Matthew 24: The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
Introduction: The Questions That Started It All
Imagine you're walking out of the most magnificent building you've ever seen—massive stones, gleaming white marble, gold decorations catching the sunlight. The temple in Jerusalem, one of the wonders of the ancient world.
Your teacher, Jesus, has just finished condemning the religious leaders and pronounced judgment on the temple. Now, as you're leaving, one of the disciples says with awe, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"
Jesus stops and delivers a shocking prophecy:
"Do you see all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." (Matthew 24:2)
The disciples are stunned. The temple destroyed? Completely? When could this possibly happen?
Later, sitting on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple, they ask Jesus privately:
"Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)
Notice they're asking three questions:
- When will the temple be destroyed?
- What will be the sign of your coming?
- What will be the sign of the end of the age?
Jesus's answer in Matthew 24 addresses all three questions—but not always in the order they asked. Understanding which parts answer which questions is crucial to understanding this chapter correctly.
Let's walk through Matthew 24 carefully and see what Jesus actually said.
Part 1: Warning Against Deception (Matthew 24:4-8)
Jesus begins not with specific signs, but with a warning:
"Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, "I am the Messiah," and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.'" (Matthew 24:4-8)
What Jesus Is Saying:
Don't be deceived by false messiahs. Throughout history, many have claimed to be the Christ, the promised deliverer. Jesus warns His followers not to be fooled.
Don't be alarmed by wars. Wars, famines, and earthquakes will happen, but these are not yet the end. They're like birth pains—signs that something is coming, but not the arrival itself.
The Key Point:
Jesus is saying: "Before the end comes, there will be ongoing turmoil in the world. Don't mistake these general troubles for the final events."
These things have been happening throughout history:
- False messiahs and false prophets
- Wars between nations
- Famines and natural disasters
They're part of living in a fallen world, but they're not the signs of the immediate end. They're the "beginning of birth pains"—indicators that we're living in the time between Jesus's first coming and His return.
Part 2: Persecution of Believers (Matthew 24:9-14)
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:9-14)
What Will Happen to Believers:
- Persecution and martyrdom - Followers of Jesus will be hated and killed
- Apostasy - Some who claimed to follow Jesus will turn away
- Betrayal - Even among believers, some will betray others
- False prophets - Deceivers will lead many astray
- Growing wickedness - Love will grow cold in many hearts
The Requirement:
"The one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)
Endurance matters. Perseverance in faith despite persecution is essential.
The Gospel Must Go Worldwide:
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)
Before the final end, the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all nations. This is still happening today—the message about God's kingdom and His appointed King, Jesus the Messiah, is spreading throughout the earth.
Only when this task is complete will the end come.
Part 3: The Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-28)
Now Jesus shifts to a specific sign related to the temple's destruction:
"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again." (Matthew 24:15-21)
The Abomination of Desolation
Jesus references Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11) about a desecration of the temple.
Historical fulfillment: In 70 AD, the Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem. Before the final siege, there was a brief period when Christians could escape. Those who heeded Jesus's warning fled to Pella (a city in the hills), and they survived. Those who stayed in Jerusalem faced unimaginable horrors when the Romans destroyed the city and temple.
The Jewish historian Josephus describes the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as one of the worst catastrophes in history—exactly as Jesus predicted.
The Urgency:
"Let no one on the housetop go down... Let no one in the field go back..."
When you see the sign (armies surrounding Jerusalem), flee immediately. Don't delay. Don't go back for anything. Run for your lives.
This is urgent, practical advice that Jesus gave His disciples—and those who listened survived.
Great Distress
"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again." (Matthew 24:21)
The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was catastrophic:
- Over 1 million Jews killed
- The temple completely destroyed
- The city razed
- Survivors enslaved
This "great distress" primarily refers to Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD, which happened within that generation, just as Jesus said it would.
Warning About False Messiahs During This Time
"At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." (Matthew 24:23-26)
During the crisis, many would claim to be deliverers or say they knew where the Messiah was. Jesus warns: Don't believe them. Don't follow them.
Part 4: The Coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:27-31)
Now Jesus describes His actual return—and it will be unmistakable:
"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather." (Matthew 24:27-28)
The Return Will Be Obvious
Lightning flashes across the entire sky—everyone sees it simultaneously. Jesus's return will be like that. There will be no confusion, no need for someone to tell you "He's here!" or "He's there!"
You will know. Everyone will know.
After the Distress of Those Days
"Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31)
Cosmic Signs
Before Jesus returns:
- The sun will be darkened
- The moon will not give light
- The stars will fall
- The heavenly bodies will be shaken
These cosmic disturbances signal that creation itself is being shaken as the age comes to an end.
The Sign in Heaven
"Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven."
What is this sign? Jesus doesn't specify, but it will be visible to everyone. The whole earth will see it.
All Will See Him Coming
"All the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory."
This echoes Daniel 7:13-14:
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him."
Jesus will come visibly, gloriously, unmistakably—and every eye will see Him.
The Gathering of the Elect
"And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
When Jesus returns, His angels will gather His people from all over the earth. This is the resurrection and gathering Paul describes:
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Part 5: The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35)
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:32-35)
The Fig Tree Illustration
Just as you can tell summer is near when the fig tree puts out leaves, you can tell the end is near when you see these signs.
"This Generation Will Not Pass Away"
This is one of the most debated phrases in the chapter. What did Jesus mean?
Most likely interpretation: The generation alive when Jesus spoke (around 30 AD) would see the destruction of the temple—and they did. Jerusalem fell in 70 AD, within 40 years, well within that generation's lifespan.
Some interpret "this generation" to mean the generation that sees the final signs (the cosmic disturbances)—that generation won't pass before Jesus returns.
The Certainty of Jesus's Words
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Everything Jesus predicted will happen. His prophecies are absolutely reliable.
Part 6: No One Knows the Day or Hour (Matthew 24:36-44)
This is crucial:
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36)
Only the Father Knows
Jesus Himself did not know the day or hour of His return. Only the Father knows.
This is significant: If Jesus were fully God with all divine knowledge, He would know. But He didn't know—because He was the human Messiah, God's Son, who knew only what the Father revealed to Him.
This verse alone proves Jesus is not omniscient like God, because there is knowledge the Father has that Jesus does not have.
It Will Come Unexpectedly
"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:37-39)
Life will be going on normally. People will be eating, drinking, getting married—just like in Noah's day. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, Jesus will return.
"Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." (Matthew 24:40-41)
When Jesus returns and the angels gather the elect, some will be taken (gathered to be with the Lord) and some will be left (to face judgment).
The Command: Be Ready
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:42-44)
Since we don't know when Jesus will return, we must always be ready.
Not in fear, but in faithful obedience and watchfulness.
Part 7: The Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:45-51)
Jesus ends with a parable:
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:45-51)
Two Types of Servants
The faithful servant: Continues doing his master's work faithfully, even while the master is away. When the master returns, he is rewarded.
The wicked servant: Thinks "My master is delayed" and begins to abuse others and live wickedly. He is caught by surprise and judged.
The Application:
We don't know when Jesus will return. The question is: What kind of servant will He find you being when He comes?
- Are you faithfully doing what He commanded?
- Are you loving and serving others?
- Are you living righteously?
Or are you:
- Living as if Jesus won't return?
- Mistreating others?
- Indulging in sin?
Jesus will return. The only question is whether you'll be ready.
Part 8: What Matthew 24 Teaches Us Today
1. Some Prophecies Are Already Fulfilled
The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD was a literal, historical fulfillment of Jesus's prophecy. It happened exactly as He said—within that generation.
This proves Jesus is a true prophet. What He says will happen.
2. Other Prophecies Are Still Future
Jesus's glorious return, the cosmic signs, the gathering of the elect, and the final judgment—these haven't happened yet.
But they will. Just as surely as the temple was destroyed, Jesus will return.
3. We Must Be Ready
Since we don't know when, we must always be ready.
This doesn't mean:
- Setting dates (Jesus said we can't know)
- Living in fear
- Neglecting our responsibilities
- Obsessing over signs
It means:
- Living faithfully every day
- Loving God and loving others
- Obeying Jesus's commands
- Sharing the gospel
- Watching expectantly but not anxiously
4. Don't Be Deceived
Jesus warned four times in this chapter about deception:
- False messiahs (v. 5)
- False prophets (v. 11)
- False messiahs and prophets performing signs (v. 24)
- People claiming to know where Christ is (v. 26)
Don't be fooled. When Jesus returns, everyone will know. You won't need someone to tell you.
5. The Father Alone Knows the Time
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36)
Anyone who claims to know when Jesus will return is either:
- Deceived
- A deceiver
The Father alone knows. Not angels. Not Jesus Himself when He walked the earth. Not any prophet, teacher, or pastor today.
Only the Father.
6. Focus on Faithfulness, Not Speculation
Jesus didn't give us these prophecies so we could create elaborate end-times charts or predict the future.
He gave them to us so we would:
- Be warned (don't be deceived)
- Be ready (live faithfully)
- Be hopeful (Jesus is coming back!)
The question isn't "When will it happen?" but "Will I be ready when it does?"
Part 9: Common Misunderstandings About Matthew 24
Mistake #1: Thinking It's All About the Future
Much of Matthew 24 was fulfilled in 70 AD. Jesus was answering the disciples' question about when the temple would be destroyed, and it was—within 40 years.
Don't ignore the historical fulfillment that already happened.
Mistake #2: Setting Dates for Jesus's Return
People have been predicting the date of Jesus's return for 2,000 years. Every single one has been wrong.
Why? Because Jesus said no one knows except the Father.
If someone claims to know, don't listen to them. They're contradicting Jesus's own words.
Mistake #3: Living in Fear
Some people read Matthew 24 and become anxious, fearful, constantly looking for signs, worried about the end.
But Jesus said: "See to it that you are not alarmed." (Matthew 24:6)
We should be watchful, not fearful. Ready, not anxious.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the Main Point
The main point of Matthew 24 is not to figure out when. It's to be ready.
Jesus asks: What kind of servant will I find you being when I return?
That's the question that matters.
Part 10: Practical Application for Your Life
Live Faithfully Every Day
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?" (Matthew 24:45)
Do what Jesus has called you to do:
- Love God
- Love your neighbor
- Share the gospel
- Serve others
- Grow in holiness
Don't wait for "someday." Be faithful today.
Don't Be Deceived
"Watch out that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4)
Test everything against Scripture. Be discerning. Don't follow after false teachers or false messiahs.
When Jesus returns, you'll know. It will be unmistakable.
Share the Gospel
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)
The gospel must go to all nations. You're part of that mission.
Tell others about:
- The one true God, the Father
- His appointed King, Jesus the Messiah
- Forgiveness of sins through Jesus's death and resurrection
- The coming kingdom of God on earth
Live with Hope
Jesus is coming back. This world's brokenness won't last forever.
One day:
- The dead will be raised
- The righteous will be gathered
- God's kingdom will be established on earth
- Jesus will reign as King
- Death, suffering, and sin will be no more
That's our hope. Live in light of that reality.
Be Ready
"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:44)
Are you ready today? If Jesus returned right now, would you be found faithful?
Not perfect—none of us is perfect. But faithful. Trusting in God, following Jesus, living in obedience, loving others.
That's what it means to be ready.
Conclusion: The Master Is Coming
Matthew 24 is both a warning and an encouragement.
Warning: Don't be deceived. Don't be complacent. Don't live as if Jesus won't return.
Encouragement: Jesus is coming back. He will establish God's kingdom. Justice will be done. The righteous will be vindicated.
The question is: Will you be ready?
Not "Do you know the date?" (You can't know.)
Not "Have you decoded all the signs?" (That's not the point.)
But: Are you living faithfully? Are you doing what Jesus commanded? Are you ready to meet your Lord?
Jesus gave us Matthew 24 not to make us anxious, but to make us faithful.
Live every day as if Jesus could return today—because He could.
And when He does return, may He find us faithful and wise servants, doing His work, loving His people, and eagerly awaiting His appearing.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)
For Further Study
Read these passages about Jesus's return:
Old Testament Prophecies:
- Daniel 7:13-14 (The Son of Man coming on the clouds)
- Daniel 9:24-27 (The seventy weeks prophecy)
- Daniel 12:1-3 (The time of distress and resurrection)
- Zechariah 14:1-9 (The Lord comes to fight for His people)
Jesus's Teaching:
- Matthew 25:1-13 (Parable of the ten virgins - be ready)
- Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the talents - be faithful)
- Matthew 25:31-46 (The sheep and the goats - final judgment)
- Mark 13 (Parallel account to Matthew 24)
- Luke 21:5-36 (Another parallel account with additional details)
Apostolic Teaching:
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (The Lord's coming and the resurrection)
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (The day of the Lord comes like a thief)
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (The man of lawlessness revealed first)
- 2 Peter 3:1-13 (Scoffers and the day of the Lord)
- 1 John 2:28 (Remain in Him so you may be confident when He appears)
Questions to Consider:
- How does knowing that Jesus didn't know "the day or hour" help us understand His humanity?
- If part of Matthew 24 was fulfilled in 70 AD (temple destruction) and part is still future (Jesus's return), how do we discern which is which?
- What does it mean practically to "be ready" for Jesus's return in your daily life?
- Why do you think Jesus warned so strongly and repeatedly against deception in this chapter?
- How should the certainty of Jesus's return affect how you live today?
Your Challenge:
Read Matthew 24-25 as one continuous teaching. Notice how chapter 25 continues with three parables about readiness:
- The ten virgins (be ready)
- The talents (be faithful)
- The sheep and goats (love and serve others)
Then ask yourself: If Jesus returned today, would He find me ready? Faithful? Loving others?
Don't focus on dates. Focus on faithfulness.
The Master is coming. Be ready.