Read Matthew 24 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The disciples ask Yeshua three separate questions in Mat 24, and He gives them three separate answers. It helps to know what the questions are, and what the answers are, so that we can understand the information He is giving in this chapter.
The three questions (Mat 24:3):
1) When shall these things be?
2) What will be the sign of Your coming?
3) What will be the sign of the end of the world?
We shouldn’t assume that all these questions refer to the same event which occurs at the same time.
“These things” refers back to Yeshua’s statement that not one stone of the Temple shall be left upon another, that will not be thrown down (Mat 24:1-2). So the first question is really, When will the throwing down of the Temple be?
We know from history that the Temple was thrown down in 70 AD, about the space of a generation after Yeshua’s death and resurrection (Mat 24:34). It was thrown down so completely, that not one stone was left upon another. When Titus besieged and took Jerusalem in 70 AD, fire was burning in the city, but he wanted to save the beautiful Temple. However, the fire raged out of control and engulfed the Temple also. The gold which overlaid the inside of the Temple melted and ran between its stones. In order to recover the gold, the Roman soldiers threw down every stone so that not one was left upon another.
Some of the events Yeshua foretold match events we know from history that occurred during Jerusalem’s siege and the destruction of the Temple: the events of Mat 24:15-22. Therefore,
1) When will these things [the destruction of the Temple] be? – Mat 24:15-22.
That leaves Mat 24:4-14, and Mat 24:23-51, to answer the remaining two questions, if we are right in assuming that Mat 24:15-22 answers the first question.
First, Mat 24:4-14: Yeshua has given us clues in His answer, so that we will know what He is talking about:
“… all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” vs. 6
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” vs. 13
“… as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” vs.14
Therefore,
3) What will be the sign of the end of the world? – Mat 24:4-14
Does Mat 24:23-51 answer the question that is left, ‘What will be the sign of Your coming?’
“… so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” vs. 27
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven … and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds …” vs. 30
“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” vs. 37
“… so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” vs. 39
“… you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” vs. 42
“… for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” vs. 44
“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” vs. 46
“… the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him …” vs. 50
Therefore,
2) What will be the sign of Your coming? – Mat 24:23-51.
God is trying to be understood! And because we are children, He has given us Teaching Tools to help us. Why didn’t Yeshua answer the questions in the same order? This chapter makes a Chiastic Structure, with the questions and answers in reverse order around the central axis:
(The 2C, 2B, and 2A elements each make their own substructures, which is why the verse numbers fall out as they do.) There is a lot of error being taught today concerning the end times, because these teaching tools, even though simple, are not widely understood. Arm yourselves with truth!
If there are questions, these are good resources:
History of the Destruction of Jerusalem – Flavius Josephus
The Great Tribulation of Matthew 24 is Not an End Time Prophecy – Fred P. Miller
Caveat: I do not necessarily agree with everything here, but Mr. Miller (no relation) does make some good points that correct errors in current popular end time teaching. By the way, I am not a preterist.
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