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Signs of Christ's Return

The Signs of Christ's Coming--Part 1
by

John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved A co!y of this message on cassette ta!e may be obtained by calling 1-"##-$$-%RAC&'

Matthe( )*+1-, .ntroduction

Ta!e %C ),--

In Matthew 24--25 appears a sermon given by our Lord to the disciples on the Mount of Olives. ppropriately! that sermon is "nown as the Olivet #iscourse. It$s theme is the %econd &oming of &hrist. Our Lord tal"s about 'is return! the end of the present age! and the establishment of 'is (ingdom. )he sermon in this portion of %cripture was given in response to a *uestion from the disciples. )he answer given by +esus is the longest answer to any *uestion recorded in the ,ew )estament. )he insights given in the answer are essential for any understanding of the future. . )he -ible$s &omments on the .uture )he -ible says much about the future. )he Old )estament boo"s of Isaiah! /0e"iel! #aniel! and 1echariah and the ,ew )estament boo" of 2evelation all comment e3tensively on that sub4ect. In fact! people who want to learn more about the coming of our Lord and the end times sometimes overloo" Matthew 24--25 in their pursuit to study the other boo"s. 5et Matthew 24--25 presents &hrist$s own words regarding the end times6 therefore it is worthy of our attention. 7nfortunately! Matthew 24--25 is a much-misunderstood portion of %cripture. )here are many different viewpoints and interpretations of what +esus was saying6 you$ll learn them as we go through our study. Li"e many other passages in %cripture! Matthew 24-25 is not as complicated as many people ma"e it out to be. +esus$ teaching is straightforward. It helps to imagine that you "new as much as the disciples did when they were listening to &hrist. Matthew 24--25 can be understood! and it can have a farreaching impact on our lives. The Current .nterest in /uture &vents /veryone is curious about the future--we all want to "now what will happen in our lives. %ome people want to "now what will happen to the economy so they can ma"e the right investments. )here are many reasons for wanting to understanding the future! and man has always sought to "now the un"nown. )he preoccupation with future events is not limited to those who study the -ible. )hroughout human history! there have been seers! prophets! prognosticators! witch doctors! fortune tellers! and religious leaders who try to ta"e a leap into the future and report bac" to those in the present so people might have a better understanding of how they should live.

-efore we begin studying Matthew 24--25! it$s necessary for us to understand the setting of the sermon. -. )he +ews$ &uriosity bout the .uture )he +ewish people of +esus$ day wanted to "now what the future held. )hey were a noble people capable of ruling themselves and forming a meaningful society. 'owever! the Israelites had "nown oppression for most of their history! and by the time of +esus! they were an3ious for it to cease. )he +ewish people longed for the Messiah to come. )hey "new that when 'e came! 'e would ma"e things right and overthrow their oppressors--that 'e would establish again the "ingdom in Israel and fulfill 9od$s promises of peace. ,ow we can understand why the +ews were very interested in eschatology. )he /nglish word eschatological is translated from the 9ree" word eschatos! which means :the last thing.: /schatology is the study of the last days or the end times. 8. )he oppression Let$s consider the oppression the +ewish people e3perienced from the time Israel split into two separate "ingdoms up to the time of &hrist. .irst the ssyrians too" the northern ten tribes into captivity. )hen the remaining southern tribes were ta"en into captivity by -abylon. )hen they were successively ruled by the Medes and the ;ersians! the 9ree"s! and finally in &hrist$s time! the 2omans. In +ohn <=>> the +ewish leaders told +esus that in spirit! they were never in bondage to any man. )hey were loo"ing forward to the day when they would be ruled by a righteous "ing and "now the blessedness promised to them in the Old )estament. 2. )he optimism )he +ewish people "new that the Old )estament tal"ed of a bright and hopeful future. )hey "new they could anticipate a Messiah who would come and reestablish the reign of #avid on the earth. )hey longed for the time when +erusalem would dwell in prosperity and safety forever. %o! the +ewish people were filled with hope for the future. ,o doubt they relished 9od$s prophetic promises in the Old )estament. I$m sure they loo"ed forward to the fulfillment of Isaiah ?=@-A! which says! :7nto us a child is born! unto us a son is given! and the government shall be upon his shoulder6 and his name shall be called Bonderful! &ounselor! )he Mighty 9od! )he /verlasting .ather! )he ;rince of ;eace. Of the increase of his government there shall be no end! upon the throne of #avid! and upon his "ingdom! to order it! and to establish it with 4ustice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever.: nother prophetic statement the +ewish people e3ulted in appears in Isaiah 88=8-2= :)here shall come forth a rod out of the stem of +esse! and a -ranch shall grow out of his roots6 and the %pirit of the Lord shall rest upon him! the spirit of wisdom and understanding! the spirit of counsel and might! the spirit of "nowledge and of the fear of the Lord.: +eremiah 2>=5 spea"s of a future time when the Lord will :raise unto #avid a righteous -ranch! and a (ing shall reign and prosper! and shall e3ecute 4ustice and righteousness in the earth.: +eremiah >C=? reiterates that promise. %omeday! Israel will become as a flower in full bloom under the blessing of 9od. -oth 1echariah and #aniel spo"e of Israel$s future. #aniel said there would be a great holocaust someday D#an.

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82=8E! but that in the end! a great stone D&hristE will smash the "ingdoms of the earth to ma"e way for 9od$s eternal "ingdom D#an. 2=44-45E. %o by the time +esus came to earth! the +ewish people were loo"ing forward to the eschatological events the prophets spo"e of. )hey had derived their information from #aniel! 1echariah! Isaiah! +eremiah! and /0e"iel. Much e3trabiblical literature written around the time of &hrist shows us what the +ewish people believed about the future. %ome e3amples are the /thiopic -oo" of /noch! the ;salms of %olomon! the ssumption of Moses! the -oo" of +ubilees! the scension of Isaiah! > and 4 /sdras! the pocalypse of -aruch! the %ecrets of /noch! and the %ibylline Oracles. >. )he outline In /mil %churer$s 'istory of the +ewish ;eople in the )ime of +esus &hrist are e3cerpts from some of the e3trabiblical +ewish literature on eschatology DF/dinburgh= ) G ) &lar"! 8<?>H! pp. 854-<AE. )he following outline is borrowed from it. aE )he e3pectation of tribulation )he +ewish people believed that before the Messiah came would be a time of terrible tribulation. +ust as a woman e3periences much pain immediately before she gives birth to a child! so would the nation of Israel suffer before the coming of the "ingdom of the Messiah. )hat viewpoint is biblically supported by 1echariah 84. It is also mentioned in the following passages of e3trabiblical literature= D8E 2 -aruch 2A nd honor shall be turned into shame! nd strength humiliated into contempt! nd probity destroyed! nd beauty shall become ugliness ... nd envy shall rise in those who had not thought aught of themselves! nd passion shall sei0e him that is peaceful! nd many shall be stirred up in anger to in4ure many! nd they shall rouse up armies in order to shed blood! nd in the end they shall perish together with them. )he +ewish people anticipated a time of moral decay! hatred and war in the world prior to the coming of the Messiah. D2E 4 /sdras ?=> 'ere we read that there will be *ua"ings of places! tumult of peoples! scheming of nations! confusion of leaders! dis*uietude of princes. D>E %ibylline Oracles

.rom heaven shall fall fiery swords down to the earth. Lights shall come! bright and great! flashing into the midst of men6 and earth! the universal mother! shall sha"e in these days at the hand of the /ternal. nd the fishes of the sea and the beasts of the earth and the countless tribes of flying things and all the souls of men and every sea shall shudder at the presence of the /ternal and there shall be panic. nd the towering mountain pea"s and the hills of the giants he shall rend! and the mur"y abyss shall be visible to all nd the high ravines in the lofty mountains shall be full of dead bodies and roc"s shall flow with blood and each torrent shall flood the plain.... nd 9od shall 4udge all with war and sword! and there shall be brimstone from heaven! yea stones and rain and hell incessant and grievous. nd death shall be upon the four-footed beasts.... 5ea the land itself shall drin" of the blood of the perishing and beasts shall eat their fill of flesh D>=>@>ffE. D4E )he Mishna rrogance increases! ambition shoots up! that the vine yields fruit yet wine is dear FscarceH. )he government turns to heresy. )here is no instruction. )he synagogue is devoted to lewdness. 9alilee is destroyed! 9ablan laid waste. )he inhabitants of a district go from city to city without finding compassion. )he wisdom of the learned is hated! the godly despised! truth is absent. -oys insult old men! old men stand in the presence of children. )he son depreciates the father! the daughter rebels against the mother! the daughter-in-law against the mother- in-law. man$s enemies are his housefellows D%ota i3.85E. )he +ews didn$t "now it! but their theology was premillennial. )hey anticipated a time of turmoil around the world prior to the coming of Messiah. bE )he announcer li"e /li4ah )he +ewish people believed that during the tribulation a herald would come announcing the immediate arrival of the Messiah. )hat herald would be li"e /li4ah. +ust as the Messiah is not #avid! but li"e #avid so the herald would be li"e /li4ah. Interestingly! the +ews were drawn toward +ohn the -aptist when he began his ministry because he was much li"e /li4ah. +ohn the -aptist would have been the forerunner to the tribulation if the +ews had received &hrist and 'is "ingdom. -ut because they re4ected 'im! the "ingdom was postponed. )herefore there has to be another li"e /li4ah who comes prior to the return of the (ing. #espite their re4ection of &hrist! the +ews recogni0ed there would be a herald announcing Messiah$s coming. In fact! +ewish oral law stated that any money or property of disputed ownership had to be "ept unclaimed until /li4ah came! for he would set everything right. cE )he appearing of the Messiah )he +ews said that after the one li"e /li4ah came! the divine (ing 'imself would come to establish 'is "ingdom in glory and vindicate 9od$s people. dE )he war against the Messiah ccording to %churer! the ne3t event the +ews anticipated was that the nations of the world would ally themselves to fight against the Messiah. In the %ibylline Oracles we read! :)he "ings of the nations shall throw themselves against this land bringing retribution on themselves. )hey shall see" to ravage the shrine of the mighty 9od and of the noblest men whensoever they come to the land. In a ring round the city the accursed

"ings shall place each one his throne with his infidel people by him. nd then with a mighty voice 9od shall spea" unto all the undisciplined! empty-handed people and 4udgment shall come upon them from the mighty 9od! and all shall perish at the hand of the /ternal: D>=@@>ffE. )he nations would gather in Israel to fight against 9od! yet 9od would destroy them all. In 4 /sdras is written! :It shall be that when all the nations hear his D)he Messiah$sE voice! every man shall leave his own land and the warfare they have one against the other! and an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together desiring to fight against him: D8>=>>->5E. )here is coming a time when all other wars will be stopped to begin the war against Messiah. )he -ible confirms that the nations of the world will gather to fight the Messiah D2ev. 8?=8?E. eE )he destruction of the nations Bhen all the nations of the earth gather to war against &hrist! 'e will destroy them. %churer *uotes ;hilo as saying that &hrist will :ta"e the field and ma"e war and destroy great and populous nations.: In 4 /0ra we read! :'e shall reprove them for their ungodliness! rebu"e them for their unrighteousness! reproach them to their faces with their treacheries--and when he has rebu"ed them he shall destroy them: D82=>2->>E. /noch 52=A-? says! :It shall come to pass in those days that none shall be saved! either by gold or by silver! and none shall be able to escape! and there shall be no iron for war! nor shall one clothe oneself with a breastplate. -ron0e shall be of no service! and tin shall not be esteemed! and lead shall not be desired. nd all things shall be destroyed from the surface of the earth.: )he Lord will destroy all the hostile nations6 'e will render their armor useless. 2emember that %churer is not tal"ing about a premillennial viewpoint that contemporary dispensationalists adhere to6 he$s tal"ing about what the +ewish people believed at the time of &hrist. fE )he renovation of +erusalem )he +ewish people believed that after the Messiah came! the city of +erusalem would be purified and renovated. )he boo" of /noch says of the city! : ll the pillars were new and the ornaments larger than those of the first: D?C=2<-2?E. gE )he regathering of the +ewish people Once the city of +erusalem was renovated! the +ews said there would be a mass e3odus of +ews to the city. In fact! there is a daily prayer the +ews have in which they say! :Lift up a banner to gather our dispersed and assemble us from the four ends of the earth.: In the eleventh psalm of %olomon is written! :-low ye in 1ion on the trumpet to summon the saints! cause ye to be heard in +erusalem the voice of him that bringeth good tidings6 for 9od hath had pity on Israel in visiting them. %tand on the height! O +erusalem! and behold thy children! from the /ast and the Best! gathered together by the Lord6 from the ,orth they come in the gladness of their 9od! from the isles afar off 9od hath gathered them. 'igh mountains hath he abased into a plain for them6 the hills fled at their entrance. )he woods gave them shelter as they passed by6 every sweetsmelling tree 9od caused to spring up for them! that Israel might pass by in the visitation of the glory of their 9od. ;ut on! O +erusalem! thy glorious garments6 ma"e ready thy holy robe6 for 9od hath spo"en good for Israel forever and ever! let the Lord

do what he hath spo"en concerning Israel and +erusalem6 let the Lord raise up Israel by 'is glorious name. )he mercy of the Lord by upon Israel forever and ever.: )he +ewish people correctly understood the Old )estament prophets regarding the end times. Many people thin" that the belief in &hrist$s return after the )ribulation to set up the millennial "ingdom was e3pressed only by the &hristians in the church age. -ut the +ewish people of &hrist$s time adhered to the same viewpoint. hE )he significance of ;alestine )he +ews believed that after the regathering! ;alestine would become the center of the world! and the nations would become sub4ect to it. )hey said that the people of the nations would come to +erusalem to worship the (ing. )he %ibylline Oracles say! : ll the isles and the cities shall say! 'ow doth the /ternal love those menI .or all things wor" in sympathy with them and help them.... &ome let us all fall upon the earth and supplicate the eternal (ing! to 'is )emple! for 'e is the sole ;otentate: D>=@?CffE. iE )he new age )he +ewish people said that when the Messiah reigned! 'e would usher in a new age of peace! goodness! and glory that would last forever. )a"ing into consideration +ewish beliefs regarding the last times! you can understand the perspective they must have had by &hrist$s time. )hey had been under tribulation from the Medes and the ;ersians! the 9ree"s! and now the 2omans. )here was also the Maccabean period! when ntiochus /piphanes of 9reece desecrated the )emple. )he treatment they received from the 2omans made them feel as if they were in the tribulation period. )hen when +ohn the -aptist came! they thought he was the one li"e /li4ah. ,e3t they saw +esus! who healed people! raised the dead! fed multitudes. Later on 'e rode into the city of +erusalem on ;assover wee"! and people threw palm branches and garments before 'im! declaring 'e was the Messiah DMatt. 28=<-?E. Bhat was the first thing that was supposed to happen after Messiah came! according to the +ewsJ )he nations of the earth were to gather against 'im! and 'e would destroy them. %o the +ews thought that if +esus was indeed the Messiah! 'e would start a war! and naturally the 2omans would be the first people attac"ed. Once the holocaust was over with! 'e would purify +erusalem and do away with false religion and hypocrites. )hen true worship would ta"e place in the glorious )emple described in /0e"iel 4C--4<! the +ews would be regathered! and the eternal "ingdom would be established. )hat$s what the disciples were thin"ing. 4. )he oversight 5ou may wonder why the disciples didn$t consider the Lord$s statement that 'e would soon die. In +ohn 82=24 'e said! :/3cept a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die! it abideth alone6 but if it die! it bringeth forth much fruit.: 'owever! the disciples couldn$t see how &hrist$s death fit into the eschatological scenario in their minds. ll they could see was coming glory. )hey didn$t understand that the Messiah had to die and that 'e would return again after a long period of time. )hat time period is "nown as a mystery because it was not revealed in the Old )estament D/ph. >=8-?E. )he Old )estament prophets and &hrist$s disciples had visuali0ed all the end-time events happening at once after &hrist$s first coming. )he disciples thought everything was right on schedule= the

+ewish people were e3periencing tribulation! +ohn the -aptist was li"e /li4ah! and the Messiah had come. +udas probably thought everything was on schedule. )hat$s why he remained a disciple for as long as 'e did. 'e never really believed in all that &hrist was! but 'e wanted to remain long enough to play an important role in the coming "ingdom. 'e was motivated by greed. -ut after the sermon about the end times in Matthew 24--25! the first thing +esus said in chapter 2@ was this= :5e "now that after two days is the feast of the passover! and the %on of man is betrayed to be crucified: Dv. 2E. +udas$s hopes were smashed. 'e e3pected the grandeur of the coming "ingdom! but +esus said 'e was going to die. )hus 'e decided to betray &hrist for whatever money he could get DMatt. 2@=84-8@E. )o see what started the Olivet #iscourse in Matthew 24--25! let$s loo" at what happened at the end of Matthew 2>. +esus had been teaching all day at the )emple on the Bednesday of ;assover wee". )he +ewish religious leaders as"ed 'im some *uestions! and 'e answered them by condemning them. 'e pronounced 4udgment upon them! saying! :5our house is left unto you desolate. .or I say unto you! 5e shall not see me henceforth! till ye shall say! -lessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Dvv. ><>?E. +udgment would soon come upon the nation of Israel! and they would not be redeemed until the nation recogni0ed 'im as the Messiah. Bhen the Lord stated what 'e did in Matthew 2>=><->?! the disciples thought it was time for 'im to destroy the nations. Bith that in mind! they as"ed the Lord a *uestion in Matthew 24=>= :)ell us! when shall these things beJ nd what shall be the sign of thy coming! and of the end of the ageJ: Implied in the word when is the thought that the second coming would be very soon-- as soon as tomorrow or ne3t wee". )he disciples thought they had reached the end of the age. &. )he #isciples$ &omprehension of the .uture 8. )heir awe at the Lord$s prediction In Matthew 24=8-2 we read! :+esus went out! and departed from the temple6 and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. nd +esus said unto them! %ee ye not all these thingsJ Kerily I say unto you! )here shall not be left here one stone upon another! that shall not be thrown down.: +esus wal"ed out of the )emple with 'is disciples right after 'e said! :5our house is left unto you desolate: DMatt. 2>=><E. 'e was referring to the )emple! and interestingly! didn$t call it the .ather$s house as 'e had in +ohn 2=8@. )hat$s because 9od had already left. It was Ichabod! which means :the glory is departed: D8 %am. 4=286 cf. /0e". ?=>! 8C=4! 88=2>E. )he word desolate D9".! eremosE means :abandoned to ruin.: aE n inconceivable consummation fter +esus said that one stone wouldn$t be left one top of another! the disciples were confused. )hey couldn$t figure out how that could happen. )he )emple was massive! and it was more than one building. It was surrounded by a huge wall! and it was on a big flat area on the top of a mountain. /nclosed within the wall were other buildings that were a part of the )emple area. ll that was supported by a retaining wall to the south and the west--a wall that supported the mountain. )o the west was a natural slope and to the north a flat area. If you stood at the top of the )emple wall on the south side and

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loo"ed down! it was a long distance down from the )emple wall all the way to the bottom of the retaining wall. )he top of the )emple$s south wall may be where %atan as"ed +esus to 4ump when he tried to tempt the Lord! because it$s such a tremendous drop DMatt. 4=5E. )he )emple and its surrounding structure were li"e a fort. ,o doubt the disciples were in awe of it6 they were country men used to little houses on rolling hills. )he )emple was so massive! and it was inconceivable to thin" it could be torn down. Mar" 8>=2 mentions the greatness of the )emple buildings! and Lu"e 28=5 says the )emple was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts. .irst century 2oman historian )acitus said the )emple was of immense wealth! and that it was an e3cellent fortress D'istories K.viiiE. )he )almud! the codification of +ewish law! states there was no finer building D-aba -athra 4aE. It was 'erod the 9reat who had the )emple built. 'owever! 'erod was not a +ew! so the +ewish people wondered if the final )emple might be built by someone who was. )he )emple was a formidable place. %ome of the stones used in constructing the )emple were forty feet long! twelve feet high! and twelve feet wide. 'ow the builders lifted and carried stones weighing up to one hundred tons is hard to figure out. %ome of the large stones had to be lifted two or three hundred feet from the bottom of the south retaining wall to the top of the wall around the )emple. It was a massive underta"ing. %ome individual stones are as long as eighty-five feet. )hus you can understand the disciples$ ama0ement when +esus said their house would be left desolate. 'ow could such a busy place that was the hub of +ewish life be abandoned to ruinJ /ven though the +ewish people e3pected the )emple to be replaced with the glorious )emple in /0e"iel 4C--4<! the disciples still couldn$t imagine the complete destruction of the 'erodian )emple. bE n immediate confirmation +esus "new what the disciples were thin"ing! so 'e said! :Kerily I say unto you! )here shall not be left here one stone upon another! that shall not be thrown down: DMatt. 24=2E. )he Lord reaffirmed that the )emple would be left desolate. I$ve stood at the foot of the western wall that was a part of the 'erodian )emple! as well as at the cornerstones in the southeast and southwest corners. )hey$ve been their since the time of &hrist! and they don$t loo" li"e anything could move them. )hey give a small idea of what the )emple must have been li"e. If the western wall is still standing! does that contradict +esus$ statement that not one stone would be left on top of anotherJ ,o! because the western wall and the cornerstones were stones that held up the retaining wall. )hey weren$t a part of the )emple or )emple wall itself6 the retaining wall was there to help hold the mountain in place. )herefore! +esus was correct when 'e said that not one stone of the )emple would be left on another. .irst century +ewish historian +osephus said the city was so leveled that future visitors had no reason to believe the city had ever been inhabited DBars KII.iE. )he 2omans completely tore apart the )emple in .#. AC. +esus said! :)here shall not be left here one stone upon another: Demphasis addedE. )he phrase :not be left: is a double negative in the 9ree" te3t. )he )emple would be completely destroyed.

Once the Lord spo"e of the destruction of the )emple! the disciples probably thought +erusalem was about to be renovated! and that the tribulation was over. )hey were filled with hope. 2. )heir anticipation of the Lord$s presence Matthew 24=> begins by saying that the Lord and the disciples were on the Mount of Olives. )hat means they would have gone down the bac" side of the )emple mount! crossed the (idron Kalley over a broo"! and gone up to the top of the Mount of Olives. )he view from there was breathta"ing! and by that time the sun was setting over the white limestone buildings of +erusalem. /ven today you can see the same spectacular view! the ma4or difference being the #ome of the 2oc" and the Mos*ue of Omar glistening in the setting sun instead of the massive )emple. )he disciples were probably thin"ing that everything would now come to a great clima3 in the most glorious moment of Israel$s history. aE )he statement In that setting! the disciples came to +esus privately! saying! :)ell us! when shall these things beJ: Dv. 4E. )hey as"ed 'im when the desolation of +erusalem would ta"e place! referring to what +esus said in Matthew 2>=><->?. )hey didn$t "now there would be a long period of time between the destruction of +erusalem and &hrist$s return in full glory. )he disciples wanted to "now what would indicate the coming of the end of the age. Bould there be dar"nessJ brilliant lightJ n angel from heavenJ trumpet blastJ )he disciples were e3cited and an3ious. /ven after the Lord$s resurrection the disciples still e3pected the "ingdom to come right away. In cts 8=@ they as"ed &hrist! :Lord! wilt thou at this time restore again the "ingdom to IsraelJ: Bhen &hrist died the disciples were despondent! but the resurrection heightened their hopes even more than before. Bhen they saw 'im out of the grave! they thought the time had come for the "ingdom to be set up. Lu"e 8?=88 says that +esus :spo"e a parable! because he was near to +erusalem! and because they Fthe +ewish peopleH thought that the "ingdom of 9od should immediately appear.: bE )he specifics D8E bout the Lord$s coming )he word coming in Matthew 24=> is translated from the 9ree" word parousia. It means :to be around: or :to be present.: )he best way to translate the verse might be! :Bhat shall be the sign of 5our full presenceJ: )he disciples were referring more to the Lord$s permanent presence! not 'is coming. ;arousia was also used in verses 2A! >A! and >?. -ecause the Lord used it fre*uently to refer to 'is return! the ,ew )estament writers did the same D+ames 5=<! 2 ;eter >=4! 8 +ohn 2=2<E. ;arousia became synonymous with &hrist$s arrival to set up 'is "ingdom. 'owever! when the disciples as"ed about the Lord$s coming in Matthew 24=>! they were saying! :Bhen are 5ou going to arrive in 5our full Messianic revelationJ Bhen will 5ou become all that we anticipate 5ou to beJ: )hey didn$t thin" in terms of 'is leaving and returning6 they simply thought the Lord would soon ma"e a transition to setting up 'is "ingdom. D2E bout the end of the age

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t the end of Matthew 24=> the disciples as"ed the Lord! :Bhat shall be the sign ... of the end of the ageJ: )he phrase :the end of the age: is translated from the 9ree" phrase sunteleias tou aionos. It appears five times in Matthew$s gospel. %unteleias means :the complete end.: %o the disciples were as"ing! :Bhen is the final end of man$s ageJ: In Matthew 2<=2C +esus said to the disciples! :Lo! I am with you always! even unto the end of the age.: 'e will be with us until the final end. In the parable of the wheat and the tares +esus said! :)he harvest is the end of the age6 and the reapers are the angels. s! therefore! the tares are gathered and burned in the fire! so shall it be in the end of this age: DMatt. 8>=>?-4CE. )he phrase is used twice in those verses. )he end of the age is when 9od separates the wheat from the tares and sends the tares to hell. Kerses 42-4> say 'e :shall cast them into a furnace of fire6 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. )hen shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the "ingdom of their .ather.: )he phrase is used again in Matthew 8>=4?-5C= :%o shall it be at the end of the age6 the angels shall come forth! and separate the wic"ed from among the righteous! and shall cast them into the furnace of fire6 there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.: :)he end of the age: then refers to the time when 9od comes in ultimate! final 4udgment and sends unbelievers to hell and ta"es believers into 'is presence. Bhat sign were the disciples to loo" for that would indicate the end of the ageJ Bhen would they "now that ultimate 4udgment was about to ta"e placeJ Bhen will that happenJ )hose *uestions prompted the Lord$s sermon in Matthew 24--25. )he Lord$s answer begins in verse 4. 'e answered the *uestion the disciples as"ed! but said nothing more about the destruction of +erusalem. )hat$s because 'e "new the destruction would have nothing to do with 'is return. )he 4udgment enacted on Israel in .#. AC was for the unregenerate! &hrist-re4ecting +ews of that time. It was only a small taste of the 4udgment to come at the end of the age when the Messiah returns in full glory. )hat is the theme of the sermon "nown as the Olivet #iscourse. )he Lord too" 'is disciples from their moment in history all the way into the far future! when 'e returns to set up 'is "ingdom in glory. /ocusing on the /acts 8. Bhy is Matthew 24--25 worthy of our attention Dsee p. 8EJ 2.Bhy were the +ewish people of +esus$ day especially curious about the future Dsee p. 2EJ >. Bhat scriptures gave the +ewish people optimism about the future Dsee pp. 2->EJ 4. ccording to e3trabiblical +ewish literature! what did the +ewish people believe would happen in the coming tribulation Dsee pp. 4-5EJ 5.Bhat is supposed to happen before &hrist comes! according to +ewish eschatological beliefs Dsee p. 5EJ @.Bhat did the +ewish people believe would happen to +erusalem after the Messiah cameJ Bhat remaining three things were supposed to happen! according to their eschatological viewpoint Dsee pp. @-AEJ A.Bhat oversight did the disciples ma"e in their anticipation of the coming "ingdom Dsee p. <EJ

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<.Bhen the Lord said! :5our house is left unto you desolate: DMatt. 2>=><E! what did the disciples thin" was going to happen Dsee p. ?EJ ?.Bhy was &hrist$s declaration in Matthew 24=2 regarding the )emple so hard for the disciples to believe Dsee pp. ?-8CEJ 8C.Bhat did the disciples as" +esus after 'e said what 'e did in Matthew 24=2J Bhy Dsee p. 88EJ 88./3plain the significance of the phrase :the end of the age: Dsee pp. 82-8>E. Pondering the Princi!les 8.9od "eeps 'is promises. Bhen &hrist said! :2epent6 for the "ingdom of heaven is at hand: DMatt. 4=8AE! the +ewish people re4ected 'im. )hus the "ingdom 9od promised to Israel was postponed. 9od could have eliminated the "ingdom altogether because of Israel$s re4ection! but 'e didn$t do that. ccording to 1echariah 8>=8! there is coming a day when the fountain of salvation will be opened up to the line of Israel! and the nation will be regenerated. &hrist$s eternal "ingdom will come6 9od$s promise will come true. )hat applies to all the other promises 9od made in the -ible. )hin" of some promises that are especially meaningful to you! and praise 9od for how 'e has made or will ma"e them a reality in your life. 2.9od$s sovereignty is evident in Matthew 24=2. +esus said the )emple in +erusalem would be completely destroyed. %ure enough! the 2omans completely destroyed the )emple in .#. AC. 9od is in full control of everything that happens--even to the point of leading the 2omans against +erusalem. If 9od can control ma4or events li"e that! surely 'e control the circumstances in your lifeI 'owever! you won$t always understand the purpose for every situation in your life. )he "ey is trusting in 9od$s sovereignty and 'is promise that :all things wor" together for good to them that love 9od: D2om. <=2<E. In every situation! yield yourself to 9od! and as" 'im to wor" out 'is sovereign will! "nowing that it will be carried out to 'is greater glory and your greatest good.