Matthew 24:1-14

Christians often use the word elect to refer to members of the church, but in this passage, which is commonly referred to as the Olivet Discourse, it means the Jews 0 those whom God selected in a special way (Mark 13; Luke 17; Luke 21). Key events would take place in Judea; a Jewish celebration is mentioned and in 24:15, the abomination prophesied by Daniel refers to the desecration of the Jewish temple (Dan. 9:27; 11:31). As Jesus answered the disciple’s questions, He taught them (as representatives of the Jewish people in particular) about preparing for His return and what to expect during the Tribulation period, before His kingdom will be established.

24:3 | When the disciples asked Jesus, What will be the sign of Your coming?, the text uses an important Greek term, Parousia, which means “presence.” The verse could be translated, “What will be the sign of Your full presence?” They were asking when He would come and be with them permanently.

24:4-5 | Although deceivers have always plagued God’s people, deception will become rampant in the last days. Multitudes of people will be deceived by the claims listed here, hoping for stability in direction in difficult times (24:23-27).

24:6-8 | The wars, ethnic and territorial conflicts, famines, epidemics, and widespread earthquakes that Jesus mentioned will not signal the end; they will merely be the beginning of sorrows (literally, “birth pangs”). These troubles will form the backdrop for what will come, and they will increase in intensity when Christ’s return draws near. But none of these things – although terrible in themselves – should trouble God’s people, for He remains sovereign and will bring history to its final conclusion, as He has ordained.

24:9-10 | The end times will be difficult for God’s people who will experience tribulation, martyrdom, hatred, and betrayal (John 16:2). Yet Jesus offers this hope to His followers: as things get worse for the world and for them, His return draws closer.

24:11 | One of the characteristics of the false religion of the end times will be what John describes as “sorceries” (Rev. 9:21). The Greek word (pharmakeia) refers to the ingestion of drugs and alludes to the use of mind-altering substances in the practice of false spirituality.

24:13 | The word saved here does not refer to spiritual salvation but to surviving the Tribulation. In fact, Scripture says that unless the Lord shortens the time, even the elect (those who will be redeemed during those seven years) will not physically survive the Tribulation (24:22).

24:14 | Jesus teaches that when the gospel has been preached to all the world, to all the nations (Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:6), the end is near. This is another powerful rationale for world missions.