cliff.
“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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
These events, though alarming, are not the end but rather the beginning of birth pains, marking the gradual unfolding of prophetic events. For two thousand years, wars and rumors of wars have echoed through history, yet their intensity and frequency are undeniably escalating. As nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom, one prospers while another falls. If you do not recognize the warning signs unfolding before us—particularly in America—I urge you to reconsider all that is happening. No one deliberately turns friends into enemies and expects to be better off for it.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”
Persecution—such as the tragic beheading of 70 Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (King, 2020)—betrayal, and the rise of false prophets will continue to increase. Deception is rampant, with countless voices misleading people, whether through social media or other platforms. Lawlessness, seen in movements that weaken societal order (Defund the police?), will cause many to fall away from faith, and love will grow cold. This decline is evident in the decreasing number of people who identify as Christian, reflecting a broader spiritual and moral decay that precedes the end.
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Hope! Verse 13 is a reminder of what every Christian must stay focused on; endurance. Just as Peter instructs believers to add perseverance to their faith (2 Peter 1:5-6), Jesus affirms that perseverance leads to the ultimate reward. Despite hardships, those who endure will be saved. The gospel will be preached to all nations, marking a significant milestone before the final culmination. In Jesus’ time, reaching the whole world with the gospel seemed impossible; but today, with the press of a button, the message of salvation can be shared across the globe in an instant.
References
Brown, C. (2024, February 4). The fulfillment of Matthew 24 in the Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. Inductive Bible. https://inductivebible.org/the-fulfillment-of-matthew-24.../
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway.
Hunt, M. (1998). THE HISTORICAL FULFILLMENT OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 24. The historical fulfillment of Matthew Chapter 24. https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/.../Matthew 24...
King, J. (2025, February 20). 70 Christians beheaded in church: What we know. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/christians-beheaded-congo-drc...
Rufus, R. (2017, August 18). 10 reasons why Matthew 24 describes both 70 AD and the end of the age. Ryan Rufus. https://www.newnatureministries.org/.../10-reasons-why.../
Matthew 24:1-2 (ESV) – Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple
“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’”
Matthew 24:1-2 records Jesus predicting the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when the Romans, led by General Titus, besieged and destroyed the city (Hunt, 1998). This event was part of the Jewish-Roman War, a brutal conflict that resulted in the devastation of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jewish people.
The destruction of the Temple was a turning point in Jewish history. It marked the end of the sacrificial system and led to significant changes in Jewish religious practices. Without the Temple, the Jewish people could no longer offer sacrifices, which had been central to their means of atonement and reconciliation with God. This left them searching for new ways to express their faith and maintain their covenant relationship. Many early Christians saw this event as a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy, reinforcing their belief in His teachings (Rufus, 2017).
The period leading up to 70 A.D. was filled with turmoil—false messiahs, political instability, and revolts against Roman rule. The Jewish historian Josephus documented the horrors of the siege, describing famine, internal strife, and the eventual burning of the Temple by Roman forces (Hunt, 1998).
This prophecy is often discussed in relation to eschatology (The study of end times), with some believing it refers solely to the destruction of Jerusalem, while others see it as a dual prophecy pointing to future events (Rufus, 2017).
Matthew 24:3-14 (ESV) - Signs of the End of the Age
“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?’”
Recognizing the significance of the moment, the disciples approached Jesus privately, away from the crowds and distractions. They asked about the timing of the Temple’s destruction and the signs of His coming, reflecting both their immediate concerns—Jerusalem’s fate—and their eschatological curiosity about the end of the age. From verses 1-2, we understand that the sacrificial system would come to an end, leaving no means of redemption under the old laws. At this point, the disciples did not yet fully grasp that Jesus Himself would be the ultimate, sinless Sacrificial Lamb, fulfilling what the Law had foreshadowed.
“And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.’”
Jesus warns against deception, false messiahs, wars, and natural disasters. In this warning we learn much. Attempts will be made to mislead the “Church,” and these attempts will come from within the church itself. There are no works we can do to earn salvation; it is a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is one thing we can do to lose salvation, and that is to reject Jesus from our own free will. This is what the false teachers will do by teaching a gospel that sounds great but is riddled with levin. Many will become dissatisfied with the true gospel and follow these false teachers over the cliff.
“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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
These events, though alarming, are not the end but rather the beginning of birth pains, marking the gradual unfolding of prophetic events. For two thousand years, wars and rumors of wars have echoed through history, yet their intensity and frequency are undeniably escalating. As nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom, one prospers while another falls. If you do not recognize the warning signs unfolding before us—particularly in America—I urge you to reconsider all that is happening. No one deliberately turns friends into enemies and expects to be better off for it.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”
Persecution—such as the tragic beheading of 70 Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (King, 2020)—betrayal, and the rise of false prophets will continue to increase. Deception is rampant, with countless voices misleading people, whether through social media or other platforms. Lawlessness, seen in movements that weaken societal order (Defund the police?), will cause many to fall away from faith, and love will grow cold. This decline is evident in the decreasing number of people who identify as Christian, reflecting a broader spiritual and moral decay that precedes the end.
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Hope! Verse 13 is a reminder of what every Christian must stay focused on; endurance. Just as Peter instructs believers to add perseverance to their faith (2 Peter 1:5-6), Jesus affirms that perseverance leads to the ultimate reward. Despite hardships, those who endure will be saved. The gospel will be preached to all nations, marking a significant milestone before the final culmination. In Jesus’ time, reaching the whole world with the gospel seemed impossible; but today, with the press of a button, the message of salvation can be shared across the globe in an instant.
References
Brown, C. (2024, February 4). The fulfillment of Matthew 24 in the Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. Inductive Bible. https://inductivebible.org/the-fulfillment-of-matthew-24.../
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway.
Hunt, M. (1998). THE HISTORICAL FULFILLMENT OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 24. The historical fulfillment of Matthew Chapter 24. https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/.../Matthew 24...
King, J. (2025, February 20). 70 Christians beheaded in church: What we know. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/christians-beheaded-congo-drc...
Rufus, R. (2017, August 18). 10 reasons why Matthew 24 describes both 70 AD and the end of the age. Ryan Rufus. https://www.newnatureministries.org/.../10-reasons-why.../
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