3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:3-14 KJV)
Signs of the End of the Age
After Jesus had foretold the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (Mt 24:1-2), while he was with his disciples on Mt. Olives, the disciples inquired about two things; they wanted to know when Jerusalem and its temple would be destroyed. Second, they wanted to know the signs of Jesus’ second coming and the end of age. Their questions—when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the world—showed their confusion. Some believed the destruction of the temple would mean the end of the world, while others may have thought Christ’s kingdom would begin then.
To the question about the time of Jerusalem’s fall – “When shall these things be?” – Christ did not answer, for it is not for us to know the times (Acts 1:7). But their question – “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” – Jesus answered fully, for we are called to understand the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3). However, as Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel often point to the Messiah, some part of this prophecy applies to Jerusalem’s fall and others to the end of the world.
Christ foretells the rise of deceivers, warning, “Take heed that no man deceives you.” Instead of satisfying their curiosity about the time Jerusalem would fall, he checks it: “What is that to you? Focus on your duty, follow me, and do not be led astray.” Those most eager to know secret things are the most easily deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The disciples, upon hearing that their enemies would be destroyed, might have become complacent. Christ warns them that seducers are more dangerous to the church than persecutors.
Three times, Christ mentions the rise of false prophets. This was, first, a sign of the end times. Those who rejected true prophets were left to be deceived by false ones. Second, it was a trial for Christ’s disciples to reveal who was truly steadfast.
Regarding these deceivers, Satan does the most damage when disguised as an angel of light. There would be false prophets (Matthew 24:11, Mt 24:24), claiming divine inspiration (Jeremiah 23:16; Deuteronomy 13:3). Some had been respected teachers but later fell into error. One traitor inside the church can do more harm than a thousand enemies outside. There would also be false Christs (Matthew 24:5), exploiting the people’s expectation of the Messiah. Josephus records several impostors between this time and Jerusalem’s destruction. Some, like Simon Magus (Acts 8:10), gained followers.
Later, false Messiahs like Bar-Cochba and Sabbatai Zevi misled many. The Pope, claiming to be Christ’s vicar, usurps Christ’s authority, making him, in effect, a false Christ and an antichrist. Their agents would spread their influence, saying, “Lo, here is Christ” or “There he is” (Matthew 24:23). In troubled times, people grasp at anything promising deliverance, allowing Satan to deceive them. But Christ did not seek secrecy (Luke 17:21). If anyone claims otherwise, consider it deception.
These deceivers would show great signs (Matthew 24:24), but not true miracles. Even if a sign comes to pass, if it leads away from Christ, it must be rejected (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). These false signs are lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9), mere trickery or deception. They will deceive many (Matthew 24:5, Mt 24:11) and attempt to deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24), highlighting the strength of the deception. Only God’s grace preserves the elect. Those whom God predestined, he also calls, justifies, and glorifies (Romans 8:30).
Christ warned, “Behold, I have told you before” (Matthew 24:25)—forewarned is forearmed. Do not believe claims of Christ appearing in secret places (Matthew 24:23, 26). The true Christ is in heaven, and his spiritual presence is with believers.
Christ also foretells wars and great commotions (Matthew 24:6-7). At his birth, there was universal peace, but he did not come to bring peace (Luke 12:51). Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” Numerous wars and violent conflicts would take place, both between the Jews and their enemies and among the surrounding nations. This would be accompanied by famines, plagues, and earthquakes. However, all these miseries would only be the initial pains of a woman in labor, signaling the arrival of much greater suffering. A detailed account of the wars, uprisings, riots, and massacres that happened in that region before the destruction of Jerusalem would serve as an excellent commentary on this passage.
Yet, Christ gives a prescription: “See that you are not troubled.” Trusting in God brings peace even in troubled times. Do not be troubled, for these things must happen. God’s justice and unchangeable counsel govern all events. Expect worse: “The end is not yet.” The first affliction is only the beginning. If rumors of war trouble you, what will happen when famine and pestilence strike? If running with footmen wearies you, how will you contend with horses?
Because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold. This refers to true godliness, which is summed up in love. It is common for Christians to grow cool in faith when the wicked are fervent in sin, as seen in the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:2-4). Brotherly love also suffers—persecution and division create suspicion, alienation, and factions. The devil, the accuser of the brethren, fuels this discord.
However, first, it is the love of many, not all, that will grow cold. In the worst times, God preserves a remnant, as in Elijah’s days. Second, this love grows cold but does not die. The new nature may grow cold, but it will not vanish, for then it would decay entirely.
Regarding these deceivers, comfort is given to believers in enduring these trials (Matthew 24:13): “He that endures to the end shall be saved.”
Encouragement is given to the church, for though many fall away, some will remain steadfast. Even in times of great apostasy, a remnant according to grace remains (Romans 11:5). Encouragement is also given to the faithful, for those who endure will be saved. Perseverance leads to the crown of glory. They may be delivered from trouble in this world, but eternal salvation is the promise. Those who endure to the end will receive the salvation of their souls (1 Peter 1:9; Romans 2:7; Revelation 3:20). The crown of glory will compensate for all suffering, making it better to die as a persecuted saint than to live as a persecutor.
Christ foretells the preaching of the gospel in all the world (Matthew 24:14): “This gospel shall be preached, and then shall the end come.” It is the gospel of the kingdom, revealing the kingdom of grace leading to the kingdom of glory. It sets up Christ’s rule in this world and secures our place in the next. The gospel is to be preached to all nations, for Christ is salvation to the ends of the earth. The gospel testifies to God’s will, promising salvation to believers and condemning the unbelieving (Mark 16:16; 1 John 5:11).
Generally, before the end of the world, the gospel would be preached in all the nations of the world. However, this prophecy also refers to Jerusalem in that before Jerusalem’s destruction, the gospel had spread throughout the known world (Romans 10:18). Paul fully preached it from Jerusalem to Illyricum. Persecution scattered the saints, leading them to preach everywhere (Acts 8:1-4). Even in persecution, the gospel will spread. When many fall by the sword and many act wickedly, those who know their God will remain strong and instruct many (Daniel 11:32-33; Philippians 1:12-14).