Jerusalem’s temple mount in the first century would have been a striking contrast to the homes of ordinary citizens. Comprising one-fourth of the entire city, it was as beautiful as it was imposing in size. Israel’s adversaries saw it as a key fortress, situated on a major trade route between Rome and Egypt.
No wonder Jesus’ Galilean companions pointed out the temple structures to Him. Jesus, however, was not impressed.
“Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.'” (Matthew 24:2)
The End of the Age
Both Jesus and John the Baptist announced the arrival of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). Given the events in Jerusalem, it was natural for the disciples to ask about the timing for the full expression of God’s rule.
“When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?'” (Matthew 24:3)
Part of Jesus’ answer foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans in 70 AD—an event where the Romans thoroughly dismantled the structure. However, other parts of Jesus’ response have remained relevant across generations.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. 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 this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.'” (Matthew 24:4-8)
Between 4 BC and 70 AD, I counted eight people who claimed to be the Messiah. Four of these pretenders made their claims after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
You may recognize popular modern preachers like Pat Robertson, Hal Lindsey, and John Hagee. All three have looked at events like war, famine, and earthquakes as signs of the imminent return of Christ. We would do well to pay close attention to Jesus’ cautions. In this instance, He tells us that these events are just the beginning.
First-Century Realities
Our next study will be the book of Acts. As we read Acts and early church history, we will discover the reality of Jesus’ next words to His followers:
“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.” (Matthew 24:9-10)
Except for John, all the disciples were martyred for their faith. Christianity was deemed illegal by the Romans because it competed with the worship of the Roman Emperor, who was considered a god. Families fractured when one member chose to follow Jesus and another did not.
Paul’s letters give us valuable theological insights into the plan of God for the ages. Without them, our understanding would be impoverished. His letters were often written to address mistaken or false teachings, as well as the morality of people in the church. Jesus didn’t want these challenges to take His followers unawares, so He warned them:
“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:11-12)
The Good News of the Kingdom
When I studied the book of Revelation in seminary, our professor told us: “I have read over 30 books on Revelation, and none of them agree with each other.” That is often the situation with people who study the end times. However, Jesus’ final words in this passage provide something we can all agree on:
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:13-14)
Regardless of how we interpret Jesus’ exact timeline, our calling is to remain faithful to Him and continue proclaiming the good news of God’s rule. We are living between the time when Jesus inaugurated the kingdom and its final consummation. It is tempting to get lazy or distracted, but our main purpose remains clear: to help everyone in our sphere of influence experience God’s love, forgiveness, and friendship.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Matthew 24:1-14 on YouTube today.
Real Voices 